A Taste for Poison by Neil Bradbury

 Eleven deadly molecules and the killers who used them.

What a fascinating treatise on the topic of poisons — how they work, how they are used, and case studies of when someone was looking for a way to kill.

“Chemicals themselves are not intrinsically good or bad. It is only in the uses to which they are put that makes them beneficial or deadly.”

Keep in mind that typically the deleterious use of chemicals is premeditated. The poisoner needs to know their victim in order to decide which to use, how to deliver it to them, and how rapidly it will work. Of course most want to be well away by the time the victim succumbs. This book describes 11 different chemicals that have been used to harm another person, deliberately, with malice. It also elucidates the way each works normally in beneficial ways and then details how it is wielded as a poison to cause toxic results and death. 

As well as being interesting to anyone who enjoys true crime, the scientific information presented is deep enough but made very clear and easy to understand by the author. I found it all extremely fascinating to review the physiology. The examples and case studies were interesting as the reader can see that chemicals have been intentionally misused historically and we know they continue to be in current day as well.

The book really gets into the way that these chemicals affect the body and cause death at the molecular, cellular, and physiological level. All kill in their own unique way. Sometimes the symptoms experienced by the person poisoned give important clues as to what has been administered — via injection, inhalation, topical, or ingestion. Some have no antidotes and several cause death with only a tiny amount. Actually scary if you think about it!

I love books where I can learn something new and this fit the bill. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - true crime, science

The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family by John Glatt

 Extremely well-written and meticulously researched true crime about the Vallow-Daybell case.

Most have heard about the lengthy investigation as it has featured on the news during the last two years. Many podcasts and documentaries have also focused on this couple who are accused of conspiracy to commit multiple murders in order to fulfill their psychotic belief that they are gods killing the zombies as the end of the world looms. Unfortunately, the trials of each has been postponed due to various complications such as the pandemic restrictions as well as Lori apparently deemed incompetent and having to undergo psychiatric evaluation that obviously needs to result in some serious treatment. So, though the author has presented a detailed timeline and brought together all of the pertinent information, there is not a conclusion at this point.

Throughout the entire book I was struck by the looming specter of evil. These two psychopathic narcissists need a judgment day of their own. I cannot believe that it took so much effort to bring the pair to the point of finally being arrested and held accountable or that the children were missing that long before action was taken to find them. I am looking forward to both trials and continue to follow the situation avidly. Too many deaths for their to be true justice for any of their victims and of course the ongoing drama with family revelations and protestations of support makes me shake my head in disgust. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell have capital punishment on the table and I think many are ready for them to have this resolved as their attorneys mess around and the endless delays in the proceedings.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to any other fans of true crime.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - true crime

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton

 Domestic thriller set in exotic locations — “we all want what we think we want until we get it, but — sooner or later — it loses its shine.”

Charlotte is swept off her feet by the charming Sam and soon she finds herself a willing participant in conning rich people they meet on the cruise ships. Money, jewelry, identity — no limits to how far they will take their scam always justifying that they deserve the high life. All of the excitement starts to fade when Sam takes things a bit too far and leaves Charlotte holding the bag. He disappears but soon Charlotte hears that he has really gone missing and feared dead. Trying to get her life back on the straight and narrow is tough, but Charlotte is determined until she gets the first message. Someone from her past is looking for blood money, retributive justice. Charlotte takes a job as a personal assistant on a luxury yacht to escape and figure things out. Little does she know that she can’t run and hide from someone’s intent to get revenge.  NO SPOILERS.

This was an entertaining domestic thriller with lots of fun details about ship and cruise life with the rich. The exotic destinations and all the trappings of wealth sure had a hold on the main character. Charlotte was difficult to like, but I feel that she was more young and stupid than inherently bad. The pacing was good and though I guessed the identity of the bad guy, I enjoyed the past and present format as things came to a climax. A fun read.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - domestic thriller

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

 This debut novel is a unique murder mystery that I found highly entertaining.

Written as a series of documents, emails, and text messages, this epistolary tells the story of a community theater group and a local alpha family and their efforts to help a young child get the experimental drug therapy she needs to combat a brain tumor. The group goes full on with fundraising for the Haywards but soon suspicions arise about where the money is going and if the little girl can be saved. Not everyone in the close-knit drama group is convinced and it seems that the flurry of emails back and forth between the members contains lies and manipulation. When one member of the group ends up dead, everyone is a suspect.

This was a very clever book and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Once you get all the characters straight, you have to read very carefully between the lines as you act somewhat as a detective yourself finding inconsistencies in stories and developing your own theories. The revelations were subtly inserted into the various pieces of information and I loved that I was unable to identify the killer despite all the clues. The tension was palpable and the relationships between the characters quite complicated. I really liked the style of the novel and the way everything played out.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. A debut by this author.

Genre - murder mystery and drama 

Black Coral (Underwater Investigation Unit #2) by Andrew Mayne

 3.5 stars rounded up for this unique crime thriller.

In this second of the series, Detective Sloan McPherson, a police diver with the newly formed Underwater Investigation Unit in Florida, finds a van buried in the muck at the bottom of an alligator-infested pond. Inside are the bodies of 4 teenagers who went missing over 30 years ago. As she and her small team examine the forensics, a frightening picture starts to emerge. This was no tragic accident and it appears that they are looking for a serial killer who has been working the area for years. NO SPOILERS.

I came into this without having read the first installment, but it worked fine as a standalone with some background details given so that I was not lost. I liked the main character, enjoyed the details about the Florida Everglades, and the facts about the wildlife and predators found in that area. The plot was realistic and the methodology of the team and their interaction with the Florida Law Enforcement Division rang true. It was fun to read about the underwater diving and that unique activity made the usual detective mystery seem more interesting. I look forward to reading the third in the series and will likely go back and pick up the first as well.

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

This is the second in a series and it would be best if read in order.

Genre - police procedural, mystery, crime thriller

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

A suspenseful thriller.

What could possibly go wrong when Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired by BFFs Amma and Brittany to sail from Hawaii to Meroe Island in the South Pacific. Well, for starters, the island is remote and has several gruesome rumors attached to it no matter that it looks like a paradise. Then, the foursome finds that another boat is already anchored right off the beautiful sandy beach at the island. Initially the group is all happy new friends, but soon enough the atmosphere darkens, and the arrival of a lone sailor to their little retreat is definitely not welcome. NO SPOILERS.

Hard as it was for me to get into the story of young people making really bad decisions, the fact that I couldn't like or relate to any of them was really the issue. The pacing was a bit slow and the time jump interjections a little jarring. When things picked up toward the end, it became a bit more suspenseful until the crazy last few chapters when everything spun way off my credulity scale.
Regardless, it was entertaining and the author was able to ratchet up the tension enough to give me the creepy feeling that something was coming that I was not going to like!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - suspense thriller

The Darkness in the Light by Daniel Kalla

 Another superb medical thriller by one of my favorite authors.

Set in remote Utqiagvik, Alaska, this unique story focuses on depression, suicide, and the practice of psychiatry. Although Dr. David Spears lives in Anchorage, he sees patients virtually and visits the isolated northernmost points in Alaska routinely to check in on them. He's particularly worried when one of his young female patients commits suicide. Then her best friend disappears. Concerned about the possible deleterious effects of a new antidepressant that he had prescribed to both, he flies to Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). There is a lot going wrong in this small community and David is not prepared for all that happens after he arrives.

The writing is excellent and the clinical detail always very interesting and informative. Characters are well-developed and the twists and turns are intricate and welcome. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the locale and could visualize and feel as if I were there, experiencing everything.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss for this much anticipated e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend well ahead of the publication date in May, 2022.  

My most immediate regret is knowing that I have a very long time to wait before Daniel Kalla's next book.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - medical thriller, psychiatry, suicide, Alaska

Lost Immunity by Daniel Kalla

 4.5 stars for this excellent medical thriller!

My favorite genre, this exciting story deals with a serious meningococcal meningitis epidemic in Seattle. Young children and teens are dying within hours after contracting the deadly disease and not even antibiotic prophylaxis seems to be helping achieve any kind of prevention as it starts spreading into the larger community. Help appears in the form of a new vaccine, Neissovax, but it has barely cleared phase 3 clinical trials and is not ready for roll out. Under serious pressure, Dr. Lisa Dyer, the chief public health officer for Seattle, convinces the drug company executives at Delaware Pharmaceuticals to release the untested vaccine for immediate use. Shortly after the huge vaccination efforts begin, a previously unseen and potentially deadly side effect appears in some of the inoculated children. The antivaxxers (or vaccine hesitaters) are out in full force even as cases rise.  What will happen as the medical community tries to save the children.

Excellent writing, great story line, well-developed characters, tension, and suspense all merge to create a fabulous book. Enjoy!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss for this e-book ARC to read, review, and highly recommend. Can’t wait for this author’s next book. 

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - medical thriller, vaccine

Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea

 Fast and fun suspense thriller that provided a complicated plot, fascinating characters, and a nice surprise ending!

My first book of the year did not disappoint. The story focuses on Avery Mason (AKA Claire Montgomery), the host of a wildly popular television news program. She finds just the hook for her next season when she hears that a victim from 9/11 has been identified after 20 years. There’s an added bonus to doing a feature on Victoria Ford — it seems that right before the North Tower fell she was visiting a lawyer to engage him in defending her against a sensational murder charge. The case was never prosecuted since the main suspect was presumed dead but Victoria’s sister is convinced that her sister needs to be exonerated. Avery is researching all the background while also dealing with a personal drama that involves her father. It’s a very clever web the author weaves bringing all to a twisty end that actually caught me out. Enjoy!

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. 

Genre - suspense thriller, 9/11, mystery

Stillwater Island (Detective Megan Carpenter #4) by Gregg Olsen

 This is the 4th in the crime thriller series featuring Detective Megan Carpenter and I would definitely advise the reader to check out the previous installments as those contain vital backstory information about the main character.

Washington State:  A mother and son are missing and, naturally, the husband is the main suspect in this current case confronting Megan and her partner, Detective Ronnie Marsh. This is typical police procedural with the detectives honing in on the bad guy but the reader knows there is probably going to be a surprise in the mix.

I like Megan and really enjoyed the interaction between the two women detectives. Megan has quite the history and is the typical hot mess as the result of her past, but she is funny and quirky about it. The narrative moves along, but I never felt any tension or suspense -- nor was I too concerned with the Parker family.

It's a solid addition to the series but just wasn't as exciting or thrilling as expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. Looks like this is my last book for 2021 and it was nice to close out on a good note.

This is the 4th book in a series that definitely should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, female detectives, set in USA

True Crime Story (A Novel) by Joseph Knox

 Although this book is structured and reads like true crime, this novel is a blend of mystery and thriller that focuses on the case of a missing teenager, 19-year-old Zoe Noland, who seemingly vanished from the rooftop of her Manchester University residence tower on the night of a student Christmas party.

The narrative includes excerpts of "interviews" conducted by a woman who is intent on publishing a book about Zoe's disappearance. This wanna be author, Evelyn Mitchell, starts corresponding with Joseph Knox (clever little bit of realism inserting himself) in a series of emails asking him to read her manuscript and provide a mentorship of sorts. Since these snippets jump around between all the people who were close to Zoe at the time of the event, the story sometimes seems a bit disjointed. Add in the fact that many of these interviewees are lying, exaggerating, or omitting important details and you have a large volume of information to process. Mix in the twists, the surprising revelations, and the bad behavior of some of the characters and you have a tale that is so bizarre and crazy that it's hard to put down. In all, a very unique way to tell a story though the wild denouement had me shaking my head -- what???

I found it all very entertaining, but a bit frustrating with the lack of linear structure. The main body of characters were quite unlikable and not nice people with redeeming qualities. I was drawn into the case and really wanted to know what happened to Zoe which makes the lack of a definitive answer all the more frustrating after the time invested in reading! Just like real life, sometimes you don't get the resolution you need or want.

Definitely should appeal to anyone who likes amateur sleuths or true crime podcasts/documentaries though the style might be off-putting.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - fiction that reads like true crime, mystery, thriller

Darkness Falls (Kate Marshall #3) by Robert Bryndza

 The third book in this crime thriller series finds Kate Marshall and her partner, Tristan Harper, chasing the cold case of a journalist, Joanna Duncan, who disappeared 12 years ago. Hired by the missing woman's mother, the two private detectives root through the old files, re-interview the same people, but discover that Joanna's case might also be related to the disappearance of two young gay men. It seems there might be a serial killer on the prowl.

The narrative alternates in point of view as we see a glimpse into the killer's activities. There are quite a few characters and lots of red herrings with the big reveal a bit of a surprise even if it it left me slightly incredulous. The reader learns more about Kate and Tristan and Bryndza provides some back story but it is probably best if you have read the previous two installments. At times I found the procedural details a bit slow moving, but overall entertaining.

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

This is the third in a series and should be read in order.

Genre - crime thriller

Autopsy (Kay Scarpetta #25) by Patricia Cornwell

 This thriller reminds me of the Kay Scarpetta I "met" back in 1990 when I was introduced to this character in "Postmortem." After reading that, I fell in love with this genre and continue with my love affair to this day.

It's difficult to review, with any fresh insights, the 25th book in a series. I've read most of them but fell out of love when the whole concept seemed to veer off the rails. There are characters that I like and others I am just done hearing about (*Lucy), so it was quite nice to see everyone behaving quite normally for a change. I enjoyed the fact that the author includes Covid pandemic references as well as the political and social unrest in the narrative.

Of course there's a murder. A woman has been killed and posed at the side of railroad tracks. It seems she has some connection to a top secret space experiment and Kay is brought into the loop as part of her appointment to the classified Doomsday Commission.

As per the typical crime thriller, the author includes the forensic details that I love as well as a mystery to solve. The only strange part about this book, however, was that it comes to a rather abrupt ending with all the big reveals coming in a short epilogue.

Regardless, though I like Kay and have mostly enjoyed this series, I am wondering if perhaps after all this time if she might be ready to retire. I enjoy the author's writing style and would love to read a new series with a fresh cast taking over Scarpetta's rein.

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

This is the 25th book in a long running series that would not work as a standalone.

Genre - crime thriller, forensics

 

Death on a Winter's Day ):ady Eleanor Swift #8) by Verity Bright

 In this 8th book of a delightful cozy mystery series, Lady Swift and her household staff travel to Scotland for Christmas. Hoping for a fairy tale yuletide with Baron and Baroness Ashley and their guests, things take a dark turn almost immediately. During Christmas Eve dinner, Eugene Randall, a wealthy businessman from America, is murdered. Since Castle Ranburgh is isolated and reachable only by crossing the loch, Eleanor is faced with the fact that someone on the island is responsible.

I've followed Eleanor Swift since the beginning and it is best if you read the books in order to fully appreciate all the relationships, but I enjoy the period details of the 1920s era. Sometimes I laugh out loud at the interaction between Lady Swift and her butler and right hand man, Clifford. Although I had already pegged the killer in this locked-room type mystery, the setting and the narrative kept me interested. The bit of supernatural or mythological selkie stuff didn't appeal and was a bit unusual for this series, but the book did seem quite right for the season. Eleanor certainly has some mad skills in many areas, but she is a fun character.

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

This is the 8th book in a series best read in order.

Genre - cozy mystery, 1920s, Scotland

The Collective by Alison Gaylin

A social thriller with a contemporary focus on maternal anguish and rage.

Camille Gardner has lost just about everything. When her daughter died because of a wealthy frat boy, she spiraled into grief and depression. Camille and her husband divorced so now she lives alone in the house that once held her happy family. She's obsessed with the boy and his family and seeks some sort of retribution and punishment for him. That's when she's introduced to an online group on the dark web  -- they call themselves "the collective."  In this secret chat thread, the women share stories of the loved ones they lost at the hands of those perpetrators who were never held accountable, subjected to a penalty, or brought to justice. This group, however, does more than talk about their pain. The collective has a means to plan and enact revenge as each woman does her part. Camille soon finds that this group is definitely crossing the line as she becomes an active member.

This was a great premise but somehow it just fell a little short from being the exciting, fast-paced thriller I was hoping to read. I found it difficult to relate to Camille despite my empathy for her situation and had to suspend a lot of disbelief over some of the coincidences and activities. In the end, it was a story that focused on the question of morality and the concept of "an eye for an eye" with the women serving as judge, jury, and executioner. I anticipated the ending so I was a bit surprised at the twist.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - social commentary, contemporary, mystery, soft thriller

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

 How quickly a life can change -- in only a moment, Mirielle West's pampered world becomes a distant and painful memory. It happens when she learns she has leprosy and is quickly shuttled off, under a fake name, to Louisiana's Carville leper colony. Far from her silent film star husband, Charlie, and her two young daughters, Mirielle is quarantined and locked away from her family never knowing when or if she will see them again. As Pauline Martin, Mirielle is completely out of her element, burning with the shame and embarrassment this diagnosis brings. She has no desire to become part of this community of fellow lepers nor does she have any hope that a cure will release her back to California and all those she holds dear. It's the 1920s and the ignorance about the disease itself, its mode of transmission, and the stigma of being diagnosed all threaten to overwhelm her as she struggles to not only survive, but somehow thrive.

Reminiscent of the novel, "Moloka'i" by Alan Brennert, this poignant, fictional account of a real part of American History won't leave my mind. I had no idea about Carville and what happened there. The story is very sad, but I often find that books like this somehow reach my soul and make me want to be a better person. I can't imagine what it would be like to be remanded to a place such as that and, even more so, it scares me to think of how I would react. It's easy to say from this point in 2021 that the treatment of those with leprosy was horrible, but we have the advantage of years of medical knowledge and technology so we can't judge the ones charged with the care of these patients. Modern medicine brought an effective medicine and a cure to those with Hansen's Disease and for that I am incredibly thankful. It does still occur even these days, but the isolation and horror no longer has to happen to those who contract it.

The author, a nurse, writes with authority and the medical details about the historical efforts to combat the disease are authentic. I enjoyed this glimpse into a past American health care crisis and definitely appreciate that it was not the last time that humans were confronted with a very troubling medical issue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington 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 1920s, leper colony America

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

 An interesting blend of folk tale, gothic horror, supernatural elements, witchcraft, magic, time travel and a menacing setting.

Olivia (Liv) Stay arrives on the Scottish island of Lon Haven with her 3 young daughters in 1998. She's meant to paint a mural on the walls of an old lighthouse. The inhabitants live in a sort of time capsule with the entire place steeped in folklore and a dark history. Liv learns about the prison beneath the lighthouse, once used to house women accused of witchcraft and about the wildlings that were part of their curse on the islanders. Then two of her daughters vanish.

Fast forward to 2021: one of the Stay daughters, Luna, has been searching all these years for her missing family. She gets a call that her youngest sister, Clover, has been found. Luna rushes to the hospital eager to be reunited, except when she sees Clover she is shocked to find that Clover is still 7 years old -- the same age she was when she went missing. In an effort to make sense of everything and come to terms with her past, Luna and Clover travel to Lon Haven. No spoilers.

This is a great story for anyone in the mood for something a bit spooky. Although I don't tend to read a lot of gothic horror, I found this enjoyable. The narrative shifts in point of view and in time as the story evolves. The characters were well drawn and each voice gave another dimension to what happen on Lon Haven. It is a bit "out there" as far as believably, but an entertaining tale.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Dead Mercy (DC Maggie Jamieson #5) by Noelle Holten

Fast-paced crime thriller featuring DC Maggie Jamieson of the Stafford Police.

A serial killer who seems bent on some sort of twisted revenge is targeting seemingly random local people. The MO for all is the same and the signature a bit freaky as the villain not only burns them while still alive, they also pull some teeth. After some digging, Maggie and her team feel that this case might be connected to historical child abuse of boys in care homes that was never addressed and the perpetrators never brought to justice. No spoilers.

This is the 5th in a series that keeps getting better. I've read 3 of the other books (missed #4), and didn't feel lost so it could work as a standalone but better to know the backstory as usual. I enjoy the characters and the team interaction as they work night and day to investigate. This is standard police procedural with red herrings and running down clues with an interesting premise. Maggie has compassion and usually acts sensibly though, like all fiction detectives, has incredible gut instincts (spidey sense) and often goes off book to get the job done.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the 5th in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, UK

The Power Couple by Alex Berenson

 This was a fun, twisty, and fast-paced mystery thriller with lots of domestic drama.

Rebecca and Brian Unsworth have been married for 20 years when they decide to splurge a bit and take the family on a trip to Europe to celebrate their anniversary. Rebecca has been a workaholic and given little attention to the kids or her husband because she is an FBI Agent. Intense and passionate about her job in counterterrorism, she has drifted from the strong connection she had with Brian when they first got together. Brian has drifted into one job after another, mostly functioning as house husband, but finally lands a plumb position as a coder for the NSA. Things are finally looking up and their money worries have eased.

Things are going well on the trip until the night that their 17-year-old daughter, Kira, goes out to a club in Barcelona and doesn't return. As soon as Rebecca and Brian find out that she has been kidnapped, everything kicks into high gear as Rebecca uses her connections to try and locate their daughter. No spoilers.

The narrative takes off quickly and shifts in point of view and time as the reader gets an indepth look at the characters and their history. Although Rebecca and Brian are very hard to like, it becomes increasingly clear that some serious shenanigans have disrupted the course of their lives and a huge shift in power dynamics is coming. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout this discovery, and could not put the book down as I had to know what was going to happen. I liked the writing style and the espionage detail about the different agencies involved. I'm sure that I will be one of the few readers that liked the parts about Kira and her situation the least. Overall, however, I definitely would recommend -- this would make a great movie.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - mystery thriller, domestic drama, espionage

Stolen Ones (Kim Stone #15) by Angela Marsons

The fifteenth book in a crime thriller series featuring Detective Kim Stone from Halesowen police continues in the same vein as she and her team tackle an unusual case. A man walks into the police station and states that he has information about a girl who has been missing for 25 years. Things take a turn when another girl disappears from a childcare center and everything kicks into high gear. No spoilers.

I've been with Kim Stone and her cohort since the beginning, and I think the time has come to say goodbye. Throughout our relationship, Kim has not changed a bit and I keep trying to like her but I can't keep up the work to continue our association. I am tired of Alex Thorne and her machinations and of Kim's backstory with her twin brother and all that family dysfunction. I would be eager to see Angela Marsons develop a new character as I like her writing style. I know fans won't agree and I'm sorry to say that I'm done with this series. I read this over a couple of hours and, although it is a sound police procedural with characters I have known for years, I didn't find this as satisfying as I used to. It's not you, it's me...and all that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. 

This is the 15th book in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural