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Salt on Her Tongue: A Kes Morris File
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 30, 2025
“Salt on Her Tongue” a Kes Morris File is the sequel of the author’s first book called “Beneath her Skin”. This is a fictional mystery book, where a homicide detective named Kes goes to a small town, searching for a missing girl named Molly. This book gave me mystery vibes, it was easy to read, had a clear thesis and did come with twists!
The writing style was unique and well written. I feel like this book had a very strong start to it, but was not well executed. Even though the ending was unpredictable, I found it to be unsatisfying. It did have disturbing parts to it, as Kes was doing her detective work. Kes does get so involved in this case, she starts to spiral down herself. She begins having nightmares as this case takes control over her. Overall, I give this short story a 2.75 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C.S. Porter, and Nimbus Publishing | Vagrant Press for this advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This book is set to be published on June 10, 2025.
The writing style was unique and well written. I feel like this book had a very strong start to it, but was not well executed. Even though the ending was unpredictable, I found it to be unsatisfying. It did have disturbing parts to it, as Kes was doing her detective work. Kes does get so involved in this case, she starts to spiral down herself. She begins having nightmares as this case takes control over her. Overall, I give this short story a 2.75 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C.S. Porter, and Nimbus Publishing | Vagrant Press for this advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This book is set to be published on June 10, 2025.
November 2, 2025
A quick, stylish detective novel, the second in what is now the "Kes Morris" series. Detective Kes Morris, of an unnamed city police force somewhere within driving distance of the Bay of Fundy, which separates Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, is apparently on an extended leave due to the aftermath of the first book in the series, Beneath Her Skin: A Kes Morris File. I haven't read the first book, so I lacked context for some of the references to past events and characters, but that wasn't essential to understanding the current story. It's pretty clear, by the way, that Kes works in Halifax, but I assume the city is not named so that the book can appeal to a larger North American audience. Whether Canadians are too embarrassed to tell Canadian stories or Americans are too nationalistic to read Canadian stories is unclear.
Anyway, Kes, who normally works homicide and seems to be skilled as a profiler, is recalled to perform a special yet supposedly simple case for the police captain: finding the missing university-aged daughter of a senator (Canadian senators have nowhere near the social or political clout of American senators, but this one appears to be important, nonetheless). The young woman was last seen at the docks of a fishing community on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. During her investigation, Kes discovers the body of a middle-aged man floating in the bay. He was clearly murdered. The missing girl turns up at her university none the worse for wear, but may have been in contact with the murdered man. The simple case is not so simple after all.
Kes deepens her investigation, even though her captain feels this may be outside their jurisdiction. Kes drives back and forth between the city and the shore, conducting interviews, gathering evidence, and slowly developing theories about the case. She also has to deal with issues in her personal life, including family, dating, and her readiness to return to work. The case is resolved by the end of the book. That resolution comes partly out of left field, but readers can at least discern the outlines of it along the way.
I liked Porter's writing style. Compared to the last book I read, The Women, the writing is more literate and descriptive. Yet it was still easy to read. The writing is not overly complex, but still has style. The tone can be a bit dark, mainly because Kes has a lot of self-doubt after her previous case, but Porter doesn't dwell too much on that and the pace moves along well. The geography is a bit vague, presumably, as mentioned previously, to broaden the book's appeal to American readers. Unfortunately, the setting comes across as generic; this could be any port city near a bay. It would have been nice to have a little more explicit local character.
Finally, I think there's a sequencing error revealed near the book's finale. This may be spoiler-ish... . This isn't a dealbreaker, but it is a little sloppy.
That aside, though, it was an entertaining read.
Anyway, Kes, who normally works homicide and seems to be skilled as a profiler, is recalled to perform a special yet supposedly simple case for the police captain: finding the missing university-aged daughter of a senator (Canadian senators have nowhere near the social or political clout of American senators, but this one appears to be important, nonetheless). The young woman was last seen at the docks of a fishing community on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. During her investigation, Kes discovers the body of a middle-aged man floating in the bay. He was clearly murdered. The missing girl turns up at her university none the worse for wear, but may have been in contact with the murdered man. The simple case is not so simple after all.
Kes deepens her investigation, even though her captain feels this may be outside their jurisdiction. Kes drives back and forth between the city and the shore, conducting interviews, gathering evidence, and slowly developing theories about the case. She also has to deal with issues in her personal life, including family, dating, and her readiness to return to work. The case is resolved by the end of the book. That resolution comes partly out of left field, but readers can at least discern the outlines of it along the way.
I liked Porter's writing style. Compared to the last book I read, The Women, the writing is more literate and descriptive. Yet it was still easy to read. The writing is not overly complex, but still has style. The tone can be a bit dark, mainly because Kes has a lot of self-doubt after her previous case, but Porter doesn't dwell too much on that and the pace moves along well. The geography is a bit vague, presumably, as mentioned previously, to broaden the book's appeal to American readers. Unfortunately, the setting comes across as generic; this could be any port city near a bay. It would have been nice to have a little more explicit local character.
Finally, I think there's a sequencing error revealed near the book's finale. This may be spoiler-ish... . This isn't a dealbreaker, but it is a little sloppy.
That aside, though, it was an entertaining read.
May 26, 2025
I was pleased to read the ARC for this well-plotted, suspenseful, and easy-to-read mystery. It is a complicated plot that veers off in unexpected directions, with a dark and twisted storyline. Thank you, NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing, for this intense and surprising story. The publication date is June 10, 2025.
The author C. S. Porter is a reclusive writer who lives by the sea. This is his second book featuring Detective Kes Morris, following the excellent "Beneath Her Skin". Its initial location is in the Bay of Fundy, with clues that it is on the Nova Scotian side of the bay. The Bay of Fundy is renowned for its tidal bore, which results in the world's highest tides. I was interested in the location, although the towns and villages were given fictional names. When I was young, I lived in a home perched on a cliff that overlooked the bay. I wish I understood more about how the dangerous tides affect boating.
Detective Kes Morris is very determined to prove herself to the authorities, but is insubordinate and reluctant to follow department protocol. She had been on leave but was recalled to find Molly, the daughter of a powerful senator and lawyer. Molly has only been missing for a day, but finding her would give the police department political acclaim. Kes's search brings her to the Bay of Fundy when she learns that Molly had gone there with a young man whom she didn't care for. She left his company and was last seen on the wharf taking pictures. A witness believed Molly was last seen boarding a luxury yacht. Instead of finding Molly, she finds the body of a middle-aged man. He was murdered and his boat wrecked onshore. On returning home, Kes sees Molly on campus. Molly seems emotionless and insists she was never missing, and has no intention of contacting her father. Kes believes there is a connection between Molly and the dead man, but that Molly didn't have the strength to murder him in the way he was killed. Was there an accomplish, or was Molly innocent?
Her search leads her to the owners of a travel agency specializing in trips to Eastern Europe, and a sinister plot unfolds. There are several murders. The story becomes dark and grim, with criminal proceedings and unethical practices in those countries. Molly has been unknowingly involved until recently. There is a surprising twist. The solution is unpredictable, and the perpetrator had been barely mentioned, but had an understandable motive and evoked my sympathy. I thought the ending was bittersweet.
Recommended, and hope there are more books featuring Kes Morris.
The author C. S. Porter is a reclusive writer who lives by the sea. This is his second book featuring Detective Kes Morris, following the excellent "Beneath Her Skin". Its initial location is in the Bay of Fundy, with clues that it is on the Nova Scotian side of the bay. The Bay of Fundy is renowned for its tidal bore, which results in the world's highest tides. I was interested in the location, although the towns and villages were given fictional names. When I was young, I lived in a home perched on a cliff that overlooked the bay. I wish I understood more about how the dangerous tides affect boating.
Detective Kes Morris is very determined to prove herself to the authorities, but is insubordinate and reluctant to follow department protocol. She had been on leave but was recalled to find Molly, the daughter of a powerful senator and lawyer. Molly has only been missing for a day, but finding her would give the police department political acclaim. Kes's search brings her to the Bay of Fundy when she learns that Molly had gone there with a young man whom she didn't care for. She left his company and was last seen on the wharf taking pictures. A witness believed Molly was last seen boarding a luxury yacht. Instead of finding Molly, she finds the body of a middle-aged man. He was murdered and his boat wrecked onshore. On returning home, Kes sees Molly on campus. Molly seems emotionless and insists she was never missing, and has no intention of contacting her father. Kes believes there is a connection between Molly and the dead man, but that Molly didn't have the strength to murder him in the way he was killed. Was there an accomplish, or was Molly innocent?
Her search leads her to the owners of a travel agency specializing in trips to Eastern Europe, and a sinister plot unfolds. There are several murders. The story becomes dark and grim, with criminal proceedings and unethical practices in those countries. Molly has been unknowingly involved until recently. There is a surprising twist. The solution is unpredictable, and the perpetrator had been barely mentioned, but had an understandable motive and evoked my sympathy. I thought the ending was bittersweet.
Recommended, and hope there are more books featuring Kes Morris.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
📚 C.S. Porter’s Salt on Her Tongue is a dark, atmospheric crime novel that plunges readers into the shadowy depths of human cruelty and resilience. As part of the Kes Morris File series, it continues Porter’s exploration of trauma, justice, and the fragile line between survival and collapse.
This novel follows Kes Morris, a detective whose investigations are as much about confronting her own scars as they are about solving crimes. In Salt on Her Tongue, Kes is drawn into a case that exposes the hidden violence lurking beneath ordinary lives. The setting—gritty, coastal, and unforgiving—becomes a character in itself, echoing the themes of erosion, secrecy, and the corrosive power of silence.
🎨 Kes embodies the struggle of living with trauma while fighting for justice.
The title itself suggests the tension between what is spoken and what is suppressed, a motif that runs through the narrative.
Porter examines how violence reshapes identity, and how victims reclaim agency in fractured ways.
This novel asks whether confronting the past can ever truly heal, or if it only deepens the wounds.
✍️Porter’s prose is raw, lyrical, and unflinching. The narrative shifts between stark realism and almost poetic intensity, mirroring the psychological turbulence of Kes’s journey. Dialogue is clipped and tense, while descriptions of place and atmosphere linger, creating a haunting rhythm that keeps readers unsettled yet compelled.
🌟 Kes Morris is layered—tough yet vulnerable, haunted yet determined.
The coastal imagery reinforces the novel’s themes of erosion, secrecy, and danger.
Porter doesn’t shy away from the psychological cost of violence, making the story resonate beyond its crime plot.
Fans of the Kes Morris Files will appreciate how this installment deepens her character arc.
Salt on Her Tongue is a gritty, emotionally charged crime novel that balances suspense with psychological depth. Porter crafts a story that is as much about the scars left by violence as it is about the pursuit of justice. It’s a novel that lingers, asking readers to confront the weight of silence and the resilience required to break it.
📚 C.S. Porter’s Salt on Her Tongue is a dark, atmospheric crime novel that plunges readers into the shadowy depths of human cruelty and resilience. As part of the Kes Morris File series, it continues Porter’s exploration of trauma, justice, and the fragile line between survival and collapse.
This novel follows Kes Morris, a detective whose investigations are as much about confronting her own scars as they are about solving crimes. In Salt on Her Tongue, Kes is drawn into a case that exposes the hidden violence lurking beneath ordinary lives. The setting—gritty, coastal, and unforgiving—becomes a character in itself, echoing the themes of erosion, secrecy, and the corrosive power of silence.
🎨 Kes embodies the struggle of living with trauma while fighting for justice.
The title itself suggests the tension between what is spoken and what is suppressed, a motif that runs through the narrative.
Porter examines how violence reshapes identity, and how victims reclaim agency in fractured ways.
This novel asks whether confronting the past can ever truly heal, or if it only deepens the wounds.
✍️Porter’s prose is raw, lyrical, and unflinching. The narrative shifts between stark realism and almost poetic intensity, mirroring the psychological turbulence of Kes’s journey. Dialogue is clipped and tense, while descriptions of place and atmosphere linger, creating a haunting rhythm that keeps readers unsettled yet compelled.
🌟 Kes Morris is layered—tough yet vulnerable, haunted yet determined.
The coastal imagery reinforces the novel’s themes of erosion, secrecy, and danger.
Porter doesn’t shy away from the psychological cost of violence, making the story resonate beyond its crime plot.
Fans of the Kes Morris Files will appreciate how this installment deepens her character arc.
Salt on Her Tongue is a gritty, emotionally charged crime novel that balances suspense with psychological depth. Porter crafts a story that is as much about the scars left by violence as it is about the pursuit of justice. It’s a novel that lingers, asking readers to confront the weight of silence and the resilience required to break it.
October 27, 2025
Detective Kes Morris returns in her second outing by C.S. Porter. Kes is on mandatory leave, getting clean, and getting fit at the local tae kwon do dojang with demanding and strict Master Jin.
She's also spending time with her daughter Olivia, which makes her heart sing. And, tentatively, starting a relationship with a visiting professor of ethics from Copenhagen, Bjorn.
Ke is contacted by her new superior, Captain Francis, and told to travel to a small town where a young woman, Molly Kinder, has disappeared. As a homicide detective, Kes is annoyed, but this is the daughter of a Senator, and Francis must keep certain types of people happy, particularly as he seems to Kes interested in moving upwards professionally.
Kes arrives in Spectacle Harbour, and discovers that the young woman's boyfriend reported Molly missing. When Kes goes looking at a beach opposite the harbour, she finds a recently dead body in the frigid water, obviously murdered. Digging into the man's identity and relationships leads Kes to connections with the influential and wealthy Kinder family, and the young woman not interested in talking to police when she turns up back at university.
Unexpectedly, Kes is joined by Chester, the young police officer on Kes' team in book one. He's a whiz at breaking into all sorts of data and systems, and gets Kes some unexpected and necessary leads. Unfortunately, there is another death, and a kidnapping, before Kes is able to identify who the perpetrator is.
There are so many secrets and lies in this story, and it takes much persistence, and an angry Francis, before Kes is able to prove that she's not only ready to handle a homicide case again, but that her instincts about the case were right.
I was gripped by this story, and loved the pacing, the reappearance of Chester, the small progress Kes has made with her mental health, and her relationship with her beloved daughter.
I hope there are more cases upcoming in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Nimbus Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
She's also spending time with her daughter Olivia, which makes her heart sing. And, tentatively, starting a relationship with a visiting professor of ethics from Copenhagen, Bjorn.
Ke is contacted by her new superior, Captain Francis, and told to travel to a small town where a young woman, Molly Kinder, has disappeared. As a homicide detective, Kes is annoyed, but this is the daughter of a Senator, and Francis must keep certain types of people happy, particularly as he seems to Kes interested in moving upwards professionally.
Kes arrives in Spectacle Harbour, and discovers that the young woman's boyfriend reported Molly missing. When Kes goes looking at a beach opposite the harbour, she finds a recently dead body in the frigid water, obviously murdered. Digging into the man's identity and relationships leads Kes to connections with the influential and wealthy Kinder family, and the young woman not interested in talking to police when she turns up back at university.
Unexpectedly, Kes is joined by Chester, the young police officer on Kes' team in book one. He's a whiz at breaking into all sorts of data and systems, and gets Kes some unexpected and necessary leads. Unfortunately, there is another death, and a kidnapping, before Kes is able to identify who the perpetrator is.
There are so many secrets and lies in this story, and it takes much persistence, and an angry Francis, before Kes is able to prove that she's not only ready to handle a homicide case again, but that her instincts about the case were right.
I was gripped by this story, and loved the pacing, the reappearance of Chester, the small progress Kes has made with her mental health, and her relationship with her beloved daughter.
I hope there are more cases upcoming in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Nimbus Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 9, 2025
Why didn’t I know about C.S. Porter? Salt on Her Tongue is the second instalment of the Kes Morris File series, and now I am desperate to read the first, “Beneath Her Skin”.
Kes Morris is a homicide detective who was put on leave in the previous book (I am not aware of the specifics behind this leave, but it doesn’t significantly impact my enjoyment of this novel, as I was still able to fully appreciate it without reading the first book.) In this book, her new captain calls her to work on a missing person’s case (as a favour to him). Kes is a little put out, her speciality after all is murder, not missing persons. But she is told she must, so she does. This case takes to to a small village in the Bay of Fundy where our missing girl was last seen. And although the girl's boyfriend is distraught over her disappearance, the locals believe she left on her own until a witness claims to have seen her talking to a man. Soon, what starts as a missing person’s case ends up as a murder case, and Kes is bound and determined to find the killer. The twist is, could the murder be the missing girl? Additionally, the villages seem somewhat secretive, not entirely forthcoming with any information, so could they be responsible?
I really enjoyed the character of Kes and her problem-solving strategies. She is a strong, intelligent, socially savvy policewoman who independently (except for her IT friend Chester) resolves mysteries and murders on her own.
The novel's fast paced plot and interesting characters make this a perfect summer read.
After reading Salt on Her Tongue, I can't wait to dive into the first book, Beneath Her Skin, and eagerly anticipate the release of the third novel in the Kes Morris Files.
Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus press for the copy
Kes Morris is a homicide detective who was put on leave in the previous book (I am not aware of the specifics behind this leave, but it doesn’t significantly impact my enjoyment of this novel, as I was still able to fully appreciate it without reading the first book.) In this book, her new captain calls her to work on a missing person’s case (as a favour to him). Kes is a little put out, her speciality after all is murder, not missing persons. But she is told she must, so she does. This case takes to to a small village in the Bay of Fundy where our missing girl was last seen. And although the girl's boyfriend is distraught over her disappearance, the locals believe she left on her own until a witness claims to have seen her talking to a man. Soon, what starts as a missing person’s case ends up as a murder case, and Kes is bound and determined to find the killer. The twist is, could the murder be the missing girl? Additionally, the villages seem somewhat secretive, not entirely forthcoming with any information, so could they be responsible?
I really enjoyed the character of Kes and her problem-solving strategies. She is a strong, intelligent, socially savvy policewoman who independently (except for her IT friend Chester) resolves mysteries and murders on her own.
The novel's fast paced plot and interesting characters make this a perfect summer read.
After reading Salt on Her Tongue, I can't wait to dive into the first book, Beneath Her Skin, and eagerly anticipate the release of the third novel in the Kes Morris Files.
Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus press for the copy
May 18, 2025
A Thrilling Puzzle
Thank you NetGalley and Vagrant Press for an advanced reader copy of Salt on Her Tongue
When a prominent lawyer and senator’s daughter goes missing, Detective Kes Morris is drawn to a small maritime community to find the young woman. But when a dead body is found and the young woman inexplicably turns up unharmed, Kes investigates a sinister plot fronted by a travel company.
This was a well-conceived mystery that kept me guessing. The characters were well-formed and the scenarios creative. This was my first time reading a novel by C.S. Porter, and it won’t be the last, as I found the details of the case and the pacing at which they unfolded top-notch mystery plotting. I wish I could give more plot details, but I don’t want to give any of this juicy case away. Read it! You’ll be in for a wild, gut-wrenching ride.
Unfortunately, the hardened cop scenario in Kes Morris left me wanting. This did not feel as creative, and I felt like many other writers have written this trope in more engrossing forms. The setting left me wanting as well. I picked up Salt on Her Tongue predominantly because it was by a fellow Canadian, and set in the Maritimes. I wanted to travel through reading and I found the setting descriptions difficult to latch onto. I rarely ever felt like I was “there.” This ARC was listed at literary, and I felt like the line-level writing fell short of what I’m accustomed to in a literary novel.
Congratulations to C.S. Porter on an intriguing and entertaining mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Vagrant Press for an advanced reader copy of Salt on Her Tongue
When a prominent lawyer and senator’s daughter goes missing, Detective Kes Morris is drawn to a small maritime community to find the young woman. But when a dead body is found and the young woman inexplicably turns up unharmed, Kes investigates a sinister plot fronted by a travel company.
This was a well-conceived mystery that kept me guessing. The characters were well-formed and the scenarios creative. This was my first time reading a novel by C.S. Porter, and it won’t be the last, as I found the details of the case and the pacing at which they unfolded top-notch mystery plotting. I wish I could give more plot details, but I don’t want to give any of this juicy case away. Read it! You’ll be in for a wild, gut-wrenching ride.
Unfortunately, the hardened cop scenario in Kes Morris left me wanting. This did not feel as creative, and I felt like many other writers have written this trope in more engrossing forms. The setting left me wanting as well. I picked up Salt on Her Tongue predominantly because it was by a fellow Canadian, and set in the Maritimes. I wanted to travel through reading and I found the setting descriptions difficult to latch onto. I rarely ever felt like I was “there.” This ARC was listed at literary, and I felt like the line-level writing fell short of what I’m accustomed to in a literary novel.
Congratulations to C.S. Porter on an intriguing and entertaining mystery.
December 31, 2025
The cover is honestly what attracted me to this story but the story itself was great. This is the second book in the series and it was just as good as the first one! The mystery seems like any other mystery at first - body found who did it, but the mystery has so many different layers as the story goes on. I enjoyed that each clue led to an even deeper layer to the mystery. The race to catch the killer adds an extra thrill as well to the story.
I will definitely be continuing on with the story and following along with Kes as she continues to solve mysterious and grow as an amazing detective.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
I will definitely be continuing on with the story and following along with Kes as she continues to solve mysterious and grow as an amazing detective.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
June 10, 2025
With thanks to Nimbus Publishing/Vagrant Press and Netgalley for an advance digital ARC.
I really enjoyed this second instalment of the Kes Morris series. At first glance, it's another East Coast small town missing persons case, but it quickly evolves into more. I liked getting to know Detective Morris better - she's a strong character with a lot of depth that you feel like you're just getting started with when the book ends. The plot moves faster than you initially think it will and it's about so much more than just another missing persons case. There are a couple of dark twists to the plot and a sense of unease as more of the plot's backstory is revealed. This is atmospheric and chilling - would make for a great mini series!
I'll look forward to the next in this Detective Morris series.
I really enjoyed this second instalment of the Kes Morris series. At first glance, it's another East Coast small town missing persons case, but it quickly evolves into more. I liked getting to know Detective Morris better - she's a strong character with a lot of depth that you feel like you're just getting started with when the book ends. The plot moves faster than you initially think it will and it's about so much more than just another missing persons case. There are a couple of dark twists to the plot and a sense of unease as more of the plot's backstory is revealed. This is atmospheric and chilling - would make for a great mini series!
I'll look forward to the next in this Detective Morris series.
May 27, 2025
Received an ARC from NetGalley, with gratitude to the author and publisher.
An intriguing mystery, my first in the series. The character development allows relatability for the reader, the plot line had extra twists. The setting being Canadian East Coast influenced the story line, in a positive way as a Canadian reader!
Very enjoyable. I look forward to reading other books by the author!
An intriguing mystery, my first in the series. The character development allows relatability for the reader, the plot line had extra twists. The setting being Canadian East Coast influenced the story line, in a positive way as a Canadian reader!
Very enjoyable. I look forward to reading other books by the author!
August 2, 2025
The second book about Detective Kes Morris, set this time in the Annapolis Valley on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Not quite as good as Beneath her Skin, or maybe just not as gruesome, based more on personalities than events. But still a very very good read. I like Canadian! 🇨🇦
August 18, 2025
Wish I could have remembered more about book 1 in the series. Kes is an interesting detective and I like the down East setting. Would read book 3 if there is one.
August 31, 2025
Read it in two days! Loved the locale on the Bay of Fundy. Very linear, easy to read. Complex too
October 10, 2025
I am really enjoying this author and looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 18, 2025
Great Maritime mystery thriller series. Highly recommend.
December 19, 2025
I enjoyed this thriller set deeply in place in the Canadian Maritimes, and I love Kes Morris as a character.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews