The Blurb:
The light in her wide brown eyes dimmed as she drew her last breath. She might have been beautiful lying there on the floor, if it wasn’t for the purple marks on her neck and the angry red line on her finger where her wedding band used to be…
When Jeanine Hammond is found dead in a hotel in the picture-perfect town of Oakhust, newly-promoted Detective Jo Fournier is thrown into a disturbing case. Who would murder this shy, loving wife and leave her body posed like a ballerina?
Jo wants to know why Jeanine’s husband is so controlling about money, and where Jeanine’s wedding ring is, but before she and her team can get close to the truth, another woman is found strangled in a hotel, arms placed gracefully above her head like a dancer.
While digging through old case files, Jo makes a terrifying link to a series of cold cases: each victim bears the same strangulation marks. But the FBI won’t take Jo seriously, and if she disobeys direct orders by investigating the killings outside of her jurisdiction, it will mean the end of the career she’s already sacrificed so much for, even her relationship.
Just as Jo is beginning to lose hope, she finds messages on the victims’ computers that make her question whether these small-town women were hiding big lies. Jo thinks this is the missing link between the victims, but she knows the killer is moments away from selecting his next victim. Will it lead her to the most twisted killer of her career in time, or will another innocent life be lost?
My Review:
MM Chouinard is a new name to me, but having read this, I am certainly keen to read other work by her.
Jo Fournier has recently been promoted to Lieutenant and questioning the decision, as she now spends most of her time behind a desk and not out in the field investigating. The murder of Jeannie Hammond enables her to get back out there. She soon discovers other similar cases, but her theory of a serial killer is dismissed by both her own superiors, and the FBI. Her only support comes from her previous partner Arnett, and his new partner Lopez. Together they continue investigating the case, which for a long time seems completely unsolvable.
Jo is a great character. Tenacious, thorough and dedicated to the job, everything else in her life suffers. She doesn't really have any social life and her lack of husband is a huge disappointment to her mother. She comes across a s very real. Arnett also stood out for me. A straight up guy, totally supportive of Jo and appreciative of the pressures of her new job. They come across as genuine friends who totally respect each other. Martin was a really interesting character as you will see if you read the book. Diana worked less well, for me at least.
The descriptions of the murders are very detailed, but not particularly gruesome, so no need to worry if you're a little squeamish. The reader knows the thoughts and twisted logic of the killer as he sets up and carries out the killing. He is very precise and that is reflected in the writing. There is a beauty to the description too. It's hard to explain, but you'll know what I mean if you read it.
One thing I found fascinating was the lead up to the murders. All communications are done online, with initial contact made through an online multi player fantasy game, where other players can be anywhere in the world. Their in-game characters meet and it goes from there. This is a world I know nothing about, despite being the mother of two teenage boys! The level of detail given in the book would suggest the author is perhaps herself a gamer, or she has done some very in depth research. I enjoyed learning about that other world.
The pacing is good, there is enough action to hold the interest and I always wanted to turn the page to find out what happened next. I did work out the ending, but not until it was quite close, and it didn't spoil my enjoyment. Would happily recommend.
MM Chouinard is a new name to me, but having read this, I am certainly keen to read other work by her.
Jo Fournier has recently been promoted to Lieutenant and questioning the decision, as she now spends most of her time behind a desk and not out in the field investigating. The murder of Jeannie Hammond enables her to get back out there. She soon discovers other similar cases, but her theory of a serial killer is dismissed by both her own superiors, and the FBI. Her only support comes from her previous partner Arnett, and his new partner Lopez. Together they continue investigating the case, which for a long time seems completely unsolvable.
Jo is a great character. Tenacious, thorough and dedicated to the job, everything else in her life suffers. She doesn't really have any social life and her lack of husband is a huge disappointment to her mother. She comes across a s very real. Arnett also stood out for me. A straight up guy, totally supportive of Jo and appreciative of the pressures of her new job. They come across as genuine friends who totally respect each other. Martin was a really interesting character as you will see if you read the book. Diana worked less well, for me at least.
The descriptions of the murders are very detailed, but not particularly gruesome, so no need to worry if you're a little squeamish. The reader knows the thoughts and twisted logic of the killer as he sets up and carries out the killing. He is very precise and that is reflected in the writing. There is a beauty to the description too. It's hard to explain, but you'll know what I mean if you read it.
One thing I found fascinating was the lead up to the murders. All communications are done online, with initial contact made through an online multi player fantasy game, where other players can be anywhere in the world. Their in-game characters meet and it goes from there. This is a world I know nothing about, despite being the mother of two teenage boys! The level of detail given in the book would suggest the author is perhaps herself a gamer, or she has done some very in depth research. I enjoyed learning about that other world.
The pacing is good, there is enough action to hold the interest and I always wanted to turn the page to find out what happened next. I did work out the ending, but not until it was quite close, and it didn't spoil my enjoyment. Would happily recommend.
The Author:
M.M. Chouinard's first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity's sake, she released them. She's currently at work on her seventh novel.
Author Social Media Links:
Website: www.mmchouinard.com
Thanks so much for your review! And I'm so glad to hear figuring out the twist didn't ruin it for you, because that's always a big worry. I tried to write it so there would still be suspense for the ones who figured it out, but it's always so hard to know if it works! <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure! No, it didn't ruin things for me at all - I worked it out very late. I read a lot of crime and psychological thrillers - sometimes I work them out, sometimes I don't! Still enjoy them.
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