Grimwell by Michael Belanger

September 2, 2024 By 1 Comment


Grimwell by Michael Belanger
Publisher: Woodhall Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Embark on an unforgettable journey into the enchanting realm of Grimwell, where books wield an unexpected power to shape destinies. Meet Derek Winnebaker, a spirited barista with a penchant for literature and a taste for strong coffee. When Derek stumbles upon a novel detailing the whimsical adventures of a fantasy creature known as a grimkin, he finds himself irresistibly drawn into its fantastical world.

Using the book as his guide, Derek bravely navigates through life’s twists and turns, transforming from a downtrodden bystander into a courageous protagonist. From mustering the courage to ask out his crush to standing up to his tyrannical boss, Derek’s journey mirrors the epic saga unfolding within the pages of his newfound literary companion. Yet, just as Derek begins to master his narrative, the whims of fate take a dark turn reminiscent of Kafka’s surreal tales, challenging Derek’s agency in his own story.

In this captivating blend of comedy, romance, and twisted fairy tale, Grimwell prompts readers to ponder the profound influence of literature on our lives. Will Derek seize control of his destiny, or will he remain ensnared in the machinations of an unseen narrator? Prepare to be enthralled and enlightened as Grimwell invites you to reconsider the power of storytelling and the choices that shape our realities.

Feeling stuck in life is frustrating, but there are many ways through it.

Derek was a likeable and sympathetic protagonist. While it’s not at all necessary for me to share a lot in common with a main character in order to enjoy reading about them or agree they’re well written, I was delighted to see how much I could identify with his vivid imagination, his love of the fantasy genre, and the troubles he dealt with in real life that didn’t have easy solutions. He was an intelligent person who had made a few understandable mistakes, and I nodded along as he acknowledged where he had gone wrong in the past and what he wished he’d done differently. There is nothing like meeting a character who feels so familiar, and I hope other readers have the same warm and understanding reaction to this realistically flawed but also genuinely good individual.

While I will admit to finding the pacing a little slow in the beginning, this writing style was necessary in order to introduce Derek to the readers and set everything into motion for his grand adventure. I was so glad I remained patient for these sections as they richly rewarded me once I was about sixty pages into it and became a solid five-star read shortly after that. There were plenty of bright spots much earlier than that, of course, but this was the sort of tale that works best in my opinion for readers who are willing to let things simmer a little at first. This is not a criticism, only a heads up for anyone who needs it as there are plenty of wonders waiting to be discovered if one gives them time to appear.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that found creative ways to blend together common fantasy tropes with situations that often happen in the real world. For example, Derek’s manager at work was someone who was excellent at giving orders but rarely interested in rolling up his sleeves and helping his employees actually get anything accomplished when they hit a busy period. I’ll leave it up to other readers to discover how Derek was inspired to try to change this dynamic by how such things can play out in the fantasy genre when a boss is lazy or treats their workers unfairly, but I mentally cheered him on as he realized just how much better things should be for him and everyone else who works in the service industry. This was a clever example of how something can be deeply rooted in more than one genre in ways that enrich both or all of them.

Grimwell made me yearn for a sequel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Found by Chance by Gareth Chris

August 30, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Found by Chance by Gareth Chris
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ,
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Chance has an unexpected attraction to his neighbors—a gay couple—and this unconventional relationship could end Chance’s career and family relationships.

Chance Findley is a successful marketing executive until his career is jeopardized by a disastrous presentation to a Chamber of Commerce member.

During a mandated recuperative break, Chance’s suppressed same-sex attraction reawakens when he bonds with his new neighbor, Arlo, despite Arlo having a physician partner named Charlie and a surprising job as a cam performer. Chance secretly subscribes to Arlo’s fan page. Guilty about his invasion of Arlo’s privacy, Chance avoids his neighbor until an acute medical problem brings Arlo and his doctor boyfriend—the same Chamber of Commerce member who hated Chance’s presentation—to his doorstep. An attraction grows between the three men.

But when Charlie’s attempt to mend Chance’s relationship with his boss backfires due to a potential conflict of interest, and Chance’s parents learn of his relationship with Arlo and Charlie, Chance finds himself out of a job, at odds with his family and struggling with Arlo and Charlie. Will the three of them be able to find a happily-ever-after, despite everything that stands in their way?

Forced to take leave from a job he loves, Chance is lost. And then he meets his neighbor, Arlo, who rolls into his life like a breath of fresh air and tidal wave of joy. But when Chance starts to feel attraction towards Arlo, he begins to question everything he knows about himself and his life. What if the two men next door are the answer to everything he needs?

Arlo is a whirlwind to say the least. He blows into and right back out of Chance’s life several times during the week Chance is moving in. He’s bright, he’s cheerful, and he’s positive no matter how bad the situation seems. While I appreciated such a light hearted character, he did push the limits of my patience at times. However, he was probably my favorite of the three simply because he refused to let life get him down.

Charlie, on the other hand, is very grounded and steady. Considering he’s a doctor, this is to be expected. He’s serious, but doesn’t take himself too seriously either. Truthfully, I can see how he and Arlo wound up together, they create a great balance for each other. One holding the other to reality while the other gives a reminder that things don’t have to always be so serious.

I wasn’t sure how or where Chance would fit into their already functional relationship. Eventually, I figured that Chance’s personality fell smack in the middle between Charlie and Arlo, allowing him to have his crazy moments as well as his more serious ones. I was impressed with how he handled his emerging same-sex attraction to Arlo and Charlie, and how he embraced it rather than fighting it.

Found by Chance is an engaging and uplifting story of finding your way, learning about yourself, and taking on the haters in the world. When you have someone who loves you, and always has your back, you can do and overcome anything, from bigots in the street to hateful family members. You might lose someone in the process, but you’re bound to find someone even more special along the way.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Mermaid’s Scream by Kate Ellis

August 29, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Mermaid’s Scream by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Most assumed that literary legend Wynn Staniland stopped writing because of his wife’s tragic suicide. Yet writer Zac Wilkinson hopes to reveal the true story to the world in his upcoming biography of Staniland.

When Zac is found brutally murdered, DI Wesley Peterson finds that Staniland is a link between Zac’s death and an unexplained poisoning of a couple in a local caravan park. He suspects that the killings are a grim re-enactment of the murder of Mary Field, which inspired Staniland’s best-known novel.

As Wesley begins to unravel decades of deception, he discovers that someone close to him is involved – and the truth proves almost too much to bear . . .

DI Wesley Peterson is called out to a suspicious poisoning out in the local caravan park in what looks might be a double suicide – or possibly a murder/suicide. With little but his instincts to go on he is reluctant to link it to another recent murder of a local author who is writing a biography of a local literary legend. Yet the more Peterson and his team look into the two loosely connected events, the more they find lurking in the background, and when a re-enactment of a young woman many years ago is also tied in the team have more than enough to keep them busy.

I found this to be an interesting and well-paced British murder mystery. I was impressed with the sub-plot revolving around Petersons nearly teenaged son, Michael and hope we can maybe see a bit more of him in future books to come. I also was really pleased that – for now at least – Wesley’s wife Pam seems to have settled down a bit and has a much better and more patient outlook on her life. I was very happy with the progress of both of these characters and found they really added to my enjoyment.

The plot was well contained and while readers who pick this book up and try to read it as a stand alone mightn’t find the same enjoyment with the character progressions that I did – the story and mystery aspect is very well handled and certainly is all tied up with no real loose ends. Readers who are hoping for a strong historical storyline or archaeological plot woven in with the modern day murder mystery might find that aspect to this book a little lighter than Ellis’ books in this series usually are. Speaking personally, I didn’t mind the lighter hand this time around as there was quite a bit going on – both with the characters, their longer running arc and family members as well as the main mystery plot. I felt had the historical aspect to the story taken up more room something else would have needed to be cut back and so I wasn’t upset to see the history take a bit more of a back seat this time around.

Readers looking for a solidly plotted and well-paced British Police procedural style of mystery should find this book really hits the spot. While I feel readers who have read a few of the previous books and know all the main characters and players will find this a little more emotional and more satisfying I do feel the plot is well contained and can easily be enjoyed just with this book alone. A good addition to a long running series and an author I really enjoy.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Mark Of Imperfection by Rhys Dylan

August 28, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Mark Of Imperfection by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Know thine enemy …

Evan Warlow is a man with enemies. As a DCI in the Dyfed Powys force, that comes with the territory. But when two of his most vicious critics are abducted and turn up dead in a macabre tableau, tough questions need to be asked.

The uncomfortable answers lead Evan and the team back to his roots and an old case that has haunted him for years. The deaths in the forest have all the hallmarks of a dangerous killer with no fear of consequences. And when one of Evan’s fellow officers becomes the next target, it’s clear that the murderer isn’t finished yet.

There’s a coppery aroma of vendetta in the air. Unless Evan and the team can get to the root cause of the killer’s twisted anger, there will be more deaths. And guess who’s next on the list?

DCI Evan Warlow has made a number of enemies on his many years on the police force. When two of his most vitriolic enemies are found tortured and murdered, there are a number of difficult questions to answer. Evan and his team continue to tirelessly pursue both the truth and to stop any more unnecessary deaths, but will they have the strength to come through this – one of their hardest cases yet?

I have been greatly enjoying this slightly gritty, Welsh based police procedural series. While there are a few longer-running plot arcs that run through numerous books together, there is definitely one main plotline for each book and the police investigation around it. So, while I feel each of these books can certainly be picked up alone, I equally feel that readers who have read some or all of the books can get a deeper connection to these longer-running arcs and get a more complicated and layered enjoyment of the stories.

I was particularly glad that two very long plots (one surrounding Evan and his sons, and the other dealing with a particularly distasteful work colleague) were very well handled and wrapped up in this book. While I could understand if there are a few tendrils of the work colleague that linger into the next book or so I definitely feel much better for having – I believe – the bulk of this storyline wrapped up. I also felt a bit bad for Catrin – one of Evan’s team members – being dragged into the muck with this and I am hoping all will resolve well related to her character.

The plot itself was very well handled I felt. The difficulty of having the two victims be genuinely awful people and not at all sympathetic, and in addition to that them being very much antagonists of our hero, Evan, made it a really interesting read to me. Seeing Evan and his team work just as hard to solve this murder as any other shone a lot of light on both the teams’ characters as well as their impartiality – their genuine desire to solve crime no matter who the victim might be. I really enjoyed the slightly different look this gave and it made what could have been a very uncomfortable book something different and fresh to my mind.

With excellent characters – both good and bad – and a solid, well-paced plot I am enjoying this series and am eager for the next installment.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

A Blind Eye by Marion Todd

August 23, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Blind Eye by Marion Todd
Publisher: Canelo Crime
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Can DI Clare Mackay unravel a dead man’s secrets?
Harry Richards, a local solicitor, is found in his car, throat slit.

DI Clare Mackay is on the case. She soon learns that Harry was not the upstanding man he seemed to be. Finding the killer should be easy.

Then the wife of one of Harry’s colleagues is discovered dead in her car, and Clare realises there is something more sinister at play…

Can she find out who’s behind the murders before they turn their attention to her?

DI Clare Mackay is called to investigate the seemingly abandoned car of a mission local lawyer who had been reported missing the previous day. When the man is found inside the car with his throat slit, Clare knows this is far more than a missing local lawyer and immediately she and her team begin to search for the truth. When a second, connected, body is found under very similar circumstances Clare knows the treachery extends far beyond just this one man and his questionable actions.

I have been enjoying this Scottish mystery series – delightfully branded as Tartan Noir – and this book was an excellent addition. Similar to British police procedurals this book focuses heavily on the police and their unraveling the truth. Readers who prefer a more action orientated, American or spy syle of novel might find the pace moves a little slowly for them, but personally I really enjoy the slower piecing together of the puzzle as it really lets me follow along and have a good crack at guessing what’s really going on for myself.

There is a strongly written cast of important secondary characters and while there’s quite a history and team network between them, I do feel readers should be able to pick this book up by itself and not need any of the previous installments to fully enjoy this story.

I also enjoyed how there were clearly a few moving parts to this plot, and while they did interweave together very nicely it didn’t feel pay or overly serendipitous, it came across to me as a well plotted and interesting mystery that had a number of different areas overlapping nicely to form a larger picture.

I found this to be an enjoyable and realistic police procedural mystery with a bunch of great characters. I’ve enjoyed this series and am eager to read the next book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The House Of Eyes by Kate Ellis

August 20, 2024 By 1 Comment


The House Of Eyes by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When Darren Hatman first reports his daughter missing, DI Wesley Peterson isn’t too concerned. Leanne Hatman is an aspiring model, keen to leave Devon for the bright lights of London.

But Wesley realises something very sinister is going on when Darren is found murdered in the grounds of Eyecliffe Castle, the hotel where Leanne works. Could Leanne have met a similar fate to her father? But, if so, where is her body?

Wesley begins to suspect a connection between recent events and the disappearance of two girls in the 1950s, at a mysterious ruin called the House of Eyes.

As he tries to solve the puzzle, Wesley must face alarming revelations rooted in centuries of evil – as well as deal with a nightmare of his own . . .

DI Welsey Peterson and his team aren’t sure how seriously to take the missing persons report from a father when his nineteen year old daughter hasn’t made contact for a few weeks. Independent and with dreams of becoming a model in London, it seems quite understandable she’s been caught up in the fast paced city life. Only when the father turns up dead, murdered on the edges of Eyecliffe Castle, the hotel where his daughter had been working for some time does it appear likely things aren’t as simple and innocent as they’d suggested. Can Wesley and his team uncover what’s really going on?

This is the next book in a long-running series blending together a current British Procedural murder mystery along with always a dollop of historical and archaeology. I must admit this time around Neil and the archaeology aspect to the plotline takes a bit of a back seat. Wesley has a fair bit of family difficulty going on and that takes a bit more of a front seat in this book and it appears to have squeezed out some of the history. While there certainly is still some history surrounding an old diary I do feel the archaeology element isn’t as front-facing in this book as it often is in the others.

I definitely feel the pace of the current murder and mystery is well plotted and well balanced with the other elements to the story. I also feel that the plot surrounding Pam was delicately handled and while it might have been a little gentle/brief on details I feel Pam and Wesley both reacted to the situation logically and in a believable manner I was particularly pleased Wesley put his money where his mouth frequently is – and he did indeed drop his work commitments when his family needed him there. We’ve seen him do this on lesser scales a number of times, but a big part of me the fact he did this without question or request will hopefully finally shut up Pam and her whining about how much time Wesley spends with his work commitments.

Another small fault was Rachel, Wesley’s colleague and fellow officer, putting off her wedding again. Admittedly it was for a jolly good reason this time – but since this is the second (or third? At least?) time the ceremony has been put off I’m really starting to feel her farmer fiance’s patience should be wearing thin and Rachel really need to either call it all off or go through with it. The previous time she put it all off (about two books ago now) I felt quite sympathetic for the long-suffering fellow and while there was a solid and undeniable reason this time, I really do feel his patience is heading towards saintly levels and not being very believable. I sincerely hope they manage to make it down the aisle in the next book or so.

With quite a bit of character movement in this book along with a solid murder mystery I feel this book might not be the best suited for new readers who haven’t read any of the previous books. But I did find this an excellent police procedural for readers who have read at least a few of the previous installments. With strong and interesting characters and an excellent mix of historical and present day mystery this is a lovely book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Beneath Cold Earth by M S Morris

August 19, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Beneath Cold Earth by M S Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A buried skeleton. A dark conspiracy. A ruthless killer.
When flash floods unearth a human skeleton at a local beauty spot, DCI Tom Raven is called to investigate. Who is the dead man, and how did he end up there?

Help is on hand from forensic anthropologist Dr Chandice Jones who enjoys the challenge of working with old bones. But is Raven one challenge too many for her?

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Becca Shawcross is called to a local nursing home where an elderly resident has taken his own life. The death appears to be a routine case of suicide, but Becca has her suspicions. Could foul play be involved?

As the two investigations widen, Raven and Becca begin to find common threads. And when things take a sinister turn, they must work together to untangle the connections between the two deaths.

Because some secrets are best left buried.

When local flooding uncovers a long-buried skeleton DCI Tom Raven is intrigued, and even more committed when the beautiful forensic anthropologist Dr Chandice Jones can give him some of the answers he seeks. Meanwhile DS Becca Shawcross is convinced that a local elderly man did not commit suicide as his caregivers appear to believe, and when the evidence supports her intuition she finds herself quickly uncovering more than she ever expected. Can Becca and Tom each uncover the truth behind their respective mysteries?

This is the second book revolving around DCI Raven and his small team and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very well written British police procedural I definitely enjoyed the two main plots in this story. While I felt it a little cliched when the two threads wove together it didn’t feel overly fake or forced. I did however particularly like how it was Becca who joined the two cases together before Tom managed to find the links. I found that very cool.

I also really enjoyed a number of the secondary characters in this book – especially Violet in the nursing home. The only thing I do feel readers should be aware of is while the plot is very well handled and wrapped up in this book one of the longer story arcs revolving around Becca did end on somewhat of a cliffhanger. Readers who hate one book ending and it being fairly necessary to begin the next book immediately might need to ensure they have book 3 readily on hand. As this second book certainly finishes right where book three is about to begin and where from the blurb it appears the next investigation is right about to start.

I found this to be a well plotted murder mystery with two solid plots that interwove together very well. I am thoroughly enjoying the strong cast of secondary characters, and I also greatly enjoyed the strong historical context to this particular murder mystery. While there is somewhat of a cliffhanger ending which is clearly leading into the next book the plot itself is very well contained in this story and I do feel readers can certainly pick up this book and read it very much as a standalone. I am eager for the next in the series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

August 16, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Review by Snowdrop

Raised on tales of cowboys and pirates, eleven-year-old Reuben Land has little doubt that miracles happen all around us, and that it’s up to us to “make of it what we will.” Reuben was born with no air in his lungs, and it was only when his father, Jeremiah, picked him up and commanded him to breathe that his lungs filled. Reuben struggles with debilitating asthma from then on, making him a boy who knows firsthand that life is a gift, and also one who suspects that his father is touched by God and can overturn the laws of nature.

The quiet Midwestern life of the Lands is upended when Davy, the oldest son, kills two marauders who have come to harm the family; unlike his father, he is not content to leave all matters of justice in God’s hands. The morning of his sentencing, Davy–a hero to some, a cold-blooded murderer to others–escapes from his cell, and the Lands set out in search of him. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers–among them a free spirit named Roxanna, who offers them a place to stay during a blizzard and winds up providing them with something far more permanent. Meanwhile, a federal agent is trailing the Lands, convinced they know of Davy’s whereabouts.

With Jeremiah at the helm, the family covers territory far more extraordinary than even the Badlands where they search for Davy from their Airstream trailer. Sprinkled with playful nods to biblical tales, beloved classics such as Huckleberry Finn, the adventure stories of Robert Louis Stevenson, and the westerns of Zane Grey, Peace Like a River unfolds like a revelation.

At first, I thought this would be of the religious genre, a genre I do not enjoy. As it turned out, although miracles are indeed mentioned and Bible reading occurs, I’m not sure this is a story that is at all religious.

What I do know is that it is a beautifully written story of a family trying to make their way. It reminded me so much of families moving west during the Depression and yet was actually set in the sixties. A single father with three children tries to support and raise his family only to find that his daughter has been attacked by boys at school. While her father tries to be passive and forgiving, the oldest brother can think of nothing but revenge. His actions change the lives of the entire family.

This whole story is written from the POV of the younger brother. An indisposed child, very asthmatic, and often picked on due to being frail with an illness that while better treatment was on the brink of discovery, was totally misunderstood at that time. The story is of interest and the characters quite real, but the biggest attribute of this book is its writer.

The reading flows so much that I read and read and couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those “oh, just one more page” books. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Out of My Window by Kuldeep D. Gohel

August 15, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Out of My Window by Kuldeep D. Gohel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A fast fiction fantasy story.

Hope is for everyone.

Mitram was such a kind and gentle protagonist. I liked him the instant I met him and wanted him to have the happy ending in his life that he wished for. Even his flaws made me want to get to know him better as, to be perfectly honest, I sometimes struggle with social anxiety as well. The author’s descriptions of what it feels like to have that condition were nicely written and quite true to life in my experience.

I would have liked to see more physical descriptions included in this tale, especially when it came to what Mitram and Anjali looked like as most of the focus was on their personalities. Even knowing details as simple as whether they were tall or short and what sort of hairstyles they wore would have helped me to picture them more clearly in my mind as I read.

The explanation of how the magic windows worked made me grin. I can’t remember the last time I read something quite like that in fantasy stories, and I spend a lot of time in that genre! Mr. Gohel’s creativity makes me curious to read more from him. He has such a strong writing voice that I almost felt as though I was sitting next to him as he spoke despite the fact that I’ve never met him and obviously don’t actually know what he sounds like. That is an accomplishment for sure, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next!

Out of My Window made me smile.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Death Season by Kate Ellis

August 13, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Death Season by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When DI Wesley Peterson is summoned to investigate a killing, he assumes that the case is a routine matter. But soon dark secrets start to emerge from the victim’s past and Wesley realises that this cold-blooded murder is more complicated than he could have imagined.

Archaeologist Neil Watson is meanwhile studying Sandrock, a ruined village from the First World War that tumbled into the sea. Neil cannot shake the feeling that something is missing from his explorations: a cryptic clue that might be able to help Wesley solve his case.

As more victims fall prey to a killer, Wesley fears his precious family are becoming a target. Just like the fallen village of Sandrock, Wesley will have to stand tall if he is to withstand the coming storm.

DI Wesley Peterson is summoned to investigate what looks like a suspicious death in a hotel room, he has no idea just how dark and how far back the various threads around this murder will go. And as more people seemingly fall prey to this killer, Wesley has no idea just how close to home the danger is lurking.

I have been enjoying this series which blends together a modern mystery-thriller very well with a historical and archaeological setting. DI Peterson’s old university friend is once again nearby and studying a local ruined village which partially tumbled down the cliffs into the sea just after World War One. While the two cases have no direct bearing on each other it’s always interesting how events of the past so frequently have relevance – or mimic – events still going on in the present day.

Much like in the previous few books I thoroughly enjoyed both the historical story unfolding around Neil and his archeological site and the modern murder mystery and Wesley going through the police procedural aspect to the plots. I thought the plot slowly but with a good pace ramped up until there was quite a fast pace towards the climax and conclusion. I thought this side to the story was exceptionally well handled by the author. Pam Peterson – Wesley’s wife – once again seems to be unhappy with her lot and while I empathize that she feels Wesley’s police work takes up a lot of his time I really am sick of Pam whining about this. While I understand her disliking his sometimes long and unusual hours, I really do feel she needs to grow up and accept this is part of what she agreed to in marrying a policeman. It also looks as if possibly Neil has finally found a sensible woman and a part of me really hope this might work for them both. That would be lovely to see after him being mostly single and carefree for so very long.

A lovely addition to the series, I found this to be a well-paced and exceptionally well plotted story. While I could happily do without Pam and her sourness the rest of the cast are mostly enjoyable and well-balanced characters. A good book from an excellent series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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