Eight stars
D.K. Hood keeps the action high and the. mystery suspenseful with yet another book. The stories keep getting better and I am always looking for the twists that Hood adds to keep the series fresh. When a number of elderly women turn up murdered, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her team begin their investigation. While all this is taking place, an acquaintance from Deputy Dave Kane's past emerges in Black Rock Falls, causing both professional and personal strain for some. Juggling all of this, Sheriff Alton will have to rely on her deputies to find a killer, who appears to be targeting a specific group. Hood develops the series to make it on that is unputdownable!
A noise downstairs startles her awake, requiring a trip to the main level. When she arrives, a door has been left open, one she was sure had been shut before bed. Closing it and returning upstairs, there is an odd feeling in the bedroom, where two eyes peer out at her. Before she can scream, all is muffled and there is no chance for help any longer.
After an overnight message is left at the sheriff's office, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her senior deputy, Dave Kane, make their way to a small home on the outskirts of Black Rock Falls. What they discover is the body of Agnes Wagner, a pillar of the community. She is in a pool of blood, with stab wounds all over her body. The question remains, who would knowingly attack Agnes and what was the motive?
No witnesses and little trace evidence leave Sheriff Alton baffled as to what could have happened. Speaking to a local contractor who had done work for Agnes, Alton discovers little. It is only when she and Kane are called to the scene of a car crash that another body, that of Agnes' best friend, is discovered, mangled.
The connection between these two women has Sheriff Alton wondering if these are targeted kills. Her worries intensify when one of her team members is found, unconscious, with blood all over him and a knife, a third body completing the montage. Could Alton have misjudged one of her own and let a killer into the sheriff's office? The clues are making that a distinct possibility.
While Alton tries to put the pieces together, an acquaintance from Kane's past makes her way to town and is hired by the mayor as the newest deputy. Sheriff Alton is less than impressed, particularly when the woman has little skill or obvious interest in taking things seriously. When she, too, disappears, some wonder if the job was too much for her. However, there could be more to it. Hood dazzles once again with a strong addition to the series.
D.K. Hood has almost perfected her serial killer series with novels of this calibre. Set in a small Montana community, things are both cozy and confusing, which adds depth to an already strong narrative. The action leaves little room for the reader to lag behind, as the story's momentum dictates being highly attentive. I have long enjoyed this pace and hope it continues as the series keeps progressing
Character development remains essential to the series and Hood offers it up without hesitation. A core collection of characters that keeps growing work well together, but all harbour their own secrets and pasts. The long sought connection between Alton and Kane appears to be emerging, though there are rocky moments that add flavouring to the story arc many have been anticipating. I can see a number of changes are on the way and Hood has done really well to action them with small nuances between her characters. Patience will be required, but my eagerness will help along the way.
The series relies on killers who have motives and rationale that is not entirely clear from the outset. Hood weaves these plot twists in the narrative effectively and provides the reader with a great addition to the series. There will always be loose ends to tie off, but Hood does not let them dangle for too long, hoping the reader will pick up on the subtleties she provides. This series has me hooked and keeps getting better. I cannot wait to see how things will go from here.
Kudos, Madam Hood, for penning another unputdownable book!
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