The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
No Stranger to Death by Janet O’Kane
Some secrets can be deadly . . .
The featureless corpse lay like a grotesque department-store mannequin, elbows and knees flexed, fists clenched. Wisps of smoke rose from its still-burning torso.
Recently-widowed GP Zoe Moreland really wishes she’d chosen another route to walk her dog on November 6th. Had they gone away from the village, Mac could not have led her to the body lying in the remains of a Guy Fawkes bonfire.
Zoe’s move from an English city to the Scottish Borders was meant to be a fresh start among strangers unaware of her past. Instead, she is thrust into the limelight by her grisly discovery and gets caught up in the resulting murder investigation. Then someone else dies unexpectedly and Zoe herself narrowly escapes death.
Determined not to become the killer’s next victim, she digs beneath the tranquil surface of the close knit community to find out who is committing these horrible acts. But uncovering other people’s secrets puts Zoe in even more danger . . .
My thoughts;
“Some secrets can be deadly . . . ”
And this book is filled with them!
Recently widowed GP Zoe Moreland may have moved to the Scottish Borders for a fresh start, she may have a wonderful dog and a great best friend in what at first sight appears to be a quaint village, but appearances are deceptive.
O’Kane interweaves plot threads and characters seamlessly, keeping the idyllic feeling of country life intact as some rather dark subject matters are explored. Having the local GP as the protagonist rather than an investigating police officer has you within the bosom of the village life and people, rather than at the sharp end of any procedural activity and this works wonderfully well.
Just don’t let country life make you comfortable though. The darkness in the book surprised me.
It’s a brilliantly assured debut novel and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
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Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – A fine review, for which thanks. It is interesting isn’t it how often (at least in fiction) that supposedly ‘perfect country life’ actually hides a lot of sadness and sorrow. I may come back to this and look it up when I’m ready for a darker novel; this one does sound compelling.
Jane Isaac says
Hi Rebecca, I’m half way through this book at the moment and really enjoying. Interesting to read your take on it. Thanks for sharing:) Jx
Linda King says
This sounds really good – will be checking it out!
Linda King says
Checked it out right away as I loved the sound of it. Just read the first chapter on my Kindle. I’ve got the feeling it’s one I’m going to enjoy! Thanks, Rebecca!
DJ Kirkby says
I would like to read this! Could we have it as one of our Crime Book Club choices for January?