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michellehenriereads's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, my goodness! This book caught me from the very beginning.
I picked up this ARC, and it's the first I've read in the series. The good news is that it's written so well, I understood everything without having read the others first. Now, I want to go back and read more!
This is such an interesting mystery. It's not exactly cozy but it's certainly not hard boiled. The characters actually talk to each other. No one is a Sherlock. And it's not a grandma in curlers solving the crime. (Mind you I love those other types of mysteries too.) It's the perfect blend of small town mystery, a competent police force, and savvy citizens interested in solving a breech of justice and exposing the truth.
The character have to work to piece and stitch the clues together, figuring out what to discard. I was sifting through everything from page one trying to figure out the big question in a mystery: whodunnit?
I love how this story feels so realistic. The characters and their relationships feel like actual people. Messy, possible gas lighting, loving, angry, angsty, lying, miscommunication, and every other human emotion. Sometimes, I was even angry at characters and talking to them to shape up or warning them not to do anything stupid.
And the end? Oh—so satisfying!
Did I solve it in advance? Not too early, but I figured it out right when the author wanted me to. She's a master at devising a mystery.
I highly recommend this book (and the author).
Happy reading!
I picked up this ARC, and it's the first I've read in the series. The good news is that it's written so well, I understood everything without having read the others first. Now, I want to go back and read more!
This is such an interesting mystery. It's not exactly cozy but it's certainly not hard boiled. The characters actually talk to each other. No one is a Sherlock. And it's not a grandma in curlers solving the crime. (Mind you I love those other types of mysteries too.) It's the perfect blend of small town mystery, a competent police force, and savvy citizens interested in solving a breech of justice and exposing the truth.
The character have to work to piece and stitch the clues together, figuring out what to discard. I was sifting through everything from page one trying to figure out the big question in a mystery: whodunnit?
I love how this story feels so realistic. The characters and their relationships feel like actual people. Messy, possible gas lighting, loving, angry, angsty, lying, miscommunication, and every other human emotion. Sometimes, I was even angry at characters and talking to them to shape up or warning them not to do anything stupid.
And the end? Oh—so satisfying!
Did I solve it in advance? Not too early, but I figured it out right when the author wanted me to. She's a master at devising a mystery.
I highly recommend this book (and the author).
Happy reading!
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Bravo Stephanie Black, well played! What a rollercoaster ride! I love it when a mystery keeps me guessing. Usually, I’m pretty good at figuring out whodunit before the end. Not this story! This mystery was so full of twists and turns and just when I thought I’d figured it out, there was a new clue. Not only was the mystery fabulous, but I loved the relationships, the humor, and the overall themes. I also enjoyed the nods to one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. So well done!
Natalie Marsh is a psychologist who frequently finds herself in the middle of police investigations. Now married, she and her husband have a countdown to see how long they can go without a police entanglement. Needless to say, it’s not long. While attending a benefit for the women’s shelter owned by her intern’s father, Natalie and Gideon are asked to keep an eye on two young men. When the night ends in disaster, Natalie once again finds herself involved in a mystery.
Detective Bartholomew’s sister Jenna is visiting for the summer and attends the same benefit. There she meets Rowan, a handsome young English major, and there’s an instant attraction between them. When Rowan is confronted by a cop, things quickly go downhill.
Rowan has a reason to mistrust the police. His brother Brett was accused of murdering his wife, but he believes he was framed by a cop. As Rowan and Jenna work to clear Brett’s name, they wind up in unimaginable trouble. When someone ends up dead, Rowan is the first to be blamed, but is he guilty or a victim? Natalie of course is right in the middle of it trying to determine fact from fiction and putting her own life in danger.
Murder, feuds, young love, an angry mother, a meddling neighbor, a questionable cop, and a host of other suspects make this story so hard to put down. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a must read for mystery lovers. While it’s the fifth book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Those familiar with the series will especially love this. It’s a cozy clean mystery akin to an Agatha Christie or Mary Higgins Clark novel. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
Natalie Marsh is a psychologist who frequently finds herself in the middle of police investigations. Now married, she and her husband have a countdown to see how long they can go without a police entanglement. Needless to say, it’s not long. While attending a benefit for the women’s shelter owned by her intern’s father, Natalie and Gideon are asked to keep an eye on two young men. When the night ends in disaster, Natalie once again finds herself involved in a mystery.
Detective Bartholomew’s sister Jenna is visiting for the summer and attends the same benefit. There she meets Rowan, a handsome young English major, and there’s an instant attraction between them. When Rowan is confronted by a cop, things quickly go downhill.
Rowan has a reason to mistrust the police. His brother Brett was accused of murdering his wife, but he believes he was framed by a cop. As Rowan and Jenna work to clear Brett’s name, they wind up in unimaginable trouble. When someone ends up dead, Rowan is the first to be blamed, but is he guilty or a victim? Natalie of course is right in the middle of it trying to determine fact from fiction and putting her own life in danger.
Murder, feuds, young love, an angry mother, a meddling neighbor, a questionable cop, and a host of other suspects make this story so hard to put down. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a must read for mystery lovers. While it’s the fifth book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Those familiar with the series will especially love this. It’s a cozy clean mystery akin to an Agatha Christie or Mary Higgins Clark novel. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
hmurff's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
3/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Stephanie Black.
This is book 5 in a series; however you do not have to read each book in the series for this book to make sense. I did not read every book in this series.
The characters in this book are well written. I was a little confused at first because I am not used to the third-person point of view with the view point changing between many characters.
Even though the series is called Natalie Marsh, the story does not center or revolve around her. The story revolves around a man named Rowan, who believes his brother was wrongly convicted of murder. Natalie Marsh becomes involved and realizes how complicated matters truly are.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Stephanie Black.
This is book 5 in a series; however you do not have to read each book in the series for this book to make sense. I did not read every book in this series.
The characters in this book are well written. I was a little confused at first because I am not used to the third-person point of view with the view point changing between many characters.
Even though the series is called Natalie Marsh, the story does not center or revolve around her. The story revolves around a man named Rowan, who believes his brother was wrongly convicted of murder. Natalie Marsh becomes involved and realizes how complicated matters truly are.
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