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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong return for this series. Loved reuniting with these characters who are so complex and enjoyable to spend time with. I enjoyed the layered historical mysteries from the past which informed the present day case. I do think there's a bit of fudged math to allow Russ to have been in the Vietnam War and only in his 50s in present day but mystery series often have to squint when they link characters to historical events. The ending of this one clearly sets up multiple strands for future books so hopefully a new one is coming sooner rather than later!
It was a good read with two exceptions. The switching back and forth was a major distraction for me in this book. Maybe because the switches were quick and short. It made keeping track of the characters difficult. Then the ending was not satisfactory. The crime was solved, but many other things were at loose ends and you were even left with a cliffhanger. Since it was 8 years between the last books, that's a long time to wait for resolution.
I am very grateful that I received an advance reader's copy of this title from BookishFirst.
I have been waiting patiently for this book for the past six years or so. "Patiently" only because I knew something of the personal challenges the author, Julia Spencer-Fleming was facing during that time period. It also gave me a reason to go back and read the entire series from beginning to end once I knew the new book was on it's way. In any case, "Hid From Our Eyes" was worth the wait.
Clare and Russ are one of my very favorite fictional couples. What makes them and the series as a whole so enjoyable is that they are so very real. They have flaws both in their characters and in their relationship that makes them so very relatable. Julia Spencer-Fleming's gift for finely drawn characters extends beyond her main characters to all of the secondary characters as well so that I always have a sense that I am reading about real people. The plot lines of "Hid From Our Eyes" enlarge on Russ's history and provide some very interesting backstory for some relationships (like Russ's mom and the former police chief) that were only hinted at in previous books. And if I wasn't already invested in this series, needing to know what Kevin is up to and when/if he and Haley will mend their relationship would definitely keep me coming back for more!
I have been waiting patiently for this book for the past six years or so. "Patiently" only because I knew something of the personal challenges the author, Julia Spencer-Fleming was facing during that time period. It also gave me a reason to go back and read the entire series from beginning to end once I knew the new book was on it's way. In any case, "Hid From Our Eyes" was worth the wait.
Clare and Russ are one of my very favorite fictional couples. What makes them and the series as a whole so enjoyable is that they are so very real. They have flaws both in their characters and in their relationship that makes them so very relatable. Julia Spencer-Fleming's gift for finely drawn characters extends beyond her main characters to all of the secondary characters as well so that I always have a sense that I am reading about real people. The plot lines of "Hid From Our Eyes" enlarge on Russ's history and provide some very interesting backstory for some relationships (like Russ's mom and the former police chief) that were only hinted at in previous books. And if I wasn't already invested in this series, needing to know what Kevin is up to and when/if he and Haley will mend their relationship would definitely keep me coming back for more!
This is my first book by this author, Julia Spencer-Fleming and won’t be my last. Although it’s a series this was very good alone. I have a couple of the others but haven’t read them as of yet. I fully intend to though.
This book was great from the very first page. It held my interest all the way but I have to say I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending. Though now that I know it’s part of a series of books that is ok because I’m sure my question of what happened to a certain person will be answered. It’s not exactly a cliffhanger but for me was just a very important part that I want to know about. I look forward to the next book for sure now.
The characters are all likable. There is a lot of mystery in this book. It’s not so much of a thriller as a mystery. A whodunnit book. From 1952, 1972 and present, which according to my math seems to be in the early 2000s. There are three murders. One in each year stated and three investigations. The early years, 1952 and 1972 go unsolved as there was not as many ways of finding out certain things in those years. All three murders are carried out the same way so it looks like it would be the same person doing them all. Or possibly a copycat. That remains to be seen when you read this book for yourself.
This book has many twists to it. Lots of things to make you wonder who is guilty. You’ll meet family members who truly love each other so much and others briefly who are not so close. Russ Van Alstyne and Clare Fergusson are married and very much in love. They have an infant son who they love beyond anything else. Clare is a clergy and Russ the police chief. Russ is investigating the latest murder. A young woman in her early twenties. No ID, no purse, shoes. She’s left in the road just like the previous woman. These deaths are years apart but done exactly the same way. Russ will stop at nothing to find justice no only for this death/murder but for the other two also.
This book was well written. It flows between the different time frames great. You won’t get lost or be wondering what is going on. It’s done perfectly. The descriptions are great and make you feel like you are part of the story. You will feel emotions in many parts of the story and root for love in many. The thoughts of a killer on the loose will make you feel fear.
I enjoy this book very much. It held my attention all the way through and I look forward to reading more by this author. I think she is a very good author.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Minotaur Books, #Julia Sencer-Fleming for the ARC in exchange for my complete and honest review.
I gave it 4 stars and highly recommend it to others.
This book was great from the very first page. It held my interest all the way but I have to say I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending. Though now that I know it’s part of a series of books that is ok because I’m sure my question of what happened to a certain person will be answered. It’s not exactly a cliffhanger but for me was just a very important part that I want to know about. I look forward to the next book for sure now.
The characters are all likable. There is a lot of mystery in this book. It’s not so much of a thriller as a mystery. A whodunnit book. From 1952, 1972 and present, which according to my math seems to be in the early 2000s. There are three murders. One in each year stated and three investigations. The early years, 1952 and 1972 go unsolved as there was not as many ways of finding out certain things in those years. All three murders are carried out the same way so it looks like it would be the same person doing them all. Or possibly a copycat. That remains to be seen when you read this book for yourself.
This book has many twists to it. Lots of things to make you wonder who is guilty. You’ll meet family members who truly love each other so much and others briefly who are not so close. Russ Van Alstyne and Clare Fergusson are married and very much in love. They have an infant son who they love beyond anything else. Clare is a clergy and Russ the police chief. Russ is investigating the latest murder. A young woman in her early twenties. No ID, no purse, shoes. She’s left in the road just like the previous woman. These deaths are years apart but done exactly the same way. Russ will stop at nothing to find justice no only for this death/murder but for the other two also.
This book was well written. It flows between the different time frames great. You won’t get lost or be wondering what is going on. It’s done perfectly. The descriptions are great and make you feel like you are part of the story. You will feel emotions in many parts of the story and root for love in many. The thoughts of a killer on the loose will make you feel fear.
I enjoy this book very much. It held my attention all the way through and I look forward to reading more by this author. I think she is a very good author.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Minotaur Books, #Julia Sencer-Fleming for the ARC in exchange for my complete and honest review.
I gave it 4 stars and highly recommend it to others.
This is the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I loved it.
It's a gripping and entertaining read, a solid mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I loved the well crafted plot, the fleshed out and interesting characters and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a gripping and entertaining read, a solid mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I loved the well crafted plot, the fleshed out and interesting characters and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for a free arc of this title for review.
Hid From Our Eyes, the 9th in Julia Spencer-Fleming's series, was my introduction to the series. The police have found a young woman dead, in the same spot where a woman was found decades prior.
Minor plots also concern the town's vote to possibly defund the police force, as well as a civil case (and love interest?) involving one of the current officers. Oh, and there's also Claire's (the Police Chief's wife/town reverend) drug/alcohol addiction and trouble managing being a working mom.
This is a tough one to review, because I feel like what makes this book good - it's well-detailed! - also took away from it at times. Perhaps you'd have less of this feeling, had you read the first eight books in the series first? While the mystery itself is a stand-alone and resolved by the end of the book, the minor parts generally aren't - especially one that ends in a cliffhanger.
But the good news is that after finishing, I was definitely interested in trying out some of the earlier books in the series. I'd recommend this one to those who enjoy Louise Penny or other mysteries that place you in a town/introduce the reader to more than just the case at hand.
Content warnings:Discussion of dead bodies, suicide, discussion of drug/alcohol addiction, panic attack, murder
Hid From Our Eyes, the 9th in Julia Spencer-Fleming's series, was my introduction to the series. The police have found a young woman dead, in the same spot where a woman was found decades prior.
Minor plots also concern the town's vote to possibly defund the police force, as well as a civil case (and love interest?) involving one of the current officers. Oh, and there's also Claire's (the Police Chief's wife/town reverend) drug/alcohol addiction and trouble managing being a working mom.
This is a tough one to review, because I feel like what makes this book good - it's well-detailed! - also took away from it at times. Perhaps you'd have less of this feeling, had you read the first eight books in the series first? While the mystery itself is a stand-alone and resolved by the end of the book, the minor parts generally aren't - especially one that ends in a cliffhanger.
But the good news is that after finishing, I was definitely interested in trying out some of the earlier books in the series. I'd recommend this one to those who enjoy Louise Penny or other mysteries that place you in a town/introduce the reader to more than just the case at hand.
Content warnings:
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Cozy mystery (with a dash of modern day issues) from a series I’ve never read before. Easy to jump in and this one had me guessing until about 75% into the book, and then I was ready for it to wrap up. Could have been faster paced but all in all, a fun read!