The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
april_golden's review against another edition
4.0
Debut novel, start of a series featuring Cat Kinsella, a young murder detective in London. Very enjoyable read. A police procedural featuring a very conflicted, somewhat unstable main character. The revelations at the end were nothing crazy that the reader couldnāt figure out, but the writing is well done, the characters are interesting and fleshed out, and the dialogue is well written. I will certainly read the follow up.
thebookishgranny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
whathilaryreads's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright. I may just read too many of this type of book, but the twist was rather predictable.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING 4.5 STARS
2017; Bonnier Zaffre (NG) 2018; Harper/HarperCollins
I loved this British mystery/police procedural! Sweet Little Lies has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I am kicking myself for not reading this one earlier. It was such a page turner for me. The mystery, the characters and the overall story was just fantastic. Cat Kinsella is my new favourite police detective. She is Detective Constable, but comes from a family that avoids the police. Her dad is a shady character whom she loves and hates in equal measures. Her siblings and her are not close, and she finds herself barely together. When the victim of her next murder, turns out to be a girl from her old neighbourhood, Cat finds herself not being the honourable cop she thought she was. While this is a great police procedural, we get more of Cat's background and family which I think added to the story. I cannot wait to read the next two books in the series. If you enjoy mysteries, add this one to your list. Frear's writing reminds me a bit like Karin Slaughter's novels.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook/audio from the publisher through Edelweiss and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2017; Bonnier Zaffre (NG) 2018; Harper/HarperCollins
I loved this British mystery/police procedural! Sweet Little Lies has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I am kicking myself for not reading this one earlier. It was such a page turner for me. The mystery, the characters and the overall story was just fantastic. Cat Kinsella is my new favourite police detective. She is Detective Constable, but comes from a family that avoids the police. Her dad is a shady character whom she loves and hates in equal measures. Her siblings and her are not close, and she finds herself barely together. When the victim of her next murder, turns out to be a girl from her old neighbourhood, Cat finds herself not being the honourable cop she thought she was. While this is a great police procedural, we get more of Cat's background and family which I think added to the story. I cannot wait to read the next two books in the series. If you enjoy mysteries, add this one to your list. Frear's writing reminds me a bit like Karin Slaughter's novels.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook/audio from the publisher through Edelweiss and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Nice, solid procedural with a sympathetic protagonist.
vheras's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.5
kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
In this magnificent debut novel, we follow a policewoman in London whose personal life collides with her work in a dangerous way. Cat Kinsella is called to the scene of a young woman, found dead near the pub Catās estranged father runs. A woman Cat and her family knew as a teenager when she disappeared without a trace. Cat had long suspected her father knew more about the young womanās disappearance than he admittedā¦ and her latest work assignment will now give her a new opportunity to investigate without guilt.
This book is proof that the police procedural will never go out of style. By blending her procedural with an exploration of family dysfunction and secrets, Frear makes us follow Cat down the rabbit hole of self-exploration and investigation. We are not only looking for āwho dunnitā, but also why Cat is the way she is. And we want to know because we like Cat. I mean I really, really liked her. She has this internal monologue of self-doubt and questioning her worth, but as a reader I thought she was fantastic. Iād like Cat as a friend. The description calls this āthe first in a seriesā and I certainly hope it is because I want to read more.
This book is proof that the police procedural will never go out of style. By blending her procedural with an exploration of family dysfunction and secrets, Frear makes us follow Cat down the rabbit hole of self-exploration and investigation. We are not only looking for āwho dunnitā, but also why Cat is the way she is. And we want to know because we like Cat. I mean I really, really liked her. She has this internal monologue of self-doubt and questioning her worth, but as a reader I thought she was fantastic. Iād like Cat as a friend. The description calls this āthe first in a seriesā and I certainly hope it is because I want to read more.
coops456's review against another edition
2.0
As a child, Cat saw her dad meeting with a girl who later went missing. Now, as DC Cat Kinsella, she fears her dad is involved with the murder case she's working on.
OK police procedural but way too long at 470 pages; would have benefited from extensive editing down.
OK police procedural but way too long at 470 pages; would have benefited from extensive editing down.
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
2.0
What I Liked
This was a highly recommended read for me and maybe that's why it fell flat. I had my hopes high and it fell so flat!
The story itself - the premise of a murder being of a person who already went missing ages ago - is an interesting one. There is this gritty sense of saying goodbye to someone you already said goodbye to, and it's interesting. And then add in the idea that Cat has this awful feeling her dad may have something to do with it, and I'm hooked... with the premise, at least.
What I Didn't Like
Cat is an unlikable character. She's sassy and difficult, but her workplace attitude just doesn't seem possible.
The beginning and middle of the book are painfully slow, and I found myself becoming distracted while reading. I could barely get through this one.
This was a highly recommended read for me and maybe that's why it fell flat. I had my hopes high and it fell so flat!
The story itself - the premise of a murder being of a person who already went missing ages ago - is an interesting one. There is this gritty sense of saying goodbye to someone you already said goodbye to, and it's interesting. And then add in the idea that Cat has this awful feeling her dad may have something to do with it, and I'm hooked... with the premise, at least.
What I Didn't Like
Cat is an unlikable character. She's sassy and difficult, but her workplace attitude just doesn't seem possible.
The beginning and middle of the book are painfully slow, and I found myself becoming distracted while reading. I could barely get through this one.