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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
After a grass fire, the charred body of a pre-teen boy is found in a barn in the Lake District. Detective Chief Inspector Jude Satterthwaite leads the investigation. His team includes Detective Sergeant Ashleigh O’Halloran who has just joined the police force in the area. They soon determine that his death was not accidental. But who is the boy? Why was he not reported missing? As the investigators search for the murderer, they take some wrong turns and another death occurs. Of course, eventually all secrets are uncovered.
The mystery is not difficult to solve; in fact, it is rather predictable. Because there are not that many characters, the suspect pool is small. And the clues tend to be too obvious. The only real mystery is the motive and exactly how the murderer carried out the crimes.
What detracts from the case is Jude and Ashleigh’s personal lives. Both are recovering from relationships that ended recently, but they have not moved on. As a result, they spend a lot of time thinking about their previous partners. As expected, there is an immediate attraction between Jude and Ashleigh when they meet so it is not difficult to predict what will happen. This is supposedly the first book of a series so, undoubtedly, subsequent books will develop the romance. I’d definitely have preferred less focus on romance.
I did not find that I warmed to either of the two main characters. Jude is handsome and intelligent but he just doesn’t come across as a warm person. We are told that he has “too strong a conscience” and is “too uncompromising on too many fronts.” He is certainly driven by duty. Ashleigh is supposedly the strong female lead but some of her behaviour, especially towards the victim’s mother, is unprofessional. Members of the police team like her almost immediately, but I don’t understand the appeal other than the fact that she is attractive.
There are some needless repetitions in the book. Over and over we are told that Jude’s romantic relationship suffered because “there had always been a part of his soul that he’d held back”: “Sometimes the bleakness of his chosen path was too great for comfort, some of the things he saw too grim to share.” Ashleigh’s interest in tarot cards comes up again and again. Some judicious editing would be useful.
Mediocre is the adjective that best describes the book. It is not terrible, but there is really nothing to differentiate it from so many other similar books.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
The mystery is not difficult to solve; in fact, it is rather predictable. Because there are not that many characters, the suspect pool is small. And the clues tend to be too obvious. The only real mystery is the motive and exactly how the murderer carried out the crimes.
What detracts from the case is Jude and Ashleigh’s personal lives. Both are recovering from relationships that ended recently, but they have not moved on. As a result, they spend a lot of time thinking about their previous partners. As expected, there is an immediate attraction between Jude and Ashleigh when they meet so it is not difficult to predict what will happen. This is supposedly the first book of a series so, undoubtedly, subsequent books will develop the romance. I’d definitely have preferred less focus on romance.
I did not find that I warmed to either of the two main characters. Jude is handsome and intelligent but he just doesn’t come across as a warm person. We are told that he has “too strong a conscience” and is “too uncompromising on too many fronts.” He is certainly driven by duty. Ashleigh is supposedly the strong female lead but some of her behaviour, especially towards the victim’s mother, is unprofessional. Members of the police team like her almost immediately, but I don’t understand the appeal other than the fact that she is attractive.
There are some needless repetitions in the book. Over and over we are told that Jude’s romantic relationship suffered because “there had always been a part of his soul that he’d held back”: “Sometimes the bleakness of his chosen path was too great for comfort, some of the things he saw too grim to share.” Ashleigh’s interest in tarot cards comes up again and again. Some judicious editing would be useful.
Mediocre is the adjective that best describes the book. It is not terrible, but there is really nothing to differentiate it from so many other similar books.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
This was a nice mystery story, though maybe a little more on the simple side. Not a bad thing though! My one gripe was really the breadth of information and inner character thoughts that just went on and on and were not always necessary. Still a gripping read, but could benefit from some cuts.
I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved the characters. It was an easy but engaging read and I’m so looking forward to the next one in the series
Oh the joy of getting into a new series from the start
Oh the joy of getting into a new series from the start
A burnt body, that of a child, is discovered near the shore of Haweswater on a Sunday, near the village of Burnbanks.
D.C.I. Satterwaite is joined by his team and new arrival D.S. Ashleigh O'Halloran to investigate.
It seems Satterwaite and his team all have their personal problems to deal with during the case, and I didn't take to O'Halloram's character. Unfortunately I did find the plot predictable and not all that exciting, so a like and not a love rating.
A NetGalley Book
D.C.I. Satterwaite is joined by his team and new arrival D.S. Ashleigh O'Halloran to investigate.
It seems Satterwaite and his team all have their personal problems to deal with during the case, and I didn't take to O'Halloram's character. Unfortunately I did find the plot predictable and not all that exciting, so a like and not a love rating.
A NetGalley Book
Thirty-five year old DCI Jude Satterthwaite is on a hike with his brother when he spies smoke in the distance. Another fell fire… But this time, in addition to the fire services, his own team will be called in. A body has been found in a burned-out abandoned barn…
When forensic examination determines that the body is that of a child, Jude thinks that identification will prove easy. A child will be missed… This is not the case. When the body is identified, Jude and his team begin a weeks long murder case.
The Team works out of the Penrith Police Station
DCI Jude Satterthwaite – Professional, brusque, attractive, and three years out of a romantic relationship that he just can’t seem to let go of. Becca, his ex, just couldn’t understand how his job had to take precedence over his personal life. He is much respected by his team and he knows how to play to their strengths on the job.
DI Chris Dodd – Jude’s, second-in-command. Clever, quiet, gay, religious, and a chain smoker. Doddsy is the model of common sense.
DS Ashleigh O’Halloran – new to the team, intelligent, beautiful, and a copper who works on intuition and instinct. Newly separated from her husband, she has moved from Cheshire to Cumbria to make a fresh start.
DC Aditi Desai – Hard-working, intelligent working mother.
DC Chris Marshall – single, young, enthusiastic, and very talented at data mining and doing the other mundane office-centered chores the others would find boring.
Tammy – CSI investigator.
MY THOUGHTS
The scenic setting of the Lake District is what initially tempted me to read this novel. That and the fact that I love police procedurals and I’m always keen to discover new series.
The characterization of this novel was strong. The personalities were prominent to the narrative and were a welcome foil to the distressing murder(s).
This is a promising start to a crime fiction series. It is a novel about deceit, revenge, infidelity, and psychological power-plays. With just a hint of romance, this novel will be sure to be enjoyed by many readers. This is a series I will more than likely pursue.
Rated 3.5 stars – rounded up to 4 stars for NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.
When forensic examination determines that the body is that of a child, Jude thinks that identification will prove easy. A child will be missed… This is not the case. When the body is identified, Jude and his team begin a weeks long murder case.
The Team works out of the Penrith Police Station
DCI Jude Satterthwaite – Professional, brusque, attractive, and three years out of a romantic relationship that he just can’t seem to let go of. Becca, his ex, just couldn’t understand how his job had to take precedence over his personal life. He is much respected by his team and he knows how to play to their strengths on the job.
DI Chris Dodd – Jude’s, second-in-command. Clever, quiet, gay, religious, and a chain smoker. Doddsy is the model of common sense.
DS Ashleigh O’Halloran – new to the team, intelligent, beautiful, and a copper who works on intuition and instinct. Newly separated from her husband, she has moved from Cheshire to Cumbria to make a fresh start.
DC Aditi Desai – Hard-working, intelligent working mother.
DC Chris Marshall – single, young, enthusiastic, and very talented at data mining and doing the other mundane office-centered chores the others would find boring.
Tammy – CSI investigator.
MY THOUGHTS
The scenic setting of the Lake District is what initially tempted me to read this novel. That and the fact that I love police procedurals and I’m always keen to discover new series.
The characterization of this novel was strong. The personalities were prominent to the narrative and were a welcome foil to the distressing murder(s).
This is a promising start to a crime fiction series. It is a novel about deceit, revenge, infidelity, and psychological power-plays. With just a hint of romance, this novel will be sure to be enjoyed by many readers. This is a series I will more than likely pursue.
Rated 3.5 stars – rounded up to 4 stars for NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.