Reviews

Butterfly Kills by Brenda Chapman

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.

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

candyflynn's review against another edition

dark medium-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

2.5

petitestory's review

3.0

Better than the first in the series. This one is set in Kingston and makes reference to Brockville. The story was scary and I predicted some of it but not all.

raelin's review

I don’t know why I attempted this book after disliking the first one too. The dialogue is *terrible.* Maybe I wouldn’t have noticed so much if I was reading instead of listening, but it is real bad. Like bad bad. Wildly unrealistic as to how anyone actually talks. It’s like the author just watched old episodes of Law and Order for research. 

The narrator does not change voice infection or tone or anything for the reading and it is difficult to discern what character is talking because they all sound exactly the same. 

frances_ab's review against another edition

4.0

This is the second book in the excellent Stonechild and Rouleau mystery series. The setting has moved from Ottawa to Kingston and is centred on the murder of a volunteer at the Queen's University Student Help Line. This book continues to balance a suitably intriguing mystery with the development of the characters of Chapman's principal investigators and I appreciated the touches of Canadiana which enhance the setting and atmosphere. I would strongly advise reading [b:Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery|17553897|Cold Mourning A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery|Brenda Chapman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371218030s/17553897.jpg|24466710] first if you're interested in reading these books, and for fans of police procedurals with intriguing characters, these are highly recommended. I'm already anticipating the third instalment.

missmesmerized's review against another edition

4.0

Two murders, no obvious link, but in the hands of the same crime investigation division. When student Leah Sampson is killed in her apartment, her fellow students and co-workers at a help line speculate that she was having an affair that turned out nastily. The death Della Munroe’s husband, who shortly before had raped her, seems to be much easier to solve: again he attacked his wife and child and in killing him, the young woman could protect the both of them. Kala Stonechild, new in the Kingston team and the rest of detectives need some time to bring the two together – and combine them with a mysterious story about two young anonymous girls in danger.

The crime novel takes some time until it can really get you. The two cases have their thrill, especially Leah’s murder, but only in the second have the pace accelerates and the reader slowly understands how to put the pieces together. At the end, the different cases very cleverly and convincingly combined and everything perfectly solved. I needed some time to warm with the characters, to my impression, they lacked profile in the beginning and even at the end of the novel, much about Kala remained unclear to me. Yet, I believe they have the potential to develop in the following novels.

All in all, after a rather slow beginning, good entertainment.

koz108's review against another edition

4.0

Not usually one for detective mystery series, I ended up really enjoying Butterfly Kills. It takes place in Kingston, Ontario and there are Canadian elements all through it (Tim Hortons is mentioned a few times). I was worried about feeling lost with the story and the characters since it is the second in a series but Chapman doesn't make you feel like you've been dropped in the middle of the story with no idea of what's going on. Maybe Jacques Rouleau played a bigger part in the first novel, but I felt this could have just been a Stonechild mystery since she was definitely the main character in this installment. Kala Stonechild is a badass Native American detective and I'm excited about seeing her personal story unfold further.

solveig_v's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5