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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
This started strong, but it really started unraveling as it built. There were far too many crazy plots and schemes trying to get hooked together into one big messy conspiracy, plus all the superfluous details that felt like the author showing off all her research on Iowa. And then the poisonous snake as one of many deus ex machina? Come on already. It was just ridiculous and tied up too prettily to be remotely believable.
a rly good and engaging murder mystery, love the intense iowa representation, but you can definitely tell it’s written by a British person not in Iowa lol
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
When newly promoted Head of Investigations of the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Riley Fisher, is called to a grisly murder scene, she’s shocked to discover she knows the victim. Chloe Miller and Riley used to be best friends at school. Until everything changed. Knowing that revealing her connection to the victim will have her removed from the case, Riley decides to down play her history with Chloe. When a second brutalised body is discovered, Riley knows that the small, Midwest town she grew up in has a sadistic killer on their hands. And it’s down to Riley to find them…
The Fields is a beautifully written, slow build police procedural featuring an intriguing lead protagonist in Sergeant Riley Fisher. I thoroughly enjoyed the small town, midwest setting with its claustrophobic feel where everyone knows your business whether you like it or not. I thought setting the book amongst a farming community where corn is life was a great choice and something I don’t remember seeing before in a crime fiction novel. When the mangled body of Chloe Miller is found in a field owned by a family-run farming cooperative, suspicion immediately falls on Chloe’s husband, James, who does very little to convince investigators of his innocence. But when the discovery of a second body is made, the investigating team need to cast their net wider. Particularly as Governor Bill Hamilton, petitioning for re-election, personally requests James is left in peace. This is a complex murder mystery with many intricate threads running throughout its pages but it’s all done so well and wrapped up skilfully.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Fields is a well-written, compelling police procedural with a twist. I enjoyed the author’s storytelling, I thought the characterisation was excellent and the setting was highly atmospheric and drawn in such a way to make it incredibly vivid. Riley Fisher is a character I am looking forward to seeing more of. I believe the second book in the series is being published in the UK in February so that’s something to look forward to. Riley’s own traumatic past plays a pivotal role in this novel showing the extreme emotional pressures she is under to solve this case. Not helped by her immature adult brother who seems to get himself in serious trouble more often than not. Riley really has an awful lot on her plate and I’m keen to see how the events of this book mould and shape the character further. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Fields with its intriguing slow build storyline, multiple interwoven threads and different backdrop. Recommended.
When newly promoted Head of Investigations of the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Riley Fisher, is called to a grisly murder scene, she’s shocked to discover she knows the victim. Chloe Miller and Riley used to be best friends at school. Until everything changed. Knowing that revealing her connection to the victim will have her removed from the case, Riley decides to down play her history with Chloe. When a second brutalised body is discovered, Riley knows that the small, Midwest town she grew up in has a sadistic killer on their hands. And it’s down to Riley to find them…
The Fields is a beautifully written, slow build police procedural featuring an intriguing lead protagonist in Sergeant Riley Fisher. I thoroughly enjoyed the small town, midwest setting with its claustrophobic feel where everyone knows your business whether you like it or not. I thought setting the book amongst a farming community where corn is life was a great choice and something I don’t remember seeing before in a crime fiction novel. When the mangled body of Chloe Miller is found in a field owned by a family-run farming cooperative, suspicion immediately falls on Chloe’s husband, James, who does very little to convince investigators of his innocence. But when the discovery of a second body is made, the investigating team need to cast their net wider. Particularly as Governor Bill Hamilton, petitioning for re-election, personally requests James is left in peace. This is a complex murder mystery with many intricate threads running throughout its pages but it’s all done so well and wrapped up skilfully.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Fields is a well-written, compelling police procedural with a twist. I enjoyed the author’s storytelling, I thought the characterisation was excellent and the setting was highly atmospheric and drawn in such a way to make it incredibly vivid. Riley Fisher is a character I am looking forward to seeing more of. I believe the second book in the series is being published in the UK in February so that’s something to look forward to. Riley’s own traumatic past plays a pivotal role in this novel showing the extreme emotional pressures she is under to solve this case. Not helped by her immature adult brother who seems to get himself in serious trouble more often than not. Riley really has an awful lot on her plate and I’m keen to see how the events of this book mould and shape the character further. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Fields with its intriguing slow build storyline, multiple interwoven threads and different backdrop. Recommended.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
This book had pretty strong "eh (shoulder shrug)" vibes. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't care about anyone, and felt like there were too many characters for me to keep track of them all. Also, the way the chapters were divided made it nearly impossible to keep things straight with the audio book.
A little far fetched, but so well written. I especially iiked the spotlight on Big Ag and it's seedy underbelly. Oh and politicians too!
British author writes a dark mystery about Iowa cornfields. Hmm. Well, Ms. Young did a pretty good job of describing the farm industry of the Midwest. This is about the destruction of family farms to feed corporate greed.
A little puzzled as to why the author would want to tackle this topic and location. All the descriptions of small towns disintegrating, employment problems, rural police practices, and more seem right on target. Sergeant Riley must tackle job sexism, a brother with drug abuse and custody problems, and mainly a tragic memory that rises to the surface when an old friend is murdered. It is Riley's case to solve.
Oh, but then it just gets a bit weird. Politicians behave badly. Ecoterrorism is interested. No spoilers here beyond corn that makes one crave meat???
Good overall with some fine characters. Plot needed to be tightened up. Verdict is out on future reads.
A little puzzled as to why the author would want to tackle this topic and location. All the descriptions of small towns disintegrating, employment problems, rural police practices, and more seem right on target. Sergeant Riley must tackle job sexism, a brother with drug abuse and custody problems, and mainly a tragic memory that rises to the surface when an old friend is murdered. It is Riley's case to solve.
Oh, but then it just gets a bit weird. Politicians behave badly. Ecoterrorism is interested. No spoilers here beyond corn that makes one crave meat???
Good overall with some fine characters. Plot needed to be tightened up. Verdict is out on future reads.
Rough start that took me a little while to get into. Overall a decent read though. Small town drama to the extreme.
DNF 45%
This was way too long, characters were confusing, and it just didn’t hold my interest.
This was way too long, characters were confusing, and it just didn’t hold my interest.