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namitakhanna's review against another edition
4.0
Sam Shephard just has a few weeks left before she goes on maternity leave but then the brutal murder of a pregnant woman shocks everyone in Dunedin. Nobody is safe and even though Sam is working on the sidelines , she cant help take this case personally.
Expectant is the fifth in the Sam Shepard police procedural series but my first and can be read as a stand alone. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading the series.
I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers Request Group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
Expectant is the fifth in the Sam Shepard police procedural series but my first and can be read as a stand alone. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading the series.
I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers Request Group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
booksbybindu's review against another edition
5.0
‘Expectant’ is a triumphant return for the New Zealand Queen of Crime! This book is gripping to the extreme - I read it in one sitting and didn't move from the sofa until I read the final page! It is very emotive, honest, thought-provoking and full of heart and love. ‘Expectant’ raises the question of what a mother would do to protect their children and makes you measure where on your moral stance this issue would find the reader themselves. Obviously, we know taking a life takes it one step too far but it conjures an emotional response of reflection and consideration.
Sixteen-year-old Timi is out tagging with friends when he hears what he thinks is an animal in pain but what he finds is much worse. A woman lies in a back alley with her innards spilling out onto the cobbles, he calls for help but unfortunately she dies. The victim Aleisha has been ripped open and her baby has been taken. Sam Shepherd is being sidelined on the case as she is on ‘light duties’ due to her being about to take her maternity leave. However, due to her pregnancy, she finds herself drawn to the case and wants to help the family. Whilst looking at other examples of baby snatching she stumbles upon the link for this case and unwittingly put herself and her babies life at danger!
Expectant is how I am waiting for a new Sam Shepherd to be born into the world every year! Vanda is one of my go-to authors and one of the few times that I will contemplate rereading a book. I love this series as it is full of heart. Vanda has created a character in Sam Shepherd that I will always have lodged in my mind alongside oldies like Marple, Poirot, Logan, Laidlaw and Rebus. Plus, you get a food tour of Dunedin at the same time as a cracking crime book!
I had a visceral reaction to this book, it still makes me feel uncomfortable to think about even a few weeks after reading it. And yes it is probably because I am a woman and it contains the most horrific crime you could think about happening to someone who is bringing a life into the world. I can currently feel my womb clenching at the thought of it. Such a powerful and emotive subject has been handled with grace, control and empathy. Bravo!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Sixteen-year-old Timi is out tagging with friends when he hears what he thinks is an animal in pain but what he finds is much worse. A woman lies in a back alley with her innards spilling out onto the cobbles, he calls for help but unfortunately she dies. The victim Aleisha has been ripped open and her baby has been taken. Sam Shepherd is being sidelined on the case as she is on ‘light duties’ due to her being about to take her maternity leave. However, due to her pregnancy, she finds herself drawn to the case and wants to help the family. Whilst looking at other examples of baby snatching she stumbles upon the link for this case and unwittingly put herself and her babies life at danger!
Expectant is how I am waiting for a new Sam Shepherd to be born into the world every year! Vanda is one of my go-to authors and one of the few times that I will contemplate rereading a book. I love this series as it is full of heart. Vanda has created a character in Sam Shepherd that I will always have lodged in my mind alongside oldies like Marple, Poirot, Logan, Laidlaw and Rebus. Plus, you get a food tour of Dunedin at the same time as a cracking crime book!
I had a visceral reaction to this book, it still makes me feel uncomfortable to think about even a few weeks after reading it. And yes it is probably because I am a woman and it contains the most horrific crime you could think about happening to someone who is bringing a life into the world. I can currently feel my womb clenching at the thought of it. Such a powerful and emotive subject has been handled with grace, control and empathy. Bravo!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
kellyvandamme's review against another edition
5.0
Expectant is the fifth instalment in the Sam Shephard series and while I’m sure you can read it as a standalone and enjoy it, I’m equally sure you’ll enjoy it even more with prior knowledge. I’ve been with Sam from the start and it’s astonishing how much she’s grown. Regardless of personal growth, she’s still her impatient, sarcastic, sassy self and I love her for it.
Sam has been put through the ringer before, but, seriously, I had no idea Vanda Symon could be this cruel, having her heavily pregnant protagonist work a murder/kidnapping case, and not just any old murder/kidnapping case but one in which the expectant mother is killed during a C-section in an alley and the baby is kidnapped. It’s dramatic! It’s gruesome! It’s vicious! I loved it!
The stakes have never been this high, and I gobbled up all the tension and suspense. Despite a throbbing headache, I didn’t want to stop reading and I even caught myself trying to figure out what was going on and what possible motive the killer/kidnapper might have. Did I manage to figure it out? No, but despite not being obvious, it all made perfect sense, and I loved how it all came together in the end. Expectant is most definitely very cleverly plotted and if you manage to cotton on right from the start, you need to look into a career in policing, stat!
Expectant is another fantastic addition to a great series. It’s a thrilling and tense police procedural that grabs its reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s easily one of the more emotive instalments so far, due to the subject matter. And it’s quite simply impossible to not care about Sam, or this case, I was completely invested from the get-go. If you enjoy police procedurals and/or strong, determined and witty female lead characters with a strong moral compass, Expectant should be at the top of your wish list.
Sam has been put through the ringer before, but, seriously, I had no idea Vanda Symon could be this cruel, having her heavily pregnant protagonist work a murder/kidnapping case, and not just any old murder/kidnapping case but one in which the expectant mother is killed during a C-section in an alley and the baby is kidnapped. It’s dramatic! It’s gruesome! It’s vicious! I loved it!
The stakes have never been this high, and I gobbled up all the tension and suspense. Despite a throbbing headache, I didn’t want to stop reading and I even caught myself trying to figure out what was going on and what possible motive the killer/kidnapper might have. Did I manage to figure it out? No, but despite not being obvious, it all made perfect sense, and I loved how it all came together in the end. Expectant is most definitely very cleverly plotted and if you manage to cotton on right from the start, you need to look into a career in policing, stat!
Expectant is another fantastic addition to a great series. It’s a thrilling and tense police procedural that grabs its reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s easily one of the more emotive instalments so far, due to the subject matter. And it’s quite simply impossible to not care about Sam, or this case, I was completely invested from the get-go. If you enjoy police procedurals and/or strong, determined and witty female lead characters with a strong moral compass, Expectant should be at the top of your wish list.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
Sam Shephard is pregnant and, as she describes it, about to pop. It's her last two weeks of work when an horrendous case lands in the hands of the team, the brutal death of a pregnant woman and the kidnapping of the unborn baby. However, as she is pregnant, she is sidelined and given desk duties away from the action. This doesn't stop her doing all she can to help solve the crime.
For someone who is suppose to be desk bound she does a lot of out of the office work. But Sam has her own way of working and keeps things to herself most of the time. This of course leads to herself and her baby being put in extreme danger.
An enjoyable read and continuation of the series even though it's been ten years between the last two books. Worth reading.
For someone who is suppose to be desk bound she does a lot of out of the office work. But Sam has her own way of working and keeps things to herself most of the time. This of course leads to herself and her baby being put in extreme danger.
An enjoyable read and continuation of the series even though it's been ten years between the last two books. Worth reading.
aminakara's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a very good read.
It was well written and the story flowed at a good pace.
I liked how well the characters were written especially with Sam and her anxiety and fears in relation to her pregnancy. I thought that was really well portrayed. I liked both her and Paul as characters.
I do have to admit though, that some of the scientific bits possibly went over my head. I'd probably have to read it again to properly understand it.
I haven't read the previous books in the Sam Shephard series, but I might give them a go.
Thank you to The Book Club Reviewer Group for a copy of this one.
It was well written and the story flowed at a good pace.
I liked how well the characters were written especially with Sam and her anxiety and fears in relation to her pregnancy. I thought that was really well portrayed. I liked both her and Paul as characters.
I do have to admit though, that some of the scientific bits possibly went over my head. I'd probably have to read it again to properly understand it.
I haven't read the previous books in the Sam Shephard series, but I might give them a go.
Thank you to The Book Club Reviewer Group for a copy of this one.
frombethanysbookshelf's review
4.0
Detective Sam Shephard is back - but not for long, hopefully. She's spending her last few weeks at work getting ready and eagerly awaiting her maternity leave.
But then, the brutal murder of a pregnant woman sends shockwaves through Dunedin, and through Sam. As it becomes clearer that the culprit is growing more desperate and dangerous, they realise it's going to take something drastic to end their reign of terror. She might be on the side-lines, but she isn't going to let this go without a fight.
Soon it's obvious that nobody is safe, including Sam. She'll stop at nothing to put an end to this nightmare - but can she put herself and her pregnancy in the path of danger to make sure mothers and children are safe again? There might not be another option.
"The image of her last moments crept into my brain, playing like an old-school noir movie, and I could almost feel the trace of cold steel against my belly."
An explosive new thriller from the Queen of New Zealand Noir - Expectant is a dark and disturbing take of murder and mystery that cuts deep. Symons creates a nightmare in real life - one where the monsters of Sams own nightmares enter the real world and nobody can be trusted. It's cinematic, electrifying and painfully intense right up to the last few words.
If you haven't read any Sam Shephard novels before, don't worry! Her characterisation is so strong that you'll know her within minutes, and the story doesn't rely on you knowing her previous novels so it packs a strong punch even as a stand-alone. I'd definitely still recommend them, but here's a great place to jump in!
I couldn't help but immediately find a connection with Sam - she's frightened, not just for her but for the other mothers and children facing this nameless threat, but despite her fear she is fiercely loyal and determined to protect those in need. There's a vulnerability and authenticity to her that doesn't cancel out her bravery and boldness, but empowers it.
This reads a bit like a procedural, but with the high-octane action and intense atmosphere of a block-buster thriller. As we move along, the motivations of our villain are called into question and we're left not knowing who could do this or why. As the sheer and strange desperation of their actions reach a fever pitch, the only thing that's clear is this is personal, and they're closing in. But is that because Sam is catching up to them, or they're catching up to her?
Symons writing is always striking, smart and snappy - with short chapters that get the story moving quickly and keep the pace. But somehow, she always finds time to paint a detailed picture of our setting, transporting us to beautiful cities, stifling offices and terrifying lairs in painstaking clarity. When it comes to the most horrific of murder scenes we find ourselves at, Symons handles it well - they're graphic and disturbing so should be read with caution but never go too far and glorify the gorier side of crime.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, Expectant is "having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something good." - and you will definitely spend this story excitedly waiting for something to happen, but don't expect a clear-cut good ending from this gritty noir novel as we delve into the depths of what humans are really capable of - the heroes, the monsters, and the people lost in between.
"I felt like I almost had all the pieces for this case, but just had to figure out how they slotted together, and of course, who they would reveal in the end. It was like one of those Wasgij puzzles, where they gave you the clues - the view from the other side, or hints from the past - but they were too bloody mean to print the solution on the box for you."
But then, the brutal murder of a pregnant woman sends shockwaves through Dunedin, and through Sam. As it becomes clearer that the culprit is growing more desperate and dangerous, they realise it's going to take something drastic to end their reign of terror. She might be on the side-lines, but she isn't going to let this go without a fight.
Soon it's obvious that nobody is safe, including Sam. She'll stop at nothing to put an end to this nightmare - but can she put herself and her pregnancy in the path of danger to make sure mothers and children are safe again? There might not be another option.
"The image of her last moments crept into my brain, playing like an old-school noir movie, and I could almost feel the trace of cold steel against my belly."
An explosive new thriller from the Queen of New Zealand Noir - Expectant is a dark and disturbing take of murder and mystery that cuts deep. Symons creates a nightmare in real life - one where the monsters of Sams own nightmares enter the real world and nobody can be trusted. It's cinematic, electrifying and painfully intense right up to the last few words.
If you haven't read any Sam Shephard novels before, don't worry! Her characterisation is so strong that you'll know her within minutes, and the story doesn't rely on you knowing her previous novels so it packs a strong punch even as a stand-alone. I'd definitely still recommend them, but here's a great place to jump in!
I couldn't help but immediately find a connection with Sam - she's frightened, not just for her but for the other mothers and children facing this nameless threat, but despite her fear she is fiercely loyal and determined to protect those in need. There's a vulnerability and authenticity to her that doesn't cancel out her bravery and boldness, but empowers it.
This reads a bit like a procedural, but with the high-octane action and intense atmosphere of a block-buster thriller. As we move along, the motivations of our villain are called into question and we're left not knowing who could do this or why. As the sheer and strange desperation of their actions reach a fever pitch, the only thing that's clear is this is personal, and they're closing in. But is that because Sam is catching up to them, or they're catching up to her?
Symons writing is always striking, smart and snappy - with short chapters that get the story moving quickly and keep the pace. But somehow, she always finds time to paint a detailed picture of our setting, transporting us to beautiful cities, stifling offices and terrifying lairs in painstaking clarity. When it comes to the most horrific of murder scenes we find ourselves at, Symons handles it well - they're graphic and disturbing so should be read with caution but never go too far and glorify the gorier side of crime.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, Expectant is "having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something good." - and you will definitely spend this story excitedly waiting for something to happen, but don't expect a clear-cut good ending from this gritty noir novel as we delve into the depths of what humans are really capable of - the heroes, the monsters, and the people lost in between.
"I felt like I almost had all the pieces for this case, but just had to figure out how they slotted together, and of course, who they would reveal in the end. It was like one of those Wasgij puzzles, where they gave you the clues - the view from the other side, or hints from the past - but they were too bloody mean to print the solution on the box for you."
kathijo63's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I've not read any of the previous books in this series but I never felt like I was missing part of the story. But having read this, I will definitely be reading more by this author. It grabbed me right from the start and kept me engaged throughout.