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A Darker State (Karin Müller #3)
A Darker State (Karin Müller #3)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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#1 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25708878-stasi-child">Stasi Child</a> - Not Read
#2 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32194597-stasi-wolf">Stasi Wolf</a> - Not Read
#3 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2384443604">A Darker State</a> - ★★
#4 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42408350-stasi-77">Stasi 77</a> - Not Read
#5 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47872602-stasi-winter">Stasi Winter</a> - Not Read

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<i>For the Stasi, it’s not just the truth that gets buried . . .

The body of a teenage boy is found weighted down in a lake. Karin Müller, newly appointed Major of the People’s Police, is called to investigate. But her power will only stretch so far, when every move she makes is under the watchful eye of the Stasi.

Then, when the son of Müller’s team member goes missing, it quickly becomes clear that there is a terrifying conspiracy at the heart of this case, one that could fast lead Müller and her young family into real danger.

Can she navigate this complex political web and find the missing boy, before it’s too late?</i>

<i><b>I have mixed feelings about A Darker State (Karin Müller #3).</b></i> It has been sitting on my shelf for a very long time, and when I finally managed to read it, I thought I would be in for a treat, for something special. But it wasn’t special. I did enjoy a bit of the mystery, but it is most certainly not a favourite of mine.

Apparently, this is the third book of a series, and the books can be read as standalone. The only thing they have in common is the character and how it develops throughout the books.

From the very beginning, the book came across as unrealistic. Karin has recently become a mother, and she is just getting back to her job, when suddenly, she is being promoted as the Major of the People’s Police and is put on a very dangerous case. Now I don’t know about your police forces, but ours would certainly not promote a person just like that.

<b><i>Karin’s character was too forced upon me.</i></b>

At least that is how I felt. Like I needed to like her, and I needed to respect her. And I just wasn’t having it. She was not really that good of a character. Maybe it’s because I missed on reading the previous two books and don’t know her well enough. And maybe she was just a poor creation.

I didn’t enjoy the political webs and plotting. I think I prefer a much more realistic, straight up mystery novel. There was a huge lack of mystery drama, suspense, excitement or fear, which I think was crucial for me rate this book low. There were only a few actual scenes where the scene was discussed and the causes of death, etc. I wish there were more scenes like this, rather than mysterious conversation with politicians and secretive tycoons.

I loved the author’s writing and description, but I don’t think his style fits my preference, so I don’t think I will be reading any more books from this series.

Let me know if you have read it. I would love to know what you think.

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With her life slow for a few weeks, Charlotte has agreed to let Matthew’s friend Noelle stay with her until Noelle’s new rental is ready to move into. Noelle has just moved to town to work for a winery in the area, but the day before she starts her new job, she turns up murdered. Who could she have angered that much in the little time she’d been in town?

Overall, I found the plot much better than in the previous book of the series. It stayed on track and kept giving us new clues to the identity of the killer. I do wish Charlotte would show more respect to the police chief, especially when he gets on her for investigating, but overall I love the characters as well.


You can read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-days-of-wine-and-roquefort.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Triptych (Will Trent, #1)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It goes show, you should really read the first book in a series before heading to the next. I was trying to prepare myself for a Q&A session with the author and so I grabbed the first book that was available to me and that was her third Will Trent novel, Undone. I really enjoyed that book as well. And while I enjoyed Triptych as well, it seemed to move a bit slower for me. There was a lot of character development, which of course I expected and was looking for in the other book. Now, I've got it.

Will Trent is an orphan and a bit illiterate. He is a detective with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and he has just been assigned a new case. When a hooker is found dead, raped, and with her tongue cut out, questions start to arise. There have been other cases like this one, but the girls were much younger, so why the change in M.O.? Will is working with Dekalp County police officer Michael Ormewood on the case. And when Ormewood's neighbor becomes one of the victims, the story takes and unusual turn.

Angie Pulaski and Will Trent go way back. Angie is also a police officer, but she is undercover as a hooker. Helping Will with this case, she meets someone who has an interesting connection. John Shelly, recently released from prison, his rap sheet looks a lot like these recent murders.

Will John Shelly be heading back to jail?
  
Killing in a Koi Pond
Killing in a Koi Pond
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jessica Gets Back on the Road to Murder
Jessica Fletcher is traveling down to South Carolina to visit a college friend. Delores has just married Willis, and she is over the moon. She is also blind to the way that Willis treats the majority of those around them, but Jessica observes the way others are reacting to his almost abusive behavior at dinner. When Jessica sets out for a run the next morning, she finds Willis dead in the Koi Pond. While Delores doesn’t want to believe that anyone could have killed Willis, the police being to treat Delores as a suspect. Can Jessica figure out what is really happening?

Although I’ve been a fan of the TV show for years, I just started reading the books a couple of years ago. While I enjoyed those books, they felt a little off for the franchise. This book captures the feel of the show much better, especially Jessica on a trip episode (which were the majority). Jessica is her charming best here, and I enjoyed several other characters as well as appreciating the growth in Delores. I did feel that Delores’s step-granddaughter was a bit young for the age she was supposed to be and the suspects were thin. The plot was good, although the pacing was off. Still, it did provide some enjoyable red herrings before we reached a classic Murder, She Wrote climax. Fans of the series will feel right at home here.