readwithmekt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Shana Merchant thought that her career as a detective was over, that is until she moved to a small town in upstate New York. Now she is back on the job and a murder is called in. Shana and her partner Tim travel to Tern to begin solving either the disappearance or murder of one of the Sinclair family members. Once on the island they are there to stay, due to terrible weather. Not only fighting the weather but also the lies and deception of the Sinclair’s and their guests. Will Shana and Tim be able to solve the case before it is too late for them?
I have had Death in the Family on my shelves for far too long! This is a great locked door mystery. I loved the setting of the story and the influence the island had on the story development. The pace was medium and the chapters varied in length. There were a ton of twists and turns and I can honestly say that I did not see the ending coming. There were a ton of characters that were introduced, and I will honestly say that there were times when I was struggling to keep all the character names straight.
I thought that this was an interesting murder mystery. I really enjoyed the way that the story unfolded. I enjoyed Shana as the lead detective. With that being said there is still a ton about Shana that I am in the dark, which if I knew I think would help me better understand her character overall. I am hoping that the second book in the series will provide more information on her background.
The book deals with mental health issues related to a traumatic work experience. I can say that I found it interesting how this situation was dealt with in the book. I found myself wanting to know more about Shana and her fiance’s initial interactions. I find the idea of a therapist forcing a specific type of diagnosis that may not be fully accurate a really interesting idea for a full book.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I felt that there was a lot going on for the length of the book. While this kept my mind engaged, I can also say that there were times when I had to go back and reread sections because I wanted to make sure I knew where the information belonged, in the past or the present. I have the second book in the series on my shelf and I will be picking it up soon.
Have you read Death in the Family? Did you like it?
catiesbooksandthings's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great who done it mystery and my second Shana Merchant book. I know this is book one in the series, but I had received an eARC from Netgalley of Devils at the Door and read that one first, which I loved.
Shana Merchant is a veteran Police Detective who recently transferred from the NYPD to a small quiet town in the Thousand Island area of upstate New York. This quiet town is her fiancé's hometown and after surviving a brutal abduction by a serial killer, it was decided to move to a more low key area.
Shana and her "partner" Tim Wellington are called to a private island because there is a man missing and possibly dead, during a dangerous storm. The island is owned by the wealthy Sinclair family. Merchant and Wellington arrive to a bed covered in blood and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge. Tim thinks that they just are dealing with a simple runaway, while Shana suspects murder.
Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim and no other police help, Shana is having to trust herself and her instincts where were destroyed by her abduction. Time is ticking for Shana to find the killer before they strike again.
This is a classic locked-room mystery and I was hooked from the beginning. I could not wait to find out who the killer was and Tessa Wegert definitely kept me guessing. There was also a bomb that was dropped at the end that I was not expecting and just made this story that much more wild. Between the toxic family dynamics and the dirty little secrets unfold, this book was a fantastic, fast paced and just a wonderful and exciting read. I cannot wait to start The Dead Season!
Shana Merchant is a veteran Police Detective who recently transferred from the NYPD to a small quiet town in the Thousand Island area of upstate New York. This quiet town is her fiancé's hometown and after surviving a brutal abduction by a serial killer, it was decided to move to a more low key area.
Shana and her "partner" Tim Wellington are called to a private island because there is a man missing and possibly dead, during a dangerous storm. The island is owned by the wealthy Sinclair family. Merchant and Wellington arrive to a bed covered in blood and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge. Tim thinks that they just are dealing with a simple runaway, while Shana suspects murder.
Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim and no other police help, Shana is having to trust herself and her instincts where were destroyed by her abduction. Time is ticking for Shana to find the killer before they strike again.
This is a classic locked-room mystery and I was hooked from the beginning. I could not wait to find out who the killer was and Tessa Wegert definitely kept me guessing. There was also a bomb that was dropped at the end that I was not expecting and just made this story that much more wild. Between the toxic family dynamics and the dirty little secrets unfold, this book was a fantastic, fast paced and just a wonderful and exciting read. I cannot wait to start The Dead Season!
tanyak0203's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story. Not many likeable characters.
I didn't like that the fiancee was clearly no good, and it took the main detective most of the book to realize it. I also didn't like that she kept questioning and second guessing herself - it's a perfectly valid part of the characterization, but one I dislike.
I didn't like that the fiancee was clearly no good, and it took the main detective most of the book to realize it. I also didn't like that she kept questioning and second guessing herself - it's a perfectly valid part of the characterization, but one I dislike.
406knits's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jenmurray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
justjess79's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun, classic “who-done-it” book. Great twist at the end. And the setting made it very CLUE-esque.
denaiir's review against another edition
3.0
this one had a lot of highs and lows but unfortunately it was too convoluted for me to give it a geat rating, especially Shana Merchant's realizations about her relationship.
jena_wren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fantastic debut. Loved reading about my home, the Thousand Islands and recognizing the different places mentioned. I didn’t guess whodunnit until the very end!