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The Dominion Archives Mysteries #2
Speak for the Dead
“A literary joyride.” —Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novels More than ten years after The Foulest Things , murder and mayhem return to Ottawa in the highly-anticipated next installment of Amy Tector’s acclaimed Dominion Archives Mystery series. It’s a stormy summer day when Ottawa coroner Dr. Cate Spencer is called to the scene of an alleged suicide. Inside a narrow vault in the Dominion Archives’ nitrate film storage facility—kept separate from the rest of the collection due to its dangerous combustibility—officers pressure Cate to rule the death a suicide. When parts of the scene don’t add up and a deliberately set spark threatens her life, Cate suspects that this death might be a murder. Cate’s tough façade masks a deep compassion for the victims she examines. Whether she’s looking for answers because of her dedication to justice or to distract herself from anguish over her brother’s recent death, her inquiries plunge her into a world of military secrets, contentious Indigenous protests, and a seventy-year-old mystery with deadly implications. Will Cate manage to pull herself away from her scotch and grief to expose an explosive historic secret and solve a murder the police doubt even exists?
Audio CD
First published March 14, 2023
7 people are currently reading
2517 people want to read
About the author
Amy Tector
6 books108 followersAmy Tector has spent more than 20 years plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives - whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 7, 2023
The Dominion Archives Mysteries continue...!
Last year’s book 1, The Foulest Things, captivated me beyond words. I loved the setting and familiarity of the Ottawa area - my hometown, but most appreciated the unlikely heroine’s resilience and genuine care. Couldn’t wait to see where the next instalment would take us!
Speak for the Dead is its own story and so also works as a stand alone. It follows a new strong yet flawed female protagonist, Cate, a coroner looking into what is first thought to be a suicide at the Dominion Archives. Though struggling with her own issues, Cate’s determined to uncover the truth. Through protests over a real estate development, land ownership and reparations for the Algonquin community, and despite pressure from all sides, she doesn’t back down. Why keep going? To find justice, but maybe also some deeper personal closure.
Amy Tector’s ability to develop such profound and endearing characters is truly refreshing. This second book is well worth picking up!
Thank you to the author for the advance gifted copy.
Last year’s book 1, The Foulest Things, captivated me beyond words. I loved the setting and familiarity of the Ottawa area - my hometown, but most appreciated the unlikely heroine’s resilience and genuine care. Couldn’t wait to see where the next instalment would take us!
Speak for the Dead is its own story and so also works as a stand alone. It follows a new strong yet flawed female protagonist, Cate, a coroner looking into what is first thought to be a suicide at the Dominion Archives. Though struggling with her own issues, Cate’s determined to uncover the truth. Through protests over a real estate development, land ownership and reparations for the Algonquin community, and despite pressure from all sides, she doesn’t back down. Why keep going? To find justice, but maybe also some deeper personal closure.
Amy Tector’s ability to develop such profound and endearing characters is truly refreshing. This second book is well worth picking up!
Thank you to the author for the advance gifted copy.
April 10, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to audibly read and review Speak for the Dead.
Narrated by Senn Annis
Published: 03/14/23
A miss for me. This is the second in a series, and I won't be reading the first, or subsequent books that follow.
The crooked state officials has been done. The University educated coroner verses street educated cops demanding a suicide death ruling from her. Really?
Reading/listening was exhausting and insulting. I like smart books.
FYI: I lost my notes, and cannot say with 100% accuracy if there was or wasn't profanity.
Narrated by Senn Annis
Published: 03/14/23
A miss for me. This is the second in a series, and I won't be reading the first, or subsequent books that follow.
The crooked state officials has been done. The University educated coroner verses street educated cops demanding a suicide death ruling from her. Really?
Reading/listening was exhausting and insulting. I like smart books.
FYI: I lost my notes, and cannot say with 100% accuracy if there was or wasn't profanity.
March 9, 2023
Cate is a coroner for Ottawa, Canada. She's called out to what looks like a pretty obvious suicide. Before she makes her final ruling on the cause of death she decides to dig deeper into this woman's life to try understand why she would do this. Something isn't sitting right with Cate. Could it be the tragic news of her brother's death just shortly before the case? Could it be her drinking herself to sleep to keep the nightmares at bay? Could it be the relentless pressure she feels to make the right call? Or is it something else entirely?
This book was very good! A slower start but a very solid story line and a fast paced ending. I love that the author put indigenous culture into the story and honored the struggle they still face today. It was enlightening. The only thing I would change is that the narrator for the audiobook sometimes sounds like a news anchor and speaks in that strange way. It was distracting. Otherwise, I enjoyed the audio version.
This book was very good! A slower start but a very solid story line and a fast paced ending. I love that the author put indigenous culture into the story and honored the struggle they still face today. It was enlightening. The only thing I would change is that the narrator for the audiobook sometimes sounds like a news anchor and speaks in that strange way. It was distracting. Otherwise, I enjoyed the audio version.
June 16, 2023
3.5 stars. I expected to find some or all of the characters from the first book in this second Dominion Archives series, but nope. Totally new characters, different tone. It appears that the link in the series is the archives. This seemed odd to me at first, like calling a set of books a series just because they all featured the same grocery store chain, but then I realized that the twisty mysteries all stem from arcane details only found in a place where the minutia of everyday history is collected and cherished. As the author is an archivist, I guess this makes sense.
January 11, 2026
its whatever
March 22, 2023
Cate is an all-time fuck-up fr. She has determination but her way of going about it could not have been worse. Solution just stumbled into her at the end tbh. Pretty dramatic tho!
March 12, 2023
Dr. Cate Spencer is a coroner working with the Ottawa police on a death in the area. She is being pressured into declaring it suicide, while in her heart she believes it is a homicide.
The part of the story that involved the investigation was pretty decent. There were good details and the investigation kept moving forward at a good pace. However, there were so many other aspects going on that I couldn't tell what was important to the story. She smokes too much, she drinks too much, she's worried about trying to get her brother's body back from Africa, she has a difficult relationship with her father, etc. Will any of this be important to the investigation or not?
Also, I listened to the audiobook and was not impressed with the narrator. Her voice was monotone and had little expression to it. She didn't keep me very engaged in the story and didn't excite me in the tense moments.
I wish this could've been a more positive review, but I just wasn't impressed with either the story or audiobook aspects.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The part of the story that involved the investigation was pretty decent. There were good details and the investigation kept moving forward at a good pace. However, there were so many other aspects going on that I couldn't tell what was important to the story. She smokes too much, she drinks too much, she's worried about trying to get her brother's body back from Africa, she has a difficult relationship with her father, etc. Will any of this be important to the investigation or not?
Also, I listened to the audiobook and was not impressed with the narrator. Her voice was monotone and had little expression to it. She didn't keep me very engaged in the story and didn't excite me in the tense moments.
I wish this could've been a more positive review, but I just wasn't impressed with either the story or audiobook aspects.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
The main character was so unlikable that I nearly stopped reading several times, but the mystery was engaging enough to keep me going.
March 9, 2023
Wow. There's a lot to unpack on this one. A lot going on. There's government cover up, big company stepping on tribal land, murder, and a mental breakdown all coming together as the protagonist tries to uncover a murder. Even though there was a lot going on, and there are a lot of subplots that could spin out in other directions with follow ups, the story was paced incredibly well, I wasn't put off by the main character, and I couldn't stop listening to the ARP from NetGalley. This is also the second in a series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything from the story by not having read the first book. Spoilers below.
Dr. Cate Spencer is spiraling out of control. After the sudden death of her brother she's drinking more than ever while still trying to function as a coroner.
When she's called to what seems to be an obvious suicide in the archives of an air force base, the scene looks like it should be an open and shut case. But as she dives deeper, she finds there's more to this death than just suicide. She buries herself in it, allowing herself to escape from the reality of her alcoholism, trauma from an emotionally abusive father, trauma from an abusive ex husband, and the grief of her brother by pursuing this case.
All of these issues compound until those around her are telling her she's having a break, she needs to take time for her mental health, etc, but she's convinced the young woman didn't commit suicide, she was murdered.
We follow Cate as she unravels, piece by piece, her self destructive tendencies painfully evident throughout this story. The problem with the theory she's having a breakdown, is left and right, people connected to the woman whose death she ruled as a murder start coming up dead. A tribal elder she was talking to as she was investigating something she found in the archives, a young protestor who was sleeping with the woman, and to top it off, Cate finds out her phone is bugged to the point where someone is listening in on every call, every message, and even her conversations day in and day out.
I'll definitely go back and read the first book in this series, probably will read more as Tector publishes as well.
Dr. Cate Spencer is spiraling out of control. After the sudden death of her brother she's drinking more than ever while still trying to function as a coroner.
When she's called to what seems to be an obvious suicide in the archives of an air force base, the scene looks like it should be an open and shut case. But as she dives deeper, she finds there's more to this death than just suicide. She buries herself in it, allowing herself to escape from the reality of her alcoholism, trauma from an emotionally abusive father, trauma from an abusive ex husband, and the grief of her brother by pursuing this case.
All of these issues compound until those around her are telling her she's having a break, she needs to take time for her mental health, etc, but she's convinced the young woman didn't commit suicide, she was murdered.
We follow Cate as she unravels, piece by piece, her self destructive tendencies painfully evident throughout this story. The problem with the theory she's having a breakdown, is left and right, people connected to the woman whose death she ruled as a murder start coming up dead. A tribal elder she was talking to as she was investigating something she found in the archives, a young protestor who was sleeping with the woman, and to top it off, Cate finds out her phone is bugged to the point where someone is listening in on every call, every message, and even her conversations day in and day out.
I'll definitely go back and read the first book in this series, probably will read more as Tector publishes as well.
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July 19, 2023
Another white author who negatively portrays characters of color, how shocking.
- all Black characters are written as standoffish and unfriendly and "cold", like Fabienne, the victim's live-in partner. Immediately following their initial interaction, the MC goes to the Congolese embassy and engages with a rude employee. These characters are both written in excessively negative light.
- page 55, the author has a minor (and I'm assuming a throwaway) character get super racist:
"He's an Indian you know. Not India Indian, but a real one. Lots of them came to see him, but they never gave us any trouble. I always treated them like any other visitor." Our main character's scathing response? "That's very good of you," Cate said, but the sarcasm was lost." So the author is just injecting racism into the story for no reason. There's no corrective action, it's not necessary to the story. Just some white lady wanting to write out her ignorant thoughts.
- just a few pages later, page 61, the bumbling detective asks if she's met the (again, Black) girlfriend of the victim "did you meet the dyke?" This is also unchallenged.
A few more gems:
- while engaging in a conversation with someone she doesn't want to talk to our main character thinks "maybe Molly Johnson, hanging in that vault, had the right idea". Sure lady.
- someone throws a cherry bomb into the window of the archive where the suicide/murder took place, and a (seemingly) liberal kid is arrested bc he was "detained at an anti-Trump thing" and throwing cherry bombs was his way of "working out his daddy issues". Okay boomer. I'm sure the anti-racist protestor is the one bombing the archival facility.
and the nail in the coffin for me on this mess of a book, page 65 starts describing a male characters "thick gold band on his ring finger" and follows up by saying "The size of it announced his bride's proud possession... or deep insecurity" like WHAT??
I find it interesting in the author's bio it's specifically mentioned how many (white) countries this author has lived in, and yet she writes about people like she's only heard about them on Fox News. Hard pass on this slop and any of her other titles.
- all Black characters are written as standoffish and unfriendly and "cold", like Fabienne, the victim's live-in partner. Immediately following their initial interaction, the MC goes to the Congolese embassy and engages with a rude employee. These characters are both written in excessively negative light.
- page 55, the author has a minor (and I'm assuming a throwaway) character get super racist:
"He's an Indian you know. Not India Indian, but a real one. Lots of them came to see him, but they never gave us any trouble. I always treated them like any other visitor." Our main character's scathing response? "That's very good of you," Cate said, but the sarcasm was lost." So the author is just injecting racism into the story for no reason. There's no corrective action, it's not necessary to the story. Just some white lady wanting to write out her ignorant thoughts.
- just a few pages later, page 61, the bumbling detective asks if she's met the (again, Black) girlfriend of the victim "did you meet the dyke?" This is also unchallenged.
A few more gems:
- while engaging in a conversation with someone she doesn't want to talk to our main character thinks "maybe Molly Johnson, hanging in that vault, had the right idea". Sure lady.
- someone throws a cherry bomb into the window of the archive where the suicide/murder took place, and a (seemingly) liberal kid is arrested bc he was "detained at an anti-Trump thing" and throwing cherry bombs was his way of "working out his daddy issues". Okay boomer. I'm sure the anti-racist protestor is the one bombing the archival facility.
and the nail in the coffin for me on this mess of a book, page 65 starts describing a male characters "thick gold band on his ring finger" and follows up by saying "The size of it announced his bride's proud possession... or deep insecurity" like WHAT??
I find it interesting in the author's bio it's specifically mentioned how many (white) countries this author has lived in, and yet she writes about people like she's only heard about them on Fox News. Hard pass on this slop and any of her other titles.
March 12, 2023
Speak for the Dead
Pub date 3.14.23
★ ★ ★ ★
Cate is an Ottawa coroner and finds herself on the scene of what appears to be a straight forward suicide. However, her gut tells her there is a more sinister cause to the young woman’s death. Upon following her senses she begins to unravel a mystery in the small town that reveals not only that the young woman was murdered, but also a government coverup to help keep money in the pockets of the rich. Cate soon finds herself in deep pursuit of the truth, but will her past and her drinking prevent her from finding the truth? Will she be able to get justice for the innocent lives lost?
This book was the second in the Dominion Archives Mystery series. Although I have not read the first I was able to listen to this and not feel as though I was missing something from the previous storyline. I enjoyed this mystery and the story being told from Cate’s point of view. I liked the different conflicting emotions she dealt with throughout the story that gave her character more personality and had me hoping for her to succeed. The supporting characters were also well written. I enjoyed the narrator voice and she did a good job performing the different characters. I also liked how the narrators voice kept me interested in the audiobook from start to finish. I enjoyed the books ending as the author kept the answers to who was behind all these terrible events until the last few chapters and I didn’t see the answers coming. The story and mystery was well wrapped up in the epilogue and gave me as the reader closure with the story. I gave the book 4 stars because I felt there were a lot of characters and separating storylines to keep track of. This excess of characters and timelines to follow also made some parts of the story seem to drag on longer than necessary. Over all this was a great mystery read. I look forward to going back and reading the first book in this series and if there will be a 3rd that will also be added to my TBR list!
Pub date 3.14.23
★ ★ ★ ★
Cate is an Ottawa coroner and finds herself on the scene of what appears to be a straight forward suicide. However, her gut tells her there is a more sinister cause to the young woman’s death. Upon following her senses she begins to unravel a mystery in the small town that reveals not only that the young woman was murdered, but also a government coverup to help keep money in the pockets of the rich. Cate soon finds herself in deep pursuit of the truth, but will her past and her drinking prevent her from finding the truth? Will she be able to get justice for the innocent lives lost?
This book was the second in the Dominion Archives Mystery series. Although I have not read the first I was able to listen to this and not feel as though I was missing something from the previous storyline. I enjoyed this mystery and the story being told from Cate’s point of view. I liked the different conflicting emotions she dealt with throughout the story that gave her character more personality and had me hoping for her to succeed. The supporting characters were also well written. I enjoyed the narrator voice and she did a good job performing the different characters. I also liked how the narrators voice kept me interested in the audiobook from start to finish. I enjoyed the books ending as the author kept the answers to who was behind all these terrible events until the last few chapters and I didn’t see the answers coming. The story and mystery was well wrapped up in the epilogue and gave me as the reader closure with the story. I gave the book 4 stars because I felt there were a lot of characters and separating storylines to keep track of. This excess of characters and timelines to follow also made some parts of the story seem to drag on longer than necessary. Over all this was a great mystery read. I look forward to going back and reading the first book in this series and if there will be a 3rd that will also be added to my TBR list!
March 16, 2023
4 stars
Dr Cate Spencer has a lot going on in her life, her brother is dead, she has issues with her father, and she is consumed with the death of a young girl in the archives. Cate is a coroner called to the scene of a possible suicide in the nitrate film vault at the Dominion Archives. Cate is addicted to finding out what happened in the vault as much as she is to scotch. During her journey she interacts with a nice military man, her ex husband, her helpful boss, and a man warning her to stop what she is doing. Will Cate find out what the connection between the protesters, the land development, the military, and the archive before she loses her job to drinking or much worse, her life.
I read the first book and really enjoyed it. This is a stand alone book and the connection to the first is the Dominion Archives. I was very happy when the author describes the volatility of nitrate film. As an archivist that is the one thing I do not want to deal with. The story is easy to follow. At times I was yelling at Cate to put the damn bottle down and quit self-sabotaging. I liked the cop that let her know that he has been where she is and knows and understands the destructive path she is on. I wanted Cate to pull herself together and realize her self-worth without depending on a relationship to do that for her. I am hoping there is a next book with Cate and we find out more about the brother and the relationship with her father. I really super hope she doesn’t get back with the ex. Let that ship sail, PLEASE!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries, it’s not quite a cozy mystery and not overly suspenseful but one that is in between.
I started listening at normal speed to get a feel of their narration style. I sped it up to 2 and then dropped to 1.75 because the faster speed made the narration too pitchy. I narration was matter of fact with a short vocal range. Some might consider it machine created but it feels like it fits the story.
#NetGalley and Dreamscape Media provided an Advanced Listeners Copy
Dr Cate Spencer has a lot going on in her life, her brother is dead, she has issues with her father, and she is consumed with the death of a young girl in the archives. Cate is a coroner called to the scene of a possible suicide in the nitrate film vault at the Dominion Archives. Cate is addicted to finding out what happened in the vault as much as she is to scotch. During her journey she interacts with a nice military man, her ex husband, her helpful boss, and a man warning her to stop what she is doing. Will Cate find out what the connection between the protesters, the land development, the military, and the archive before she loses her job to drinking or much worse, her life.
I read the first book and really enjoyed it. This is a stand alone book and the connection to the first is the Dominion Archives. I was very happy when the author describes the volatility of nitrate film. As an archivist that is the one thing I do not want to deal with. The story is easy to follow. At times I was yelling at Cate to put the damn bottle down and quit self-sabotaging. I liked the cop that let her know that he has been where she is and knows and understands the destructive path she is on. I wanted Cate to pull herself together and realize her self-worth without depending on a relationship to do that for her. I am hoping there is a next book with Cate and we find out more about the brother and the relationship with her father. I really super hope she doesn’t get back with the ex. Let that ship sail, PLEASE!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries, it’s not quite a cozy mystery and not overly suspenseful but one that is in between.
I started listening at normal speed to get a feel of their narration style. I sped it up to 2 and then dropped to 1.75 because the faster speed made the narration too pitchy. I narration was matter of fact with a short vocal range. Some might consider it machine created but it feels like it fits the story.
#NetGalley and Dreamscape Media provided an Advanced Listeners Copy
March 8, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review of this book!
Dr. Cate Spencer, a coroner working with the Ottawa police, is called out late one night to the scene of an apparent suicide. As a coroner, Cate is given the responsibility of determining cause of death. Cate is immediately pressured to rule the case a suicide; however, Cate believes there is something more sinister involved in this tragedy. Even though her job is only to determine cause of death, Cate soon finds herself tied up investigating what she believes to be a murder.
During all of this, Cate is also dealing with the very recent death of her brother & her strained relationship with her father. She is struggling with smoking and drinking problems. As I read this book, I really felt for Cate and all that she was going through. However, there were many times when her decisions were incredibly frustrating. There were parts of this story that felt a little unbelievable, and I couldn’t understand how Cate was allowed to do some of the investigating that she did.
There was a lot going on in this book, and I felt a little lost trying to figure out what was important to the story. It came together with a very good twist at the end, and I did really appreciate the reveal! I think the book could have been shortened a little by taking out the parts that didn’t help the story along.
As for the audiobook, I don’t recommend it. Unfortunately, the narrator was a little monotone for me and didn’t keep me engaged in the story. I would choose to read this, and not listen to it.
Dr. Cate Spencer, a coroner working with the Ottawa police, is called out late one night to the scene of an apparent suicide. As a coroner, Cate is given the responsibility of determining cause of death. Cate is immediately pressured to rule the case a suicide; however, Cate believes there is something more sinister involved in this tragedy. Even though her job is only to determine cause of death, Cate soon finds herself tied up investigating what she believes to be a murder.
During all of this, Cate is also dealing with the very recent death of her brother & her strained relationship with her father. She is struggling with smoking and drinking problems. As I read this book, I really felt for Cate and all that she was going through. However, there were many times when her decisions were incredibly frustrating. There were parts of this story that felt a little unbelievable, and I couldn’t understand how Cate was allowed to do some of the investigating that she did.
There was a lot going on in this book, and I felt a little lost trying to figure out what was important to the story. It came together with a very good twist at the end, and I did really appreciate the reveal! I think the book could have been shortened a little by taking out the parts that didn’t help the story along.
As for the audiobook, I don’t recommend it. Unfortunately, the narrator was a little monotone for me and didn’t keep me engaged in the story. I would choose to read this, and not listen to it.
March 15, 2023
Quick Summary: A mystery/thriller packed with simple complexities
My Review: Speak for the Dead by Amy Tector was book two in The Dominion Archives Mysteries.
About the Book: Dr. Cate Spencer is being chased. She is being pursued by her own personal demons. She is haunted by pain. She is struggling with sobriety. She has endured loss on multiple levels. She is estranged, of sorts, from her father. Add to that, someone seems to be after her.
As the attending coroner in Ottowa, Cate is driven to help solve the mysterious death of a young female. Dr. Spencer will do all she can to determine whether the young woman's death was a suicide or a murder. Will she be able to solve her case before a killer targets her?
My Final Say: This book was so different than what I was expecting. I genuinely liked it. I loved the messy imperfection that came with the protagonist. She was doing her very best just to survive from day to day. Moment to moment, she sought clarity and peace. She longed to be free from her troubled existence. She was looking for direction. Her history was marked with incredible hardships, and she tried to cope as best as she could. She literally made me think of someone striving to keep their head above the water. I totally understood her chaotic disorder; it made her more appealing as a character.
The killer and the intrigue surrounding the killer was old school legit. What a fantastic twist!
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: R
Thanks to the author, to Dreamscape Media, and to NetGalley, who provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
My Review: Speak for the Dead by Amy Tector was book two in The Dominion Archives Mysteries.
About the Book: Dr. Cate Spencer is being chased. She is being pursued by her own personal demons. She is haunted by pain. She is struggling with sobriety. She has endured loss on multiple levels. She is estranged, of sorts, from her father. Add to that, someone seems to be after her.
As the attending coroner in Ottowa, Cate is driven to help solve the mysterious death of a young female. Dr. Spencer will do all she can to determine whether the young woman's death was a suicide or a murder. Will she be able to solve her case before a killer targets her?
My Final Say: This book was so different than what I was expecting. I genuinely liked it. I loved the messy imperfection that came with the protagonist. She was doing her very best just to survive from day to day. Moment to moment, she sought clarity and peace. She longed to be free from her troubled existence. She was looking for direction. Her history was marked with incredible hardships, and she tried to cope as best as she could. She literally made me think of someone striving to keep their head above the water. I totally understood her chaotic disorder; it made her more appealing as a character.
The killer and the intrigue surrounding the killer was old school legit. What a fantastic twist!
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: R
Thanks to the author, to Dreamscape Media, and to NetGalley, who provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2023
Title: Speak for the Dead
Author: Amy Tector
Series: The Dominion Archive Mysteries #2
Narrator : Senn Annis
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: March 14, 2022
My Rating: 2.3 Stars
Dr. Cate Spencer is called out to the nitrate facility to investigate an apparent suicide of a woman by hanging. The eerie building is filled with deteriorating nitrate film that could literally spontaneously combust. The building has recently been purchased for development.
Cate is a coroner in Ottawa as a coroner; she does not perform autopsies but investigates and determines cause of death. While there, someone throws a bomb into the facility causing an evacuation for the threat of fire. After looking into the matter further, she suspects that the woman was actually murdered and did not commit suicide.
This is my second Amy Tector novel. The first was The Honeybee Emeralds which was great.
I went into this with high expectations ~ hmmm this was very different than that story. Disappointed as it didn't work for me 🤔
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date March 14, 2023
Author: Amy Tector
Series: The Dominion Archive Mysteries #2
Narrator : Senn Annis
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: March 14, 2022
My Rating: 2.3 Stars
Dr. Cate Spencer is called out to the nitrate facility to investigate an apparent suicide of a woman by hanging. The eerie building is filled with deteriorating nitrate film that could literally spontaneously combust. The building has recently been purchased for development.
Cate is a coroner in Ottawa as a coroner; she does not perform autopsies but investigates and determines cause of death. While there, someone throws a bomb into the facility causing an evacuation for the threat of fire. After looking into the matter further, she suspects that the woman was actually murdered and did not commit suicide.
This is my second Amy Tector novel. The first was The Honeybee Emeralds which was great.
I went into this with high expectations ~ hmmm this was very different than that story. Disappointed as it didn't work for me 🤔
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date March 14, 2023
April 7, 2023
Dr. Cate Spencer is truly struggling with anguish over her brother’s recent death. As a result she is revisiting her unhappy childhood, as well as having difficulty maintaining her professionalism and compassion for the families of her victims. As a coroner she is responsible for determining the cause of death of her victims, and sharing this with their families. This apparent suicide is giving her pause, she cannot seem to accept the simplistic answer to this investigation
Through research, error and several personal mistakes Cate bumbles her way through this investigation. At times I rolled my eyes at the choices that Cate made - wanted to shake her and tell her that she knew better. That tells me how very invested I was in this character and investigation. Love when the characters become my friends!
Tector has done a great job of confusing our heroine, and in turn ourselves. The twists and turns were constant. Not all were totally beliveable, but there was enough to have you question who did it. Then end result - BLEW ME AWAY! This one, however, was totally believable. I love when a mystery takes a completely unexpected turn, but the ends are tied together so you question why you never guessed it!
Unfortunately the narrating job was disappointing for me. I felt that a more emotional, less monotone, reading would definitely increase the suspense and drama that is written into this story. This brings the rating down to three stars, the narrator is so important.
Through research, error and several personal mistakes Cate bumbles her way through this investigation. At times I rolled my eyes at the choices that Cate made - wanted to shake her and tell her that she knew better. That tells me how very invested I was in this character and investigation. Love when the characters become my friends!
Tector has done a great job of confusing our heroine, and in turn ourselves. The twists and turns were constant. Not all were totally beliveable, but there was enough to have you question who did it. Then end result - BLEW ME AWAY! This one, however, was totally believable. I love when a mystery takes a completely unexpected turn, but the ends are tied together so you question why you never guessed it!
Unfortunately the narrating job was disappointing for me. I felt that a more emotional, less monotone, reading would definitely increase the suspense and drama that is written into this story. This brings the rating down to three stars, the narrator is so important.
April 23, 2023
🎧Speak for the Dead 🎧
by Amy Tector
Narrated by Senn Annis
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobook.
It’s a stormy summer day when Ottawa coroner Dr. Cate Spencer is called to the scene of an alleged suicide. Inside a narrow vault in the Dominion Archives’ nitrate film storage facility—kept separate from the rest of the collection due to its dangerous combustibility—officers pressure her to rule the death a suicide. When parts of the scene don’t add up and a deliberately set spark threatens her life, she suspects that this death might be a murder.
Speak for the Dead: A Dominion Archives Mystery (The Dominion Archives Mysteries Book 2) but I still think you can read this as a standalone.
I was so engrossed in this story right from the beginning. It started off so strong but unfortunately after some few hours in, it started dragging on.
Some parts were a bit confusing since there was a lot going on.
I liked the MC Cate, as much as she was smart, she was not without flaws and that makes her so relatable and likeable.
The story was still quite enjoyable as I was eager to find out if Molly's death was a suicide, and if not who did it.
The ending was good
by Amy Tector
Narrated by Senn Annis
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobook.
It’s a stormy summer day when Ottawa coroner Dr. Cate Spencer is called to the scene of an alleged suicide. Inside a narrow vault in the Dominion Archives’ nitrate film storage facility—kept separate from the rest of the collection due to its dangerous combustibility—officers pressure her to rule the death a suicide. When parts of the scene don’t add up and a deliberately set spark threatens her life, she suspects that this death might be a murder.
Speak for the Dead: A Dominion Archives Mystery (The Dominion Archives Mysteries Book 2) but I still think you can read this as a standalone.
I was so engrossed in this story right from the beginning. It started off so strong but unfortunately after some few hours in, it started dragging on.
Some parts were a bit confusing since there was a lot going on.
I liked the MC Cate, as much as she was smart, she was not without flaws and that makes her so relatable and likeable.
The story was still quite enjoyable as I was eager to find out if Molly's death was a suicide, and if not who did it.
The ending was good
May 10, 2023
This one was pretty cool for me. I grew up in Ottawa to hearing references to locations was awesome (Elgin, the Glebe, Rockcliffe, etc). The story itself was good and it definitely had me questioning the majority of the characters.
A coroner is called to the scene of an alleged suicide. The body is located inside a vault at the Dominion Archives' nitrate film storage facility, which is kept separate from the other archives. The officers on scene believe it's a suicide but the coroner doesn't think everything adds up. The police officers seem quick to deem it a suicide and move on to bigger cases but Cate Spencer doesn't agree - how can she prove it wasn't a suicide without the police force on her side? Who would be out to kill someone who works for the archives? What makes things worse is Cate's personal life - her brother recently died in a horrific plane crash in the Congo and she drowns her sorrows in scotch. This murder mystery brings forth Indigenous protests, military secrets and some family drama.
The narrator took some getting used to but I think they did a good job.
This was a great audio book and I'd love to hear more from this author.
A coroner is called to the scene of an alleged suicide. The body is located inside a vault at the Dominion Archives' nitrate film storage facility, which is kept separate from the other archives. The officers on scene believe it's a suicide but the coroner doesn't think everything adds up. The police officers seem quick to deem it a suicide and move on to bigger cases but Cate Spencer doesn't agree - how can she prove it wasn't a suicide without the police force on her side? Who would be out to kill someone who works for the archives? What makes things worse is Cate's personal life - her brother recently died in a horrific plane crash in the Congo and she drowns her sorrows in scotch. This murder mystery brings forth Indigenous protests, military secrets and some family drama.
The narrator took some getting used to but I think they did a good job.
This was a great audio book and I'd love to hear more from this author.
May 25, 2023
Once again, this mystery set in Ottawa was all about the setting and the archival details for me, especially the very accessible information about the storage and flammability of nitrate negatives. While I also felt the author did an excellent job at fleshing out most of the CHs, especially the troubled Dr. Cate Spencer, I truly was disappointed that this installment takes place 10 years after the first and contains none of those CHs. I really wanted more Jess and her crew. This promises a third with Cate because it implies it in the last line, and there are a few secondary plot points that need addressing. The thematic content that whirls around big developers, the treatment of Indigenous peoples as well as the usurpation of their lands, and other environmental issues is well explicated. The burden of grief is also almost a CH in this book. Plotting and setting both create a moderately fast-Pace and the menacing Tone as the author factors in the environment and weather well. RED FLAGS: Alcoholism, mental and physical domestic abuse. Like the first one, this remains of interest for fans of academic and art mysteries or readers who enjoy M.E. Hillard, Paige Shelton, Judith Flanders or are craving an authentic Canadian settings.
March 16, 2023
Speak for the dead - Amy Tector
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this outstanding mystery.
This novel's main character is Ottawa's coroner Dr Cate Spencer, who determines a victim's cause of death. As the novel opens Cate struggles to find support for her suspicion that what was staged as a suicide by hanging (a very rare suicide method for women) was actually a suicide.
The main character is well-rounded and multidimensional, we learn of numerous aspects of her life, from her struggles (and emotional wounds) through childhood as well as her personal battle with quitting both smoking as well as alcohol.
Even though Dr. Spencer obvious isn't a homicide detective, the series this novel most readily brings to mind is Lynda LaPlante's Prime Suspect's Jane Tennison, albeit a more light-hearted version, and if I was an author I would certainly view that as a badge of honor.
I look forward to more from this series, and I hope she continues with the Kate Spenser character.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this outstanding mystery.
This novel's main character is Ottawa's coroner Dr Cate Spencer, who determines a victim's cause of death. As the novel opens Cate struggles to find support for her suspicion that what was staged as a suicide by hanging (a very rare suicide method for women) was actually a suicide.
The main character is well-rounded and multidimensional, we learn of numerous aspects of her life, from her struggles (and emotional wounds) through childhood as well as her personal battle with quitting both smoking as well as alcohol.
Even though Dr. Spencer obvious isn't a homicide detective, the series this novel most readily brings to mind is Lynda LaPlante's Prime Suspect's Jane Tennison, albeit a more light-hearted version, and if I was an author I would certainly view that as a badge of honor.
I look forward to more from this series, and I hope she continues with the Kate Spenser character.
March 29, 2023
"We speak for the dead to protect the living."
Speak For The Dead by murder mystery thriller author Amy Rector is book 2 in the Dominican Archives Mystery series and a standalone with emphasis on different characters than the first.
Dr. Cate Spencer is asked to step in to verify a suicide death at the Dominican Archives but what she finds and the demands of the victim's best friend lead her to conclude that this is an attempt to "mask a murder by suicide."
As Cate is thwarted in her investigation by her bosses and colleagues she is slowly unraveling under the pressure of grieving for her dead brother, her father's advanced dementia, and a losing battle with her drinking, smoking and insomnia. Once again, narrator Senn Annis brings an uncanny vulnerability to a flawed character. Though flawed it doesn't mean she is wrong. She will speak the truth, her truth, for the dead.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for fair and honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
*This Review Is For The Audiobook*
Speak For The Dead by murder mystery thriller author Amy Rector is book 2 in the Dominican Archives Mystery series and a standalone with emphasis on different characters than the first.
Dr. Cate Spencer is asked to step in to verify a suicide death at the Dominican Archives but what she finds and the demands of the victim's best friend lead her to conclude that this is an attempt to "mask a murder by suicide."
As Cate is thwarted in her investigation by her bosses and colleagues she is slowly unraveling under the pressure of grieving for her dead brother, her father's advanced dementia, and a losing battle with her drinking, smoking and insomnia. Once again, narrator Senn Annis brings an uncanny vulnerability to a flawed character. Though flawed it doesn't mean she is wrong. She will speak the truth, her truth, for the dead.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for fair and honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
*This Review Is For The Audiobook*
August 14, 2023
Set it Canada!!!
Ok so as soon as I saw this was set in Canada, and the capital no less, I had to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, although it was good, it was lacking in some departments.
You see, the main character Dr. Cate Spencer isn't having the easiest time. She lost her brother, her father isn't the greatest, neither is her ex husband and there's some substance use going on. Let's just say the combination of all this rubbed me the wrong way. Anyways Cate is now a coroner who was called to a suicide scene, however she doesn't think its actually a suicide but rather there might be more going on. Unfortunately no one believes her and she makes it her mission to find out what actually happened to the young women. "Speak of the Dead" was a good mystery it just missed the mark with me. I just didn't like how Cate reacted to certain situations (a lot of situations).
Thank You to Amy Tector and Dreamscape Media, for the audio-digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Ok so as soon as I saw this was set in Canada, and the capital no less, I had to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, although it was good, it was lacking in some departments.
You see, the main character Dr. Cate Spencer isn't having the easiest time. She lost her brother, her father isn't the greatest, neither is her ex husband and there's some substance use going on. Let's just say the combination of all this rubbed me the wrong way. Anyways Cate is now a coroner who was called to a suicide scene, however she doesn't think its actually a suicide but rather there might be more going on. Unfortunately no one believes her and she makes it her mission to find out what actually happened to the young women. "Speak of the Dead" was a good mystery it just missed the mark with me. I just didn't like how Cate reacted to certain situations (a lot of situations).
Thank You to Amy Tector and Dreamscape Media, for the audio-digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
April 3, 2023
I didn't read the previous book, which may have helped understand the protagonist a bit more, but I enjoyed listening to this one as I drifted off to sleep. I've discovered some kind of page turner works best as my audio listen for the night, and I've been enjoying what NetGalley has to offer.
What I loved most about this book was the setting--historical archives. Anything related to university studies or the archive immediately has my attention.
What I didn't love was the protagonist's struggle with alcohol and smoking--the continued battles she fought and bad judgement she had because of those behaviors. It made me uncomfortable, and I'm not sure it added what it needed to add to the character, who is already troubled with a recent loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I loved most about this book was the setting--historical archives. Anything related to university studies or the archive immediately has my attention.
What I didn't love was the protagonist's struggle with alcohol and smoking--the continued battles she fought and bad judgement she had because of those behaviors. It made me uncomfortable, and I'm not sure it added what it needed to add to the character, who is already troubled with a recent loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2023
I detest flimsy stories with desperate, unreliable female narrators. What coroner is conducting so much business while staggering drunk? Publicly? In their official capacity? Come on.
Can there not just be a competent, professional female solving a murder?
This chick was driving drunk, physically attacking people while accusing them of murder. More than once! And they’d deny it & she’d instantly doubt herself and be suddenly convinced she knew who the killer actually was.
Oh boy.
There were a lot of issues with this one but I still stuck with it so I gave it 3 instead of 2 stars.
It started out so strong.
That fake suicide - why did the author bother to mention finding their glasses on the ground & then never use that as proof? Who is going to wear their glasses while hanging themself??
Can there not just be a competent, professional female solving a murder?
This chick was driving drunk, physically attacking people while accusing them of murder. More than once! And they’d deny it & she’d instantly doubt herself and be suddenly convinced she knew who the killer actually was.
Oh boy.
There were a lot of issues with this one but I still stuck with it so I gave it 3 instead of 2 stars.
It started out so strong.
That fake suicide - why did the author bother to mention finding their glasses on the ground & then never use that as proof? Who is going to wear their glasses while hanging themself??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2024
Speak for the Dead by Amy Tector is an absolutely phenomenal thriller with a compelling, yet flawed, main character, a bit of Canadian history, and a lot of suspense that keeps the reader turning the pages to the end.
Tector gives an intriguing look into the Canadian military, the world of the wealthy and powerful and their influence in all branches of society, and the world of demonstrators and protesters as they fight for what they believe in, providing a balanced look at society as a whole and its issues.
At the core, of course, is the mystery of the death of a young woman and whether her death is a suicide, as it appears to be, or in fact murder. Red herrings and suspects abound, and the conclusion is surprising and satisfying.
Well-written and compelling, Tector's book is one that I am proud to have on my library shelf. Thank you to the author for the autographed copy.
Tector gives an intriguing look into the Canadian military, the world of the wealthy and powerful and their influence in all branches of society, and the world of demonstrators and protesters as they fight for what they believe in, providing a balanced look at society as a whole and its issues.
At the core, of course, is the mystery of the death of a young woman and whether her death is a suicide, as it appears to be, or in fact murder. Red herrings and suspects abound, and the conclusion is surprising and satisfying.
Well-written and compelling, Tector's book is one that I am proud to have on my library shelf. Thank you to the author for the autographed copy.
March 4, 2023
Another great read by Amy Tector! I really enjoy her writing; it’s easy to recognize her authorial voice. Cate is a great character. She’s smart, determined, yet flawed, like all of us are—so she’s believable. She refused to let herself be told what to do and fought to expose the truth despite the risks because it was the right thing to do. I love the power that she held over the ones who tried to hold power over her. That’s badass! I also love it when I can't figure out who the culprit is and it keeps me guessing throughout—having my brain actively participate in the story is exactly what I prefer as it keeps me on my toes. Can't wait for the next book in the Dominion Archives series to come out!
March 8, 2023
This book was a struggle to get through. The sentences were short and choppy without a lot of structural variety. I’m not sure I have ever noticed this before in a book but it made for an awkward read.
The main character, a coroner named Cate, was written as sarcastic but not in an endearing way. I found her annoying.
The book went off on tangents that didn’t support the original mystery and didn’t help the flow of the book.
I think this book needed a much stronger editor.
Senn Anis narrated this story and read in a very monotone voice. Stylistically, this didn’t work for me.
The mystery had so much potential but it fell flat too.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
The main character, a coroner named Cate, was written as sarcastic but not in an endearing way. I found her annoying.
The book went off on tangents that didn’t support the original mystery and didn’t help the flow of the book.
I think this book needed a much stronger editor.
Senn Anis narrated this story and read in a very monotone voice. Stylistically, this didn’t work for me.
The mystery had so much potential but it fell flat too.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
March 15, 2023
In the book Speak for the Dead, author Amy Tector writes about Ottawa coroner Dr Cate Spencer who is called out on a stormy night to an alleged suicide. While the police detectives are pressuring her to rule the death a suicide, something seems off to Tector. But the deeper she digs into the case, the more out of control her scotch drinking becomes and the more her own grief at her brother death threatens to overwhelm her. Can she find the truth before more people die? Or will she be consumed by it all and lose everything?
This was an intriguing story that kept you guessing till the end. The audio-book narration was very good. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an intriguing story that kept you guessing till the end. The audio-book narration was very good. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2023
Rating: 4 STRONG STARS
Audiobook; Pub Date: 14 Mar 2023;
Thanks to author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley!
I really enjoyed this smooth and smartly written novel, which I read on audiobook. I felt the narrator was perfect as she fit well with the character (important, duh) and the current time, and she kept me engaged and sometimes on the edge of my seat along with Amy Tector's writing. Tector is an author to follow. She is clever, savvy, and raises the bar on intellectual interest and banter. Can't wait to read more by this author.
WOW.....Just pulled this up about the author:
Amy Tector has spent more than 20 years “plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives - whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.” She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University. Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
Blurb: It's a steamy summer Ottawa day when Cate is called to the nitrate facility to investigate an apparent suicide. The eerie building is filled with deteriorating nitrate film that could literally spontaneously combust. When Cate's life is threatened by a stray spark, she suspects that the suicide might be murder. Despite pressure from the police to pronounce a cause quickly, Cate is bloody-minded enough to keep investigating. Whether she's looking for answers because of her dedication to justice, or as a distraction from the grief she feels over her (BELOVED) brother's recent death, her inquiries plunge her into a world of military secrets, contentious Indigenous protests, and a seventy-year-old mystery with deadly implications.
Audiobook; Pub Date: 14 Mar 2023;
Thanks to author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley!
I really enjoyed this smooth and smartly written novel, which I read on audiobook. I felt the narrator was perfect as she fit well with the character (important, duh) and the current time, and she kept me engaged and sometimes on the edge of my seat along with Amy Tector's writing. Tector is an author to follow. She is clever, savvy, and raises the bar on intellectual interest and banter. Can't wait to read more by this author.
WOW.....Just pulled this up about the author:
Amy Tector has spent more than 20 years “plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives - whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.” She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University. Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
Blurb: It's a steamy summer Ottawa day when Cate is called to the nitrate facility to investigate an apparent suicide. The eerie building is filled with deteriorating nitrate film that could literally spontaneously combust. When Cate's life is threatened by a stray spark, she suspects that the suicide might be murder. Despite pressure from the police to pronounce a cause quickly, Cate is bloody-minded enough to keep investigating. Whether she's looking for answers because of her dedication to justice, or as a distraction from the grief she feels over her (BELOVED) brother's recent death, her inquiries plunge her into a world of military secrets, contentious Indigenous protests, and a seventy-year-old mystery with deadly implications.
April 11, 2023
Dr. Cate Spencer is a coroner called to the scene of an apparent suicide at a nitrate film storage facility. It seems open and shut. That is until Cate starts speaking with a close friend of the deceased. Could this actually be murder made to look like suicide?
This story started off strong and had me very interested from the beginning. After a while though, it kind of felt like it was dragging on. The ending did take me by surprise, but it didn’t exactly blow me away. There was just something about it that didn’t do it for me.
Overall, it still was a good story, and there were parts that really did make me feel some emotions. But it just didn’t hit the nail on the head for me unfortunately.
This story started off strong and had me very interested from the beginning. After a while though, it kind of felt like it was dragging on. The ending did take me by surprise, but it didn’t exactly blow me away. There was just something about it that didn’t do it for me.
Overall, it still was a good story, and there were parts that really did make me feel some emotions. But it just didn’t hit the nail on the head for me unfortunately.
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