Review: Linda, As in the Linda Murder

Linda, As in the Linda Murder by Leif G.W. Persson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Linda (as in the title) is a 20 year old police cadet who is found murdered in her mother's house. A team led by Detective Superintendent Bäckström is deployed from Stockholm to the town of Vaxjo to reinforce the investigating staff.

Evert Bäckström is not your typical police detective. Or maybe he is? He's lazy, he drinks, he takes advantage of his position, he even has his laundry charged to the Police Department. He loves no one, constantly thinks of women (he's an awful macho guy), and has no feelings for anyone or anything (except for Egon, his pet goldfish).

He does however, have a detective's instinct for solving cases, even if he wastes the government and the tax payers money requesting DNA samples from half the town. And he manages to recruit a very good investigating team, who will do all the hard work for him.

Although the characters and the story are very well written/described, the book as a whole dragged a bit. There are many diversions and maybe that is what made it a slow read. I just wanted the author to get to the point!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Waters of Eternal Youth

The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm always afraid to start reading a new book by an author I know and love, as you never know if this last book will be as good as the others (I've had surprises in this area!). With Donna Leon, I never worry. Once again she has written an amazing book, the 25th, in the series, featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti.

When Brunetti is asked by a friend of his mother in law, a Venetian Countess just like her, to look back into an accident her grand-daughter suffered 15 years ago, he gladly obliges and stars inquiring into a case that went cold before it was even opened and was ruled an accident.

Besides Brunetti, we find the usual set of great characters: fiery Paola, the lovely signorina Elettra, Vianello, Patta and Scarpa. And the food! The amazing food is also present.

This is not only a crime-thriller series. It depicts Italy's political and social situation perfectly. Many of the books end, sadly, with Brunetti not being able to do much (or anything). In this book, however, the ending gives him hope, and that was a plus for this excellent book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Dark Kills

Dark Kills by T.J. Brearton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A young girl is found dead, drowned and Detectives Dana Gates and Robert Hamill are in charge of the investigation. Then two more girls die, and a list with their names on it is all they have to take them to the killer.

The first part of the book is very good, as it describes both the work they do and their personal lives. I was somewhat disconcerted at first as the writing was mainly in short sentences, but once I got used to it, reading was quite smooth.

However, the second part didn't grip me as much. I have to confess that although I read the book quite happily, at the end I realized I didn't understand anything about the killer or his reasons. Not a good thing, right?

So 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 just because I enjoyed it as a whole.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Big Brush-off: A Jake & Laura Mystery

The Big Brush-off: A Jake & Laura Mystery by Michael Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is such a good read!
It has all of the elements I like: a lovely and beautiful detective couple, a good murder, interesting characters and lots of glamour. And to top it off, there's the name dropping. Joan Crawford, Clark Gable or Dashiell Hammett, anyone?

Book 4 in the Jake and Laura series, set in the dazzling 30's, the book tells the story of Jake, a writer who is in a slump while his actor wife Laura is on her way to the top.

When an old cold case returns to haunt Jake's life, they embark on a second honeymoon that will double as a writing retreat and a chance to solve the murder of a young girl.

Fun, light (but in a good way, of course) I now have the 3 first books of the series on my reading list, and I'm waiting for the 5th one.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Girl In The Ice

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I promised myself I was going to avoid two things in books: one was a title that included the word "girl" and the other was a messed-up-female-single-police woman.

Of course I broke this promise and I read this book, which turned out to be very good.

It starts with the murder of Andrea, a beautiful young socialite with a secret life that is very, very disturbing. Called in to help solve the case is Detective Erika Foster. Recently widowed, she is trying to rebuild her life in London, away from Manchester. Problem is, you don't forget your problems that way.

After confronting each and every one of her superiors, Detective Foster is taken off the case. This is an order she won't obey until she discovers the murderer.
My only "but" to this book is how quickly Erika builds a relationship with her staff. She's barely been there a week and they're willing to put their jobs on the line for her?

Great read, lots of suspense, very good plot.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: In Fidelity

In Fidelity by Jack Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is another difficult review. Why? Because, on one side I completely related to the story: The mc would be the same age as my parents and I would be the same as their kids.

On the other side, I just couldn't get the relationship between the main characters.
Christine is of one of those persons that can't allow a change of mind. What she thinks is what's right and that's the end of it. There's no flexibility in her.
Jack is a mystery to me. He struggles with his married life, has an affair but thinks it shouldn't affect it, only because he loves his wife?

I have to say that even if I didn't like the characters, the story is interesting as it deals with infidelity, morality and life as a couple.the book is well written (apart from a few very old fashioned words) and the pace of the book is very good.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Try Not to Breathe

Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After drinking away her marriage, career, friends and in general, her life, Alex Dale finds a subject that may bring her journalist career back to life: Amy Stevenson, who has been in a coma for the last 15 years after being attacked.

As she investigates what happened to Amy, Alex slowly tries to rebuild her life. We can see that even through all the alcohol, the research is very good, and we get a glimpse of what she once was. The problem is I just couldn't get to like Alex. I had no sympathy or anything for her. I have read other books in where the mc was not likable, but at least there was a rapport of some kind with them.

Also, you can't but know where it is all heading. Right from the middle of the book I had figured out half of the ending.

The good things about this book: Amy's voice is lovely, well written, and it takes away some of the anguish you feel as you read about her lying in a coma.

The book in general is very easy to read, fast paced, with a good grip of the suspense

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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