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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Darkness Falls is the third book in the Kate Marshall series. In the book, Kate and Tristan work to find a woman who has been missing for over 12 years. In the meantime, they discover secrets about the people involved. I enjoyed the entry in the series. I have liked seeing the character development of Kate and Tristan as they develop their practice. However, I felt that the chapters in the mind of the killer were far too disturbing and could have been done without.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Kate Marshall is back. Myra, her AA sponsor, has died and left Kate her business, with the caveat that Kate start her own PI business. And she does.
Business, however, is slow, and Kate and Tristan need a break. They get one when Bev, the mother of journalist now missing a dozen years, asks them to look into her daughter's case. It's long gone cold, but Kate and Tristan will take it - it's better than no work, after all. Bev's current partner has somehow laid hands on the boxes (and boxes) of case files kept by the police, and Kate and Tristan start going through it, following the same leads, looking in the same spots. They come up empty, even though the journalist was thought to be working on a story involving a local politician.
Until Kate notices two names written on a notebook. Two men, young and healthy, gone missing without a trace. Just like the journalist, but prior to her own disappearance. Could they be related?
With a new wind in their sails, the duo start the tedious task of determining who these men were, tracing their contacts, and figuring out why they would disappear. The chasing of the clues, the interviews, the scenery: no sagging middle in this book.
Eventually, Kate puts the pieces together. The only gripe I had here is that unlike the last book in the series, I didn't think there were enough clues - or, rather, enough details in some respects - to allow the reader to determine (or guess) the villain in this one.
Still, it's an enjoyable read, about people who are grounded in who they are and have a doggedness worthy of admiration.
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Business, however, is slow, and Kate and Tristan need a break. They get one when Bev, the mother of journalist now missing a dozen years, asks them to look into her daughter's case. It's long gone cold, but Kate and Tristan will take it - it's better than no work, after all. Bev's current partner has somehow laid hands on the boxes (and boxes) of case files kept by the police, and Kate and Tristan start going through it, following the same leads, looking in the same spots. They come up empty, even though the journalist was thought to be working on a story involving a local politician.
Until Kate notices two names written on a notebook. Two men, young and healthy, gone missing without a trace. Just like the journalist, but prior to her own disappearance. Could they be related?
With a new wind in their sails, the duo start the tedious task of determining who these men were, tracing their contacts, and figuring out why they would disappear. The chasing of the clues, the interviews, the scenery: no sagging middle in this book.
Eventually, Kate puts the pieces together. The only gripe I had here is that unlike the last book in the series, I didn't think there were enough clues - or, rather, enough details in some respects - to allow the reader to determine (or guess) the villain in this one.
Still, it's an enjoyable read, about people who are grounded in who they are and have a doggedness worthy of admiration.
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the reading copy.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was another fine installment in the Kate Marshall series. In Darkness Falls, Kate Marshall is building her PI agency and is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a local journalist. Her investigation leads to the possibility of a serial killer targeting young men.
The Kate Marshall series is a consistently fine mystery series. The stories tend to be predictable, and Bryndza's writing of romance is not great. His secondary and tertiary characters are often based upon unflattering stereotypes, and that continues in this book even with a focus on a killer targeting men instead of women. It's still an enjoyable read, the predictability and stereotyping keep it from being great.
The Kate Marshall series is a consistently fine mystery series. The stories tend to be predictable, and Bryndza's writing of romance is not great. His secondary and tertiary characters are often based upon unflattering stereotypes, and that continues in this book even with a focus on a killer targeting men instead of women. It's still an enjoyable read, the predictability and stereotyping keep it from being great.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Feels Like Coming Home
I have read many books by Robert Bryndza and I can say that it always feels like a homecoming. I need to start by praising his Girl in the Ice series because it is one I think everyone should read. However, I must admit, the more I read from the Kate Marshall series, the more I am enjoying it. Book three now and it is fair to say we have seen our protagonist go on one hell of a journey so far. After the loss of her best friend and neighbor, Kate has thrown herself into her private investigation business full time - well with the small distraction of a bunch of holiday caravans to manage on the side. It's not been the big earner she may have liked but her latest case, a request to look into the disappearance of a young journalist many years before, looks set to be a really busy one, something she can finally sink her teeth into. Now as readers, we know far more of what is happening than Kate and her partner in crime solving, Tristan, but. whilst we may know the what, we most certainly have no clue as to the who or the why.
What I love about Robert Bryndza's writing is his ability to create an overwhelming sense of mystery from the start, something he does spectacularly in this book. It keeps you on your toes and keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime. Even though I did not have all the pieces I knew that something big and important to the plot was coming. The who done it aspect was fun, as was the character development and the chapters written from the aggressors point of view.
Did I have an inkling part way through the book as to who the bad guy might be? Honestly ... yes, but that for me was half the fun, powering through to the end to see if I was right. It didn't impact on my enjoyment of the book in the slightest, it drew me in more.
Pace in the book is spot on, with the flow of the narrative ebbing and flowing much as the investigation does.This was another top class, mystery laden read that had me powering through the pages. With brilliant characterisation, tension oozing from the pages and writing which really evokes emotion and the stark contrasts of the setting, it's definitely recommended. Fans of the series and of the author's writing will eat it up.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a good series from Bryndza. Kate Marshall is a complicated character who you want to like but you feel her standoffish nature in every chapter. This prickliness does add to her style of investigation and how she interacts with people and suspects. The story jogs along and there are enough tib bits for you to start piecing the story together but little bits leave enough doubt and keep you reading. I'll definitely stick with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia