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4 Character-Driven Police Procedural/Mystery Stars!
This is a book that is just as much about the characters as the investigation. Detective Inspector Matthew Venn is in charge of the murder investigation. He is a local boy and a gay man who grew up as part of a strict evangelical church which he renounced. I loved the undercurrents here of the discord between his family, the church and his true self. Cleeves weaves in societal prejudices towards gays and disabled and mentally impaired people so well into this story.
The main mystery revolves around a murder connected to the Day Centre at The Woodyard - a center for disabled and impaired people that is managed by Jonathan, Mathhew's husband. Running alongside this investigation is the story of an elderly man who is living with his daughter with downs syndrome. The stories, are connected and Cleeves weaves them together effortlessly at the end.
My favorite character, by far, is Jen one of Matthew Venn’s DS’s. She has escaped an abusive husband and has such an interesting back story. She is also a perfect pair for him, balancing him in all the ways that count in an investigation. I hope we see more of her in this series.
If you enjoy character driven police procedurals this is definitely one to add to your list.
Thank you Minotaur Books for providing this arc for me to read & review!
This is a book that is just as much about the characters as the investigation. Detective Inspector Matthew Venn is in charge of the murder investigation. He is a local boy and a gay man who grew up as part of a strict evangelical church which he renounced. I loved the undercurrents here of the discord between his family, the church and his true self. Cleeves weaves in societal prejudices towards gays and disabled and mentally impaired people so well into this story.
The main mystery revolves around a murder connected to the Day Centre at The Woodyard - a center for disabled and impaired people that is managed by Jonathan, Mathhew's husband. Running alongside this investigation is the story of an elderly man who is living with his daughter with downs syndrome. The stories, are connected and Cleeves weaves them together effortlessly at the end.
My favorite character, by far, is Jen one of Matthew Venn’s DS’s. She has escaped an abusive husband and has such an interesting back story. She is also a perfect pair for him, balancing him in all the ways that count in an investigation. I hope we see more of her in this series.
If you enjoy character driven police procedurals this is definitely one to add to your list.
Thank you Minotaur Books for providing this arc for me to read & review!
A night out w/new friends and drugs leads to serious complications in a couple's HEA!
This one was one heck of a wild ride! Freya looks like the kind of woman you strive to be, but what's that saying about not judging a book by it's cover?! Holy lunatic - she is the BFF from hell y'all! No one stands a chance against her evil manipulations - or do they???
This was an absolute page turner - I could not put this book down! Some of it might seem a bit unrealistic but honesty it was just so juicy, I didn't care in the least. I mean there's polygamy, drugs, spouse swapping, infidelity, murder, jealousy, toxic relationships, abuse, obsession, sexuality and I'm sure I'm probably not listing it all.
This book has some amazing, unlikable characters. You know what I mean - characters you just love to hate and can't get enough of! I mean these adults were behaving badly and the poor kids around them, I just wanted to whisk them away!
This book will give you all the icky, creepy vibes leaving you unable to turn the pages fast enough!
This one was one heck of a wild ride! Freya looks like the kind of woman you strive to be, but what's that saying about not judging a book by it's cover?! Holy lunatic - she is the BFF from hell y'all! No one stands a chance against her evil manipulations - or do they???
This was an absolute page turner - I could not put this book down! Some of it might seem a bit unrealistic but honesty it was just so juicy, I didn't care in the least. I mean there's polygamy, drugs, spouse swapping, infidelity, murder, jealousy, toxic relationships, abuse, obsession, sexuality and I'm sure I'm probably not listing it all.
This book has some amazing, unlikable characters. You know what I mean - characters you just love to hate and can't get enough of! I mean these adults were behaving badly and the poor kids around them, I just wanted to whisk them away!
This book will give you all the icky, creepy vibes leaving you unable to turn the pages fast enough!
Diane Chamberlain stole my heart with The Dream Daughter and this book has cemented her as a fave author for me!
1940 - artist Anna Dale wins a competition to paint a mural that ends up never seeing the light of day
2018- When renown artist Jessie Jameson Williams passes away, he leaves instructions in his will for Morgan Christopher to restore Anna Dale's mural. Morgan is currently incarcerated and although she has never worked at restoration she knows this isn't an opportunity she can pass up when it means her freedom.
The dual timelines, the spinning of both artists' stories were so engrossing. You want to know how the two will intersect and solve the mystery of what really happened to Anna Dale all those years ago.
In Big Lies in a Small Town Chamberlain tells a heartfelt and masterful story of greed, small town prejudice, lies, family secrets, love and mystery. Highly recommend it for historical fiction fans!
1940 - artist Anna Dale wins a competition to paint a mural that ends up never seeing the light of day
2018- When renown artist Jessie Jameson Williams passes away, he leaves instructions in his will for Morgan Christopher to restore Anna Dale's mural. Morgan is currently incarcerated and although she has never worked at restoration she knows this isn't an opportunity she can pass up when it means her freedom.
The dual timelines, the spinning of both artists' stories were so engrossing. You want to know how the two will intersect and solve the mystery of what really happened to Anna Dale all those years ago.
In Big Lies in a Small Town Chamberlain tells a heartfelt and masterful story of greed, small town prejudice, lies, family secrets, love and mystery. Highly recommend it for historical fiction fans!
A group of best friends and their families enjoying a week together in a luxurious villa in the south of France. It should have been the vacation of a lifetime. Will doubts, secrets and lies ruin it all?
I love a good secrets & lies leads to murder story and this one certainly delivers! Its filled with drama, lying spouses, sneaky friends and a long suspect list!!!
I mean what would you do if you thought your husband was cheating on you with one of your best friends? Confront him? Come on, what's the fun in that! No you have to do some stealthy detective work, go through each of your BFF's and eliminate them from the list one by one. Of course this means you bring about even more trouble as you involve others and share your suspicions turning your perfect holiday into a perfect nightmare!
I must forewarn you - these characters are so unlikable. I wanted to yell at them at every turn of the page. They were so frustrating and of course sinfully entertaining. I've had a tumultuous relationship with TM Logan's books but this one was definitely a hit outta the park!
I love a good secrets & lies leads to murder story and this one certainly delivers! Its filled with drama, lying spouses, sneaky friends and a long suspect list!!!
I mean what would you do if you thought your husband was cheating on you with one of your best friends? Confront him? Come on, what's the fun in that! No you have to do some stealthy detective work, go through each of your BFF's and eliminate them from the list one by one. Of course this means you bring about even more trouble as you involve others and share your suspicions turning your perfect holiday into a perfect nightmare!
I must forewarn you - these characters are so unlikable. I wanted to yell at them at every turn of the page. They were so frustrating and of course sinfully entertaining. I've had a tumultuous relationship with TM Logan's books but this one was definitely a hit outta the park!
I've fallen in love with Hercule Poirot!
I've always wanted to delve into the crime solving world of Hercule Poirot and I couldn't resist seeing how Sophie Hannah handles the great Agatha Christie. I'm happy to say that this lived up to expectation and will certainly not be my last Poirot mystery!
This was a twisty mystery - cleverly spun with so many layers. It kept me guessing right to the end.
I've always wanted to delve into the crime solving world of Hercule Poirot and I couldn't resist seeing how Sophie Hannah handles the great Agatha Christie. I'm happy to say that this lived up to expectation and will certainly not be my last Poirot mystery!
This was a twisty mystery - cleverly spun with so many layers. It kept me guessing right to the end.
DI Kim Stone is one of my favorite police procedural series & Marsons never disappoints!
Book 12 takes us into the dark, predatory and disturbing world of cults which always intrigues me. As Kim delves deeper into an apparent suicide that isn't sitting right with her, she finds herself connecting other murders and frantically looking for a killer with cult connections.
The mystery is great - they always are, it's Marsons. But what makes these books for me are the recurring characters - Kim and her team. Honestly, I can't say it enough - they have become like friends I know over the course of the series. You become so invested in them and Marsons knows how to continuously develop her characters while always giving us fresh layers and fresh cases to uncover.
If you haven't read this series - you must! I can't recommend it highly enough to do it justice.
Book 12 takes us into the dark, predatory and disturbing world of cults which always intrigues me. As Kim delves deeper into an apparent suicide that isn't sitting right with her, she finds herself connecting other murders and frantically looking for a killer with cult connections.
The mystery is great - they always are, it's Marsons. But what makes these books for me are the recurring characters - Kim and her team. Honestly, I can't say it enough - they have become like friends I know over the course of the series. You become so invested in them and Marsons knows how to continuously develop her characters while always giving us fresh layers and fresh cases to uncover.
If you haven't read this series - you must! I can't recommend it highly enough to do it justice.
The fantasy series that stole my heart and took over my life (for a week at least!) - obviously you need to read it, if you haven’t already!
I was late to the party on this book but I went in, fell down the rabbit hole and never looked back! I was hooked!!! I can’t emotionally rate this series anything less than 5 stars bc I was sooo invested in it. It’s been a long time since a series had me gripped like this but I loved book 2 best!
I love
I was late to the party on this book but I went in, fell down the rabbit hole and never looked back! I was hooked!!! I can’t emotionally rate this series anything less than 5 stars bc I was sooo invested in it. It’s been a long time since a series had me gripped like this but I loved book 2 best!
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