Last year I read Crime Scene, the first in this series in which father and son collaborate and liked it very much. (reviewed here)
Long a fan of the Alex Delaware novels by Jonathan Kellerman and having enjoyed the first in the Clay Edison series, I genuinely looked forward to A Measure of Darkness.
I'm sorry to say that this one didn't do much for me-- in characterization, plot, or writing. In some places it seemed to try too hard, in others, not hard enough. There were a couple of spots that I had to reread because I thought I'd missed something.
Maybe it was just me because the ratings on Goodreads so far are three 5* and one 4*.
Read in May; blog review scheduled for July 13.
NetGalley/Random House/Ballentine
Crime/Mystery. July 31, 2018. Print Length: 352 pages.
Noah, who trained as a classical musician, is assigned as bodyguard/band member for a singer who has been threatened. Paige is an up-and-comer in the country music business and the mayor doesn't want any bad publicity associated with scheduled outdoor concert--so a reluctant Noah becomes a babysitter for Paige.
An entertaining mystery that keeps you a little off-balance about Paige's past and the identity and purpose of the stalker.
Noah and his partner Connor are engaging characters, and we get more personal background about each in this book. Watching characters gradually develop from book to book keeps a freshness to a series, and the plot is interesting. While I didn't like it as much as the first book, Spring Shadow kept me involved throughout.
Kindle Unlimited
Crime/Mystery. 2016. 326 pages.
Noah and Connor investigate the original murder, but find themselves bereft of suspects as each person who may have wanted CEO Madlyn Gwinn dead--ends up dead in turn.
Powerful people attempt to avoid exposure and a hurricane threatens the city as Noah and Connor struggle to unravel this mystery. Connor, whose wife is expecting their first child, has a personal concern, and Noah, having set himself a deadline associated with his past, is fighting his own demons.
Another good addition to Susan C. Muller's series.
(Stories that bring to light sometimes overlooked news reports intrigue me. I was shocked at the content of some respected baby foods and infant formulas reviewed by Clean Label.)
Kindle Unlimited.
Crime/Suspense. 2017. Print length: 288 pages.
I need to make note of this Muller series. Any mystery series that you like and feature would likely work for me as well. Kellerman - well, I used to read all his books and his wife's. They have both fallen off my grid after many years. Not that I didn't like them, but somehow I didn't love them enough to continue with so many other new series crowding in. LOL
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed the Susan Muller series set in Houston.
DeleteThe last few Alex Delaware books weren't that impressive, but I did enjoy Jonathan Kellerman's stand alone, The Murderer's Daughter. I liked the first Clay Edison book, but this one...not so much. You are right--there are so many interesting mystery/crime series to choose from when an older series grows stale! :)
I've also read here and there in Faye and Jonathan Kellerman's series and stand alones. I like them well enough but not enough to want to read either author start to finish.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the baby food content as motive for murder is pretty interesting. And yes, what corporations will do to make money can be horrendous. Consumers have to be so incredibly informed but it is hard to keep up with everything!
That really is the key--it is too hard to keep up with everything! I was shocked that arsenic, cadmium, lead, and acrylamide were found in some baby food formulas. The Clean Label report card should be read by all mothers of infants. Perhaps the best known, Gerber has one of the lowest overall ratings.
DeleteI've not read anything by these authors. I think I'll most likely pick up Susan C. Muller's based on the blurbs and your thoughts. :)
ReplyDeleteSusan Muller's series is interesting, and I like that it is set in Houston, TX. :)
DeleteThese are all new authors to me too -- but good to know who to loook out for, and who to avoid!
ReplyDeleteI did like the first in the Clay Edison series, but the second one was disappointing. The Muller series deserves a little recognition. I'd never heard of the author before reading the first one, Winter Song.
DeleteIt's been ages since I read a Jonathan Kellerman book. I've read one of his son's books and thought it was okay. I haven't had the urge to read more by him. The Muller series sounds really good.
ReplyDelete