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lethaldose's review against another edition
4.0
This is really where the series starts finding its feet. The characters are great as always, the story is compelling from the very beginning. And most importantly we start developing and adding the secondary characters that make this series one of my favorites.
As always I find the plot to be great and here is no exception, although I was kind of surprised the election didn't encompass the entire book, I kind of like that twist on what I was expecting of the plot. And here is the strange thing about this series. I love the politics, I love the political games Joanna has to navigate and I love the administrative issues she has to deal with, it is truly what hooked me with this series, and it starts to really emerge here.
The only complaint I have with this book is the length is somewhat padded. Now fortunately here that padding comes early in the book, the books spends way too much time with Harold Patterson, and other side characters early on. The story you get from most of them is interesting, and it never strays from the plot too far, but alot of it feels unnecessary and like it is simply there to boost the word count of what would have been a very short book.
Other than the small gripe I love this book, I love these characters and can't wait for more
As always I find the plot to be great and here is no exception, although I was kind of surprised the election didn't encompass the entire book, I kind of like that twist on what I was expecting of the plot. And here is the strange thing about this series. I love the politics, I love the political games Joanna has to navigate and I love the administrative issues she has to deal with, it is truly what hooked me with this series, and it starts to really emerge here.
The only complaint I have with this book is the length is somewhat padded. Now fortunately here that padding comes early in the book, the books spends way too much time with Harold Patterson, and other side characters early on. The story you get from most of them is interesting, and it never strays from the plot too far, but alot of it feels unnecessary and like it is simply there to boost the word count of what would have been a very short book.
Other than the small gripe I love this book, I love these characters and can't wait for more
javamamanc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
3.0
This was a respectable follow up to the first in the series, Desert Heat. Having Joanna as the county sheriff seems a little weird, given she has no previous experience, but the author takes that into account as she stumbles her way through her first few days on the job. I'm not sure if it's the age of this novel, or the fact that I'm jaded, or have read way too many of these, but I figured out the twist ending rather early on in the novel. Yuri was quite obviously the red herring here, and I was waiting to see how long it would take for Joanna and the rest of the department to put the rest of the pieces together.
The one thing that does drive me nuts with these kinds of books is how long conversations take, and how slowly people talk. For instance, Linda came to Joanna to tell her something VERY important, and strings out the conversation for *ages* until she finally spits out what she wants to say. And this is every conversation. Stop the padding. People don't talk like this.
This story is also a cautionary tale of keeping family secrets too close to the chest, and getting people help when trauma occurs instead of just burying it. Had everyone just talked about things like normal people, and everyone gotten some much needed therapy, a lot of the story's heartache could have been avoided.
On the whole, I'm enjoying the characters and the setting, and it will be interested to see how the stories go in the future now that Joanna is settled in her job as sheriff, and she's got a good group of staff around her that want to help the department succeed. I'll definitely be continuing on with the series.
The one thing that does drive me nuts with these kinds of books is how long conversations take, and how slowly people talk. For instance, Linda came to Joanna to tell her something VERY important, and strings out the conversation for *ages* until she finally spits out what she wants to say. And this is every conversation. Stop the padding. People don't talk like this.
This story is also a cautionary tale of keeping family secrets too close to the chest, and getting people help when trauma occurs instead of just burying it. Had everyone just talked about things like normal people, and everyone gotten some much needed therapy, a lot of the story's heartache could have been avoided.
On the whole, I'm enjoying the characters and the setting, and it will be interested to see how the stories go in the future now that Joanna is settled in her job as sheriff, and she's got a good group of staff around her that want to help the department succeed. I'll definitely be continuing on with the series.
thriller_chick's review
2.0
Kind of disappointed in this one. The first book in this series was a quick good read that had my attention from the start. This one was so slow, I had to push myself to finish it. I do plan to try other books by this author but I am done with this series.
loribelle3's review against another edition
I remember this book taking me forever to get into. I think once it started it was ok....