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A review by cj_mo_2222
The Butcher's Daughter: A Foundlings Novel by Wendy Corsi Staub
3.0
Amelia Crenshaw Haines was abandoned at a church in Harlem when she was an infant, but was found by a local family and adopted. She grew up to become a genealogy consultant to help other foundlings locate their biological families. She is also still trying to trace her own family. Amelia thinks her latest client, NYPD Detective Stockton Barnes who is trying to find his daughter, may be able to help in Amelia’s personal search for her family. However, something about their search may have put both of them in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer.
I have enjoyed many books by Wendy Corsi Staub and I enjoy her style of writing. I didn’t realize this book was the third book of a trilogy when I started reading it. This is definitely not a standalone novel. There are many parts of the book I enjoyed, but since I didn’t read the first two books, I could never catch up. A cast of characters at the front may have helped somewhat because this book has so many characters in it in different cities and timelines. I was a third of the way into the book before I could come close to figuring out how all the discounted parts of the book could come together into one plot.
I enjoyed Amelia and Stockton’s story and wish more of the focus of the book would have been on them instead of all of the details about Gypsy’s childhood experiences. I also liked Melody’s story even though it’s heartbreaking and all too realistic. Overall, it’s an intriguing story but the suspense didn’t build as well as it could if the telling wasn’t so choppy. That being said, the last few chapters are very exciting and I loved the way the story wrapped up. I’m sure those who followed this trilogy from the beginning will be especially pleased. There are a lot of positives in the book and I will rate it 3.5 stars even though I was confused during much of the book. I will give the book the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s because I didn’t read the prior two books.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime Early Reads for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
I have enjoyed many books by Wendy Corsi Staub and I enjoy her style of writing. I didn’t realize this book was the third book of a trilogy when I started reading it. This is definitely not a standalone novel. There are many parts of the book I enjoyed, but since I didn’t read the first two books, I could never catch up. A cast of characters at the front may have helped somewhat because this book has so many characters in it in different cities and timelines. I was a third of the way into the book before I could come close to figuring out how all the discounted parts of the book could come together into one plot.
I enjoyed Amelia and Stockton’s story and wish more of the focus of the book would have been on them instead of all of the details about Gypsy’s childhood experiences. I also liked Melody’s story even though it’s heartbreaking and all too realistic. Overall, it’s an intriguing story but the suspense didn’t build as well as it could if the telling wasn’t so choppy. That being said, the last few chapters are very exciting and I loved the way the story wrapped up. I’m sure those who followed this trilogy from the beginning will be especially pleased. There are a lot of positives in the book and I will rate it 3.5 stars even though I was confused during much of the book. I will give the book the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s because I didn’t read the prior two books.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime Early Reads for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.