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Megan Scott/Michael Elliott #1
False Impressions
Montreal ghostwriter Megan Scott falls under police suspicion when her husband and a female companion are found murdered. In what a Quebec detective calls a crime of passion, startling evidence surfaces to implicate Michael Elliott, a young investigative reporter who'd rather rub elbows with scumbags than live the posh lifestyle he inherited.
Clutched out of her comfort zone, Megan is flung into Michael's dark world of criminal investigation. As they make a last-ditch attempt to prove their innocence, an elusive enemy closes in and threatens their lives. Who wants them out of the way and why?
Clutched out of her comfort zone, Megan is flung into Michael's dark world of criminal investigation. As they make a last-ditch attempt to prove their innocence, an elusive enemy closes in and threatens their lives. Who wants them out of the way and why?
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
1379 people are currently reading
10170 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Nikolai
15 books575 followersSandra Nikolai is the author of the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series featuring a sharp-eyed ghostwriter and a daring investigative reporter who face life-threatening situations as they track down criminals. The series is available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats. Sandra also writes the Amber McNeil Mystery series featuring a psychic consultant who works in the cold case unit of a police force.
Visit Sandra's website at www.sandranikolai.com to join her mailing list and receive the first three chapters of False Impressions and Fatal Whispers, plus short story Timely Escape free! Follow Sandra on Instagram @sandranikolaiauthor or connect on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SandraNikola...
Visit Sandra's website at www.sandranikolai.com to join her mailing list and receive the first three chapters of False Impressions and Fatal Whispers, plus short story Timely Escape free! Follow Sandra on Instagram @sandranikolaiauthor or connect on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SandraNikola...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 18, 2013
My reading is eclectic. I love biographies, gardening books, thrillers, astronomy, cookery books; you name it and I will read it but the ones that I love and keep in my library all have one thing in common, they have that magical “je ne sais quoi” quality that wants me to read them and read them, and keep them to read again. To this day, I don’t know what makes a great book but I do indeed know one when I read one.
The elements are good for this mystery: Based in Montreal (to me a very exotic city) Megan Scott is married to Tom and she’s trying so hard to become pregnant. She’s a ghostwriter and her husband is often travelling (that in itself is suspicious) and then suddenly he’s found murdered with her boss, Pam.
Megan soon falls under suspicion with the police and also the man she is working with, crime writer, Michael Elliott.
I was intrigued to find out who was the murderer and was pleasantly surprised at the end of the book.
This book is very well written and I’m sure that many people will love it but it really wasn’t for me. I don’t know why – that’s all I can say. All I do think is that perhaps it needs more structure to it as for me the plot was excellent.
The elements are good for this mystery: Based in Montreal (to me a very exotic city) Megan Scott is married to Tom and she’s trying so hard to become pregnant. She’s a ghostwriter and her husband is often travelling (that in itself is suspicious) and then suddenly he’s found murdered with her boss, Pam.
Megan soon falls under suspicion with the police and also the man she is working with, crime writer, Michael Elliott.
I was intrigued to find out who was the murderer and was pleasantly surprised at the end of the book.
This book is very well written and I’m sure that many people will love it but it really wasn’t for me. I don’t know why – that’s all I can say. All I do think is that perhaps it needs more structure to it as for me the plot was excellent.
December 3, 2012
Seamless Plot and Escalating Suspicions
Set in Montreal, this debut crime fiction novel by author Sandra Nikolai is loaded with intriguing characters that continued to hold my interest as it wove a story of a betrayed wife, Megan Scott, and a criminal investigator, Michael Elliott.
As a bit of a movie buff, I found the premise of False Impressions reminiscent of the 1999 movie Random Hearts starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas who, after their marriage partners die in a plane crash, discover that their spouses were having an affair. The similarity ends there, though. The reason I read and enjoyed False Impressions is because it focuses is on the murder mystery. The main plot also offers escalating tension by presenting the protagonist as a major suspect in the murders. The emotional repercussions on protagonist Megan Scott, of her husband's extra-marital affair and of police suspicion concerning her involvement in the murders, permeate the story on a more subtle level.
The main plot and subplots in False Impressions fit together seamlessly, building suspense and creating new questions, along with doubt, as suspicion passes from one possible murderer to the next. The roles of Megan Scott and Michael Elliott are written with vivid effect, allowing the reader to develop a relationship with these characters as the story progresses. While this is essential to many stories, it is especially significant in a continuing series with its recurring cast of characters. I want to believe the protagonist has a backstory with enough depth to allow new revelations as the series progresses, along with the strength from past experiences to realistically deal with new crisis situations.
Set in Montreal, this debut crime fiction novel by author Sandra Nikolai is loaded with intriguing characters that continued to hold my interest as it wove a story of a betrayed wife, Megan Scott, and a criminal investigator, Michael Elliott.
As a bit of a movie buff, I found the premise of False Impressions reminiscent of the 1999 movie Random Hearts starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas who, after their marriage partners die in a plane crash, discover that their spouses were having an affair. The similarity ends there, though. The reason I read and enjoyed False Impressions is because it focuses is on the murder mystery. The main plot also offers escalating tension by presenting the protagonist as a major suspect in the murders. The emotional repercussions on protagonist Megan Scott, of her husband's extra-marital affair and of police suspicion concerning her involvement in the murders, permeate the story on a more subtle level.
The main plot and subplots in False Impressions fit together seamlessly, building suspense and creating new questions, along with doubt, as suspicion passes from one possible murderer to the next. The roles of Megan Scott and Michael Elliott are written with vivid effect, allowing the reader to develop a relationship with these characters as the story progresses. While this is essential to many stories, it is especially significant in a continuing series with its recurring cast of characters. I want to believe the protagonist has a backstory with enough depth to allow new revelations as the series progresses, along with the strength from past experiences to realistically deal with new crisis situations.
August 4, 2016
I just loved FALSE IMPRESSIONS, a mystery by Sandra Nikolai. It’s got a tight story line, a strong voice, and love is in the air between its two main characters, Megan and Michael. It’s got minor characters who are exploding with jealousy and who fall over one another chasing the men they’re burning for—so what’s not to like?
Ghostwriter Megan Scott becomes a suspect when her husband and his companion are found murdered. Startling evidence surfaces to implicate a young investigative reporter, Michael Elliot—who’d rather rub elbows with Montrea’s drug-dealing underbelly than live the posh lifestyle he's inherited. In order to exonerate herself, Megan is flung into Michael's dark world of criminal investigation. As Megan and Michael make a last-ditch effort to prove their innocence, the real killer closes in on them. Someone wants them out of the way and the author never lets us forget it.
The book kept me sucked into the story until the end. It’s about murder and deceit, two of my favorite subjects, and there are suspects galore. But the book is also about what dislocation feels like since Megan Scott, who tells the story, deals with the shock and the anger of betrayal and we see life through her eyes.
FALSE IMPRESSIONS really connected me to life. It’s a sparkling book, a book that plunked me smack dab onto the streets of Montreal with Megan and Michael, into its neighborhoods, its restaurants, its churches, its red light district, and beyond. And as a bonus, I learned how to say “electric butt cheeks” in French. I mean, what more could a reader want?
If you’re into mystery and memorable characters, if you’d like a taste of the je ne sais quoi of Montreal, then FALSE IMPRESSIONS by Sandra Nikolai is a book for you.
Ghostwriter Megan Scott becomes a suspect when her husband and his companion are found murdered. Startling evidence surfaces to implicate a young investigative reporter, Michael Elliot—who’d rather rub elbows with Montrea’s drug-dealing underbelly than live the posh lifestyle he's inherited. In order to exonerate herself, Megan is flung into Michael's dark world of criminal investigation. As Megan and Michael make a last-ditch effort to prove their innocence, the real killer closes in on them. Someone wants them out of the way and the author never lets us forget it.
The book kept me sucked into the story until the end. It’s about murder and deceit, two of my favorite subjects, and there are suspects galore. But the book is also about what dislocation feels like since Megan Scott, who tells the story, deals with the shock and the anger of betrayal and we see life through her eyes.
FALSE IMPRESSIONS really connected me to life. It’s a sparkling book, a book that plunked me smack dab onto the streets of Montreal with Megan and Michael, into its neighborhoods, its restaurants, its churches, its red light district, and beyond. And as a bonus, I learned how to say “electric butt cheeks” in French. I mean, what more could a reader want?
If you’re into mystery and memorable characters, if you’d like a taste of the je ne sais quoi of Montreal, then FALSE IMPRESSIONS by Sandra Nikolai is a book for you.
March 20, 2013
was pleasantly surprised by this novel. While I expected the mystery to be decent, I certainly did not expect it to be something I could not put down. It definitely held my interest.
Megan's husband, Tom, is a salesman and travels quite often for his job. Megan is a ghostwriter. The police arrive at Megan's home one day and inform her that her husband is dead. And that a female was found along with him. She is devastated; partly because she thought they had a happy marriage, partly because they were attempting to conceive, and partly because the woman with him was someone she knew. Suddenly, her life is thrown into turmoil.
Michael Elliott is a schoolfriend of Megan's. Because she spent a lot of time with him while trying to edit his book, and during that time, her husband was killed, the police suspect them both of plotting the murder. Now it is up to them to try and clear themselves, all the while sorting through circumstantial evidence which can certainly send them both to jail.
I highly recommend this suspenseful mystery, and hope others will enjoy it as much as I did.
Megan's husband, Tom, is a salesman and travels quite often for his job. Megan is a ghostwriter. The police arrive at Megan's home one day and inform her that her husband is dead. And that a female was found along with him. She is devastated; partly because she thought they had a happy marriage, partly because they were attempting to conceive, and partly because the woman with him was someone she knew. Suddenly, her life is thrown into turmoil.
Michael Elliott is a schoolfriend of Megan's. Because she spent a lot of time with him while trying to edit his book, and during that time, her husband was killed, the police suspect them both of plotting the murder. Now it is up to them to try and clear themselves, all the while sorting through circumstantial evidence which can certainly send them both to jail.
I highly recommend this suspenseful mystery, and hope others will enjoy it as much as I did.
August 22, 2013
I received a copy of this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I had a hard time deciding on a rating to give this. On the one hand, I really really enjoyed reading it. It was a great mystery and it really did keep me guessing about certain things all the way through. I was correct in my suspicion of who the killer was, but I didn't know any of the details behind it, and it was really well done in how those were revealed. Plus I loved the relationship between Michael and Megan. On the other hand, there were scenes that I really didn't like at all. Megan's reaction to the detectives news of her husbands death felt weird and awkward. Ditto to when she went over to break the news to her mother. I also had a few annoyances with a specific thought of Megan's. Several times early in the book she said that Detective Moreau seemed hell-bent on incriminating them. However nothing in the book had indicated that yet. I believe they had met twice and the detective indicated with nothing more than body language that he considered Michael and Megan to be suspects. Which, in my opinion, would only be natural.
But anyways, moving on from that. I had such a great time reading this book! I loved it, and that usually automatically gets four stars from me. However, because of these niggling little details, I am having a hard time giving it that fourth star. At the end of it all I would say that if it didn't contain these things that annoyed me (and that's just purely personal opinion) I would have given it four stars without question. So I'll settle by giving it three stars. It was a good cozy mystery, and I had trouble putting it down.
I had a hard time deciding on a rating to give this. On the one hand, I really really enjoyed reading it. It was a great mystery and it really did keep me guessing about certain things all the way through. I was correct in my suspicion of who the killer was, but I didn't know any of the details behind it, and it was really well done in how those were revealed. Plus I loved the relationship between Michael and Megan. On the other hand, there were scenes that I really didn't like at all. Megan's reaction to the detectives news of her husbands death felt weird and awkward. Ditto to when she went over to break the news to her mother. I also had a few annoyances with a specific thought of Megan's. Several times early in the book she said that Detective Moreau seemed hell-bent on incriminating them. However nothing in the book had indicated that yet. I believe they had met twice and the detective indicated with nothing more than body language that he considered Michael and Megan to be suspects. Which, in my opinion, would only be natural.
But anyways, moving on from that. I had such a great time reading this book! I loved it, and that usually automatically gets four stars from me. However, because of these niggling little details, I am having a hard time giving it that fourth star. At the end of it all I would say that if it didn't contain these things that annoyed me (and that's just purely personal opinion) I would have given it four stars without question. So I'll settle by giving it three stars. It was a good cozy mystery, and I had trouble putting it down.
June 27, 2018
This wasn't for me and I packed it in at 18%. The writing didn't come across as believable, especially in the scenes where Megan's told of her husband's death. The policemen didn't talk as I imagined they would and her reaction wasn't what it ought to be, either. All quite strange. Then she's pretty much sniffing around after someone else straightaway......it just wouldn't happen. Her constant attempts at telling her boss her job and who to fire or hire wasn't something she should've had any involvement in, either. That was none of her business.
It seemed peculiar with Megan's profession as when she was working it seemed to me she was an editor, really, not a ghostwriter. Her and her hubby didn't discuss work or clients with each other, which was fair enough, but Megan also does something else she doesn't tell him about. So you have to wonder what they DO speak to each other about !! The weather, maybe.....
I loved the dedication to her parents at the start.
It seemed peculiar with Megan's profession as when she was working it seemed to me she was an editor, really, not a ghostwriter. Her and her hubby didn't discuss work or clients with each other, which was fair enough, but Megan also does something else she doesn't tell him about. So you have to wonder what they DO speak to each other about !! The weather, maybe.....
I loved the dedication to her parents at the start.
February 24, 2016
This was a mid-pack novel in the genre.
The main characters are believable with realistic motivations for getting involved, although I felt how they first met – in college years before – a bit coincidental and wasn’t really necessary for the story to work.
That they didn’t fall into bed shortly after reconnecting was a plus.
A minus was Nikolai got a little long-winded in her descriptions several places. The final chapter seemed a bit rushed, as if she had to get it written fast. She did, however, take the main characters in a direction that was non-conventional and, therefore, fresh.
I’ll read more in this series if they come my way.
The main characters are believable with realistic motivations for getting involved, although I felt how they first met – in college years before – a bit coincidental and wasn’t really necessary for the story to work.
That they didn’t fall into bed shortly after reconnecting was a plus.
A minus was Nikolai got a little long-winded in her descriptions several places. The final chapter seemed a bit rushed, as if she had to get it written fast. She did, however, take the main characters in a direction that was non-conventional and, therefore, fresh.
I’ll read more in this series if they come my way.
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Narrated by Kelli Tager!
Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3QL1PA2
Audible US: https://adbl.co/3NtleWw
Audible UK: https://adbl.co/41WJgNW
Audible Canada: https://bit.ly/3LoOP0p
Audiobooks.com: https://bit.ly/42bwMBR
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3XtqVGd
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3NkLK1a
Chirp: https://bit.ly/3CQfTlN
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3GIjZOe
Hoopla: https://bit.ly/3oYx6FK
Scribd: https://bit.ly/3VlSC3c
September 17, 2020
Hands down one of the best books I've ever read!
Full of twists and turns that completely change your thought process throughout.
Megan and Michael are brilliantly written characters, whom you love almost instantly.
An absolutely fantastic and gripping storyline that I could not put down.
Highly recommend!
Full of twists and turns that completely change your thought process throughout.
Megan and Michael are brilliantly written characters, whom you love almost instantly.
An absolutely fantastic and gripping storyline that I could not put down.
Highly recommend!
January 29, 2019
One of the best mysteries I have read!
April 30, 2014
Great mystery novel !
Suspense, crime, clues, false accusations... One hell of a ride!
Montreal ghostwriter Megan Scott falls under suspicion of murdering her husband, Thomas Scott and her best friend, Pamela Strober when their bodies are found at a cottage in Pineview. The autopsy declares that they were murdered by cyanide poisoning. Detectives in charge turn to the most obvious suspect, the wife. She had the perfect motive, a cheating husband and a backstabbing friend. When they discover she was really close with her client, Michael Elliot and that he might be in on the murder, they both end up as the most likely suspects. Now, Michael and Megan must fight to prove their innocence while dealing with the threat of a real murderer.
First of all, let me say that this book kept me up 'till 5.a.m. I just couldn't put it down. Just one more chapter... and then one more... and one more... but I have to know who really did it. So , I read the whole thing in one sitting. It doesn't happen that often with mystery novels where I'm concerned. It is a remarkable debut from the author, Sandra Nikolai, who will definitely end up in my shelf from now on.
Now, let me turn to the characters for a bit. The heroine of the story, Megan Scott is somewhat clueless regarding her husband's work and activities. It's actually amazing how she never suspected him having affairs and spending all of their money. I didn't really liked that side of her. But, knowing how they both had busy jobs and fast paced life, I can see how that might happen. So, the other side of her was good. From a quiet, introvert woman she turned to a crime solving, murderer chasing, helping her reporter friend with his dangerous activities kind of woman. The transformation was great. She really gained much more respect from me in that regard. The hero of the story is Michael. Her reporter friend who has wealthy parents but decides to live his life doing what he loves most - reporting. To be more accurate, reporting and uncovering major drug deals in the area. So, a dangerous kind of reporting. And Megan helps him with that while they're on the road of clearing their names and finding a real murderer.
There were two things I didn't like though.
First one was the idea that detective Moreau was hell bent on accusing Megan and Michael of murder. The guy only appeared a couple of times, first to tell Megan that her husband was dead and then bringing Megan in for questioning and again visiting her apartment while Michael was there. So, 'till almost half of the book since almost the beginning, Megan keeps on describing how this detective has certainly done this to incriminate her, or gone there, or thought of this or certainly made up that. And the guy is nowhere to be seen. He doesn't even contact her. On p.105 Megan said:
"I especially didn't want to tell her the murders had drawn not only the attention of the media but also the curiosity of one particular police detective who was prepared to pursue Michael and me to hell and back if required."
The detective only did his job and she really was the most likely suspect. She had the motive and the means. I believe that was blown out of proportion a little bit. The second thing was Dan, the lawyer. Michael hired Dan for his expertise and his reputation. But throughout the book he really didn't show any of it. Everything he has done, a first year law student could have done better. And he didn't see what Jane was really like even though they spent so much time together. But... like I said, this is really a personal likeness of a character.
On the plus side, I loved how Megan was thinking. Her inner monologues while she was alone or lost in her thoughts really had me thinking. Let me show you what I mean.
Megan: "We humans were so naive about the danger around us. We could only speculate about how often we might have brushed against its borders as we wandered through rituals of our lives, not paying attention to strangers who crossed our paths."
All in all, I really like this book. Even though I'm not a great fan of mystery / suspense genre. If it can keep me up until morning and make me make coffee at 2.a.m. so I could find out who the killer really is, then you can imagine what it can do to a true fan of the genre.
I highly recommend this book to the fans of all genres for it is a universally good read.
August 31, 2016
Plot
No stupidity, no book.
Seriously, none of this makes sense. Megan’s cheating husband was found dead. It was perfectly normal that the police would suspect Megan and Michael, her supposed lover. But, no! The police were incompetent and they were on a “witch hunt”, so the protagonists had to find the real killer to prove their innocence. They were suspects, but there wasn’t any proof. They could’ve trusted the police to do their jobs instead of blowing it out of proportion.
This isn’t the mystery novel it thinks it is. The investigation wasn’t clever or interesting. The twist was predictable because any smart reader knew the suspects were too obvious.
Characters
Depth? What’s that?
Megan: Stupid. She never saw the obvious and she took forever to realize what the reader already knew.
She was a bitch to both romantic rivals. She demeaned and made snide comments about them for no reason. However, while still married (and thought her husband was faithful), she had butterflies for Michael. Attraction is one thing, but butterflies imply love. She was disappointed when she thought Michael didn’t reciprocate. If the husband hadn’t died, she would’ve cheated on him.
Michael: As stupid as Megan. He had an annoying catchphrase he repeated all the time. When he wanted to show emotion, a muscle pulsated in his jaw.
Detective Moreau: Poor guy. He’s just a competent, reasonable detective that was treated like crap because he dared suspect the main characters. He was the smartest person around and did all the hard work.
Jane and Emily: The exact same character with the exact same purpose: they were foils to Megan. They represented everything bad to make her look good.
Both were obsessed with Michael because he was hot and rich. They kept throwing themselves at him desperately. But how could he want anyone but sweet, mild-mannered Megan? He rejected them repeatedly but they kept coming back for some more humiliation. Anytime this happened they got furious and vicious in their jealousy. It was so fake.
Style
Megan’s voice was inconsistent. She was mostly emotionless, but then she’d throw some exclamation marks that didn’t fit. Sometimes she had random thoughts that looked a lot like the author’s own opinions. Then, when she went anywhere, Megan became a tourist guide and described everything in extreme detail and told us about tourist attractions that I didn’t care about.
Megan was a terrible narrator. Instead of showing, she’d tell us everything, including the obvious.
Time was really fuzzy in this book, too. It either jumped from moment to moment in terrible transitions or it was drawn-out and boring. I had a hard time telling how much time had passed and I believe there are some errors in the timeline.
Honestly, I can’t even tell when this book is situated. Megan used CDs, instead of flash drives. She didn’t even have a cellphone. Michael’s rental care didn’t have a GPS tracker. This was not 2012, the year it was published.
Final Notes
I threw this book against a wall. I had never done that before. It was so STUPID! There’s no other way to say it.
No, there is another way. This is a soap opera. The book literally says it. And I hate soap operas. Their characterization is poor, everything is dramatically over-the-top, the plots defy logic and everyone is stupid. It’s the same with this book. I hate it too.
P.S. Cyanide isn’t an unusual and cruel death. It kills in seconds.
No stupidity, no book.
Seriously, none of this makes sense. Megan’s cheating husband was found dead. It was perfectly normal that the police would suspect Megan and Michael, her supposed lover. But, no! The police were incompetent and they were on a “witch hunt”, so the protagonists had to find the real killer to prove their innocence. They were suspects, but there wasn’t any proof. They could’ve trusted the police to do their jobs instead of blowing it out of proportion.
This isn’t the mystery novel it thinks it is. The investigation wasn’t clever or interesting. The twist was predictable because any smart reader knew the suspects were too obvious.
Characters
Depth? What’s that?
Megan: Stupid. She never saw the obvious and she took forever to realize what the reader already knew.
She was a bitch to both romantic rivals. She demeaned and made snide comments about them for no reason. However, while still married (and thought her husband was faithful), she had butterflies for Michael. Attraction is one thing, but butterflies imply love. She was disappointed when she thought Michael didn’t reciprocate. If the husband hadn’t died, she would’ve cheated on him.
Michael: As stupid as Megan. He had an annoying catchphrase he repeated all the time. When he wanted to show emotion, a muscle pulsated in his jaw.
Detective Moreau: Poor guy. He’s just a competent, reasonable detective that was treated like crap because he dared suspect the main characters. He was the smartest person around and did all the hard work.
Jane and Emily: The exact same character with the exact same purpose: they were foils to Megan. They represented everything bad to make her look good.
Both were obsessed with Michael because he was hot and rich. They kept throwing themselves at him desperately. But how could he want anyone but sweet, mild-mannered Megan? He rejected them repeatedly but they kept coming back for some more humiliation. Anytime this happened they got furious and vicious in their jealousy. It was so fake.
Style
Megan’s voice was inconsistent. She was mostly emotionless, but then she’d throw some exclamation marks that didn’t fit. Sometimes she had random thoughts that looked a lot like the author’s own opinions. Then, when she went anywhere, Megan became a tourist guide and described everything in extreme detail and told us about tourist attractions that I didn’t care about.
Megan was a terrible narrator. Instead of showing, she’d tell us everything, including the obvious.
Time was really fuzzy in this book, too. It either jumped from moment to moment in terrible transitions or it was drawn-out and boring. I had a hard time telling how much time had passed and I believe there are some errors in the timeline.
Honestly, I can’t even tell when this book is situated. Megan used CDs, instead of flash drives. She didn’t even have a cellphone. Michael’s rental care didn’t have a GPS tracker. This was not 2012, the year it was published.
Final Notes
I threw this book against a wall. I had never done that before. It was so STUPID! There’s no other way to say it.
No, there is another way. This is a soap opera. The book literally says it. And I hate soap operas. Their characterization is poor, everything is dramatically over-the-top, the plots defy logic and everyone is stupid. It’s the same with this book. I hate it too.
P.S. Cyanide isn’t an unusual and cruel death. It kills in seconds.
May 17, 2013
FALSE IMPRESSIONS by Canadian author Sandra Nikolai was a real gem, a nicely composed whodunit that shies away from gore and violence in favor of a dialogue-driven narrative in which the characters’ brainstorming sessions take center stage. Am I mixing metaphors? Maybe. Go buy the book.
I always like reading mysteries that are set in different places and Nikolai puts the reader right in downtown Montreal, giving us a sense of the French influence as well as the shops, restaurants, subway system, etc. She uses snippets of the French language accurately and to solid effect. He writing style is strong on description and dialogue and is easy to read.
The plot doesn’t have bizarre twists and turns—it goes straight at the central theme which is Megan Scott’s discovery that her husband--for whom the word “cad” was coined--has been cheating on her with friends and strangers alike and suddenly ends up dead far from where he said he was going to be. She is the most likely suspect and nicely introduced details that Megan didn’t realize meant anything suddenly do. There is a love interest who is handled adroitly, Megan’s husband is recently dead, after all, and a nicely wrapped up ending.
I wondered if I would categorize this as a “cozy” mystery, a category that for me usually involves a cat and something knitted. Nikolai gives us more of a clean thriller and one which many should enjoy.
I always like reading mysteries that are set in different places and Nikolai puts the reader right in downtown Montreal, giving us a sense of the French influence as well as the shops, restaurants, subway system, etc. She uses snippets of the French language accurately and to solid effect. He writing style is strong on description and dialogue and is easy to read.
The plot doesn’t have bizarre twists and turns—it goes straight at the central theme which is Megan Scott’s discovery that her husband--for whom the word “cad” was coined--has been cheating on her with friends and strangers alike and suddenly ends up dead far from where he said he was going to be. She is the most likely suspect and nicely introduced details that Megan didn’t realize meant anything suddenly do. There is a love interest who is handled adroitly, Megan’s husband is recently dead, after all, and a nicely wrapped up ending.
I wondered if I would categorize this as a “cozy” mystery, a category that for me usually involves a cat and something knitted. Nikolai gives us more of a clean thriller and one which many should enjoy.
May 1, 2015
Lots of tension, suspense, red herrings, twists and turns, suspects, motives--all the makings of a well-crafted and clever whodunit. The pacing was great, the plot believable and the resolution satisfactory. The setting of Montreal was vividly described and the sprinklings of the French-Canadian language and culture throughout the book made me feel like I was right there along with Megan and Michael.
Speaking of whom, these two characters were very strong, well-developed, intelligent and real and were the reason the book was as compelling and intriguing as it was. I thoroughly enjoyed their brainstorming sessions as they tried to prove their innocence and find the real murderer.
All in all, this was a thrilling, well-written mystery that is sure to tantalize the palate of many fans of the genre.
Speaking of whom, these two characters were very strong, well-developed, intelligent and real and were the reason the book was as compelling and intriguing as it was. I thoroughly enjoyed their brainstorming sessions as they tried to prove their innocence and find the real murderer.
All in all, this was a thrilling, well-written mystery that is sure to tantalize the palate of many fans of the genre.
April 9, 2014
FALSE IMPRESSIONS offers readers a fun mystery with a great puzzle and just enough romance!
I was immediately enticed into this who-done-it with the opening line, “If Id known I would be visiting the morgue just weeks after…” The pace never lets up, and it was hard to stop reading for a dinner break. Told from first person point-of-view, we learn about her protagonist gradually, meet and learn about characters from her perspective, and solve the crime through her eyes. As a lover of mysteries, I appreciated the red herrings. The author uses back-story of professional editing as a way for her protagonist to meet a key character in the story and provide potential villains. If you’re looking for an entertaining mystery, check it out.
I was immediately enticed into this who-done-it with the opening line, “If Id known I would be visiting the morgue just weeks after…” The pace never lets up, and it was hard to stop reading for a dinner break. Told from first person point-of-view, we learn about her protagonist gradually, meet and learn about characters from her perspective, and solve the crime through her eyes. As a lover of mysteries, I appreciated the red herrings. The author uses back-story of professional editing as a way for her protagonist to meet a key character in the story and provide potential villains. If you’re looking for an entertaining mystery, check it out.
March 14, 2015
Disclosure: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Megan's husband is found murdered, and he was not alone. His female companion is also dead. The police suspect Megan, and she has to prove her innocence, and at the same time rediscover who her husband really was.
The story was well written, very plausible, and very compelling. To be honest, I did not really 'get' the protagonist at the end, it did work (although a bit of a stretch in my opinion, but it did work).
The author created good and very real characters. When Megan discovers that her husband Tom has been having affairs, she makes the immediate move to see a doctor and get tested - this is just an example of how the storyline is very real and very plausible.
Recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Megan's husband is found murdered, and he was not alone. His female companion is also dead. The police suspect Megan, and she has to prove her innocence, and at the same time rediscover who her husband really was.
The story was well written, very plausible, and very compelling. To be honest, I did not really 'get' the protagonist at the end, it did work (although a bit of a stretch in my opinion, but it did work).
The author created good and very real characters. When Megan discovers that her husband Tom has been having affairs, she makes the immediate move to see a doctor and get tested - this is just an example of how the storyline is very real and very plausible.
Recommended.
October 21, 2012
I finished this book when my computer crashed so I am just able to update a review. Want a real who-done-it? This book you wont put down. Mystery surrounds it throughout and even I couldnt find out who did it. Megan Scott's husband is found dead with a woman and the story begins. She is thrown into an investigation which makes her look like the guilty party....is she? and who wants her killed?
Cant say more or I will give it away...definitely a must-read....and this is only Book 1 - Sandra Nikolai is definitely on my books-must-read list....
Cant say more or I will give it away...definitely a must-read....and this is only Book 1 - Sandra Nikolai is definitely on my books-must-read list....
December 19, 2012
False Impressions is a top rate mystery/thriller, set in Montreal. I really liked the the way Nikolai used the characters in her story. She introduced them like paintings in an art gallery, letting me focus on which one to choose. Thus, the dilemma, which one? She sprinkled in just enough information throughout to keep me guessing, then tied it up all very neatly at the end. I highly recommend this very thoughtfully produced mystery, and cannot wait to read her next offering Fatal Whispers. Congratulations Ms Nikolai on a very well written novel.
August 13, 2012
Megan Scott has a good job, a best friend and a loving husband. Then in one cruel swoop, all of that is taken away. Megan is now a widow, practically friendless, and the prime suspect in her husband's murder. It's not long before Megan's own life is in danger. This is a deftly-crafted mystery that kept me guessing until the killer's identity was revealed. Full of beautiful descriptions of Montreal, interesting characters and grim jeopardy. A very enjoyable book and highly recommended!
March 22, 2013
I LOVED this book! I had no clue who the killer was, it was a total surprise! I also loved that the story is in Montreal, since I live there, I could see the major places in my head. English is my second language, and it was really easy for me to follow; I even had to restrain myself from reading it too fast :) I discovered a new author, and I will buy any other books that Sandra Nikolai will write.
May 10, 2015
False Impressions is a Film Noir style crime drama. In this respect it is about a murder, an aggrieved widow, a police investigation, the suspects, and a new romance. The heroes are the newly widowed ghost writer and her mysterious and resourceful crime reporter and writer client.
False Impressions is relatively light, has a neat ending, and is good fun. I did enjoy reading it. I liked the French element of the book being set in Montreal. I understand that there are sequels as well.
False Impressions is relatively light, has a neat ending, and is good fun. I did enjoy reading it. I liked the French element of the book being set in Montreal. I understand that there are sequels as well.
April 8, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It was a easy book to read with a lot of suspense. I will admit that I figured out the mystery fairly early on but I tend to do that with most books I read. I look forward to reading the next book in the Megan and Michael series. It was neat to read a book by an author that lives in the same general area as me.
November 21, 2013
Only started this book on Monday but could not put it down.
From page 1 to the very end you are on a rollercoaster ride with Megan and Michael.
Suspicion is thrown at so many characters throughout the chapters that you do not know who is responsible until the very last second.
An absolutely brilliant book and one I would definitely want to read again!
From page 1 to the very end you are on a rollercoaster ride with Megan and Michael.
Suspicion is thrown at so many characters throughout the chapters that you do not know who is responsible until the very last second.
An absolutely brilliant book and one I would definitely want to read again!
July 12, 2013
I received False Impressions by Sandra Nikolai free from Goodreads.com and totally enjoyed the mystery. I didn't outguess the mystery and was surprised by the ending. I liked the way the relationships built throughout the story. This is my kind of story A good murder mystery. Thanks.
July 27, 2014
I had a lot of suspects while reading this. It was a nice, not overly done, whodunnit mystery. Will check out the next book in the series since I liked both Megan and Michael.
December 30, 2012
Perfect pacing, sympathetic characters, a believable plot and resolution, what more can you ask for? Kudos to Mrs. Nikolai on a stunning debut, this deserves a much wider publication.
February 9, 2013
When can we expect your next book,Sandra. I found this well thought out and a fun read. please bring on more.
January 23, 2014
Pleasantly surprised! Looking forward to the next one.
March 29, 2015
Really enjoyed reading this, the pace was alert and the surprises keep croping up.
I also liked the romantic angle, really interesting developing.
I recommend it for lovers of mistery books!
I also liked the romantic angle, really interesting developing.
I recommend it for lovers of mistery books!
August 14, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this mystery novel with all good elements in. The end was quite a page tuner and it took me a while to figure out who the real killer was.
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