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Kate Redman Mysteries #1
Hushabye
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
A missing baby. A murdered girl. A case where everyone has something to hide...
Hushabye (A Kate Redman mystery) is the new novel from crime writer Celina Grace, author of Lost Girls and The House on Fever Street.
On the first day of her new job in the West Country, Detective Sergeant Kate Redman finds herself investigating the kidnapping of Charlie Fullman, the newborn son of a wealthy entrepreneur and his trophy wife. It seems a straightforward case... but as Kate and her fellow officer Mark Olbeck delve deeper, they uncover murky secrets and multiple motives for the crime.
Kate finds the case bringing up painful memories of her own past secrets. As she confronts the truth about herself, her increasing emotional instability threatens both her hard-won career success and the possibility that they will ever find Charlie Fullman alive...
A missing baby. A murdered girl. A case where everyone has something to hide...
Hushabye (A Kate Redman mystery) is the new novel from crime writer Celina Grace, author of Lost Girls and The House on Fever Street.
On the first day of her new job in the West Country, Detective Sergeant Kate Redman finds herself investigating the kidnapping of Charlie Fullman, the newborn son of a wealthy entrepreneur and his trophy wife. It seems a straightforward case... but as Kate and her fellow officer Mark Olbeck delve deeper, they uncover murky secrets and multiple motives for the crime.
Kate finds the case bringing up painful memories of her own past secrets. As she confronts the truth about herself, her increasing emotional instability threatens both her hard-won career success and the possibility that they will ever find Charlie Fullman alive...
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2013
3623 people are currently reading
6149 people want to read
About the author
Celina Grace
63 books456 followersI’ve been trying to get published as a writer since…. um… er…um…see, it was that long ago I can’t remember. A long time. I make it fifteen years and counting….
I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..
I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..
Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.
The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..
So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..
So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..
And that makes me VERY happy.
I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..
I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..
Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.
The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..
So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..
So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..
And that makes me VERY happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 658 reviews
February 1, 2024
Predictable!
A new series which would be more satisfying if the protagonist was more likable. For some reason, many authors have decided that their heroes need to be unstable to be acceptable.
This is not true. I have been turned away from many stories because I am unable to find the main character likable.
Kate Redmon is new at her division. Although she is an experienced DS, she behaves as though she is a new officer. She ignores the orders of her supervisor, and is intentionally offensive to the parents of a kidnapped infant.
The things that you can see a whole mile away goes right over her head. She is definitely not the sharpest tack in the box. The book received three stars, but not because of her. There are wonderful co-stars.
I’ll try one more episode and see if it’s passable. If it’s not...bye-bye Kate Redmon.
Deserving of three stars. 💫💫💫
A new series which would be more satisfying if the protagonist was more likable. For some reason, many authors have decided that their heroes need to be unstable to be acceptable.
This is not true. I have been turned away from many stories because I am unable to find the main character likable.
Kate Redmon is new at her division. Although she is an experienced DS, she behaves as though she is a new officer. She ignores the orders of her supervisor, and is intentionally offensive to the parents of a kidnapped infant.
The things that you can see a whole mile away goes right over her head. She is definitely not the sharpest tack in the box. The book received three stars, but not because of her. There are wonderful co-stars.
I’ll try one more episode and see if it’s passable. If it’s not...bye-bye Kate Redmon.
Deserving of three stars. 💫💫💫
July 20, 2018
Good and emotional story.
First time read this book was over four years ago, and put it under read again folder. Didn't even wrote a review. Book was slow, parts was really boring. Disastrous confrontation with the kidnapped baby's father. Where that came from and why. Many loose ends. What happened to husbandry
First time read this book was over four years ago, and put it under read again folder. Didn't even wrote a review. Book was slow, parts was really boring. Disastrous confrontation with the kidnapped baby's father. Where that came from and why. Many loose ends. What happened to husbandry
December 17, 2014
This is a fairly quick read, a crime investigation featuring DS Kate Redman who, on the first day of starting a new job, finds herself investigating the abduction of a three month old baby and the murder of his nanny. It is a case which really tugs at Kate’s heartstrings, particularly as she has something in her past that is not revealed to the reader until quite a way into the story, which makes this case all the more poignant to her. As the story unfolds we find Kate to be quite a complex character with her hidden past, her family that she is maybe not as close to as she could be, as well as the OCD tendencies that are hinted at.
The story is told entirely from Kate’s point of view as she works on the case and is more procedural than crime thriller or suspense. I would have liked more suspense in the story, especially as it deals with the abduction of such a young baby. Maybe seeing the story from the point of view of the abductor may have added a bit more tension to the read. Did I guess who was to blame? Yes, but then again I had quite a few guesses, so I can’t really take any credit for that. I liked her work partner, Mark, who also has his own story to tell, but one which is only really touched upon here but as this is the first in the series, I am guessing more will be heard about Mark further on down the line.
On the whole though this is not a bad read, but I would have preferred more suspense and tension.
The story is told entirely from Kate’s point of view as she works on the case and is more procedural than crime thriller or suspense. I would have liked more suspense in the story, especially as it deals with the abduction of such a young baby. Maybe seeing the story from the point of view of the abductor may have added a bit more tension to the read. Did I guess who was to blame? Yes, but then again I had quite a few guesses, so I can’t really take any credit for that. I liked her work partner, Mark, who also has his own story to tell, but one which is only really touched upon here but as this is the first in the series, I am guessing more will be heard about Mark further on down the line.
On the whole though this is not a bad read, but I would have preferred more suspense and tension.
November 21, 2016
An enjoyable read. Entertaining athough rather predictable.
June 16, 2016
I can't get further than chapter 5. The main character is driving me crazy. She can't have a single thought without analyzing it and chastising herself for it. I've never heard of a detective having such low self-esteem. And every other paragraph seems to be her thinking & chastising herself. The writing style is very juvenile and boring. How many times does the main character have to "frown" and then analyze a simple observation. The husband pulled out a chair. It reminds her of something. Oh yea, the detective did the same thing yesterday. Why are such incessant observations important to the story?? It sounds like an interesting story but I can't finish it.
April 3, 2013
In this book we meet DS Kate Redman, starting a new job in the West Country and immediately becoming embroiled in a kidnap/murder case. I assume from the title that there will be more to come featuring this character and that pleases me greatly. This is a well written mystery - it draws you in immediately, but also in a lot of ways its quite a gentle read. You won't find jaw dropping twists and turns, but you WILL get what I imagine would be quite close to how a real police investigation might pan out and certainly there are enough red herrings to keep any crime reader happy. Kate herself is interesting as a character - she has demons in her past that speak to who she is today and why this particular case is a difficult one for her to handle - I will say as well, the author covers a subject that is quite close to my heart and does so with great insight - not something I can expand upon because a review in my opinion should never contain spoilers. Suffice to say this is not just any case to Kate and that is the heart of this novel. Very good indeed - I look forward to the next Kate Redman mystery with interest.
November 25, 2020
Kate Redman is an above average character that should be excellent to follow in this series. Grace did a very good job crafting the mystery in this first story to bring back a series of debilitating memories from Kate’s teens.
A murder and kidnapping faced her on her first day of a new assignment. It was a solid British mystery, reminding me a little of the UK series Broadchurch and Scott & Bailey. If you like BritBox, you’ll enjoy HUSHABYE.
A murder and kidnapping faced her on her first day of a new assignment. It was a solid British mystery, reminding me a little of the UK series Broadchurch and Scott & Bailey. If you like BritBox, you’ll enjoy HUSHABYE.
May 9, 2017
Rating: 3/5
***Minor spoilers***
DS Kate Redman is entering a new police force, and her first case has to do with a murder and kidnapping. One night after the household went to sleep, the sitter was taking care of the baby, when an intruder got in. Said intruder hit the sitter over the head with some sort of object, killing her, and took off with the baby. Kate, her partner, and the rest of the department must find out where the child was taken, why they were taken, and how they managed to get into a household with security codes all over the premises.
I haven't read a mystery that wasn't by Agatha Christie for a while, so the contemporary setting was refreshing for me (not that Christie isn't great). This is a pretty classic mystery, involving murder, kidnapping, and the police force. I suppose this is why I rated it pretty averagely. Since it was so similar to other mysteries, I feel that for a higher rating the author has to do something different. Not necessarily something in particular, but something more intriguing about the characters, plot, or crime. While these things certainly weren't bad in this book, there was nothing special about it to set it apart from other contemporary mystery novels.
While I didn't predict the outcome of this book, it also didn't wow me at all. I appreciate that Grace was able to make a mystery that made sense according to the past and the investigation, but I wish there was something more to the big reveal. I thought it fell a bit flat and lasted too short a period to really get me excited. I also wish that more explanation was given leading up to the discovery, and the way the explanation was done wasn't all that great. Basically, the last chapter consisted of the detectives sitting around a table and the man in charge discussing how he pieced things together and what justified them. While it worked at explaining some of the nuances of the crime and reveal, I wish it was integrated more into the story rather than all going at the end.
Overall, this was a decent mystery novel, but not one that particularly stood out from others in the genre. It had solid characters that weren't one-dimensional at all, and an interesting plot that kept you guessing. I would say the reveal and explanation were the weakest parts of the novel. The big reveal is just something you look forward to for the whole novel, so when it isn't as exciting as you hoped it's a pretty big disappointment. I wouldn't really recommend this for someone looking for their next amazing mystery read, but if you're looking for something quick and good (but not great), you'd enjoy this. Just remember not to expect something too unique.
***Minor spoilers***
DS Kate Redman is entering a new police force, and her first case has to do with a murder and kidnapping. One night after the household went to sleep, the sitter was taking care of the baby, when an intruder got in. Said intruder hit the sitter over the head with some sort of object, killing her, and took off with the baby. Kate, her partner, and the rest of the department must find out where the child was taken, why they were taken, and how they managed to get into a household with security codes all over the premises.
I haven't read a mystery that wasn't by Agatha Christie for a while, so the contemporary setting was refreshing for me (not that Christie isn't great). This is a pretty classic mystery, involving murder, kidnapping, and the police force. I suppose this is why I rated it pretty averagely. Since it was so similar to other mysteries, I feel that for a higher rating the author has to do something different. Not necessarily something in particular, but something more intriguing about the characters, plot, or crime. While these things certainly weren't bad in this book, there was nothing special about it to set it apart from other contemporary mystery novels.
While I didn't predict the outcome of this book, it also didn't wow me at all. I appreciate that Grace was able to make a mystery that made sense according to the past and the investigation, but I wish there was something more to the big reveal. I thought it fell a bit flat and lasted too short a period to really get me excited. I also wish that more explanation was given leading up to the discovery, and the way the explanation was done wasn't all that great. Basically, the last chapter consisted of the detectives sitting around a table and the man in charge discussing how he pieced things together and what justified them. While it worked at explaining some of the nuances of the crime and reveal, I wish it was integrated more into the story rather than all going at the end.
Overall, this was a decent mystery novel, but not one that particularly stood out from others in the genre. It had solid characters that weren't one-dimensional at all, and an interesting plot that kept you guessing. I would say the reveal and explanation were the weakest parts of the novel. The big reveal is just something you look forward to for the whole novel, so when it isn't as exciting as you hoped it's a pretty big disappointment. I wouldn't really recommend this for someone looking for their next amazing mystery read, but if you're looking for something quick and good (but not great), you'd enjoy this. Just remember not to expect something too unique.
December 16, 2015
This is definitely my favourite so far by this author. I was awake till the early hours to finish it !! I really enjoyed it and the characters in it so I'm pleased I also have the sequel downloaded to read at some point. I know it should be great.
The cover was lovely as are all of her covers, actually. Another author who has super covers is Sophie Hannah. I digress.....
I did happen across some mistakes but I have promised the author on Twitter I'd let her know where they were so I won't bother pointing them out here. Luckily there weren't enough to make me pack it in in the least.
I really like Kate, the main character, although I was a little confused as I'd assumed she had recently relocated for a job but then she lived 90 minutes away from her new position and had stuff in the attic full of dust. So I maybe missed something there. We all know that new job feeling which was translated across well. She's dropped in the deep end when the first job is a kidnapped baby along with a murdered nanny.
I highly recommend this and I look forward to the follow-up story. I like her fellow police colleagues' differing personalities as well and I'm hoping we also see them again, too.
The cover was lovely as are all of her covers, actually. Another author who has super covers is Sophie Hannah. I digress.....
I did happen across some mistakes but I have promised the author on Twitter I'd let her know where they were so I won't bother pointing them out here. Luckily there weren't enough to make me pack it in in the least.
I really like Kate, the main character, although I was a little confused as I'd assumed she had recently relocated for a job but then she lived 90 minutes away from her new position and had stuff in the attic full of dust. So I maybe missed something there. We all know that new job feeling which was translated across well. She's dropped in the deep end when the first job is a kidnapped baby along with a murdered nanny.
I highly recommend this and I look forward to the follow-up story. I like her fellow police colleagues' differing personalities as well and I'm hoping we also see them again, too.
February 11, 2014
This is the first Celina Grace novel I've read and I have to say I enjoyed it. Being a bit of a sucker for whodunnits, this book ticked all the right boxes - suspense, mystery, skeletons in the closet. I had planned to stretch the reading out a bit, with my current schedule, but ended up reading it in about 3 days. It kept me guessing until the end, and I needed to know who the culprit was.
The ending did, however, feel a bit rushed. I felt as though I hadn't been given sufficient opportunity to try to connect the dots myself before all was revealed. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and wish that the ending could have been done more neatly. There were also a few spelling and grammatical errors that I picked up, which is more of an annoyance than anything else. I am an indie author myself, and I know how difficult it can be to read what is actually on the page versus what you thought you had written.
Having said that, this did not detract from the story at all. I enjoyed this introduction to Celina Grace and will likely read more of her work in the future.
The ending did, however, feel a bit rushed. I felt as though I hadn't been given sufficient opportunity to try to connect the dots myself before all was revealed. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and wish that the ending could have been done more neatly. There were also a few spelling and grammatical errors that I picked up, which is more of an annoyance than anything else. I am an indie author myself, and I know how difficult it can be to read what is actually on the page versus what you thought you had written.
Having said that, this did not detract from the story at all. I enjoyed this introduction to Celina Grace and will likely read more of her work in the future.
January 4, 2016
This is a quick read. It's like any normal mystery detective book. "Who stole the baby?" The crazy woman who always wanted one. It's very cliche and dragged out. There were some parts of the book where I was just like "...What does this have to deal with the case? The main idea of the book." There was no surprising twist at the end and no twists and turns throughout the story... My guess on who stole the baby was correct. In addition to that, the end of terrible. I cannot get over that ending. That's not what I expected it to end like. I was just really bored with this book.
March 14, 2021
And welcome to a new author for me and a new series to enjoy. Hushabye is the first book in the Kate Redman Mysteries. Kate is a Detective Sergeant on her first day in the West Country. She is not faced with a garden shed burglary but a missing baby and a murdered girl.
This is a typical British police procedural thriller that is easy to read and follow. Celina’s writing flows crisp and swift with a tabloid style that is easy on the brain. Sadly Celina does not use real locations but makes up fictional and generic settings for her scenes. So bang goes the added value of holiday makers touring the West Country spotting the locations from this novel.
The plot was interesting with the usual finger pointing you would expect from any mystery. I will not give any spoilers, you can make your own assumptions as to who and why somebody took the baby and murdered the girl.
Character development of Kate and her fellow officers was standard and typical of average television police dramas. The dialogue between characters was functional, for example…
“We’ll be off now, but we’ll be in touch very soon. There’ll be a family liaison officer staying behind to support you and of course, if there are any problems, don’t hesitate to get in touch. DS Redman, could you come with me?”
...I think that although Hushabye is a routine and quite standard police procedural, it is indeed a pleasant 4 star GOOD read.
This is a typical British police procedural thriller that is easy to read and follow. Celina’s writing flows crisp and swift with a tabloid style that is easy on the brain. Sadly Celina does not use real locations but makes up fictional and generic settings for her scenes. So bang goes the added value of holiday makers touring the West Country spotting the locations from this novel.
The plot was interesting with the usual finger pointing you would expect from any mystery. I will not give any spoilers, you can make your own assumptions as to who and why somebody took the baby and murdered the girl.
Character development of Kate and her fellow officers was standard and typical of average television police dramas. The dialogue between characters was functional, for example…
“We’ll be off now, but we’ll be in touch very soon. There’ll be a family liaison officer staying behind to support you and of course, if there are any problems, don’t hesitate to get in touch. DS Redman, could you come with me?”
...I think that although Hushabye is a routine and quite standard police procedural, it is indeed a pleasant 4 star GOOD read.
April 6, 2013
A Mystery That Delivers
At last, a mystery that delivers and doesn’t creep you out. I’ve had my fill of crucifixions, mutilations and acid baths, all graphically described. Must dead body be pilled on dead body (a minimum of six) to have a mystery? Of course not, and Hushabye is proof. Someone murders the nanny and kidnaps Charley, a three-month-old baby. Detective Sergeant Kate Redman (a newbie) is assigned to the case, a puzzling one indeed, for no ransom note is forthcoming. Everyone is a suspect. The person I felt responsible turned out to be a victim. The mystery is there, for any amateur sleuth to decipher. But there’s more. There’s Kate’s story. She has a life, although not a particularly pleasant one. She has a mum who drinks too much and a past she would like to forget.
The writing is straight-forward and concise, as a detective novel should be. The author doesn’t shy away from the occasional four-letter word. Her feminine side comes through in phrases like, “There was something slightly unsettling about her expression, something slightly too much of the cat that got the cream.” I found this novel superb because I got all I needed to know and none of what I didn’t.
August 9, 2013
Hushabye is a classic whodunit; Charlie, a young baby, is kidnapped in the early hours of the morning the nanny is dead but who has would want to take Nick Fulman’s baby – is it just because he is wealthy or does the mystery lie with his trophy wife Z list celebrity Casey?
Kate Redman has just changed jobs and is now Detective Sergeant, needing to become part of the team she has lots of baggage from her past; dealing with this case brings it all back to her and she has to struggle not to throw away her years of success by making emotional mistakes. Celina Grace has created a great character in Kate, her interaction with her colleagues is as well done as her problems with her mother.
This book moves at speed with a few minor continuity and spelling mistakes but is overall a satisfying short read. I would recommend this book as the perfect poolside read.
Kate Redman has just changed jobs and is now Detective Sergeant, needing to become part of the team she has lots of baggage from her past; dealing with this case brings it all back to her and she has to struggle not to throw away her years of success by making emotional mistakes. Celina Grace has created a great character in Kate, her interaction with her colleagues is as well done as her problems with her mother.
This book moves at speed with a few minor continuity and spelling mistakes but is overall a satisfying short read. I would recommend this book as the perfect poolside read.
March 23, 2014
This was a pretty good mystery that did cause me to drive forward to the solution. There was something about the characters that didn't ring true to me. The protagonist, Kate, in my opinion was given a little too much latitude for a rookie in a new position. I know I am just nitpicking but I have read many many mysteries and I am obviously just comparing. I can recommend this for a quick light read.
February 7, 2014
Kate Redman is an interesting main character with some depth, always important when there is a series.
The mystery itself never really enthralls or carries one away with excitement, but it held my interest. The one thing I did not want to happen - mawkish sentimentality - did not, thankfully, happen. So many writers mistake being maudlin and cloyingly sentimental for being "sensitive". Celina Grace managed to touch on the harsh realities and personal pain of a mother who has lost her child without every descending into maudlin sentimentality. That takes a deft touch and she deserves credit for managing it.
The mystery itself is not particularly complex, and if you are paying attention (and have read a few mysteries) you will cotton on as to who did it as soon as they appear. But exactly how (and to a lesser extent why) is not immediately clear and worth reading on for.
The groundwork is laid for what might become a romance for Kate later, but Kate's romantic life is never going to be the focus of the series and that is a good thing. I find too many romance/mystery books are just a romance with a token mystery thrown in. When a book is marketed as a mystery - as this one is - the mystery and main character should be centre stage, not a romance.
Well written, well paced, enough background and character building re the main character to sustain a series, and a reasonablly interesting mystery. This series may not rocket to huge success in a hurry - this first book doesn't have the pyrotechnics and flash required. But there is a quality of writing, and a slow build, that suggests the series as a whole will become something much more than its parts. And that is if the author maintains the same level. If she works on the core mystery aspect and builds it to something more, the series could make the jump from pretty good to great.
I will look for another book in the series. This book offered enough for me to know that reading another book by Celina Grace will pay off.
The mystery itself never really enthralls or carries one away with excitement, but it held my interest. The one thing I did not want to happen - mawkish sentimentality - did not, thankfully, happen. So many writers mistake being maudlin and cloyingly sentimental for being "sensitive". Celina Grace managed to touch on the harsh realities and personal pain of a mother who has lost her child without every descending into maudlin sentimentality. That takes a deft touch and she deserves credit for managing it.
The mystery itself is not particularly complex, and if you are paying attention (and have read a few mysteries) you will cotton on as to who did it as soon as they appear. But exactly how (and to a lesser extent why) is not immediately clear and worth reading on for.
The groundwork is laid for what might become a romance for Kate later, but Kate's romantic life is never going to be the focus of the series and that is a good thing. I find too many romance/mystery books are just a romance with a token mystery thrown in. When a book is marketed as a mystery - as this one is - the mystery and main character should be centre stage, not a romance.
Well written, well paced, enough background and character building re the main character to sustain a series, and a reasonablly interesting mystery. This series may not rocket to huge success in a hurry - this first book doesn't have the pyrotechnics and flash required. But there is a quality of writing, and a slow build, that suggests the series as a whole will become something much more than its parts. And that is if the author maintains the same level. If she works on the core mystery aspect and builds it to something more, the series could make the jump from pretty good to great.
I will look for another book in the series. This book offered enough for me to know that reading another book by Celina Grace will pay off.
December 27, 2015
For only being approximately 135 pages or so, there were parts that seemed to drag on forever. The over all mystery wasn't terrible, but the author had a really bad habit of telling the reader everything instead of showing what was going on.
July 28, 2015
BRITISH POLICE PROCEDURAL
I FOUND IT SLOW AND FILLED WITH VERY UNLIKABLE CHARACTERS, DRAGGED ON TO LONG. ;[
I FOUND IT SLOW AND FILLED WITH VERY UNLIKABLE CHARACTERS, DRAGGED ON TO LONG. ;[
Want to read
October 28, 2015Free 10-28-15 (Mystery-Thriller)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...
March 21, 2017
As I was reading this on the strength of having enjoyed a later book in the Kate Redman series, I was a little disappointed with the book. Perhaps the author gained more skill as she continued to write them or perhaps my expectations were too high. There just didn't seem to be any excitement generated as the story unfolded although I was certainly curious to find out who had committed the original murder. I suppose I may eventually try another before I give up on the series entirely.
Read
February 4, 2014I will read more by author
Fast paced likable characters maybe to much so not enough depth
found some editing issues. I like her style and look forward to reading more I think Celina and Kate both will grow with more experience.
Fast paced likable characters maybe to much so not enough depth
found some editing issues. I like her style and look forward to reading more I think Celina and Kate both will grow with more experience.
December 7, 2015
Loved it
A great mystery with likable characters. A baby is kidnapped and his nanny killed and it's up to Kate and her team to find out what happened. Book one in the series. I look forward to getting to know these characters better in the next installment.
A great mystery with likable characters. A baby is kidnapped and his nanny killed and it's up to Kate and her team to find out what happened. Book one in the series. I look forward to getting to know these characters better in the next installment.
February 3, 2014
HUSHABYE(A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 1)
A good mystery, I did not guess the outcome, which I usually do, when I read mysterious. I give it 4 stars
A good mystery, I did not guess the outcome, which I usually do, when I read mysterious. I give it 4 stars
July 4, 2018
I enjoyed this storyline and I liked the main character. The writing was just a little choppy though.
August 17, 2019
I don't have much to say about this book. Nothing really annoyed me but nothing excited me either. All in all, it was pretty unmemorable. I would probably add o.5 stars to my rating because the writing itself wasn't bad.
I didn't really form very strong opinion about the main character, DS Kate Redman, although I learned a little about her past along the way. She struck me as little immature and unprofessional at times. I got the impression that she was developing a crush on her new boss after only a couple of days into her new job, which felt a little juvenile. What surprised me the most was that Kate's partner, DS Olbeck was gay, but I don't know why I was surprised. I guess, I consider mystery/crime novels more conservative than they are, which probably tells more about me than the genre... Anyways, throughout the book there was confusion about Olbeck's partner's name, whether he was Joe or Jo, until Olbeck finally told Kate he was gay in the last chapter. I didn't understand why it wasn't revealed earlier on. Maybe he was worried Kate would judge him because she was new and he didn't know her very well? I don't know, but it felt odd how the whole the thing was so underlined.
I have a few of the sequels at hand but I'm not sure if I'll read them, I probably would rather prioritize my time on more exciting books, to be honest.
I didn't really form very strong opinion about the main character, DS Kate Redman, although I learned a little about her past along the way. She struck me as little immature and unprofessional at times. I got the impression that she was developing a crush on her new boss after only a couple of days into her new job, which felt a little juvenile. What surprised me the most was that Kate's partner, DS Olbeck was gay, but I don't know why I was surprised. I guess, I consider mystery/crime novels more conservative than they are, which probably tells more about me than the genre... Anyways, throughout the book there was confusion about Olbeck's partner's name, whether he was Joe or Jo, until Olbeck finally told Kate he was gay in the last chapter. I didn't understand why it wasn't revealed earlier on. Maybe he was worried Kate would judge him because she was new and he didn't know her very well? I don't know, but it felt odd how the whole the thing was so underlined.
I have a few of the sequels at hand but I'm not sure if I'll read them, I probably would rather prioritize my time on more exciting books, to be honest.
July 6, 2017
My top choice in novels is the mystery genre, ranging from cozies and detective stories, soft or hard-boiled sleuths, medical thrillers and police procedurals. Recently, I "discovered" Celina Grace and her Kate Redman series.
The kidnapping of a baby jumpstarts this mystery, with each tense scene leading to more clues and even more confusion. Character development and questionable motive kept me reading to wade through the murky lives of supposedly-innocent and possible-guilty alike.
Definitely a fast and entertaining beach or lanai read on a lazy holiday week-end.
The kidnapping of a baby jumpstarts this mystery, with each tense scene leading to more clues and even more confusion. Character development and questionable motive kept me reading to wade through the murky lives of supposedly-innocent and possible-guilty alike.
Definitely a fast and entertaining beach or lanai read on a lazy holiday week-end.
April 26, 2020
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. This is the first in a series of mysteries starring Kate Redman, Detective. A baby goes missing and his nanny is murdered. Can Kate find the guilty party? The book is well written and moves quickly, and the character of Kate is well fleshed out. An enjoyable read.
May 26, 2017
A cute little book that's an easy read. Simple plot and storyline.
May 30, 2019
Story was okay. I did not get "hooked" on the story line as others did but I did finish it.
March 8, 2020
3.5* Managed this in one sitting due to it being quite short. The solving of the crime happens at about 80% and there’s a lot of internal narration that can get a bit jumbled with the storyline - bit predictable in places but I still enjoyed it.
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