swfountaine's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
reallyintoreading's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
heathersbike's review against another edition
These books are so good! A little darker than I usually read. I've been listening to them on audio but I'm wondering if I should read at least one. But the reader is so good!
Well. Careful what you wish for. The library doesn't have the audiobook. And, to add insult to injury, it's a 7 week wait. Hmph.
Well. Careful what you wish for. The library doesn't have the audiobook. And, to add insult to injury, it's a 7 week wait. Hmph.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
If you kill a butterfly you will change someone's fate. That's what the proverb says, and maybe, just maybe, it's true.
The detectives Stonechild and Rouleau have two cases to investigate; the murder of Leah Sampron, a worker in a helpline at the university, and an abusive husband. Is there something more in these cases that what it seems at the beginning? Can Stonechild and Rouleau solve them before it's too late?
If a woman goes to the police and says that has an abusive husband, do they believe her or believe the husband who says is innocent? There are so many women murdered these days in husband hands that, if it's not true, no one will believe the innocent husband. How can a woman report mistreatment without being true?
How a mother or a father can be abusive with their children? If they don't want them, they can abort or give the child to adoption. The child doesn't have to stand the fault of the parents problems.
In Butterfly Kills, you will not have a simple detective case, you will have to think about some of these questions too, and decide what would you do in their skin.
Will you kill the butterfly or let it fly free?
The detectives Stonechild and Rouleau have two cases to investigate; the murder of Leah Sampron, a worker in a helpline at the university, and an abusive husband. Is there something more in these cases that what it seems at the beginning? Can Stonechild and Rouleau solve them before it's too late?
If a woman goes to the police and says that has an abusive husband, do they believe her or believe the husband who says is innocent? There are so many women murdered these days in husband hands that, if it's not true, no one will believe the innocent husband. How can a woman report mistreatment without being true?
How a mother or a father can be abusive with their children? If they don't want them, they can abort or give the child to adoption. The child doesn't have to stand the fault of the parents problems.
In Butterfly Kills, you will not have a simple detective case, you will have to think about some of these questions too, and decide what would you do in their skin.
Will you kill the butterfly or let it fly free?
emp1234's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this one. I started this right after Cold Mourning since I really liked that one too. I enjoy how Chapman starts off by throwing a bunch of seemingly unrelated characters out there and brings it all together for the ending. I like the Stonechild character and will keep moving forward with this series.
myrdyr's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the Canadian setting, and the well-developed characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
In which Kala Stonechild’s dark life becomes even darker and more difficult
If you’re a fan of contemporary mysteries, suspense thrillers or police procedurals, then it’s a pretty solid bet that you’ve encountered a much used plot device trope. C’mon … admit it! You know the drill! Multiple unrelated story lines, victims and crimes, apparently separated by light years of facts, evidence and circumstance, slowly evolve, weave, intertwine and merge into a single story line that the embattled protagonist solves with a combination of perseverance, dogged police work, brilliant insight and a measure of luck and happenstance. In fact, it’s a fairly good wager that, off the top of your head, you’d be hard pressed to come up with the name of a recently published novel that comprised a single crime and linear plot line, without a furrowed forehead and considerable thought.
BUTTERFLY KILLS is certainly not going to qualify. But, that said, BUTTERFLY KILLS is a contemporary mystery that develops and draws on contemporary issues and personalities. It's a definite winner and a gripping page-turner!
Leah Sampson, a psychology graduate student who selflessly toils for hours manning Kingston’s Queens University student help line “talking students through school jitters, boyfriend troubles, and suicidal thoughts” meets a slow gruesome death by torture at the hands of what has to be a psychopath. Elsewhere Della Munroe kills her husband obviously defending herself and her son when the husband violates a protection court order imposed after a brutal spousal rape. Last but not least, Dalal Shahan, a troubled Muslim teenager, works to protect herself from domestic sexual assault and to save her younger mentally challenged sister from being trafficked into a child marriage to a perverted elderly suitor.
In this, the second installment of the Rouleau-Stonechild pairing, Chapman gives Rouleau a quiet offstage role taking care of his aging father while Stonechild works front and center allowing her involvement with the murders to lead her into an ultimate resolution of her decision about where to lead her adult life after a typically troubled aboriginal childhood.
Plot development, character development, dialogue, story timing, typical red herrings and dead ends, atmosphere and location – all well done. BUTTERFLY KILLS (despite the fact that I have absolutely no idea what that title means??) is easy to recommend and I look forward with considerable eagerness to #3 in the series, TUMBLED GRAVES.
Paul Weiss
If you’re a fan of contemporary mysteries, suspense thrillers or police procedurals, then it’s a pretty solid bet that you’ve encountered a much used plot device trope. C’mon … admit it! You know the drill! Multiple unrelated story lines, victims and crimes, apparently separated by light years of facts, evidence and circumstance, slowly evolve, weave, intertwine and merge into a single story line that the embattled protagonist solves with a combination of perseverance, dogged police work, brilliant insight and a measure of luck and happenstance. In fact, it’s a fairly good wager that, off the top of your head, you’d be hard pressed to come up with the name of a recently published novel that comprised a single crime and linear plot line, without a furrowed forehead and considerable thought.
BUTTERFLY KILLS is certainly not going to qualify. But, that said, BUTTERFLY KILLS is a contemporary mystery that develops and draws on contemporary issues and personalities. It's a definite winner and a gripping page-turner!
Leah Sampson, a psychology graduate student who selflessly toils for hours manning Kingston’s Queens University student help line “talking students through school jitters, boyfriend troubles, and suicidal thoughts” meets a slow gruesome death by torture at the hands of what has to be a psychopath. Elsewhere Della Munroe kills her husband obviously defending herself and her son when the husband violates a protection court order imposed after a brutal spousal rape. Last but not least, Dalal Shahan, a troubled Muslim teenager, works to protect herself from domestic sexual assault and to save her younger mentally challenged sister from being trafficked into a child marriage to a perverted elderly suitor.
In this, the second installment of the Rouleau-Stonechild pairing, Chapman gives Rouleau a quiet offstage role taking care of his aging father while Stonechild works front and center allowing her involvement with the murders to lead her into an ultimate resolution of her decision about where to lead her adult life after a typically troubled aboriginal childhood.
Plot development, character development, dialogue, story timing, typical red herrings and dead ends, atmosphere and location – all well done. BUTTERFLY KILLS (despite the fact that I have absolutely no idea what that title means??) is easy to recommend and I look forward with considerable eagerness to #3 in the series, TUMBLED GRAVES.
Paul Weiss
iffer's review against another edition
4.0
I like the characters of Stonechilde and Rouleau, as well as the fact that this series attempts to portray different complex characters and braid their strands together.
I do feel slightly icky about the fact that the author is a white-presenting woman who is writing an indigenous main character (but maybe she has substantial ties to a tribe?). I don't think that my unease would be as pronounced except for the fact that this volume has to do with honor abuse/killings in an immigrant Muslim family, so it feels like a double-whammy/intentional sensationalizing and profiting from stories of marginalized people.
I do feel slightly icky about the fact that the author is a white-presenting woman who is writing an indigenous main character (but maybe she has substantial ties to a tribe?). I don't think that my unease would be as pronounced except for the fact that this volume has to do with honor abuse/killings in an immigrant Muslim family, so it feels like a double-whammy/intentional sensationalizing and profiting from stories of marginalized people.
winterzeshoek's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this series, but the second installment was a disappointment as well. Too many shifting perspectives, characters not as well-rounded as they could have been.
slangston10's review against another edition
3.0
Gratuitous violence knocked this one down but the plot was good. Would have benefited from a bit more depth for the main character