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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This is Book 3 in the Kate Marshall series and she and firmly remain my favourite crime solving duo. Kate and Tristan play off each other nicely with their different perspectives while meshing well as a team.
Kate and Tristan have been approached by a woman whose journalist daughter disappeared without a trace eight years earlier to find out what happened and, more importantly, to find her daughter. The case is very cold but the newly fledged private investigator business is desperate for business so Kate and Tristan take it on. Their search takes them in unexpected directions and the key figures who they come across cause Tristan to do some soul searching, wondering where his life is taking him and what he might be missing out on. Meanwhile Kate’s personal world has been rocked by her mentor, leaving her to find her own way and we find out whether she can remain strong without Myra’s support.
I loved the further character development in this book. It seemed more subtle and yet stronger because of it. In particular I feel as though we got to know Tristan better on a more personal level. I really like the direction this series is going.
Kate and Tristan have been approached by a woman whose journalist daughter disappeared without a trace eight years earlier to find out what happened and, more importantly, to find her daughter. The case is very cold but the newly fledged private investigator business is desperate for business so Kate and Tristan take it on. Their search takes them in unexpected directions and the key figures who they come across cause Tristan to do some soul searching, wondering where his life is taking him and what he might be missing out on. Meanwhile Kate’s personal world has been rocked by her mentor, leaving her to find her own way and we find out whether she can remain strong without Myra’s support.
I loved the further character development in this book. It seemed more subtle and yet stronger because of it. In particular I feel as though we got to know Tristan better on a more personal level. I really like the direction this series is going.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Bryndza, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Robert Bryndza is back with another intense crime thriller with Kate Marshall at the helm. With a sordid past as a police detective, Kate has opened up her own investigative agency and is ready to take on the world. She’s given a cold case, where a journalist disappeared twelve years before. While there are some possible avenues to explore, the police have given up. All that being said, Kate and her partner begin finding a new and interesting connection with some other cold cases in the area, which could be the momentum they need to acquire answers.
Kate Marshall had high hopes when she worked for the Metropolitan Police, but addiction and other skeletons in her closet kept her from being able to stay on the right path. She’s taken her skills and turned it into something great, opening a private investigative agency, supplementing her time as a lecturer at the local university. Working with her partner, Tristan Harper, Kate is hoping to make a name for herself and earn a decent living.
When she’s given a cold case, Kate has high hopes that she and Tristan will be able to solve it. A journalist went missing twelve years before, one who was gritty and determined like few others. She’d brought down a sitting Member of Parliament for potential indiscretions, but he had a solid alibi for the time of the disappearance. Working through the police files given over by the family, Kate and Tristan come across some names that do not seem to fit.
Deeper digging reveals that these were young men who went missing in the years before the journalist’s disappearance. They frequented gay bars and some had a connection of a commune in the area. The more Kate and Tristan push, the stronger the potential connection of the disappearances. Could someone have been trying to write a story, connecting the missing men to someone around the bars?
All the while, a killer lurks just out of sight. Their target is one of the seedy bars on the outskirts of town. When a young man is found raped and murdered, Kate cannot help but wonder if there is a connection to the cold cases she has on her radar. Forensics makes some connections, but there is nothing to tie these disappearances to any particular killer. Still, things may be slowly coming together, but at what cost? Another great novel by Robert Bryndza that will keep readers flipping pages into the night.
I always enjoy a great thriller and Robert Bryndza has never failed to deliver. His attention to detail is like no other and he finds intriguing ways to keep the reader engaged throughout. The stories are not outlandish, but neither are they plain and easily deduced. This is the second of Bryndza’s series that I have tried, which is equally as intense and has me wanting more.
Kate Marshall has a major backstory that continues to reveal itself here. While series fans will know some of her past, Kate is still trying to come to terms with them, as things emerge to remind her of where she was all those years before. Bryndza allows for some wonderful character development here, both professional and personal, which offers Kate Marshall a new perspective as she is getting her life in order. I am eager to see where things will take her in the coming novels, as I am ready for more as soon as possible.
Robert Bryndza is an amazing writer with strong capabilities. He writes well and keeps the story moving along. The narrative builds from the opening chapter and there is no time at which I felt things dragged. The story evolved well, using short chapters to tease the reader into pushing forward just a little more. Tackling social and societal issues amongst the murder investigation, Bryndza does not shy away from topics and keeps the reader educated throughout the experience. I can only hope for more, as he has a knack when it comes to crimes thrillers!
Kudos, Mr. Bryndza, for another winner. Don’t keep us wondering for too long, as your fans surely love what you have to offer.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant! I’d kind of guessed who the killer was but there still managed to be a twist that took me by surprise! Love this series with Kate and Tristan, hope there are more to come! 🔍
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Bryndza never disappoints! Kate and Tristan take on their first big case as private investigators - a 12 year old cold case of a missing journalist. There are some twists I did not expect. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.