Twist Of Fate by John Carson

January 17, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Twist Of Fate by John Carson
Publisher: Vellum
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Not everybody deserves a second chance.

After a young man’s body is discovered by a newlywed couple inside an abandoned caravan, the police initially speculate whether his death was accidental. However, the investigation takes a dramatic turn when they uncover the victim’s true identity.

The deceased has a deadly past, and barely paid the price for the heinous crime he committed.

DCI Harry McNeil is assigned the task of identifying the victim’s killer, but the case soon becomes shrouded in secrecy. The man’s past is far more complex than anyone had anticipated.

Despite the obstacles, the search for the victim’s original accomplice begins, but the individual seems to have vanished without a trace. However, the investigation takes a gruesome turn when the police in Glasgow discover a shocking crime scene.

It appears that the killer is seeking revenge for the victim’s past actions, which had provoked public outrage years earlier. With the public no longer on their side, Harry and his team must navigate bureaucratic obstacles and catch a ruthless killer who believes he is unstoppable – and is willing to demonstrate it.

DCI Harry McNeil and his team are assigned to find the killer of a young man found murdered inside a caravan. While initially they think it was an accident, soon they are piecing together a complicated puzzle around the young man’s past and they are quickly uncovering more questions and puzzles than finding solutions. Can Harry and his team catch the ruthless killer before more blood is shed?

I have been enjoying the Harry McNeil series for a number of years now and found this to be quite a good addition to the series. While any longer-running series has its ups and downs, I was really pleased to find myself greatly enjoying this book. Readers who are new to this series – or find themselves curious about this book having no prior experience with the author should still find this an enjoyable read. I must admit there is quite a large cast in this series with a lot of cross over from other books. While I do feel a reader can easily pick up on the histories and relationships (both personal and professional) with this book by itself, I must stress there is quite a large cast to keep straight in your head while reading.

That said, I have found that I personally greatly enjoy there are plenty of characters all interacting and floating around with these books. I do feel the author should be commended because with such a wide cast I have not yet ever felt any of the characters are shapeless or “yet another detective” – Carson does an impressive job keeping the characters identifiable and memorable which I feel he should be commended for.

Aside from the characters the other reason I enjoyed this book was because I found the plot well written and complicated enough it really captured my attention. Sometimes with such a large cast the antics and personal lives can completely over-shadow any investigative/procedural side to the plot and in this book, I was glad the plot definitely took front stage here and the various personal aspects were more of a back seat this time around. While balance is a great thing, I found myself really interested and enjoying the murder and the plot surrounding this and for a change I was less interested in what was happening personally for the characters. While with any of Carson’s books a small suspension of disbelief is needed, with an intriguing plot, a bunch of rambunctious characters and a really good line I’m more than happy to fall into the story and ignore any small niggles.

While this book doesn’t end on a cliff hanger there was a particular twist/development right at the end – related to one of the strong secondary characters and their personal life – which I desperately hope will be front and center for the next book. Readers who like every thread tied up properly might not be satisfied with this ending – but since many of Carson’s books end on far greater “cliff hanger” end points I’ve learned from previous experience to keep one or two books behind for exactly this reason.

A book with tons of lively and unique characters and a well woven plot this is a very good story and a series I am continuing to enjoy almost twenty books in.

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The Shining Skull by Kate Ellis

January 16, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Shining Skull by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Little Marcus Fallbrook was kidnapped in 1976 and, when he never returned home, by his grieving family assumed the worst. Now, thirty years later, teenager Leah Wakefield has disappeared and DI Wesley Peterson has reason to suspect that the same kidnapper is responsible.

As Wesley delves into the case, his friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, discovers a mystery of his own when he exhumes the dead from a local churchyard. A coffin is found containing one corpse too many and Neil believes it may be linked to a strange religious sect.

Wesley is still searching for the key to the abductions when, in a shocking twist, Marcus Fallbrook returns. DNA evidence confirms Marcus’s identity but his recollection of his past kidnapping is hazy. Wesley hopes that, as Marcus begins to recover memories, it will lead them to a sinister criminal. But he is about to discover that the past can be a very dangerous place indeed.

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are thrown into an unusual situation when a man returns home, claiming to be son of a local family – one kidnapped back in 1976. While they have their hands full with that, a local famous teenager is kidnapped and the two cases bear some striking similarities. Can they sort out what’s really going on?

Overall I have been enjoying this series though I must admit I do feel some of the characters have some ups and downs. The plots though – and the skillful way Ms Ellis weaves together the current mystery with a historical one – is always a pleasure. Admittedly I felt this time Wesley’s good friend Neil takes a bit of a back seat. I feel this was very well handled – and the reason for Neil keeping his distance completely understandable – and while I feel one of Neil and Wesley’s last interactions shows a strong glimmer of hope I have to say I’m glad things seem to be getting back onto a more even keel.

I also felt there was a fairly major “aha” moment for one of Wesley’s team-members, though the low key drama surrounding Rachel and her messy love life usually is one of the things I like least about this series. I am hoping the strong development/understanding that occurred in this book will also start putting all that tension to rest as well.

In amongst all these personal interactions and developments I felt the historical and current mysteries were given a good amount of weight and were written very well. While I admit I did guess a few of the revelations there were still a few interesting twists and I must admit the interwoven plots kept my attention riveted throughout the book.

Readers who enjoy a solid British police procedural style of book but also enjoy a bit of historical mystery and a few different layers to their plots should find this an agreeable read and a series worth investing in.

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The Bay by LJ Ross

January 15, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Bay by LJ Ross
Publisher: Dark Skies Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

SECRETS NEVER STAY BURIED FOR LONG…

In the picturesque seaside town of St Ives, Detective Sergeant Sophie Keane is a pillar of the community. Between the occasional collar and lazy weekends spent on the beach, it seems a perfect life. But for Sophie, the golden sands and crystal waters hide a dark secret, one that’s lain buried for twenty years.

When a body turns up on the opening night of a glittering new art gallery on the seafront, the town is left shaken—especially Sophie, who recognises the killer’s style but knows that what she fears just couldn’t be possible…

With a killer on the loose, everyone’s a suspect—especially newcomer Gabriel Rowe, who seems to have settled in far too quickly for her liking. For Sophie, he’s guilty until proven innocent…

Suspense is peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced mystery, set amidst the spectacular Cornish landscape.

DS Sophie Keane has lived in St Ives since she was a small child, brought to the coastal town by her mother after their world collapsed. But Sophie is only too aware of the dark secrets she has hidden in her past, and when a murdered body turns up bearing the unique signature she knows all too well she discovers no one can hide their past forever. Can Sophie discover what really went on all those years ago before her world is shattered once again?

This is the third book in the Summer Suspense series, and I found it a light but enjoyable read. As the series name suggests, it’s a lighter and more romantic read than Ross’ DCI Ryan series and definitely is more of a romantic suspense novel to my mind rather than a straight mystery/thriller style. While the romance between Sophie and Gabriel is far more front and center, I’d describe the romance as closer to spicy rather than erotic – readers who like a bit of spice but nothing too overt or envelope pushing should feel this is a decent heat level for them.

I also was pleased that the bigger focus on the romance didn’t really detract too much from the mystery element to the story. I feel the author did a good job balancing the two, so readers who enjoy a strong mystery plot – and don’t mind the romantic element to it – should also find this book and series appeals to them. Finally, I can definitely say that this book stands well by itself. While there are a few characters, and the township has links to the previous two books, Sophie and Gabriel both were fully explained and met for the first time within this book and the murder mystery also began here and was neatly finished – so this book is entirely stand alone and I don’t believe any of the previous books need to be read to fully enjoy this.

Readers looking for a lighter style of book with a strong mystery, but an equal amount of romantic suspense as well should find this a lovely and relaxing book to read.

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A Cursed Inheritance by Kate Ellis

January 11, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Cursed Inheritance by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

The brutal massacre of the Harford family at Potwoolstan Hall in 1985 shocked the country and passed into local folklore. Now, twenty years later, a journalist researching the case has been murdered and the horror is reawakened.

DI Wesley Peterson is drawn into the dark history of Potwoolstan Hall as he begins to investigate the murder. The sixteenth-century hall, which is now a New Age healing centre, is reputed to be cursed because of the crimes of its builder and it seems that this inheritance of evil lives on.

As more people start to die in violent circumstances, DI Wesley Peterson is faced with his most disturbing case yet.

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are investigating the murder of a journalist killed while researching a book about a twenty year old massacre at an old stately family home. The murders had been seemingly solved those two decades ago, but with the death of this journalist new questions are being asked and there seems to be more than a few holes in the original investigation. When more people connected to this old case begin to die, Wesley will have his work cut out for him.

I found this to be an interesting and at times gripping police procedural set in rural England. While it is well into the series I feel the book stands well on its own and readers can fairly easily pick it up and thoroughly enjoy it. There are a number of connections between Wesley and his team members, as well as his archaeologist friend, Neil. While Neil is overseas on a dig and doesn’t have quite his usual equal shine in the spotlight, I didn’t mind Neil taking a slight back seat in this one story.

While the plot was complicated and quite well woven, I did manage to guess one of the major plot twists fairly early on which I frequently can’t do. There was still plenty left unanswered to me though and this didn’t spoil any of the really big reveals.

While I did enjoy the plot and the complexities there, I didn’t really like how there was some drama with Wesley in his marriage. While this tension between Welsey and his wife, Pam, has been slowly percolating in the background for a few books – along with Wesley’s unspoken but seemingly ever-present minor feelings for a co-worker – I did get the impression that these more complicated romantic aspects to the overall plot might be coming to a head sometime soon. There seemed in particular a steadily growing romance between Pam and Wesley’s good friend Neil and I have a strong suspicion this might grow murky – or even disastrous – in the coming few books.

Since this is primarily a mystery/suspense style of story with strong historical/archaeology overtones I don’t really read it wanting or expecting romance or marriage/affair woes and so I’ve been trying to skim over this, but it really does appear to be taking more of a front seat. I’m hoping this all blows over soon and the full focus can return to the mystery and archaeology.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable British police procedural mystery novel and the series as a whole I really do enjoy. The mystery in this book is quite well written but the relationship drama soured me a little for this particular book so I’m glad it’s well into the series and isn’t enough to put me off too much. An enjoyable read but I certainly don’t feel it’s the best so far that I’ve read by this author.

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The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

January 10, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci
Publisher: Pan Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bull’s-eye.

Travis Devine catches the 6.20 am train to Manhattan six days a week with a whole stack of other – mostly much younger – struggling professionals. The one good part of his dull routine is when the train slows and frequently, he – and the other commuters – get an eyeful of a particularly gorgeous young woman having an early morning by her poolside. Yet Travis’ life is about to get a whole lot more complicated. His boring civilian life gets blown apart when shadows from his Army past come knocking, and soon the bodies start falling. Can Travis sort out who he can trust and who wants him dead?

I’m a big fan of David Baldacci and in many ways this book reminds me of many of his much earlier books. There is a lot about corporate America in this story – along with the power, money and greed that is rife in society as a whole now. I also really enjoyed that this book was clearly rooted in the very modern era – that of a global market and with the bad guys using a number of tools and financial scams that get used all too frequently in this day and age.

This is quite a long book at well over 500 pages and I was pleased the plot was complicated enough – and twisty enough – to justify this page length. It certainly kept me guessing. A few of the twists I could see coming, but plenty of them I didn’t, and a number of the twists unearthed whole different sides to the story that took me quite by surprise and delight. I feel the plot and complexities should appeal to most readers and for sure it maintained my attention throughout the read.

There is a decent cast of characters – I was pleased that there was a solid cast of primary characters and a good number of secondary. I felt the author balanced this just right. There were enough characters that the world felt properly populated, but there wasn’t so many I couldn’t keep track of everyone. There were also enough characters I couldn’t immediately rule people in or out as being good or bad. So, I felt this was handled really well by the author.

Readers who enjoy thrillers – especially espionage/corporation/power themed plotlines should find this book really suits their tastes. If you have enjoyed previous books written by Baldacci and if you enjoy his style, you should definitely give this one a go. Currently it’s a stand-alone though I think there might be a second novel coming down the track later on too which makes me happy. I’ll definitely be giving it a try.

A solidly written mystery/thriller with interesting characters and a really meaty, complicated plot. This was a book I’ll enjoy again in the future.

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The Marriage Hearse by Kate Ellis

January 8, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Marriage Hearse by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A young woman is found strangled hours before her wedding. DI Wesley Peterson discovers that Kirsten Harbourn was being pursued by an obsessed stalker and had dark secrets her fiancé knew nothing about.

But Kirsten’s wasn’t the only wedding planned to take place that day in South Devon. A couple made their wedding vows at Morbary registry office and a few days later the groom is found dead in a seaside hotel.

As Wesley examines the links between the cases, the skeleton of a young bride is discovered in a field once owned by the family of an Elizabethan playwright. Ralph Strong’s play, The Fair Wife of Padua, is soon to be performed for the first time in four hundred years.

Is the bloodthirsty drama a confession to the historic murder? And can it reveal anything about the recent killings Wesley must solve?

When a young woman is found brutally strangled on the morning of her wedding day, DI Wesley Peterson and his team immediately begin to investigate the tragic crime. But soon a link is found between the victim and another murder – but is it the same murderer or is something else linking these crimes? Can Wesley and his team solve how these puzzles are connected.

I found this to be an interesting and well written British police procedural. As always there is a strong link to Wes’ best friend – archaeologist Dr Neil Watson – but I was pleased that this time the bones they had uncovered were hundreds of years old. I really enjoyed how the two modern crimes were clearly linked but it wasn’t a simple matter to work out how or why, this gave the puzzles a depth of complexity that I quite enjoyed without making it seem impossible.

There is quite a bit of character development in this book. For the last two or three books there has been a brewing situation with Wesley’s wife, Pam, that I haven’t been enjoying and that has finally come to a head in this book. I admit the development has really seriously soured me on Pam’s character – but it has been brewing and forecast for such a long time now I can’t really feel it should come as a surprise to any of the readers. That didn’t make me like the development – nor do I feel even a small bit of empathy for Pam at all. I have a feeling for the rest of the series it will be difficult for me to enjoy her character like I used to – regardless of how the consequences of this action play out. Other readers might be a lot more forgiving and empathetic, but speaking personally I’m not sure I’ll be able to overlook this from her character.

Aside from that development, the rest of the cast continue along their merry way. I am delighted that Neil is finally maturing a little bit but still managing to keep his slightly rootless wanderings. I also am cautiously optimistic about DCI Heffernan dipping a toe back into the dating pool once again.

I feel readers who pick this up fresh should thoroughly enjoy the murder mystery as well as the historical/archaeological parts to the plot. I do feel that some of the finer elements of the various character developments and interactions might not have as much meaning to readers who haven’t read a few of the previous books in this series – but I do strongly feel the book can still be greatly enjoyed even without any prior knowledge of the characters.

A well plotted and interesting British police procedural book with a strong dollop of archaeology to it.

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Hidden In Snow by Viveca Sten

December 13, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Hidden In Snow by Viveca Sten
Publisher: Amazon Crossing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

The splendor of the Swedish mountains becomes the backdrop for a bone-chilling crime.

On the day Stockholm police officer Hanna Ahlander’s personal and professional lives crash, she takes refuge at her sister’s lodge in the Swedish ski resort paradise of Åre. But it’s a brief comfort. The entire village is shaken by the sudden vanishing of a local teenage girl. Hanna can’t help but investigate, and while searching for the missing person, she lands a job with the local police department. There she joins forces with Detective Inspector Daniel Lindskog, who has been tasked with finding the girl. Their only lead: a scarf in the snow.

As subzero temperatures drop even further, a treacherous blizzard sweeps toward Åre. Hanna and Daniel’s investigation is getting more desperate by the hour. Lost or abducted, either way time is running out for the missing girl. Each new clue closes in on something far more sinister than either Hanna or Daniel imagined. In this devious novel by the bestselling author of the Sandhamn Murders series, discover what it will take to solve a case when the truth can be so easily hidden in the coming storm.

When her private life and professional career both explode on the same day, Sweedish police officer Hanna Ahlander finds herself at a complete loss with no home, no partner and no job. Thankfully, her sister offers to let Hanna stay at her winter home at the small ski resort town of Are. After wallowing for a few days, her interest – both personal and professional – is piqued when a teenage girl suddenly goes missing. To sate her curiosity and help pass the time, Hanna joins with the other locals and helps search for the missing girl. When more tragedy strikes, Hanna offers her assistance to local forces, and joins with Detective Inspector Daniel Lindskog. Can they find out what’s really going on in the idyllic skiing town?

I’ve been a big fan of this author’s Sandhamn Island series and so was happy to give this first new book a try. I’m pretty pleased that I did as it’s a very well written and well woven murder mystery book set in the icy cold ski ton of Lare Are. While some of the atmosphere and the Sweedish culture and the writer’s style is very similar, I did like the fact the characters are quite different. I liked that Hanna was a modern and strong woman but had a lot of vulnerability and baggage. I think she will be quite relatable to many people. I also very much liked Daniel’s character and how he was learning to be a new father and how even though he loves his partner Ida, their relationship is quite new and with their baby daughter there are a number of changes they are both undergoing.

I felt this all meshed together to make a very interesting and complex story that kept me turning the pages. The murder mystery itself was also quite gripping. While a missing teenage girl might not appear too complicated – especially one who is eighteen and was last seen drunk and walking home after a party at her bff’s – the fact it’s icy cold with miles of snow everywhere makes everyone pay attention from the beginning. Then as Hanna and Daniel look further into everything it quickly became clear there were a number of other layers to this missing young woman and in particular it became clear to the reader a lot was going on under the surface at Lake Are.

I really enjoyed this – both the complexities and realism of what goes on in a small community, but also how it didn’t shy away from some of the modern realities we all need to accept and learn from. I also very much like the Scandinavian crime genre and it’s slightly grittier, different tone to much of the British and American styles. I’m very glad this is another series I can hopefully sink my teeth into.

A well written book with a complicated but realistic plot and some modern characters that really appealed to me. This is a great new book and an author I am very fond of. Recommended.

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Caution Death At Work by Rhys Dylan

December 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Caution Death At Work by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A dark past casts a deep shadow.

Evan Warlow is back in the saddle as a DCI, though he isn’t yet sure he deserves to be, and there are others who share his doubts.

When a brutal attack on two mountain bikers in the vast solitude of the Brechfa forest leaves one dead and the other badly injured, the hunt is on for the killer. And though the evidence points firmly in one direction, an open and shut case soon becomes murky and unclear.

It’s not the first time bad things have happened in these woods. Things that some have tried desperately to forget. But for the killer, it’s more a matter of unfinished business.

Unless Evan and the team can outwit a vengeful and clever murderer, someone else is going to die.

When two friends are brutally attacked while they camp in the woods overnight one manages to escape, but help comes for his friend too late. DCI Evan Warlow is back in the saddle, but still has a weight over him, wondering if it’s the right decision. But he can’t back out now, he and his team need to sort out the reason behind the savage attack and try to correct some wrongs that stem back to many years ago.

This is the second book in this Welsh series, and I am finding that I enjoy them. In many respects this is a standard British police procedural and highly enjoyable. I do like the small Welsh touches though – the occasional Welsh word thrown into casual conversation with a brief explanation or the slightly darker than usual feel to the story and setting. I enjoy the way this team works together and am getting used to their characters – as well as a new addition to the team. I feel they are meshing very well together and learning about each other’s working styles as we the reader come to know them all.

I definitely feel this book can be read as a standalone. As only the second in the series not much has been missed and there isn’t that massive amount of history and/or backstory that you often get deeper within a series. I feel readers who enjoy British police procedural style mysteries or crime novels should absolutely feel at home with this and enjoy the slightly different flavour the Wales setting gives the story as a whole.

I also really enjoyed the plot. What seemed quite straightforward in the beginning had some layers to it that the investigation unearthed and while not incredibly complicated I did enjoy that it wasn’t as simple as I had assumed at first. I also liked there were a few mild twists to the story that kept me interested and eagerly turning the pages.

An atmospheric and slightly creepy Welsh read – this was a great mystery book and a series I am quickly becoming addicted to. A good read and one I can recommend.

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A Soupçon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley

December 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A Soupçon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Self-published, Amazon Kindle
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Rating: 3 stars
Review by: Fern

London, 1880
Kat Holloway, highly sought-after young cook to the wealthy of London, finds herself embroiled in murder when she’s accused of poisoning her employer, the loathsome Sir Lionel Leigh-Bradbury. Her only help as she works to clear her name comes from the mysterious Daniel McAdam, a handsome man-of-all-work who seems to know everyone and always happens to be in the right place at the right time.

Kat and Daniel investigate the crime, but the mystery of Daniel’s background might be just as elusive and dangerous as the poisoner bent on framing Kat for murder. Prequel to the Kat Holloway Below Stairs Mysteries.

Kat Holloway might be young for her position as Chef of Sir Lionel Leigh-Bradbury’s household, but she knows her way around a kitchen and has spent years honing her skills. After strongly knocking back Sir Lionel’s amorous advances, she finds his requests for outlandish meals with only a few hours warning growing increasingly difficult – to the point where she turns to a little known friend – Daniel McAdams for help. At her wit’s end, Kat is determined to have it out with Sir Lionel and she is almost ready to leave, only to be woken in the middle of the night by the maid to find Sir Lionel has been murdered – and Kat is the prime suspect as murderess. Can Kat and Daniel uncover what really went on that fateful evening?

I picked up this short story on a whim and by the second chapter found myself engrossed in both the setting and characters. I enjoyed that Kat was a strong and fairly independent young woman and there was quite the mystery surrounding Daniel as well. There was clear chemistry between the two characters but I was also glad this didn’t turn into more of a romance novel but rather kept it’s main focus on the murder mystery and unraveling this aspect to the plot.

I do admit this was a fairly light book – readers looking for deep intrigue or a vastly complex plot might not find this fits the bill, but readers more interested in a light mystery with a strong historical context and a strong female lead character should enjoy this as much as I did. I was glad this book is definitely a stand alone style of novel. There is a whole series based around Kat and Daniel but that appears to be completely separate from this short story so readers should definitely feel able to just pick this up on a whim – as I did – and delve right in. I admit that I enjoyed it enough I plan to purchase the second short story – which appears in a similar vein as this one and to stand equally well alone – and I am also eyeing off the connected seven book series with these characters as the main protagonists as well.

This book ticks a number of boxes for me being a historical novel with strongly written characters as well as a good murder mystery at its heart and just a flutter of romantic chemistry, I feel it should appeal to a wider range of readers and I’m eager to try more by this author around these characters. Enjoyable.

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Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins

December 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins
Publisher: G. P. Putman’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In the latest thriller featuring the legendary Boston PI, Spenser and his young protégé Mattie Sullivan take on billionaire money manager running a network of underaged girls for his rich and powerful clients.

Ten years ago, Spenser helped a teenage girl named Mattie Sullivan find her mother’s killer and take down an infamous Southie crime boss. Now Mattie–a college student with a side job working for the tough but tender private eye–dreams of being an investigator herself. Her first big case involves a fifteen-year-old girl assaulted by a much older man at one of Boston’s most prestigious private clubs. The girl, Chloe Turner, only wants the safe return of her laptop and backpack. But like her mentor and boss, Mattie has a knack for asking the right questions of the wrong people.

Soon Spenser and Mattie find ties between the exploitation of dozens of other girls from working class families to an eccentric billionaire and his sadistic henchwoman with a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue. The mystery man’s wealth, power and connections extend well beyond Massachusetts – maybe even beyond the United States. Spenser and trusted ally Hawk must again watch out for Mattie as she unravels a massive sex-trafficking ring that will take them from Boston to Boca Raton to the Bahamas, crossing paths with local toughs, a highly-trained security company, and an old enemy of Spenser’s–the Gray Man–for a final epic showdown.

Mattie Sullivan is approached to help a teenaged friend to recover the backpack and laptop that she left when she fled a “massage” appointment that turned into more than the kid expected. After being escorted off the premises by security and realizing she was in over her head, Mattie turns to Spenser for a hand in recovering her friend’s property. What began as a creep hiring teenage girls to massage him quickly snowballs into sex trafficking and some real heavyweights putting pressure on Spenser, Mattie, and those whom they hold dear.

In many ways this reminds me of the much earlier Spenser novels. A seemingly straight forward case and an interesting set of characters looking to Spenser for some help. The case gets deeper and more complicated, but Spenser manages to rise above it all and keep plugging away. This is the heart of soul of the Spenser novels that I absolutely adore and thoroughly enjoy.

While I understand many readers lost a lot of the appeal when Ace Atkins took over, I have to admit this is one of my favourite Spenser novels – particularly out of the last half dozen or so. I admit quite a bit of reality needs to be suspended – Spenser first appeared around 1973 so he’d be seriously past his prime now in the mid 2020s, yet Spenser has not aged very much at all in the book world. Add on the fact he’s just got Pearl the third in puppy form – another factor in just how much time has progressed – yet Spenser seemingly hasn’t aged very much either with his physical stamina or with his mental sharpness. All this needs to be carefully overlooked and not thought about. But I have to admit with such an interesting plot and a really good pace I still found myself highly enjoying this book.

Readers who are new to this series don’t really need to read much – if any – of the previous books to my mind. While yes there are a number of recurring characters, I feel the author does a good job of highlighting the friendships and camaraderie between them and I feel the book can be thoroughly enjoyed just by itself and not in conjunction with any of the previous stories.

Readers looking for an American style hardboiled detective story with a fair bit of lighthearted banter and a solid plot should find this a good read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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