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Twisted Cedar Mysteries #1
Buried: Small Town Murder Mystery Books
Decades of silence. A shocking discovery. Some secrets refuse to stay buried.
True crime writer Dougal Lachlan swore he’d never set foot in Twisted Cedars again. Not even for his sister’s upcoming wedding. But an email promising the story of a lifetime pulls him back to his hometown against his better judgement.
Thirty years ago, five librarians were murdered across quiet coastal towns in Oregon, leaving a trail of unsolved mysteries. All signs point to a serial killer.
As Dougal plunges into the investigation, he enlists the help of local librarian Charlotte Hammond who, prefers her mysteries between the covers of a good book, since the disappearance of her older sister, Daisy.
The more they dig, the more buried secrets they unearth only to realize nothing is quite what it seems, and the danger may be closer to home than they thought…
True crime writer Dougal Lachlan swore he’d never set foot in Twisted Cedars again. Not even for his sister’s upcoming wedding. But an email promising the story of a lifetime pulls him back to his hometown against his better judgement.
Thirty years ago, five librarians were murdered across quiet coastal towns in Oregon, leaving a trail of unsolved mysteries. All signs point to a serial killer.
As Dougal plunges into the investigation, he enlists the help of local librarian Charlotte Hammond who, prefers her mysteries between the covers of a good book, since the disappearance of her older sister, Daisy.
The more they dig, the more buried secrets they unearth only to realize nothing is quite what it seems, and the danger may be closer to home than they thought…
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2012
5663 people are currently reading
6994 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Carmichael
107 books832 followersUSA Today bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 50 novels, including two mystery series, as well as romance and women’s fiction. Three of her novels have been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, including A Bramble House Christmas. A film version of A Bramble House Christmas premiered as a Hallmark Mystery movie in 2017.
Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.
Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com
For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...
Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.
Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com
For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 689 reviews
May 2, 2016
This is the first book in a trilogy. While it didn't say anything about a cliffhanger, the story winds up with several loose ends that leave you hanging. The second book picks up where the first left off. Normally I wouldn't buy the next book because I hate cliffhangers and feel like I've been cheated by an author who tricked her reader into spending more money in order to find out what happened. In this case they succeeded because I really want to discover the mystery behind it all.
Having said that, Dougal Lachlin writes true crime. When he receives a message from someone calling themselves Librarianmomma, he can't help but be intrigued. They give him hints about a cold case in which a librarian was strangled with a red scarf. This leads him back to his home town of Twisted Cedars and to a reunion with his sister, Jamie, with whom he has a difficult relationship. He left home and never came back. His father is in prison for murder and his mother dead from cancer. He's rather a loner.
What follows is a very good suspense filled story. It turns out there are more murders, each one having taken place a year apart in different jurisdictions but the similarities lead Dougal to believe a serial killer is involved. He gets involved with the current librarian, Charlotte, and reunites with an old friend, Wade, who is now the sheriff. His sister marries another former friend, Kyle, whose first wife disappeared, which is another story in itself. While Dougal warns Jamie that Kyle is a cheat and refuses to go to the wedding, she marries him any way. Then he begins acting differently and she can't help but wonder I'd Dougal was right about her new husband. Now his children are involved.
This is hard to review because there is a lot going on at the same time - Jamie's strange marriage, Dougal's relationship with Char!otte, Dougal's research into the murders, and his dealings with his past from his coming home - all of which is tied together very nicely so as not to confuse the reader. And there is a huge twist at the end that I never saw coming but hooked me immediately into getting the next installment in the trilogy.
I really enjoyed this one. Dougal was someone who'd been molded by his past but his sister was in all ways opposite him. She wasn't born yet when their mother kicked their father out. In fact, she never told the man she was pregnant, nor did she let him know afterwards. Jamie has a more positive outlook on life and isn't quite sure how to take Dougal. She also considers finding her father since he got out on parole, something Dougal wants no part of. If you're in the mood for an intriguing mystery with interesting characters and a huge surprise at the end this one is for you!
Having said that, Dougal Lachlin writes true crime. When he receives a message from someone calling themselves Librarianmomma, he can't help but be intrigued. They give him hints about a cold case in which a librarian was strangled with a red scarf. This leads him back to his home town of Twisted Cedars and to a reunion with his sister, Jamie, with whom he has a difficult relationship. He left home and never came back. His father is in prison for murder and his mother dead from cancer. He's rather a loner.
What follows is a very good suspense filled story. It turns out there are more murders, each one having taken place a year apart in different jurisdictions but the similarities lead Dougal to believe a serial killer is involved. He gets involved with the current librarian, Charlotte, and reunites with an old friend, Wade, who is now the sheriff. His sister marries another former friend, Kyle, whose first wife disappeared, which is another story in itself. While Dougal warns Jamie that Kyle is a cheat and refuses to go to the wedding, she marries him any way. Then he begins acting differently and she can't help but wonder I'd Dougal was right about her new husband. Now his children are involved.
This is hard to review because there is a lot going on at the same time - Jamie's strange marriage, Dougal's relationship with Char!otte, Dougal's research into the murders, and his dealings with his past from his coming home - all of which is tied together very nicely so as not to confuse the reader. And there is a huge twist at the end that I never saw coming but hooked me immediately into getting the next installment in the trilogy.
I really enjoyed this one. Dougal was someone who'd been molded by his past but his sister was in all ways opposite him. She wasn't born yet when their mother kicked their father out. In fact, she never told the man she was pregnant, nor did she let him know afterwards. Jamie has a more positive outlook on life and isn't quite sure how to take Dougal. She also considers finding her father since he got out on parole, something Dougal wants no part of. If you're in the mood for an intriguing mystery with interesting characters and a huge surprise at the end this one is for you!
July 4, 2022
Even though it’s part of a trilogy, it does work well as a standalone...but know in advance that you will have to get book #2 to see how this one ends. I didn’t know this at the time I got the book, and I wasn’t thrilled about it. I will probably get book 2 & 3, as I figure book 3 will also have to tag along if the reader wants to know how the entire thing ends. Oh, well, I need more books to go with the other thousand or so that I already have. The story brings us to a small town where we soon learn that this is not their first whodunit. It sems that the little town has had decades of mysterious happenings, including several murders. I can’t imagine what could possibly be more perfect for a mystery...unless it was the complete story in the same book.
December 1, 2017
DNF
Simple prose, linear style, zero challenge.
Simple prose, linear style, zero challenge.
January 5, 2019
3.5 stars
A little slower pace than I liked but still enjoyed it. It's part of a trilogy so may look into the next books.
A little slower pace than I liked but still enjoyed it. It's part of a trilogy so may look into the next books.
February 9, 2016
My Impressions: After going on an YA reading binge, its nice to read about adults again. Though, the characters in Twisted Cedars are a little on the depressing side. Almost every person in the book is either alone, widowed/divorced, or in some form of a destructive/unhealthy relationship…and then, there are the murders. Like I said, a bit of a downer.
The Love Story: Nice…subtle. I was worried at first because I really liked Charlotte and didn’t want her to be hurt. But his eventual fall kinda redeemed Dougal for me.
Minor Beefs: Dougal is not a likable guy. He’s a horrible son and an even worse brother… a bad friend and don’t even get me started on his dismal boyfriend potential. Yet, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I warmed to him later on in the book. Still, he’s got a lot of penance to do before he gets in my good graces…he was a total jerk for the first half of the book. Just saying. Also, the pacing was a little slow for me, though admittedly, once it picked up, things moved along nicely. And why does everyone just automatically tell Dougal all their business? He hardly has to investigate at all…the info is literally shoved at him by everyone he meets.
Cliffhanger: Not so much a cliffhanger as it was multiple loose ends. Who the hell did it? And Why? Eh, hell-o, you solved the wrong murder, Dougal. This seems unfair. Never before have I read a mystery that didn’t explicitly solve the central murder.
The Verdict: Good mystery, likable characters (Dougal is growing on me)…I will likely read the sequel, though I’m not sure how I feel about being tricked into it.
The Love Story: Nice…subtle. I was worried at first because I really liked Charlotte and didn’t want her to be hurt. But his eventual fall kinda redeemed Dougal for me.
Minor Beefs: Dougal is not a likable guy. He’s a horrible son and an even worse brother… a bad friend and don’t even get me started on his dismal boyfriend potential. Yet, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I warmed to him later on in the book. Still, he’s got a lot of penance to do before he gets in my good graces…he was a total jerk for the first half of the book. Just saying. Also, the pacing was a little slow for me, though admittedly, once it picked up, things moved along nicely. And why does everyone just automatically tell Dougal all their business? He hardly has to investigate at all…the info is literally shoved at him by everyone he meets.
Cliffhanger: Not so much a cliffhanger as it was multiple loose ends. Who the hell did it? And Why? Eh, hell-o, you solved the wrong murder, Dougal. This seems unfair. Never before have I read a mystery that didn’t explicitly solve the central murder.
The Verdict: Good mystery, likable characters (Dougal is growing on me)…I will likely read the sequel, though I’m not sure how I feel about being tricked into it.
December 10, 2020
No Way!
It took me a very long time to read this book. I don’t even remember when I started it. But then, when I get to what I thought would finally be the ending, it’s not!
True crime author, Doug Lachlan, is sent mysterious emails about a thirty year old murder. He travels to Oregon to visit his sister and attempt to solve the murders.
Although he discovers a few clues, he comes nowhere near to solving the mystery, and you must purchase the next book in the series.
Won’t be doing that.
It took me a very long time to read this book. I don’t even remember when I started it. But then, when I get to what I thought would finally be the ending, it’s not!
True crime author, Doug Lachlan, is sent mysterious emails about a thirty year old murder. He travels to Oregon to visit his sister and attempt to solve the murders.
Although he discovers a few clues, he comes nowhere near to solving the mystery, and you must purchase the next book in the series.
Won’t be doing that.
April 29, 2013
5 STARS
I was given this ebook today and it sounded so good I started reading it right away. Only put it down to answer the phone. If I had
the next book in the series I would start it right away. At different points I was guessing at different things. So some of guesses were bound to be right. This mystery keeps you guessing the whole book.
The characters draw you into thier lives making you want to know more about them. Some of them at different times I did not like to much. The more you learn about them the more you like most of them.
Dougal Lachlan I thought was cold and selfesh at first. He admits that in high school he was embrassed by who his parents were and what they did. He even admits he was wrong to look down on his mom. The hardest was knowing he did not come back for his mom's funeral. Dougal knows he was wrong but he came back to his hometown because he was worried about his sister and because of a email that told about a murder close to where he grew up.
Jamie Lachlan was planning her marriage to a great guy Kyle Quinpool. Kyle had twins,a boy Chester and a girl Cory age 9. She took care of her mom when she was dying and planned the funeral by herself since her brother did not come home for it.
Charlotte was a librarian in a small town. She loves books and is dating the Sheriff. Charlotte is all alone in the town after her parents died and her sister left her ex-husband and twins. I like Charlotte and can understand her character more than the others.
I love that the murders were happening in towns that I had visited in the past on vacations. Brought happy memories for me thinking about those different vacations. from Redwoods,ocean over to Pendalton. Beautiful state.
I really want to find out what happens next in Twisted Cedars. What changes are going to happen to the characters. Yes I plan to read the next book.
I was given this ebook by the author and asked to review it when I finshed.
I was given this ebook today and it sounded so good I started reading it right away. Only put it down to answer the phone. If I had
the next book in the series I would start it right away. At different points I was guessing at different things. So some of guesses were bound to be right. This mystery keeps you guessing the whole book.
The characters draw you into thier lives making you want to know more about them. Some of them at different times I did not like to much. The more you learn about them the more you like most of them.
Dougal Lachlan I thought was cold and selfesh at first. He admits that in high school he was embrassed by who his parents were and what they did. He even admits he was wrong to look down on his mom. The hardest was knowing he did not come back for his mom's funeral. Dougal knows he was wrong but he came back to his hometown because he was worried about his sister and because of a email that told about a murder close to where he grew up.
Jamie Lachlan was planning her marriage to a great guy Kyle Quinpool. Kyle had twins,a boy Chester and a girl Cory age 9. She took care of her mom when she was dying and planned the funeral by herself since her brother did not come home for it.
Charlotte was a librarian in a small town. She loves books and is dating the Sheriff. Charlotte is all alone in the town after her parents died and her sister left her ex-husband and twins. I like Charlotte and can understand her character more than the others.
I love that the murders were happening in towns that I had visited in the past on vacations. Brought happy memories for me thinking about those different vacations. from Redwoods,ocean over to Pendalton. Beautiful state.
I really want to find out what happens next in Twisted Cedars. What changes are going to happen to the characters. Yes I plan to read the next book.
I was given this ebook by the author and asked to review it when I finshed.
May 31, 2016
What a joy it was to read without the profanity! This is a well-written mystery and one of those rare books you don't want to end and much to my surprise, book two follows this! Looking forward to reading the sequel and will definitely continue reading more by this author.
February 18, 2017
Interesting twist of the story. Oh boy, I'll need to read the rest of the trilogy.
February 25, 2018
Wow. This one was waaay better than I thought it would be!
It was an interesting mystery that had characters I actually cared about. The changes of voice and narrator helped build a more multidimensional mystery and create he small town feel. Plus the reveals were well thought out, and believable. I also loved the little undertone of romance and small town gossip.
Spoilers—-
It was obvious that Daisy had been killed but I loved the reveal of her buried in the garden that Dougal had been tending and starting to work in. Kyle was also clearly a villain, but still interesting.
By far, the best reveal was the ties to Dougals father. The fact that he might have committed the murders, was the forgotten son of the last murder victim AND was the neighbor to Dougal in NYC who had been watching his cat was awesome! That was a well done reveal.
It was an interesting mystery that had characters I actually cared about. The changes of voice and narrator helped build a more multidimensional mystery and create he small town feel. Plus the reveals were well thought out, and believable. I also loved the little undertone of romance and small town gossip.
Spoilers—-
It was obvious that Daisy had been killed but I loved the reveal of her buried in the garden that Dougal had been tending and starting to work in. Kyle was also clearly a villain, but still interesting.
By far, the best reveal was the ties to Dougals father. The fact that he might have committed the murders, was the forgotten son of the last murder victim AND was the neighbor to Dougal in NYC who had been watching his cat was awesome! That was a well done reveal.
October 13, 2015
A bit of romance, a bit of mystery, a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and very realistic.
The story follows Dougal Lachlan as he reluctantly returns to his home town with a chip on his shoulder, a dislike of his sister's soon-to-be husband and some leads into several cold case murders from the '70s that may be linked. He teams up to do research with the town librarian, Charlotte Hammond, the sister of one of his old friends. Soon the pair find themselves with more than a business relationship.
The story splits the romance and mystery quite well. It never delves so far into one category that the other just feels like a shallow subplot. They are both given equal care and it shows in the book.
The book, although quite readable, could have stood an extra trip to the editors. Among the usual missed word or comma, it was full of sentence fragments that would have been acceptable if they were coming directly from the characters' thoughts, but didn't look right coming from the narrator. It's nothing major, but I don't like bad grammar.
All in all, I will definitely be continuing on to the next in the series. There are a few loose ends that I want to see get tied up.
The story follows Dougal Lachlan as he reluctantly returns to his home town with a chip on his shoulder, a dislike of his sister's soon-to-be husband and some leads into several cold case murders from the '70s that may be linked. He teams up to do research with the town librarian, Charlotte Hammond, the sister of one of his old friends. Soon the pair find themselves with more than a business relationship.
The story splits the romance and mystery quite well. It never delves so far into one category that the other just feels like a shallow subplot. They are both given equal care and it shows in the book.
The book, although quite readable, could have stood an extra trip to the editors. Among the usual missed word or comma, it was full of sentence fragments that would have been acceptable if they were coming directly from the characters' thoughts, but didn't look right coming from the narrator. It's nothing major, but I don't like bad grammar.
All in all, I will definitely be continuing on to the next in the series. There are a few loose ends that I want to see get tied up.
October 26, 2016
Great mystery / thriller to add to your to-read list.
A captivating read full of twist and turns. Unfortunately, this one ends in a cliffhanger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read the next installment in the Twisted Cedar Series!
A captivating read full of twist and turns. Unfortunately, this one ends in a cliffhanger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read the next installment in the Twisted Cedar Series!
November 27, 2017
Sometimes, I 'just gotta' read a thriller. I am glad this book was there when the 'gotta' hit me shortly after gaining at least ten pounds on Turkey Lurkey Day and the weekend that followed. BTW, the Saints lost to the Rams, and that revved up my comfort food eating for a gain of another five pounds.
This book started like a robot was writing it, but it soon took on the human touch. The author's writing mechanics were excellent. The story was about serial killings of three or more librarians in remote Oregon towns. There is a sequel to this book which will surely address who and why of the killings and which librarians are still in jeopardy. You may wonder why I liked this book so much when the who and why are missing. I haven't a clue. However, several persons are suspicious, and there are several motives which may or may not match the several suspects.
Thank you, Ms. Carmichael, for a good read.
This book started like a robot was writing it, but it soon took on the human touch. The author's writing mechanics were excellent. The story was about serial killings of three or more librarians in remote Oregon towns. There is a sequel to this book which will surely address who and why of the killings and which librarians are still in jeopardy. You may wonder why I liked this book so much when the who and why are missing. I haven't a clue. However, several persons are suspicious, and there are several motives which may or may not match the several suspects.
Thank you, Ms. Carmichael, for a good read.
August 14, 2022
3.5 stars. A quick and engrossing mystery/romance read, clever premise, perhaps a bit obvious at times but still enjoyable. Apparently, the first of a trilogy, so while it could be considered self-contained, especially if you were willing to fill in a few gaps to round out the story, one assumes a more complete story would emerge from reading all three books in the trilogy.
Read
October 4, 2024Well, that's 222 pages of my life I'll never get back.
February 14, 2018
Excellent book. I only planned on reading book 1, not the full series. However, within 3 minutes of finishing this book, I purchased the kindle editions of the second and third books. The ending of this one was great....took my completely by surprise. I had figured out several other parts of the mystery before the end, just not the last surprise.
January 10, 2016
Title: Buried
Author: CJ Carmichael
Normally I don’t knowingly take on cliff hangers. I got sucked into that with Mortal Instruments and had to wait an entire year for the conclusion of the series. UGH. However, I found the premise of Buried to be so compelling, I was hooked from the first word. I wasn’t reading a stand-alone novel and, for once, that was okay. With writing this good and a story so well crafted, there was no way I could have cared. I just had to keep going.
This twisted tale of murder leads the reader through a decades old friendship, a marriage that seems perfect on the surface, a new relationship no one could expect and of course, a mystery that will keep you turning page after page after page and begging for more when you reach the end.
Dougal Lachlan swore he would never return to Twisted Cedars, Oregon. Nothing but impoverished memories wait for him there. He’d already lost his mother to cancer (even though he failed to attend her funeral) and had no reason, other than the sister who was mad at him, to return. Until the emails started showing up. Crime writer he is, he was drawn to the hometown where the mystery began.
I know, right? Here’s what I can tell you… Wade, the good one, Kyle the wealthy, too-cool-for-school athlete, and Dougal, the boy from the wrong side of the trailer park, were BFFs growing up in Twisted Cedars. Time, distance, and buried secrets forced a rift that only Dougal seemed to understand. Before the ink was dry on his diploma he got the heck of there and headed off for New York City to become a best-selling true-crime writer. Drawn back to Twisted Cedars—partially to explore the story supplied by a mystery emailer and partly to talk his sister out of marrying Kyle—Dougal becomes romantically involved with a quiet librarian and decides to stay a bit longer. After all, the man has to solve a mystery of 4 librarians killed in the space of four years in the 1970s.
There are so many complex details in this one—Dougal’s ex-con murderer father, the emailer who is hell bent on getting this story out, Kyle’s run-away ex-wife, and Charlotte, the librarian love interest who is torn between two men. But these details are presented with such natural flow and as intricate little gems woven into the fabric of the story, that the reader is left with an overwhelming sense to know more. More. MORE.
The characters are crafted with multiple dimensions, bringing life to their joys and struggles. The mystery is formed in stages that allow the reader to absorb the story that bring them right to the heart of the drama.
In short, this is a 5 star read. I highly recommend this book and am so glad there was much more to come with Forgotten.
Author: CJ Carmichael
Normally I don’t knowingly take on cliff hangers. I got sucked into that with Mortal Instruments and had to wait an entire year for the conclusion of the series. UGH. However, I found the premise of Buried to be so compelling, I was hooked from the first word. I wasn’t reading a stand-alone novel and, for once, that was okay. With writing this good and a story so well crafted, there was no way I could have cared. I just had to keep going.
This twisted tale of murder leads the reader through a decades old friendship, a marriage that seems perfect on the surface, a new relationship no one could expect and of course, a mystery that will keep you turning page after page after page and begging for more when you reach the end.
Dougal Lachlan swore he would never return to Twisted Cedars, Oregon. Nothing but impoverished memories wait for him there. He’d already lost his mother to cancer (even though he failed to attend her funeral) and had no reason, other than the sister who was mad at him, to return. Until the emails started showing up. Crime writer he is, he was drawn to the hometown where the mystery began.
I know, right? Here’s what I can tell you… Wade, the good one, Kyle the wealthy, too-cool-for-school athlete, and Dougal, the boy from the wrong side of the trailer park, were BFFs growing up in Twisted Cedars. Time, distance, and buried secrets forced a rift that only Dougal seemed to understand. Before the ink was dry on his diploma he got the heck of there and headed off for New York City to become a best-selling true-crime writer. Drawn back to Twisted Cedars—partially to explore the story supplied by a mystery emailer and partly to talk his sister out of marrying Kyle—Dougal becomes romantically involved with a quiet librarian and decides to stay a bit longer. After all, the man has to solve a mystery of 4 librarians killed in the space of four years in the 1970s.
There are so many complex details in this one—Dougal’s ex-con murderer father, the emailer who is hell bent on getting this story out, Kyle’s run-away ex-wife, and Charlotte, the librarian love interest who is torn between two men. But these details are presented with such natural flow and as intricate little gems woven into the fabric of the story, that the reader is left with an overwhelming sense to know more. More. MORE.
The characters are crafted with multiple dimensions, bringing life to their joys and struggles. The mystery is formed in stages that allow the reader to absorb the story that bring them right to the heart of the drama.
In short, this is a 5 star read. I highly recommend this book and am so glad there was much more to come with Forgotten.
January 8, 2013
"A Buried Tale" is the first in the Twisted Cedars Mystery series by CJ Carmichael. As in her contemporary romance novels, the author builds an intriguing plot based on the strong emotional undercurrents within families--this time families of the coastal town of Twisted Cedars, Oregon. Her characters are all well developed and multi-dimensional, but her hero is particularly compelling.
Dougal Lachlan, a bestselling true crimes author, returns to his hometown to investigate a series of unsolved murders that occurred in Twisted Cedars over thirty years before. He is not your run-of-the-mill kind of hero. Dougal intrigues you right from the start but you have to work at liking him. He's moody, rude, self-centred. He abandoned his family and friends, without a backward glance, to pursue his writing career in the big city. But as his sister prepares to marry the ex-husband of a missing woman, the layers of this deeply flawed character are revealed. He is trying to do the right thing, with the best of intentions, and handling it as badly as anyone possibly could. Dougal knows things in Twisted Cedars are not what they seem and is compelled to pursue the puzzle of the missing wife to protect his sister even if she ends up hating him for it.
As in any good mystery, the immediate plot is resolved by the end of the book. However, we are left with the certainty that there are even bigger secrets hidden in the town's past, and somehow they've made our hero the complicated man he is now. Enquiring minds need to know, but unfortunately will have to wait for the next book. Hopefully Carmichael won't make us wait too long before she releases the next installment in this great new series.
Dougal Lachlan, a bestselling true crimes author, returns to his hometown to investigate a series of unsolved murders that occurred in Twisted Cedars over thirty years before. He is not your run-of-the-mill kind of hero. Dougal intrigues you right from the start but you have to work at liking him. He's moody, rude, self-centred. He abandoned his family and friends, without a backward glance, to pursue his writing career in the big city. But as his sister prepares to marry the ex-husband of a missing woman, the layers of this deeply flawed character are revealed. He is trying to do the right thing, with the best of intentions, and handling it as badly as anyone possibly could. Dougal knows things in Twisted Cedars are not what they seem and is compelled to pursue the puzzle of the missing wife to protect his sister even if she ends up hating him for it.
As in any good mystery, the immediate plot is resolved by the end of the book. However, we are left with the certainty that there are even bigger secrets hidden in the town's past, and somehow they've made our hero the complicated man he is now. Enquiring minds need to know, but unfortunately will have to wait for the next book. Hopefully Carmichael won't make us wait too long before she releases the next installment in this great new series.
January 17, 2016
Go and get this book immediately! It is the perfect mix of suspense and mystery. This book was extremely well written, and a refreshing change from the YA novels I have been reading.
Dougal is a character with depth and one that is definitely growing throughout the entire book. I like that he is not the guy you love, but you also don't hate him or question the decisions he makes throughout the book. When he doesn't go to his mom's funeral, you understand why. When he wants to distance himself from Charlotte, you understand why.
Murder mystery is such an interesting genre, since so often there is a twist that is expected. This story has twists, but none of them are expected and they all flow very well within the book. All in all I think this book is a page turner from the beginning. Looking forward to reading Forgotten!
I received this book through Lola's Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Dougal is a character with depth and one that is definitely growing throughout the entire book. I like that he is not the guy you love, but you also don't hate him or question the decisions he makes throughout the book. When he doesn't go to his mom's funeral, you understand why. When he wants to distance himself from Charlotte, you understand why.
Murder mystery is such an interesting genre, since so often there is a twist that is expected. This story has twists, but none of them are expected and they all flow very well within the book. All in all I think this book is a page turner from the beginning. Looking forward to reading Forgotten!
I received this book through Lola's Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2016
I enjoyed this. Thought it was well paced and all the different plot threads were interesting. The ending was abrupt and I was surprised to find it was a cliffhanger of sorts. One mystery was resolved while a larger overarching mystery was left unsolved. That was a surprise and left me a bit disappointed. I think it ought to be noted somewhere in the blurb that this is more a serial installment than book 1 in a series.
However I read quickly to the end to find out what happened and did immediately buy the next book to see how the townsfolk progress because I love the setting and am interested in the characters. There's a book 3 coming out as well but now I know what I'm in for. All questions won't be answered, I assume, in book 2 and I'll have to wait until the book 3 conclusion.
However I read quickly to the end to find out what happened and did immediately buy the next book to see how the townsfolk progress because I love the setting and am interested in the characters. There's a book 3 coming out as well but now I know what I'm in for. All questions won't be answered, I assume, in book 2 and I'll have to wait until the book 3 conclusion.
July 27, 2019
I liked the book, but not how it ended, because to me it really didn't end even though it said "The End". I'm not a fan of cliffhangers and this book left me hanging with several unanswered questions. I'm not ready to read the next one in the series and am disappointed that I even would have to in order to find closure with this one. So, I don't recommend starting this book until you're ready and able to buy the next one, and possibly even another one or more.
August 20, 2016
Very enjoyable mystery novel. A string of murders in the seventies and a missing woman all tied together in a town called Twisted Cedars. Interesting characters and the perfect amount of description - not too much, but not too little. Well written and easy to read. The ending leaves you wanting more. I'll definitely be reading more by C.J. Carmichael.
May 17, 2017
CON JOB!
This wasn't a novel, it was just an enticement to get you to buy the next installment! While I enjoyed the writing, I will never touch another C.J. Carmichael. Shame on the author.
This wasn't a novel, it was just an enticement to get you to buy the next installment! While I enjoyed the writing, I will never touch another C.J. Carmichael. Shame on the author.
April 14, 2015
A delicious page-turner
I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next installment. Old mysteries and new relationships work for me.
I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next installment. Old mysteries and new relationships work for me.
August 25, 2017
I really liked the story, and probably would have given it 5 stars if it didn't feel like the author wrote a long book, but decided to cut it off in the middle in order to make 2 books.
March 1, 2018
I really liked this and the characters she's created as well. Once you figure who's related to who and got it straight in your head, it is easy to remember them. However, it missed the 5* as it has a few too many silly mistakes, especially with apostrophes !! Can't seem to get their usage correct at all. One mistake was repeated 3 times in quick succession using Argent's and not Argents'. A shame as the story itself definitely warranted 5. I also made note of how she skips past the minutiae of life, in not needing to tell us exactly what every character is eating, for example. She just goes ahead to the next pertinent point, I liked that a lot and noticed her do it a few times.
I cringed at one of the passages she used in her history of libraries at the beginning as the author of the piece had written assessable to all as opposed to accessible. I'd not have included that !! A lot of words were missed in sentences, too. ...."his instinct for story kicked in" or "I'll leave it your hands now," these really should have been corrected in any proofreading process undertaken.
Night should be night's and there's a bit of an issue with commas used incorrectly, too. THIS sentence makes a massive difference with her not using one-"OK. Smile big ladies." Then she writes JC Penny and I'm a Brit but know it's JC Penney !! The biggest ouch was using lightening and not lightning !!
I made guesses throughout the story as to what was going on and mostly got it totally wrong. The very ending blew me away ! So I'm looking forward to the next in this series. Loved the cover on this as well.
Hoping her editor pays better attention next time in order for me to be able to leave a deserved 5*, perhaps, and not full of silly mistakes next time.
I cringed at one of the passages she used in her history of libraries at the beginning as the author of the piece had written assessable to all as opposed to accessible. I'd not have included that !! A lot of words were missed in sentences, too. ...."his instinct for story kicked in" or "I'll leave it your hands now," these really should have been corrected in any proofreading process undertaken.
Night should be night's and there's a bit of an issue with commas used incorrectly, too. THIS sentence makes a massive difference with her not using one-"OK. Smile big ladies." Then she writes JC Penny and I'm a Brit but know it's JC Penney !! The biggest ouch was using lightening and not lightning !!
I made guesses throughout the story as to what was going on and mostly got it totally wrong. The very ending blew me away ! So I'm looking forward to the next in this series. Loved the cover on this as well.
Hoping her editor pays better attention next time in order for me to be able to leave a deserved 5*, perhaps, and not full of silly mistakes next time.
March 6, 2019
First of all, this is not a stand alone novel and it cannot be read as such. I you want to know what happens and what the big reveal will be about the librarian murders don't think you can find it in just this book. You will have to read the entire series. Marketing at its best and most annoying.
I don't really know why I liked this book because it had all the elements to make me not like it. Unlikeable main character and characters that make dumb decisions. But for some reason I flew through it. This was an easy mystery read and I liked thinking along with the characters. Like I said, I don't like Dougal Lachlan at all. He is vain and selfish as is also pointed out by several characters though nobody seems to really care enough to just stop helping the man. Then there's Charlotte and Jamie. Charlotte undergoes a total personality change as soon as Dougal appears which makes her make bad decision after bad decision and Jamie is just painfully naive. So yes hte characters for me were a real let down. I'm just hoping Wade and Stella will remain in my good books in the following books just so that there are some characters that I can root for. Now, my whining about unlikeable characters aside, this book has a mystery that is compelling enought to forget about the characters and their crazy shennanigans. I really liked thinking along and devising my own theories about the murdered librarians in the seventies. In fact. This mystery is compelling enough that I am strongly thinking about getting the 2 later books in the series from Amazon. I'm looking forward to finding out whether I'm on the right track or not.
I don't really know why I liked this book because it had all the elements to make me not like it. Unlikeable main character and characters that make dumb decisions. But for some reason I flew through it. This was an easy mystery read and I liked thinking along with the characters. Like I said, I don't like Dougal Lachlan at all. He is vain and selfish as is also pointed out by several characters though nobody seems to really care enough to just stop helping the man. Then there's Charlotte and Jamie. Charlotte undergoes a total personality change as soon as Dougal appears which makes her make bad decision after bad decision and Jamie is just painfully naive. So yes hte characters for me were a real let down. I'm just hoping Wade and Stella will remain in my good books in the following books just so that there are some characters that I can root for. Now, my whining about unlikeable characters aside, this book has a mystery that is compelling enought to forget about the characters and their crazy shennanigans. I really liked thinking along and devising my own theories about the murdered librarians in the seventies. In fact. This mystery is compelling enough that I am strongly thinking about getting the 2 later books in the series from Amazon. I'm looking forward to finding out whether I'm on the right track or not.
May 23, 2017
"Holiday reading matter sorted"
If you want a book to read on holiday this summer, this will fit the bill. It's easy-paced, with a straightforward plot, involving a solid array of characters. The writing style is better than average, and I found this opener to the series to be an enjoyable read. The clues are there; why other readers comment on the fact it doesn't contain a complete story beats me. You only have to check the Product Description page to work it out. It's become second nature for authors to offer #1 free in the hopes it captures your interest enough to be able to sell you further titles in a series. My advice? If you're going on holiday for two weeks, buy the trilogy. Authors deserve to be paid for their blood, sweat, and tears.
If you want a book to read on holiday this summer, this will fit the bill. It's easy-paced, with a straightforward plot, involving a solid array of characters. The writing style is better than average, and I found this opener to the series to be an enjoyable read. The clues are there; why other readers comment on the fact it doesn't contain a complete story beats me. You only have to check the Product Description page to work it out. It's become second nature for authors to offer #1 free in the hopes it captures your interest enough to be able to sell you further titles in a series. My advice? If you're going on holiday for two weeks, buy the trilogy. Authors deserve to be paid for their blood, sweat, and tears.
October 27, 2024
First in a series that I won’t go any further. Dougal comes to Oregon to investigate the murder of four librarians, but gets very little done without screwing the town librarian. And she’s dumb...he ghosts her then talks her into grocery shopping so they can have dinner at his house and that doesn’t even work because his grill is out of gas. Dougal’s sister, Jamie, gets married to his high school friend that he hates now. He’s not wrong about that. The book crawled a lot and finally got everything wrapped up in the last ten percent. Now we’re left to wonder, is the murderer his father? Don’t care enough to find out.
December 24, 2017
Very easy to read. Great pacing. Writing was descriptive, but not too focused on mundane details and had appropriate time jumps so that it never dragged on. I liked that this was written in 3rd person with subtle shifts in the writing, depending on who the story was focused on at the time. The characters and relationships between them were interesting to read about and I never felt like the romance was annoying or out of place. Intriguing mysteries with good twists.
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