Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, K.L. Murphy, Independent Book Publisher's Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, and CamCat Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
New to the world of K.L. Murphy, I eagerly grabbed this audiobook to see what it was all about. A mystery straddling two time periods and an intense story to boot kept me listening long into the evening, as I sought to uncover the truth. When a reporter's sister turns up dead in a Baltimore hotel, things take a significant turn. Was it murder or might it have been suicide? As Val Ritter tries to use her resources to uncover the truth, she comes upon a mystery in the hotel that is close to a century old. All this, in a jam-packed pice that will have the reader rushing to get answers.
After learning that her sister has been found in a Baltimore hotel room, Val Ritter is on edge and highly concerned. A reporter by trade, Val is always one to ask questions and probe for meaningful answers. However, an empty pill bottle by the side of the bed leave the police all but sure that this was suicide. Val cannot fathom that and pulls on the expertise of a retired detective to hep her fully investigate.
Digging into what happened can be helpful, but there are times when the truth that emerges is something best left in the box. Such is the case here, as talk of affairs and secret-keeping flood the investigation. There was also a similar case in the hotel's confines back in 1921, when a woman faced some of the same pressure's as the current victim. Ready to wed, it should have been a time of bliss. Instead, a body and questions that the police could not answer.
As Val races against the clock to find the truth, she must also come to terms with the hideous events in 1921 and how they could not only relate to her sister's death, but a family mystery that has never been discussed. In a gripping story, K.L. Murphy takes the reader on a journey like no other and keeps the twists plentiful.
While I do enjoy discovering new authors, I am never sure what to expect. Some pack a punch with their writing while others push things along without any real spar. K.L. Murphy impressed me with a great narrative base, on which she added strong characters and a decent plot. The mystery blooms into two stories, leaving the reader to follow them both and understand what is at stake. Murphy handled the back and forth well, developing a great cast and plot twists that kept the reader eager to learn more. Rushing to ensure the truth makes sense to all, Murphy layers her parallel storylines wonderfully and keeps the reader guessing until it all fall into place, allowing the reader that lightbulb moment. A great piece and I will be sure to return for more.
Kudos, Madam Murphy, for a great first impression.
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