Melody's Reading Corner: Police procedural

Showing posts with label Police procedural. Show all posts

Melody

Minotaur Books | 2 May 2023 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

This last installment of Lu Fei Mystery series was the best among all and I was so sad to see it end! (I'm hoping it's not the end of the series but the last I checked on Amazon, it listed this as "Book 3 of 3".) As mentioned in my previous post on Book Two, this series can read as a standalone but it's recommended to read them in order for the flow of characters developments and connected story plots.

Onto the review. Lu Fei is a meticulous and diligent inspector who couldn't tolerate corruption and the injustice of the law. He's one who'd pursue the cases relentlessly and there are times that even Chief Liang, his immediate superior, couldn't do anything about his impulsiveness and his enthusiasm in the investigations once he's set his eyes on them. Although his impulsive actions sometimes got him into trouble, such as offended the higher-ranked officials or get himself suspended, he's also lucky that he has a few trustful colleagues and friends whom he could count on.

This book focus a lot on sex trafficking and the corruption of various officials who have the power and authority to bend the law. Lu Fei has gone through a tough mission as an undercover filled with various action-packed scenes in Book Two and while this installment features him back to his inspector role, his investigations are filled with obstacles as he suspected the sex trafficking ring is run by someone who's well protected by the officials. How could Lu Fei override that authority without compromising his role while trying to catch the perpetrator(s)? His investigations are further complicated by someone who called the Magistrate; as it seems that they've their own ways of punishing the sex traffickers through torturous methods (similarly to the Five Punishments in ancient Chinese legal system) and even murder.

This book was dark and brutal in some ways, but it gives the readers more than a glimpse of the reality where the girls and the women are duped/forced into selling their bodies in which they've no idea of initially. Many of them live in intolerable living conditions (in this case North Korea) and they wish to escape or simply to find a job which might lead them to somewhere better, only to find themselves jump out of the frying pan into the fire. As always, I'd great faith in Lu Fei and he didn't disappoint in each of the cases he solved. I really hope that the author will continue to write this series because Lu Fei is a great character and it'd be a pity to see this series come to an end.

© 2023 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 4 comments |

Wild Prey by Brian Klingborg

Melody

Minotaur Books | 17 May 2022 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This is the second book of Brian Klingborg's Inspector Lu Fei Mystery and while this can be read as a standalone, I'd suggest to begin with the first book (Thief of Souls) for the flow of the characters developments.

Inspector Lu Fei is a meticulous, responsible and a highly righteous person not only of his profession but because they're his characteristics as well. Not a person who would curry favour his way up, he often finds himself in hot soup with his superiors because of his straightforwardness and uncorrupted demeanour. This is one reason why he was transferred to a backwater town in a rural area of Northern China after some disagreements with his superior, as told from the first book. But working at a rural village doesn't demoralise him at all, in fact Lu Fei works harder to right the wrongs whatever is tossed his way.

When 15-year-old Tan Meirong approaches him in search of her missing sister, initially he and the staff at the Public Security Bureau think it's merely a runaway case. But Meirong's persistency in showing up at the bureau eventually convinced Lu Fei that Meixiang's disappearance is more than meets the eye. According to Meirong's statement, Meixiang (who is nineteen) never run away no matter how difficult life is; she's the sole breadwinner of the family ever since their mother died of cancer and their father quit his job after he hurt his back and become an alcoholic. Lu Fei then begins to investigate the restaurant where Meixiang worked and found out that they also serve delicacies of rare and endangered animals discreetly to their selective rich and powerful customers as well.

Pressurised by his superior to drop the case since the restaurateur has some powerful connections, Lu Fei is forced into suspension eventually from the police force until he is approached by a mysterious official to look into the restaurateur's illegal activities, leading him to an undercover mission in Myanmar in which they believed is the sources destination. Unlike Lu Fei's previous cases, this assignment is risky and dangerous as not only he has to travel deep into the lawless wilderness, but also he has to risk his life to infiltrate the hidden compound of a mysterious and ruthless female warlord who's overseeing the animals trafficking trade.

Well, it's hard not to like a person like Inspector Lu Fei. He's the type who appears tough on the outside but soft on the inside; he's devoted to a widow named Yanyan who owns a bar and he shows his compassionate side interacting with Meirong and most of all, his sense of righteousness shine in this series. This book has the balance of a police procedural and an action-packed plot as we follow Lu Fei into the wilderness in Myanmar and the cruelty world of animals trafficking. The latter wasn't an easy read, but it helps to raise awareness so hopefully this inhumane act would cease. I'd definitely recommend this series if you enjoy reading a police procedural and also to learn a bit more about the Chinese culture and the political views of their legal system.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 12 comments |

The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White

Melody

Montlake | 8 March 2022 | 383 pgs

Source: Purchased

I may have only read three books (4 including this) by Loreth Anne White thus far, but I find her writing and her storytelling are excellent and this is no exception.

The story begins when a female jogger is found dead beneath the cliffs of an idyllic coastal community where many of the wealthy families live. Lily Bradley is one of them. She's a respected psychotherapist and is married to a distinguished professor. In everyone's eyes, they're a perfect family with two lovely children, Phoebe and Matthew. Lily thinks she has everything in order, until the day she found her husband, Tom, behaving suspiciously and thereafter with the police arriving, stating that he's a person of interest relating to the female jogger's case, never mind that he'd found her first and tried to resuscitate her.

After the initial investigation, it turns out that the dead female jogger is Arwen Harper, who moved into their neighbourhood together with her 16-year-old son, Joe, not too long ago. The neighbours have a deep impression on this pair of mother and son, especially Arwen who worked in the bar and many men (usually patrons) are acquainted with her. Tom and a few of the husbands frequent that bar regularly, and the wives don't often have a good impression on Arwen and think she's too friendly towards their men.

Detective Rue Duval is assigned to the case and being a person of colour and one who works in a male dominated field, she's adamant to prove herself capable in solving the case. As much as Rue is capable of digging information, she's also an expert in keeping secrets, and she has a few of her own.

The story was told by multiple narratives between the present and the past and one would think it'll be confusing but this is where the author's writing skill shines. The chapters are not hard to follow and in fact read very quickly. I was sucked into this multilayered psychological thriller/police procedural from the beginning till the end. The characterisations are great and almost everyone of them read like a case study. Alongside the suspense, the story also portrays the human nature and what one would do in order to save himself and to survive. Recommended.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Police procedural, Psychological Thriller 12 comments |

Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths

Melody

Quercus | 29 September 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

This is the third installment of Elly Griffiths' Harbinder Kaur series and I've to admit I'm addicted to this series since book one. While each book can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading them in order for the characters developments.

The story begins with Harbinder now serving in the Met as a DI in the Homicide and Serious Crimes Unit and her first case involved a prominent MP who is found dead during a school reunion party at Manor Park School. At first glance, Garfield Rice's death seems likely to link with drug overdose with the syringes found at the crime scene but forensic later claims that this isn't the case.

To complicate matters, Harbinder's subordinate, DS Cassie Fitzgerald, is present at the same reunion party. She and Garfield were schoolmates alongside with a few others who are known as "The group" back during their school days twenty one years ago. While this group of seven members differ in characteristics, status and moral values, they've one secret which they've shared within themselves - the murder of a schoolmate named David Moore and they're all complicit in the crime, though it is also stated early on in the story that Cassie was directly involved. As the story progresses, Harbinder couldn't shun the feelings that these two cases might be related despite the years apart. Is Garfield's death simply a political motive given his upcoming campaign and some enemies he'd met along the way? Or is it Cassie or one of "The group" who wouldn't mind killing again for some reason?

The story was told in three narratives with present and past timeline: Harbinder, Cassie and Anna (one of the group members) and each of their voices add intrigue and depth to the story. Harbinder has become one of my favourite female detectives and I loved her calm, competence and meticulous mind in her investigations. She's family oriented (she's single but she's close with her parents) and I enjoyed reading her relationship with her two flatmates and her two other invaluable subordinates, DS Kim Manning and DS Jake Barker (both whom I hope we'll see more of in this series). Also, the London setting and Bleeding Heart Yard (a courtyard in Holborn. Read more here) add intrigue and atmosphere to the suspense and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Overall a good read if you love police procedural and a strong female character.

Harbinder Kaur Books in order:

#1 - The Stranger Diaries

#2 - The Postscript Murders

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 8 comments |

Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg

Melody

Minotaur Books | 4 May 2021 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

Set in a rural village in Northern China (near Harbin which is well-known for its bitterly cold winters and ice-sculptures festival), a young woman named Yang Fenfang was brutally murdered. Her mouth stuffed with "hell notes" and a few of her organs (heart, lungs and liver) removed, the police had initially speculated it might be a case of organ trafficking and that the stuffed hell notes was more of a religious angle as to make offerings to the dead. Yang was first discovered by her neighbour after her dog couldn't seem to stop barking, leading them to explore her house and thus found her body in the bathroom.

Lu Fei was graduated from a top police college but was later exiled to work in the rural village as Deputy Chief of the local Public Security Bureau station after a fallout with his superior from the Harbin headquarters due to a clash of personalities and most of all, their different views on principles and morality. Despite the exile and demotion, Lu Fei has gradually gotten accustomed to the laid-back rural living and the small station under the leadership of Chief Liang. Since there's hardly any major case in the village, Yang's murder is considered a rare and a high profile case so Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Beijing is assigned to look into the case together with Chief Liang's team. Their initial investigation leads to a local man who works as a butcher and had had an infatuation with Yang, but Lu Fei dismisses him as a suspect due to his simple mindedness and a lack of valid evidence. With political games and an authoritarian system within the governmental bureau hierarchy, Lu Fei realises that he has to dig further into the case on his own even if he has to face old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests.

Brian Klingborg's Thief of Souls was a refreshing read apart from my usual reads of the psychological suspense genre. With a likeable character like Lu Fei and an intriguing setting with authoritarianism and politics as part of the elements, this book was a compelling read right from the beginning till the end. The characters development was great (there were a few interesting secondary characters too and I hope to see them in the next book, Wild Prey) and most of all, I enjoyed reading about the complicated relationship between Lu Fei and Song from their clashing personalities to their gradual trust and respect of each other as the story progresses. Aside from these, I also liked it that the author input various quotes from the Chinese history, poetry, philosophy, customs and beliefs into narratives (in particularly Lu Fei) which add some depth to the story. The description of the Chinese government bureaucracy was well defined too so overall a very engaging read. Recommended.

© 2021 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 8 comments |

The Trawlerman by William Shaw

Melody

Riverrun | 13 May 2021 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

In the previous third installment, DS Alexandra Cupidi solved a case involving a developing site but the outcome (plus some past awful experiences) had left her suffering from post-traumatic stress; thus in this book she is taking her leave and is assigned to a desk job doing data analysing. But of course this doesn't stop Alex from snooping around and observing things especially after her hefty interception between a knife-wielding woman and a newlywed (gay) couple. Alex has no idea about her heightened sense of danger and insecurity ever since her last investigation, but she sure is intrigued by the dynamics between the newlywed couple and the older woman who doesn't seem to be mentally well but is adamant that one of them had killed her son.

On the other end, Alex's colleague, Officer Jill Ferriter is charged with investigating the murders of a couple after a delivery woman discovered their naked corpses in their home. The only clue is a bloody message and most perplexing of all, why would they order some mundane groceries which are less than forty dollars? Based on initial interviews, Jill learned that Aylmer and Mary Younis were both nice and reserved people who have no enemies and only have a handicapped son who stays at a special care facility. Upon further investigation, they learned that the Younises had made investments in a green reforestry scheme in Guatemala but have lost their savings. But that is not all, they've also found a list of other investors, including Alex's ex-colleague and long-time friend, Bill South (There's a history surrounding the dynamics between Alex and Bill over a past case and this resulted a somewhat awkward strain in their friendship but new readers would be able to understand through some scattered snippets and their conversations.)

I've mentioned before that I love William Shaw's writing and his storytelling, but I've to say the settings he created for each of the story is another big draw and most of them revolve around the nature and the wildlife theme. In this book, he takes us to the sea and gives us more than a glimpse about the fishing community of Folkestone, trawling and the dangers alongside the job. I find I've learned something after reading his books.

And despite Alex isn't active in terms of running the investigation in this book, she still prove herself to be proactive and capable of analysing the situation while battling with her own demons and the PTSD. Her relationship and her banter with her teenage daughter, Zoe, felt relatable and again I've to applaud the author for his fleshed out characters, the complexity of human connections and the humanity being portrayed in his books. This is one series I'd recommend to follow and I hope that we'll get to see Alex back on her feet in the next installment.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 12 comments |

Grave's End by William Shaw

Melody

Riverrun | 18 March 2021 | 480 pgs

Source: Library

This book is the third installment featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi and the more I read of this series the more I'm liking it.

Alexandra and her colleague, Constable Jill Ferriter, are called to look into a case after a couple discovers a body in a freezer in an empty mansion which is up for sale. Since the owner hardly lives there, no one knows how or why the body was buried there. The body was later identified as a Vincent Gibbons, who was a naturalist and was active in a protest campaign of a housing development and its developer, Whiteland Fields. The campaign is valid to some locals, even Cupidi's teenage daughter, Zoe, think that the developments will threaten the badgers setts which have been around for decades and not to mention would cause a disruption to the wildlife. To complicate matters, Jill has just began to date Harry French, who's the developer and later becomes their suspect after a human bone was found buried within the development site. The discovery of the bone is purely accidental, thanks to the digging of an old badger after his terrority has been compromised.

Cupidi's investigation of the bone led them to a case of a boy who went missing twenty five years ago. These two investigations soon caught the interest of the Housing minister, and Cupidi later find herself being caught in the world of politics and the environmentalism issue specifically the protection given to badgers by the law. As Cupidi digs deeper (pun intended) into these two cases, it becomes clear that there is a connection but there's no evidence and worse still, someone will go to any lengths to stop Cupidi's further investigation, including murder.

Once again, I find myself drawn to William Shaw's writing and the developments between Cupidi and Ferriter as the series go. The countryside setting in Dungeness, Kent, is vividly described and I liked it that the author even feature the perspective of an old male badger in this installment. This endearing creature plays part of an important role in this story and I find it refreshing reading about their habitats and livelihood through his eyes. There are multiple threads to this story, but they're nicely linked and there're also enough red herrings alongside a few issues like class divide, abuse and even civilisation (which is always a thought-provoking topic). This book works fine as a standalone, but it is best to start from the first book as far as characters developments go.

The DS Alex Cupidi Series:

#1 Salt Lake (my review here)

#2 Deadlane (my review here)

#3 Grave's End

#4 The Trawlerman

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 8 comments |

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson

Melody

HQ | 18 February 2021 | 448 pgs

Source: Library

The story begins with a gruesome murder case of mutilated body parts scattering in different locations in Deptford. DI Angelica Henley and TDC Salim Ramouter are tasked to investigate this case. Angelica is once again roused by the dark memories of her previous investigation of serial killer Peter Olivier, a.k.a. The Jigsaw Killer, who's currently serving a life sentence for all the murders he'd committed. Obviously, the recent case is the work of a copycat and the duo is adamant to bring this perpetrator to justice. And this leads to Angelica's visit to the prison, hoping she could find some answers from Peter whether or not if he's told anyone about his plans, modus operandi or even if there's an accomplice.

While imitation may be a form of flattery, Peter doesn't see it that way. Instead, he's enraged that someone is using his name and his same methods for whatever reasons while he's being hole up in a cell, helpless and couldn't do anything. This is when he decides to take things into his own hands; and this time around nothing could stop him. Soon, Angelica and Ramouter find themselves chasing not one but two serial killers instead.

The Jigsaw Man is not for the faint-hearted; and personally I find it to be a gritty police procedural combined with a case of characters study. Angelica is flawed and suffered from PTSD, but she's determined and in some ways fearless, too. Her comradeship with Ramouter is complicated, yet they work seamlessly the more they get to know each other. However, her relationship with her husband needs more work, though.

The author's writing was engaging, but at times the intensity was cut short due to some in-depth backstory and character developments but this isn't a complaint and is more of a personal observation. I think the best moment was the exchanges between Angelica and Peter and it's always interesting to hear the side of a criminal's story even if they creep you out. Overall this was a satisfying read, and I'm hoping to see more of Angelica and Ramouter in the author's future releases.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Police procedural, Suspense Thriller 12 comments |

The Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White

Melody

Montlake Romance | June 2017 | 523 pgs

Source: Purchased

This is the first book of a series featuring Detective Angie Pallorino. I've read two of Loreth Anne White's standalones and really enjoyed them. There's something about her writing and she pay attention to the details which add depth to her stories.

Detective Angie Pallorino would never forget about the perverted rapist, who is still at large, had violently mutilated his two victims years ago by etching crosses onto their foreheads after sexually assaulted them. Alongside the pain and regrets is the loss of her working partner who had died while they handled a domestic abuse case which had gone wrong. Despite anything, Angie is keen to prove to anyone that she still has the drive and determination in moving to the male-dominated homicide unit. Angie may be goal-oriented and fearless, but she do have some issues which make her vulnerable and want to be in control. With a schizophrenic mother and the loss of her partner, Angie numb herself through anonymous sex. And this situation leads her to meeting James Maddox, who later turns out to be her temporary partner for a joint investigation task after two more victims are found; both sharing some eerie similarities of her earlier unsolved rape cases.

As Angie's private life collides with her professional ambitions, she is more determined to put that night behind her but Maddox, on the other end, is intrigued by this mysterious woman who had left an impression on him. Angie doesn't want him as partners, but he plays an important role in her job evaluation and most of all, she wants to solve the cases badly, especially if the perpetrator might be the same one she's missed earlier. As their search for clues and the killer intensifies, so does their desire for each other although Angie is in denial given her traumatic past.

There's a lot going on in this story and there are layers amidst layers before the big reveal comes. As mentioned before, the author pay attention to details and this includes not only the characters development, their inner thoughts and the investigations but also the graphic descriptions of the violent and grotesque crimes mentioned. While this isn't one I'd recommend to the queasy or faint-hearted, from the other perspective it adds authenticity of a true crime.

Angie and Maddox have their issues, too. Both are flawed characters and from a romantic angle, I enjoyed reading about their exchanges and how they managed to overcome their own demons through each other. I can't say I enjoyed the brutality of this story, but I do love the characters and how everything unravels towards the end, including Angie's secret past (which I chose to be vague for your own book-unveiling). Meanwhile, I'm eagerly awaiting for the other two installments to arrive.

© 2020 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural, Romantic Suspense 10 comments |

Newcomer by Keigo Higashino

Melody

Abacus | November 2019 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Translated from the Japanese by Giles Murray

Keigo Higashino has written two series featuring Detective Galileo and Detective Kaga respectively, as well as a few other stand-alones. Although I've only read three of his books (including this) so far, I've enjoyed his writing style, the riddle-like mysteries and the well crafted plots. This is the second appearance of Detective Kaga after the previous book, Malice.

Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the Tokyo Police Department has just been transferred to a new precinct in Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. A newcomer himself, he is assigned to investigate the murder case of a woman who was strangled to death. Although Kaga gives people the impression of down-to-earth and easy-going, deep down he is a meticulous man who has a sharp eye in details and logic, and most of all he knows how to get people to talk through his gentle and cordial demeanour.

The victim was a 45-year-old divorced woman named Mineko Mitsui who moved to Nihonbashi a few months ago. Upon initial interview and investigation, Kaga understand from a friend of Mitsui that she was supposed to meet at Mitsui's house at 7pm but had last minute pushed their appointment to an hour later due to an unforeseen circumstances. When she reached Mitsui's house, she found the door unlocked and Mitsui was sprawled dead in the living room. The police couldn't find any forensic evidence but Kaga did notice a few interesting items in the house which spurs him into looking at some of the businesses at the Nihonbashi area. As Kaga visits the shops and interviews the owners subsequently, he comes to learn a bit of their stories even if some appear to be unrelated to the case. In the end, Kaga succeeded not only in solving the case but also impressing the reader with his patience and his scrupulous attention and methods applied during his investigations.

As much as this is a crime fiction, it has an intriguing array of characters which would make an interesting study of human behaviorism. Each segment in the book tells the story of a character and although they are rather short and some may appear unconnected to the case, the reader will soon understand about the linkage and the actual role they play towards the end. This wasn't a fast-paced read in terms of actions and thrills but it was an intriguing whodunit and a clever detective whose perspective is very different from his peers.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Mystery, Police procedural 10 comments |

The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White

Melody

Montlake Romance | May 2019 | 444 pgs

Source: Library

I started this book without knowing that this is book 2 of the Dark Lure series. That said, it works fine as a standalone and I'm glad to report that Loreth Anne White's books will be added to my "books-to-look-out-for" list after having read and enjoyed her latest release, In the Dark, and now this book which was published last year.

Detective Rebecca North returns to her rural hometown at Cariboo after receiving news of her father's death. Although speculations point that her father had most likely committed suicide, Rebecca was sceptical considering they had a telecommunication the day before his death and it seems that her father (a retired cop) was looking into a cold case twenty years ago but he didn't say too much over the phone, thus his suicide didn't make any sense to her. Despite Rebecca's job is more to do with commercial crimes instead of homicide, that doesn't stop her from looking for the truth.

To move forward, she has no choice but to seek assistance from Ash Haugen. Rebecca and Ash had feelings for each other way back then, but various misconceptions drove them apart. To find the truth, they set their pent-up emotions aside and work together with the investigations but as much as Ash is helpful, she feels he isn't forthcoming when it comes to his past and that makes her wonder if he has something to hide. When their investigations later led them to two troubled teens, Tori and Ricky, who had stolen some booze from Rebecca's father's house on that fateful day, Rebecca feels there's something more than what they'd told her. As Rebecca tries her best in digging up as much info as she can, she realises that Cariboo is a close-knit community where everyone seems to know everybody and that words spread quickly. Rebecca has a lot of questions but first, she needs to revisit events of the past even if it means it'd put on further strain and mistrust between her and Ash.

Nowadays, a good conventional police procedural is such a rare find to me because there are so many psychological thrillers out there that easily catches my attention (not that I'm complaining, though.) The Dark Bones satisfied my expectations of a good police procedural and I loved many of the things in this book -- good characterisation and developments, engaging and suspenseful plot and finally, a complex relationship that had my head spinning, in a good way. The setting was another element that piqued my interest as it was set in a wintry, rural Cariboo hometown of British Columbia and it read "atmospheric" to me since summer is the only season I get to enjoy from where I live.

The author also expertly integrate the past with the present, giving the reader both sides of the story with equally suspenseful thread. As much as there's suspense, there's also some heartbreak moments as well not only from the romantic aspect but children who come from a broken family, like Tori and Ricky. To sum everything up, I really enjoy this author's writing style and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 4 comments |

The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

Melody

St. Martin's Press | January 2019 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

Fourteen years ago, Ellery Hathaway was kidnapped by a serial killer, Francis Coben. She was the only survivor among his other victims; and the credit went to Reed Markham, an FBI agent who managed to save her from the killer's closet all those years ago. Once a shocking news and a face recognised by all, in present day Ellery has grown up and ditched her old self, name and all, to become a police officer in sleepy Woodbury, Massachusetts. Woodbury is a small, quiet neighbourhood with a low crime rate until three people disappeared in three years - all around Ellery's birthday when she was kidnapped those years ago.

When Ellery mentioned this information (aside from her true identity) to her superior and colleagues, no one thinks the cases are connected. Ellery and her superior somewhat has a complicated secret relationship and without his support, she has no choice but to contact agent Reed Markham. Now Reed may have made his name and fame from the Coben case, but a wrong judgement of an assignment put him on a temporary leave. With his career stalled and his marriage in shambles, Reed agrees to help with Ellery's investigation of the missing persons. When Ellery receives a severed hand around her birthday, she couldn't help wondering if someone knew her true identity. Is this someone connected to the missing persons cases? Once again, Ellery and Reed find themselves get sucked into a case which reminds them of Coben and a killer who can't seem to let go of the past.

This first novel by Joanna Schaffhausen was a riveting read with a cast of intriguing characters. Ellery was a strong character and I admired her determination in finding the truth of the cases, although sometimes I find her judgement are clouded by her emotions. The dynamics between she and Reed was an interesting read and from Ellery's perspective I think it was nice to have someone on your side, especially one who is your savior and understand the things you've been through. Overall this was a good read and although it wasn't hard to guess the perpetrator, it didn't lessen my reading experience and I'll definitely check out the next book of this series.

© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Police procedural 8 comments |

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter

Melody

William Morrow | August 2019 | 464 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Karin Slaughter is one of the best authors I've come across for writing dark and compelling suspense thrillers. Some of her books aren't always easy to read but she captures the realism and sensitivity behind her stories which will make you think and feel for the characters.

The story begins with a bang with a kidnapping scene. Michelle Spivey, a scientist from the Centers for Disease Control, was kidnapped when she and her teenage daughter were out at a shopping center parking lot. The police are still trying to locate her but to no avail.

One month later, two explosions were heard at Emory University. Situated in the busiest city in Atlanta, there are also hospitals and the CDC within the neighbourhood. The explosions led medical examiner, Sara Linton, and her partner, Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rushed out from their place to investigate the scene. Unfortunately, the explosion incident was simply a conspiracy act to lure Sara out; and in no time Sara was abducted by a team of assailants who has a secret agenda which the reader wouldn't know until later. Devastated, Will approaches his boss and colleague, Amanda Wagner and Faith Mitchell, to devise a plan and hoping to persuade them into allowing him to go undercover in order to save Sara.

As the story progresses, the reader would find out why Michelle and Sara are being targeted by the assailants and the truth will hit anyone's gut because this group of people used to be in paramilitary units and they fight for a cause which they think is rightful and having the power to control. In other words, it's a white supremacist domestic terrorism and the author has painted a frightening world which is not far from realism. As you may have guessed, this is a fast-paced and action-packed story and you'll feel for the characters as you read further. Despite this is the ninth installment of the Will Trent series, it works as a stand-alone. I may not have read all of Karin Slaughter's books but so far I've enjoyed those I read.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Police procedural, Suspense Thriller 8 comments |

Down to the Woods by M.J. Arlidge

Melody

Penguin UK | September 2018 | 480 pgs

Source: Library

This is the eighth installment of DI Helen Grace series by M.J. Arlidge and although I haven't read any of this series, I'm glad to say it still work well enough as a standalone; though there are some past history about the characters (and/or events relating to the present) which I need to find out more to understand the whole picture.

The story opens with DI Helen Grace trying to piece her life back together after some incidents occurred during her previous assignment. She returns to work to find there's a new addition to her Major Incident Team. DS Joseph Hudson isn't really a rookie when police work is concerned; and his transferral to Southampton actually bring some insights to the team although Helen has different thoughts. She thinks he is over enthusiastic at times but in my opinion I felt his zest adds some life to the ever so tense procedural work.

Anyway the team is soon called out to search a campsite in a secluded woodland whereby a man is believed to have disappeared without a trace. They later found his body embedded with crossbow bolts hanging from a tree. The team has a few speculations; one of them targeted on a nomad who may have strong feelings with anyone or organisations which are against with the environmental issues. After all the victim worked for such related organisation and that nomad was once prosecuted for police assault over relating issue. Coincidence? Or something cult related judging the bodies were found? And then another victim went missing and suffered the same state, the team is sure something sinister is at work but what?

While the MIT is busily investigating, journalist Emilia Garanita isn't free either as she tries all means to dig up info. It seems like she has a few run-ins with Helen in the past and again it is interesting for me to find out. And in spite of the length of the book, surprisingly I didn't find it as intimidating as I'd thought as aside from the engaging plot, each chapter is short so it makes for a quick read and have you turning a page, then another ...

The interactions between Helen and Joseph (as well as the rest of the team) had me captivated throughout the book and it was a good sign considering this was my first-time read of this series. Helen is obviously a flawed character who has a past so this further fuel my interest since such characters always intrigue me, especially one who is a law enforcer. The introduction of DS Joseph Hudson adds some new perspective to the story and I'm eager to find out more about his work dynamic in future installments. As far as the mystery goes, it was never clear cut and had the reader wondering in various directions. I'll certainly check out the other installments by this author.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 10 comments |

Salt Lane by William Shaw

Melody

Riverrun | May 2018 | 464 pgs

Source: Library

Salt Lane is the first book in the series featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi, although she has already made her appearance in William Shaw's earlier book, The Birdwatcher (which I'll make sure to get to that book in the near future). In this book, Cupidi is transferred from the London Met police after a scandal which sent her packing to a quiet coastline in Kent. Constable Jill Ferriter is assigned to work with her and their first case is a woman who was found floating in the marsh with her death unknown. Further investigation has revealed her identity but that is only the info they've had. Her name was Hilary Keen.

In another circumstances, a homeless woman knocked on a man's door, claiming she is his long lost mother but vanished before the morning arrives. Just the night before and about the same time the body of Hilary Keen was found. Could this homeless woman be her since the police found out later that they both shared the same name? As if things aren't complicated enough, they found another dead body buried in a slurry pit at a farm. An immigrant labourer who has no ID and top with language barrier from fellow workers, Cupidi finds their investigation at a dead end and the only connection she could link with the two cases is that the location of their bodies are miles apart within the marsh land.

Salt Lane was a great story in many ways. Not only it was suspenseful and well executed, it was equally character-driven and a timely novel as well as it touches on the immigrants issue and the problems they face and how the society view and react as a whole. The relationship and banter between Cupidi and Ferriter was another interesting read and add some perspectives through their detective minds amid their differences, personality or professionalism-wise. A great, engaging first book of a series which I'll certainly follow.

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 10 comments |

Hangman by Daniel Cole

Melody

Trapeze | March 2018 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

Hangman picks up eighteen months later after the investigation closure of the 'Ragdoll' murders (read my review on Ragdoll here), leaving DCI (then DS) Emily Baxter in an almost emotional wreck after all the craziness and that her ex-colleague, DS William "Wolf" Fawkes has gone MIA. However, Baxter has no time to worry about as a new assignment lands right onto her lap.

The Metropolitan Police is teaming up with the FBI and CIA after a body is found hanging from Brooklyn Bridge with the word 'BAIT' carved into the chest. Back in London, it appears there is a copycat killer who murdered the victims in a similar M.O., and instead of the word 'BAIT' it was 'PUPPET'. Against her decision, Baxter finds herself partnering with the two American detectives, Special Agents Rouche and Curtis. Despite the partnership, Baxter seems wary of the two agents and since she has trust issue in general, she has doubts about them. Rouche and Curtis, on the other hand, make an odd partner and although they've no qualms with Baxter, they couldn't help but feel the distance between them especially they've instructions from the superior to keep some info to themselves.

As the body count began to rise on both sides of the Atlantic, the three detectives find themselves racing against the clock as whenever they trace a suspect, the killer is always a step ahead of them. Aside from the tricky case, the reader will also learn that the three detectives have their own vulnerability and demons to fight and that they have their weaknesses behind that tough cop image.

Hangman, unlike Ragdoll, is more of a character-driven crime thriller than a police procedural. Readers who expect more of DS William "Wolf" Faukes will be disappointed in this book because this is mainly about DCI Emily Baxter, the introduction of Special Agent Rouche and their banter. Rouche was another interesting character and was totally in a different league with Wolf and Baxter; he's affable and relaxed though he seems to be an oddball in his colleagues' eyes. I'm also glad to see there's more of Edmunds (Baxter's ex-trainee) in this book, as I mention in my review of Ragdoll, I felt his role there was far too underrated. His friendship with Baxter has taken it to the next level in this book and despite he's no longer working together with her and was transferred to the Fraud division, he's willing to put his job on the line by giving her as much assistance as he could while breaking a few rules now and then.

There was definitely much more grimness here than in Ragdoll as it deals mainly with blind revenge and injustice targeting the vulnerable victims, especially if they've lost their loved ones and feel the unfairness of everything. Despite this is a sequel to Ragdoll it still works well as a standalone; though readers who'd read Ragdoll will have a far more connection surrounding Baxter and the Ragdoll murders case. The author mentioned in the Q&A that he's writing these Ragdoll books as a trilogy so I'm definitely looking forward to its last installment.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 14 comments |

A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis

Melody

Little, Brown and Company | January 2018 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This first book of The Searchers series tells a story of a missing girl and the introduction of FBI Special Agent Elsa Myers.

Elsa was sitting by her terminally illed father's bedside when she received a call from her superior. Seventeen-year-old Ruby Haverstock has disappeared from Forest Hills, Queens, and no one understand why she turned off the security camera at a local café where she worked before her disappearance. She left work on time so the abduction might have happened after that. Elsa interviewed a few of her friends and it seemed no one really knew about her movement before her disappearance. Her ex-boyfriend, Charlie, seems suspicious to Elsa initially due to the fact that he deals with meds (drugs) and will offer or sell them to the girls he fancies but after a few more interviews with her family members, Elsa learned that Ruby has stolen a fake gun from her father and whether if she is acting out of defense or something, again no one knew.

Together with Elsa's newly assigned partner, Alexei Cole, they began their investigation search and found a person of interest who may have been killing for years. While Elsa's mind is mostly filled with breaking the case and of her dying father, another part of her is tormented by her self-destructive past, her relationship with her sister and her late mother who used to be abusive and controlling when she was a girl.

Elsa is both a flawed and an intriguing character, and while the story sounds promising, I've to admit I lost my interest halfway through the book and subsequently I plodded along because I hate to DNF a book and wanted to give it a chance. I think one reason is I couldn't connect with the characters, in particularly Elsa since this is a book about her. I felt there was too little of the suspense part and more on her interactions with Alexei and her past (probably this is the first book but well, I'd have liked it more if there is a balance between the police procedural and Elsa's tormented past); which is not a fault but more of a different expectation on my end since I'd anticipated something more considering Elsa was pursuing a missing person case. There are mixed reviews of this book on Goodreads so obviously it is a matter of one's expectation and view.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Police procedural, Psychological Suspense 12 comments |

Drama Review: Criminal Minds (犯罪心理)

Melody

Based on the American television series of the same title, this Korean drama remake will satisfy anyone who loves a good, exciting police procedural and crime thrillers featuring a group of elite agents from the National Criminal Investigation (NCI) to solve crime cases through their expertise of criminal profiling, criminal psychology, white hacking and the like. The cases they solve range from domestic and violence to complex psychological ones.

As the agents work through their expertise in solving each case, a few also portray a personal and vulnerable side of them as some cases involve their friends and family members, or even having been gone through some horrific situations themselves which still left an impact on them before joining NCI.

Although each agent is brilliant in his/her own role, I've to say Team Captain Kang Ki-Hyung (starring Son Hyun-Joo) left a deep impression on me not only of his brilliant acting but also of his role as the lead profiler who guide his team through his sharp insight on how a criminal's mind works as well as offering support as and when needed. Other supporting roles such as profilers Kim Hyun-Joon (starring Lee Joon-Gi), Ha Sun-Woo (starring Moon Chae-Won), Dr Lee Han (starring Go Yoon); and white hacker Nana Hwang (starring Yoo-Sun) as well as the media specialist Yoo Min-Young (starring Lee Sun-Bin) complement the group and no one is a minor role in my opinion as each plays an important part in solving a case.

After watching this I've a deeper understanding of how a profiler works and I truly have great respect and admiration for them given the challenging tasks they have to face everything they solve a case.

© 2017 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.