Category: Amateur Investigators

Book Review

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Broadcast Blues

Author: R.G. Belsky

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: January 2, 2024

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Clare Carlson #6

My Rating: 3/5

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky

BOOK BLURB

New York City has no shortage of crime, making for a busy schedule for TV newswoman Clare Carlson. But not all crimes are created equal, and when an explosive planted in a car detonates and kills a woman, Clare knows it’ll be a huge story for her.

But it’s not only about the story—Clare also wants justice for the victim, Wendy Kyle. Wendy had sparked controversy as an NYPD officer, ultimately getting kicked off the force after making sexual harassment allegations and getting into a physical altercation with her boss. Then, she started a private investigations business, catering to women who suspected their husbands of cheating. Undoubtedly, Wendy had angered many people with her work, so the list of her suspected murderers is seemingly endless.

Despite the daunting investigation, Clare dives in headfirst. As she digs deeper, she attracts the attention of many rich and powerful people who will stop at nothing to keep her from breaking the truth about the death of Wendy Kyle—and exposing their personal secrets that Wendy took to her grave.

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky

MY REVIEW

Broadcast Blues is the sixth book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. Clare is a journalist who has worked on several high profile investigations. In Broadcast Blues, Clare covers the death of a former police officer turned private investigator.

Clare is an intelligent, yet flawed character. She makes some questionable decisions, but does have good investigative skills and the determination to find truth.

This is an enjoyable series with interesting mysteries. Broadcast Blues can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the earlier books too.

Broadcast Blues is a complex and intriguing mystery. Recommended for readers who enjoy mysteries from a journalists point of view.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Clare Carlson series:
  1. Yesterday’s News
  2. Below the Fold
  3. The Last Scoop
  4. Beyond the Headlines
  5. It’s News to Me
  6. Broadcast Blues
Book Review

Death Writes by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Death Writes

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: December 5, 2023

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #6

My Rating: 4/5

Death Writes by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

A local author dies on stage at a literary festival. Ben O’Keeffe has to sort through his complicated estate—and find his murderer while she’s at it.

Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe and her boyfriend Police Sergeant Tom Molloy race to Dublin after hearing that some strangers had moved in with Ben’s parents. When they arrive, only Ben’s parents and their strange lodger remain, but come morning the lodger has left. Not wanting to leave them alone, Ben persuades her parents to come and stay with her in Inishowen.

In Glendara, preparations are underway for Glenfest, Glendara’s literary festival. Phyllis Kettle, the local bookshop owner, is especially pleased to have persuaded Gavin Featherstone, the local best-selling recluse writer, to take part.

The festival begins, and an eager crowd awaits Featherstone’s appearance on stage. He is unexpectedly engaging, but when he stands to read from his new book, he stumbles and keels over on the platform.

Ben discovers that she holds Featherstone’s will at the office, drafted by her predecessor. Soon, she’s drawn into a complicated legal wrangle over the man’s estate involving his family and the assistant who lived with him.

But nothing can yet be resolved, as a killer cannot inherit from their victim—and Gavin Featherstone’s death was a murder.

Death Writes by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

Death Writes is the sixth book in the Inishowen mysteries series. Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with solving a few murder mysteries, and is drawn into a new one.

I recommend reading this series in order. While the mystery is new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books. This series has a charming small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth.

Death Writes is an atmospheric mystery with a vivid setting.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

It’s News to Me by R.G. Belsky [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: It’s News to Me

Author: R.G. Belsky

Publisher: Oceanview

Publish Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Clare Carlson #5

My Rating: 3/5

It's News to Me by R.G. Belsky

BOOK BLURB

When Riley Hunt—a beautiful, smart, popular student at Easton College in Manhattan—is brutally murdered, it becomes a big story for TV newswoman Clare Carlson.

After days of intense media coverage, a suspect is caught: a troubled Afghanistan war veteran with a history of violent and unstable behavior. The suspect’s mother, however, comes to Clare with new evidence that might prove her son’s innocence.

As Clare digs deeper into the puzzling case, she learns new information: Riley had complained about being stalked in the days before her murder, she was romantically involved with two different men—the son of a top police official and the son of a prominent underworld boss—and she had posted her picture on an escort service’s website offering paid dates with wealthy men.

Soon, Clare becomes convinced that Riley Hunt’s death is more than just a simple murder case—and that more lives, including her own, are now in danger until she uncovers the true story.

It's News to Me by R.G. Belsky

MY REVIEW

It’s News to Me is the fifth book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. Clare is a journalist who has worked on several high profile investigations. In It’s News to Me, Clare covers the murder of a popular college student.

Clare is an intelligent and witty, yet flawed character. She makes some questionable decisions, but does have good investigative skills and the determination to find truth.

This is an enjoyable series with gripping mysteries. It’s News to Me can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the earlier books too.

It’s News to Me is a complex and suspenseful mystery. Recommended for fans of mysteries from a journalists point of view.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Clare Carlson series:
  1. Yesterday’s News
  2. Below the Fold
  3. The Last Scoop
  4. Beyond the Headlines
  5. It’s News to Me
  6. Broadcast Blues
Book Review

Murder at Greysbridge  by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder at Greysbridge

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: November 2, 2021

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #4

My Rating: 4/5

Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

Summer has arrived in Inishowen and solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is greatly tempted by a job offer from a law firm in America. Yet before making any life-changing decisions, there is her assistant Leah’s wedding to attend at the newly restored Greysbridge Hotel—with its private beach and beautiful pier.

The perfect location—but the festivities are brutally cut short when a young American, a visitor also staying at the hotel, drowns in full view of the wedding guests. And when a second death is discovered the same evening, Ben finds herself embroiled in a real country-house-murder-mystery, where all the guests are suspects.

Sergeant Tom Molloy’s appearance to investigate throws Ben into turmoil, especially when the pursuit of two runaways leads the pair to an island off the Donegal coast, where a violent storm traps them together, completely cut off from the mainland.

A deadly conspiracy is unfolding on this tiny North Atlantic island—fueled by the ruthless pursuit of money—careening toward disaster for the inhabitants—and for Ben.

Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

Murder at Greysbridge is the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series. Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with solving a few murder mysteries, and is drawn into a new one.

Ben’s assistant is getting married. The wedding is to be held at a renovated hotel that is rumored to be haunted. Ben’s investigative skills come in handy when not one, but two, hotel guests die. Along with the mystery, Ben has a lot happening in her personal and professional lives.

I recommend reading this series in order. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

Murder at Greysbridge is an atmospheric mystery with an isolated setting. This series has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Murder at Greysbridge is a gripping mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Beyond the Headlines

Author: R.G. Belsky

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Clare Carlson #4

My Rating: 4/5

Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky

BOOK BLURB

She was a mega-celebrity—he was a billionaire businessman—now he’s dead—she’s in jail

Laurie Bateman was living the American dream. Since her arrival as an infant in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon, the pretty Vietnamese girl had gone on to become a supermodel, a successful actress, and, finally, the wife of one of the country’s top corporate dealmakers. That dream has now turned into a nightmare when she is arrested for the murder of her wealthy husband.

New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson does an emotional jailhouse interview in which Bateman proclaims her innocence—and becomes a cause celebre for women’s rights groups around the country.

At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.

Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles against dire evil forces to break the biggest story of her life.

Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky

MY REVIEW

Beyond the Headlines is the fourth book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. Clare is a journalist who has worked on several high profile investigations. In Beyond the Headlines, Clare is asked to do a jailhouse interview with a woman arrested for her wealthy husband’s murder. The woman proclaims her innocence, but Clare does some digging to discover the truth.

Clare is a flawed character. She is intelligent and witty, but she also makes some bad decisions. She does have some great investigative skills though, and the determination to find truth.

I’ve read the previous book in this series, and recommend reading this series in order. However, Beyond the Headlines can be read as a stand-alone.

Beyond the Headlines is a gripping mystery. Engaging, interesting, and suspenseful.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Clare Carlson series:
  1. Yesterday’s News
  2. Below the Fold
  3. The Last Scoop
  4. Beyond the Headlines
  5. It’s News to Me
  6. Broadcast Blues
Book Review

The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Well of Ice

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: November 10, 2020

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #3

My Rating: 4/5

The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

A cold—and terrifying—Christmas holiday on the Inishowen Peninsula

December on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal—and solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe is working flat out before the Christmas holidays. While on a trip to Dublin to visit her parents, she runs into Luke Kirby—the man who killed her sister—freshly released from jail. On the surface he appears remorseful, conciliatory even, but his comment as she walks away makes her realize he is as evil as ever.

Back in Glendara, she finds chaos. The Oak pub has burned down and Carole Kearney, the Oak’s barmaid, has gone missing. And then, while walking the dog up Sliabh Sneacht, Ben and her partner, Sergeant Tom Molloy, make a gruesome discovery: a body lying face down in the snow. Another brutal attack in the small town and Ben plunges into full discovery mode.

Who could be behind this vicious attack on Glendara and its residents? And why disturb such a charming town at Christmas? As Ben delves in to find answers, she comes face to face with the reality that all this evil could be swirling around her as her past confronts her present—and future.

The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

The Well of Ice is the third book in the Inishowen Mysteries series by Andrea Carter. Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with a couple of mysteries, and is drawn into a new one in The Well of Ice.

Glendara is a very close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. For instance, everyone seems to know about Ben and her “secret” boyfriend Sergeant Tom Molloy… so, it’s a surprise when no one knows anything about the local pub burning down and the missing barmaid. Fortunately, Ben has a talent for uncovering secrets and solving mysteries.

I recommend reading the first two books in this series (Death at Whitewater Church and Treacherous Strand) before this one. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

An atmospheric mystery with an isolated and wintry setting. The Well of Ice has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Intriguing mystery that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

The Last Scoop by R.G. Belsky [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Last Scoop by R.G. Belsky

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Last Scoop

Author: R.G. Belsky

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: May 5, 2020

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Clare Carlson #3

My Rating: 4/5

The Last Scoop by R.G. Belsky

BOOK BLURB

The scariest kind of serial killer—one you don’t know exists
Martin Barlow was Clare Carlson’s first newspaper editor, a beloved mentor who inspired her career as a journalist. But, since retiring from his newspaper job, he had become a kind of pathetic figure—railing on about conspiracies, cover-ups, and other imaginary stories he was still working on. Clare had been too busy with her own career to pay much attention to him.
When Martin Barlow is killed on the street one night during an apparent mugging attempt gone bad, it seems like he was just an old man whose time had come.
But Clare—initially out of a sense of guilt for ignoring her old friend and then because of her own journalistic instincts—begins looking into his last story idea. As she digs deeper and deeper into his secret files, she uncovers shocking evidence of a serial killer worse than Son of Sam, Ted Bundy, or any of the other infamous names in history.
This really is the biggest story of Martin Barlow’s career—and Clare’s, too—as she uncovers the path leading to the decades-long killer of at least twenty young women. All is not as it seems during Clare’s relentless search for this serial killer. Is she setting herself up to be his next victim?

The Last Scoop by R.G. Belsky

MY REVIEW

The Last Scoop is the third book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. When Clare learns her mentor has been killed in an apparent mugging, she takes on his last story. At first, she is looking into corruption in the city. As she investigates, she is led to another story her mentor was working. This one involves a serial killer that has gone under the radar for decades. Clare suspects her mentor was killed because of his stories, so she investigates on her own to discover what led to his death.

Clare is a flawed character, but she has some great investigative skills. She is a Pulitzer Prize winner working for a TV news station. Big stories bring in more money for the news station, but her latest reporting is more personal. She feels guilt about ignoring her mentor, and now that he’s dead, she wants to uncover what happened to him.

I’ve read the first book in this series, but missed the second one. This is a good mystery series, and I plan to read the second book soon to get caught up. I recommend reading the first book, but The Last Scoop can be read as a stand-alone.

Intriguing characters. Gripping mystery. Engaging, interesting, and suspenseful.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Clare Carlson series:
  1. Yesterday’s News
  2. Below the Fold
  3. The Last Scoop
  4. Beyond the Headlines
  5. It’s News to Me
  6. Broadcast Blues
Book Review

Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Revolver Road

Author: Christi Daugherty

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: March 10, 2020

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Harper McClain #3

My Rating: 5/5

Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty

BOOK BLURB

Crime reporter Harper McClain is back on the beat when a troubled musician vanishes in Christi Daugherty’s Revolver Road.

Even in the chill of February, no place touches Harper McClain’s heart like Savannah. She should be walking beneath the historic city’s towering oaks, surrounded by graceful mansions. Instead, she’s hiding miles away on Tybee Island after a mysterious voice on the phone warned her that someone wanted her dead. The call was too specific to ignore. The caller knew everything about her. But that was months ago, and she’s getting tired of being scared.

Her only escape is her work at the newspaper, where the hottest story in town is the disappearance of Xavier Rayne. The singer had a hit album on his hands, and was about to go on tour, but then he walked out of his beachfront home and vanished. The police believe he drowned, but Harper suspects his disappearance may be more ominous than that. Something doesn’t feel right about it.

His bandmates and actress girlfriend say he’s run away before. They expect him to come home. Until a body washes up with two bullet holes in it. Now everyone in Rayne’s life is a suspect. As Harper digs deeper into the case, though, the threats against her own life return. The phone call she received was very real. A killer from her past is coming for her.

Now she must solve two murders, or end up dying on Revolver Road…

Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty

MY REVIEW

Crime reporter Harper McClain is back in Revolver Road, the third book in this crime series. Someone wants Harper dead, and she’s been scared into hiding. She’s tired of hiding though, and she believes finding who killed her mother will help solve the mystery of who is after her. For work, Harper is staying busy with the case of missing man Xavier Rayne, a popular musician. Harper works to solve both mysteries.

The mysteries are intriguing. One mystery has Harper digging into the past, and learning the truth about her mother’s murder. The other mystery involves a celebrity that everyone assumes drowned, but Harper suspects there’s more to the story. The characters are well-developed, and I especially like Harper. She is smart, independent, and hard-working. I love settings like Savannah, with such a rich history, the setting is like another character and adds to the enjoyment of the story.

This is one of my favorite mystery series, so I was excited to read this latest book. I’m happy to say, this continues to be an engaging series. I recommend reading this series in order.

Compelling characters. Entertaining story. Atmospheric setting. A recommended read for fans of crime thrillers with strong female protagonists.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Harper McClain series:
  1. The Echo Killing
  2. A Beautiful Corpse
  3. Revolver Road
Book Review

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Treacherous Strand

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #2

My Rating: 4/5

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

Perfect for mystery readers who enjoy character driven mysteries, with a strong female protagonist and a powerful sense of place

A woman’s body washes up on a remote beach on the Inishowen Peninsula. Partially clothed, with a strange tattoo on her thigh, she is identified as Marguerite Etienne, a French woman who has been living in the area. Solicitor Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is consumed by guilt: for the second time in her life Ben has failed someone who needed her, with tragic consequences. When local sergeant Tom Molloy dismisses Marguerite’s death as the suicide of a disturbed and lonely woman, Ben cannot let it lie. Ben uncovers Marguerite’s strange past as a member of a French doomsday cult, which she escaped twenty years previously, but not without leaving her baby daughter behind. Disturbed by what appears to be chilling local indifference to Marguerite’s death, Ben pieces together the last few weeks of the French woman’s life in Inishowen. What she discovers causes her to question the fragile nature of her own position in the area, and she finds herself crossing boundaries—both personal and professional—to unearth local secrets long buried.

Treacherous Strand is the second in a series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Glendara on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal with amateur sleuth, solicitor Ben O’Keeffe. These atmospheric and immersive mysteries are being adapted as elevision series to be filmed in Inishowen.

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

Treacherous Strand is the second book in the Inishowen Mysteries series by Andrea Carter. Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is back with another mystery in the small town of Glendara. When Marguerite, one of Ben’s clients, ends up dead, Ben believes the death to be suspicious. The more Ben uncovers about Marguerite’s life, the more she believes Marguerite was killed.

An atmospheric amateur sleuth story. Ben is an attorney living in a small Irish town. It is a very close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Ben moved to the town several years earlier, and is still considered an outsider. She doesn’t know the family histories and the stories from the town’s past. She’s learning though. With her work and occasional sleuthing, she’s picked up a lot of info about some of the locals.

I recommend reading the first book in this series, Death at Whitewater Church, before this one. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

This book reads almost like a cozy mystery – small town, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth. There is a little romance thrown in, but the story focuses more on the mystery than Ben’s love life. An enjoyable read for fans of cozies with atmospheric settings.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: A Beautiful Corpse

Author: Christi Daugherty

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: March 12, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Harper McClain #2

My Rating: 5/5

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty

BOOK BLURB

From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.

For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.

With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.

Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?

With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.

Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty

MY REVIEW

Crime reporter Harper McClain is back in the second book in this suspenseful series. A local woman is killed late at night in Savannah’s tourist district. There are no witnesses to the crime, but the police have three suspects. Harper digs deep to discover who is behind the murder.

Harper is back in A Beautiful Corpse, and after the events in the first book, her relationship with the Savannah police department is suffering. Since she is a crime reporter, this makes her job a little more challenging. Using the few connections she still has, along with her smarts and determination, Harper works to discover the killer in a local murder. This death has hit a little close to home since Harper knew the victim. Being close to the crime both helps and hinders her work as a crime reporter.

The local murder isn’t the only mystery in Harper’s life. It seems someone is watching her. This storyline started in the previous book, but it goes much further in this one. Add in work place drama and a little romance, and this makes for a gripping read.

I loved the first book in this series, The Echo Killing, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I’m happy to say, this continues to be an engaging and thrilling series. I recommend picking up the first book in this series before reading this one.

Compelling characters. Complex and entertaining story. Atmospheric setting. A perfect choice for fans of mystery thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Harper McClain series:
  1. The Echo Killing
  2. A Beautiful Corpse
  3. Revolver Road
Book Review

The Suspect by Fiona Barton [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Suspect

Author: Fiona Barton

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 22, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Kate Waters #3

My Rating: 4/5

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

BOOK BLURB

When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft, and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared?

Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth—and this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, whom she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. 

As the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think…

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

MY REVIEW

Two eighteen-year-old girls, Alex and Rosie, go missing in Bangkok, Thailand. Kate Waters, a reporter, is working on the story of the missing girls. While Kate makes connections to stay ahead of the story, she is reminded of her son, Jake. He left home and went to Phuket two years earlier, and Kate rarely hears from him.

Told from alternating points of view – the reporter, the detective, one of the girls, and one of the missing girls’ mothers. The missing girl, the mother, and the detective all have quite a few chapters, but most of the book is from Kate’s POV.

Alex and Rosie are young and looking for adventure on their gap year. Unfortunately for Alex, Rosie has no desire to follow Alex’s well thought-out itinerary. Rosie would rather party than visit the places Alex had in mind for the trip. This causes conflict between the girls. Alex and Rosie also have very different relationships with their parents, as is shown after the girls go missing. The characters are from the UK, so the parents are in the international spotlight when the story breaks.

The reporter, Kate, and the detective, Bob Sparkes, were in the previous books in this series. The Suspect is the third book in the Kate Waters series by Fiona Barton. Kate Waters is a journalist who works hard to stay on top of headline stories. Bob Sparkes is a detective who works the cases Kate reports on. I’ve read the previous two books, The Widow and The Child, and enjoyed them. The books can all be read as standalone novels.

The Suspect is a slow-moving mystery with intriguing characters and a compelling story. This reads more as a police procedural rather than a thriller. I enjoy Barton’s writing style, and found this be an interesting and entertaining read. This one is good for fans of Fiona Barton’s other books and British police procedurals.

I received a digital copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Kate Waters series:
  1. The Widow
  2. The Child
  3. The Suspect
Book Review

Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter

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BOOK INFO

Title: Death at Whitewater Church

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 4, 2018

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #1

My Rating: 4/5

Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

When a skeleton is discovered in the hidden crypt of a deconsecrated church, everyone is convinced the bones must be those of Conor Devitt, a local man who went missing on his wedding day six years previously. But the postmortem reveals otherwise.

Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe is acting for the owners of the church, and although an unwelcome face from her past makes her reluctant to get involved, when Conor’s brother dies in strange circumstances shortly after coming to see her, she finds herself drawn in to the mystery. Whose is the skeleton in the crypt and how did it get there? Is Conor Devitt still alive, and if so, is there a link? What happened on the morning of his wedding to make him disappear?

Negotiating between the official investigation—headed up by the handsome but surly Sergeant Tom Molloy—and obstructive locals with secrets of their own, Ben unravels layers of personal and political history to get to the truth of what happened six years before.

MY REVIEW

Ben O’Keeffe has the only law practice in town, and is working as the attorney for the land owners who are trying to sell an old church. While inspecting the church, a skeleton is discovered. The townspeople all assume it to be the body of Conor, a local man who went missing on his wedding day six years earlier. When the bones are determined to not belong to Conor, a real mystery begins. Whose remains were found in the church? And what happened to Conor?

Ben, short for Benedicta, has the most northerly law practice in Ireland. She moved to town several years earlier and opened her law office. With the recent developments of the skeletal remains, plus other happenings going on around town, Ben helps the police sergeant slowly uncover secrets from the past.

Death at Whitewater Church is the first book in the Inishowen Mysteries series. This was an entertaining mystery. Very atmospheric. Interesting characters. Great start to a series. I’m looking forward to reading more of the Inishowen mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes