The Ice Beneath Her (Hanne #1) by Camilla Grebe

 "A monster is a person who lies and deceives. Someone who wrecks and destroys things for his own amusement. Who leaves another's person's life in ruins like a bombed-out city or a burnt-down forest."

Emma Bohman knows all about monsters for she's been duly dismissed and discarded by one. She prepared an engagement dinner and he never showed up, despite giving her a huge diamond ring. Her calls and texts go unanswered. Beside herself with humiliation, Emma decides to track him down and force a conversation.

Homicide detectives Peter Lindgren and Manfred Olsson are confounded by a hideous murder. A woman's decapitated body is found in the home belong to a high-profile CEO, Jesper Orre. And he's missing. The victim remains unidientified and none of the homeowner's colleagues or friends have much information about Orre's personal life. Who is she?

Criminal profiler, Hanne Lagerlind-Schön is a famed behaviorist who develops psychological models for particular crimes. She's called in to assist the police in developing a profile of the killer. What sick psycho is out there cutting off heads -- because this isn't the first time they've seen this. There was a case 10 years ago that was never solved that has striking similarities. But Hanne has some issues that might interfere with her ability to assist the police with this case. Can the team figure out what happened in that house and why?

NO SPOILERS. In this extremely atmospheric crime thriller set in Stockholm, the well-drawn characters interact with each other and investigate while dealing with personal problems that lead one to wonder how they can actually function day to day! I really enjoyed the revelations about the characters as well as the police procedural aspect. I had to go hunt this title down in my massive book pile as I had queued up the second book in the series to read before I realized there was one before and I absolutely prefer to read series from the beginning in order as much as possible. I liked the writing, the detail, and the psychological aspects of the case and though it was a bit confusing as it jumps narrators and has time shifts, it was completely absorbing and I couldn't put it down. A refreshing change from my usual because of the setting and the complexity of the case and characters. I can't wait to read the next!

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first book in the Hanne Lagerlind-Schön series. Read in order.
Genre - police procedural and crime thriller

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald

"...everybody  -- no matter how harmless they seem -- has the capacity to veer outside the lines. It's just a matter of how far they go."

On the night that Abi Knight gets the call informing her that there's been an accident, she rushes to the ER to find her daughter, Olivia, brain dead from severe head trauma leading to irreversible damage incompatible with life. Olivia, 17 years old, is also pregnant. It's then that Abi realizes that she didn't know her beloved daughter as well as she thought and that Olivia had slipped from her control and protection. When the authorities don't seem to be looking at Olivia's fall from the bridge as anything more than an accident, Abi joins up with Anthony Bryant, a victim advocate with the Seattle Police Department to find out what really happened that night. But first, Abi needs to come to terms with her own lies. Even as Olivia remains on life support in order to mature the fetus so that it can be delivered, Abi spends all her time asking questions of those friends who were connected to Olivia. There's so much she doesn't know and she still has to confront her big secret -- Olivia's father. She'd never told Olivia the truth. NO SPOILERS.

If this sounds rather melodramatic to you, then you're not alone in that perception. It is marketed as being for fans of two other books that I read but it is most similar to RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA in my opinion. The author attempts to present a few different scenarios and possibilities for what happened and who might have been responsible, but the tension and suspense that is usually present in a thriller is missing here. The main focus was on how much Abi loved Olivia and the mother-daughter bond. I felt that much of the narrative was quite unrealistic in portraying the thoughts of teenaged Olivia and also the actions of Abi going round questioning friends, etc. I really wanted to like Abi -- as a mother of daughters I could feel empathy for her incipient loss of Olivia, but for some reason her behavior and the things she had done basically annoyed me. And don't get me started on the convenient romantic entanglement. UGH. NO. There were just too many things that irked me so my heartstrings weren't tugged as I don't really enjoy gut-wrenching tales as they seem too contrived to wring out all that emotion. Anyway, the book was a fast read and easy to finish in a single sitting. I guess I'm just not a fan of somewhat manipulative relationship stories as I'm more of a crime fiction and gritty thriller lover.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.
Genre - family drama, teen pregnancy, mother-daughter relationship

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton

"You can't change a mistake. Ever. Instead, it weaves its way inside you, becomes an embedded part, a bad, rotten suffocating part."

Lily/Juliette loves Nathan Goldsmith. And he's going to love her too, no matter what he thinks about it or how hard he tries to fight it. She'll make sure of that.

This is just a fun book about the craziest wanna be girlfriend that I have ever read. The lengths that she goes through to try to ensnare this man are beyond the pale -- she's taken stalking to a whole new level. Nothing will set her off her course and when she runs into difficulties, she adapts. She has a POA (plan of action) that she revises as need be and Nate can run, he can hide, he can get a lawyer, but Lily/Juliette is one determine woman who insists on having what she's been denied. Life with the man of her dreams. It's fate, isn't it? And he owes her. NO SPOILERS.

Just stop reading this review and get this book in your hands pronto. You will definitely enjoy the couple of hours it will take for you to speed through this madcap lesson in how (not) to get your man! Loved the writing and I have to hand it to the author -- never did such a kooky psycho character ever prove so nearly likeable despite all her antics. You just have to admire Lily/Juliette's effort! LOL

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. It was pure entertainment from cover to cover! It screams movie adaptation.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.
Genre-labels: psycho girlfriend, stalker, debut

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

"The whole world turns on sex and violence."

That's certainly true for this long-married couple. Millicent and and her husband --never did find a name for him -- have two children, Rory and Jenna. They live in an upscale subdivision, Hidden Oaks, in Woodview, Florida. They do all the things that a family does: both work (he's a tennis pro at the club giving private lessons and she's a realtor), cook, clean, chauffeur the kids to and from their sporting events and oh yes, they like to abduct and murder women. It's really a tag team sort of thing for them, and they are quite good at it. But, as these things often do, it all goes haywire. NO SPOILERS. You'll just have to read this one for yourself.

Was this an engaging story? Definitely. I promise you'll be so riveted that you won't come up for air until you've reached the epilogue. Is it believable? Well, that's a hard one, but I'm saying not exactly. But definitely a thrill ride from start to finish even if I didn't really like how it ended. The couple is definitely one that you wouldn't want in your close circle of friends. Both are despicable people and I guarantee you will find it hard to have any positive feelings about their behavior. It's not a perfect book but it is one heck of a story so start reading already. I'm sure it's bound for the big screen or a miniseries at some point and it will be hyped a bunch after publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing  for the e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it if you like really nasty psychopaths who do things way outside the norm.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.
Genre -- domestic thriller with psychopaths

Something Buried (PI Andrew Hunter #3) by Kerry Wilkinson

Andrew Hunter is a PI who takes on unusual cases -- not because he has to in order to eat, but because he finds them interesting. He's a rare breed -- an honest guy, very ordinary with a bit of humorous bent. He and his office assistant employee, Jenny, take on a couple of investigations in this third book of the series.

Nearly a year ago, a young woman who had way too much to drink is fished from the canal. Despite police doing their thing, the death is ruled accidental. The woman's mother doesn't believe it was an accident and thinks that a local footballer is responsible because he was the boyfriend. And there are rumors that he isn't a very nice guy. Hunter decides to look into the matter and starts talking to some people connected to the incident. It seems there is a pretty big price to pay for fame and adulation in that world and Hunter has a hard time getting it all pieced together. He's also still in a debt owed position with a former nemesis and finds himself looking for a particular violin. It's all business as usual -- but wait, now Hunter's ex-wife has appeared on the scene...

This novel fell a bit flat for me. The case wasn't very exciting and some of the stuff that Hunter did just seemed kind of stupid to me. Yeah he's rich and doesn't need to work, but the way he responds in situations doesn't really ring true. I'm having a hard time dealing with his personality and approach to running his investigative firm and I'm finding it hard to warm to him. And the whole Jenny thing just drove me wild with all these dangling hints and insinuations and then NO ANSWERS. Really? Believe me, it's not a hook for the next book as it was just totally annoying. Now I honestly don't even care. I felt the whole conclusion was pretty lame and anticlimactic so this one was a bit of a disappointment after all my anticipation. I may or may not be interested in the next one of this series after all.

I'd recommend that you read this series from the beginning in order because otherwise you might be a bit lost. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the third book in the series. Read in order.
Genre, labels -- private investigator, fandom, crime

Broken by Betsy Reavley

"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist; children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that the dragons can be killed."

Annabel definitely believes in fairy tales even after she recently spent a stint at Redwood psychiatric hospital in Suffolk. Now age 23, Annabel has had a mental breakdown, was diagnosed with manic depressive illness and gotten well enough to be released back to her mother and brother. Desperate to re-enter her life sane and more independent, she tries to follow the program, take her meds and figure out the rest of her life. Things change after she books a trip to a little seaside town named Southwold. It's there that she meets Jude, the love of her life, and starts to have some hope again. But Annabel is fragile and some things are just not to be. NO SPOILERS.

What to say about this -- well, if you can stomach the extremely graphic descriptions of rape and torture and you have the heart to listen to the poetry and ramblings of a woman completely unhinged -- then this is the book for you. It really wasn't my cup of tea but I read valiantly to the end hopping there'd be some sort of payoff for all the violence. All I feel is abject sadness and a sense of melancholy that will require a huge drink of some sort of alcoholic beverage and some happy television to rid myself of all the disturbing prose I've read and the horrific images created by this book. I can't imagine what it would take to write a book such as this but it may appeal to some readers at a certain level that I can't fathom. I can honestly say that I only finished reading it because I always finish what I start. And I can't help but wonder, what was the point of this book?? I'm eager to hear what others can tell me about that. OH, and I'm not a poetry fan anyway, but this is me done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. If you're thinking about picking it up, proceed with caution.

This is a standalone and not part of a series.
Genre - graphic and gory thriller with themes of mental illness, rape, torture

Dead Memories (DI Kim Stone #10) by Angela Marsons

"...helplessness, fear, loathing, disgust, rage." These are the emotions that are tormenting DI Kim Stone as she faces the most personal case of her career. There is a killer targeting her by murdering innocent people -- recreating some of the most traumatic events of Kim's life and the end game must be Kim's death. As she and the team -- Bryant, Stacey and Penn -- try to figure out who is behind it, Kim is being monitored by profiler and behaviorist, Alison Lowe. Can she find the person who hates her so much and prevent the worst outcome possible? NO SPOILERS.

This book was simply amazing and just what I needed to overcome a bit of a reading slump. As the 10th in a long-running series, opening the pages was just like going to a family reunion or hanging out with old friends. I love the way Angela Marsons writes and I tore through it in a couple of hours, barely leaving my chair. It's part police procedural and crime thriller, but also a character study as the reader learns more about DI Kim Stone and comes to appreciate her personality and her work methods. I love this series and I can't wait for the next -- keep them coming, please! If you haven't yet discovered this set, please do yourself a favor and start at the beginning and read in order for full appreciation.

I'm one satisfied reader and would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is book #10 in a long-running series. Best to read in order from start.
Genre-labels: crime thriller, police procedural

Where Angels Fear (Kane and Alton #5) by DK Hood

It's almost Christmas and the low temperatures and snow have hit Black Rock Falls, MT, with a vengeance. College kids are returning home for the holidays. In fact, Sky Paul and her roommate, Ella Tate, are on their way to Sky's house for a family celebration. But, their happy plans are shattered when Sky stops to help a stranded motorist on the side of the highway. Bad idea. Ella spends the night sheltering high up in a pine tree to escape the man wielding the ax and soon Detectives Kane and Alton are investigating the case. Soon other young people go missing apparently from that same stretch of lonely dark road and Kane and Alton realize that these abductions are part of a larger and more complex crime. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 5th in series and I can't imagine not having read the previous 4 -- I don't feel that you could read as a standalone as there were a lot of changes due to events that happened in the other books. I felt that this one was almost a complete step backwards in the relationship situation between Kane and Alton and I really wasn't all that thrilled with dredging back up their past as previous government agents, etc. I don't care if they have a romance or not, in fact I wish they wouldn't, but it's such a cliche in this type of novel that I grin and bear it. Definitely the reader will find the setting and atmosphere of Montana in the winter well-described.

I found a few little oddities in the actual writing of this novel that is set in USA. Some of the vocabulary and phrases used were more British than American and that was a bit jarring. There were tons of characters and the author dangles red herrings freely and it seemed that not much mention was made of poor Sky after all and the whole reaction of her family to the situation. Also don't think even the most stupid college-aged person would do what Doug and Ella did. I thought there were some loose ends that never got tidied up.

So, this was a little disappointing as I have previously really enjoyed the series and I can't put my finger on exactly what felt off. This didn't have as much suspense or thrills as I'd hoped so I hope it will be back on track with the next one.

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

This is the 5th in the series and I definitely recommend you read from start, in order.
Genre - detective stories, kidnapping, murder

Death Comes to Call (DC Tara Thorpe #3) by Clare Chase

DC Tara Thorpe of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been assigned to look into a missing person report filed by the brother, Matthew Cope. It seems that the absent artist, Luke Cope, had gone off over a week previously and the situation had not been taken very seriously. When Tara visits Luke's messy house and art studio, she's shown a strange painting -- of a woman in the throes of being strangled. It looks to be the work of a seriously disturbed individual and it sets Tara's spider sense tingling. When it's revealed that the woman in the picture is Freya Cross, Luke's illicit lover, Tara becomes even more concerned. And when that very woman turns up dead in the nearby Paradise Nature Reserve, things really heat up for the constabulary as all hands on deck try to find the truth. Did Luke murder Freya and then vanish to avoid being caught? DI Garstin Blake leads Tara and the rest of the team -- DC Max Dimity and newly promoted DS Megan Maloney -- in a complicated investigation that involves art, heroin and greed. NO SPOILERS.

I really like this series and have read all 3 books in order and I'd recommend that others do the same as each provides some essential background to the development of the characters and their relationships. I enjoy the details of the police procedural and the description of Cambridge, the fens, and the surrounding countryside. I am not quite sure yet how I feel about the characters as both Tara and Blake have some serious flaws and issues that I wish would be resolved and not with some ridiculous or sappy romantic twist that makes her a twit and him a cad. Their whole "thing" needs to just stop and be over and they need to get on with their jobs and leave out all the yearning and whatnot that is affecting their ability to fully function as a team and makes them do stupid stuff. I'm also tired of the "stalker" thing -- seriously, that needs to be finished as well after 3 books and all that police power to figure out who's involved and why. Other than those two things, I'm ready to read more books about Tara and the team and the crime at Cambridge.

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

This is #3 in the Tara Thorpe series and books should be read in order.
Genre-labels: police procedural, murder mystery, detective novel

Finding Grace by K.L. Slater

"What happens to the bad things people have done?"

Lucinda (Lucie)Sullivan is about to find out the high price she's going to pay for something she did back in her university days. Now married to Blake, a local councilor, Lucie has a 9-year old daughter named Grace and an infant son, Oscar. Things are going well for the little family and Lucie has put her anxiety disorder to rest and is enjoying domestic bliss well enough when the unthinkable happens. Grace is walking on her own for the first time, home from visiting a friend just a few minutes up the street, when she vanishes. Despite the fact that she was being monitored by two grown men on opposite ends of the street, Grace does not make it home. Police are called, news appeals are done, and Lucie is existing in a twilight of dread and panic. When days go by without Grace being found, Lucie gets a note from someone in her long buried past. NO SPOILERS.

The story moves along at a good pace with a few surprising twists along the way, but I never worried for Lucie or Grace for some reason so the suspense and chills weren't as prominent as usual for a psychological thriller novel. I think it may be because I've read so many "missing children" books this past year. I can't say, either, that I warmed to Lucie or felt a real level of empathy for her plight.
I've read all of this author's previous books and will continue to do so in hopes that her next one will grab me a bit harder. The writing, as always, was excellent and I'm sure many will find this tale compelling.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre-labels: psychological suspense, domestic fiction, missing child, secrets and lies

The Winter Sister by Megan Collins

"Let the child pass out."

An absorbing tale about relationships and one that presents the ultimate truth -- some are good for you and some are bad. And how hard it can be to let go...

Sylvie O'Leary was 14 years old the night her sister didn't sneak back into the safety of their bedroom after an illicit night out with her boyfriend. Although Persephone was a senior in high school, she was not allowed to date, and certainly didn't want their single mom, Annie, to know about Ben. The sisters had an understanding -- the secret was to be kept. When Persephone's body is discovered under new fallen snow a couple of days later, the life that Sylvie had known was over. Her mother, always a bit moody, turned to alcohol and shut herself in her bedroom leaving Sylvie to fend for herself physically and emotionally. Thanks to Annie's sister, Aunt Jill, Sylvie finished high school and went off to the Rhode Island School of Design to get a degree in fine art. Now Sylvie is 30 years old and, after living all this time without much contact with her mother, Aunt Jill summons her back to Spring Hill to care for Annie who is dying of cancer. No one has ever been charged with Persephone's murder and it's an almost forgotten cold case -- Sylvie is determined to get answers once and for all. NO SPOILERS.

Although any reader of this type of fiction will know immediately where it's going, it was still an enjoyable trip to the conclusion. I thought the writing was excellent and I really appreciated how Sylvie didn't back down or shy away from getting the answers that she wanted -- because she was finally ready to push for the truth. I had a hard time relating to Annie, damaged as she was, but she's the type of woman and mother that is so tough to understand. This is a quick read that I consumed over the course of a couple of hours on a cold winter day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- cold case murder, mother and daughter relationships, domestic drama, mystery

Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon (Det Finnegan Beck #1)

 "To follow the crow one must first become a hawk."

Detective Finnegan Beck has been demoted to Sergeant in the Garda pending an investigation up at his former precinct in Dublin. Sent to Cross Beg to lick his wounds, Beck feels out of place and out of time in the tiny town in South Galway. He soon finds himself in the middle of an extremely complicated case involving a series of murders. Partnered with newlywed Detective Garda Claire Somers, they pair start looking a bit closer into the townspeople, especially those connected to the first victim, 15-year-old Tanya Frazzali. Her body was found in Cool Wood; she'd been strangled, had recent sexual intercourse, and was rumored to have a secret, much older boyfriend. Beck and Somers try to get going on the investigation but are hampered because of Beck's disgrace and he is kept away from the case. No matter, he is good at what he does, and he's going to find a work around. Make no mistake, there's evil roaming the streets and alleys of Cross Beg and Beck is on the job. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this first of a new series featuring Beck though he is indeed another messed up tortured detective who is prone to depression and the bottle without much to redeem him except that he happens to be good at his job. Policing is what he does, he lives alone, and doesn't suffer fools. It will be interesting to see how and if he grows and changes in the next books. The only "off" note to me was the constant dream sequences -- I'm not a fan. We do hear the voice of the killer in italics narration interspersed through the chapters, but really only get vague suggestions of what caused his psychopathy -- severe as it was. It was an interesting plot with a lingering tease as the author doled out clues and hints. I am a fan of a good police procedural and look forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. The title on mine was different -- THE QUIET HOURS -- and actually, I prefer that to the new one. Though actually neither really fits the book plot. The cover is great!

#1 in a new series
Genre -- police procedural and detective novel. Grisly murder.

The Couple by Sarah Mitchell

To borrow the lyrics from a song...this whole book was really a "bad romance."

Claire works for the Home Office Immigration Service, not technically a lawyer, but she helps with appeals of decisions made regarding the status of a petition of residency. She's overburdened with the desperation of the petitioners and the work, but things are looking up for her now that she's met and become engaged to Angus. Yes, they've only known each other about 4 months, but Claire is quite pleased at the uptick in her living situation and future domestic arrangements in a beautiful new home that they got at a great price. When Claire meets the previous homeowner, Mark, she's struck immediately by how much he reminds her of an old boyfriend, Daniel. Perhaps that's why she soon finds herself in a huge mess...NO SPOILERS.

My first thought after finally finishing this book is -- what the heck did I just read? And not in a good way. I found it confusing and totally, absolutely, almost unbearablely, unbelievable. In addition, the main character, Claire, is one of the most unlikeable people you're likely to encounter in fiction as she has no redeeming qualities. I couldn't relate to her and mostly wanted to slap her for being so stupid and horrible. The two men, Angus and Mark, were also hideous but we only see them through Claire's unreliable eyes and other characters are very incompletely fleshed out so are one-dimensional and only peripheral to Claire. I had to force myself through to the end and the conclusion was so unsatisfying that I wanted to throw the book against the wall.

It seems that the author does have some writing talent with some great descriptions and turn of phrase, but the story line and plot here was so off because of its need for me to completely suspend any sense of reality that anyone would do any of the stuff that Claire does. So, no, I didn't care for this one. It's not smart or clever or twisty or tricky in my opinion. Just glad I actually finished (it's a rule I have for myself) and now I'm done and moving on.

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

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

One Fatal Mistake by Tom Hunt

Before you open this book, take a deep breath. Then check your ability to throw logic out the window so that you can suspend a large measure of disbelief in order to swallow this story of one family's attempt to cover up a murder.

Joshua Mayo and his father are driving in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Nebraska when they are involved in a hit-and-run accident in Josh's Nissan Altima. Joshua tries to hide the evidence and go about his usual activities. He's a senior in high school, waiting for a college acceptance letter, and doesn't want his life to be ruined so he doesn't contact the police. Unfortunately, as things do, everything unravels quite quickly when Joshua goes back to the accident site to retrieve a missing glove and runs into Ross and Amber. The pair has just gone on the lam after robbing a bank and cheating their third partner in the crime out of 40K. And this is when the real trouble begins...NO SPOILERS

It's never a good idea to try to get away with murder or to try to cover up a crime. Joshua and his parents, Karen and Teddy, get in way over their heads in this action-packed tale. This was a quick read and ends much as you would expect. Parents trying to protect their child. Moral ambiguities that definitely cross ethical and responsible behavior -- you know, something you want to nuture in your children. There was quite a bit of this story that I just couldn't stomach as it was impossible for me to buy into the scenarios and outcomes in some cases -- but I guess I'm just not that kind of a mom and I had a hard time liking any of the characters -- you know, the ones you're supposed to empathize with or relate to. I'm sure others will find this domestic drama much more appealing than I did.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- family and domestic drama, cover-up of crime, action, murder

Bridge of Sighs (Martha Gunn #7) by Priscilla Masters

"People do not move on. They move to a different place dragging their baggage behind them like wheelie suitcases and bearing their scars."

Two inexplicable suicides have coroner Martha Gunn working overtime. The first, young and beautiful Gina Marconi, a 36-year-old barrister who was due to be married. She specialized in criminal law and had an 8-year old son. What on earth would make Gina drive her car at 60 miles an hour into a stone wall at 3 am? The second, a 12-year-old boy, Patrick Elson, who dives off the A-5 bridge into heavy traffic. Patrick was sweet, smart and being raised by a single mom. Definitely there must be a very sad story behind that leap.

Martha Gunn, the coroner for Shrewsbury, is a medical doctor whose job is to investigate the circumstances surrounding  a death, hold an inquest, and make a determination about whether or not the death was from natural causes, accidental, homicide, suicide etc. She is not the one who performs the postmortem exam, but is more like a detective piecing together all the facts and nuances of a particular case. From the outset, Martha is convinced that somehow the two suicides have some connection or are linked despite the disparities in the victims. She usually investigates these situations with her close friend and colleague, DI Alex Randall, but he has been sidelined due to the unexpected death of his mentally ill wife, Erica. Because of their connection, Martha recuses herself from looking into Erica's death, and she finds herself without his guidance as she tries to put all the pieces together with the suicide cases.

This was the first book in this series I've read, and as it was #7, I was afraid I'd be totally lost. I didn't find that to be true, however, as the author provides some necessary backstory and it was easy for me to slot myself into Martha's life. I was pulled in immediately by her character and work ethic and found all the details of how the coroner works alongside the police and the pathologist to be quite interesting but it seems to be different to how this works in the USA. Regardless, I really liked following alongside Martha as she goes with the clues and digs into the lives of the victims to find out what may have driven them to their deaths. I really want to go back and read the first six books and definitely will be on the lookout for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is book #7 in a long running series about coroner Martha Gunn. It worked as a standalone for me, but I definitely want to read from the beginning as I really liked this character and writing.
Genre - police procedural, mystery and detective novel

You Will Suffer by Alexandra Ivy

Small town life -- alcoholics, druggies, vandals, stalkers and -- killer?

After Ellie Guthrie graduated from law school, she relocated to her birthplace in Curry, Oklahoma, to set up a practice there. She's only recently moved and, in fact has still not even fully unpacked, when the trouble begins. She and her neighbor, former FBI agent Nate Marcel, are taken aback by all the recent deaths and begin their own investigation, along with a steamy romance.

Make no mistake, this is a mystery that is almost completely overshadowed by the love story. If I'd known that the sappy romance was such a huge part of the novel, I'd never have requested this title. The revenge plot is fairly thin and there's a lot of bloodshed over something that was revealed so late and thus everything that happened seemed like overkill. I've not read any other books by this author, but will probably avoid now that I see that the synopsis was a bit misleading. I read this in a couple of hours. I didn't care for any of the characters and never really got fully invested in the story line as it required me to buy into the fact that the people who lived in Curry were all pretty much dumb hicks and only Ellie and Nate were smart enough to figure it all out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Although this is listed as #3 in The Agency series, when I checked the descriptions of all the books in the series it seems that they each feature different characters and appear unrelated.
Genre -- heavy on romance, short on suspense, mystery