February 6, 2021

I have to give kudos to the author on this one. I didn’t know what was going on or whose perspective to trust up until the very last page of the book – and even then, there was one more surprise.

Well done!

I thought that this was a well-plotted story that (for the most part) revealed information at just the right points in the story.

Maya was an interesting character. As a young adult, she could be considered an unreliable perspective. She also has no memories of the formative childhood event that is the center of the story.

What made her intriguing was that it was difficult to tell whether her lack of memories was due to the traumatic event or if there was something else in play. But was her indecision also the result of her age, or her of the lack of memories and the base that they would have formed.

I read her sections with particular interest because of that conundrum.

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I also found Teresa to be a puzzle. There were times that I wasn’t sure of her actual role in Stephen’s life, which made me question her motives.

I did think that her personal story was a bit weak. It seemed as if it was only in place to give her a backstory. That being said, there were a few moments where I thought she might have had more to do with Maya’s past than was being revealed, so that actually turned into a nice red herring.

There were some portions that were slow and a lot of introspective musings that went a bit long, but I suppose they were necessary to lay the groundwork for the action that really took off in the last third of the book.

I do wish there had been a few more hints dropped early on about the resolution. That sounds like an awkward sentence, but I don’t want to reveal any plot points.

Let’s just say that some of the revelations were abrupt and I think a little more groundwork would have made them more intriguing. Still vague, but there it is.

Regardless, as I mentioned at the outset, this did keep me guessing and wondering up to the very end, so I would certainly recommend it.

Author Bio:

Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.

Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

I am huge fan of Carol Wyer’s writing; you can read any of my reviews of the Natalie Ward series for proof of that (just go to the search bar on my blog and type in “Natalie Ward” – there are too many to link here).

So, of course, I was very excited to see that she is introducing a new series with this book. It marks the debut of Detective Kate Young. Right off the bat, I could tell that she would be another great character to get behind.

Ms. Wyer specializes in main characters who are strong, intelligent, and good at their jobs, but who have messy personal lives and the same character flaws that real people exhibit. That’s one of the strengths of her multiple series: she writes characters who are relatable.

In some ways, I think that Kate is one of her most complex yet.

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We know from the beginning that she experienced a traumatic event on the job, and the prologue sets up that there are several repercussions from that event.

What follows is an intricately plotted story in which Kate’s personal demons impact the investigation that she is called upon to undertake. Kate struggles but still knows she needs to do the job and do it well.

However, she soon realizes that there is more to both sides (personal and the investigation) and they actually may be intertwined. And that somebody may be manipulating both for their own personal reasons.

It was just sooooo good!

I liked the way that Ms. Wyer related the incident that affected Kate’s status in the department. The flashbacks throughout gave the reader the pieces of the puzzle but also illustrated Kate’s fragmented state of mind. It was very effective.

Likewise, I thought the investigation allowed for just enough guesswork to keep it interesting but still realistic and true to life. As it is a new series, there is the usual introduction of the main characters and laying groundwork for future books.

But it’s all very natural and doesn’t feel forced, as in “here’s another character and here’s their backstory.” That’s another strength of the author – the organic way that people are introduced, as if the reader is just dropped into a fully-realized world.

It was when the two paths crossed, and Kate put the pieces of the bigger puzzle together, that the author really showed her skill – it was truly woven together into a page-turning story.

Oh, and that title? Genius. You’ll know why when you read the book.

Honestly, it’s a helluva start to the new series and I cannot wait to follow Kate’s next case! Five stars, all the way.

About Carol Wyer:

USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move from humour to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 750,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ”Irritable Male Syndrome’ and ‘Ageing Disgracefully’ and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’, featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy… who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

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