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janinetrimble's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mommasaystoread's review
3.0
The subject matter surrounding the case in Turning Secrets is not only disturbing, it's also current in today's world of high crime rates and drug abuse. It's a scary thing to think about the number of young girls that are preyed upon by older, unscrupulous men. That said, I felt like so much more could've been done with this story. There are quite a lot of characters to keep up with, and with so many POV changes throughout the book, I had a hard time getting to know any of the characters enough to really become invested in them. This is my first experience with this series, so I'm going to assume that a lot of character building was done in earlier books and base my rating on the mystery in this one. While it moved a bit slower than I care for, it did hold my interest enough to keep me reading. I wanted to know what happened to Nadia, and I wanted to see how things turned out for Vanessa and for Dawn. The biggest downfall for me was the amount of what felt like filler before getting back to the meat of the story. This one is certainly more procedural than action, which doesn't really pick up until close to the end of the book. That's not a problem for me except that I would've liked a little more on the procedure. I'm sure those who are invested in this series and know the characters will get more out of this one than I did as parts of it did feel like an ongoing story. However, it is what it is, and this is just my 2 cents worth. The story on its own is still worth the read, but I would recommend checking out the earlier books first. All in all, Turning Secrets is a decent crime drama with a thought-provoking case.
altidlaesende's review
2.0
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Firstly, I have not read any of the other books in this series, so maybe that is some of the explanation for the book not impressing me. From the description, the book seems to be very suspenseful while tackling a very relevant subject. However, I found it confusing and not gripping at all. The part of the story that caught me the most was following Dawn - and that is why I will give it 2 stars.
Firstly, I have not read any of the other books in this series, so maybe that is some of the explanation for the book not impressing me. From the description, the book seems to be very suspenseful while tackling a very relevant subject. However, I found it confusing and not gripping at all. The part of the story that caught me the most was following Dawn - and that is why I will give it 2 stars.
mistylyn's review
4.0
Turning Secrets is the most recent installment (Book Six) in the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series by author Brendan Chapman. It is nothing short of an incredible read, with a plausible plot, well-developed characters, and detailed settings that cleverly reflect the tone.
Those familiar with the series will most certainly recognize many of the characters. MC Officer Kala Stonechild and colleagues return to solve a crime, this time called upon to investigate the death of a young mother, Nadia Armstrong. At first blush, it appears Armstrong has taken her own life by leaping from the sixth floor of a construction site. Closer examination, however, reveals injuries inconsistent with a fall, and the entire Kingston Major Crimes team soon becomes convinced that what looks like a suicide is actually a murder. The closer the team gets to solving the case, the more dangerous it becomes, and the race to the finish is one that is full of suspense and unexpected revelations.
Chapman opens with alternating chapters written in third person, each initially focusing upon a different narrative. For those unfamiliar with the series, it can be a bit overwhelming, as nearly twenty characters are introduced in just the first twenty or so pages. As seemingly unrelated scenes play out, however, the characters settle in, and the reader is drawn into a variety of story lines that eventually collide. At the heart is the recurring theme of unscrupulous men who prey upon vulnerable women. Casualties of domestic abuse, human trafficking and prostitution are all painted with gentle and forgiving brush strokes that elicit both sympathy and empathy from the reader. Chapman brings to life these characters in a way that guides the reader to fully invest and be moved by the circumstances. One can’t help but feel the desperation of the single mother, the troubled teen or the wayward father, as they are brought together like interlocking puzzle pieces until finally the larger picture is revealed.
The final genius of the book is in Chapman’s ability to create settings that brilliantly reflect the tenor of each scene. The security of Stonechild’s home is supported by the soothing descriptions of the water and Canadian wilderness surrounding it. The stark nature of an apartment building adds to the tragedy of the victim who lived there. The chaos and filth of a house reinforces the brutality of the man who calls it home. This pattern is one that, once recognized, adds to a fuller appreciation of the novel.
Overall, this was a wonderful read that can be equally enjoyed by those who follow the series and those who are new to it. It stands alone, though background knowledge provided in previous installments will add depth and continuity to the experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC for review. I am already looking forward to the next book!
Those familiar with the series will most certainly recognize many of the characters. MC Officer Kala Stonechild and colleagues return to solve a crime, this time called upon to investigate the death of a young mother, Nadia Armstrong. At first blush, it appears Armstrong has taken her own life by leaping from the sixth floor of a construction site. Closer examination, however, reveals injuries inconsistent with a fall, and the entire Kingston Major Crimes team soon becomes convinced that what looks like a suicide is actually a murder. The closer the team gets to solving the case, the more dangerous it becomes, and the race to the finish is one that is full of suspense and unexpected revelations.
Chapman opens with alternating chapters written in third person, each initially focusing upon a different narrative. For those unfamiliar with the series, it can be a bit overwhelming, as nearly twenty characters are introduced in just the first twenty or so pages. As seemingly unrelated scenes play out, however, the characters settle in, and the reader is drawn into a variety of story lines that eventually collide. At the heart is the recurring theme of unscrupulous men who prey upon vulnerable women. Casualties of domestic abuse, human trafficking and prostitution are all painted with gentle and forgiving brush strokes that elicit both sympathy and empathy from the reader. Chapman brings to life these characters in a way that guides the reader to fully invest and be moved by the circumstances. One can’t help but feel the desperation of the single mother, the troubled teen or the wayward father, as they are brought together like interlocking puzzle pieces until finally the larger picture is revealed.
The final genius of the book is in Chapman’s ability to create settings that brilliantly reflect the tenor of each scene. The security of Stonechild’s home is supported by the soothing descriptions of the water and Canadian wilderness surrounding it. The stark nature of an apartment building adds to the tragedy of the victim who lived there. The chaos and filth of a house reinforces the brutality of the man who calls it home. This pattern is one that, once recognized, adds to a fuller appreciation of the novel.
Overall, this was a wonderful read that can be equally enjoyed by those who follow the series and those who are new to it. It stands alone, though background knowledge provided in previous installments will add depth and continuity to the experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC for review. I am already looking forward to the next book!
pjj's review
I really liked this story, although there were so many threads to keep in order. It became convoluted at times and I had to backtrack to keep track of characters and relationships. But overall it was a fast-paced story with some depth.
fluffyturtle's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mabookyard's review
4.0
My Rating : 4.25
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Thank you so much Netgalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.
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When I requested this book for review, I didn't realize this was a part of a series and that too the 6th book! So I was quite skeptical about the plotline since I would be missing 5 books worth of it. Turns out, it's not actually a series and like any murder mystery novel, it's following our detectives and deals with different cases.
.
First of all, the plot of this book was really interesting and I have to give kudos to the author for the placement of the events that gave a really good vibe! I am a huge fan of murder mysteries and I was surprised at times by the way the scenes were described or the way the flow of the story went !
.
Second of all, can we just talk about the writing and the ending? Not to spoil, but I think I am going to start with the first book and read every single book in the series to satisfy my little brain and give me some hangover cure! But that doesn't mean it wans't quite predictable at times and few characters were very cliche.
.
Overall, this book had an amazing amount of gripping effect, the plotline was amazing, the way the story flowed was really good and the characters were all needed whenever they were and not just over used. If you are a fan of murder mysteries or not, I definitely recommend reading this book to just enjoy the feel of it !
.
Thank you so much Netgalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.
.
When I requested this book for review, I didn't realize this was a part of a series and that too the 6th book! So I was quite skeptical about the plotline since I would be missing 5 books worth of it. Turns out, it's not actually a series and like any murder mystery novel, it's following our detectives and deals with different cases.
.
First of all, the plot of this book was really interesting and I have to give kudos to the author for the placement of the events that gave a really good vibe! I am a huge fan of murder mysteries and I was surprised at times by the way the scenes were described or the way the flow of the story went !
.
Second of all, can we just talk about the writing and the ending? Not to spoil, but I think I am going to start with the first book and read every single book in the series to satisfy my little brain and give me some hangover cure! But that doesn't mean it wans't quite predictable at times and few characters were very cliche.
.
Overall, this book had an amazing amount of gripping effect, the plotline was amazing, the way the story flowed was really good and the characters were all needed whenever they were and not just over used. If you are a fan of murder mysteries or not, I definitely recommend reading this book to just enjoy the feel of it !
debyc's review
4.0
"Turning Secrets" is the first Stonechild and Rouleau mystery that I have read- how have I not found this series before? I really enjoy episodic, procedural cop shows-- this felt like one of those in book form! In other words, an overarching storyline, but a series that is easy to jump into randomly and not feel too lost in.
I never read series out of order, and I was afraid that it would inhibit my understanding of the story. It's totally possible to pick this story up and have fun with it- I did! I would still recommend it from the beginning though, as I feel like some of the relationships between the characters would have been explained in previous books. I will definitely be going back and picking up the first one.
As someone jumping into the story for the first time, the characters were a bit difficult to follow. The author sometimes mentions the character's names by their first names, and sometimes by their last names. I couldn't figure out if she did last names within the detective's precinct, and first names outside of it-- but at times, it got a bit distracting. It took me a while to know which character was which, but once I did (about a third of the way through), it was a little easier to understand what was going on.
Aside from that minor issue, I really enjoyed this mystery! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dundurn for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I am so happy to have discovered this series and look forward to seeing more of it!
I never read series out of order, and I was afraid that it would inhibit my understanding of the story. It's totally possible to pick this story up and have fun with it- I did! I would still recommend it from the beginning though, as I feel like some of the relationships between the characters would have been explained in previous books. I will definitely be going back and picking up the first one.
As someone jumping into the story for the first time, the characters were a bit difficult to follow. The author sometimes mentions the character's names by their first names, and sometimes by their last names. I couldn't figure out if she did last names within the detective's precinct, and first names outside of it-- but at times, it got a bit distracting. It took me a while to know which character was which, but once I did (about a third of the way through), it was a little easier to understand what was going on.
Aside from that minor issue, I really enjoyed this mystery! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dundurn for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I am so happy to have discovered this series and look forward to seeing more of it!
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