I didn't realize, when I first started this book, that it was #3 in a series. While it might have been useful to have had knowledge of a bit of the back story, it wasn't essential to my enjoyment, and enjoy this I did. It had me hooked from the first page.

Brenda Chapman has an 'easy' way of writing; it is all very relaxed and the story flows brilliantly. Her characters have personality and are realistic, therefore not always able.

My heart ached for Kala and her ward Dawn as they pussy footed around one another, each afraid to disturb the delicate balance of their situation.

And the main storyline of a murdered woman and a missing, presumed murdered child held me enthralled. I read to almost half way in the first sitting, and finished it in the second.

Tumbled Graves is an excellent read and I look forward to catching up on the earlier books in the series, and those yet to come.

4.5? and I enjoyed the poetry excerpts from T S Eliot.

Thank you to Dundurn via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Tumbled Graves by Brenda Chapman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.2017 4-star author-i-want-to-read-more-of ...more60 s Kaceey1,261 3,983

The 3rd in the series from one of my favorite Canadian authors.

You could say this is just another typical police procedural series in a small (ish) town in Canada...but you would be so wrong!
There is nothing typical about this book. It does have the common theme of small police department with a limited number of detectives. As well as the female detective who quickly becomes the favorite of Staff Sgt. Jacques Rouleau.

That is where the ordinary ends, and where the brilliance of the series begins.

The main character is Kala Stonechild, a young personally troubled detective in Kingston, Ontario. It is the perfect balance of both her personal life and professional career. It will have you cheering and rooting for Kala to succeed in both! Of course, there are the annoying politics of being a female in a male dominated workforce, but that just adds to Kayla's "determined, never-flinch" attitude. And oh yeah, did I mention a struggling attraction to fellow detective Paul Gundersund?

To me what makes this a perfect police procedural series is a strong mystery as well as watching the growth in the main character. That is a combination that will always keep bringing me back for more. Brenda Chapman does it perfectly! I absolutely adore this series and can't wait for the release of the next installment coming out in March .

Highly recommend! 4.5*58 s Paul Weiss1,338 378

The best so far in a great series!

Jacques Rouleau’s thoughts are in a difficult place dealing with the terminal illness and impending death of his ex-wife. So when Adele Delaney and her young daughter Violet are reported missing, he assigns Kala Stonechild and Paul Gundersund to investigate. As their work progresses, possible scenarios move quickly from a murder-suicide by the mother to a more typical (sigh!) family murder by Ivo Delaney, Violet’s lack-luster and very unimpressive stepfather. When Stonechild learns of the mother’s past involvement with the underground Montreal biker gang scene, she heads to Quebec to investigate and doubts begin to pile on top of dangerous doubts.

And, of course, what kind of thriller would TUMBLED GRAVES be if Chapman hadn’t tossed a number of sidebars and concurrent plots into the blender with the basic murder theme? We’ve got a friendship (reluctant romance?) that appears to be growing in warmth and depth between Stonechild and Gundersund despite the fact that his as yet undivorced wife has made it clear she intends to win him back. The heartwarming story of Stonechild’s stop and start, halting growth as a new guardian to her troubled young teen cousin is beyond awesome. Last but hardly least, Kala Stonechild’s experience as a skilled, aboriginal female investigator would amount to little more than a modern day fairy tale if she weren’t made to face a regular dose of misogyny and racism.

TUMBLED GRAVES is a gripping police procedural, a compulsively readable third entry in the Kala Stonechild series (the best so far, in my opinion), and, of course, a worthy addition to the canon of crime thrillers by a rapidly growing set of skilled and increasingly well-known Canadian authors. Brava, Ms Chapman.

Paul Weisscanadian-author mystery police-procedural ...more25 s Sandy873 226

4.5 stars

Hallelujah! Book #3 is here & it doesn't disappoint.
I've been a fan since reading "Cold Mourning" last year. With each book you not only get a proper mystery to unsnarl but further insight into the 2 MC's as their relationship deepens & tidbits from the past come to light.

At the end of "Butterfly Kills", Det. Kala Stonechild took on one of the toughest assignments of her career..."mom" to a teenager after the girl's mother went to prison. It's been a big adjustment for both, particularly Kala who has always led a solitary life. Any attempts at establishing a routine are complicated when a young woman & her daughter go missing.
Kala & partner Paul Gundersund take the call. Ivo Delaney has no idea where his wife Adele & daughter Violet have gone. Unfortunately, it's not long before the cops have a pretty good idea. But the real mystery is why & as Kala & Paul continue to dig, it turns out Adele was keeping a few secrets from her husband.
Meanwhile Staff Sgt. Jacques Rouleau juggles the problems of running their department. There are budget concerns, meetings & a new member of the team to get up to speed. But when a local reporter approaches him about the case, it's clear he has something else to worry about. Someone is feeding her information. In alternate chapters, we listen in as she meets her source & slowly realize this will have huge repercussions for Kala.

It'a a well paced story that pulls you in from the get-go. The investigation heads off in surprising directions before reaching a tense conclusion. Even then a couple of nice twists near the end guarantee you attention never wavers.
As usual, we also get to catch up with the characters' personal lives. Kala & Paul definitely click at work but she's unsure she wants to take it any farther, especially with his estranged wife hovering in the background. All Paul knows is he's never met anyone Kala. The comfort & sense of peace he gets in her company is something he never experienced in his marriage. But you get the feeling the author is in no rush & will let this develop with a slow burn.
As for Jacques, he continues to be the strong, solid centre of the series. In this outing, part of his past will reach a heartbreaking resolution & it strengthens the bond between him & Kala. They first worked together in another unit & when he moved to Kingston, she followed. He's always respected her as a colleague but as they both face personal challenges, you get to see an almost father/daughter aspect of their relationship.
There are several side stories that carry over from the previous book but if you're jumping in here, no worries. Enough background is provided to get the gist of what's happening. Peripheral characters range from other cops & family members to sinister bikers & their crews. (At this juncture, I would to make a private plea to the author. Without spilling the beans for readers, there's one character I'd to see get the thumping they so karmically deserve. You know who I mean. Please.)

Police procedurals are probably my favourite genre & I've read countless books from many different countries. In this crowded field it must be difficult to create characters that aren't already out there running around in someone else's story. Jacques & Kala grow more compelling with each instalment as layers are peeled back & their characters continue to evolve. By the end, there are a few loose strings left dangling & I wait impatiently to see how they're tied up in book #4.

My sincere thanks to Dundurn for allowing me to receive this copy.arc-from-publisher canadian-authors contemporary-fiction ...more11 s Valleri870 15

3.5 Stars

A missing child. A dead mother. Kala Stonechild is about to discover what one betrayal can lead to.

For the most part, I really d this book. I loved Kala, her partner (and love interest), Paul Gundersund, their boss, Jacques Rouleau, and Kala's "niece", Dawn. The main plot and the sub-plots were all very interesting. Although Kala was a bit of a mess in her personal life in the beginning of the book, by the end of the book she was a strong character who had pretty much pulled herself together. It was a roller-coaster ride from the start to the end! I was so sad, however, when Dawn was taken away from Kala and placed in a foster home.

Why I won't be reading the rest of the series: When I read the synopses for the rest of the books in the series (in order to discover if Kala was able to get Dawn back), it seemed that ALL the issues Tumbled Graves contained were carried on through the rest of the series. Kala doesn't get Dawn back. Gundersund continues to struggle to divorce his wife, who left him for another man, but then decided she wanted Gundersund back. The colleague from hell (Woodhouse) is still around, which I definitely don't understand. Too much soap opera for me. Especially when it's the same-old, same-old soap opera. (Even though each book has different cases.) So, yeah. I'm sad to say I'm over it.2022 crime fiction ...more9 s Sue1,328 595

As I wrote in my final status update for this book, Tumbled Graves is a really strong entry in this series. It has excellent characters with very individual touches (positive and negative), an interesting story with some good twists. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment. This Canadian series should be widely read on the US side of the border.

The team of Stonechild and Rouleau continues from the first two books, with both glad to be out of the big city but finding that crime exists everywhere. Both have family issues in addition to work. Stonechild has taken in the child of her own childhood friend---a woman now in prison. They are now negotiating a relationship difficult for two people who have been bruised often in their lives. Rouleau's father would to spend more time with his son and his ex-wife is dying. To top it off, in a terrible case, a local woman and her young daughter disappear one day and the investigation leads in multiple directions. There is deception and bad-acting in many areas, not always among the supposed evil-doers.

I definitely recommend this book and the series to those who enjoy mysteries.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.canada favorites mystery ...more6 s Debbie1,751 103

Not only is there a mother and child missing in this story, but most of the police force is going through personal issues of their own. This is a great story, however. There are a lot of plot twists that go on and there is absolutely no way you can figure out what happened to this little girl.

I had a lot of emotions while reading this book. The biggest one being the police office Wickless or something (at least that's what I called him and it didn't necessarily start with a "W"). He was a horrible man with only one mission on his mind. He should have been in prison with the gang member if you ask me, because he certainly did kill a man whether by his own hands or not. Anytime an author can get to me with a character this guy, I'm all in. I'm looking for a noose and a group in which to hang him in front of. HA!

Anyway, the story was very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't read this one too close to bedtime. You won't be able to sleep wondering about this beautiful little girl, I know I couldn't.

Thanks to Dundurn for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I'm really glad I found this one. It was definitely entertaining and I found, yet again, another new author to put on my TBR pile.ebooks net-galley-books4 s CL646 27

This is my 1st book in the series and I will definitely read the others. This book has a beginning that hooks from the start. Catherine Lockhart is Adele’s neighbor and she and her son go to Adele’s find out why she and her daughter missed a play date for their children. She finds the house’s front door open, the breakfast on the table uneaten, Adele’s purse and keys and car are still at the house. Catherine calls Adele’s husband and he agrees something is not right. When Catherine suggests calling the police he agrees. Once the police arrive and begin searching they don’t find Adele or her child just the child’s coat and shoes. Each time you think you know what is going to happen or who did what the author throws in a twist. Great read. I would to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.3 s Paula780 200

An extra star for the last chapters.Weaker the the first two.3 s R.L.Author 5 books47

I’m fortunate to be able to get books before they are published through Netgalley. Tumbled Graves by Brenda Chapman is one of those books.

The novel has a creepy beginning that pulls the reader in: Catherine Lockhart is a neighbor of Adele Delaney’s. She and her son go to Adele’s house to find out why Adele and her daughter didn’t turn up at a scheduled play date for their children. She finds the house’s front door open, the breakfast on the table uneaten, Adele’s purse and keys and car are still at the house. Catherine calls the police. The police search and don’t find Adele or her child. They do find the child’s coat and shoes strewn haphazardly in the woods behind their house, along the path that leads to the half-frozen river.

The author expertly takes the reader through the search experience using different points of view, first Catherine’s, then the police investigators, Paul Gundersund’s and Kala Stonechild’s. The characters don’t leap off the page, but do, over time, become likable. Each of the lead investigators have believable flaws, Gundersund – a soon-to-be-ex-wife who is also the chief medical examiner, and Stonechild has a past she would rather not talk about or have anyone find out about.

Every time the reader thinks the story is going in a certain direction there is a twist. I will not disclose these as they are good for the shock value. Each one is believable and leads to the story turning on it’s “head” and going in a different direction. The ending is certainly not predictable at all. There are things the reader is privy to and the detectives are not, but then there are things the reader can not imagine and must discover just as the detectives do.

I give the story 4 out of 5 solid stars. Recommended for people who love mysteries and suspense set in Canada.
3 s Aly1,869 61

A child goes missing in this book and that makes me sad. But the book was compelling and captivating. I have read other books in this series but this book had great characters. I was caught up in the story and I wanted to know if they were going to find the child. * I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*3 s Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling1,156 122

When you turn the last page and are disappointed there is no more - 5 stars!

Review to follow...netgalley3 s Trina828 9

I received this arc from Netgalley.

A really good read that I couldn't put down. This was the first time I've read anything by this author but look forward to more in the future. arc kindle netgalley3 s Stephanie Bryant64 3

Having read the fourth book in this series, I decided to read more so I'm working backwards.

Another tale of how deceit comes back to bite. It may take time, but it always happens.

The main character Kala has overcome many of her demons, and is a terrific detective, but her past haunts her and the teenager who has moved in with her. Their journey is at least as interesting as the police procedure.

Most of the action takes place in Kingston, with some side trips to Montreal and Ottawa. So familiar territory for me, which increases my enjoyment.

As per always, I didn't know who dunnit, although I did know it wasn't the obvious person!

The detective group are beginning to seem family, and trying to figure out how they are eventually going to resolve their various family dramas is fun.2 s Lori508 12

Three books in and I’m enjoying this series more and more. Kala Stonechild is such a complex and engaging character and fast becoming one of my favorites in a mystery series. She’s reserved, private but also kind and empathetic. Her difficult childhood and adolescence have created a deep mistrust in people and society in general. Kala struggles with trust and belief in herself but she’s intelligent with a keen intuition that makes her an excellent detective. Tumbled Graves is the strongest outing in this series so far. A mother and child go missing from their rural remote home and the husband soon becomes the prime suspect. Kala has her doubts and is supported in her explorations of alternate solutions to the crime by her boss Jacques Rouleau and her partner Gunderson. Both also likable with complicated personal lives. Kala’s personal life has also opened up as she’s fostering the teenage daughter of her best friend and learning how to gain her trust while trusting herself to be the guardian this girl needs. A completely enjoyable and fast-paced story that I highly recommend. Can’t wait to read the next one in this excellent series. crime-fiction1 Terri Milstead702 21

This is a solid little series (I say little because I recently saw that it ends at book #7). I still find it funny that this is called the Stonechild and Rouleau series because those two characters don't work together as partners. That said, I both of them and, the character I would pair with Stonechild in the series name, Gundersund.
library1 Carole581 2

Brenda Chapman's crime series is just getting better and better. This is the third novel in the series and, once again, the plotting of the mystery is satisfyingly convoluted and unpredictable. It is impossible to foresee the outcome and this makes the book exciting to read right until the very last page. The Kingston, Montreal and Ottawa settings add a lot of appeal for me.

Kala Stonechild is the front and centre main character now and Chapman very effectively develops her personal story in such a way that I really cared what would happen in her life. I really can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The mother-daughter theme which is developed both in the main crime plot and in Stonechild's personal story create parallel threads in a very literary way that elevates this novel above the typical mystery. books-read-in-20171 Ashley782 70

I want all of this series. So in love with it! 1 Valerie215 6

Excellent excellent read!1 Jenny712 38

Tumbled Graves by Brenda Chapman is a well-written mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the very end.

The story follows (mainly) detective Stonechild as she investigates the disappearance of a mother and daughter. The mother turning up dead with no sign of the daughter is just one of the surprises that Chapman sends at the reader. This is one of those books that you'll think you've figured out (of course that's who did it, makes perfect sense!), until the author throws another piece of evidence or plot twist into the mix.

The characters in this book were all really appealing to me. The relationship between Stonechild and Dawn, her "niece", added a nice element to the story and added a good touch of humanity to Stonechild. There's a little bit of romantic interest between some characters, but it's just good romantic tension and nothing that really gets in the way of the story itself. Beyond that, all of the characters act in realistic manners and I felt myself able to relate to many of them.

The only true gripe that I had with this book is how the majority of the characters are referred to by their last names. I understand that's common practice in law enforcement blah blah blah, but it irked me nonetheless. At times I had a hard time keeping all of the characters straight (which might also be owing to the fact that I haven't read the first two books in the series) because I have a harder time keeping track of last names as opposed to first names. Also, Stonechild was referred to as either Kala or Stonechild and she seemed to be the only character which that was done with.

Overall, Tumbled Graves is an engaging thriller which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat guessing at what will come next. I highly recommend this book for those that thrillers with unique plot twists and some twisted characters to boot. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the library to check out the first two books in this series because I want to read more.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.favorite-books netgalley thriller1 Kathy Martin3,706 96

I have come into this series at the third book but didn't have any trouble following the story and the relationships. The case has to do with a missing mother and child. When Kala Stonechild begins to look into it, she isn't willing to take the easy way out and blame the husband Ivo Delaney. The more she looks the more she uncovers the tangled past of Adele Delaney which leads her into the shady bar scene in Montreal. The case becomes even more complicated when the mutilated body of Adele Delaney is found but her three-year-old daughter Violet is still missing - presumed drowned in the river behind the family home.

While investigating the investigators' personal lives all intrude. Rouleau, who is Stonechild's friend and mentor, is dealing with the final illness of his ex-wife who is in hospice care. Stonechild is getting used to being the foster parent of thirteen-year-old Dawn whose mother, now serving time in prison, was a childhood friend of hers. Both Stonechild and Dawn and quiet, solitary, and introspective. Stonechild is afraid that she won't be a successful foster parent because of her own past in foster care. And Stonechild's partner Gundersund is dealing with a marriage that is troubled and a wife who is also a co-worker. Since Gundersund would to begin a relationship beyond their partnership, a jealous almost-ex-wife isn't a positive. Kala isn't willing to step between a man and his wife and isn't easily able to trust anyone. Then there is the jealous co-worker - Woodhouse - who wants Stonechild out of the police largely because she is good at the job and he isn't.

This was an engaging police procedural with nicely complex people. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this story.1 Teena in Toronto2,295 78

Adele and her young daughter,Violet, from Kingston, ON, are missing and officers Kala Stonechild and Paul Gundersund are assigned the case. When Adele's body is found on the highway and it appears that Violet has drown, everyone assumes it was Ivo, the woman's husband, who killed his family. Stonechild and Gundersund, though, head to Montreal to check into Adele's past and discover she used to work in a strip bar and was involved with some questionable people.

In the meantime, Stonechild has temporary guardianship of her cousin's daughter, Dawn, whose parents are now in prison. Stonechild is used to just having to take care of herself but now wants to make sure that Dawn doesn't have the same upbringing she had in foster care.

Jacques Rouleau has some time off to be with his ex-wife, who he still loves, who is dying. Gundersund is dealing with his wife who had left him for someone else but has made it clear she wants him back.

This is the third book I've read by this author (I read two last week) and I enjoyed it. It's always nice to read a book that is happening in Ontario (and Canada). I d the writing style and found the storylines interesting. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on the various characters wherever the action was happening. Though it is the third in the Stonechild and Rouleau series, it works as a stand alone and you don't need to have read the first one to read this one (there is enough background given). As a head's up, there is swearing.

I look forward to reading the others in the series.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/01...canadian1 Nataly Trofimova33 50

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tumbled Graves is the third book in Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series. (And I hope it won’t be the last.)

In the first book Kala Stonechild was one of the most secretive persons in the world. She d to work on her own without a partner covering her back; she used to move a lot and cared only about her dog Taiku. In the third book we can see how Kala has changed. She works with Paul Gundersund as her partner, she take’s care about Lily’s daughter Dawn, while her mother is in prison, and she begins showing emotions. She grew up as a person.
Sergeant Rouleau hasn’t changed much, he just became sadder. His ex-wife Frances has died of cancer and now he has only his father.
I’m glad that Rouleau and Stonechild have each other. They will survive through everything while they are there for each other.
Paul Gundersund. There’s something going on between him and Kala. I hope that in the next book we’ll some romantic moments between them.
Woodhouse.. That ignoble police officer Woodhouse.. I just knew that he is a jerk. He has broken so many lives. I just can’t understand why has he done what he has done? What were his motives?
Brenda Chapman did the excellent job and wrote one of the most interesting mystery series. It is full of unpredictable twists and turns. Until the very end you don’t have a clue where in fact is Violet.
I strongly recommend this book particularly and the series as a whole to those who enjoy mysteries.adult arcs e-books-read ...more1 Jen1,885 65


I've enjoyed every single book in this series, and this one is no exception. Fortunately, you don't need to have read the previous books in the series because Chapman is one of the authors that can give you any background you need without you having the feeling of an information dump. On the other hand, this is an excellent series and starting at the beginning is always more fun.

Each new book, so far Chapman has released one each year, stands alone, but also adds a little to the character development and background--keeping the characters vital and dynamic.

A young mother and her daughter go missing. Jacques Rouleau's ex-wife is dying, so he relies on Kayla Stonechild and Paul Gundersund to handle the case. Adele Delany's husband seems frantic, but as usual, he is on the suspect list; when Adele is found dead and the child still missing, Ivo Delany comes under even closer scrutiny.

There are a lot of secrets to uncover in this one. Some are hinted at in subtle ways, others surprised me.

In addition to the murder of Adele Delany, the personal lives of the familiar characters are undergoing sea changes. Rouleau deals with his ex-wife's impending death; Kayla Stonechild is finding her guardianship of Dawn under threat; and Paul Gundersund continues to struggle with his own personal relationships.

Read in Sept., 2015; blog review scheduled for April 4, 2016

NetGalley/Dundurn

Police Procedural. April 27, 2016. Print length: 376 pages.crime-police-procedural1 Kitty AustinAuthor 0 books432

Brenda Chapman is an admirable author that really knows how to weave a good mystery. I could barely put this book down! Kayla Stonechild has become one of my favorite heroines. I have yet to read any of the other 'Stonechild & Rouleau' mysteries but I certainly do intend to.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how easily the author eluded to past histories of the characters without giving so much information as to make you feel as though you didn't need to read any of the other novels. In fact, this book made me want to seek out the rest of the series to find out more.

I also, always love a mystery that keeps you guessing right on up to the very end and Brenda Chapman does just that and more. There are several instances where you are never quite sure of the truth behind things. By the time I got to the end I was shocked by the unexpected twist!

I also love how the everyday lives of her detectives are so cleanly interwoven into the main story and the fact that the endings are true to life and not your average fairytale type 'everyone wins' scenario.

Overall, I gave this book a firm 5 Ravens and hope to read more of Brenda Chapman's novels in the near future.1 Arpita Dash60 11

After so many fantasy and romance fiction books, I grabbed this mystery book. I wanted a change and my expectations were high for this book. I will gladly say ‘Tumbled Grave’ didn’t let my expectation down. The story was not that unique yet it had that potential to keep me hooked from the first chapter.

The characters are strong but they have flaws. The main characters are tangled in personal as well as professional issues. I d Kala Stonechild; she had a dark past that she would never talk about and she was taking care of Dawn, her childhood friend’s daughter.

The author has maintained a simple yet striking writing style. None of the scenes are exaggerated and the story moved in different person’s point of views. I enjoyed this story thoroughly. This is full of unpredictable twists and turns. The most effective part was you won’t have a clue about the little girl Violets’ whereabouts.


I will give it 4 out of 5 stars for its nail biting thriller and the writer’s writing style. This book is strongly recommended to all mystery and thriller fans.

I received this copy from NetGalley in return of an honest review.1 Elite Group3,066 51

A thrilling page-turner, with a dramatic and unexpected twist.
This gripping mystery novel grabbed my attention from the first pages, and I was disappointed to reach the end. When a mother disappears along with her three year old daughter, the police are called in to investigate. Despite appearances and the assumptions of the local community and press, what really happened to Adele and her little girl, Violet, remains a mystery until the very end. The investigating officers also have their own personal lives and issues to deal with, which are very much part of the story alongside the main plot. With several twists and turns, this is a real page turner.

Tumbled Graves is the third novel of the Stonechild and Rouleau Mysteries series by Brenda Chapman. I hadn’t read any of the preceding books, but that didn’t matter in the slightest. The storyline was fast moving, and I was as interested in the sub-plots of the police officers as I was in the main story of Adele and Violet’s disappearance. The unexpected ending leaves room for more in the series, which I’d definitely be keen to read.

Laura

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
1 Sandy2,638 66

Secrets, secrets, secrets. I haven’t read the first two books in this series but that did not stop me from enjoying this novel and it wasn’t until I was about halfway through the novel that I realized that this was a series. The novel opens up with Adele and Violet missing playgroup and Catherine and Sam checking in on them. It’s as if they vanished out of thin air, for everything is just they were getting ready for their breakfast on a weekday morning except the two of them are missing. Ivo, the husband has no idea where his family went off to as he left for work earlier and of course, he is the first suspect the police have under their radar. His previous history is shaky, heck everything is shaky, what you thought was going to be a simple case is anything but. Hold on folks, as this case file is going to get mighty thick and it’s going to take some hours to get through this one but I tell you, it will be worth it.
I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Dundurn Press in exchange for an honest review.
mystery netgalley1 Maggie Holmes1,000 19

This mystery had the clues! When you pay attention you can figure out what is going on: my kind of mystery!
I haven't read the first two books in the series -- they aren't available in any of the libraries I have access to -- so I read this one to see if Chapman is worth buying. She is.
The characters all have their own problems and these back stories fill in around the fairly straight forward mystery. The writing is functional: not too much description, but not just witty banter between characters.
The setting in Canada not too far from the Thousand Islands ( a vacation place for some of my Syracuse friends) and Montreal doesn't play a big part, but is a nice change from the US.
I hope we see more of Dawn in the next book. I was just getting a feel for her.

(I also read one of Chapman's Ready Read short works this weekend -- took about 30 minutes -- and again provided the clues to the mystery so she knows how to plot.)books-read-in-20171 Sharon M2,123 19

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