Blog Tour | Book Review | Killed by Thomas Enger

Killed

by Thomas Enger

Translated by Kari Dickson

Orenda Books

Publication Date February 15, 2018 (UK) June 1, 2018 (US)

Pages : 309

Synopsis From Publisher : 

Henning Juul sits in a boat on a dark lake. A man with a gun sits opposite him. At the man’s feet is a body that will be soon be dumped into the water. Henning knows that the same fate awaits him. And he knows that it’s his own fault. Who started the fire that killed Henning’s young son? How is his sister, Trine, involved? Most importantly, who can be trusted? Packed with tension and unexpected twists, Killed is the long-waited finale of the internationally renowned series featuring conflicted, disillusioned but always dogged crime reporter Henning Juul, and one of the most chilling, dark and moving crime thrillers you may ever read.

After reading Burned, book one of the Henning Juul Series, Henning Juul immediately became one of my favorite protagonists of all time. With many scars, both physical and emotional, Henning embarks on a journey to find the person responsible for the death of his son, Jonas. Henning pursues all angles and leads no matter the consequences. Henning discovers many suspects and motives, his life being on the line more than once. In the final installment of this series, Killed we come to the conclusion of Henning’s journey for truth.

Throughout the Henning Juul Series, I have always found it interesting to follow a criminal investigation from the perspective of a journalist rather than a police officer. I enjoyed reading about the different methods used by journalists. Whereas police officers are able ask the tough and intrusive questions, journalists must have finesse and tact if they want answers. During an interview with a journalist, a person can leave whenever they choose; the same does not always apply during a police interview.

The energy in Killed is slightly different than other books in the series. There is a sense of urgency in Killed. It seems as if all the characters know that the end in quickly approaching. Many of characters are looking for answers to long held secrets and are willing to take whatever risks are needed to get them. Although there is a sense of urgency, the story did not feel rushed with a need to tie up loose ends.

The series focuses mainly on one crime - the arson that injured Henning and killed his son. One would think this would get boring or repetitive after maybe the first three books. This is not the case with the Henning Juul series. Henning Juul is a sympathetic and relatable character. The crippling loss he has suffered begs for resolution. I could not help but become invested in Henning. When he found a lead, I cheered for him or when a lead fell through, I felt for him. Enger has created a character whom has suffered an unimaginable tragedy, but has managed to momentarily set aside his grief to jump down a rabbit hole full of twists, turns, and greed. It is Henning’s relatability that makes his story so gripping and compelling.

I do recommend reading all four of the previous books in the series before starting Killed. The other books provide background into the characters closest to Henning. This background info will provide needed understanding of their relationships with Henning. I think readers will benefit and appreciate Henning’s determination and dedication if they have the details surrounding his investigation into the fire. I read all four books and I still had to refer to the character guide located at the beginning of the book, just to familiarize myself with the characters.

This was a bittersweet read for me; sad that we have arrived at the end of Henning’s journey but happy the series finished strong. Killed and the four previous books in the series are a must read for any fan of crime fiction. 

Lastly I want to give a huge thanks to Kari Dickson for a brilliant translation. In reading other books translated to English, I sometimes felt I was missing an important emotional/human element. Dickson expertly conveyed the darkness and sadness that surrounded Henning. Hats off to Kari Dickson!

**Thanks to Orenda Books for my free copy of Killed**

Murder and Moore Rating :

5 out of 5 Stars

Book Review | Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Force of Nature

by Jane Harper

Flatiron Books

Publication Date : February 6, 2018

Pages: 326

Synopsis From Publisher:

Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?

When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path.

But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

Force of Nature was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018. Last year after reading The Dry, the first book in the Aaron Falk series, I could hardly wait to read Force of Nature. Harper’s ability to draw the reader into the atmosphere of the characters is nothing short of amazing. Using vivid descriptions along with relatable feelings, Harper puts the reader in a situation in which they will ask themselves – what would I do if I was in this character’s position?

Five women embark on a corporate retreat in the bushlands of the Giralang Ranges in Australia. After three days, only four women emerge from the wilderness. The missing woman, Alice Russell is supposed to provide key evidence to Federal Agent Aaron Falk. Aaron is investigating Bailey Tennants, Alice’s place of employment. Without Alice’s evidence, Aaron’s case will flounder and it will be difficult to prove any illegal actions done by Bailey Tennants.  Aaron finds himself in a race against time and nature to find Alice and salvage his investigation.

We catch up with Federal Agent Aaron Falk shortly after the events in his home town, Kiewerra. Aaron is back in Melbourne, back to work, but he is still on the mend physically. Aaron is in the middle of a tense and high pressured investigation; however he seems more relaxed than he was in The Dry. Aaron is in his element, investigating white collar crimes; he is comfortable and more confident. In Force of Nature we get to see the full scope of Aaron’s investigative abilities. We also learn why chose Aaron chose to investigate white collar crime. The reason is very admirable and noble. The reason reinforced my belief that Aaron is not only a great investigator but a good man as well.

Force of Nature is set deep in the bushlands of Australia. The bushlands are described as dangerous and sometimes deadly. The five women on the retreat are surrounded by forest, water, and mud; as well as extremely cold weather. Harper is able to completely immerse the reader into the character’s environment. Harper expertly captures the feelings of fear felt by the five women as their panic starts to take hold. You can foresee the potential of savage acts as desperation and anger begin to surface.

Force of Nature is told from the alternating perspectives of Aaron’s investigation and each of the five women on the retreat. Harper gives plenty of background into the women. This made the story more relatable and allowed me to be able to connect with the women. Each woman is different - each with a very strong personality- dominant, passive, eager to please, motherly; there are so many personality characteristics, that any reader should be able to connect to one of the five women.

It’s very early in the year, but I feel very confident when stating, Force of Nature is one of my favorite reads of 2018. Harper tells a story of people in a terrifying situation but does so without gritty details and violence. Rather, Harper uses tension and anxiety to convey suspense and fear. After reading Force of Nature, I feel the same I felt after reading The Dry- I am on the edge of my seat waiting for book three.

**Thanks to Flatiron Books for my free copy of Force of Nature**

Murder and Moore Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

Blog Tour | Book Review | Blue Night by Simone Buchholz

Blue Night

by Simone Buchholz

Translated by Rachel Ward

Orenda Books

Publication Date : March 30, 2018

Pages : 376

Synopsis From Publisher:

After convicting a superior for corruption and shooting off a gangster’s crown jewels, the career of Hamburg’s most hard-bitten state prosecutor, Chastity Riley, has taken a nose dive: she has been transferred to the tedium of witness protection to prevent her making any more trouble. However, when she is assigned to the case of an anonymous man lying under police guard in hospital – almost every bone in his body broken, a finger cut off, and refusing to speak in anything other than riddles – Chastity’s instinct for the big, exciting case kicks in. Using all her powers of persuasion, she soon gains her charge’s confidence, and finds herself on the trail to Leipzig, a new ally, and a whole heap of lethal synthetic drugs. When she discovers that a friend and former colleague is trying to bring down Hamburg’s Albanian mafia kingpin single-handedly, it looks like Chas Riley’s dull life on witness protection really has been short-lived…

My initial thought after reading Blue Night was “I hope there is a sequel in the works for this book”. Blue Night is filled with shady characters and loads of unknown past events and circumstances. Not since The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor have I read a book with so many characters which I found so interesting and compelling. Blue Night is a fast paced, mysterious, riveting, read that will leave you satisfied yet wanting much more.

The characters in Blue Night are all complex and finagled into some sort of tragedy or a budding tragedy. In addition they are all friends of Chasity Riley. Although Chasity is the main character, she seems to have the least going on. Chasity is fresh off of a very turbulent period of her life but her friends have more than enough issues to keep her busy. Chasity although tough and brash at times is also compassionate and caring. She is loyal to her friends and tries to help them in any way she can. I suspect she is trying to reciprocate the kindness and love she received from her friends when she was going through a rough time.

Chasity Riley was once a tough, no nonsense prosecuting attorney in Hamburg, Germany. After convicting one of her bosses of corruption and a violent altercation with a suspect, she has been benched. Chasity has been assigned to Witness Protection. In Witness Protection, Chasity is responsible for people who were victims of a violent crime and survived the attacks. Chasity is assigned the case of a man named “Joe” who was severely beaten. Chasity’s prosecutorial instincts are soon kicked into high gear and she realizes there is a big story behind Joe’s beating.

The formatting for Blue Night is a bit different than other books I have read.  Between each chapter, there are flashbacks to each of the characters pasts. I have read books which featured flashbacks but these flashbacks are just glimpses; some are only a few sentences long. The flashbacks begin very early on in the story, before all of the characters have been introduced. This was a little confusing at first but once I met every character I was able to follow the formatting easily.

Buchholz managed to provide just enough info on each character to make them interesting yet mysterious. There are mentions of past events, enough info so the reader will get the jist of the character’s background but not many details. Usually I would find this lack of character development disappointing; instead I was intrigued and wanted to know more about each character. I hope Blue Night is not the last I read of Chasity Riley.

 **Thanks to Orenda Books for my free copy of Blue Night**

Murder and Moore Rating:

4 ½ out of 5 Stars

**CHECK OUT THE OTHER STOPS ON THE BLOG TOUR**

Book Review | The Dry (Aaron Falk # 1) by Jane Harper

The Dry (Aaron Falk # 1)

by Jane Harper

Flatiron Books

Publication Date : January 27, 2017

Pages : 336

I am very late to the party on this one since this book was published almost one year ago. However I enjoyed the story so much, I had to post a review. From page four, I was drawn into the story, invested in the characters, and felt compelled to continue.

Times are very hard for the town and people of Kiewarra; a small farming town about 4 hours from Melbourne. The town is in the middle of a drought which as destroyed most of the land. To say Kiewarra’s citizens are on edge would be an understatement. To make things worse, a well-known figure within the community, Luke Hadler has died under tragic circumstances.

Aaron Falk, Luke’s childhood best friend, now Federal Agent reluctantly returns for the funeral. Upon his arrival, Falk is drawn into an unknown yet familiar set of circumstances. He is soon reminded why he left Kiawarra.  Many long-held secrets are coming to the surface, some of them involving Falk and Luke. Falk joins the local police in the investigation surrounding Luke’s death.

Once Aaron arrives in his home town for the funeral, he is literally counting down the hours until he can leave. Despite his eagerness to leave, he does not need much convincing to stay. As the investigation heats up, some of his allies tell him to go, he stays. It seems as if he is in a battle with his heart and mind. His mind is telling him to go but his heart is leading him to stay to get to the bottom of Luke’s death. This made me wonder what his true motives were for staying, was he trying to prove a point or did really want to answers for Luke?

All the ingredients for my idea of a perfect crime book are found in The Dry. It is fast paced, full of mini cliff hangers, a police procedural, and full of suspense. There is also an element I have never come across in the past.  Throughout the story there are flash backs, but these flash backs are told by a neutral narrator, not from the perspective of the character. The story is told from one character’s perspective and the flash backs tell you what really happened. I really enjoyed the flash backs, they provided additional insight into Luke’s death as well as objective character development.

The most compelling aspect of this book is the atmosphere Harper has created. The heat that has engulfed this small community is a central character in the story. Harper is able to capture the desperation and sadness the citizens of Kiawarra are experiencing.  In the local school children draw pictures with sad faces, landscapes with brown grass, and pay tribute to pets that have died. The depiction of hot wind and dry leaves allow the reader to become completely immersed in the book. These depictions created feelings of sympathy and understanding for many of characters.

For almost a year this wonderful book sat on my bookshelf unread. I so regret not reading it sooner. Harper vividly illustrates a desolate community where many of the citizens seem to be on the verge of financial and emotional ruin. This illustration kept me hooked until the very last page and has made book two of this series (Force of Nature) one of my most anticipated releases for 2018.

Murder and Moore Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

Blog Tour | Book Review | Deep Blue Trouble by Steph Broadribb

Deep Blue Trouble

 by Steph Broadribb

Orenda Books

Publication Date : January 5, 2018 (UK) May 1, 2018 (US)

Pages: 320

Synopsis from Publisher:

Single-mother Florida bounty hunter Lori Anderson’s got an ocean of trouble on her hands. Her daughter Dakota is safe, but her cancer is threatening a comeback, and Lori needs JT—Dakota’s daddy and the man who taught Lori everything—alive and kicking. Problem is, he’s behind bars, and heading for death row. Desperate to save him, Lori does a deal, taking on off-the-books job from shady FBI agent Alex Monroe. Bring back on-the-run felon, Gibson "The Fish" Fletcher, and JT walks free. Following Fletcher from Florida to California, Lori teams up with local bounty hunter Dez McGregor and his team. But Dez works very differently to Lori, and the tension between them threatens to put the whole job in danger. With Monroe pressuring Lori for results, the clock ticking on JT’s life, and nothing about the Fletcher case adding up, Lori’s hitting walls at every turn. But this is one job she’s got to get right, or she’ll lose everything.

I am beyond excited to be participating in this Blog Tour. Orenda is one of my favorite publishers and I am so honored to be included. Special thanks to Anne Cater and Karen Sullivan for extending the opportunity.

2017 was the year I discovered I love action thrillers, a genre I did not think I would like. Clearly I was wrong. Lori Anderson is one of the reasons I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. Deep Blue Trouble is a thrilling action packed story of a woman driven to extremes by one of the most basic human instincts, protecting her family.

Bounty hunter Lori Anderson has two problems. Her daughter Dakota is in remission from cancer, which could rear its ugly head at any moment. The only possible way to save Dakota’s life should the cancer reemerge would be a bone marrow transfer from her father JT.  JT is in prison and could be facing the death penalty in Florida. In order to save JT and her daughter, Lori makes an unofficial deal with a person she does not fully trust. Lori must find Gibson “The Fish” Fletcher. Lori is familiar with Fletcher, but leads on his location are limited. We join Lori as she tries to hunt down Fletcher in unfamiliar territory and with limited resources.  

Deep Blue Trouble is the follow up story to book one in the series, Deep Down Dead. In Deep Down Dead we read exclusively from Lori’s point of view. In Deep Blue Trouble we get to know JT. In the first book, JT was very elusive. I was not sure I could trust him or if I even liked him. In many ways Lori showed she was unsure of JT as well.  Reading from JT’s perspective allowed me to get to know him and finally find out his true motives.

Lori is not the same person we met in book one. In Deep Down Dead she is focused and calculated. In Deep Blue Trouble, her desperation is showing; she is reckless and scared. While she has every right to be scared and desperate, these feelings are causing her to lose focus. She realizes this is happening but she is unable to regain her focus. Lori tries to reflect on lessons and learned practices (trust no one, work alone) from her mentor JT. These earlier lessons further complicate her situation. When JT was training Lori to become a bounty hunter, the teachings were based on neither of them having anything to lose. To me JT’s earlier lessons did not apply; Lori and JT both have everything to lose. Trying to apply her methods with these new circumstances was the biggest hurdle Lori had to overcome.

Broadribb introduces some new characters in book two. I really enjoyed reading how Lori interacted with other people and how other people reacted to her. In book one, most of the people Lori meets are criminals. In book two she meets people who are not criminals and could become allies. I found it very interesting that her attitude towards both criminals and potential allies were pretty much the same.

All though this is an action thriller, it is loaded with feelings of love and sacrifice. The author perfectly blends a story full of high anxiety with just the right amount of emotion. When you remove all the action and suspense from the story you will find a very basic premise - a woman who loves her family and will to do anything to protect them. I cannot think of anyone who would be unable to relate to Lori.  Deep Blue trouble is action packed, exhilarating, fast paced, and full of heart. Fans of James Patterson’s Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series, as well as Dean Koontz’s Jane Hawk series will certainly love Lori Anderson.

**Thanks to Orenda Books for my free copy of Deep Blue Trouble**

Murder and Moore Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

**CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE BLOG TOUR**

AUTHOR BIO:

Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. Most
of her working life has been spent between the UK and USA. As her alter ego –
Crime Thriller Girl – she indulges her love of all things crime fiction by blogging
at www.crimethrillergirl.com, where she interviews authors and reviews the
latest releases. Steph is an alumni of the MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction)
at City University London, and she trained as a bounty hunter in California. She
lives in Buckinghamshire surrounded by horses, cows and chickens. Her debut
thriller, Deep Down Dead, was shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Awards in
two categories, and hit number one on the UK and AU kindle charts.

January TBR

Happy New Year!

January is shaping up to be a fine month for the crime fiction genre. The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor (Releases 1/9/18), The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (Releases 1/2/18), and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (Releases 1/9/18) are just a few titles I am sure will make a huge splash this month. I was able to complete my December TBR as well as finish up books left over from my November list. So I am bringing in the new year on a good note. I'm excited to get started on my January book pile and I am hoping to sneak in a few more!

Click a picture below for the publisher’s synopsis and a brief overview of why I am looking forward to reading each book . 

Happy reading!!!