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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Thoroughly enjoyed this- except for the unnecessary epilogue that didn't are to the story one iota. If it's the beginning of a sequel it missed the mark because it put me off. It could have been even better with more focus on some of the issues that came up for characters. Some scenes left me wondering about their purpose. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story a and this author should just get better.
The second Lexie Rogers book from ex-cop Karen M Davis, it's interesting to note that we've now got a couple of female ex-cops from similar areas writing police procedural style books, although to this reader's eye, completely different sensibilities.
Given that this is the second book, it's worth mentioning that you might be best to start at the very beginning with these two. A lot of the back story of Rogers and her rather complicated personal life is going to need that fill in, despite a bit of catch up in DEADLY OBSESSION.
Part of the reason for that recommendation is that this is a series that concentrates heavily on the personal. Rogers is a determined and conscientious cop that battles over, through and around a lot of baggage. An ex-husband, old friends, an off-again relationship with a colleague, the death of his sister that precipitated that split, the death of her own brother years ago, a flirty current colleague, a good friendship with her working partner Sommers and well... there's a lot of personal here. I was reminded (and not in a good way) of another police procedural series, out of England, where the personal has packed the procedural elements into a suitcase and lost them in baggage control. It's hard to park the sneaking concern that we might be heading for that self-same lost baggage office with this series.
Which would be a pity, as the procedural elements here are pretty good, although to be fair the villain of the piece stood out like the proverbial dog's appendage - and the why got wound up in even more personal baggage. Rogers and Sommers are, though, a good pairing of cops, dedicated and talented. The team that they work with is good, and there are some characters there that could stand a little more time in the limelight.
Perhaps one more for fans of romantic suspense than this reader, I'm not giving up on Lexie Rogers. I just hope for her sake that she chooses to pack away the overwhelming personal angst and get on with the job.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-deadly-obsession-karen-m-davis
Given that this is the second book, it's worth mentioning that you might be best to start at the very beginning with these two. A lot of the back story of Rogers and her rather complicated personal life is going to need that fill in, despite a bit of catch up in DEADLY OBSESSION.
Part of the reason for that recommendation is that this is a series that concentrates heavily on the personal. Rogers is a determined and conscientious cop that battles over, through and around a lot of baggage. An ex-husband, old friends, an off-again relationship with a colleague, the death of his sister that precipitated that split, the death of her own brother years ago, a flirty current colleague, a good friendship with her working partner Sommers and well... there's a lot of personal here. I was reminded (and not in a good way) of another police procedural series, out of England, where the personal has packed the procedural elements into a suitcase and lost them in baggage control. It's hard to park the sneaking concern that we might be heading for that self-same lost baggage office with this series.
Which would be a pity, as the procedural elements here are pretty good, although to be fair the villain of the piece stood out like the proverbial dog's appendage - and the why got wound up in even more personal baggage. Rogers and Sommers are, though, a good pairing of cops, dedicated and talented. The team that they work with is good, and there are some characters there that could stand a little more time in the limelight.
Perhaps one more for fans of romantic suspense than this reader, I'm not giving up on Lexie Rogers. I just hope for her sake that she chooses to pack away the overwhelming personal angst and get on with the job.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-deadly-obsession-karen-m-davis
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
What's the difference between a British police procedural and an Australian police procedural? Not much, as it turns out! Although this lacks the tropes of the British versions (ridiculously haunted past for lead cop, vengeful journalists, ambitious colleagues, etc), it's still fairly flat and dull. Detective Lexie Rogers and her partner investigate the death of a young woman who is found holding a red rose, dead from an apparent drug overdose. This book is so leisurely paced that to reveal that the death is actually a murder and possibly linked to other deaths that looked like suicide could be considered a spoiler! This is in no hurry to tell its story, that's for sure!
There are no real surprising plot twists to be found, and there aren't even any subsequent murders to keep things interesting! Just lots of questioning of people and desperately trying to create an obvious red herring. If you've never read a single thriller before, this one might hold some suspense and surprises for you, but otherwise, expect to read something you've already read dozens of times before, especially if you're a fan of the genre!
Also, I have to wonder if author Karen M Davis hates women! A lot of time seems to be taken with painting victim Melissa as a promiscuous slut. Several ancillary female characters are painted as ambitious, rude, humourless - you name it! Most drearily of all. Bloody hell! What decade does Davis live in? On top of that, we have gag-worthy sex scenes, an utterly pointless late-in-the-game undercover sting, and that is just cheap and silly.
This all makes it sound like it deserves one star and, indeed, there's not much here at all to recommend to anybody, but I guess all I can say is that it wasn't entirely awful and at least avoided the more tiresome cliches that come with the genre. So that's something!
There are no real surprising plot twists to be found, and there aren't even any subsequent murders to keep things interesting! Just lots of questioning of people and desperately trying to create an obvious red herring. If you've never read a single thriller before, this one might hold some suspense and surprises for you, but otherwise, expect to read something you've already read dozens of times before, especially if you're a fan of the genre!
Also, I have to wonder if author Karen M Davis hates women! A lot of time seems to be taken with painting victim Melissa as a promiscuous slut. Several ancillary female characters are painted as ambitious, rude, humourless - you name it! Most drearily of all
Spoiler
the killer was a female, and she did it all so she could have a manSpoiler
an it's-not-over-yet final chapterThis all makes it sound like it deserves one star and, indeed, there's not much here at all to recommend to anybody, but I guess all I can say is that it wasn't entirely awful and at least avoided the more tiresome cliches that come with the genre. So that's something!
Lexie Rogers is a detective based in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. She is working the case of a nurse found dead and the question is was it murder or suicide. Being Australian I liked the setting but I found a bit drawn out and unnecessarily mysterious like someone standing in front of you telling you that they have a secret but aren't going to tell you what it is. There is a lot of Lexie's personal life along with her police work and at times it gets all mixed up.
Some of the characters are annoying and the interactions frustrating structured that it makes this only an okay sort of book and nothing spectacular.
Some of the characters are annoying and the interactions frustrating structured that it makes this only an okay sort of book and nothing spectacular.
The body of a young woman is discovered near Clovelly Beach in Sydney by two early morning walkers.
Detective Lexie Rogers and her partner Brad Sommers find puncture wounds on the victim's neck as well as an empty packet of prescription drugs in the pocket of her jacket.
As the investigation gets underway, Lexie and Brad must work out if this is an overdose or a murder. If it's a murder, they must work quickly before any more victims turn up.
Aussie author, Karen M. Davis has written another page turner with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. A very enjoyable read. Recommended
Detective Lexie Rogers and her partner Brad Sommers find puncture wounds on the victim's neck as well as an empty packet of prescription drugs in the pocket of her jacket.
As the investigation gets underway, Lexie and Brad must work out if this is an overdose or a murder. If it's a murder, they must work quickly before any more victims turn up.
Aussie author, Karen M. Davis has written another page turner with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. A very enjoyable read. Recommended
Deadly Obsession is the second crime novel from Karen M Davis to feature Detective Lexie Rogers.
In the early hours of the morning a woman's body, clutching a long stemmed red rose, is discovered on Clovelly Beach. The empty packet of OxyContine in her pocket suggests a drug overdose as the cause of death but Lexie is sure the scene is staged. When the initial stages of the investigation implicates her ex-husband in the woman's murder, Lexie is shocked, but as she and her partner, Brad Sommers, continue to dig they unearth a worrying chain of connections that for Lexie are too close to home.
Deadly Obsession is, in part, a police procedural, exposing Lexie and Brad's investigation as they chase leads and search for evidence to identify the elusive killer, but also includes elements of psychological suspense, action and a touch of romance. The story is tightly plotted, though I thought the links between Lexie and the key characters were just a little too neat and convenient. My early suspicions regarding the murderer were proved right but I was swayed by the red herrings laid down by Davis at times and surprised by some of the connections that were eventually revealed.
I am glad that Lexie seems less anxious in Deadly Obsession. Though still at risk from panic attacks related to previous events, and distressed by her recent break up with Josh (Detective Josh Harrison) who fled to Bali to bury himself in the bottle after the death of his sister, Jenna, Lexie is stronger and more focused. She works the case with attention to detail and stands up for herself against Brad's doubts. I didn't agree with all of her decisions though, some of which, like not reporting the threats made against her, seemed a bit disingenuous for a police officer.
While it isn't strictly necessary to have read [b:Sinister Intent|17901258|Sinister Intent|Karen M. Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370424860s/17901258.jpg|25076558] before embarking on this sequel, I think it would be worth your time. A solid example of Australian crime fiction, Deadly Obsession is an enjoyable and engaging read and I look forward to seeing how Davis continues to develop the series.