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Thea Kozak #1
Chosen for Death
Thea Kozak's younger sister is murdered, leaving Kozak wondering if her sister's adoption and search for her birth parents have something to do with her death. New paperback edition of the 1994 novel that introduced Kozak.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
338 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Kate Flora
54 books125 followersKate Flora grew up on a chicken farm in Maine where the Friday afternoon trip to the library was the high point of her week. She dreamed of being able to create the kind of compelling, enchanting worlds of the books she disappeared into every week, but growing up in the era when “help wanted” ads were still sex-segregated, she felt her calling was to go to law school and get the job they told her she couldn’t have.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 17, 2016
I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I really liked Thea, the strong, dependable, feisty, and vulnerable main character who is on the hunt for whoever murdered her younger sister. Add in a good-looking, strong police officer and you've got one good romantic mystery. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
October 14, 2018
Okay
The book was not really the type of book you read for a clever whodunnit. It has all the usual action and cliches that are found in most mysteries.
The book was not really the type of book you read for a clever whodunnit. It has all the usual action and cliches that are found in most mysteries.
October 3, 2021
This book kept me turning the pages.
September 26, 2019
Not for me
As an adopted daughter, I must say I am thoroughly offended. Every time someone called the biological mother her "real mother I wanted to scream. My mother was the one who raised me, loved me, put me to bed at night and ALL the things that all mothers do. The same goes for all her "real" brothers. I would suggest if another book on this topic is written that there is at least some research into the subject. Shame on you Kate Flora.
As an adopted daughter, I must say I am thoroughly offended. Every time someone called the biological mother her "real mother I wanted to scream. My mother was the one who raised me, loved me, put me to bed at night and ALL the things that all mothers do. The same goes for all her "real" brothers. I would suggest if another book on this topic is written that there is at least some research into the subject. Shame on you Kate Flora.
May 11, 2017
It might be just me, but I couldn't read this book to the end. I think I managed more than a third and couldn't see anything going on. I like to have it to the point or can see where the point may be ........with this story, the characters and how the detective handled the situation there is only one comment to make ....... boring ! I said, it might just be me ......
March 25, 2019
Realistic characters and good mystery.
-Thea Kozak is a young and very capable woman, about 30 years old. She’s seen heartbreak, as her husband, whom she loved deeply, had passed away several years earlier in an accident after only two years of marriage, causing her to throw herself completely into work since then. After a series of different jobs, she ended up working for someone who was a consultant for higher schools of learning, and found that it fit her well.
-She was the eldest in her family. Her parents had wanted a lot of children, but her mother had problems with pregnancies, and it was only after several miscarriages that her mother gave birth again to a son. After more miscarriages, Thea’s mother realized that she would be unable to have more children, and so, Thea’s parents kept trying to adopt. FInally, when Thea was about 10 years old, another baby was brought into their home, who they named Carrie.
-Carrie was physically very different from the others in the house. Where Thea’s parents were both tall, so that she and her brother were also very tall, Carrie was just about 5 feet tall. Where Thea and her brother had dark hair, Carrie had blonde curly hair. Even Carrie’s natural rebelliousness lay in stark contrast to the nature of her siblings. Growing up was hard for Carrie, as she felt those differences between her and her adopted silblings and never felt part of the household, though Thea, as her older sister, always was there for her.
-We enter the story with Thea and her family involved in a funeral - that of her sister Carrie. Because Carrie had never felt that she was a true member of her family, she always wanted to locate her natural parents. Carrie’s mother, feeling that her own role as mother would be diminished by this, had always dissuaded Carrie from undergoing a search. This resulted in intense disagreements between the two. Once Carrie passed 18 years old, it was only a matter of time as to when she would embark on her quest and, about a year earlier, she ended up leaving home.
-Carrie’s search brought her to Maine, where she knew it would bring her closer to discovering who her real mother was. What exactly happened, and who she saw during her time there, was a mystery, as Carrie was very tight lipped about her private life. There was also a great cause for concern because of the low element that Carrie seemed to attract, which also caused grief when she lived at home. It was still a great shock when the family received a report that Carrie had been killed.
-A detective from the Maine State Police came to the house right after the funeral who was investigating the killing. Detective Andre Lemieux was a very stoic and blank faced officer, but he got no answers at all to what may have happened to Carrie. It was as though the family just accepted the death and wanted to move on. Even Thea had that attitude in front of him, but, unlike the others in her family, she decided that she would find the killer herself, as she had no confidence in the police.
-She ends up re-tracing the steps that her sister would have taken, and goes to Maine herself. There, she is joined by the Detective, who she finds has taken Carrie’s death to heart, as the detective reveals that Carrie was killed in a gruesome way. Unfortunately, the people in her sister’s past have been more than cruel, and Thea’s tough attitude is not enough to prevent her from being seriously injured when she ventured out to question them.
-Though the beginning of the novel is slow, as we examine each of the members of Thea’s family over the time period of the funeral, the story picks up greatly when it focuses on Thea as she starts to probe the events that had ultimately led to her sister’s killing. There is a good deal of suspense, as well as a romantic interest that surfaces, with the ending as something that becomes apparent only in the last few pages of the book.
-Thea Kozak is a young and very capable woman, about 30 years old. She’s seen heartbreak, as her husband, whom she loved deeply, had passed away several years earlier in an accident after only two years of marriage, causing her to throw herself completely into work since then. After a series of different jobs, she ended up working for someone who was a consultant for higher schools of learning, and found that it fit her well.
-She was the eldest in her family. Her parents had wanted a lot of children, but her mother had problems with pregnancies, and it was only after several miscarriages that her mother gave birth again to a son. After more miscarriages, Thea’s mother realized that she would be unable to have more children, and so, Thea’s parents kept trying to adopt. FInally, when Thea was about 10 years old, another baby was brought into their home, who they named Carrie.
-Carrie was physically very different from the others in the house. Where Thea’s parents were both tall, so that she and her brother were also very tall, Carrie was just about 5 feet tall. Where Thea and her brother had dark hair, Carrie had blonde curly hair. Even Carrie’s natural rebelliousness lay in stark contrast to the nature of her siblings. Growing up was hard for Carrie, as she felt those differences between her and her adopted silblings and never felt part of the household, though Thea, as her older sister, always was there for her.
-We enter the story with Thea and her family involved in a funeral - that of her sister Carrie. Because Carrie had never felt that she was a true member of her family, she always wanted to locate her natural parents. Carrie’s mother, feeling that her own role as mother would be diminished by this, had always dissuaded Carrie from undergoing a search. This resulted in intense disagreements between the two. Once Carrie passed 18 years old, it was only a matter of time as to when she would embark on her quest and, about a year earlier, she ended up leaving home.
-Carrie’s search brought her to Maine, where she knew it would bring her closer to discovering who her real mother was. What exactly happened, and who she saw during her time there, was a mystery, as Carrie was very tight lipped about her private life. There was also a great cause for concern because of the low element that Carrie seemed to attract, which also caused grief when she lived at home. It was still a great shock when the family received a report that Carrie had been killed.
-A detective from the Maine State Police came to the house right after the funeral who was investigating the killing. Detective Andre Lemieux was a very stoic and blank faced officer, but he got no answers at all to what may have happened to Carrie. It was as though the family just accepted the death and wanted to move on. Even Thea had that attitude in front of him, but, unlike the others in her family, she decided that she would find the killer herself, as she had no confidence in the police.
-She ends up re-tracing the steps that her sister would have taken, and goes to Maine herself. There, she is joined by the Detective, who she finds has taken Carrie’s death to heart, as the detective reveals that Carrie was killed in a gruesome way. Unfortunately, the people in her sister’s past have been more than cruel, and Thea’s tough attitude is not enough to prevent her from being seriously injured when she ventured out to question them.
-Though the beginning of the novel is slow, as we examine each of the members of Thea’s family over the time period of the funeral, the story picks up greatly when it focuses on Thea as she starts to probe the events that had ultimately led to her sister’s killing. There is a good deal of suspense, as well as a romantic interest that surfaces, with the ending as something that becomes apparent only in the last few pages of the book.
June 20, 2022
"Chosen for Death" is far above the normal murder mystery - feelings, family, secrets and, ultimately religious madness play a huge part in the story.
Young widow and workaholic Theadora (Thea) Kozak is the rock in her family, their go-to family member when problems need solving.
So, when her younger (adopted) sister, Carrie (Carolyn), is brutally murdered Thea finds herself in charge of sorting out Carrie's affairs.
Enter Detective Andre Lemieux of the Maine State Police. He's abrasive, calculating, forthright, and sometimes charming. But Thea, still mourning the memory of her husband, David, sees herself as an emotional island and despite the obvious attraction is unwilling, or unable, to let it progress. Though she does admit that sex might be an option - "I wanted to sleep with him. Something nice girls never admit, ... and I was scared stiff by my feelings."
It's somewhat shoehorned in but wth I can live with it.
A little bit of investigating brings her to Carrie's old boyfriend Chuck, a severe beating and a staged accident, which lands her in hospital suspected of DUI. This detecting business is tougher than it looks!
As the plot evolves there is a sense of betrayal at the deepest level, Thea comes to believe that there was more to Carrie's adoption than her parents are prepared to admit.
And when the story of Carrie's birth is finally revealed it is heartrending and revealing. I'm not adopted so I cannot understand an obsessive need to find your parents, nor can I fully appreciate the desire to keep a birth secret - but "Chosen for Death" is probably as close as I will ever come to understand. There are few books that make me really think - this was one.
One caveat. While I am sure it will surface in future books I do think that Thea's confrontation with her parents should have been included in the end of the book. It left it oddly unfinished.
4.5 Stars (I don't do 5 Stars)
Young widow and workaholic Theadora (Thea) Kozak is the rock in her family, their go-to family member when problems need solving.
So, when her younger (adopted) sister, Carrie (Carolyn), is brutally murdered Thea finds herself in charge of sorting out Carrie's affairs.
Enter Detective Andre Lemieux of the Maine State Police. He's abrasive, calculating, forthright, and sometimes charming. But Thea, still mourning the memory of her husband, David, sees herself as an emotional island and despite the obvious attraction is unwilling, or unable, to let it progress. Though she does admit that sex might be an option - "I wanted to sleep with him. Something nice girls never admit, ... and I was scared stiff by my feelings."
It's somewhat shoehorned in but wth I can live with it.
A little bit of investigating brings her to Carrie's old boyfriend Chuck, a severe beating and a staged accident, which lands her in hospital suspected of DUI. This detecting business is tougher than it looks!
As the plot evolves there is a sense of betrayal at the deepest level, Thea comes to believe that there was more to Carrie's adoption than her parents are prepared to admit.
And when the story of Carrie's birth is finally revealed it is heartrending and revealing. I'm not adopted so I cannot understand an obsessive need to find your parents, nor can I fully appreciate the desire to keep a birth secret - but "Chosen for Death" is probably as close as I will ever come to understand. There are few books that make me really think - this was one.
One caveat. While I am sure it will surface in future books I do think that Thea's confrontation with her parents should have been included in the end of the book. It left it oddly unfinished.
4.5 Stars (I don't do 5 Stars)
June 23, 2017
Thea's younger sister is brutally murdered and the police have no suspects. During questioning, the detective on the case rubs Thea the wrong way, and her added grief doesn't help the situation. Thinking about why her sister moved out of state leads Thea to speculate that her sister was on a search for her birth parents, a task her adoptive parents refused to help with. Did something, or someone, turn up on that search that caused her to be in harm's way? Thea is determined to find out and begins to follow the trail. The closer she gets to an answer, the closer she is to danger.
First in a series. Good story and plot. Lots of family background, but Thea's family seem no more dysfunctional than most. The overall subject is intense and we are in Thea's head a lot, feeling her pain and anger. The pros and cons of an adopted person finding their birth parents is well done and thought-provoking. IMO, the romantic element in the book seemed to come out of nowhere. They went from an electrifying touch during a couple of arguments, to him leading her to the bedroom.
All in all, a good read. Would recommend.
First in a series. Good story and plot. Lots of family background, but Thea's family seem no more dysfunctional than most. The overall subject is intense and we are in Thea's head a lot, feeling her pain and anger. The pros and cons of an adopted person finding their birth parents is well done and thought-provoking. IMO, the romantic element in the book seemed to come out of nowhere. They went from an electrifying touch during a couple of arguments, to him leading her to the bedroom.
All in all, a good read. Would recommend.
May 28, 2018
The premise appealed to me. A young woman is murdered and her sister, Thea, sets out to learn who did it. But, it did not live up to my expectations.
** SOME SPOILERS PRESENT BELOW **
The family of the dead girl took all of the fun out of dysfunctional. They each had issues and most of them were not fleshed out well enough in the story. To me, it seemed like Thea was just complaining about them most of the time.
Perhaps I am just old fashioned. But, I did not like how Thea intensely disliked the detective yet jumped in the sack with him a few days later.
The details of the murder were too graphic and I wanted to stop reading right there. However, I felt compelled to finish the book due to promises made.
When Thea started retracing her sister's steps searching for the sister's birth mother, then the story picked up. Until that time, I was wondering if we were going to meet any like-able characters in the book. This part of the book flowed well with interesting folks. However, Thea did make a lot of questions given that there was danger afoot.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a promised review. That is why I felt obligated to finish it.
** SOME SPOILERS PRESENT BELOW **
The family of the dead girl took all of the fun out of dysfunctional. They each had issues and most of them were not fleshed out well enough in the story. To me, it seemed like Thea was just complaining about them most of the time.
Perhaps I am just old fashioned. But, I did not like how Thea intensely disliked the detective yet jumped in the sack with him a few days later.
The details of the murder were too graphic and I wanted to stop reading right there. However, I felt compelled to finish the book due to promises made.
When Thea started retracing her sister's steps searching for the sister's birth mother, then the story picked up. Until that time, I was wondering if we were going to meet any like-able characters in the book. This part of the book flowed well with interesting folks. However, Thea did make a lot of questions given that there was danger afoot.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a promised review. That is why I felt obligated to finish it.
February 12, 2017
Thea's sister is brutally murdered and Thea vows to find the murderer and see that he is punished. She believes that the murder had something to do with her sister's search for her birth mother. I have to say that I had the murderer figured out before the end of the story, but the mystery was still okay.
For me, it starts off sort of slow because it goes through all of Thea's family history before it really gets into the investigation and solution. This is actually a re-print of a novel from 1996-1997. I don't mind that at all, but if you are into technology, etc. you won't find it in this book - Thea does her research at the library, etc.
I believe there are several books in the series, with the last being published around 2006. While this book was an okay read, I won't be pursuing any of the others in the series.
"I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review"
For me, it starts off sort of slow because it goes through all of Thea's family history before it really gets into the investigation and solution. This is actually a re-print of a novel from 1996-1997. I don't mind that at all, but if you are into technology, etc. you won't find it in this book - Thea does her research at the library, etc.
I believe there are several books in the series, with the last being published around 2006. While this book was an okay read, I won't be pursuing any of the others in the series.
"I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review"
October 15, 2019
I really enjoyed the way Kate Flora steadily built suspense throughout this novel. It definitely kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen next — a great example of a book that is hard to put down.
I also appreciated Flora's female protagonist, especially how she created an imperfect character, one that could take charge without waiting for her knight in shining armor. Despite that, her character still had a vulnerability to her that softened her dynamic personality.
The main character, Thea Kozak, searches for her adopted sister's killer, and finds her life is turned upside down as each new secret is revealed. Clues that expose an ugly truth force her to look at her sister and her family in a new light. When she follows the same dangerous trail her sister had taken that got her killed, nothing is as she expected. She questions whether she'll ever be able to find her sister’s murderer, or if she’ll end up as another murder victim instead.
I also appreciated Flora's female protagonist, especially how she created an imperfect character, one that could take charge without waiting for her knight in shining armor. Despite that, her character still had a vulnerability to her that softened her dynamic personality.
The main character, Thea Kozak, searches for her adopted sister's killer, and finds her life is turned upside down as each new secret is revealed. Clues that expose an ugly truth force her to look at her sister and her family in a new light. When she follows the same dangerous trail her sister had taken that got her killed, nothing is as she expected. She questions whether she'll ever be able to find her sister’s murderer, or if she’ll end up as another murder victim instead.
January 13, 2019
I’ve read a few of the books in this series and I’ve not been disappointed. This is no exception. I enjoyed seeing how Thea’s story began to know a lot more about what drives her and to see the beginning of her relationship with Andre. Terribly tragic Thea has lost her baby sister and embarks on a journey to find the culprit. The characters are well written and highly developed. The overall mystery is both engaging and suitably complex to keep you guessing til the end. Great start to the series and an all around great read. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
February 7, 2019
This was OK for a first novel (first published in 1996, I think), with an OK plot, and characters who have room to develop. I didn't like Thea's family, which seemed to be dominated by the mother who made everyone's lives unpleasant if she was crossed in any way. Perhaps further books in the series allowed Thea to step back from the family expectations, but I'm not going to search the rest out. I'm sick of mysteries where the main character puts herself (I usually read books with female protagonists) into dangerous situations and miraculously escapes alive, which happens at least twice in this book.
January 25, 2019
Chosen For Death is the first book in the Thea Kozak Mystery Series and it seems to be a great start. It is well written and sets the stage for a thrilling mystery series.
There are many different elements to the story.... mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance and a complex family dynamic. The storyline held my interest. I throughly enjoyed the interaction between the characters and I am definitely looking forward to the continuation in the second book.
“ I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
There are many different elements to the story.... mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance and a complex family dynamic. The storyline held my interest. I throughly enjoyed the interaction between the characters and I am definitely looking forward to the continuation in the second book.
“ I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
October 14, 2024
I enjoyed this first in a series, despite the questionable moves Thea sometimes makes.
Cliche - dating the Detective who is investigating the death of her sister.
This mystery does not put mothers in a good light. Then again it doesn't put brothers in a good light either.
I was interested in the process of uncovering a closed adoption. Felt like amateur Thea was more like a seasoned private detective.
Not sure if I will read more of this series, but I did get vested in this investigation.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
Cliche - dating the Detective who is investigating the death of her sister.
This mystery does not put mothers in a good light. Then again it doesn't put brothers in a good light either.
I was interested in the process of uncovering a closed adoption. Felt like amateur Thea was more like a seasoned private detective.
Not sure if I will read more of this series, but I did get vested in this investigation.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2018
This is a first mystery and I found it awkward, There is a lot ging on psychologically but I always had the feeling that the introduction of various pieces was forced. Nevertheless, Thea Kozak is an engaging character and I wanted to follow her story to the end. I expect the series to improve.
May 4, 2020
Dramatic Mystery
This book is very fast paced and interesting. The way Kate Flora handles her characters and really fleshes them out made them very real to me. The top quality of this book has me yearning to read more in this series. I feel I have been treated to a first rate mystery.
This book is very fast paced and interesting. The way Kate Flora handles her characters and really fleshes them out made them very real to me. The top quality of this book has me yearning to read more in this series. I feel I have been treated to a first rate mystery.
December 4, 2021
Search for a killer
Thea is determined to find justice for her brutally murdered sister. She knows that Carrie was looking for her birth mother and Thea retraces Carrie's steps searching for clues. This story has some unexpected twists. It also provided some interesting insight into the thoughts and feelings of the adoptee and the birth mother that gives them up.
Thea is determined to find justice for her brutally murdered sister. She knows that Carrie was looking for her birth mother and Thea retraces Carrie's steps searching for clues. This story has some unexpected twists. It also provided some interesting insight into the thoughts and feelings of the adoptee and the birth mother that gives them up.
May 5, 2023
Pretty good but was able to figure out who killed the sister as soon as I met him. At times Thea's independent streak was annoying. I enjoy strong female characters but found here a little to rigid. Also was very dissappointed by the ending. There are other books in the series so am hoping will see one of the characters come back into play.
Will probably ready another one at some point,
Will probably ready another one at some point,
March 16, 2018
Good mystery
I was totally absorbed in this book. I would give this book five stars. I had not guessed the ending until the very end. Virgo
70
I was totally absorbed in this book. I would give this book five stars. I had not guessed the ending until the very end. Virgo
70
October 22, 2018
I was impressed with this book. It had mystery and suspense. It had just the right amount of romance too. The characters were great and interesting. The book was easy to read and very emotional. I felt the need to find my birth mother as the character in the book. I am now following this author.
December 28, 2018
A self centered family, a murdered sister and a widow, determined to find the killer!
Kate Flora weaved a remarkable tight story that will have you engrossed!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
Kate Flora weaved a remarkable tight story that will have you engrossed!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
April 22, 2020
In this, the first book in the Thea Kozak series, Flora spends much of her word count on Thea's relationship with men, with her family, and particularly with her late sister -- but it's these relationships that are the key to understanding and solving her sister's murder. Recommended.
December 1, 2021
Thea Kozak Book 1
I did enjoy reading this book but after reading Book 2, it didn't seem as good. There are many twists and turns, but I just didn't enjoy it as much. I do intend to get Book 3 in the series though.
I did enjoy reading this book but after reading Book 2, it didn't seem as good. There are many twists and turns, but I just didn't enjoy it as much. I do intend to get Book 3 in the series though.
March 2, 2017
I Found the subject matter disturbing.
January 12, 2019
A good plot with mystery, thrills and great characters. The storytelling is the best, however. Easy to read and with a clear timeline.
January 26, 2019
What a way to start the series! I’m so happy I got the chance to read this book. I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery. I am voluntarily posting this review. This is my honest review.
January 7, 2020
Thea Kozak series - long series, good read! Again, Portland, ME author writes of her locale.
April 17, 2020
Very well written. ✍
December 15, 2020
Really liked it . . . moving on to the second in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews