The Weekend

The Weekend by L. H. Stacey
2/13/23; 322 pages
Boldwood Books

The Weekend by L. H. Stacey is a slow-paced so-so thriller.

On the night of their graduation party at the Kirkwood estate amid an excess of alcohol and drugs, Lizzie's boyfriend Thomas Kirkwood is found murdered. Lizzie now goes by Elizabeth and she has sworn to never return to the manor. Ten years have passed and Elizabeth receives an invitation to return for a memorial weekend for Thomas organized by his mother, Ada. For some inexplicable reason she decides to attend to go. She knows almost immediately that it was a mistake.

The narrative alternates between the present day and ten years ago. In order for this alternating timeline to be successful, Elizabeth/Lizzie needs to be a character who is tenacious. self-aware, and compelling enough to carry the story and keep readers interested in what is happening in both timelines. I'm afraid that the character is unable to accomplish that task. Lizzie can be depicted as a young, gullible, inexperienced woman but after ten years one would think she would grow up and toughen up. If she's going to make the decision to attend this weekend after ten years of no contact, she needs to have the intestinal fortitude to deal with it.

Additionally, although I appreciate Stacey's author note that it was difficult to delve into a world surrounded by drugs and hedonism, I'd add that it was also very difficult to read about it and have any compassion for the numerous unlikable characters. I finished the novel but there were really no shocking surprises or twists.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Boldwood Books via NetGalley.

Her Final Breath

Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold
2/17/23; 323 pages
Bookouture
Detective Amanda Steel #7

Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold is a very highly recommended procedural and the 7th novel featuring Detective Amanda Steele.

A dog walker reports a fire made in Prince Park by a group of teens. When the firefighters arrive, one of the teens end up stumbling upon a body in a shallow grave. Prince William County Police Department Homicide Detective Amanda Steele is called and she contacts her partner Trent Stenson as well as others, including department Sergeant Katherine Graves. The team uncovers a woman and a child. They quickly identify them as Jill Archer and her daughter six-year-old Charlotte, who were reported missing the previous week. The autopsy reveals Jill was abused and the . When Amanda and Trent talk to Jill's husband, Roy, he seems very shifty and is immediately the main suspect - until another grave is uncovered in the park of another mother and daughter.

The opening scene where we learn that a woman and her daughter are captives somewhere, provides a sense of urgency in the narrative when combined with the bodies in the park. Clues are logically uncovered and discovered while leads are followed up on in an intelligent manner. The women could be the recipients of domestic abuse, or someone could be targeting mothers and daughters. The latter explanation is even more frightening than the first and Amanda and Trent know they need to find the culprit before another mother and daughter are killed.

This is an excellent procedural. The writing is great, the novel is well plotted, and the tension rises with each new discovery. Although this is the 7th novel in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. For those already familiar with the series, this new installment will be a welcome addition to their story. New readers are provided enough backstory to understand events from the past and the effect of this case on both Amanda and Trent. All the main characters are fully realized, likable, and experience growth, even a surprising development to Graves character. Her Final Breath is a perfect choice for those who like procedurals.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.

Trembling River

Trembling River by Andrée A. Michaud
translated by J. C. Sutcliffe
2/7/23; 416 pages
House of Anansi Press

Trembling River by Andrée A. Michaud, translated by J. C. Sutcliffe is a highly recommended mystery and explores the heartbreaking disappearance of three children.

In August 1979 twelve-year-old Michael disappears in the woods of Trembling River while with his friend Marnie Duchamp. A search only came up with a muddy sneaker. The disappearance of her friend has haunted Marnie ever since it happened. Thirty years later Billie Richards never makes it to her dance class and disappears just before her ninth birthday. Her father Bill, a children's book author, is devastated and falls into a deep inconsolable state of grief and mourning. Neither knows that another child will disappear from the village of Trembling River.

The writing is exquisite and captures the anguish, mourning, guilt, and even anger while Marnie and Bill attempt to somehow comprehend their loss. Marnie constantly questions what she could have done to prevent Michael's disappearance. Bill is despondent and struggles with his mental health. Understandably, he is heartbroken and can't comprehend a life without his beloved daughter.

The structure of the novel is divided into three parts but these parts are written with no chapters. The narrative switches between viewpoints and readers are expected to follow who is speaking. This can be a bit off-putting, especially in the second part when the novel delves into lengthy and very emotional interior monologues from Marnie and Bill. I'm not a fan of protracted stream-of-consciousness passages, so this was a bit of a struggle to get through, although it is highly distressed and heartbreaking. Then, when tragedy strikes again and another child disappears, the mystery and heartbreak deepens.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of House of Anansi Press via NetGalley.

Maureen

Maureen by Rachel Joyce
2/7/23; 192 pages
Random House
Harold Fry #3

Maureen by Rachel Joyce is a very highly recommended character study of Maureen, the wife of Harold Fry, and represents the third and final book in the series that began with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed by The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. Joyce never set out to write a trilogy but Maureen is an excellent addition to the previous two novels and a wonderfully moving novel that stands on its own.

Harold is now seventy-five and Maureen is seventy-two. It has been ten years since Harold made his six-hundred-mile journey by foot to see a friend and the two have settled into a comfortable and even loving relationship. But the story doesn’t end there. Now his wife, Maureen, has her own pilgrimage to make. She wants to see Queenie's sea garden where there is a sculptural tribute or memorial to their son David, who killed himself thirty years earlier, as well as one to Harold.

Maureen, however, is not Harold. She is prickly, standoffish, opinionated, easily irritated, and, well, not a people-person. Her journey, by car rather than foot, perfectly highlights their differences. She doesn't easily warm up to people and speaks her mind way-too-often. The hurdles she faces are quite different from those Harold faced, but they are truly a challenge for her.

I truly loved this final novel focused on Maureen. It is wonderfully focused, poignant, and perceptive character study of Maureen, with all her flaws, misgivings, and doubts. She is still trying to deal with the loss of their son, David, even though years have passed. She feels a strange compulsion to make this journey and see Queenie's garden, but she is completely unsure of what she will find and how she will react. Her reaction is surprising, but in the end life changing for Maureen.

Maureen highlights the skill, empathy, and insightful details Joyce provides for her characters. While reading, even when Maureen is being especially difficult, Joyce also provides an avenue for readers to empathize with her and her curmudgeonly attitude. This is a short novel with a powerful impact.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House via NetGalley.

A Killing of Innocents

A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie
2/7/23; 368 pages
HarperCollins
Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Series #19

A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie is a highly recommended procedural and the 19th book in the series featuring Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James.

In London's historic Russell Square Sasha Johnson, a trainee doctor at Thomas Coram Hospital, is fatally stabbed. The only witness, a child, just saw someone bump into her and quickly walk away into the crowd. When Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Doug Cullen, are called to the scene, they realize they just saw the women twenty minuted earlier in a pub, seemingly waiting for someone who didn't arrive. As they begin to look into Sasha's background, there doesn't seem to be an obvious motive for someone to want to murder her.

Kincaid immediately calls in his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, who is on a task force on knife crimes, and her partner detective sergeant Melody Talbot, to aid in the investigation. Sasha Johnson, however, doesn’t fit the profile of a typical knifing victim. There are several suspects with some ties to Sasha or with  people she knows. Sasha herself had secrets she was keeping.

Crombie follows the discoveries in the investigation while also realistically covering the many complications of their personal lives while balancing work and family. Both the story lines are interesting, although the personal complications will be more interesting for fans of the series who really know these characters. At this point in the series all the characters are full realized and well-developed.

The writing is excellent and the case is interesting. The compelling plot keeps the narrative moving along swiftly along. There are many characters and many point-of-view presented which readers of the series will easily follow but those new to the characters may feel a bit overwhelmed. The good news is that A Killing of Innocents can be read as a stand-alone for anyone who is not following the series, just skimming over the personal drama, while those who follow the series will be equally interested in the investigation and personal lives of these characters.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via Edelweiss.

Every Missing Girl

Every Missing Girl by Leanne Kale Sparks
2/7/23; 272 pages
Crooked Lane Books
Kendall Beck #2

Every Missing Girl by Leanne Kale Sparks is a very highly recommended procedural and the second novel in the series featuring FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck set in Denver.

FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck and Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor team up to investigate the kidnapping of Taylor's niece, Frankie, at a local hockey rink. This closely follows the shooting at a minimart where two people are shot and a child is taken form the scene by a good Samaritan. Kendall is sure that the child is the victim of child trafficking. After Frankie has disappeared, Adam’s brother, Mark, and sister-in-law, Poppy, have no information to share, but Kendall is suspicious that something more is going on.

The details of the investigation and discovery of clues in Every Missing Girl is fantastic and the suspense is palpable as Kendall and Adam race time trying to find Frankie while uncovering everyone involved in the trafficking ring, along with other things. Following the compelling investigation kept me glued to the pages. The plot and the investigation are equally enthralling. I really enjoyed this procedural and will have to check out Sparks previous novel featuring Agent Beck, The Wrong Woman. I found that  Every Missing Girl worked fine as a stand alone novel for everyone who loves a great procedural.

The character development was great and the characters were all portrayed as realistic, credible individuals with their own beliefs and reactions. Both Kendall and Adam are portrayed as intelligent, sympathetic, tough, and proficient. The dialogue between characters is great. They are likable (when they want to be), extremely competent, and you will be hoping that they find the clues they need to solve their investigations.

With a fast moving plot that includes twists and surprises revealed within the investigation, the final denouement is extraordinary and perfect. All the investigative threads are followed to a satisfying conclusion. This is a wonderful novel and reminds me of how much I enjoy a well-written procedural.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg
2/7/23; 336 pages
Gallery/Scout Press
Kørner and Werner #5

The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg is a very highly recommended procedural. This is Scandinavian noir at it's finest and the fifth novel in the Kørner and Werner series.

In Copenhagen, Anette Werner is leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered in a suitcase. Jeppe Kørner is on leave from the force and living on the island of Bornholm and cutting limber for the local sawmill for a living. Esther de Laurenti is also on the island, working on her biography of a female anthropologist after a friend's death. As Anette follows the clues into the identity of the body, they lead to Bornholm, so she asks Jeppe to look into some leads.

This is an exceptional police procedural, both in the plot and the writing and an excellent final novel in the series featuring Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner. I was engrossed in the gripping plot throughout and appreciated the careful disclosure of new information as clues are discovered and new information is revealed. Esther is tied into the overall investigation too. Part of the story includes Esther's research and the correspondence she is reading for her research. The letters she reads end up foreshadowing leads in the investigation.

All of the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals. Those who have been reading the series will appreciated the additional character development in this finally installment.  If this is your first introduction to the series, you can read it as there is enough information provided to follow along and not feel lost or that you don't know the characters. It will inspire you to red the whole series, or those books that are translated into English.

The pace is even but picks up at the heart-stopping ending. There are multiple suspects, and several different directions the plot could take as the investigation unfolds in this atmospheric novel and intriguing mystery. The narrative is focused on solving the case, which is appreciated, and the details and complications make the case interesting and keep you glued to the pages.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of  Gallery/Scout Press via NetGalley.