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The Raven's Cry: A Wynter Island Mystery
TV producer Kate Zoë Thomas, fleeing an abduction in Afghanistan and heartbreak in Boston, accepts the first job that gives her a fresh station manager at a tiny community channel on Wynter Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands.
But, try as she may, Kate cannot outrun her bad luck. On a moonlit walk to a local beach, Kate spots a body bobbing in the surf. In shock, she recognizes the lifeless face and realizes there is only one person on the island with a motive for his murder.
Herself.
Will she manage to solve the mystery before the murderer stops her?
But, try as she may, Kate cannot outrun her bad luck. On a moonlit walk to a local beach, Kate spots a body bobbing in the surf. In shock, she recognizes the lifeless face and realizes there is only one person on the island with a motive for his murder.
Herself.
Will she manage to solve the mystery before the murderer stops her?
- GenresThriller
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2023
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 38 reviews
August 5, 2023
Kate Zoë Thomas has been hired to set up
a TV station on the beautiful Wynter Island
which is located off the coast of British
Columbia.
Kate is starting over after recovering from
being abducted in Afghanistan then having
a heart wrenching breakup with her then
boyfriend. A fresh start is what she needs!!
But soon after arriving on the island, Kate
discovers a dead body floating in the water.
Whose body could it be?
Kate soon identifies the body as that of her
ex-boyfriend. Kate becomes the main suspect.
Come along with Kate as she investigates
the characters living on the island in order to
prove her innocence.
All the characters have past histories full of
secrets. How will she weed out the truth.
Things are starting to get dangerous for
Kate and her friends such as a home made
bombing at her friend’s house.
I enjoyed the complex mystery filled with
many twists and turns.
For an exciting read make sure to get a
copy.
I volunteered to read The Raven’s Cry.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
a TV station on the beautiful Wynter Island
which is located off the coast of British
Columbia.
Kate is starting over after recovering from
being abducted in Afghanistan then having
a heart wrenching breakup with her then
boyfriend. A fresh start is what she needs!!
But soon after arriving on the island, Kate
discovers a dead body floating in the water.
Whose body could it be?
Kate soon identifies the body as that of her
ex-boyfriend. Kate becomes the main suspect.
Come along with Kate as she investigates
the characters living on the island in order to
prove her innocence.
All the characters have past histories full of
secrets. How will she weed out the truth.
Things are starting to get dangerous for
Kate and her friends such as a home made
bombing at her friend’s house.
I enjoyed the complex mystery filled with
many twists and turns.
For an exciting read make sure to get a
copy.
I volunteered to read The Raven’s Cry.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
April 28, 2023
Kate Thomas's life has taken some very dramatic turns. She was abducted in Afghanistan and nearly killed, she returned to the States to find her husband cavorting with another woman, and now she's relocated to an idyllic island on the Canadian Gulf that harbors more secrets than she could ever have dreamed. One thing is for sure: someone has Kate in their crosshairs.
As a reader of cozy mysteries and suspense/thrillers, this book was a perfect marriage of the two. There were many elements of the classic suspense/thriller while the characters and the scenario and setting were straight out of cozy-mystery-land. I had no clue who the killer was, there were so many red herrings. This book will hold your interest and keep you guessing right to the very end. Hopefully this will be the first of a series!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
As a reader of cozy mysteries and suspense/thrillers, this book was a perfect marriage of the two. There were many elements of the classic suspense/thriller while the characters and the scenario and setting were straight out of cozy-mystery-land. I had no clue who the killer was, there were so many red herrings. This book will hold your interest and keep you guessing right to the very end. Hopefully this will be the first of a series!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
April 18, 2023
I was really looking forward to this book, but to be honest, the story did disappoint me a bit.
Briefly, this is about a woman - Kate- who has returned from Kabul with PTSD. She walked away from a long relationship with boyfriend and colleague Daniel, and is now starting anew on Wynter Island (British Columbia-) as manager of the local TV station.
She has barely arrived by ferry when Daniel's body washes up on the beach in the evening. Kate is the prime suspect but does not leave it at that, and goes into the small, close-knit island community to find the culprit.
The book was slightly disappointing, and for me there was a clear mismatch between the story, the title and the cover of the book.
Whereas we get a fair amount of background info on Kate and Daniel, names and people from the island are brought up, without further depth or character building.
Most islanders have multiple roles; they are called Lesley, Gwen, Bob, Nate, Doreen, Ria or Shea. They come from the US, have Scottish or Danish backgrounds, have duo functions on the island, but that's about it. I took it for granted in the end, but if you ask me now who was married to whom, I'll have no answer. I felt like they were staged as props. Too bad, the writer could have fleshed out some of the characters a bit better.
I found the beginning of the story downright weak, with unnatural dialogues, (woman throwing herself in her husband arms - sobbing ‘oh help…’ ) and it felt that the story itself was not balanced. (no story, just props, and dialogues just for the sake of dialogue leading nowhere)
I also found Kate terribly unsympathetic, biased, and terribly blunt. The inner critic voice/inner dialogue (in italics in the novel) was annoying, and added nothing to the story.
I really liked the descriptions of nature, (orcas!) - unfortunately, the theme of first nation peoples was given very little space, even though the title - The Raven's Cry - is based on that very theme. The raven is the totem for something that has both good and bad in it.
The creature you would least expect to do something evil, so who would be the shapeshifter of the island then? I would have loved to read more about the indigenous peoples, and the Raven legend totem, because that was the reason I wanted to read the book in the first place.
The plot is simple and rather straightforward- and despite the criticisms I kept on reading and finished the book in a few days. Halfway the story is gaining momentum; some events are rather funny (Fish bingo via Youtube), and it turns out that in every community there are people who you feel a connection with, or who might trigger annoyance at first glance. I spent most of my childhood on one of the Wadden Islands, - so I am familiar with ‘island mentality’
I’d adopt Jupiter at an instant, - best character in the book - and the rest of the lot - well, let them stay nice on that island…
The book can do with a bit of editing, and the islanders need to be better portrayed.
2.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this review copy. This opinion is my own.
Briefly, this is about a woman - Kate- who has returned from Kabul with PTSD. She walked away from a long relationship with boyfriend and colleague Daniel, and is now starting anew on Wynter Island (British Columbia-) as manager of the local TV station.
She has barely arrived by ferry when Daniel's body washes up on the beach in the evening. Kate is the prime suspect but does not leave it at that, and goes into the small, close-knit island community to find the culprit.
The book was slightly disappointing, and for me there was a clear mismatch between the story, the title and the cover of the book.
Whereas we get a fair amount of background info on Kate and Daniel, names and people from the island are brought up, without further depth or character building.
Most islanders have multiple roles; they are called Lesley, Gwen, Bob, Nate, Doreen, Ria or Shea. They come from the US, have Scottish or Danish backgrounds, have duo functions on the island, but that's about it. I took it for granted in the end, but if you ask me now who was married to whom, I'll have no answer. I felt like they were staged as props. Too bad, the writer could have fleshed out some of the characters a bit better.
I found the beginning of the story downright weak, with unnatural dialogues, (woman throwing herself in her husband arms - sobbing ‘oh help…’ ) and it felt that the story itself was not balanced. (no story, just props, and dialogues just for the sake of dialogue leading nowhere)
I also found Kate terribly unsympathetic, biased, and terribly blunt. The inner critic voice/inner dialogue (in italics in the novel) was annoying, and added nothing to the story.
I really liked the descriptions of nature, (orcas!) - unfortunately, the theme of first nation peoples was given very little space, even though the title - The Raven's Cry - is based on that very theme. The raven is the totem for something that has both good and bad in it.
The creature you would least expect to do something evil, so who would be the shapeshifter of the island then? I would have loved to read more about the indigenous peoples, and the Raven legend totem, because that was the reason I wanted to read the book in the first place.
The plot is simple and rather straightforward- and despite the criticisms I kept on reading and finished the book in a few days. Halfway the story is gaining momentum; some events are rather funny (Fish bingo via Youtube), and it turns out that in every community there are people who you feel a connection with, or who might trigger annoyance at first glance. I spent most of my childhood on one of the Wadden Islands, - so I am familiar with ‘island mentality’
I’d adopt Jupiter at an instant, - best character in the book - and the rest of the lot - well, let them stay nice on that island…
The book can do with a bit of editing, and the islanders need to be better portrayed.
2.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this review copy. This opinion is my own.
March 14, 2023
"Nerdection Worth to Read"
The Raven’s Cry is a mystery novel and it sticks closely to the classic plot structure of the genre. I always enjoy reading small-town mysteries and this book fits into that category well. The setting of the book, Wynter Island, is charming and easy to escape into. The residents all have their own quirks and personalities which makes it easy to fall in love with some of them and hate others.
Wynter Island is a small town that survives mostly on summer tourist revenue. Gwen, a descendant of the original founder of the island, hires Kate to spearhead the formation of a television network to garner attention for the island. Their goal is to get more residents and visitors on the island for more revenue to help rejuvenate it.
I enjoyed the scenes in the book where Kate was working with some of the station’s volunteers to come up with program ideas and host broadcasts. The inaugural show is a weekly broadcast of “Fish BINGO” where the viewers in the town could play along and win freshly caught wild salmon or various other prizes. These scenes really highlighted the small-town community setting for me and I thought it added an extra level of charm to it.
Daniel’s death happened early on in the book and the more you read the more the mystery unravels. Almost everyone in this book is a suspect and Kate treats them as such a lot of the time. Raven’s Cry is the first book of a new series, so I am eager to see how the relationships change in the future after some of the encounters Kate had with the residents.
But one of the most endearing encounters was with the scraggly silver-haired stray dog, Jupiter. Shea. the town’s resident animal rescuer, took him in a year before Kate arrived. He has always been aloof and standoffish toward everyone. That is until Kate arrived. She even described their bond as “supernatural” in the book. She adopted the dog and the two were virtually inseparable.
The only issue I had with the book was at times I found it a bit repetitive. For example, in the end, after the case was solved there were two back-to-back scenes explaining what happened. And from time to time it felt like Kate was having more or less the same conversation with different people.
Overall, The Raven’s Cry was a quick, cozy small-town mystery with a diverse cast of characters and an intriguing murder case. It’s a great read for any fans of the genre! I would give this book 4/5 stars!
The Raven’s Cry is a mystery novel and it sticks closely to the classic plot structure of the genre. I always enjoy reading small-town mysteries and this book fits into that category well. The setting of the book, Wynter Island, is charming and easy to escape into. The residents all have their own quirks and personalities which makes it easy to fall in love with some of them and hate others.
Wynter Island is a small town that survives mostly on summer tourist revenue. Gwen, a descendant of the original founder of the island, hires Kate to spearhead the formation of a television network to garner attention for the island. Their goal is to get more residents and visitors on the island for more revenue to help rejuvenate it.
I enjoyed the scenes in the book where Kate was working with some of the station’s volunteers to come up with program ideas and host broadcasts. The inaugural show is a weekly broadcast of “Fish BINGO” where the viewers in the town could play along and win freshly caught wild salmon or various other prizes. These scenes really highlighted the small-town community setting for me and I thought it added an extra level of charm to it.
Daniel’s death happened early on in the book and the more you read the more the mystery unravels. Almost everyone in this book is a suspect and Kate treats them as such a lot of the time. Raven’s Cry is the first book of a new series, so I am eager to see how the relationships change in the future after some of the encounters Kate had with the residents.
But one of the most endearing encounters was with the scraggly silver-haired stray dog, Jupiter. Shea. the town’s resident animal rescuer, took him in a year before Kate arrived. He has always been aloof and standoffish toward everyone. That is until Kate arrived. She even described their bond as “supernatural” in the book. She adopted the dog and the two were virtually inseparable.
The only issue I had with the book was at times I found it a bit repetitive. For example, in the end, after the case was solved there were two back-to-back scenes explaining what happened. And from time to time it felt like Kate was having more or less the same conversation with different people.
Overall, The Raven’s Cry was a quick, cozy small-town mystery with a diverse cast of characters and an intriguing murder case. It’s a great read for any fans of the genre! I would give this book 4/5 stars!
July 28, 2023
Thank you to Kim Herdman Shapiro and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of The Raven’s Cry.
After a life-threatening and traumatic event causes Kate to leave her job as a reporter in Afghanistan, she finds herself as the head of the brand new Wynter Island news station. The island seems like the perfect place for her to recover and build a new life. It is quiet, quaint, and peaceful. At least until she finds the dead body of her ex-boyfriend floating in the water by her cottage. Kate is the prime suspect. Will she be able to discover who is responsible, or will she take the fall for Wynter Island’s murderer?
I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. The story was definitely interesting, but I felt that the plot got a little lost as the author attempted to weave in every island resident as a potential suspect. Also, I was pretty off-put by Kate’s advances on Michael, even though he is married with a son and she has met his wife multiple times. I think I would have been okay with it if Kate had not acted on her feelings, but for her to actively pursue a married man after having been cheated on herself felt wrong. I appreciated Kate’s drive and initiative in trying to solve the mystery of the murder, but it was also taken a bit too far at times. She seemed to think she was entitled to know about the personal lives of everyone around her, regardless of whether it was relevant to her investigation. Other than that, I thought it was a very interesting mystery with multiple well-written plot twists.
If you are a small-town mystery lover, then this is the book for you!
After a life-threatening and traumatic event causes Kate to leave her job as a reporter in Afghanistan, she finds herself as the head of the brand new Wynter Island news station. The island seems like the perfect place for her to recover and build a new life. It is quiet, quaint, and peaceful. At least until she finds the dead body of her ex-boyfriend floating in the water by her cottage. Kate is the prime suspect. Will she be able to discover who is responsible, or will she take the fall for Wynter Island’s murderer?
I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. The story was definitely interesting, but I felt that the plot got a little lost as the author attempted to weave in every island resident as a potential suspect. Also, I was pretty off-put by Kate’s advances on Michael, even though he is married with a son and she has met his wife multiple times. I think I would have been okay with it if Kate had not acted on her feelings, but for her to actively pursue a married man after having been cheated on herself felt wrong. I appreciated Kate’s drive and initiative in trying to solve the mystery of the murder, but it was also taken a bit too far at times. She seemed to think she was entitled to know about the personal lives of everyone around her, regardless of whether it was relevant to her investigation. Other than that, I thought it was a very interesting mystery with multiple well-written plot twists.
If you are a small-town mystery lover, then this is the book for you!
April 17, 2023
First of all, Jupiter is the best character, and I will be taking no comments saying otherwise.
The plot is a good idea in intention. Another small town mystery to see if you can solve it before it’s revealed. And while Shapiro writes well and keeps the pages turning, this book feels like the epitome of “telling, not showing.” When the culprit is eventually revealed, it seems out of left field, even in the hindsight of knowing and reflecting on the information you have. Now, is that similar to real life? Yes. Am I too competitive? Absolutely.
Shapiro introduces this whole negativity and vitriol between Fisherman Phil and Kate, maybe to represent old folks resistant to change versus the new incoming folks changing things up. But it seems like it’s introduced and then there’s no real conclusion to it? Like, I would’ve thought Phil on the suspect list before some of the other characters.
I’m also not a fan of the Kate-Michael thing that Shapiro was insinuating. Something about it made me sad and it seemed trivial and trite while reading. Like, cmon, just LET ME FIND OUT THE MURDERER!
Overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this to a friend unless they only read mysteries exclusively. The addition to the title “A Wynter Island Mystery” makes me think that there might be additional books in this universe, and maybe Shapiro will mark more of my checklist boxes in subsequent novels. No regrets in reading this, but won’t be rushing to reread it, if you know what I mean. Shoutout to NetGalley for access to this book.
The plot is a good idea in intention. Another small town mystery to see if you can solve it before it’s revealed. And while Shapiro writes well and keeps the pages turning, this book feels like the epitome of “telling, not showing.” When the culprit is eventually revealed, it seems out of left field, even in the hindsight of knowing and reflecting on the information you have. Now, is that similar to real life? Yes. Am I too competitive? Absolutely.
Shapiro introduces this whole negativity and vitriol between Fisherman Phil and Kate, maybe to represent old folks resistant to change versus the new incoming folks changing things up. But it seems like it’s introduced and then there’s no real conclusion to it? Like, I would’ve thought Phil on the suspect list before some of the other characters.
I’m also not a fan of the Kate-Michael thing that Shapiro was insinuating. Something about it made me sad and it seemed trivial and trite while reading. Like, cmon, just LET ME FIND OUT THE MURDERER!
Overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this to a friend unless they only read mysteries exclusively. The addition to the title “A Wynter Island Mystery” makes me think that there might be additional books in this universe, and maybe Shapiro will mark more of my checklist boxes in subsequent novels. No regrets in reading this, but won’t be rushing to reread it, if you know what I mean. Shoutout to NetGalley for access to this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2023
THE RAVEN’S CRY, a Wynter Island Mystery, by Kim Herdman Shapiro, is an engaging story that’s a cross between a suspense novel and a cozy mystery. Set on a small island off the coast of British Columbia, the scenery is breathtaking, and the setting is unique. The author’s strong descriptive voice brings the area to life. The protagonist, Kate Zoë Thomas, is a sympathetic character after enduring a horrific ordeal during her assignment in Afghanistan. Then, feeling betrayed by those close to her stateside, she lands a job on Wynter Island, opening a new community TV channel. Given the number of people in the book, it was a bit difficult keeping them and their backstories straight at times. However, I believe this is the start of a series and, with the backstory already told, the next book in the series should flow more smoothly.
The mystery starts off quickly when Kate finds the murdered body of her ex. Right away, it becomes apparent she is the only suspect because no one else on the island knew him. With the number of characters who live on the island, there were plenty of suspects who had secrets to hide. Kate has to delve deep into their past, to find out who else knew the victim and has a motive to kill him. With some twists and turns, Ms. Shapiro crafts a puzzling mystery that kept me guessing. This is a great start to the series and I look forward to reading the next book!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The mystery starts off quickly when Kate finds the murdered body of her ex. Right away, it becomes apparent she is the only suspect because no one else on the island knew him. With the number of characters who live on the island, there were plenty of suspects who had secrets to hide. Kate has to delve deep into their past, to find out who else knew the victim and has a motive to kill him. With some twists and turns, Ms. Shapiro crafts a puzzling mystery that kept me guessing. This is a great start to the series and I look forward to reading the next book!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 18, 2023
The author asked me to review her debut mystery novel and it is a page-turner. It's a great start to the Wynter Island Mystery series and I can't wait to see what more Shapiro has in store for the quirky characters on the beautiful island in British Columbia.
Told from Kate Zoë Thomas' point of view the story follows her flight from Boston to Wynter Island after catching her boyfriend cheating. She barely arrives on the island to begin her new job as the television station manager when she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend and is charged with murder. The island is small and the citizens seem closely connected so it was going to take an outsider and journalist like her to solve this case.
Kate is a confident and independent woman who is living with PTSD from her kidnapping in war-torn Afghanistan and reeling from the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Daniel. She is the chief suspect in Daniel's death, but she has lots of supporters from her new friends and neighbors on the island...well, she thought she did. It seems like the killer has other plans for her, but not if she can find the killer first.
This is definitely a character-driven mystery with devoted animal lovers, over-protective parents, instant friends with buried secrets, and loyal canines.
This thriller pulls you in with its beautiful setting, its perplexing dynamic between the islanders, and its extraordinary plot twists. If you love some laughs, lots of lies, and many leads, give this book a try!
Told from Kate Zoë Thomas' point of view the story follows her flight from Boston to Wynter Island after catching her boyfriend cheating. She barely arrives on the island to begin her new job as the television station manager when she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend and is charged with murder. The island is small and the citizens seem closely connected so it was going to take an outsider and journalist like her to solve this case.
Kate is a confident and independent woman who is living with PTSD from her kidnapping in war-torn Afghanistan and reeling from the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Daniel. She is the chief suspect in Daniel's death, but she has lots of supporters from her new friends and neighbors on the island...well, she thought she did. It seems like the killer has other plans for her, but not if she can find the killer first.
This is definitely a character-driven mystery with devoted animal lovers, over-protective parents, instant friends with buried secrets, and loyal canines.
This thriller pulls you in with its beautiful setting, its perplexing dynamic between the islanders, and its extraordinary plot twists. If you love some laughs, lots of lies, and many leads, give this book a try!
June 1, 2024
I enjoyed this new series, first novel about a woman, Kate, who leaves her TV job in Boston to go work and live on a remote island in BC, Canada. There are a host of somewhat eccentric characters that live full time on the island and to be honest, I was overwhelmed with the names and relationships of everyone as they were introduced all in a lump, it seemed, and I kept forgetting who was who or related to one another. I loved the dog, Jupiter. Told in first person, we are limited to what Kate knows or observes. This allows for a lot of confusion as Kate really does not know about prior relationships that her murdered ex-boyfriend may have had with the island residents. So, she and the reader are easily led astray by lies told by other characters. Frankly, the plot seemed to get a little muddled up, especially as a potential romance is stirred into the story, something I found unnecessarily confusing. Then, as with many first person stories, a big act occurs and then the entire mystery is "unraveled" in an explanatory narrative from some other character. After reading for so many pages, to have the whole thing explained in two or three pages is disconcerting, especially because the reader is denied knowledge of most of the background facts because Kate is ignorant of them. A good read, but using first person sort of rendered it impossible to solve without the wrap up by another character at the end.
July 12, 2023
The Raven's Cry by Kim Herdman Shapiro is a great suspense cozy mystery set on beautiful Wynter Island off the coast of British Columbia. The main character, Kate Zoë Thomas, is recovering from trauma that occurred while she was assigned to Afghanistan for her job with a PBS station in Boston. After a bad breakup with her (now ex) boyfriend, she accepts a job to set up a TV station on the island to put some distance between her and her past troubles. Unfortunately, after not being on the island very long, she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend floating in the ocean. Local law enforcement immediately considers her their top suspect and Kate needs to prove to them she is innocent.
Throughout the story we meet many of the local residents and learn where they fit in on the island. I found the story very interesting and the characters to be very interesting. Every time I thought I knew who the real murderer was, I found I was wrong. I was kept guessing right up until the end. I had a hard time putting this book down and was up late at night to finish it sooner. All of the twists and turns of the murder mystery combined with the amazing scenery made for an excellent novel! I look forward to reading more books from this author:)
I was given a free copy of this book in the hope that I would review it. I am happy to do so.
Throughout the story we meet many of the local residents and learn where they fit in on the island. I found the story very interesting and the characters to be very interesting. Every time I thought I knew who the real murderer was, I found I was wrong. I was kept guessing right up until the end. I had a hard time putting this book down and was up late at night to finish it sooner. All of the twists and turns of the murder mystery combined with the amazing scenery made for an excellent novel! I look forward to reading more books from this author:)
I was given a free copy of this book in the hope that I would review it. I am happy to do so.
August 13, 2023
Unfortunately this isn’t the best book in my opinion. It was slow paced, FAR to many characters to keep up with anything. I DID appreciate the fact she included a map in the book but a list of people would have been very helpful. Something everyone wants to know I won’t mind spoiling the dog in this book DOES live! so you’re safe with that one. Another good mark. But I personally couldn’t keep up with the everyone they had in this book there was no shot of me being able to figure out who did it since I couldn’t keep up with who was who or what they did. When the explained who did it I really didn’t see many clues that would have stood out from any of the other weird comments in the book. A few typos I think grammar people wouldn’t like but that’s wasn’t a huge note for me just something the author might wanna look for before final publishing. I think the idea and the setting were really good and interesting I just think the execution of the characters and storyline didn’t play out well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2023
In short, this book is about a murder mystery on a small island. To be honest, there is a complete disconnect between the title, the cover, and the story line.
Kate is the main character in the book moving to an island to take a new job to escape her past. There was a lot that didn't make sense in this book, either because there was very little history provided and relationships between characters were rushed and strange. For instance, the Kate and Michael thing, it never went anywhere, was one sided, and non-existent,
Kate's reactions and emotions, as well as other characters in the various situations were lacking and unrealistic. There is very little grief expressed towards losing a long time love, very little trauma emotions for several traumatic incidents, and the story jumped ahead so sporadically that I had to flip back to the previous chapter to make sure I didn't miss something.
This is out December 5th, 2023.
Kate is the main character in the book moving to an island to take a new job to escape her past. There was a lot that didn't make sense in this book, either because there was very little history provided and relationships between characters were rushed and strange. For instance, the Kate and Michael thing, it never went anywhere, was one sided, and non-existent,
Kate's reactions and emotions, as well as other characters in the various situations were lacking and unrealistic. There is very little grief expressed towards losing a long time love, very little trauma emotions for several traumatic incidents, and the story jumped ahead so sporadically that I had to flip back to the previous chapter to make sure I didn't miss something.
This is out December 5th, 2023.
July 14, 2023
I’m thrilled to see that this is the beginning to a new series, because I loved the book. Wynter Island sounds like a fascinating place and the dream of moving somewhere like that, where you know no one, and starting over again sounds so intriguing if you’re at least moderately adventurous. Kate is a little awkward at first because of some of her past, but she’s bright, personable and resourceful, and when she becomes a suspect in a murder (on a small island where they have very little crime) she has to prove she’s innocent by solving the mystery. She has made friends so fast that most people actually trust her, so that’s good, because some bad things keep happening. It’s a pretty exciting read once it gets going and I’m eager to read the next book. I can definitely recommend this book; I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.
August 2, 2023
First, I think I need a recipe for that cinnamon roll. Wow.
There was kind of an info dump at the beginning and a lot of characters to keep track of. There's quite a variety of people and backgrounds on the island, which seemed odd for small town portrayed, but interesting. There's good description- Wynter Island does seem like a nice place. Jupiter is probably my favorite character.
Once the story gets going it keeps you on your toes as the mystery keeps going deeper and deeper. Also a few bits of humor are thrown in to break things up. One thing I wasn't crazy about was Kate lusting after Michael, a married man, especially after her situation with Daniel.
There's a few loose ends, I wondered if this is merely the first book in a series? If so, I'd be interested in reading more about Kate, Jupiter, and Wynter Island.
There was kind of an info dump at the beginning and a lot of characters to keep track of. There's quite a variety of people and backgrounds on the island, which seemed odd for small town portrayed, but interesting. There's good description- Wynter Island does seem like a nice place. Jupiter is probably my favorite character.
Once the story gets going it keeps you on your toes as the mystery keeps going deeper and deeper. Also a few bits of humor are thrown in to break things up. One thing I wasn't crazy about was Kate lusting after Michael, a married man, especially after her situation with Daniel.
There's a few loose ends, I wondered if this is merely the first book in a series? If so, I'd be interested in reading more about Kate, Jupiter, and Wynter Island.
November 7, 2025
Atmospheric, intelligent, and utterly absorbing
Kim Herdman Shapiro’s The Raven’s Cry is a gripping mystery that combines the suspense of a thriller with the emotional depth of a character study. From the first chapter, the haunting setting of Wynter Island feels alive a place where beauty and danger coexist, where every whisper of the wind might carry a secret.
Kate Zoë Thomas is a wonderfully layered protagonist brave, flawed, and deeply human. Shapiro captures her struggle to rebuild her life after trauma with nuance and empathy, while skillfully weaving a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the end. The pacing is taut, the prose cinematic, and the emotional resonance undeniable.
A smart, atmospheric page-turner that proves redemption and danger often share the same path.
Kim Herdman Shapiro’s The Raven’s Cry is a gripping mystery that combines the suspense of a thriller with the emotional depth of a character study. From the first chapter, the haunting setting of Wynter Island feels alive a place where beauty and danger coexist, where every whisper of the wind might carry a secret.
Kate Zoë Thomas is a wonderfully layered protagonist brave, flawed, and deeply human. Shapiro captures her struggle to rebuild her life after trauma with nuance and empathy, while skillfully weaving a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the end. The pacing is taut, the prose cinematic, and the emotional resonance undeniable.
A smart, atmospheric page-turner that proves redemption and danger often share the same path.
August 14, 2023
A great read! Yes, it is complicated, but that’s what makes it so good. I love trying to figure out 'whodunit'. Kate Thomas, a tv journalist, decides to totally reboot her life after an abduction in Afghanistan. This means that she leaves her globetrotting world behind and heads for a new job running a small tv station on a small Canadian island. The one thing she isn’t expecting is to find the dead body of her ex waiting for her there. Lots of thrills, but also a lot of fun and humorous details when Shapiro focuses on the quirky residents of this tiny island. Who would have thought Fish Bingo could be a thing? All in all, recommended for mystery lovers, especially if you are looking for a book to keep you on your toes until the final chapter. Five stars!
October 31, 2023
"TV producer Kate Zoë Thomas, fleeing an abduction in Afghanistan and heartbreak in Boston, accepts the first job that gives her a fresh start: station manager at a tiny community channel on Wynter Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands. But, try as she may, Kate cannot outrun her bad luck. On a moonlit walk to a local beach, Kate spots a body bobbing in the surf. In shock, she recognizes the lifeless face and realizes there is only one person on the island with a motive for his murder. Herself. Will she manage to solve the mystery?"
Great story, fast paced, kept attention the whole time, first time author read, will read more.
Thanks to level best books, netgalley, and the author in return of an honest review.
Published March 14, 2023
Great story, fast paced, kept attention the whole time, first time author read, will read more.
Thanks to level best books, netgalley, and the author in return of an honest review.
Published March 14, 2023
April 18, 2023
I was really looking forward to this book, but to be honest, the story did disappoint me a bit.
Briefly, this is about a woman - Kate- who has returned from Kabul with PTSD. She walked away from a long relationship with boyfriend and colleague Daniel, and is now starting anew on Wynter Island (British Columbia-) as manager of the local TV station.
She has barely arrived by ferry when Daniel's body washes up on the beach in the evening. Kate is the prime suspect but does not leave it at that, and goes into the small, close-knit island community to find the culprit.
The book was slightly disappointing, and for me there was a clear mismatch between the story, the title and the cover of the book.
Whereas we get a fair amount of background info on Kate and Daniel, names and people from the island are brought up, without further depth or character building.
Most islanders have multiple roles; they are called Lesley, Gwen, Bob, Nate, Doreen, Ria or Shea. They come from the US, have Scottish or Danish backgrounds, have duo functions on the island, but that's about it. I took it for granted in the end, but if you ask me now who was married to whom, I'll have no answer. I felt like they were staged as props. Too bad, the writer could have fleshed out some of the characters a bit better.
I found the beginning of the story downright weak, with unnatural dialogues, (woman throwing herself in her husband arms - sobbing ‘oh help…’ ) and it felt that the story itself was not balanced. (no story, just props, and dialogues just for the sake of dialogue leading nowhere)
I also found Kate terribly unsympathetic, biased, and terribly blunt. The inner critic voice/inner dialogue (in italics in the novel) was annoying, and added nothing to the story.
I really liked the descriptions of nature, (orcas!) - unfortunately, the theme of first nation peoples was given very little space, even though the title - The Raven's Cry - is based on that very theme. The raven is the totem for something that has both good and bad in it.
The creature you would least expect to do something evil, so who would be the shapeshifter of the island then? I would have loved to read more about the indigenous peoples, and the Raven legend totem, because that was the reason I wanted to read the book in the first place.
The plot is simple and rather straightforward- and despite the criticisms I kept on reading and finished the book in a few days. Halfway the story is gaining momentum; some events are rather funny (Fish bingo via Youtube), and it turns out that in every community there are people who you feel a connection with, or who might trigger annoyance at first glance. I spent most of my childhood on one of the Wadden Islands, - so I am familiar with ‘island mentality’
I’d adopt Jupiter at an instant, - best character in the book - and the rest of the lot - well, let them stay nice on that island…
The book can do with a bit of editing, and the islanders need to be better portrayed.
2.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this review copy. This opinion is my own.
Briefly, this is about a woman - Kate- who has returned from Kabul with PTSD. She walked away from a long relationship with boyfriend and colleague Daniel, and is now starting anew on Wynter Island (British Columbia-) as manager of the local TV station.
She has barely arrived by ferry when Daniel's body washes up on the beach in the evening. Kate is the prime suspect but does not leave it at that, and goes into the small, close-knit island community to find the culprit.
The book was slightly disappointing, and for me there was a clear mismatch between the story, the title and the cover of the book.
Whereas we get a fair amount of background info on Kate and Daniel, names and people from the island are brought up, without further depth or character building.
Most islanders have multiple roles; they are called Lesley, Gwen, Bob, Nate, Doreen, Ria or Shea. They come from the US, have Scottish or Danish backgrounds, have duo functions on the island, but that's about it. I took it for granted in the end, but if you ask me now who was married to whom, I'll have no answer. I felt like they were staged as props. Too bad, the writer could have fleshed out some of the characters a bit better.
I found the beginning of the story downright weak, with unnatural dialogues, (woman throwing herself in her husband arms - sobbing ‘oh help…’ ) and it felt that the story itself was not balanced. (no story, just props, and dialogues just for the sake of dialogue leading nowhere)
I also found Kate terribly unsympathetic, biased, and terribly blunt. The inner critic voice/inner dialogue (in italics in the novel) was annoying, and added nothing to the story.
I really liked the descriptions of nature, (orcas!) - unfortunately, the theme of first nation peoples was given very little space, even though the title - The Raven's Cry - is based on that very theme. The raven is the totem for something that has both good and bad in it.
The creature you would least expect to do something evil, so who would be the shapeshifter of the island then? I would have loved to read more about the indigenous peoples, and the Raven legend totem, because that was the reason I wanted to read the book in the first place.
The plot is simple and rather straightforward- and despite the criticisms I kept on reading and finished the book in a few days. Halfway the story is gaining momentum; some events are rather funny (Fish bingo via Youtube), and it turns out that in every community there are people who you feel a connection with, or who might trigger annoyance at first glance. I spent most of my childhood on one of the Wadden Islands, - so I am familiar with ‘island mentality’
I’d adopt Jupiter at an instant, - best character in the book - and the rest of the lot - well, let them stay nice on that island…
The book can do with a bit of editing, and the islanders need to be better portrayed.
2.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this review copy. This opinion is my own.
July 29, 2023
This was a well written and instantly captivating book! What do you do when your life absolutely falls apart, you’ve been abducted and survived. Watched as people did not. Your relationship with your boyfriend turns out to be full of secrets. You move to an island far away that’s what Kate thought. Trouble and death seems to have followed her. On a tiny island where everyone knows everyone and your new, terrible things are happening. Of course the blame falls on you. So you do what you do, investigate. This was such a good read. Lots of twists and I was wrong with every guess! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC!
July 10, 2023
This incredible mystery immediately captivated me and kept me totally immersed from start to finish with engaging characters you want to know, lots of action and nail-biting intrigue that had me turning the pages and unable to put the book down because I had to know what was going to happen. I really like TV producer Kate Zoe Thomas and hope there will be other stories about Wynter Island. If you enjoy can't put down well crafted mysteries, don't miss The Raven's Cry. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
June 9, 2023
Kate Zoe Thomas has had her share of bad experiences, but when she finds the body of her ex=boyfriend floating in the water surrounding Wynter Island, things go from bad to worse. It seems no one else knows Daniel on the island, making Kate the logical suspect. Although they parted on bad terms, Kate knows she did not kill Daniel, so someone from the island must know him and isn't saying. An absorbing mystery which i believe might be the start of a new series.
June 9, 2023
Kate Zoe Thomas has had her share of bad experiences, but when she finds the body of her ex=boyfriend floating in the water surrounding Wynter Island, things go from bad to worse. It seems no one else knows Daniel on the island, making Kate the logical suspect. Although they parted on bad terms, Kate knows she did not kill Daniel, so someone from the island must know him and isn't saying. An absorbing mystery which i believe might be the start of a new series.
June 21, 2023
An eclectic, interesting cast of characters and a beautiful west coast island setting but for me it fell a bit short. Based on the title I think I was hoping it would dive deeper into native folklore and mythology, ended up wondering what the title had to do with the story. All in all not a bad murder mystery and the setting and cast of characters can easily be taken further into a series and could make for a good tv series for sure. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
June 15, 2023
I enjoyed this novel. It was my first time reading a book by this author. I liked the main character of Kate Zoe Thomas and the Canadian Island Setting was unique. I am hoping for more mysteries set on this Island. Her new dog, Jupiter adds to the adventure and is an excellent side kick for her new life.
August 17, 2023
This book really pulled me in with the beautiful island setting, and wonderful cast of characters!
I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a light mystery full of red herrings. I hope this was the beginning of a series because I would love to follow the lives of the Wynter island residents.
I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a light mystery full of red herrings. I hope this was the beginning of a series because I would love to follow the lives of the Wynter island residents.
April 24, 2023
An intriguing island setting, a unique cast of characters and small-town dynamics, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing, all come together to make The Raven’s Cry a thoroughly enjoyable read! Highly recommend!
May 12, 2023
An exciting, well written novel that kept you on your toes waiting for the next Kate Thomas challenge. The twists and turns in the story are well crafted and lead to an exciting ending. I enjoyed the novel and look forward to the next Wynter Mystery. This four-star novel is recommended to Mystery and Thriller readers.
April 21, 2023
I was looking for a mystery that would keep me both entertained & guessing. Boy, did The Raven’s Cry do that for me. A great puzzle of a mystery that will keep you guessing until the final chapter.
May 6, 2023
Loved this book :) so many twists and turns left me wanting to know what's going to happen next. An unexpected ending which I really enjoyed
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