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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Hunt and Hide
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook (Dec. 1, 2022) released in advance of the official Thomas & Mercer paperback/Kindle/audiobook (Jan. 1, 2023)
I choose Hide for my Amazon First Reads pick for December 2022. It was promoted as the 'Police Procedural' selection for the month and the atmospheric cover art drew my attention over the other offers. I saw that Tracy Clark was also the author of the private detective Cass Raines (4 books 2018-2021) series. The author and all of her books are Chicago centred, so that seemed a good indication of authenticity.
This was a fast-paced read with relatively short chapters (83 of them over 377 pages) which alternated between the POVs of the Chicago Police Dept and those of the suspects. Harriet Foster is the lead character and she is the newly transferred detective in the homicide unit of her precinct. She is back from a personal leave from dealing with the aftermath of a former partner's suicide in her previous precinct which had not been foreseen. She carries that demon and also one caused by the earlier death of her own child due to robbery violence. Possibly as a sort of initiation, she is first partnered with the unit's dinosaur detective, and they clash and disagree on techniques and suspects almost immediately.
Chicago's Riverwalk area seen at night. Image sourced from Attractions of America.
Foster's first case with her new unit is a savage knife murder of a young woman whose body is left by Chicago's Riverwalk area. The brutal slaying indicates a Jack-the-Ripper level of psychopathy. Further killings are to follow making it a serial killer case in which the entire homicide unit eventually takes part. The suspect trail begins with an unconscious man found near the scene with a single blood smear on their clothing. Without the detectives initially being aware of them, there are interspersed chapters of Amelia and Bodie Morgan, an artist sister and her troubled stalker brother, the latter recently released from psychiatric care. It is gradually revealed that the Morgans have a dark family past and also that Bodie's psychiatrist is a woman with a secret history who is seeking a high profile psychopath on which to base her next book in order to 'get back in the limelight.' How far might she go to help 'create' that psychopath?
Both the police and suspect sides of this procedural are well drawn and the variety of suspects kept me guessing throughout. Although it initially seemed that the tortured and angsty cop stereotypes might get overplayed, those aspects did not play a large part and Harriet Foster comes across as a realistic character and each of the other detectives in the unit played a solid role with even the dinosaur cop showing some dedication. I was quite satisfied with this month's Amazon First Read.
Trivia and Links
Hide is the first book of a new Detective Harriet Foster series from author Tracy Clark. The second book in the series, titled [b:Fall|63045698|Fall (Detective Harriet Foster #2)|Tracy Clark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668083035l/63045698._SY75_.jpg|98911489], is already planned for publication December 5, 2023.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook (Dec. 1, 2022) released in advance of the official Thomas & Mercer paperback/Kindle/audiobook (Jan. 1, 2023)
I choose Hide for my Amazon First Reads pick for December 2022. It was promoted as the 'Police Procedural' selection for the month and the atmospheric cover art drew my attention over the other offers. I saw that Tracy Clark was also the author of the private detective Cass Raines (4 books 2018-2021) series. The author and all of her books are Chicago centred, so that seemed a good indication of authenticity.
This was a fast-paced read with relatively short chapters (83 of them over 377 pages) which alternated between the POVs of the Chicago Police Dept and those of the suspects. Harriet Foster is the lead character and she is the newly transferred detective in the homicide unit of her precinct. She is back from a personal leave from dealing with the aftermath of a former partner's suicide in her previous precinct which had not been foreseen. She carries that demon and also one caused by the earlier death of her own child due to robbery violence. Possibly as a sort of initiation, she is first partnered with the unit's dinosaur detective, and they clash and disagree on techniques and suspects almost immediately.
Chicago's Riverwalk area seen at night. Image sourced from Attractions of America.
Foster's first case with her new unit is a savage knife murder of a young woman whose body is left by Chicago's Riverwalk area. The brutal slaying indicates a Jack-the-Ripper level of psychopathy. Further killings are to follow making it a serial killer case in which the entire homicide unit eventually takes part. The suspect trail begins with an unconscious man found near the scene with a single blood smear on their clothing. Without the detectives initially being aware of them, there are interspersed chapters of Amelia and Bodie Morgan, an artist sister and her troubled stalker brother, the latter recently released from psychiatric care. It is gradually revealed that the Morgans have a dark family past and also that Bodie's psychiatrist is a woman with a secret history who is seeking a high profile psychopath on which to base her next book in order to 'get back in the limelight.' How far might she go to help 'create' that psychopath?
Both the police and suspect sides of this procedural are well drawn and the variety of suspects kept me guessing throughout. Although it initially seemed that the tortured and angsty cop stereotypes might get overplayed, those aspects did not play a large part and Harriet Foster comes across as a realistic character and each of the other detectives in the unit played a solid role with even the dinosaur cop showing some dedication. I was quite satisfied with this month's Amazon First Read.
Trivia and Links
Hide is the first book of a new Detective Harriet Foster series from author Tracy Clark. The second book in the series, titled [b:Fall|63045698|Fall (Detective Harriet Foster #2)|Tracy Clark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668083035l/63045698._SY75_.jpg|98911489], is already planned for publication December 5, 2023.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
The author did a great job creating characters and giving them some depth. My only critique though would be a few of the characters were a little too stock in the law enforcement world. I would have given it 5 stars but the ending didn't fully work for me.
Young red-headed women are being murdered in Chicago; the killer leaving lipstick marks on their wrists and ankles. Harriet Foster, just returning to work after her partner's suicide, is assigned the case.
Tracy Clark is a new author for me - I will be reading more. Interesting story, with some interesting and downright strange characters - not so strange as to be unbelievable, but deliciously eccentric to downright insane. Well written, the plot holds the reader's interest through the investigation - and who is the murderer - there are so many possibilities. Looking forward to #2 in this series.
Tracy Clark is a new author for me - I will be reading more. Interesting story, with some interesting and downright strange characters - not so strange as to be unbelievable, but deliciously eccentric to downright insane. Well written, the plot holds the reader's interest through the investigation - and who is the murderer - there are so many possibilities. Looking forward to #2 in this series.
I read this book for a book discussion at my local library. I started reading the print book because it was not available on Libby or Hoopla. I almost just skipped this month's discussion, but instead, I paid for a Kindle copy. The story was definitely worth paying for.
The story revolves mainly around Harriet Foster, a Chicago detective who had just returned to work after a leave of absence while she recovered from her partner's suicide. This book gets bonus points for being set in Chicago and having a realistic feel for the city (I live near Chicago).
On her first day back, a body is found on the Riverwalk which leads to the pursuit of a serial killer. The story has a duel storyline as we follow Harriet's professional and personal life, plus the story of the prime suspect and his family. Even with all of the characters - a police station naturally leads to many auxiliary characters - the story is very well organized and it's easy to keep track of who is who. Also, the story hits the sweet spot for detective stories with enough description to make it realistic and enough suspense to hold your interest but not to gory.
The story revolves mainly around Harriet Foster, a Chicago detective who had just returned to work after a leave of absence while she recovered from her partner's suicide. This book gets bonus points for being set in Chicago and having a realistic feel for the city (I live near Chicago).
On her first day back, a body is found on the Riverwalk which leads to the pursuit of a serial killer. The story has a duel storyline as we follow Harriet's professional and personal life, plus the story of the prime suspect and his family. Even with all of the characters - a police station naturally leads to many auxiliary characters - the story is very well organized and it's easy to keep track of who is who. Also, the story hits the sweet spot for detective stories with enough description to make it realistic and enough suspense to hold your interest but not to gory.
Phenomenal read. I really enjoyed how the characters came together in this, and the pacing.
I found the beginning really grounded Harriet Foster, and I really connected with her as a character. I also loved the interaction she had with Lonergan.
I'm looking forward to the next story here and hoping Harriet crosses paths with a particular private investigator named Cassandra Raine's
I found the beginning really grounded Harriet Foster, and I really connected with her as a character. I also loved the interaction she had with Lonergan.
I'm looking forward to the next story here and hoping Harriet crosses paths with a particular private investigator named Cassandra Raine's
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow what a great book! I figured out who the murder was early on but the way it unfolded was so good. Love a good mystery.
This was my first book by Tracy Clark, and now I need to go back and read her earlier series - this was great!
Harriet Foster is a Black homicide detective in Chicago. She's recently returned to active duty after losing her partner and is immediately pulled into a twisted case involving a serial killer.
I LOVED Harriet and her backstory and cannot wait to see what happens next.
* thanks to Amazon Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. Hide is out now.
Harriet Foster is a Black homicide detective in Chicago. She's recently returned to active duty after losing her partner and is immediately pulled into a twisted case involving a serial killer.
I LOVED Harriet and her backstory and cannot wait to see what happens next.
* thanks to Amazon Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. Hide is out now.
Good easy read. some twists and surprises but felt like the ending was anti-climactic
Detective Harriet Foster has suffered a couple set backs; the loss of her young son and her trusted partner. Now starting over, she finds herself with a new partner, in a new station.
It doesn’t take long for dead bodies to start piling up and soon there are fingers being pointed at Am, Bodie, Silva, Tom… who could it be and will Harriet and Li find out who it is before they are next in line?
This book was a quick read with a good plot line. Some of it was easy to guess what would happen but the twists were good and kept you reading on. Next book in December!
It doesn’t take long for dead bodies to start piling up and soon there are fingers being pointed at Am, Bodie, Silva, Tom… who could it be and will Harriet and Li find out who it is before they are next in line?
This book was a quick read with a good plot line. Some of it was easy to guess what would happen but the twists were good and kept you reading on. Next book in December!