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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
mamaorgana80's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I’m invested in these characters now. Going to see if these are going to be turned into a show because they should be.
janeanger's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy the Stonechild and Rouleau books for an entertaining but not too challenging read. And that's where I'm at in my reading life! I continue to enjoy Michelle St. John as a narrator. I look forward to hearing more from this author and narrator.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
2.0
I like the characters in this series - but - I should stop with the audio books. Two in a row where the narrator added little to the experience.
As far as this book - hmmm. Plot lines were a little - thin. Interesting connection that the author made between the Muslim community and violence against women.
As far as this book - hmmm. Plot lines were a little - thin. Interesting connection that the author made between the Muslim community and violence against women.
theyalibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I really, really like Stonechild and Rouleau! All these recurring characters are interesting and developed nicely. Stonechild is so brave, caring, and smart. Rouleau, I just wish I knew him in real life. The mysteries are interesting from start to finish.
jesm98's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version of this book via the Libby app.
After enjoying the first book, I found this second book on the app. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. I like the complicated back story of Stonechild and the ways that her story wove into the main case of the story. At some point, I became a little confused when another storyline was added into the mix, but it all made sense at the end of the book. I will continue to read more by this author.
After enjoying the first book, I found this second book on the app. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. I like the complicated back story of Stonechild and the ways that her story wove into the main case of the story. At some point, I became a little confused when another storyline was added into the mix, but it all made sense at the end of the book. I will continue to read more by this author.
shoaglin's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0