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lola99999's review
4.0
I didn't realize this was a part of a series when I requested it, but it does well as a stand alone book. A good, solid psychological thriller. 3. 5 stars rounded up to 4 because it ended well. It did drag some through the middle and just seems to go in circles for awhile. But I do recommend.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
stabaquail's review
3.0
Lexi Bennett is at it again, solving murders. This time, a woman is found dead in a wine cellar, with her crying baby beside her. Both are posed with angel wings. While hunting for the killer, Lexi tries to figure out the reason for the posing, the murders, and the live children left without mothers. Meanwhile, she also tries to find a balance between her personal life and the job that demands so much.
Is this a bad book? No. Is it the weakest book of the series? Sadly, yes. The majority of the book involves the detectives tossing theories around, while nothing new comes to light and no tangible progress is made. (Maybe that’s more realistic police work, I don’t know.) While Lexi was very smart and resourceful in the past two books, I found myself a little more frustrated this book, as she made some bad decisions and was slow to figure things out that were apparent to me chapters ago.
I wasn’t all that interested in the characters at the vineyard. They were all icky people and I didn’t care much what happened to them.
The angel posing also seemed a little too reminiscent of the first book’s princesses and something a little more fresh might have been welcome.
My buddy reader and I agreed that, if this had been the first book in the series, we probably would not have read the next two. I think Lexi Bennett has more to offer than this, and I hope we get another book in the future that shows off her best detective work.
Is this a bad book? No. Is it the weakest book of the series? Sadly, yes. The majority of the book involves the detectives tossing theories around, while nothing new comes to light and no tangible progress is made. (Maybe that’s more realistic police work, I don’t know.) While Lexi was very smart and resourceful in the past two books, I found myself a little more frustrated this book, as she made some bad decisions and was slow to figure things out that were apparent to me chapters ago.
I wasn’t all that interested in the characters at the vineyard. They were all icky people and I didn’t care much what happened to them.
The angel posing also seemed a little too reminiscent of the first book’s princesses and something a little more fresh might have been welcome.
My buddy reader and I agreed that, if this had been the first book in the series, we probably would not have read the next two. I think Lexi Bennett has more to offer than this, and I hope we get another book in the future that shows off her best detective work.
booksmartkate's review
4.0
This is my fifth book Alison Belsham book in as many months, and she is an absolute force in the thriller and crime writing genre.
The Innocent Angels is the third in the Lexi Bennett series and follows a series of murders centered around an English winery where Bennett is racing to discover the killer when the potential criminal and the potential motives don’t seem to sync up. You also delve deeper into Bennett’s extended team from a professional growth perspective and their families and relationships.
I’ve said this in previous reviews, but there is something about the way Alison writes that draws you in and makes you forget that you are reading and you are just a part of the story. I love how we learned more about all of the characters in this book, and I’m hopeful that there will be another in the series that gets even more in-depth into the stories and relationships that have lurked in the background over the last three books. If you haven’t read this series or her Sullivan and Mullins series (set in the world of tattoo artistry), I highly recommend them both. Alison has auto-buy status on my bookshelf!
The Innocent Angels is the third in the Lexi Bennett series and follows a series of murders centered around an English winery where Bennett is racing to discover the killer when the potential criminal and the potential motives don’t seem to sync up. You also delve deeper into Bennett’s extended team from a professional growth perspective and their families and relationships.
I’ve said this in previous reviews, but there is something about the way Alison writes that draws you in and makes you forget that you are reading and you are just a part of the story. I love how we learned more about all of the characters in this book, and I’m hopeful that there will be another in the series that gets even more in-depth into the stories and relationships that have lurked in the background over the last three books. If you haven’t read this series or her Sullivan and Mullins series (set in the world of tattoo artistry), I highly recommend them both. Alison has auto-buy status on my bookshelf!
eloharay's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was my first Lexi Bennett book and I'm just as impressed as I was with the other series from Alison Belsham (Sullivan & Mullins). The author is fantastic at keeping the anxiety level up (in a good way) and I was on the edge of my seat. I absolutely love Alison's writing style, and she's one of my favorite thriller/detective story authors. She's on my auto-buy list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Drug use
This is the story of a police detective investigating murder and may be disturbing for some readers. Proceed with caution and prioritize your mental health if this isn't your cup of tea.leona_omahony's review
4.0
The Innocent Angels is the third book in the Detective Lexi Bennett and what an utterly gripping and page turning read it was . Lexi and her colleague Tom are called to a winery where the body of a young woman has been discovered in a small cave and what makes it all the more disturbing is beside the body there is a little baby girl . Lexi and her team just work fast to find the killer before they strike again but then another body is found and the pressure on Lexi and her team increases . Oh my goodness this book just had me captivated from the very start. I do love a good detective series and this is certainly up there with the best of them. An excellently written story with good well developed characters . I did work out who the culprit was about 3/4 way through but it certainly didn’t take away my enjoyment of this book and there were a few OMG moments as well . As mentioned this is the third book in the series and I haven’t yet read the others but this can easily be read as a stand alone. I will however be going back to read the two previous books as I enjoyed this one so much .
majic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
bookanonjeff's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Another (Mostly) Solid Entry In Series. This was a solid entry in the series for the most part, though perhaps it did have a touch of pacing issues. And yet I've struggled for nearly a week now to come up with words to put "on paper" about my experience with the book. Perhaps that is more on me though, as I really do think I'm reaching the limits of my own "hyper reading" abilities as new/ more pressing interests and needs come to bear in my life.
The book itself was intriguing in so many ways. The manner of murder, the placement, the investigation... and the personal, for the team. Specifically, I actually particularly enjoyed how an injury Lexi suffers at the beginning of the tale is worked throughout this story and isn't just some random detail to make her "more relatable" - although it certainly does, to anyone who has ever trained for and ran a half marathon themselves. (Though to be clear, I managed to run 2 of them - separated by several months - completely injury free, back in my own running days. But getting injured during training or racing is actually a very common thing that I simply managed to be lucky enough to avoid.)
There were enough callbacks to the earlier books here to link it in series without being a spoilerfest for those books, so readers new to the series actually *could* enter it here - but I still recommend going back to Book 1 and entering the series there. On the other end, there wasn't any real sense of continuation *needed* by the reader, so while I hope this series continues, it also wouldn't feel incomplete if it ended as a trilogy. Still, here's hoping we get many more books here, as I really do like the writing style and characterizations.
Very much recommended.
The book itself was intriguing in so many ways. The manner of murder, the placement, the investigation... and the personal, for the team. Specifically, I actually particularly enjoyed how an injury Lexi suffers at the beginning of the tale is worked throughout this story and isn't just some random detail to make her "more relatable" - although it certainly does, to anyone who has ever trained for and ran a half marathon themselves. (Though to be clear, I managed to run 2 of them - separated by several months - completely injury free, back in my own running days. But getting injured during training or racing is actually a very common thing that I simply managed to be lucky enough to avoid.)
There were enough callbacks to the earlier books here to link it in series without being a spoilerfest for those books, so readers new to the series actually *could* enter it here - but I still recommend going back to Book 1 and entering the series there. On the other end, there wasn't any real sense of continuation *needed* by the reader, so while I hope this series continues, it also wouldn't feel incomplete if it ended as a trilogy. Still, here's hoping we get many more books here, as I really do like the writing style and characterizations.
Very much recommended.
clak5686's review
4.25
Detective Lexi Bennett has an unusual case. A woman is found murdered. She is naked and has angel's wings attached to her back. Her toddler is with her also wearing wings. I enjoyed this entry in the series. I think each book is better and that may be because I am getting to know the characters better. I would recommend this book to any mystery lover.
nadenetotallyaddictedtoreading's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Innocent Angels, the third book in Alison Belsham's Detective Lexi Bennett series, delivered an engaging and spellbinding police procedural. Based on prior experience, I went into this instalment with high expectations, and it delivered. After reading the first couple of pages, I realize that Lexie faces another complex case. One that will consume her and places her in danger yet again. All the books in the series are stand-alone, however I recommend you read them all. It's definitely worth the binge.
After completing a half-marathon, Detective Lexie Bennett received news about an unexplained death at a vineyard. On her arrival at the vineyard, she was met with a distressing scene. A naked and deceased young woman is found with angel wings attached to her back. Some distance away from the body, Lexie discovered the woman's baby, who also had wings attached, alive and screaming her head off.
At first key persons at the vineyard claim not to know the woman, but when Lexie started digging the owner came forward with a shocking claim. A claim which placed him on top of the extensive suspect list. However, another young single mother turned up dead at the same vineyard and her baby found alive Lexi and her team realized the case is not as clear-cut as they initially believed.
This evenly paced story delivered a complex and compelling mystery with some detestable characters. Once again, Lexie and her team faces the challenge of finding the killer before he strikes again. Lexie's tenacity, dedication, experience and her willingness to find answers no matter the risk was once again on display.
The story gives us a glimpse into the killer's mind through his daily journal entries. It was a challenge figuring out his identity. However, as the story progressed and the pieces slowly started to fit together, the picture became clear.
This was another great addition to the series. Hopefully in future instalments, Lexie will find the balance between her professional and personal life.
Readers who love mysteries and police procedurals would find The Innocent Angels fascinating,
After completing a half-marathon, Detective Lexie Bennett received news about an unexplained death at a vineyard. On her arrival at the vineyard, she was met with a distressing scene. A naked and deceased young woman is found with angel wings attached to her back. Some distance away from the body, Lexie discovered the woman's baby, who also had wings attached, alive and screaming her head off.
At first key persons at the vineyard claim not to know the woman, but when Lexie started digging the owner came forward with a shocking claim. A claim which placed him on top of the extensive suspect list. However, another young single mother turned up dead at the same vineyard and her baby found alive Lexi and her team realized the case is not as clear-cut as they initially believed.
This evenly paced story delivered a complex and compelling mystery with some detestable characters. Once again, Lexie and her team faces the challenge of finding the killer before he strikes again. Lexie's tenacity, dedication, experience and her willingness to find answers no matter the risk was once again on display.
The story gives us a glimpse into the killer's mind through his daily journal entries. It was a challenge figuring out his identity. However, as the story progressed and the pieces slowly started to fit together, the picture became clear.
This was another great addition to the series. Hopefully in future instalments, Lexie will find the balance between her professional and personal life.
Readers who love mysteries and police procedurals would find The Innocent Angels fascinating,
abercrombie1986's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was lucky enough to start this series with book one. And while this could easily be read as a stand alone, the series is great and worth the time.
I really like Lexi. She is a relatable character and I really enjoyed her work ethic and the determination she shows as she tries to solve the case. I’ve enjoyed the character development that is happening across the books with both Lexi and her team. I enjoy the complexity of the case and the possible suspects. Many had their own secrets, but Lexi and her team must sux out which one has deadly secrets.
I was gripped from the start and didn’t want to put this one down. The story moves along at a brisk pace and the tension kept me on the edge of my seat. And it seems that Lexi always ends up in the cross hairs in the case. This is another great installment making me want more in the series.
You definitely need to pick this up if you are a fan of crime series.