Perfect Kill (Callanach and Turner #6) by Helen Fields

This is the 6th book in a crime thriller series featuring DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner. Although most of these stories are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, as they work for the MIT there, Luc is currently assigned in France as Scottish liaison officer to Interpol working on tracing a human trafficking case. A Scottish national's body had been found in Flandres and all that remained of the young man was a shell -- most of his internal organs had been removed. It seems that there is something more sinister going on that might tie into a missing persons situation that Ava is dealing with. From the backroom, filthy brothels where the trafficked women are used and abused to the sterile interior of a quasi operating theater, this is a complicated investigation that is grisly and chilling.

If you haven't read the previous five books in the series, I'd urge you to start at the beginning. This is a really good collection that has interesting characters, fabulous plots, and interesting settings. The writing is top-notch and the author spins the tales and lavishes us with incredible details. The relationship between Luc and Ava is quite complex and their history together is checkered with a bit of drama, but it works well. I do enjoy these books and they are very absorbing often requiring that I read them from cover to cover in a single sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I hope that #7 is in the works but I understand that Helen Fields is writing a standalone novel coming in February of 2021.

This is the 6th book in a series that I urge you to read from the beginning, in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, Scotland

First Cut by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell

Just zipped through this one and I truly hope it is the debut of a new series featuring Dr. Jessie Teska. It's a crime thriller whose protagonist is a spunky Polish medical examiner/forensic pathologist in the city of San Fransisco. The plot is complicated and the details are incredible as would be expected since the author is actually a medical examiner who wrote a memoir, "Working Stiff: Two Yeears, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner" along with her husband, T.J. Mitchell. I loved that book and this happens to be her first fiction novel. If you love medical thrillers, you won't be disappointed!

Jessie has left her job in LA under a bit of a cloud and is hired on at the San Francisco Office of Chef Medical Examiner. It's a far cry from the state-of-the-art facility that she'd worked in LA, but needs must and she jumps right in as assistant medical examiner dealing with sudden, violent, and unexpected deaths. She lives in a converted cable car in the city famed for the Golden Gate Bridge and rued for the near constant fog.  Her first call-out takes her to the Tenderloin with her boss, Dr. Michael Stone, and they find a dead man who was shot multiple times after attempting to steal a computer. Jessie volunteers to do the autopsy and finds a fragment of the computer's serial number embedded in his tissue. The next day brings a new case -- a mutilated woman found in a hotel room -- her body was cut open to retrieve drug packets that she'd swallowed. Then, another, a young woman is discovered dead in her home -- a probable accidental drug overdose. This woman had died from an injection of "Soul Sister" a potent mix of heroin and fentanyl and Jessica believes that there is foul play involved but her bosses want her to close the case.  There's something going on here that seems to tie these 3 separate deaths together. Add in a bitcoin scheme and this all turns into a very complex investigation involving some very powerful people. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this and hope that there will be more books with this main character and her job. I like Jessie and her enthusiasm for her job. I've never been to San Francisco, but I liked all the descriptions about the setting. My favorite parts, however, were all the medical details and I simply can't get enough of those. I find the whole subject quite fascinating and the the cases wholly believable. More, please.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is, I hope, the first in a new series.

Genre - crime thriller 

Why She Ran (Detective Iris Locke #2) by Geraldine Hogan

 This is the second book in the Detective Iris Locke crime thriller series and I think it's quite important that you have read the first book prior to getting into this one as there are many significant events that occurred that are necessary to know about before delving in.

DS Iris Locke is still reeling from the revelations and loss but she is trying to come to terms and get back into her job -- the one thing she still has left. She's now living in a boarding house but has decided to stay with the Corbally station Murder Team in Limerick. She's done with Dublin but knows she belongs here in the town where she was raised despite everything that happened. Her colleague, DS Ben Slattery calls about a case. Seems that a murder has taken place at Curlew Hall, a residential care center for troubled kids who have rich parents. A young carer, Rachel McDermott has been bludgeoned and left dead on the kitchen floor of one of the bungalows. The patient she was assigned to watch, Eleanor Marshall, the 15-year-old daughter of a prominent local businessman, has disappeared. The full force is called out to do a massive search for Eleanor -- did she kill Rachel and why? Everyone loved Rachel so what happened inside the bungalow and has something happened to Eleanor -- who is a vulnerable girl with severe epilepsy and a checkered history? The investigation begins. NO SPOILERS.

The writing is very good, but the story moved quite slowly with lots of interviews back and forth with same people and the usual difficulty in getting information from them. The setting was well-described and there was a sense of menace that wasn't fully realized. The two main characters, Locke and Slattery, have a decent partnership and proceed diligently in their work going without sleep or food. There were many references to what had recently happened to Iris but a paragraph or two summing it up completed would be really helpful to refresh the Reader's memories with all the details. That would make it easier to relate more to Iris and her current emotional status. I would have to say that this installment didn't grab me as much as the first book but I do plan to catch the next one to see what happens for Iris in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second book in the series and I believe it doesn't work very well as a standalone so read the first one prior.
Genre - crime fiction, police procedural

The Blossom Twins (DI Natalie Ward #5) by Carol Wyer

This crime thriller, the 5th in the DI Natalie Ward series, begins like most others in this genre. Two sisters go to a free open-air concert and one of them goes missing only to be found, strangled to death, under an arbor swathed with roses. When Natalie and her team arrive, she's struck by the notion that the position of the body and the presence of the petals might indicate a connection to a previous case that she worked years ago. That killer, however, died in prison. Natalie and her colleagues are going to work this as they do every case -- meticulously and thoroughly. They aren't making much progress interviewing everyone who knew the dead teenager when two other girls, 13-year-old twins Erin and Ivy Westmore, disappear from the tent in their backyard where they'd been camping overnight. Now Natalie is convinced that there's a copycat killer on the loose or that the police had convicted the wrong man in the 2014 cases. Because the team is down a man as DS Murray Anderson is off on a vacation to Australia, the new boss brings in DS John Briggs - the detective who Natalie had worked with on the original Blossom Twins case. Although they don't see eye to eye, they are pursuing all the leads, butting heads, and getting nowhere. Can they find this killer before he strikes again? NO SPOILERS.

I thought I had this one worked out -- until I most certainly didn't. I appreciate the courage it took for Carol Wyer to write this ending as it definitely shifted up my rating for this novel. The suspense at the end was quite crazy and made the slow slog through the very detailed police procedural segments well worth waiting for. Although I'll admit that I don't really like Natalie very much, let's face it -- she's not much of a presence as a mom -- but she definitely does love her job and she's very good at it. Her personal life no longer interests me (same old same) but I am very interested to see what will happen in the next installment given the changes in store. The writing is good, the setting very interesting, and the descriptions are so vivid that you almost feel as if you are right there. Lots of characters that I'd like to get to know better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've been along for the ride having read all of the books in this series and I plan to stick around to see where Carol Wyer is taking us next.

This is the 5th in the series and I do believe they should be read from the beginning, in order.
Genre - crime fiction, police procedural

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel (Miss Underhay #1) by Helena Dixon

A lovely, historical cozy mystery set in Dartmouth, 1933.

It's summer and the start of the tourist season in riverside Dartmouth at the Dolphin Hotel. The fashionable place is owned and managed by Mrs. Treadwell and her granddaughter, Miss Kitty Underhay. As the story opens, a dead body has been fetched out of the river -- the man was a Dutch foreigner -- and the police are involved. Murder is not common in Dartmouth and this news has everyone a bit on edge. So, when Mrs. Treadwell has to leave to attend a relative, Kitty learns that Captain Matthew Bryant has been retained to provide security in her grandmother's absence. At the same time, Kitty finds out that Grams has been receiving threatening letters that hint of an item of great value that the sender wants back. Kitty has been in the care of Grams since she was 6 years old when her mother, Elowed, disappeared during the war. Kitty has no memories of her father. It's a mystery that gets more involved after an assault on the former mayoress and a couple more murders. Everything is complicated by a nosy reporter and the scheduled visit by an entertainer from the US. With plenty of intrigue and a surfeit of suspects, can Kitty and Captain Bryant figure out what the treasure is, find it, and make sure it is secured? NO SPOILERS.

As the first in a new series, this installment introduces us to the two main characters. I really enjoyed getting to know Kitty and Matthew and am eager to see what new adventures and mysteries await. I absolutely loved the time period and the setting and couldn't get enough of the period details of a time long gone. The narrative is well-written and the words flew by as I devoured this in a couple of hours. Lots of action and fun trying to guess which were the bad guys.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I definitely want to read the next book in this series.

This is the first in a new series so, of course, I want to read these in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, historical 1933, Dartmouth

Shatter the Night (Detective Gemma Monroe #4) by Emily Littlejohn

"People would be killed. Lives would be changed. And Cedar Valley would never be the same again."

Evil had crept into Cedar Valley and Detective Gemma Monroe and her colleagues are soon involved in a very complicated case that had it roots in events from long ago. The death of her grandfather's friend, Judge Caleb Montgomery, in a car bombing is just the first incident in what will prove to be a demanding investigation that requires the talents and skills of many different people to bring this killer they've dubbed "Ghost Boy" to justice. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 4th in the series and, although I've only read #3, I had no difficulty jumping right into this well-written crime thriller. It was great to reconnect with familiar characters and meet some new ones. I was most pleased, however, by further development in Gemma's character and I like her quite a lot. She's not a mess like many in this genre and, though she has her scars and some sad things in her past, she's a good detective, plays nicely with her fellow team members, and uses her head to manage the procedural aspects of this escalating situation. I am excited about the developments in her personal life as well, and I hope she can settle in with Brody and baby Grace and combine being a mother and a detective with a happy home life. The plot is quite convoluted and there's a lot going on until it all finally comes together in a satisfying conclusion. It was easy to read in a single sitting and I enjoyed the setting as well as the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

This is the 4th book in the series and I've only read one other and, though I wish I'd gotten in at the beginning, this worked fine for me.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, Colorado setting

The Argument by Victoria Jenkins

This is a seriously twisted domestic drama that starts out slowly and shatters with a deviation that I really didn't expect. Sure, mothers and teenaged daughters don't always see eye to eye...

Whenever I see the words, psychological thriller, I get a bit blasé. I've read hundreds of them and pride myself on spotting those important clues that give away the direction long before the denouement. Since this novel is narrated by both mother and daughter, I figured one of them had to be unreliable. Is it Hannah, the overprotective mother who just wants to keep her daughters safe or is it 15-year-old Olivia who is doing everything she can to try the patience and love of her parents? Then there's Michael, the doting husband, who's given Hannah everything she ever dreamed of having after a pretty bad childhood. And, Rosie, the younger sister who just follows the rules and appears to be the daughter they love more. There's a lot going on and I'll say no more so that you can appreciate this disturbing tale WITHOUT SPOILERS.

I've decided to rate this 4 stars because of the ending. I did read this in a single sitting over a couple of hours because I just had to know before I slept. Some of it seemed very slow but that was what ended up making the startling climax and conclusions so "in your face." It sure brought out all the feels. I can't wait to read more reviews!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - Domestic drama, psychological drama

The Girls in the Lake (Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

This second book in the Beth Adams series finds Dr. Adams, a Forensic Pathologist in the Lake District, living with her boyfriend, DS Josh Walker. Beth is still fixated on her abusive ex, a man who tried to kill her -- twice -- but he's safely locked in prison and now, after 7 long years, she's feeling like she can come out of her self-imposed shell thanks to Josh. This happy little world is upset, however, when the bodies of two females are pulled from Lake Windermere in the space of 24 hours. Then, at a drinks party on a fancy boat, another girl is pushed into the same lake. These events have the same 3 people in common. Is this a serial killer at work or were the drownings accidental? NO SPOILERS.

This is me -- I love science and, as a nurse, I devour all details medical. I've long had a fascination with the work of the forensic pathologist and have read extensively in the sub genre as well as watched all the tv shows. So, I am super picky. And that's where my problem began. Beth Adams is no Kay Scarpetta nor is she a pale comparison to Dr. Quincy (just to name two) and since I know a little bit about the actual JOB duties for this position, I found myself scoffing in disbelief at the things that Beth does in this book. Even so, I continued to read and discovered that I simply don't really like any of the characters. And don't get me started on the stupid issues that Beth and Josh had during the course of their investigation! The plot was a little thin and the perpetrator obvious so there were no surprises except maybe that Beth manages to live despite needing yet another rescue or two!

I guess I might be done with this series despite my eagerness to read about a pathologist and cop who are romantically involved as well as work partners assuming each would stick to his/her strength. Maybe it's different in the Lake District to how this could possibly be done in the USA, but even when taking liberties with it for the sake of the story, it should not be quite so unbelievable? I hate being disappointed but this was a very quick read with lots of emotional angst filler so I can move on. I had such high hopes but accurate scientific detail alone can't carry a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in a series which I think should be read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, mystery

Dark Hollows by Steve Frech

The werewolf "brings destruction to itself and all those around it. It is in his nature."

Jacob Reese, former bagman for a small time drug dealer, has gone straight. He's bought himself a coffee shop in The Hollows, a tiny town in Vermont. Once Groundworks was in the red, Jacob decided to turn a cottage on his property into a B&B, taking advantage of the huge tourist traffic in that New England area. Although he's careful about his renters, he makes a mistake when he hosts Rebecca Lowden to stay for just one night. For one thing, she looks eerily like a former girlfriend, Laura Aisling. But, he knows that despite appearances that this cannot be Laura because he knows that Laura is dead. And it all comes rushing back to him...and soon he's in the middle of a nightmare. NO SPOILERS.

The main theme of this quick read is guilt. Jacob can't escape it and can't save himself. In short, he's a mess and runs around like a crazy person trying to figure out what's going on, who's doing this, and why. Every bit as unbelievable as you might imagine, a great deal of suspension of disbelief will be required as the tale unfolds. Perhaps you will be surprised at the twists, but if you're paying attention, you'll see the setup from the start. I was engaged while reading and it kept my attention as I raced through in a couple of hours. The time shifts were interesting because of the way they were inserted into the narrative. Jacob is the main character and basically the total focus and all I could see was a man drowning under the weight of his past and his mistakes. I really didn't care for the ending but I can make a logical guess though I think I really hoped it would conclude another way. I would say this is a mystery more than anything else.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ (HaperCollins Publishers) for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery

Wrong Victim (DCI Rachel King #3) by Helen H. Durrant

DCI Rachel King, divorced from Alan with two teen-aged daughters, works for East Manchester CID along with several other team members. This crime mystery begins with a call out to Hawthorne Lodge Nursing Home where an elderly resident, Francis Baslow, has been found murdered -- he was suffocated and his ring finger has been removed. In addition, confetti has been spread all over the tiny room. When the officers go to make the notification and bring in Baslow's daughter to ID him, she stuns by saying that the dead man is not her father. It's on! And a complicated case this turns out to be with links to a previous investigation involving human traffickers and the criminals responsible for that illegal activity. There's a lot going on in this police procedural with Rachel unsure of whom to trust and Jed McAteer has skipped town. Can the team unravel this murderous mess and solve their case? NO SPOILERS.

This is typical fare that has all the standard elements of this genre, including a female detective who is really starting to annoy me. She doesn't listen to anyone, has her own opinions, steamrolls over people and makes mistakes while trusting her "instincts." I'd like to get to know the other team members a bit better, especially DCI Mark Kenton and DC Elwyn Price. To be honest, the whole case wasn't really that interesting and it seemed drawn out and convoluted with some of them working at cross purposes, withholding information, etc. and though I've read and enjoyed the previous 2 books in the series, I was hoping that Rachel would have gotten her act together both personally and professionally by now. I'll give the series another shot with book #4, however, as things might be changing for Rachel given the last sentence in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the third book in the series and they should be read in order.
Genre - Crime thriller, police procedural

Winter Dark (Embla Nyström #2) by Helene Tursten

This crime thriller set in rural Sweden by an author new to me was an engaging introduction to Detective Inspector Embla Nyström of Vastra Gotaland County Bureau of Investigation Mobile Unit. She and her two colleagues, Superintendent Goran Krantz and Hampus Stahre, are sent to help in Stromstad after a series of crimes rocks the area. The cases include "two missing children, a fatal stabbing, arson with a presumed fatality, a serious assault and the murder of a police officer." What in the world is going on in that town? NO SPOILERS.

This was extremely descriptive police procedural with all the details. I had not read the first book in the series, but this worked fine as a standalone with enough background information to get me up to speed and allow me to appreciate the development of Embla's character. I like her -- she's no nonsense and independent and I definitely liked that she didn't go off on her own half-cocked and get herself into trouble as many book detective protagonists typically do. I really want to read more about her so will want to obtain the next installment in this series. I liked the writing style and the setting and feel that I'll really like learning more about all members of the team. The cases were resolved and they weren't as grisly as the murder plots I'm used to reading.

Thank you to Soho Crime and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review. Forgive the lack of appropriate Swedish umlaut throughout and consistently placed in my review.

This is the second in series and I wish I had read #1 first although it worked OK as a standalone.
Genre - Mystery, crime thriller, police procedural, set in Sweden

The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes

"Motivations are mysterious things; what we do and why."

Just finished this and must say that my thoughts are all over the place. First of all, as I am used to S.E. Lynes writing psychological thrillers, I was not at all expecting this dark domestic drama full of sadness that permeated through the narrative as it dealt with spousal abuse, drug addiction, imprisonment and death. A bright light that did shine through however was the stress on the importance of family love and the certainty that family can provide redemption as well as it can slowly kill a person by degrees. It's not luck that puts you in one type or the other. Our own choices and the decisions made can affect where we end up, or with whom, but that doesn't answer the big question -- if you marry and/or stay with the wrong kind of person, is that on you -- and if it is, then what does that mean for the children born into such a bad relationship? Because they certainly suffer and, worst of all, they have no control over the situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this book deals with those issues and will elicit a lot of your own introspection as you read.

This novel is told in shifting point of view and in past and present time shifts. The different narratives allow the reader a glimpse into the minds of the main characters and their reactions to the different events that occur. Carol is married to a drunken abuser named Ted. When she's had enough, she leaves him stealing away into the night with her two children, Graham and Nicola. You'd think that getting away would allow her to rebuild her life, but life with Ted as left scars on them all. Graham turns to drugs and Nicola buries herself in school work with ambitions to get to University. Things go from bad to worse and it doesn't look like there is going to be any sort of happy ending for this poor family. Help comes in unexpected ways, however. A listening ear. A kind friend. A gentle soul. NO SPOILERS.

I love the writing and the way the author puts a thought out there for the reader to consider. I both empathized with Carol, and like many women who've never experienced domestic violence, I suspect sometimes you'll want to shake her when you see her do something but that's only because you'll fear for her. Since the story is somewhat reflective given the way it's written, you'll likely have to pause a few times as the revelations come. Though none of it really surprised me, I can say that it felt right and wasn't a "shocking twist" per se. I did enjoy this though it's really not the type of book that I gravitate toward for entertainment but I'm glad I read it.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because there was this incredible sweetness to it despite all the difficulty this family experienced.

This is a standalone that is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, triggers for domestic abuse

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

Atmospheric and suspenseful, this mystery thriller drew me in and kept me fully engaged and guessing until the very last page!

Golden Cove, New Zealand -- "It's lovely and dangerous and beautiful."

Anahera Spenser-Ashby, née Rawrir, returns to her childhood home from London where she'd been living for the past 8 years -- she's just buried her lying, cheating husband. She had never intended to go back, but now she settles in the cabin where her mother had died and finds that much has changed in this wild land at the bottom of the world. Shortly after Anahera reconnects with her best friend, Josie, who now owns the town cafe, a 19-year-old girl named Miriama disappears. Miriama was scheduled to leave Golden Cove to do an internship with professional travel photographers and was the most beautiful girl in the small community where everyone knew and watched over everyone else. Golden Cove's sole policeman, Will (a former detective in Christchurch), and the majority of its inhabitants begin an intense search but no trace of Miriama is found. The community has lost one of its own and the circumstances are eerily similar to disappearances that occurred one summer years ago -- three women had walked into the bush and never came out. Those cases were considered a matter of tourist accident, but was a serial killer hiding in Golden Cove and could that person now have taken Miriama? Will has a huge job ahead of him. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this one, especially because the setting was so interesting and new to me. I've not read any other books by this author, but the writing was excellent and the narrative style as it shifted between Anahera and Will was extremely effective in advancing the story in their points of view. The characters were very appealing and relatable and I didn't even mind the romance part so much. I kept guessing until the climax and big reveal and found the conclusion very satisfying. I'm sorry to leave Golden Cove behind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery thriller, romance -- unusual setting

The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen

I'll be the first to admit that I rarely read romance of any kind, much less delve into books with supernatural elements, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this gothic suspense novel by an author whose books I've read since I discovered her medical thrillers back in the day. I've not kept up with the R and I series, but I was curious and decided to give this departure a go: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Yes, there's a damsel in distress. Ava Collette, a 30-something food writer, has done a bad, bad thing and she escapes Boston and her beloved older sister, Lucy, to Maine to finish a book that has gone way past deadline. She also wants to forget so she drowns her sorrows in cooking and alcohol. She arrives in August and plans to stay until October. She brings her Maine Coon cat, Hannibal.

The setting: Ava runs to Tucker Cove and a 150-year-old mansion on the cliff overlooking the ocean. The place she has rented is known as Brodie's Watch and was built by a sea captain who went down with his ship in about 1861 so the place has a history. The house is a bit forbidding at first, but when she enters, she feels that she is welcomed and safe. Plus it has a great kitchen and is beautifully redone inside, especially after the workmen finish a turret room and a widow's walk up top. Tucker Cove is a very small New England town where everyone knows the "insiders" and of course, are a bit distrustful of the tourists.

The characters that interact with Ava are all quite interesting and seem a bit secretive. The most intriguing is what appears to be the ghost of Captain Jeremiah Brodie himself. In fact, Ava soon believes that she is actually able to hear, see and touch him, "Here in my house, what you seek is what you will find."

The plot is where things get a bit crazy as Ava soon discovers that every single woman who has stayed in the house has died -- some in the house, but things escalate when a woman's body is found in the sea and it turns out that...well, NO SPOILERS. Is Ava gone crazy in some sort of alcohol fueled hallucination sequence or is there a killer in Tucker Cove?

The writing is fantastic and when combined with the gothic overtones and the supernatural elements, the narrative zings along and I couldn't put this book down as I was desperate to find out what was going on and if Ava would be OK. The crazy erotic scenes and Ava playing amateur sleuth just added to the whole package and, while unbelievable to this skeptic, I found it all quite fun.

I had almost decided to skip this one entirely after reading some reviews, but I like to form my own opinion and I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- gothic romantic suspense, mystery, erotica, supernatural elements

I Dare You by Sam Carrington

"Sometimes when you go digging you unearth things you're not looking for."

3.5 stars rounded up because it was quite the twisty tale and one I had to think about for a bit after I finished it in a single sitting tonight after only intending to read a few chapters.

In 1989, in a small town named Mapledon, two young girls are taunting a neighbor with a knock-knock-run game. At the end of the evening, 10-year-old Jonie Hayes would go missing and her friend, Bella's, testimony at the trial would put that same neighbor behind bars for over 30 years. No body was ever found, but Bella's eyewitness version of what happened would prove enough to convict Billy Cawley of abduction and murder.

Fast forward to 2019 and Bella, now using the name, Anna, hears that Cawley is going to be released from prison. She goes to Mapledon because her mother, Muriel Fisher, is worried. It seems that someone has nailed a doll's head to her front door and she thinks it might be Billy come to extract some kind of revenge over things that happened back in 1989 even before he killed Jonie. In addition, Billy's release has brought someone else to town -- Lizzie Brenfield -- and she is going to get answers to all of her questions about Billy and about the events of 1989. NO SPOILERS.

It's hard to write about this book because I don't want to give anything away. I found the most difficult impediment to my total enjoyment of this novel was the way in which it was written. It jumps between 1989 and 2019 and between characters and that shift is usually right about the moment where something important is going to happen or be revealed. In this case, I would have preferred less flashback and a more linear tale so that the story elements would be less confusing but perhaps that style was the whole point to create the tension and deepen the mystery. What can I saw about these characters, well not much as identifying my feelings about one or the others would give it away. Let's just say that there were some that I despised, some I felt sorry for, and some that I am still on the fence about.

Give this one a shot as it's drama, yes, but definitely thought-provoking and not what I was expecting. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, mystery, themes of sexual abuse of minor

Cold Heart Creek (Detective Josie Quinn #7) by Lisa Regan

This is the 7th book in a series and I've read all of them, in order, and suggest that you not tackle this as a standalone as there is a lot of backstory in Detective Josie Quinn's personal and professional life.

In this installment, Josie and her live-in boyfriend, Noah Fraley (also a Detective), are called to a camp site where they find two bodies. Husband and wife, Tyler and Valerie Yates, appear to have been poisoned. As they search the campsite, it's obvious that most of their belongings have been taken except for one oddity -- a third sleeping bag. Who was the person who was with them and where are they now? Their investigation takes them to a nearby commune, known as The Sanctuary, and their interviews with the inhabitants lead them nowhere though Josie is suspicious that these people know something that they aren't sharing. Then, on their way back to the station after an exhausting, wet August day, they find a pregnant woman stumbling out of the woods. After Josie delivers the baby (!) and they get the woman and infant to the hospital only to find out that the woman has been missing for 2 years. Is there a connection between their dead campers and this woman? And how is The Sanctuary involved? NO SPOILERS.

This was an easy one-sitting read and I really was all-in for the first 2/3 of the book. Then, something happens that sort of put me off the rest of the story and I never got back the level of interest I had in the case. Josie finally has some sort of closure in her personal life with Lila, however, and I hope that also ends her nightmares (which should require her to be in therapy). I hope that Josie and Noah's relationship can survive. There wasn't much in this installment about the other members of their team: Detectives Gretchen Palmer and Finn Mettner and the main focus was on them running around piecing together this complicated case. To sum up my feelings -- well, this was not one of my favorites in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 7th book in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.
Genre - police procedural, crime thriller

All the Best Lies (Ellery Hathaway #3) by Joanna Schaffhausen

Lucky me - I was able to read all 3 of the books in the series in 3 days and what a great thrill ride it has been! My only regret in devouring these this fast is that most horrible of fates: waiting for the next installment to be written and appear on my shelf.

Former policewoman Ellery Hathaway (she's on leave) and FBI agent Reed Markham are at it again. Their partnership takes them on many trips, but this one is very personal to Markham. Over 40 years ago, his mother was murdered while he lay in a crib in another room. Camilla Flores was only 19 when she died and her case was never solved. Based on some recent information that Markham received, this investigation just might cost him everything. Despite knowing the possible price, he and Ellery head to Las Vegas to see what they can stir up. It doesn't take long before these two are stirring up all kinds of trouble. NO SPOILERS.

I love this duo, they are fun and infuriating all in the same sentence! The stories are good even as sometimes quite far-fetched in terms of reality vs real things they could get away with, but I enjoy the writing and the fun of trying to solve the case and point the finger at the bad people before they figure it out. I know that no one will be surprised that the newly divorced Markham and Ellery might have a "thing" developing and I'm eager to see where this goes. I have to say, however, that the conclusion was indeed a bit of a twisted surprise and I definitely did not like that character!

I'm so glad that I was able to read these back-to-back and I look forward eagerly for the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the third book to date in a series and I suggest reading them all in order from the beginning.
Genre - crime thriller

No Mercy (Ellery Hathaway #2) by Joanna Schaffhausen

I barely took a breath between finishing the first and starting this second book in a really exciting crime thriller series. Because it is so engrossing, I couldn't put it down so spent today enjoying this new installment. This could be read without having read THE VANISHING SEASON, but I prefer to start at the beginning and read the books in order.

Ellery Hathaway is a police officer whose badge has recently been taken away because she shot a man at the end of the last book. Despite the fact that he was intent on killing her, the department has decided she needs some therapy to earn back her job. "You kill one guy, one time, and suddenly everyone thinks you need therapy." Ellery isn't sorry and she basically lies about how it all went down, but was forced to move out of her home and is licking her wounds marking time. At one of her mandated group meetings, she meets other victims who've been through tragedy and ends up getting involved in their personal stories. Two of them ask for her help and of course she can't say no as she really understands their pain. Who is she going to call to get some inside information? FBI profiler Reed Markham, of course. They have a strange bond because he's the one who rescued her from the serial killer's closet when she was just 14-years-old. Even though his boss is threatening his continued career in the FBI because of his last involvement with Ellery, Reed can't help himself as he's committed to caring about her well-being. So, they embark on their own side investigations that deal with a violent serial rapist and a long-ago fire that resulted in the death of a three-year-old boy.
NO SPOILERS.

Even though I am 100% sure that no two people could get away with what these two do on the outside of any law enforcement agency, I do enjoy the plot and the drama of their search for truth and justice. Ellery is quite an interesting character and I can definitely understand why she feels and acts the way she does -- she can't help herself, so she is dedicated and intent on helping others. Reed is protective and feels responsible for Ellery though I sense that his motives are becoming far more personal the more time they spend together. Getting to know one another more intimately while they pull all sorts of shenanigans to get information. I actually quite like them both and am eager to see what happens next as the end of this one gives us quite the twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing this e-book ARC for me to read, review and recommend. And off I go to start #3 -- and then, darn it, I'll be waiting...

This is the second book of the series and I suggest you read them in order.
Genre - crime thriller, rape, arson,

The Vanishing Season (Ellery Hathaway #1) by Joanna Schaffhausen

Ellery Hathaway survived an abduction when she was 14 years old. A serial killer had taken her on her birthday and she was rescued from the closet by FBI Agent Reed Markham who'd gone on to write a best selling book about the case. Now, years later, Ellery is working as a police officer in Woodbury, Massachusetts. No one there knows her past but then people start vanishing, exactly one year apart, right around her birthday. No one at work believes that these missing persons require much investigation nor do they agree that these are all connected and that a new killer might be working the area. Since she has no support from her Chief or fellow officers, Ellery contacts Reed Markham and asks him to come to Massachusetts to look at the files. Ellery knows that somehow this is connected to her and her past. NO SPOILERS.

This is the first in a series featuring the former kidnap victim turned policewoman Abigail Ellery Hathaway. She's an interesting protagonist with her history and her scars and I intend to get to know her better by reading the next books in the series. I liked the story and the writing style as it kept me engrossed enough to read it all in a single sitting. Even though I had it all figured out before the team, I still enjoyed the details of the police procedural.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I appreciate that it was still available to download even though it was published in 2017 as I like to start at the beginning of a series and read the books in order. I have #2 and #3 queued up.

This is the first in a series and I suggest reading in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

In the summer of 1922, Cora Carlisle, aged 36, accompanied 15-year-old Louise Brooks to New York. It would be a season of tremendous change for Cora even though her role was meant to be that of chaperone while Louise attended Denishawn in hopes of becoming a dancer with the company. Their time together was not particularly wonderful as the two clashed about many things while sharing that tiny apartment. They did not bond or become friends, but they did get something that each wanted or needed during their time in New York. This is not a story about Louise and how she became a star, the narrative focuses more on Cora and it's meant to be loosely based on true events and lots of research by the author. Cora is certainly an unconventional woman for that era and though she pretends to be morally above reproach and as such, a suitable chaperone for an adolescent, there are secrets and lies simmering beneath her placid surface. Meanwhile, she tries to rein in the headstrong Louise but finds that it might just be impossible to exert any influence.

This was just an excellent story -- I loved the writing style and the characters came to life on the pages. I've long been fascinated with this period of time in American history and enjoyed reading about the places (Wichita, New York City), the daily life of the people, and just everything about the 1920s and beyond as events unfurled.

I really liked this novel and am glad I decided to read it after watching the movie adaptation on PBS just last Sunday evening. I regret that it languished on my TBR pile for so long especially since I was given access to this title on NetGalley courtesy of the publisher a LONG TIME AGO! My apologies for the tardiness of my review.

I recommend it to any fan of Louise Brooks of course, but also to anyone who likes a book that deals with how characters handle the good and the bad in their lives. Some bend, some break.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- historical fiction, coming of age, Louise Brooks references

He Knows Your Secrets (DS Maddie Ives Book 4) by Charlie Gallagher

3.5 stars rounded up for this 4th book in the Detective Maddie Ives series. A graphic crime thriller that has the police trying to stop an evil and powerful man who manipulates, exploits, controls and kills women.

A young woman, Holly Maguire, commits suicide by having a taxi drive off a steep cliff. She holds a rucksack that contains clues that she hopes will cause the police to investigate her death and bring down a monster. Holly's girlfriend, Kelly Dale, is snared in the clutches of a ruthless man who produces sex camera videos and uses violence to keep the women involved and in line. Anyone who threatens Freddie Rickman ends up dead, or locked into a life that he completely controls. Richman is seemingly untouchable and, because of his methods, no one connected to him will talk to the police. How will Maddie Ives and her boss, DI Harry Blaker, bring this crime lord down? NO SPOILERS.

This was quite a gruesome and suspenseful book with horrible people who made me cringe and innocent victims who tugged at my heartstrings. The narrative was full of action and quite tense as the police went about trying to sift through the clues to figure out the scope of the investigation and close the case. I liked the writing style and I would probably have felt closer to the characters had I read the previous books in this series -- I've only read the first one and not #2 or #3 so I likely missed some development and those important personal details that make a character real and understandable. I will definitely look for the next installment to find out more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the 4th book in the series. I wish I'd read all of them from the beginning in order but I missed #2 and #3.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

Recursion by Blake Crouch

"Time is but memory in the making." Vladimir Nabokov

This thriller was full of action, twists and drama -- it totally reminded me of why I love science fiction novels. I was glued to the pages and I dare you to put it down once you start!

The themes of this book are so uniquely handled -- the nature of identity, the inconstancy of memory, and the perception of time. The author pulls all of these together to create a story that will linger on long in my mind and one that I can't wait to share with others.

The main characters, especially NYC Detective Barry Sutton and scientist Dr. Helena Smith, are people that become real in the pages as they tackle the huge issue that was Helena's brainchild - a chair that allows what seemingly is time travel through memory. As with any new technology, a major invention has huge impacts on society and always comes with a question of whether it will be used for good, or for bad. The potential for change has consequences and the evil forces in the world can't help but crave the power. NO SPOILERS.

I loved the pacing, the plot and the writing style. The questions created by the book's premise beg reflection and discussion and even if I can't say that I understand the science, it was engaging and relatable. I rooted for the good guys, hoped the bad guys would get their comeuppance and was a bit scared as the narrative rushed to the conclusion of a remarkable adventure that I didn't want to end.
If you enjoy a novel that makes you think, be sure to read this one that "pierces the veil of perception."

I understand that there is to be an upcoming Netflix film adaptation of this book and I can't wait to see it. Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishhing for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- science fiction, action, thriller

Death at Sandy Bay (DC Sukey Reynolds #13) by Betty Rowlands

DC Sukey Reynolds of the Avon and Somerset CID is called out to investigate the drowning death of a guest at the nearby Dallingron Manor on Sandy Bay. She and the rest of the team are meant to determine if this was an accident or murder. Subsequently, there are two more deaths that may or may not be connected. Why would someone want Lance Rainbird dead? After all, he was just an introverted accountant who happened to be very interested in music and was simply attending an event when he ended up in the lake. It's a very frustrating and perplexing case and requires many hours to get to the bottom of it all. NO SPOILERS.

It's a very sad day indeed to come to the end of this series. I've enjoyed reading all the books from the beginning and feel that it is probably time to bring it all to a close. I've watched Sukey go from scene of crime investigator to detective, noticed her move to Bristol and the changing romantic relationships she's had now ending up with the journalist, Harry Matthews. I missed her son, Fergus, in this book as he was completely absent, and I felt the lack of finding out any news about him. This mystery wasn't quite as compelling as I'd hoped, but solve it she did and I can wave goodbye to this cozy crime series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. It's a good police procedural and mystery collection and I'm glad I had the chance to read them all now as I'd missed out when they were all previously published.

This is #13 in a series featuring Sukey Reynolds and I read them all from the beginning in order and urge you to do the same.
Genre - cozy mystery, police procedural

Single by K.L. Slater

I just finished this, read it over a couple of hours. I'm sorry to say that, even after thousands of reviews I've written, I still can't find the words to explain why I didn't care for a particular book -- but in a nice way.
"It's not you, it's me." I think I'm just overly critical of most psychological fiction and domestic drama. 
Although not my cup of tea, I do thank NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me the e-book ARC to read and review. I won't give stars as honestly I would not have finished it except I was hoping...

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, psychological thriller

I've read other books by this author and would try again.

Anything for You (Valerie Hart #3) by Saul Black

"The reasons, the motives, the hows and whys -- they were all drawn from the same small human pool: greed; anger; envy; lust; vengeance. Every murder sprang from ordinary sources."

This crime thriller defied my usual expectations in both good and bad ways. At the half-way point, I actually wasn't sure I'd finish it. I was put off by the personality of SFPD Homicide Detective Valerie Hart -- she takes "messed up" to a whole new level. The way she thinks, talks and acts is so deliberately crass and it's true that she's the picture of a narcissist. On the other hand, I finally came to believe that it's all just one huge defense mechanism. And, she's afraid. But, enough about her innermost thoughts and angst, because it so happens that she's a pretty darn good cop. She's got good instincts, works hard, and doesn't stop until she figures it all out.

The plot -- a former star prosecutor, Adam Grant, in the San Francisco DA's office who had subsequently gone into private practice -- is discovered dead in his bedroom alongside his wife who has been stabbed, is barely breathing, but still alive. An intruder was spotted by an insomniac neighbor next door and forensics finds plenty of physical evidence allowing the police to identify the killer. A manhunt for the suspect goes nowhere -- the ex con, Dwight Jenner, has done a runner. Nor can the beautiful, blonde woman seen with Jenner, known as Sophia, be located. Although the police effort is intense and detailed, that is really not the main story. Grant's wife, Rachel, eventually recovers from her injuries well enough to go home to be with her teenaged daughter, Elspeth, who fortunately was sleeping over at a friend's house the night of the intrusion and murder. Valerie Hart follows the clues but she has no way of knowing where this complicated case is going to lead. NO SPOILERS.

I'm sorry to hear that some don't finish this book because the last third of it really made up for the earlier slog as the author dangles out bits and pieces of this and that, all the while luring the reader in for the climax. Do I like or understand Valerie Hart any more at the end? Not really, she's way too cynical and crude, too self-absorbed, too focused on wrecking her life -- but she gets the job done. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I find myself curious as to what the next installment might offer and I'm hoping for some sort of redemption and, dare I say, some good decisions? So she could be a little content maybe? I really enjoyed the writing style, well, when I wasn't offended by the constant sexual references and again, Valerie seems to act more like an alpha male than a woman. Anyway, upshot -- I did end up liking this and how it ended. "The truth was the law didn't work. It was nothing more than the best failure civilization had on offer."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'd left it languishing on the TBR but was reminded of it when I saw it sponsored in a Facebook post. I'm glad I made time to read it.

This is Glen Duncan writing as Saul Black. Triggers abound but to list them might give things away.

This is the third book featuring Valerie Hart. I've not read the first two and felt this was OK to read without having read them.
Genre - police procedural - crime thriller

Black Rock Bay by Brianna Labuskes

It's been 15 years since Mia had been on St. Lucy's Island, Maine. This tiny place, home to about 200 residents year round, was isolated, battered with horrible weather, and full of bad memories. Mia Hart is now a police detective in Rockport and was sent to the island to investigate the death of a journalist on Black Rock Bay because it was familiar to her having grown up there. She's accompanied by her partner, Detective Izzy Santiago, and they are meant to determine if Robert Twist ended up in the ocean due to murder or suicide -- then off and away within a couple of days. That's the plan but it all starts going awry fairly quickly after their arrival. For one thing, NO ONE on the island will answer their questions truthfully. Even though Mia knows most all of them, she also knows that they protect each other and lying is something that everyone does very well. How can they solve this case and get back home before winter storms keep them stranded. With every contact and interview, the investigation gets steered off course and Mia is hampered by her own history there. Can the detectives get to the bottom of this very complex web of secrets, lies and obstruction? NO SPOILERS.

This was a very complicated and, at times, very frustrating read. Because of the evasiveness of the answers given by the townspeople, it was hard to figure out what was going on and which of the possibilities could be eliminated for the various scenarios. The description of St. Lucy's made me shiver as I could feel the cold and the isolation of the island so very well done with the writing style. There were so many characters to keep track of and hard to wade through the information. Add to that the fact that the detectives couldn't get cell or internet service -- well, they had to operate in a vacuum surrounded by so many untrustworthy people. The chapters alternated between the points of view of both Mia and Izzy -- the insider and the outsider -- which gave another dimension to each interaction and experience they shared. This wasn't a particularly fast read but I sure spent a lot of time trying to outguess the author to figure out where this was all going, the motivation, and the revelations that would explain it all. This is the first book I've read by this author and I did enjoy the atmospheric tension and, though a bit slower of a pace than I'm used to, I would try another book by Brianna Labuskes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery featuring two female police detectives, remote island, winter,

The Silent Victim (Jesie Tucker #1) by Dana Perry

"You never know what you're going to find when you start messing around with the past."

Jessie Tucker is a survivor. Twelve years ago, she was attacked and left for dead in Central Park. She eventually recovered from her horrific injuries and went on to become a crime reporter for the NEW YORK TRIBUNE. The perpetrator was caught, sentenced to prison and died in a knife attack there. She's learning to let go of the past when another woman is found in the park, this one murdered in a scarily similar fashion and is identified as a campaign aid to a local senator, Frank Landsdale. Jessie can't help but think that the events that follow aren't the makings of an incredible story, so she begins her own investigation into the death of Margaret Kincaid using her own experience to heighten the story. Little does she know what her dogged, in depth pursuit of the truth will reveal. NO SPOILERS.

Well, this was certainly a book that begs to be read in a single sitting. It was quite intense with twists around every corner! I enjoyed the narrative and really found myself able to relate to the character of Jessie Tucker. Yeah, she goes of half-cocked and is nosing into everyone's business, but her aim is to figure out what happened to Margaret Kincaid as well as to end her curiosity about her own near death experience. There are plausible suspects around every corner and the shocks just keep on coming as Jessie does her thing. I enjoyed this and am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series as this was the debut. I liked the writing style and the complicated plot. It was a bit different to my usual detective novels and I relished the change of point of view. More please.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

Original title - Girl Walking Alone. This is the first in a new series featuring investigative reporter Jessie Tucker. Read in order!

Genre - crime fiction

Her Dark Heart (DI Gina Harte #5) by Carla Kovach

She took something from him, and he's come to get it back.

DI Gina Harte gets the call one evening -- a report of a missing woman. Mary Hudson tells Harte and PC Kapoor that her daughter, Susan, had failed to pick up her 2-year-old son from the nursery and did not pick up her two daughters from her soon-to-be ex husband as arranged. Mary is adamant that Susan adored her children and would not have left them voluntarily. Mary knows something has happened but her other daughter, Clare, thinks it's just Susan running off to get attention -- after all, she's done it before. DI Harte asks the questions and opens the investigation but she senses that the family is keeping secrets. The Cleevesford Police are taking the disappearance seriously, especially when the body of a male is found and declared a homicide. It seems that Dale Blair had a tenuous connection to Susan and the two were heard arguing on the day Susan vanished. As the police actively begin an in depth examination of Susan's life, new information comes to light that indicates that Susan had been involved in something very dark during her teen years and that her secrets are about to be revealed. Things heat up dramatically as the detectives get closer to figuring out what's going on but who is telling the truth? NO SPOILERS.

This was a complicated case and requires a lot of details to explain all of the pieces and people involved in this suspenseful crime thriller. DI Gina Harte is struggling with her own personal demons and still reeling from the death of her mother as well as trying to get her guilt under control and forgive herself for her own past. So, Gina knows how a person's unresolved past can haunt them and the lengths that someone will go through to keep their secrets hidden. I can only hope that she gets a solid breakthrough and will be on the path to complete healing so she can navigate a relationship and allow herself friendship or even love. I feel for her, I do, but let's agree she's tortured herself long enough and needs to "let it go." Now, as far as the other characters in this series -- I enjoy learning more about the members of Gina's team at the police department but we don't get much information about their lives outside their work. DCI Briggs is a complicated man, and Gina's boss, but I don't know if that relationship will ever work out! As far as the Hudson family -- what a train wreck there! I'd say they all need some serious therapy to deal with all their issues in the aftermath of their ordeals in this book. But, onward, I'm looking forward to book #6 to see what happens with Gina Harte in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've read all the previous books in the series and suggest that any reader do the same before tackling this one.

This is the fifth book in the series and I urge you to read them in order as I don't think it works well as a standalone given Gina's backstory and history though there are a lot of details in this one.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

Snow Creek (Det. Megan Carptener #1) by Gregg Olsen

 "In the mostly undisturbed magnificence of the Pacific Northwest is a spate of murders, dark and ugly as any could imagine."

Detective Megan Carpenter lives in Port Townsend, Washington, and works for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Most of the crime there is fairly mundane -- until the cases in the hills above nearby Snow Creek shatter the peace. It starts with a missing person report. Ruth Turner is concerned about her sister, Ida Wheaton, who lives off the grid up in those isolated hills with her husband, Merritt, and their two children, Joshua (19) and Sarah (17). Ruth claims that Merritt is very controlling and liberal with "discipline" and she's not heard from Ida in awhile but that she was a "little off" the last time they talked. Megan agrees to do a welfare check and they visit the secluded farmhouse finding that the two teenagers are home but the parents have supposedly taken a trip to Mexico to work at an orphanage and should have returned by now. Megan verifies with La Paloma that Ida and Merritt never made it there and, in fact, weren't even scheduled to work. The investigation into the Merritts is heightened when a burnt out truck with the body of a dead woman is found in a nearby ravine. Is it Ida? Where is her husband? And the case really takes off with one shocker after another. NO SPOILERS but you can't even guess where this is all going!

Wowza was this a complicated crime thriller! Not only is there the police investigation aspect, there's also a huge backstory about the main character, Megan Carpenter. I admit that I was more interested in the murder case than I was in Megan's history and interspersing the content of the tapes with chapters dealing with the present was jarring at times. She works the Snow Creek case by day but every evening goes home to eat, drink and listen to recordings made with her therapist. She did something bad in her past. We don't find out what. I guess the typical hot mess female detective so common in this genre. But, she's smart and she sure unraveled this mystery.

This is what I liked -- the plot was complex and very absorbing to the point where I couldn't put the book down. Gregg Olsen knows how to tell a story, and what a tale it is -- keep focused so you can try to keep track of all of the different pieces and characters. The details about Snow Creek and its inhabitants were quite interesting and the characters were quite the collection of strange folks. There was so much going on and so many different threads to pull together for Megan to solve this that it made my head spin at times. And, quite a thrill for me, I could never have anticipated all of where this was going so kudos to the author for surprising me.

It needs to be said straight up -- this books ends in a massive cliffhanger. You've been warned. I absolutely detest when this happens as I am the kind of reader that likes everything tied up neatly with all the answers at the end. Waiting for a next installment to finish a good story is problematic especially since I admit I don't always remember the details a year later. I'm sure this was done as a hook for the second book in this new series, but it did leave me feeling peeved. I also understand that there was an earlier book, published in 2014, RUN, that features the main character and focuses on events that occurred when she was a young teenager -- I did not know it was related and had not read it. Will I read #2? Yes, I'd like to as long as I'll get my answers so I can wrap it all up and perhaps understand Megan a bit better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the first book in a new series. If you can, I suggest you read RUN first as it introduces the character who will become Detective Megan Carpenter.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, domestic drama

The Perfect Widow by A.M. Castle

"Don't we all have lies we need, at all costs, to hide? ...how far will people go to protect the life they love?"

On a September evening, the doorbell rings at the Bridges' beautiful home. Louise Bridges is at the kitchen table doing homework with her 13-year-old son, Giles, and her 11-year-old daughter, Emmy, was upstairs doing who knows what when Louise asks her to get the door. It's the worst news imaginable. A fire at the office has killed her husband, Patrick. Louise gathers her children to her as she absorbs this shocking and devastating information from the police who are doing the knock. She's a widow now, with two children, that need all her love and support. But PC Becca Holt isn't satisfied with the verdict of accidental death and she's determined to prove that Louise isn't "the Perfect Widow" that everyone sees. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller! I loved the writing style and the way the narrative was written from the points of view of both Louise and Becca as well as the shifts back and forth in time. The sentences and the chapters were short which made the story fly by and was so absorbing that I read it in a single sitting as I couldn't put it down without knowing the outcome. The two female characters, Louise and Becca, were so different and each was dealing with the fallout from their pasts and that insight into their personalities made them so relatable in many ways. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to happened writhing these pages, but I was quite pleased with the conclusion. I've not read any other books by this author, but I will definitely keep an eye out for future titles.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. A very entertaining domestic drama with many nuances that challenge your thoughts on crime and punishment!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological fiction/domestic drama

The Quiet Girls (DS Carrie Flynn #2) by J.M. Hewitt

This second book featuring DS Carrie Flynn takes her back into the nightmare she experienced when her 6-year-old sister, Hattie, disappeared over 20 years ago. The girls had walked to a park and when Carrie left Hattie behind for a moment in a pique of annoyance, Hattie...well, Carrie can't remember exactly what happened -- she's blocked it out. But she does remember the bloody shorts and how their mother, Mary, was never the same. Carrie ended up in care and then went on to become a police officer with her main goal to save other children from whatever happened to Hattie.

Now, Carrie is getting anonymous phone calls from a girl who claims that she has reported a man to them but the police won't do anything so she must take matters into her own hands. Frustrated because neither she nor her partner, DC Paul Harper, can get the caller's name, they are left without anything or anyone to question or arrest. There is a case in the works, however, as a 12-year-old girl named Kelly claims she was drug into a house and assaulted but there are some holes in the story and the detectives aren't quite sure if they are hearing the truth. They can't locate the person who was allegedly in the house, have no description or even a name but they plug on doggedly.

In another thread, Harry and Alice Wilson hear from their daughter, Melanie, that the story told by Kelly isn't exactly complete but there was a man inside this house and he was naked from the waist down and had a deformed face. Harry, who is obviously mentally ill, decides that he will move his family away from Manchester and that they will live off the land on the deserted Pomona Island. Alice, who apparently is very weak-willed quits her job and agrees to sell their house and go with her family. Harry entices another family to come along with them and so the Hadleys -- Gabe, Liz and their twins, Willow and Lenon (age 15) show up to take the boat to Pomona.

And that's where the real story starts. What happens on this island when these two families are completely cut off from the rest of the world. No amenities, no Internet or cell service, and no way to contact the mainland if they get into trouble. And they will need help soon. NO SPOILERS.

What a story! You must be able to suspend disbelief in order for this drama to work but it did completely draw me in and I couldn't put it down as I had to know what happened to these people. My feelings about the characters were all over the place and I didn't know much of the time if any of them were completely sane. Often I felt like screaming, "OH COME ON!" when something seemed way too conveniently coincidental or completely unlikely. But I went with it. We definitely learned a lot more about Carrie Flynn and I think she could grow on me. I've read both books now and am interested to see where this character will go next. The details about the island were fascinating, especially the author's note at the end. A most unusual setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'll be on the lookout for #3 in the series.

This is the second book in a series and I think that with these two it isn't necessary to have read the first one as Carrie Flynn was not as major of a character in it as she is in this one.
Genre - crime thriller, domestic drama - trigger=pedophile

The Snow Killer (DI Barton #1) by Ross Greenwood

Revenge is a dish best served cold. The Snow Killer knows exactly what to do...

Fifty years ago, outside a rural cottage in Lincolnshire, a family of 4 is gunned down in the snow. One of the children survived and later managed to track and kill the men who had killed those family members. Then all went quiet. But now there are new bodies appearing in nearby Peterborough and the police have no idea why. How can it be that there is any connection to what happened all those years ago -- certainly DI John Barton and his fellow detectives at the Major Crimes Unit don't know because it all happened way before they were even born. By the time they figure it out, how many more murders will occur?

This is the first in a new series introducing DI John Barton and focuses on the current murder investigations of several victims in Peterborough. Each was killed during a snow storm. No clues or messages were left with the bodies but all were known to be connected with local crime and drug operations. Is this some sort of vendetta or a takeover of territory attempt? The reader knows because one point of view in the narrative is that of the Snow Killer but it takes the length of the book to figure out the whole story and there are some surprises along the way.

There were a lot of characters to keep straight in this crime thriller and we are just getting to know a little bit about them. I admit that I really liked DI Barton and am looking forward to learning more about him and his family and fellow detectives. I could definitely feel the cold and the chilling effect of the snow created a mood for the story. This was a little bit more than the typical police procedural as it gave some insight into the killer and although I wasn't quite sure how I wanted this to end, the author brought it all to a very satisfactory conclusion. The killer was unique and complex though the age-old revenge motive played out in a slower pace so this was not action-packed even as there was a lot going on. I will definitely be interested in the second book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the first book in a new series that I intend to read in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, revenge, murder

Woman in the Water by Katerina Diamond (#6 in the Miles and Grey series)

Warning -- this is not a crime thriller for the sensitive and delicate as it deals with some extremely graphic material that I can't elucidate as to avoid big spoilers. This book was, at times, difficult to read.

"People warn you about strangers, but no one warns you about the people you love, the people who say they love you."

DS Adrian Miles is driving along Glasshouse Lane when he notices a crowd by the wall of the riverside. He pulls over only to discover a woman in the water -- she's alive. The beaten and bruised woman is taken to the hospital where she refuses to give her name and says that she doesn't remember what happened to her. Soon after, the body of a young male is pulled from the same river and the woman vanishes from her hospital bed. Miles and his partner and lover, DS Imogen Grey, are very concerned over the fate of the abused woman and the police investigation into the murdered man (once he's identified) takes them into a situation that will change their lives forever. Their first shock is when they arrive at the home of a man they want to question about the dead male and find that the woman Adrian rescued is no other than Reece Corrigan's wife. Adrian feels drawn to Angela Corrigan because of his own experience with domestic abuse growing up and his reactions and behavior indicate he's close to going off the rails with this case. Things escalate quickly as the detectives discover that people who cross Reece Corrigan end up broken or dead. Can they get the evidence they need if no one will speak up or testify against him?

Wow, this was quite the intense read and I was almost gasping aloud as I sat glued to this book reading it cover to cover in a single sitting. I had no idea going into this one that it was part of a series as it's not listed as such so I had no previous exposure to either Adrian or Imogen. I didn't know their history or how their romantic relationship developed so it was somewhat difficult to relate to them as a couple given all their worries and problems being work mates as well as lovers. They were actually kind of irritating as they danced around their issues and insecurities, but I just sort of let that go since there were other overwhelming events that occurred to take the focus off romance. I must say that I have never read a story that contained this particular...I wish I could actually talk about it here, but I won't. I don't think I'll ever quite look at some things in the same way again having really not considered them before. The bad guy is really evil and the climax and conclusion were spectacular even as the end left room for a follow-up that I definitely want to read. There's a lot of repair and healing that needs to happen and I hope for the best! If you like a gritty thriller that makes you squirm, this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I definitely wish I'd started the series from the beginning rather to come in at book #6.

This is the sixth book in the Miles and Grey series and I wish I would have read them from the beginning in order. Unfortunately, this was my first book by this author which may have affected my overall reaction and review.
Genre - crime thriller with triggering themes

The Almanack by Martine Bailey

"Superstition. Murder. Vengeance." Set in the fictional town of Netherlea in 1752, this extremely well-written historical novel will entertain and engage. The author has done meticulous research that brings the story to life With the lovely, descriptive prose and is centered around the pages of an almanack so marks each chapter with the date, the sun and moon activity and a prognostication for the day. In addition, a truly unique feature is the riddle at the beginning of each new chapter. I blame those riddles for slowing my usual reading pace as I labored tremendously to try to guess the answer and solve each before I allowed myself to get back into the narrative!

Tabitha Hart, former prostitute in London, returns to Netherlea at the behest of her mother. Along the way, she's robbed of her money and possessions and so enters the village with nothing but her sullied reputation only to find that her mother has died. Tabitha's mother had been the village searcher -- recording and tending all manner of village life from births to deaths, and Tabitha is entreated to take on that role so that she can stay in the cottage where her mother lived with the child, Bess. Tabitha does not believe that her mother's death was a natural one and as she assumes her new duties, she is determined to find out the truth. It seems there is evil at work in Netherlea and Tabitha joins forces with an aspiring writer, newcomer Nathaniel Starling, to root out the tormentor who signs his threatening notes as "D" or De Angelo. NO SPOILERS.

A mystery in a village surrounded by superstitious beliefs and folklore where power is wielded without charity and death is a common visitor. The people that reside and work in Netherlea have hard lives and rely on the benevolence of the squire and landlord, Sir John De Vallory and his family. Why are so many afflicted and who is behind the sudden demise of certain townspeople?

This is a true delight for anyone who enjoys delving into historical fiction and I found it totally absorbing. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Thorn Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -  Historical fiction, mystery, almanack

The Secrets He Kept by Jackie Walsh

Wow -- this was a roller coaster ride filled with tension and suspense -- I started it late this evening and couldn't put it down until I reached the end!

What if your husband had a huge secret and you found out while at work one day? That's what happens to Sally Cooper. She sees a picture of her darling husband, Tom, the father of her 3 children, with his arms around a teenaged boy. A stranger. The customer who's showing the picture says that it's her boyfriend and his dad. HIS DAD???? Tom has a son? In shock, Sally goes home to confront Tom and that's when her nightmare begins. NO SPOILERS.

The story kicks off quickly and it doesn't let up as there are surprises with nearly every turn of the page. The characters draw you in and you start guessing about where this might be going. Secrets and lies in a family never turn out to be good things, do they? Filled with drama, the narrative keeps the adrenalin pumped until the shattering conclusion. I really enjoyed this psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, psychological thriller

Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1) by Robert Bryndza

Don't miss this debut featuring former DC Kate Marshall in a fast-paced, action-packed suspense thriller as she faces the demons of her past. A true serial killer chiller!

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Conway -- "respected police officer by day, serial killer by night."
DC Kate Marshall had come very close to being the Nine Elms Cannibal's 5th victim, but she survived the stabbing and in 1996, Conway was tried and detained at Great Barwell Psychiatric Hospital in Sussex. Though she had stopped his murder spree, the details revealed about her relationship with Conway at the trial left Kate's career with the police in ruins. Now, 15 years later, she is lecturing in criminology at a university in Ashdean. Kate discovered sea swimming in order to deal with her alcoholism and the loss of custody of her son, Jake. Picking up the pieces is hard but soon the past comes hurtling back when she is asked to consult with Alen Hexhan, a forensic pathologist, when the body of a young woman is found that bears similarities to the Cannibal's victims. Could they have a copycat killer on the loose? Although no longer connected with the detectives who will be working this new case, Kate and her assistant, Tristan Harper, begin an investigation of their own. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this grisly novel with its excellent writing and explicit detail. The characters were very well-developed and I really enjoyed getting to know Kate and Tristan so am definitely looking forward to the next in this new series by one of my favorite thriller authors. Even though I knew a showdown was coming, I was on tenterhooks waiting for the climax as the build up created tension that was nearly excruciating! If you like a good serial killer story, this one is for you. I hope we don't have to wait to long for #2, SHADOW SANDS.

Thank you to Amazon Prime for providing this as one of their free November selections. Well done!

This is the first in a new series - definitely read in order!
Genre - serial killer thriller, suspense

The Other Daughter by Shalini Boland

I'm sure your mom told you, as did mine, that if you can't say something nice, you shouldn't say anything at all. So I'm leaving that here. 

I've read several other books written by this author and so I will try again with the next one. I see that I am totally in the minority reaction here.

I could go on and on about what I disliked but I will spare you so that you can form your own opinion. It was a quick read and I'm glad I made myself finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Whoa, what a story! This convoluted tale of menace and madness centers on what happened inside a Chelsea mansion at Sixteen Cheyne Walk, SW3. Once upon a time, the lovely home was occupied by the wealthy Henry and Martina Lamb and their two children, Henry and Lucy and they all enjoyed the things that money can buy and were big on the local social scene. All that changed when Birdie Dunlop-Evans and her partner, Justin Redding, arrived one day. They were the first to move into the house.

Lucy is a single mother with two young children earning a scrappy existence by busking on the Côte d'Azur. She has left an abusive husband and has no means to get to London when the notification appears on her nearly dead smartphone, "The baby is 25." Lucy is desperate to return.

Henry was 11-years-old when Birdie and Justin came. "They lived with us for more than five years and they turned everything very, very dark. My sister and I had to learn how to survive. And when I was sixteen, and my sister was fourteen, the baby came."

Libby is "the baby" and she comes into inheritance when she turns 25 after growing up in the care of an adopted family. She lives in St. Albans and works as a kitchen designer. She gets the message from a solicitor that she has inherited the house. Of course she goes to see it and eventually learns the sorry saga of what happened there. NO SPOILERS.

The narrative shifts between the points and view of Libby, Lucy and Henry and goes back and forth in time. At first extremely confusing, it finally gets easier to figure out who everyone is, how they are related, and to sift between the versions to get the truth. It's quite the shocker of a tale! Definitely one that you don't want to know too much about before you begin reading. But once you do, it will be very hard to put it down. I wasn't too sure where it was all going but it does come together and is quite a sensational drama. I can't say too much more so as to avoid giving anything away.

Again, the synopsis isn't quite accurate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - Domestic drama, mystery, cult

Break the Slience (Kane and Alton #7) by DK Hood

Black Rock Falls is a busy place in August. Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy David Kane have just returned to town after a relaxing holiday when they are called out to attend the discovery of a body in a shower. The victim is college freshman Chrissie Lowe and she was found by her roommate in conditions that suggest she was a suicide. It becomes apparent on the postmortem examination, however, that Chrissie had been viciously raped, by more than one person, and that she had been given several drugs that most probably induced unconsciousness. The medical examine also wonders if this was really suicide -- indeed, it could be murder. The entire team at the Black Rock Falls Sherriff's Office moves into high gear beginning an investigation into the gang rape when it is revealed that Chrissie had been to a party at the private house of the elite senior members of the college football team and that she had been invited there by the star quarterback. Before the case really gets going, a member of that household is found dead in the gym. Was this an accident or murder? Then two other members of the football team also experience freakish deaths and Kane and Alton know these victims must somehow be related but they can't get the proof they need to advance to an arrest or prosecution. They have got to get some Intel from inside the football player's secluded house. NO SPOILERS.

What an excellent police procedural with lots of action and a complicated case that focuses on the topic of rape. I just love the characters in this series and have gotten to know them all quite well since I've read all the previous books. The relationship between "just friends" Kane and Alton is obviously gearing up to be much more, but geez, it is taking forever and I'm grateful their romance isn't a large part of the book as it is much more focused on their working partnership. The description of Black Rock Falls gets me every time. Though not a fan of heights and cold weather, it does sound beautiful and I can almost visulize it in my mind. If you like a fast-paced series that deals with serial killers and fits the genre of crime fiction very well, then you'd really enjoy this one. And, of course, I had to read this in one sitting because I was desperately trying to figure out who was doing this and why. I loved the conclusion and it was quite well-done. I can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the 7th book a series and the books should be read in order for best enjoyment.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, deals with gang rape

The Empty Nest by Sue Watson

"It's the not knowing."

Kat and her 18-year-old daughter, Amy, are very close. They're not just mother and only child, they're also best friends. They tell each other everything and Amy knows how her mother worries about her. So, when Amy moves to Wales for university, Kat is bereft and missing her Amy. This empty nest syndrome has got her bad. But, they talk and text everyday which helps to keep some of the terrible lonlieness at bay. And, best of all, Amy is coming home in the upcoming weekend and Kat can't wait to catch up. When Sunday comes and goes without any contact, Kat starts to fret. The initial attempts to contact Amy via mobile come to nothing and Kat moves from excitement to panic as she calls Amy, her friends, stalks her on social media to see if there are any updates (none), and finally summons the police. She knows her daughter and this behavior and the lack of communication is not Amy. Of course, no one believes that anything bad has happened to Amy -- she's just spreading her wings is all. Not Kat's husband, and Amy's stepfather, Richard. Not Kat's best friend, Zoe, or Zoe's daughter, Jodie, or Amy's boyfriend, Josh, or any of Amy's new flatmates at school. Kat will not be comforted and she alone knows that something is terribly wrong. NO SPOILERS.

It is amazing, sometimes, when you pick up the perfect book at the perfect time. It was 11 pm last night and I'd just gotten a call from my eldest daughter (she hasn't lived anywhere near me for many years) who was letting me know that due to a missed connection on her flight home, she was going to rent a car and drive over 5 hours back. So, folks, yeah, it's a mom thing. Of course I still worry about her and always will no matter her age and stage of life. So, I picked this up and started reading. It hit ALL the right notes from the very beginning and I'm confident that most parents would understand everything that Kat was feeling, even if you never were an obsessed helicopter mom or dad. Yeah, Kat was a little over the top neurotic, but she did have some reasons for that and I could totally empathize with her instincts telling her that something was off and her need to take some action. This was truly psychological suspense and great domestic drama with interesting characters and the narrative so compelling that I could not put it down so read it completely cover to cover while waiting by the phone myself! I loved the surprises along the way, especially unusual for me not to anticipate where this was going.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book to read, review and recommend. You won't be disappointed!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological suspense, domestic drama

See Them Run (DI Clare Mackay #1) by Marion Todd

DI Clare Mackay and her team out of St. Andrews are hunting a cold, systematic serial killer. Men are being run over and left to die. Why are these particular men being targeted and who is murdering them in such a premeditated way? NO SPOILERS

Clare has recently taken a position as the most senior officer stationed in St. Andrews after a shooting incident in Glasgow resulted in her being emotionally and professionally damaged. She's left behind her lovely home, her job, and her boyfriend to take up the job in the small seaside town known for being the home of golf. She and her partner, DS Chris West, track down every lead in this excellent police procedural. Clare is methodical and very determined to solve this case and perhaps even put down roots in this community.

This was an excellent introduction to a new series featuring DI Clare Mackay and I can't wait for book #2 in order to get to know Clare, her team, and the area surrounding St. Andrews better. I loved the description of the setting and the writing style. Clare is slowing feeling her way into her new life and, though she is lonely and unsettled, I think she'll come around. The storyline was good and kept me so absorbed that I read this in a single sitting. Although I've read a ton of British crime fiction, not that many novels are set in Scotland so this was an interesting change of locale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. 

This is the first book in a new series and I plan to read them all, in order!
Genre - police procedural, crime fiction, female detective

The Verdict by Olivia Isaac-Henry

"Nineteen ninety-four. Twenty-three years ago. Brandon Wells. Guildford."

Julia Winter, now 48-years-old, had fled London to Guildford after her long-time boyfriend, Christian, had dumped her for another woman. She was then 23 and ended up sharing a grand home with the owner, Genevieve D'Auncey, and 4 other tenants. There was Lucy, Gideon, Brandon and Alan. Tensions are high in the household as the roommates don't get along very well and Genevieve is a bit of a flake and makes Brandon her pet -- probably because he reminds her of her own dead son. Their house-sharing comes to a grand halt and the roomies go their separate ways. Or do they? Now, Julia and two of her former housemates are on trial for murder. NO SPOILERS.

This was sort of slow-moving and the forward pace was bogged by the shift in time between 1994 and present day. At first, it was very hard to keep track of what was going on in each time period. I must say that all of the characters are pretty unlikeable and that made their behavior and relationships hard to understand. Julia is particularly weak and the perfect target for an alpha male. It helped that I read this in one sitting so that I could keep all the characters and the events straight. I admit to geing surprised by the conclusion and I was glad that I had stuck with it after all though I'm not sure that justice was adequately served!

PS - there was no "affair at work" that cost her job. The synopsis provided is quite misleading in some aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, murder, some courtroom action

Heart of the Demon (DS Hunter Kerr #1) by Michael Fowler

I only meant to read a few chapters but after the opening action, I was glued to my chair and read it straight through in a couple of hours. WOW. Now, this is crime fiction -- where has Michael Fowler been and why I am just hearing about this series. This edition looks like a re-release of an earlier published book, but now I'm hooked and want to read them all!

DS Hunter Kerr and his partner, DC Grace Marshall are about to meet a demented serial killer. This case will have repercussions that they can't even foresee and the Barnwell Major Investigation Team will face a devious foe who has been perfecting his skills for many years. It all starts with the discovery of 14-year-old Rebecca Morris in a derelict barn. She'd been reported missing only a few hours prior and her killer was interrupted leaving the strangled and stabbed body behind. But this is only the beginning and soon they discover that Rebecca was not his first victim. The gruesome signature the psycho has left behind give the only clues they have to go on, but the dedicated team won't rest until they have tracked the monster and brought him to justice. NO SPOILERS.

This police procedural was everything a good suspense thriller should be so I'm giving it a rare 4.5 stars. I loved all the characters in the book (well, except for the bad guy of course) and I enjoyed learning about their professional and personal relationships. The details of the investigation, the forensic examinations, the meticulous search for information and the painstaking attention to even the tiniest clue were so absorbing that I was unable to tear my eyes away until the final page. I loved the writing style, the dialogue and the entire complicated plot. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a series featuring DS Hunter Kerr and definitely read them in order if you can!
Genre - crime thriller,  police procedural