Read in 2020 - 18, 19

# 18: Tar Heart

by Mira Gibson

Ten years ago, Holly and Lucas had a one-night stand. Neither was ever able to forget the other, but since Holly disappeared before Lucas woke up, there has been no contact.

Now, Detective Lucas York has recently been transfered to Center Harbor Police Department and moved out of town to the rural area around the lake, seemingly to get away from the stress of town life. Or is there more in his past to flee from?

His plan of a quieter life is shattered soon, though, when he is called to investigate the murder of a young woman who was shot while out on the frozen lake. Lucas arrives at the house to find the twin sister of the victim waiting inside – no other than Holly.

As the investigation unfolds, more questions come up than are answered. What does Holly know about her sister’s life that could lead to her being killed? Do the best babysitter in town and her friend have something to do with it? Why does that friend know Lucas’ nickname, and seems strangely familiar to him? How are the victim’s estranged husband and his parents involved? Is the dead woman’s cocaine addiction at the root of it all?

When the 4-year-old son of the murdered woman, now in Holly’s care, disappears, Lucas and Holly know time is running out. They do everything they can to solve the crime, but do they really want to know all the answers?

I found much of this book hard to relate to. For instance, Holly detests her sister’s drug addiction, and yet, after her death, she tries the white powder herself (and not just once) – to „feel what her sister felt, to be part of her life“. It seems unlikely that anyone would try drugs for such a reason, especially not when they were so completely against it in the first place, and now have to look after a young child AND play an integral part in a murder investigation.

Having said that, unlike many other crime stories, I found this one not easy to guess at, and the pace was gripping enough to keep me guessing and reading until the end.

The book is subtitled „A New Hampshire Mystery Book 3“, but I doubt I will try to find Books 1 and 2 of the series. As you have probably guessed, it was a free download from the Kindle shop.

 

# 19: The Unprintable Big Clock Chronicle

by Jill Winters; Book 1 in the Caitlyn Rocket Mystery Series

This – another free Kindle book - was more enjoyable than my previous read, and kept me well entertained over several train trips.
I realised later that it would have made a nice pre-Christmas read, but never mind; I've read it now.

Caitlyn has moved to the small town of Big Clock half a year ago and is glad to have her job at the local paper, the Big Clock Chronicle. Most of her work is general office stuff, but she is an aspiring journalist and wants to write more for her paper, prove to her boss that she can do better than sorting through emails and making coffee. She sees her chance when a seemingly pointless burglary at an office coincides with the sudden quitting of two of that company’s staff, and the company decide not to have the police investigate the burglary.

Between her preparations for Christmas, caring for her dog, trying to appease her over-sensitive neighbour and working at her daytime job, Caitlyn goes to great lengths to find out more about the burglary and the women who have quit and seemingly fallen off the planet since then. Needless to say, she gets into all sorts of embarrassing and potentially dangerous situations – and even her best friend has a hard time following some of her theories about the case.

In the end, though, Caitlyn unties all the knots, and it comes to a classic show-down. The appreciative reader learns the whole truth, and for most of the story, it was easy to like Caitlyn and care about what was going to happen next. It was also refreshingly free from any romantic involvements on Caitlyn's side - there is a heroine who does not think her life is incomplete without a gorgeous man by her side.

Editing was alright, but could have been better. Well, it was for free, so I best not complain. If I should happen to find more of Caitlyn Rocket’s adventures for free, I’ll probably read them.