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bettyboop25's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the second foray in this series. Lou still had her sense of humor. The mystery was well played out. I will pick up the next book soon. This mystery was about a family killed by an intentionally set fire. Only the father/husband wasn't caught in the fire. Of course suspicion sets on him; but did he really do it?
cook_memorial_public_library's review
4.0
A 2016 staff favorite recommended by Haley.
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sskies%20of%20ash%20hall__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sskies%20of%20ash%20hall__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
lisaeirene's review
4.0
The sequel. It's just as good, although I guessed whodunit pretty early on in the story. I love the character so much, it didn't matter.
In this book, Lou is called to a fire where three bodies are found. Juliet Chatman and her two kids have died in the fire and her husband, Christopher, was injured trying to save them. But Lou doesn't buy it. Partially because she's going through a rough spot in her marriage and doesn't really like men much right now, but she doesn't think the husband's story pans out. And as she starts to investigate deeper, she discovers that the perfect couple wasn't that perfect behind closed doors.
It was another fast, good read. I couldn't put it down and downloaded book 3 immediately!
tobyyy's review
5.0
In short: I love Lou, I’m a police procedural junkie, and Howzell Hall writes phenomenal plots and very realistic characters. This series has been good and is just getting better! So glad I picked up book 3 at the library yesterday.
kgraham10's review against another edition
3.0
I heard about Rachel Howzell Hall on NPR.
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/07/29/334616521/crime-writer-creates-a-hero-for-her-beloved-much-maligned-south-la
We need diverse books so it is good to see a female black LA homicide detective written by a black woman author! And not just a cartoon -- a complex, fully imagined woman.
The first book in the series was a little rough but this is a tight plot-driven mystery. Looking forward to the next two in the series.
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/07/29/334616521/crime-writer-creates-a-hero-for-her-beloved-much-maligned-south-la
We need diverse books so it is good to see a female black LA homicide detective written by a black woman author! And not just a cartoon -- a complex, fully imagined woman.
The first book in the series was a little rough but this is a tight plot-driven mystery. Looking forward to the next two in the series.
curiously_curly's review against another edition
4.0
The Lowdown: In the second installment of the series LAPD detective Lou Norton is back, along with her partner Colin, investigating the suspicious deaths of the Chatman family in a house fire. Christopher Chatman, the sole surviving member of the Chatman family, is the lead suspect in the case. The story, starting out as a suspicious death investigation, quickly spirals into a look into family secrets, lies, deception, adultery, double-cross and securities fraud.
The Good: As I stated in my review of Book 1 I am so glad there is a woman, POC detective series out there. Lou Norton is a great character and I enjoy how Howzell-Hall has written her -- I could totally see Taraji Henson playing Norton in the made-for TV series! Similar to the first book this one was easy to read and consume. Equal parts funny but equal parts real.
The Bad:Without giving away any spoilers Lou makes some important decisions in her personal life and a long-lost family member pops up at the end of the book. This "cliffhanger" felt a little contrived but I am rolling with it because I am so happy to have discovered this series. I raced through the first book in this series; however the pacing in this one was a bit slower.
The Ugly:The "red herring" arson suspect thrown in towards the end of the book felt a little slapdash. Also, the ending felt a bit abrupt but, again, all of this is probably leading to a resolution in book 3. I am hoping we will get more background as to what happened to the "baddies" in the end...also the whereabouts of Ben Oliver!
Overall, a 3.5/4 star read. I love this series and look forward to more from Lou and Howzell-Hall.
The Good: As I stated in my review of Book 1 I am so glad there is a woman, POC detective series out there. Lou Norton is a great character and I enjoy how Howzell-Hall has written her -- I could totally see Taraji Henson playing Norton in the made-for TV series! Similar to the first book this one was easy to read and consume. Equal parts funny but equal parts real.
The Bad:Without giving away any spoilers Lou makes some important decisions in her personal life and a long-lost family member pops up at the end of the book. This "cliffhanger" felt a little contrived but I am rolling with it because I am so happy to have discovered this series. I raced through the first book in this series; however the pacing in this one was a bit slower.
The Ugly:The "red herring" arson suspect thrown in towards the end of the book felt a little slapdash. Also, the ending felt a bit abrupt but, again, all of this is probably leading to a resolution in book 3. I am hoping we will get more background as to what happened to the "baddies" in the end...also the whereabouts of Ben Oliver!
Overall, a 3.5/4 star read. I love this series and look forward to more from Lou and Howzell-Hall.
tksimmons02's review against another edition
5.0
Gah!
I hate a cliffhanger. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
Now I have to read the third book in this series. I usually take a break between books, but not this time. This time I have to plunge on.
I hate a cliffhanger. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
Now I have to read the third book in this series. I usually take a break between books, but not this time. This time I have to plunge on.
tita_noir's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
All the things I loved about the first book are still here in this one. The spot on dialogue, the great mystery, the fab writing, LA scenery, and Lou's incredible inner voice.
I take a half star off because I wasn't feeling the ending. Felt a little abrupt and open ended. Although the perp is identified I don't feel that justice was done. Especially since the crime was so damn foul. And the motives were so effed up!
But off to the next one.
I heartily rec this series to anyone who enjoys a good police procedural and most especially anyone like me who is hungry for diversity in fiction (without it being too literary or angsty).
All the things I loved about the first book are still here in this one. The spot on dialogue, the great mystery, the fab writing, LA scenery, and Lou's incredible inner voice.
I take a half star off because I wasn't feeling the ending. Felt a little abrupt and open ended. Although the perp is identified I don't feel that justice was done. Especially since the crime was so damn foul. And the motives were so effed up!
But off to the next one.
I heartily rec this series to anyone who enjoys a good police procedural and most especially anyone like me who is hungry for diversity in fiction (without it being too literary or angsty).
eleellis's review against another edition
4.0
For those that enjoy Michael Connelly and the Harry Bosch books, the Elouise Norton series would most likely interest you.
In some ways the two series are similar, but in other ways vastly different. Of course, Rachel Howzell Hall tells her stories through the eyes of her created black, female detective and to suggest the writing of Rachel Howzell Hall as an imitation to Michael Connelly is not the intent of this review - it is instead to point out how enjoyable her writing is and with just two books featuring Elouise Norton. It is also to point out the promise this series has in store for the future.
In the second novel involving these characters, Elousie Norton and her partner are investigating a house fire that has claimed the lives of a mother and her two children. Is it murder or a terrible accident? The story unfolds involving a number of characters that are chameleon-like in their nature and may or may not be what they profess to be.
Through the investigation, Hall also uses the flaws of her main character to be sprinkled through the story to allow the reader to accept Norton is human and not the typical fictional character made of steel.
While reading these novels, my mental image of the two main characters are those of the actors Michael Hyatt (she played Avon Barksdale's sister Brianna in HBO's The Wire) and Chris Evans (Captain America). Through the novels, Norton and her partner Colin Taggert, a green, hyper-sexualized, white male, show growth in their working relationship, which involves a sprinkle of sexual tension thrown in. Though readers my hope for some sort of physical relationship, I'm hoping future novels avoid that. To me, it's more enjoyable reading how their relationship is developing.
I highly recommend this series to those that enjoy police procedurals and to enjoy the road ahead with this author.
In some ways the two series are similar, but in other ways vastly different. Of course, Rachel Howzell Hall tells her stories through the eyes of her created black, female detective and to suggest the writing of Rachel Howzell Hall as an imitation to Michael Connelly is not the intent of this review - it is instead to point out how enjoyable her writing is and with just two books featuring Elouise Norton. It is also to point out the promise this series has in store for the future.
In the second novel involving these characters, Elousie Norton and her partner are investigating a house fire that has claimed the lives of a mother and her two children. Is it murder or a terrible accident? The story unfolds involving a number of characters that are chameleon-like in their nature and may or may not be what they profess to be.
Through the investigation, Hall also uses the flaws of her main character to be sprinkled through the story to allow the reader to accept Norton is human and not the typical fictional character made of steel.
While reading these novels, my mental image of the two main characters are those of the actors Michael Hyatt (she played Avon Barksdale's sister Brianna in HBO's The Wire) and Chris Evans (Captain America). Through the novels, Norton and her partner Colin Taggert, a green, hyper-sexualized, white male, show growth in their working relationship, which involves a sprinkle of sexual tension thrown in. Though readers my hope for some sort of physical relationship, I'm hoping future novels avoid that. To me, it's more enjoyable reading how their relationship is developing.
I highly recommend this series to those that enjoy police procedurals and to enjoy the road ahead with this author.
remigves's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5