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The Calderwood Cases #1
Next Girl to Die
Solving the case will avenge her sister—unless the killer finds her first.
It’s been fifteen years since Claire Calderwood’s sister, Rachel, was brutally murdered in their small hometown in Maine. Claire has finally carved out a life for herself as a homicide detective in Detroit, but the past comes calling when the local police back home ask for her help with a murder eerily similar to Rachel’s.
Still haunted by Rachel’s cold case, Claire returns home, hoping to solve the crime and finally put her grief to rest. As she starts investigating, the last thing she needs is tenacious journalist Noah Washington asking questions she’s not ready to answer. But like her, Noah won’t give up until he finds the truth—and Claire reluctantly finds herself relying on him more and more when disturbing new details about Rachel’s death come to light.
When the killer strikes once again, Claire knows he’s not done. Now he’s set his sights on Claire, who will have to find the courage she needs to survive a deadly confrontation years in the making.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
4100 people are currently reading
9069 people want to read
About the author
Dea Poirier
11books493followersDea Poirier was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she found her passion during a creative writing course. She studied computer science and political science at the University of Central Oklahoma. She later spent time living on both coasts and traveling the United States before finally putting down roots in central Florida. She now resides somewhere between Disney and the swamp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 499 reviews
April 13, 2019
This is a really disappointing review to write. I had high hopes for a new series that I could get into and unfortunately, I am not going to be writing a positive review.
Claire Calderwood is a detective in Detroit who ran away from her small town past. Her older sister, Rachel was found dead when they were teens and the killer never found. She is called back to her tiny island to help investigate a new murder - the body found in the same place as Claire's sister. We follow Claire as she tries to solve this case before another murder can rob a family of another child.
I was engaged for the first couple of chapters and then I could quickly see that I was going to be an outlier on the mountains of four and five star reviews. All I could think about was comparisons to Sharp Objects, the first book in the Tracey Crosswhite series and many other gritty female detectives with a troubled past and something to prove. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with this premise (since I requested to read the book I hope this is obvious), but it just felt so flat. There wasn't anything in here that engaged me enough to make me feel like I was on the edge of my seat. It all felt kind of juvenile. I hate to say that and I know that comes across as extremely critical, but the writing didn't do much to help. It was kind of cheesy and campy and please understand I give anyone who writes and has a book published credit, but this was just so-so. I may give the next book in the series a shot, but I would not run out and endorse this one.
Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer & the author, Dea Poirier for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 4/13/19
Release Date: 5/1/19
Claire Calderwood is a detective in Detroit who ran away from her small town past. Her older sister, Rachel was found dead when they were teens and the killer never found. She is called back to her tiny island to help investigate a new murder - the body found in the same place as Claire's sister. We follow Claire as she tries to solve this case before another murder can rob a family of another child.
I was engaged for the first couple of chapters and then I could quickly see that I was going to be an outlier on the mountains of four and five star reviews. All I could think about was comparisons to Sharp Objects, the first book in the Tracey Crosswhite series and many other gritty female detectives with a troubled past and something to prove. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with this premise (since I requested to read the book I hope this is obvious), but it just felt so flat. There wasn't anything in here that engaged me enough to make me feel like I was on the edge of my seat. It all felt kind of juvenile. I hate to say that and I know that comes across as extremely critical, but the writing didn't do much to help. It was kind of cheesy and campy and please understand I give anyone who writes and has a book published credit, but this was just so-so. I may give the next book in the series a shot, but I would not run out and endorse this one.
Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer & the author, Dea Poirier for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 4/13/19
Release Date: 5/1/19
December 5, 2018
I adored Next Girl to Die. The book was totally heart-pounding. I had to finish it, to know what happened. I was totally invested in the Claire and the case. I thought the collision of past and present was really well-down. I never doubted the logic of the case or the story.
What was really special about the book was how well the setting, the small island and town was drawn. I loved the mythology and family histories and culture that the author created. All the little bits which explained each character’s behavior and make the reader really buy in to how the events could unfold over so many years.
Claire and Noah’s relationship was an added, fun bonus. They had excellent chemistry and worked really well together but he never took away from her story and her ability to be the hero. I feel super lucky I got to read this book early. I totally couldn’t put it down!
What was really special about the book was how well the setting, the small island and town was drawn. I loved the mythology and family histories and culture that the author created. All the little bits which explained each character’s behavior and make the reader really buy in to how the events could unfold over so many years.
Claire and Noah’s relationship was an added, fun bonus. They had excellent chemistry and worked really well together but he never took away from her story and her ability to be the hero. I feel super lucky I got to read this book early. I totally couldn’t put it down!
February 9, 2020
I read this book a couple different times during it's creation. Dea has put together a twisty mystery with a main character who never recovered from the disappearance of her sister. Now back in the town where it all happened, Claire is overwhelmed by memories and the need to solve the most recent deaths that are similar to her sister's--if she can stay alive. Throw in a little romance with a sexy investigative reporter, and this book will keep you reading.
January 8, 2019
This was one of those books that I was so engrossed in, I had to keep the Kindle next to me throughout the day to snag every few minutes I could! I was actually angry when pulled away from it! And it was so unpredictable, I had no fewer than 4 competing theories at any given moment. At 94% through, I thought I had it all figured out, and I was wrong!
I think the most compelling part of the book though, lies in the untangling of the lives and lies of the families in the small town. There is something cathartic about realizing that not everyone is deranged enough to go around killing people, but they are deeply flawed people with secrets of their own. Of course, at least one is just that deranged.
This is a really exciting debut, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Claire and the swoon-worthy Noah.
I think the most compelling part of the book though, lies in the untangling of the lives and lies of the families in the small town. There is something cathartic about realizing that not everyone is deranged enough to go around killing people, but they are deeply flawed people with secrets of their own. Of course, at least one is just that deranged.
This is a really exciting debut, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Claire and the swoon-worthy Noah.
December 11, 2018
A gripping psychological thriller, Dea Poirier's debut introduces us to Detective Claire Claderwood, the prodigal daughter of Vinalhaven, returning to town when the local police need her help investigating the murder of a young woman. Claire has her own sense of guilt and dark memories to combat, even as the death toll climbs.
Poirier's prose is terse and suspenseful, capturing the paradoxical claustrophobia of small-town island life. With no shortage of suspects, I was kept guessing about the killer's identity, turning pages as quickly as possible right up until the reveal. Watching the logic of the case weave together is darkly satisfying, and NEXT GIRL TO DIE is a strong recommend for any fans of intense procedural suspense.
Poirier's prose is terse and suspenseful, capturing the paradoxical claustrophobia of small-town island life. With no shortage of suspects, I was kept guessing about the killer's identity, turning pages as quickly as possible right up until the reveal. Watching the logic of the case weave together is darkly satisfying, and NEXT GIRL TO DIE is a strong recommend for any fans of intense procedural suspense.
December 29, 2018
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way. Packed with a creepy island atmosphere, small town history, a strong but scarred main character, and a romance, this murder mystery kept me guessing every step of the way. Everyone was a suspect. I loved the way the past and the present were weaved together. The prose is simple and the pace is fast.
Could not put this down, read it in 24 hours.
Could not put this down, read it in 24 hours.
December 13, 2018
Fast-paced thriller + main character who's a strong woman + setting on a creepy island community. What's not to love?
February 15, 2019
Exquisite writing! Ms. Poirer created a masterful suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat and introduced me to characters that I fell in love with. I savored the story, wanting it to last, but near the end the pages were turning faster and faster as the climax approached. The ending was cathartic in more ways than one. This is one of those books that you want to read slowly because you just don't want the story to end but at the same time, you can't put it down! Highly recommend!
February 13, 2019
***Thank you NetGalley for giving me a ARC to give honest review***
I loved this murder mystery. There were so many red herrings that I didn’t guess the correct serial killer until the very end. The suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The author did great with character’s voice. I felt so bad for Claire losing her older sister that I wanted to give her a hug.
The author was also great with setting and description. I’ve never stepped foot in Maine, but I could picture every spot vividly. The story flowed nicely, and the mystery of who was the killer, taunting Claire and the other detectives had me intrigued.
After awhile, it got old seeing that every character, male and female, were having blonde hair and blue eyes. I think I might of smiled when a brunette male was finally introduced.
Noah and Claire were cute together. There was sexual tension even though she was trying to fight it. My favorite scene was when Noah was taking pictures at Claire’s crime scene. She blew up, rightfully so, because he wasn’t authorized to do so. He could’ve contaminated evidence.
The story had a good ending. It opened the door for another book in the series with a new case to solve.
I recommend this book to read.
I loved this murder mystery. There were so many red herrings that I didn’t guess the correct serial killer until the very end. The suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The author did great with character’s voice. I felt so bad for Claire losing her older sister that I wanted to give her a hug.
The author was also great with setting and description. I’ve never stepped foot in Maine, but I could picture every spot vividly. The story flowed nicely, and the mystery of who was the killer, taunting Claire and the other detectives had me intrigued.
After awhile, it got old seeing that every character, male and female, were having blonde hair and blue eyes. I think I might of smiled when a brunette male was finally introduced.
Noah and Claire were cute together. There was sexual tension even though she was trying to fight it. My favorite scene was when Noah was taking pictures at Claire’s crime scene. She blew up, rightfully so, because he wasn’t authorized to do so. He could’ve contaminated evidence.
The story had a good ending. It opened the door for another book in the series with a new case to solve.
I recommend this book to read.
January 15, 2025
I really enjoyed the way this started out: Claire returns home to her small town after years away to help solve the murder of a teen girl in a way eerily similar to her sister’s all those years ago. Using her skills gained during her time as a homicide detective in Detroit, Claire hopes she can close this case and move on. However, when another girl is killed and more suspicious activity arises, she realizes more sinister things have been happening for years on this island than most realize.
While the mystery and suspense kept me glued to the pages, I really struggled with Noah’s storyline, it never fully made sense to me, and I didn’t like his and Claire’s relationship.
I felt the story lost some steam as the story went on and while the ending was satisfying, it was also a little predictable.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
While the mystery and suspense kept me glued to the pages, I really struggled with Noah’s storyline, it never fully made sense to me, and I didn’t like his and Claire’s relationship.
I felt the story lost some steam as the story went on and while the ending was satisfying, it was also a little predictable.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
May 1, 2019
Based on the book description, I thought this book would be right up my alley. It sounded great, but unfortunately for me it was written in 1st POV and present tense. This is my absolute least favorite writing style. For other readers, this may not be a stumbling block, but for me it was huge. It made it hard to get into the story-line and I found myself constantly putting the book down.
With it being in 1st POV, the other characters felt flat and undeveloped and I wanted to know more about them but the book was all about the lead character. I could barely describe the rest of the police department. I lived in Claire's head and I grew tired of the constant comments on how she feels about her dead sister and lack of communication within her family. There were so many times when the book felt very repetitive.
I didn't feel the set-up of Claire coming back to the island was developed well enough...is this really temporary? Why just up and quit her current position? Why her when there's an obvious conflict that the murder is so similar to her dead sister? It's very unusual to investigate a sibling's murder. When the bodies start piling up, where are the state investigators or even the FBI? Why would her boss want her working with a journalist...that just felt contrived.
I didn't feel as there was a lot of plot development as some things seem to just fall into Claire's lap as she spun her wheels. There was also something about this story that gave me a YA feel and I'm not sure why. In the end, this just wasn't a fit. There are a lot of people who enjoyed this book so remember - this is just my personal thoughts.
Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer & Dea Poirier for the opportunity to read an ARC.
With it being in 1st POV, the other characters felt flat and undeveloped and I wanted to know more about them but the book was all about the lead character. I could barely describe the rest of the police department. I lived in Claire's head and I grew tired of the constant comments on how she feels about her dead sister and lack of communication within her family. There were so many times when the book felt very repetitive.
I didn't feel the set-up of Claire coming back to the island was developed well enough...is this really temporary? Why just up and quit her current position? Why her when there's an obvious conflict that the murder is so similar to her dead sister? It's very unusual to investigate a sibling's murder. When the bodies start piling up, where are the state investigators or even the FBI? Why would her boss want her working with a journalist...that just felt contrived.
I didn't feel as there was a lot of plot development as some things seem to just fall into Claire's lap as she spun her wheels. There was also something about this story that gave me a YA feel and I'm not sure why. In the end, this just wasn't a fit. There are a lot of people who enjoyed this book so remember - this is just my personal thoughts.
Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer & Dea Poirier for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 2, 2019
This was my Kindle First monthly choice and it was a tough choice this month for me. However, I think I selected the wrong one......I read as far as page 47 in this but then gave up on it. Yet it's really hard to describe what I don't like about it. The writing seems oddly juvenile to me, like it was written by someone very young or for a younger audience than me.....lines like "Another death in this park makes my skin crawl, and a bad feeling makes my stomach roil." Maybe it's just me as writing it out here, I find I'm not explaining myself too well !!
I assumed Claire was going back to her island to assist with a case and that was it, yet then there's mention made of shipping furniture out to her rental home and then having her car brought over, too. She describes her island and what's going on but at no point makes reference to it snowing there until a body is found.......in snow !! That just seemed really peculiar to me. A guy had a boat pinched from his dock and Claire's thought processes involved going through the reasons this may have happened....."There has to be a trigger. He may not remember it now, but some event precipitated this".......it was a boat, not his first-born !!!
I spotted one mistake which is why it merits an additional star, she wrote gravely and not gravelly (and that's pretty good going) and the cover is a lovely one.
I may be being too harsh and not illustrating very well what I didn't like about this book but I guess that's why I am not an author, only a reader !
I assumed Claire was going back to her island to assist with a case and that was it, yet then there's mention made of shipping furniture out to her rental home and then having her car brought over, too. She describes her island and what's going on but at no point makes reference to it snowing there until a body is found.......in snow !! That just seemed really peculiar to me. A guy had a boat pinched from his dock and Claire's thought processes involved going through the reasons this may have happened....."There has to be a trigger. He may not remember it now, but some event precipitated this".......it was a boat, not his first-born !!!
I spotted one mistake which is why it merits an additional star, she wrote gravely and not gravelly (and that's pretty good going) and the cover is a lovely one.
I may be being too harsh and not illustrating very well what I didn't like about this book but I guess that's why I am not an author, only a reader !
March 4, 2019
THE NEXT GIRL TO DIE is a smart, fast-paced, and intensely well-written procedural thriller, and it takes place in one of the best settings I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time: a lonely island off the coast of Maine. The island has more secrets than residents, with each character more ominously suspicious than the last. Poirier is a diabolical plotter, and this tight debut is fraught with tension and mystery.
January 8, 2019
This was one of those books that I was so engrossed in, I had to keep the Kindle next to me throughout the day to snag every few minutes I could! I was actually angry when pulled away from it! And it was so unpredictable, I had no fewer than 4 competing theories at any given moment. At 94% through, I thought I had it all figured out, and I was wrong!
I think the most compelling part of the book though, lies in the untangling of the lives and lies of the families in the small town. There is something cathartic about realizing that not everyone is deranged enough to go around killing people, but they are deeply flawed people with secrets of their own. Of course, at least one is just that deranged.
This is a really exciting debut, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Claire and the swoon-worthy Noah.
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I think the most compelling part of the book though, lies in the untangling of the lives and lies of the families in the small town. There is something cathartic about realizing that not everyone is deranged enough to go around killing people, but they are deeply flawed people with secrets of their own. Of course, at least one is just that deranged.
This is a really exciting debut, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Claire and the swoon-worthy Noah.
/review/show...
April 10, 2019
Next Girl to Die (The Calderwood Cases #1) by Dea Poirier
5 stars
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder, Kidnapping
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Claire is from a small town where her sister was brutally murdered. When a new murder is committed that is eerily like her sisters, Claire is called back to her island, small town to help solve the case.
Noah is a reporter who knows far more about these cases and wants to help. I found his character almost endearing because of how much he wanted to help. Claire is incredibly wary of him at first, mainly due to his profession. However, when Noah is able to prove himself useful, Claire is all in.
Claire and Noah will have to worry about small town gossip, missing information and teasing out who they can trust and who is lying to them.
This story is full of twists, turns and complexity that allows the reader to truly search for the killer while reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how it ended. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
5 stars
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder, Kidnapping
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Claire is from a small town where her sister was brutally murdered. When a new murder is committed that is eerily like her sisters, Claire is called back to her island, small town to help solve the case.
Noah is a reporter who knows far more about these cases and wants to help. I found his character almost endearing because of how much he wanted to help. Claire is incredibly wary of him at first, mainly due to his profession. However, when Noah is able to prove himself useful, Claire is all in.
Claire and Noah will have to worry about small town gossip, missing information and teasing out who they can trust and who is lying to them.
This story is full of twists, turns and complexity that allows the reader to truly search for the killer while reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how it ended. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
November 21, 2019
At some point, as you get older, you stop counting things� how many times you’ve been on an airplane, driven across the country , or solved a murder. No matter how many murders I solve, it won’t fix me.
📚 Series: Yes. First books of The Calderwood Cases.
📚 Genre: Murder Mystery.
📚 POV: First person.
📚 Cliffhanger: Not really, but it comes with hints of the next case.
� Content Warnings: Murder, with graphic descriptions. Threats. Fire. Dealing with death of a family member.
� Read if: you love whodunnit mysteries.
I have a read this book a week ago but I forgot that I have not reviewed this yet!
Next Girl To Die is my first read from Dea Poirer and I was drawn in by the blurb of the story. I have always been fascinated with murder mysteries, and the mystery genre is the main reason I was drawn to reading in the first place.
Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations and I was not satisfied with how the story unfolded.
The first few chapters of this book was very engaging and enticing that I really thought that this would be my new favorite read. But, after the initial impact, I felt that the book failed to deliver on the overall premise.
The characters, except for the lead, are a little underdeveloped and I felt no connection to any of them. In fact, the lead character was very frustrating and it was tiring to be in her immature mind.
The plot on itself is also a little weak and underdeveloped. Many things are unrealistic, which is a little frustrating considering what the blurb was promising.
I hope the next books of this series would be better, but I'm not sure if I would still pick it up.
� THE CRITERIA �
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌼 Thrill Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐☆�
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐�
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.42/5 �
Much thanks to NetGalley andThomas & Mercer for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 � � � 📚
March 6, 2019
Great detective mystery with a strong woman protagonist. Packed with twists and turns, it kept me turning the pages until the killer was finally revealed at the end. Detective Calderwood is a very compelling character and her personal connection to the murders made the stakes that much higher and the story more poignant. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
March 1, 2019
This book kept me on edge the entire read. This is my kind of mystery. Girls keep dying, who is doing it???? Mix in a little romance and family dysfunction, makes for a great book. I would definitely be recommending this and can't wait to ready a sequel!
April 11, 2019
Enjoyed
Well written with just the right amount of descriptive detail and a great story Line about a female detective having to go back to her roots to solve murders of young girls with a bit out romance thrown in.
Well written with just the right amount of descriptive detail and a great story Line about a female detective having to go back to her roots to solve murders of young girls with a bit out romance thrown in.
January 19, 2020
Chilling, heart pounding, head scratching, and fabulous! The mystery has me stumped and the ending had me on the edge of my seat! While there were some holes in the story and I had issues with some of the dialogue, this was a great first book and I’m excited to read more in the series!
March 18, 2019
This book is exactly the type of police procedural I love to read...and I was not disappointed! Next Girl to Diewas filled with suspense from beginning to end. I enjoyed the book and will look forward to additional stories in the series.
The book follows Detective Claire Calderwood as she returns to her hometown in Maine. Her sister was brutally murdered fifteen years before, and now a similar murder has been committed. There was some lack of details fleshed out about Claire's return home--including whether she had taken a leave of absence from her position in Detroit or had quit--but they did not detract from the overall quality of the book. (Just something that nagged me for the first few chapters!)
I liked the characters and the relationships in the book, as well as the twists and turns as the plot unraveled. I am definitely looking forward to the next case!
The book follows Detective Claire Calderwood as she returns to her hometown in Maine. Her sister was brutally murdered fifteen years before, and now a similar murder has been committed. There was some lack of details fleshed out about Claire's return home--including whether she had taken a leave of absence from her position in Detroit or had quit--but they did not detract from the overall quality of the book. (Just something that nagged me for the first few chapters!)
I liked the characters and the relationships in the book, as well as the twists and turns as the plot unraveled. I am definitely looking forward to the next case!
February 19, 2019
This was a very interesting first book of a new series. I love detective stories when the main character has their own personal reasons for wanting to solve the case. The past moves to the present and it shows that secrets don’t remain buried for long.
March 2, 2019
The bones for this book were good. Strong, likable heroine, a good mystery with suspense and a sick and twisted killer. But it was lacking in flesh. For me it bordered on being choppy. It lacked fleshed out details between one scene to another. One minute she is a homicide detective in Detroit and the next she is on a ferry returning home after 15 years to help local police. No mention of did she quit her job or take a leave a absence � we the reader were just left of out what happened in between. This happened a lot throughout the book. Even the final confrontation with the killer was less than 2 pages.
I liked the characters, the story and police procedure aspects and I hope since this was the authors debut novel that things are more fleshed out in the next book as I could see really liking this series.
I liked the characters, the story and police procedure aspects and I hope since this was the authors debut novel that things are more fleshed out in the next book as I could see really liking this series.
April 4, 2019
My thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review, and to NetGalley for facilitating.
I read this book in two sittings. It would have been one, but it was two in the morning and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. When a book pulls me in and keeps me reading like that, I'm a happy girl. Now, the reasons why.
The characters and plot gripped me, but the questions presented at the outset demanded answers. The author doles out bits of information little by little, just as I would think a real-life detective would get their answers. I loved following along on the case. I loved how the author delved deeper and deeper into the town, the people, the culture of this island, and especially, the main character and her secrets. Everybody except the MC was a suspect in my mind. The story itself was a straight-up 5 stars.
Now. The reason for a 1-star downgrade. As someone else mentioned, I thought this detective was "on loan" to "temporarily help" the Vinalhaven PD with this investigation. Then we learn she's moved here? For good? That part wasn't spelled out clearly. Only a line or two could have cleared up the confusion. But I spent way too long thinking she was supposed to go back to Detroit at some point, so 1/2 star downgrade.
The other 1/2 star downgrade came from repetition. I loved how the author showed the MC's emotions over her sister's death. The first couple of times, I became emotional, too. Later on, though, those emotions seemed to repeat and go on longer than necessary, to the point where I skipped paragraphs. And the MC's empathizing with those who recently lost loved ones repeated more than necessary. BUT, kudos to the author for showing emotions of devastating heartbreak and getting me to feel the MC's pain, where many mysteries fail, leaving them flat and cold.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to any sequels.
I read this book in two sittings. It would have been one, but it was two in the morning and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. When a book pulls me in and keeps me reading like that, I'm a happy girl. Now, the reasons why.
The characters and plot gripped me, but the questions presented at the outset demanded answers. The author doles out bits of information little by little, just as I would think a real-life detective would get their answers. I loved following along on the case. I loved how the author delved deeper and deeper into the town, the people, the culture of this island, and especially, the main character and her secrets. Everybody except the MC was a suspect in my mind. The story itself was a straight-up 5 stars.
Now. The reason for a 1-star downgrade. As someone else mentioned, I thought this detective was "on loan" to "temporarily help" the Vinalhaven PD with this investigation. Then we learn she's moved here? For good? That part wasn't spelled out clearly. Only a line or two could have cleared up the confusion. But I spent way too long thinking she was supposed to go back to Detroit at some point, so 1/2 star downgrade.
The other 1/2 star downgrade came from repetition. I loved how the author showed the MC's emotions over her sister's death. The first couple of times, I became emotional, too. Later on, though, those emotions seemed to repeat and go on longer than necessary, to the point where I skipped paragraphs. And the MC's empathizing with those who recently lost loved ones repeated more than necessary. BUT, kudos to the author for showing emotions of devastating heartbreak and getting me to feel the MC's pain, where many mysteries fail, leaving them flat and cold.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to any sequels.
April 8, 2019
This is the first in a series and first read of this author. I really enjoyed this one, lots of action and keeps you guessing what is going on!
Detective Claire Calderwood is returning home at the request of the local police force. They have two girls that were missing and now found dead and they are hoping for Claires help. She has been working in Detroit on the homicide department and they need her help in this one, as 15 years ago, Claire's sister, Rachel was a victim also..They think these murders are related.
Claire has always been haunted by her sister's murder and she is holding secrets in. Her family is estranged, as her Mother and grandmother quit talking after Rachel's murder and Claire always felt she lost two loved one when Rachel was murdered.
As Claire starts investigating, the killer escalates and another body is found. Is it another killer or the same one over all these years? What is the connection between all these girls being found murdered. Now someone is watching Claire and is she going to be the next victim before she gets this case solved?
A great start to a new series!
Detective Claire Calderwood is returning home at the request of the local police force. They have two girls that were missing and now found dead and they are hoping for Claires help. She has been working in Detroit on the homicide department and they need her help in this one, as 15 years ago, Claire's sister, Rachel was a victim also..They think these murders are related.
Claire has always been haunted by her sister's murder and she is holding secrets in. Her family is estranged, as her Mother and grandmother quit talking after Rachel's murder and Claire always felt she lost two loved one when Rachel was murdered.
As Claire starts investigating, the killer escalates and another body is found. Is it another killer or the same one over all these years? What is the connection between all these girls being found murdered. Now someone is watching Claire and is she going to be the next victim before she gets this case solved?
A great start to a new series!
February 21, 2019
Thank You to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and like-able, the story line was solid and suspenseful and it held my attention start to finish. We follow Claire through her journey through her past in reliving that fateful night her sister died and her present trying to catch a killer whose methods match those of her sisters killer. The only complaints i have is that i found the story a little slow paced and i found the motive of the killer to be a little far fetched. But overall it was a good read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and like-able, the story line was solid and suspenseful and it held my attention start to finish. We follow Claire through her journey through her past in reliving that fateful night her sister died and her present trying to catch a killer whose methods match those of her sisters killer. The only complaints i have is that i found the story a little slow paced and i found the motive of the killer to be a little far fetched. But overall it was a good read.
May 26, 2019
Claire back to her hometown when a serial killer emerges who might be tied to her sister's death 15 years ago. This felt like a book with a great marketing campaign where the readers who loved it maybe haven't read books in the genre that are truly good. The writing was pretty underdeveloped, the romance was preposterous, and the mystery had no depth to it.
February 25, 2019
Well I definitely didn’t just stay up until 2am to finish this, nope, not me... *shifty eyes* SO good. So creeptastic.
May 18, 2019
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
I think I ended up requesting this book mostly based on the cover (which looks great). I don't usually love novels about a cop who is working to solve a crime, particularly one that is looking to set up for a series all about that same cop. So I did like this book and enjoyed it, but it wasn't quite right for me - I'm just not interested in this particular style of novel. Claire as a character wasn't my favorite either, she was a bit too gloomy for me. There were definitely some good parts to the novel and also there were a few very good plot twists. The ending felt pretty underwhelming for me, there weren't any great twists at the end or anything too exciting. I still liked the book though and thought it was a good read, I think that the genre it's in just isn't for me. If you liked series like Rizzoli & Isles or other series about a cop who solves crimes, I'd check this one out!
I think I ended up requesting this book mostly based on the cover (which looks great). I don't usually love novels about a cop who is working to solve a crime, particularly one that is looking to set up for a series all about that same cop. So I did like this book and enjoyed it, but it wasn't quite right for me - I'm just not interested in this particular style of novel. Claire as a character wasn't my favorite either, she was a bit too gloomy for me. There were definitely some good parts to the novel and also there were a few very good plot twists. The ending felt pretty underwhelming for me, there weren't any great twists at the end or anything too exciting. I still liked the book though and thought it was a good read, I think that the genre it's in just isn't for me. If you liked series like Rizzoli & Isles or other series about a cop who solves crimes, I'd check this one out!
September 27, 2024
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RTC.
⭐⭐⭐� | 3.5 stars rounded down
RTC.
⭐⭐⭐� | 3.5 stars rounded down
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