mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Do you know what will happen when in a small village a body appears? All the secrets and lies will start becoming exposed and it will make the relations start to tick like a bomb ready to explode!
I’ll admit that I love when a fiction crime is committed in a small place, you can sense all the struggle to continue the life as if nothing happens. How everyone knows the victim and want answers, but at the same time the killer has been living there, and they all know them! So the lies and hate is hiding on every corner ready to appear on any time.
DI George Strachan will begin this investigation with a victim but she will have so much more after a little digging that I am sure she regrets the first moment when everything started! Is never easy when you discover that your loved ones have been lying to you… so George will have her dish quite full for a while, fingers crossed she will know how to solve everything before there’s been more victims!
The story is told in a beautiful prose and descriptive way, Helen Sedgwick is an amazing author and I can’t wait to read her next books, I loved her writing style! The case has an ending, but it leaves so many questions unanswered that I hope this will not be the only case with DI George Strachan on it.
If you are looking for a twisted and dark story centered in a small village, this is your next book. Is a must read! Ready?
I’ll admit that I love when a fiction crime is committed in a small place, you can sense all the struggle to continue the life as if nothing happens. How everyone knows the victim and want answers, but at the same time the killer has been living there, and they all know them! So the lies and hate is hiding on every corner ready to appear on any time.
DI George Strachan will begin this investigation with a victim but she will have so much more after a little digging that I am sure she regrets the first moment when everything started! Is never easy when you discover that your loved ones have been lying to you… so George will have her dish quite full for a while, fingers crossed she will know how to solve everything before there’s been more victims!
The story is told in a beautiful prose and descriptive way, Helen Sedgwick is an amazing author and I can’t wait to read her next books, I loved her writing style! The case has an ending, but it leaves so many questions unanswered that I hope this will not be the only case with DI George Strachan on it.
If you are looking for a twisted and dark story centered in a small village, this is your next book. Is a must read! Ready?
readingwithgee_'s review against another edition
2.0
2.5
I feel kind of bad for my review of this book, I did really want to enioy it but you guys know I always aim to be honest in my reviews. I almost gave up around the halfway mark but in order to give a fair review I pushed myself to finish and I will admit outcome of the investigation wasn't bad and definitely pushed up my rating.
This book just seemed to drag, everything was so slow paced and it didn't help that we would randomly change perspective and not give any indication that it wasn't happening or who it was until things started to not make sense and i had to skim read to get to who it was. Even the biggest, most important parts of the book weren't that great, they just seemed toned down and like they were rushed.
Again I did like one of the buggest reveals and how it all took an unexpected turn but honestly, the rest of the book just confused me and I kept finding myself lacking motivation to pick it up.
I'm completely devastated that I didn't enjoy this book more because I've seen so many people really enjoy it and I did enjoy the sound of it but you can't have them all
I feel kind of bad for my review of this book, I did really want to enioy it but you guys know I always aim to be honest in my reviews. I almost gave up around the halfway mark but in order to give a fair review I pushed myself to finish and I will admit outcome of the investigation wasn't bad and definitely pushed up my rating.
This book just seemed to drag, everything was so slow paced and it didn't help that we would randomly change perspective and not give any indication that it wasn't happening or who it was until things started to not make sense and i had to skim read to get to who it was. Even the biggest, most important parts of the book weren't that great, they just seemed toned down and like they were rushed.
Again I did like one of the buggest reveals and how it all took an unexpected turn but honestly, the rest of the book just confused me and I kept finding myself lacking motivation to pick it up.
I'm completely devastated that I didn't enjoy this book more because I've seen so many people really enjoy it and I did enjoy the sound of it but you can't have them all
openmypages's review against another edition
3.0
I guess because I'm not getting my quarterly trips to Scotland in this year, I am gravitating to stories set in the land of the thistle. In fact, this is my second Scottish mystery this month. I enjoyed the plot of this one; it's set in a small town with a couple of police officers without much experience with serious crime. When the town therapist is murdered, they are forced to look more closely at their little town and just what might be lurking there. Several more folks go missing before they get a handle on what is haunting the town.
I liked the mix of real world mystery with a bit of Celtic town lore (frankly I would have liked a little more of that!). The truth of what was really going on in town was hard to read because it just strikes so close to home with the news of the day. People can just be terrible to one another and that is at the core of this story.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for access to a copy. All opinions above are my own.
I liked the mix of real world mystery with a bit of Celtic town lore (frankly I would have liked a little more of that!). The truth of what was really going on in town was hard to read because it just strikes so close to home with the news of the day. People can just be terrible to one another and that is at the core of this story.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for access to a copy. All opinions above are my own.
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
When the Dead Come Calling is an intriguing read, like no crime novel I’ve read before, and I’m grateful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication in March 2020.
Set in the northern coastal town of Burrowhead, we get to see a dark underbelly to a seemingly rural idyll. Secrets abound, and there’s a small-town mentality to the characters in this that is both understandable but also scary.
The style is unusual for a crime novel, and may not be to everyone’s tastes.
At the start of the novel we learn of the discovery of a body in the local playground. It is that of a local doctor. His body is discovered by a local police officer, who also happens to be his boyfriend. A note is discovered near his body suggesting that racism could be a factor in this crime.
As I imagine to be common in a police case, details are not immediately forthcoming. We spend what seems like a lot of time trying to work out what is going on, and when another body is discovered to try and establish the links.
What struck me most while reading was that everyone seemed to be harbouring some kind of secret. I don’t want to give away details that affect the reading, but this is definitely a read that becomes more engaging as we learn more about those involved.
Throughout the story I was struck by the references to the past of the village, and the beliefs that seemed to shape the attitudes of those currently living there. I am still unclear as to how some of the references to the Others are linked, but I understand this is the first in a series so we may get answers further in the future.
Set in the northern coastal town of Burrowhead, we get to see a dark underbelly to a seemingly rural idyll. Secrets abound, and there’s a small-town mentality to the characters in this that is both understandable but also scary.
The style is unusual for a crime novel, and may not be to everyone’s tastes.
At the start of the novel we learn of the discovery of a body in the local playground. It is that of a local doctor. His body is discovered by a local police officer, who also happens to be his boyfriend. A note is discovered near his body suggesting that racism could be a factor in this crime.
As I imagine to be common in a police case, details are not immediately forthcoming. We spend what seems like a lot of time trying to work out what is going on, and when another body is discovered to try and establish the links.
What struck me most while reading was that everyone seemed to be harbouring some kind of secret. I don’t want to give away details that affect the reading, but this is definitely a read that becomes more engaging as we learn more about those involved.
Throughout the story I was struck by the references to the past of the village, and the beliefs that seemed to shape the attitudes of those currently living there. I am still unclear as to how some of the references to the Others are linked, but I understand this is the first in a series so we may get answers further in the future.
yonde_shiawase's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
3.0
I hadn’t read the authors previous books so had no idea what to expect. Almost straight away I was impressed by the description of the local area. The old superstitions, the poverty, unemployment. A town that still had a police station because it had been forgotten about. This town almost had a character of its own, it is that well described. I spent a lot of time when reading it trying to work out where it could be. I failed at placing it, but I imagine there are many communities like Burrowhead in the UK.
The police team are the main characters. I feel that I will get to appreciate them more as I get to know them. I did discover quite a lot about Georgie, the senior officer, but the one I liked most was Trish. I liked her devotion to Uncle Walt and her willingness to help Andy. A tough childhood but she didn’t let it beat her.
For me, the investigation wasn’t the main focus in the novel. Instead it was the different characters, their lives and how they dealt with living in a community that wasn’t always welcoming and the legends and superstitions that became increasingly fascinating.
An intriguing read by an author who I will read again.
The police team are the main characters. I feel that I will get to appreciate them more as I get to know them. I did discover quite a lot about Georgie, the senior officer, but the one I liked most was Trish. I liked her devotion to Uncle Walt and her willingness to help Andy. A tough childhood but she didn’t let it beat her.
For me, the investigation wasn’t the main focus in the novel. Instead it was the different characters, their lives and how they dealt with living in a community that wasn’t always welcoming and the legends and superstitions that became increasingly fascinating.
An intriguing read by an author who I will read again.
lottyt's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book that I have read by this author… but I will definitely be looking out for more after reading this one! A brutal murder in a village in the middle of no-where prompts an investigation by the few police officers available. It soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems in this quiet and close knit village. A gripping read with lots of great twists and some lovely little sub plots along the way. I loved the connections to the villages ancient past and how these were linked into the story, creating a more sinister atmosphere. Chapters were not too long, so was easy to follow and keep a track of what was going on. The author also uses some incredible descriptions throughout to help us to visualise the setting. Characters were developed and as the story progresses we find out more about each of their lives. Overall a really enjoyable read!!
susiesbookreviews's review against another edition
3.0
This book is the first in the Burrowhead Mysteries series and is set is the sleepy town of Burrowhead where not much is going on. Although the story starts with a murder it’s definitely not your usual crime novel as there’s a supernatural element running throughout the book that I still don’t fully understand!
I feel like this book is setting the scene for the books that follow it in the series but it mainly left me feeling confused! It took until half way through the book before I had any idea what was going on and it wasn’t until the very end of the book before you get a few bits of information that hint to where the story is going.
It’s a well written book and very atmospheric - the village is definitely the star of the show. It has left me wanting to find out what happens next but will I find out more in the next book or still be left questioning?
I feel like this book is setting the scene for the books that follow it in the series but it mainly left me feeling confused! It took until half way through the book before I had any idea what was going on and it wasn’t until the very end of the book before you get a few bits of information that hint to where the story is going.
It’s a well written book and very atmospheric - the village is definitely the star of the show. It has left me wanting to find out what happens next but will I find out more in the next book or still be left questioning?
aplace_inthesun's review against another edition
4.0
Burrowhead is a village steeped in history, secrets and mystery. Where everyone knows everyone and newcomers are not welcomed with open arms. You aren’t local unless your family have lived there for generations.
DI Georgie Strahan is the most senior officer in Burrowhead’s police station. A claptrap building with barely working facilities and four officers who the rest of the force seem to have forgotten. Until the local psychotherapist is found murdered. He’s the close friend of DC Simon Hunter but there are whispers of impropriety and there’s a note accompanying the body pointing to a possible racial motive.
And then another body is found, that of a a local man and his sister is missing. Is she a murderer or a victim? The DI and her colleagues look beneath the layers of their small, insular community at the secrets people hold close. Do they know each other at all? As in real life, it takes some time for details to filter from community to investigator, with talk, suspicion and subterfuge.
Ever present is Burrowhead’s history casting a dark shadow over it’s residents. How much does this darkness contribute to the happenings of the day? Is it the town and it’s history that permits evil to flourish?
This is the first instalment into the Burrowhead mysteries by Helen Sedgewick. It’s a book rich in detail about the history of the area as opposed to an overt police procedural which was what I had expected I would be reading. It’s eerie, dark and mythical and there’s a sense of the fantastic about times past. Mythical creatures, sacrifice, secret caves and the sea. The characters are varied with a couple of eccentrics and whilst overall they initially seem small town, they continue to evolve and develop throughout the book and form the basis for the stories of Burrowhead yet to come.
This was the final book of 2019 for me. A little slow to start and some time for me to get into the groove of it, but in all a compelling and solid start to this series. Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for an eARC of this book.
Pub date is 9 January 2020.
DI Georgie Strahan is the most senior officer in Burrowhead’s police station. A claptrap building with barely working facilities and four officers who the rest of the force seem to have forgotten. Until the local psychotherapist is found murdered. He’s the close friend of DC Simon Hunter but there are whispers of impropriety and there’s a note accompanying the body pointing to a possible racial motive.
And then another body is found, that of a a local man and his sister is missing. Is she a murderer or a victim? The DI and her colleagues look beneath the layers of their small, insular community at the secrets people hold close. Do they know each other at all? As in real life, it takes some time for details to filter from community to investigator, with talk, suspicion and subterfuge.
Ever present is Burrowhead’s history casting a dark shadow over it’s residents. How much does this darkness contribute to the happenings of the day? Is it the town and it’s history that permits evil to flourish?
This is the first instalment into the Burrowhead mysteries by Helen Sedgewick. It’s a book rich in detail about the history of the area as opposed to an overt police procedural which was what I had expected I would be reading. It’s eerie, dark and mythical and there’s a sense of the fantastic about times past. Mythical creatures, sacrifice, secret caves and the sea. The characters are varied with a couple of eccentrics and whilst overall they initially seem small town, they continue to evolve and develop throughout the book and form the basis for the stories of Burrowhead yet to come.
This was the final book of 2019 for me. A little slow to start and some time for me to get into the groove of it, but in all a compelling and solid start to this series. Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for an eARC of this book.
Pub date is 9 January 2020.