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A review by jennayhorn
Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson
4.0
Once again, I am a happy camper in the ‘book review’ department. I was beyond thrilled to see that I had the opportunity to review a Dee Henderson book. [insert happy dance here] I thoroughly enjoyed reading the O’Malley Series as well as some of her stand-alones, like Unspoken.
Traces of Guilt (which, I will add now, I sincerely hope is the first in a series, otherwise I would have to change my review slightly. “Please don’t make me do that, Dee Hendersooooooon!”[a tad dramatic perhaps]) tells the tale of detective Evie Blackwell as she attempts to solve two cold cases in Carin County, as an introduction to a new task force that will focus on cold cases. Ann Falcon (who has been introduced in earlier novels) is a familiar face and she serves as the link between old and new. We meet the Thane brothers (at least I think we haven’t met before? The way Henderson introduces characters sometimes makes you feel like you should know more about them? She often hints at things in their pasts which intrigue you, but you feel there should be more info, or that you’re supposed to already know this about them. It’s not necessarily a negative, but sometimes I want to fill in the blanks between the insights I am given.) each of whom have an arc that spans the novel, with Ann Falcon being the centre from which these ‘spokes’ radiate. Gabriel Thane is the sheriff of Carin County and is introduced to Evie by Ann, and they get to know one another as they attempt to solve the cold cases. There is Will Thane, who has a connection to Karen, another friend of Ann’s, however his arc is a minor one – he is thus a little more ‘mysterious.’ Lastly, Joshua Thane is brought into the picture when Ann connects him with his childhood friend, Grace, as she needs him to assist her in a particularly difficult personal task.
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the character development – the way it did not feel forced or idealistic, but rather, they developed as you got to know them more, as you would someone in your actual life. I became attached to the characters, and while I was doing actual, real-life things, I would catch myself wondering what the Thane brothers, or Evie was up to – something that few books cause me to do. I think it also had something to do with the way Henderson ‘creates’ her setting – it feels completely authentic, to the point that I had to pull up a blanket when the weather in Carin County turned cold and rainy.
However, there are a few things holding me back from giving Traces of Guilt five stars. The first is that I kept ‘waiting for something to happen.’ I think this perhaps stems from the ‘clues’ I felt were given regarding certain characters – Karen’s in particular. There was this very heroic element created around the Thane brothers, and it felt like this would be displayed at some point, but it didn’t really amount to anything, I am sad to report. Secondly, following this thought, I was waiting for ‘something’ to be revealed with regards to the two crimes. Henderson is fantastic at subtly building expectation by unravelling parts of the mystery as the story unfolds, I just felt a little let down when the end rolled around. I get that it was perhaps a more ‘real’ take on the process of solving these cold cases, but then the secrecy and intrigue in the build-up becomes unnecessary. The only other negative would be if this does not prove to be a series, as you are introduced to many characters whose pasts are hinted at and if the blanks are not filled in, I would feel frustrated – like when they end a season on a cliff-hanger and then you are told that its not getting picked up for another season – what was the point of all the build-up then? [it seems I may be harbouring some unvented resentment to experiences that have nothing to do with this book – apologies. But you get where I am coming from?]
On the whole, a well-written novel that whets your appetite in anticipation of a really great series. [I am always the optimist]
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House with the purpose of review.
Traces of Guilt (which, I will add now, I sincerely hope is the first in a series, otherwise I would have to change my review slightly. “Please don’t make me do that, Dee Hendersooooooon!”[a tad dramatic perhaps]) tells the tale of detective Evie Blackwell as she attempts to solve two cold cases in Carin County, as an introduction to a new task force that will focus on cold cases. Ann Falcon (who has been introduced in earlier novels) is a familiar face and she serves as the link between old and new. We meet the Thane brothers (at least I think we haven’t met before? The way Henderson introduces characters sometimes makes you feel like you should know more about them? She often hints at things in their pasts which intrigue you, but you feel there should be more info, or that you’re supposed to already know this about them. It’s not necessarily a negative, but sometimes I want to fill in the blanks between the insights I am given.) each of whom have an arc that spans the novel, with Ann Falcon being the centre from which these ‘spokes’ radiate. Gabriel Thane is the sheriff of Carin County and is introduced to Evie by Ann, and they get to know one another as they attempt to solve the cold cases. There is Will Thane, who has a connection to Karen, another friend of Ann’s, however his arc is a minor one – he is thus a little more ‘mysterious.’ Lastly, Joshua Thane is brought into the picture when Ann connects him with his childhood friend, Grace, as she needs him to assist her in a particularly difficult personal task.
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the character development – the way it did not feel forced or idealistic, but rather, they developed as you got to know them more, as you would someone in your actual life. I became attached to the characters, and while I was doing actual, real-life things, I would catch myself wondering what the Thane brothers, or Evie was up to – something that few books cause me to do. I think it also had something to do with the way Henderson ‘creates’ her setting – it feels completely authentic, to the point that I had to pull up a blanket when the weather in Carin County turned cold and rainy.
However, there are a few things holding me back from giving Traces of Guilt five stars. The first is that I kept ‘waiting for something to happen.’ I think this perhaps stems from the ‘clues’ I felt were given regarding certain characters – Karen’s in particular. There was this very heroic element created around the Thane brothers, and it felt like this would be displayed at some point, but it didn’t really amount to anything, I am sad to report. Secondly, following this thought, I was waiting for ‘something’ to be revealed with regards to the two crimes. Henderson is fantastic at subtly building expectation by unravelling parts of the mystery as the story unfolds, I just felt a little let down when the end rolled around. I get that it was perhaps a more ‘real’ take on the process of solving these cold cases, but then the secrecy and intrigue in the build-up becomes unnecessary. The only other negative would be if this does not prove to be a series, as you are introduced to many characters whose pasts are hinted at and if the blanks are not filled in, I would feel frustrated – like when they end a season on a cliff-hanger and then you are told that its not getting picked up for another season – what was the point of all the build-up then? [it seems I may be harbouring some unvented resentment to experiences that have nothing to do with this book – apologies. But you get where I am coming from?]
On the whole, a well-written novel that whets your appetite in anticipation of a really great series. [I am always the optimist]
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House with the purpose of review.