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lynnbettencourt's review against another edition
4.0
Book Club Book: January
I really enjoyed this book and loved that there was a female protagonist. If you like Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels, I think you'd like the Carolina Slade novels. This is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the books to come.
Sort of a police procedural but with agriculture. Clark makes this field interesting and exposes a side of our world I didn't know existed.
I really enjoyed this book and loved that there was a female protagonist. If you like Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels, I think you'd like the Carolina Slade novels. This is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the books to come.
Sort of a police procedural but with agriculture. Clark makes this field interesting and exposes a side of our world I didn't know existed.
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
This is an easy read(I read it in 2 days). Carolina Slade is a US Dept of Agriculture loan office manager, in Charleston County, South Carolina. She is holding down a full time job, parenting two children and married to a verbally abusive husband. She is offered a bribe by a farmer having difficulty making his payments. She notifies her superiors and soon two agents arrive to investigate. She realizes that she could be in danger once the farmer suspects that she informed on him.
In addition, she is romantically attracted to one of the two agents, Wayne Largo. I like the author's descriptions: Jesse Rawlings, bribe offering farmer: "Here stood a comedy of errors in fashion. He usually traipsed into the office in fresh denim overalls, a John Deere cap and a tan and black hounds tooth sport coat he'd inherited from his daddy." I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
In addition, she is romantically attracted to one of the two agents, Wayne Largo. I like the author's descriptions: Jesse Rawlings, bribe offering farmer: "Here stood a comedy of errors in fashion. He usually traipsed into the office in fresh denim overalls, a John Deere cap and a tan and black hounds tooth sport coat he'd inherited from his daddy." I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
betsycrawford's review against another edition
5.0
I was thrilled to find a new mystery series that is actually BETTER than some of my old favorites. Main character Carolina Slade is tough, but she’s someone you can identify with because she’s also a devoted mother and daughter. I love her “edginess” and grit. This is a series I am very excited to jump into!
sheepdoc's review against another edition
4.0
This was interesting since I have a similar (but less exciting) job with the USDA too. Otherwise, typical romance-y mystery. Protagonist had moments of air-headedness I wasn't crazy about.
brokensporty's review against another edition
5.0
Southern Mystery with Agricultural Flair
C. Hope Clark's debut novel relies heavily on her agricultural background without boring the reader with industry specific jargon and events. Clark knows this business, but doesn't let it overwhelm the novel. The story is well-written with some action, some romance, family issues, etc. It has a little bit of everything. It keeps a good pace and nothing about the plot twists is obvious too soon.
The characters are interesting and so well developed that they feel like family and friends. I feel like I could sit down to dinner with Slade and her family. Without giving anything away, I can say that Slade is a very polarizing character. You want to cry with her tragedies. You want to cheer her success on. On the flip-side, you also want to slap her and ask her what she is thinking sometime. She reminds me of my cousin who keeps making bad decisions in spite of previous bad results. I will keep coming back to Slade (just like my cousin) hoping she will make a better decision next time.
C. Hope Clark's debut novel relies heavily on her agricultural background without boring the reader with industry specific jargon and events. Clark knows this business, but doesn't let it overwhelm the novel. The story is well-written with some action, some romance, family issues, etc. It has a little bit of everything. It keeps a good pace and nothing about the plot twists is obvious too soon.
The characters are interesting and so well developed that they feel like family and friends. I feel like I could sit down to dinner with Slade and her family. Without giving anything away, I can say that Slade is a very polarizing character. You want to cry with her tragedies. You want to cheer her success on. On the flip-side, you also want to slap her and ask her what she is thinking sometime. She reminds me of my cousin who keeps making bad decisions in spite of previous bad results. I will keep coming back to Slade (just like my cousin) hoping she will make a better decision next time.
gmclaughlin's review against another edition
2.0
Hope Clark really inspires me and while I didn't think this was a bad book I just didn't love it. I will say the ending was somewhat of a surprise but I had a hard time keeping up with many of the characters. It is a great summer/beach read and I will read her next book when it comes out.
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