Hush Little Girl - Lisa Regan

 Hush Little Girl - Lisa Regan

She read

Publication Date: April 14, 2021

This is the eleventh in the Detective Josie Quinn series; it is the fourth I have read.  Josie and Noah are about to be married when the body of a young girl is found outside the church in the resort where the nuptials are to take place and Josie is off on the case…..

Once again the story combines Josie’s personal life with her professional.  It is fast paced, engrossing, and heart wrenching, with a unique plot.

Josie is a strong, capable female protagonist.  This reads well as a standalone but I think it will be appreciated more by those who have read others in the series and are familiar with the recurring characters in Josie’s life.  I highly recommend Lisa Regan’s books to those who enjoy mysteries/police procedurals.

****

Land Rites - Andy Maslen

 Land Rites - Andy Maslen

She read

Publication Date:  April 8, 2021

This is the second in the Detective Ford series; I read the first and looked forward to this one.  I was not disappointed.  Ford is still struggling with the guilt over his wife’s death while rock climbing as he raises his son, Sam.  Firmly entrenched in his role as a DI, he is dealing with two murders in the Salisbury countryside that just may be related. 

This is a solid police procedural with interesting characters, particularly Hannah Fellowes, a highly trained and skilled CSI investigator with Asperger’s.  No plodding plot this….the story moves along at a good pace as the clues build up. While the case is solved by the end of the book, there is somewhat of a cliffhanger, foretelling a third in the series. Looking forward to it.

****

The Gorge - Matt Brolly

 The Gorge - Matt Brolly

She read

This is the third in the DI Louise Blackwell series; it is the first I have read.  Louise has just returned to duty after the still unsolved murder of her brother.  Her first case, much to her chagrin, is the slaughter of some wild sheep.  Soon this case mushrooms into something far more dangerous.  As lead officer on the case, she balances it with her investigation into her brother’s death, something she knows she shouldn’t be doing and something which just might get her into trouble.

Louise is a strong female character and this book is a fast engrossing read.  Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy The Gorge.  An added bonus is the vivid description of the Cheddar countryside, its gorge and caves, and the surrounding Mendip Hills.  

****

On Cold Ground -- D. S. Butler

 On Cold Ground -- D.S. Butler

She read

Publication Date: March 25, 2021

This is the fifth in the Karen Hart detective series; it is the second one I have read.  On a cold winter night, a body is discovered in Lincoln Cathedral.  The victim has been strangled and a cross was etched into his forehead.  After the murderer sends a note to Karen’s DI, her team is split up and a new DCI and team join Karen in the investigation.  This new DCI seems to have it in for Karen.  Could he be part of the corruption that has haunted the department? After a second body is found, it seems there may be a ritualistic serial killer at large. Is Karen in danger?

Told from two points of view, Karen’s and the killer’s, this book is fast paced, with tight writing and likable protagonists. Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this story, as well as others in the series. 

****

Every Last Fear - Alex Finlay

 Every Last Fear - Alex Finaly

She read

NYU student Matt Pine’s older brother, Danny, is in jail for the murder of his girlfriend, although his family never gave up on Danny’s innocence.  Then his mother, father, sister, and younger brother are found dead while vacationing in Mexico.  Why did they choose Mexico and why is the FBI involved in the investigation of their death?

The story is told in shifting timelines and shifting points of view, but never confusing.  Although the ending was no real surprise, I found this a fast, engrossing read with good character development. 

****

A Fatal Affair - Faith Martin

 A Fatal Affair - Faith Martin

She read

It is 1962 in a sleepy English village when the lovely Iris Carmody, Queen of the May, is discovered murdered and tied to the very maypole that is part of the annual festivities for May Day.  A few days later, her boyfriend, the son of police Superintendent Keith Finch is found hanging in a barn, ostensibly a suicide.  Finch asks Clement Ryder and Trudy Loveday to investigate his son’s death after the final inquest verdict. 

Ryder is the aging local coroner, while Loveday is a young constable trying to be accepted as a serious police officer.  They have teamed up very successfully before in solving crimes. 

This is the sixth in the Ryder/Loveday series, the second I have read although it works well as a standalone. I like the books that have been published under the author’s pen name, Faith Martin.  They have solid stories; more substantial than “cosy” mysteries yet still enjoyable, engrossing reads. 

*****

The Lowering Days - Gregory Brown

 The Lowering Days - Gregory Brown

He and she read

Beautifully written, this tells intertwined stories of families along Penobscot Bay, many of indigenous heritage.  Woven throughout are the storytelling and legends of the Native Americans, many reflecting a spiritual one with nature.  This is not a fast read; it needs to be savored and reflected upon.   

He liked it also

*****