What do you think?
Rate this book
Eriksson #2
Beneath the Cracks
Helen Eriksson's desperation grows to keep her secrets buried while trying to help local police solve a series of unexplained deaths.
ebook
First published September 22, 2012
14 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
L.S. Sygnet
28 books46 followersSygnet was a mastermind of schoolyard schemes as a child who grew into someone who channeled that inner criminal onto the pages of books. In the real world, the profession is nursing, psychiatric variety.
Devoted to family, friends and dogs in middle age, Sygnet spends most spare time plotting fiction, reading obsessively or playing with her four-legged children – the dogs.
Sygnet is a rabid NBA fan and loves the elliptical when the plot gets elusive. Nothing like endorphins to light the path. When endorphins fail, speed metal usually does the trick. Sygnet can often be found muttering over Pages on the iMac or the iPad, where most of the writing takes place.
Devoted to family, friends and dogs in middle age, Sygnet spends most spare time plotting fiction, reading obsessively or playing with her four-legged children – the dogs.
Sygnet is a rabid NBA fan and loves the elliptical when the plot gets elusive. Nothing like endorphins to light the path. When endorphins fail, speed metal usually does the trick. Sygnet can often be found muttering over Pages on the iMac or the iPad, where most of the writing takes place.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 13, 2021
Dragging…
This episode definitely did not move along as fast as the first book in this series.
Again, Helen Erickson is asked to help out the Darkwater Bay Police Department when homeless men are found murdered and then dumped into neighboring dumpsters.
Since Helen had decided to interfere in the investigation, it made sense to just invite her along. I mean she stipulated in the last episode not to bother her anymore with police matters (repeatedly).
Of course she became angry when she thought she was being left out of things.
Seriously, as a protagonist she is extremely hard to like. Forget about loving her.
Johnny Orion is in love with her, so she treats him like he is a toilet. As rude and nasty as she can be.
Briscoe and Crevan are the teammates she apparently work with. I say apparently because she ducks out on them almost every time, so she can get all the glory.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has repeatedly wanted, warned, asked and told her not to go to the biker bar and hassle the violent men there. Needless to say, she never listens. She finally got shot, but I bet that hasn’t cured her.
She insists on doing investigations on her own, regardless of the danger.
She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She’s paranoid, neurotic and nasty! I don’t see why anyone would want to be around her.
Oh, and by the way, the solving of the mystery is confusing.
This episode definitely did not move along as fast as the first book in this series.
Again, Helen Erickson is asked to help out the Darkwater Bay Police Department when homeless men are found murdered and then dumped into neighboring dumpsters.
Since Helen had decided to interfere in the investigation, it made sense to just invite her along. I mean she stipulated in the last episode not to bother her anymore with police matters (repeatedly).
Of course she became angry when she thought she was being left out of things.
Seriously, as a protagonist she is extremely hard to like. Forget about loving her.
Johnny Orion is in love with her, so she treats him like he is a toilet. As rude and nasty as she can be.
Briscoe and Crevan are the teammates she apparently work with. I say apparently because she ducks out on them almost every time, so she can get all the glory.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has repeatedly wanted, warned, asked and told her not to go to the biker bar and hassle the violent men there. Needless to say, she never listens. She finally got shot, but I bet that hasn’t cured her.
She insists on doing investigations on her own, regardless of the danger.
She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She’s paranoid, neurotic and nasty! I don’t see why anyone would want to be around her.
Oh, and by the way, the solving of the mystery is confusing.
May 23, 2025
thrilling
Very suspenseful. I like how Helen never gives up and keeps chasing the perp until she gets them. This is a great series for a second read.
Very suspenseful. I like how Helen never gives up and keeps chasing the perp until she gets them. This is a great series for a second read.
May 24, 2013
***When I started this review: 3ish stars***
Overall, I liked this book. Ok - maybe I want to like this book because I feel the need to finish this series. It's funny how I continue to read when I really hate the main character. She is whiney, self absorbed, and overindulges in exhausting pity parties...but who's to say every author WANTS you to like the main character. My burden to bear, etc...
The story is engaging and remarkably well thought out (although it tends to ramble on at points). This whole series is FREE on B&N - therefore a gift - and who am I to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.
So I decided, as I wrap up my rather uninformative review, to bump up my rating because my complaints are few and rather petty considering the cost AND the fact is an entire FREE series. It has certainly been there for me in my time of need (the panicky moment of "what do I read next?!?!)
So...
DEAR L.S. Sygnet:
Thank you for your gift. I hope you forgive me that I don't like Helen Eriksson as a person... BUT I like what she does as a professional and I like the series. I applaud your talent and the financial sacrifice you must have made since these are free.
Yer pal,
Tayinnawin
***Revised ending review: 4ish stars***
Overall, I liked this book. Ok - maybe I want to like this book because I feel the need to finish this series. It's funny how I continue to read when I really hate the main character. She is whiney, self absorbed, and overindulges in exhausting pity parties...but who's to say every author WANTS you to like the main character. My burden to bear, etc...
The story is engaging and remarkably well thought out (although it tends to ramble on at points). This whole series is FREE on B&N - therefore a gift - and who am I to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.
So I decided, as I wrap up my rather uninformative review, to bump up my rating because my complaints are few and rather petty considering the cost AND the fact is an entire FREE series. It has certainly been there for me in my time of need (the panicky moment of "what do I read next?!?!)
So...
DEAR L.S. Sygnet:
Thank you for your gift. I hope you forgive me that I don't like Helen Eriksson as a person... BUT I like what she does as a professional and I like the series. I applaud your talent and the financial sacrifice you must have made since these are free.
Yer pal,
Tayinnawin
***Revised ending review: 4ish stars***
May 31, 2013
***4.5 Stars***
Only reason for knock of a point was because Helen is really starting to tick me off. Yes she maybe brilliant and a kick ass independent female but she is completely stupid with not allowing others in. The constant lying is enough to make me pull her out of the book and smack her around!! Not trusting others to come to her aid. I know that she had a difficult life with the incarceration of her father when she was 19 and she lives off his small advices he gave to her when she was growing up, but enough is enough!
I am a little scared to see where this series leads, I am so afraid that a particular person will be caught for something they did to help another. I really hope in the end it all works out, will be totally devastated.
Overall, still loving the series....this one ends with a little more of a hanger but luckily I get to jump straight into the next book without waiting for it to come out, lol.
Only reason for knock of a point was because Helen is really starting to tick me off. Yes she maybe brilliant and a kick ass independent female but she is completely stupid with not allowing others in. The constant lying is enough to make me pull her out of the book and smack her around!! Not trusting others to come to her aid. I know that she had a difficult life with the incarceration of her father when she was 19 and she lives off his small advices he gave to her when she was growing up, but enough is enough!
I am a little scared to see where this series leads, I am so afraid that a particular person will be caught for something they did to help another. I really hope in the end it all works out, will be totally devastated.
Overall, still loving the series....this one ends with a little more of a hanger but luckily I get to jump straight into the next book without waiting for it to come out, lol.
April 13, 2014
Compelling series. It has more angst than I am usually drawn to but the great characters and their interaction draw me in. You will want to read all of these books back to back! Luckily the first set of the series is complete!
Ex-FBI profiler Helen Eriksson is again pulled into working for the Darkwater Police Force with the unusual death of five homeless men and an undercover detective for the OSI. As the people of Darkwater reach out to her, she battles to stay detached, but it is difficult for her to maintain her shield with these people.
Ex-FBI profiler Helen Eriksson is again pulled into working for the Darkwater Police Force with the unusual death of five homeless men and an undercover detective for the OSI. As the people of Darkwater reach out to her, she battles to stay detached, but it is difficult for her to maintain her shield with these people.
April 18, 2013
Oh my this book was hard to put down. For free book on the Nook I couldn't be happier. The twist and turns made it a suspensfully read. Helen has so many demons to fight but that is part of her and makes her more real. I wish I could find me a Johnny he is one of the good guys and hope he doesn't change.
June 3, 2014
the is the second book in the series. Beneath the Cracks was an okay book a little hard to follow the plot as it seemed to have 2 different plots going on. It was hard to finish but finish reading it. It wasn't until almost the end when the book got interesting. Am believing there is or will be a 3rd book but does not know the title at this time.
August 18, 2013
Interesting read. Liked it more than the first book in the series. Didn't care too much for the ending. Figured she had to push Johnny away some how. Also, too many characters. Hard to keep up with them all.
June 18, 2013
Great Book--Book 2 in series
July 5, 2013
Very interesting. Couldn't put it down til the end.
August 10, 2013
Very good author that keeps you guessing.
October 31, 2013
BETTER!!!! The character seems to develop more in this book, again it was a great story that just gets you so riveted you dont want to put it down!
January 15, 2015
Very interests hard to put down. Great Series. Eva
January 1, 2015
Great detective/ murder mystery series.
July 11, 2014
Enjoying this series but still wish there were less characters.
June 28, 2014
I agree with the other reviewers. My biggest issue is the main character. I think the obvious is why I can't like her, but, at the same time, she helps save lives. I'm torn.
July 10, 2014
Easy reading but not too believable. Embarrassing to be female when women are portrayed this way, especially that her childish behavior is not entirely unrealistic.
July 13, 2014
Great book. Great series
April 15, 2015
I liked it a lot. The main character definitely has flaws, the other characters are fleshed out just enough, and the plot moves crisply.....
July 24, 2015
great character great stories. First rate series!
November 3, 2013
I really enjoyed it cldnt put it down finished it n a day
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews