The police have gotten nowhere on the case. There is no body and the woman has previously taken trips without getting in touch with anyone, but this time Carmen made no arrangements for someone to care for her beloved cats.
Neither Florence nor her brother have genuine concern for their stepmother, but after months with no word, they believe her to be dead. And Florence doesn't want to have to wait years for her share of the estate.
The book focuses on the investigation as Swift does the slow work of questioning various people about Carmen and her activities. This is not an action-packed plot, but one of slow accretion of details. Secrets emerge that could blow the family apart.
Favorite character--aside from Ty Swift--is Cedric, Ty's elderly upstairs tenant inherited from his Aunt Lily. Ty also develops a fondness for Carmen Langborn's housekeeper, who has taken it upon herself to continue her basic housekeeping duties and and to care for the cats.
Having read the most recent release, I already had some knowledge of the characters introduced in this first in the series.
Kindle Unlimited/Joffe Books
Mystery/Detective. 2015.
Ty is asked to investigate a drowning death from two years earlier. Did the young woman--who had an overwhelming fear of water--have an epileptic seizure and drown accidentally? Or was there more to the situation?
Kim was a complicated young woman with a traumatic past. Few people seem to have truly liked her and a few actively hated her. Her recent interest in archaeology had given her long-range goals and an enthusiastic interest in all elements of archaeology--from the digs, to the historical aspects, to conservation and museum exhibits.
Ty feels some empathy with the dead woman in spite of her many flaws. As the case proceeds, a young man is murdered, and Ty feels his own responsibility for the young man's involvement in the case. Other aspects of Ty's life are fraught with grief and complications. The case takes a few unexpected turns as possible reasons for Kim's death emerge.
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Mystery/Detectiv. March 22, 2018.
These sound good. Had not been aware of this author before. Will keep her in mind. Would you read more of the series?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both of them. Book 2 (Blood Secrets) is also on Kindle Unlimited, and I've already downloaded it. :)
DeleteOh cool, this is a new series to me, and it sounds very compelling. Am off to check out this series on goodreads!
ReplyDeleteI was not familiar with this author or series, so I am glad to have a new author to keep track of. :p
DeleteI don;t think I have read this author before. Glad to see you enjoy her books!
ReplyDeleteA new author to me as well. :)
DeleteI'm going to have to keep this author...and this series...in mind the next time I'm looking for a good mystery to read. :)
ReplyDeleteI have books 2, 3, and 4 to catch up with at some point. But like everyone else, my backlog of reading is growing!
DeleteAnother new series to look out for. BTW, your postcard arrived. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Another postcard makes it all the way to Singapore!
DeleteThis seems to have a slight noir-ish vibe to it? Maybe it's the title of the first book you reviewed and the fact that it's a P.I. I like the sound of this series!
ReplyDeleteThe cover on the first one does have that vintage noir look, but I don't think I would classify the series as noir from the two books I've read. Lots of gradual accumulation of information and some interesting characters. :)
DeleteI prefer mysteries where there is the painstaking gathering of facts (and where plenty of information ultimately turns out to not be germane to the case) than the more action-packed thrillers. In thrillers there is so much set up...characters introduced only to provide a plot point later...it strains my credulity sometimes.
ReplyDeleteDo you think you will you be reading on in this series?
Yep, I do. I have a long list of books to get through, but some of them will not work for me. I'll have this series as a go to. :)
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