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Detective Leah Teal #3
A Thorn Among the Lilies
In Michael Hiebert’s haunting and powerful novel, a long-ago tragedy echoes through small-town Alabama as one woman tries to track down a serial killer.
Detective Leah Teal is privy to most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin, but there are always surprises to be had. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter, Caroline, to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings and insisting that she intervene to prevent more deaths.
When you go looking for trouble, you never know how much you’ll find. Sure enough, the psychic’s scant clues lead Leah to a cold case from six years ago, when a young woman was found shot to death, her eyelids sewn shut. As Leah digs deeper into old files, a second unsolved case surfaces with the same grisly pattern. While her shrewd young son, Abe, observes from the sidelines, Leah races to prevent another horrific murder, unaware of just how deep the roots of evil can go.
Taut, suspenseful, and rich in Southern atmosphere, A Thorn Among the Lilies is a mesmerizing novel of loss and vengeance, and the lengths some will go to out of loyalty and love.
Detective Leah Teal is privy to most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin, but there are always surprises to be had. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter, Caroline, to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings and insisting that she intervene to prevent more deaths.
When you go looking for trouble, you never know how much you’ll find. Sure enough, the psychic’s scant clues lead Leah to a cold case from six years ago, when a young woman was found shot to death, her eyelids sewn shut. As Leah digs deeper into old files, a second unsolved case surfaces with the same grisly pattern. While her shrewd young son, Abe, observes from the sidelines, Leah races to prevent another horrific murder, unaware of just how deep the roots of evil can go.
Taut, suspenseful, and rich in Southern atmosphere, A Thorn Among the Lilies is a mesmerizing novel of loss and vengeance, and the lengths some will go to out of loyalty and love.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2015
48 people are currently reading
1102 people want to read
About the author
Michael Hiebert
28 books99 followersMichael Hiebert is the award-winning author of many books and short stories. He is the author of Dream with Little Angels, the first book of his acclaimed Alvin, Alabama Mystery Series. His recent work includes The Rose Garden Arena Incident (A Serial Thriller in Seven Parts) and Sometimes the Angels Weep, his first collection of short stories. He won the Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller Award two years running, and his story My Lame Summer Journal by Brandon Harris, Grade 7 was listed by Joyce Carol Oates as one of the top fifty most distinguished mystery stories published in The Best American Mystery Stories. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his three children and dog, Chloe.
Be sure to check out his website at http://www.michaelhiebert.com and sign up for VIP access and be eligible for all sorts of free stuff. Michael can be contacted by email at michael@michaelhiebert.com
Be sure to check out his website at http://www.michaelhiebert.com and sign up for VIP access and be eligible for all sorts of free stuff. Michael can be contacted by email at michael@michaelhiebert.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 23, 2015
3.5 A small town, Alvin, Alabama, and Leah is the only detective on the force. She is also a widow and a mother of two. The story starts with a psychic reading, a gift for her daughter's fifteenth birthday, but with words for only Leah. A crime has already happened and the psychic's words will soon prove to have meaning for the detective.
More a mystery/slash family story, there is no ongoing ripples of suspense, more an uncovering of clues. Much about her family, comic elements that include her son Abe, 12 and his friend Dewey also 12 but a little naive, he still believes in Santa Claus. I think if you go into this knowing what to expect, you will enjoy this for what it is. The murders are horrific and it is interesting to see the detective blended with the mom, to solve the crime. Enjoyed this slower paced but interesting mystery.
More a mystery/slash family story, there is no ongoing ripples of suspense, more an uncovering of clues. Much about her family, comic elements that include her son Abe, 12 and his friend Dewey also 12 but a little naive, he still believes in Santa Claus. I think if you go into this knowing what to expect, you will enjoy this for what it is. The murders are horrific and it is interesting to see the detective blended with the mom, to solve the crime. Enjoyed this slower paced but interesting mystery.
July 15, 2015
I don't even know where to start with how awful this was. Let's start with the writing/dialog. I saw the author was from Canada. I'm not sure if he has ever even been to Alabama. Every sing word that ended in -ing was shortened. Ex: thinkin', sittin' etc. The mans pinkie must have been exhausted from hitting the apostrophe button so many times. Another recurring phrase was "reckon" and "near on". Strangely ain't and ya'll was only used very sparingly. So wrong. And the story line itself was ridiculous. He knew about as much about serial killers as he did about the language of Alabama.
December 13, 2015
"Two days ago I saw a girl with her eyes sewen shut ............the whole world's a little scary."
Detective Leah Teal is privy to most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin Alabama, but there are always surprises to be had. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter, Caroline, to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings and insisting that she intervene to prevent more deaths.
I wanted this book to be the powerful and haunting read that was promised on the cover, but unfortunately it just didn't happen. The writing style was often choppy, with no real tension or suspense. There was just too much going on with Leah's love life, Caroline's love life, and the antics of the two boys. Had the author concentrated more on the main thread of the story - it would have been a much better read.
It was, at best, an okay read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and author Michael Hiebert for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Leah Teal is privy to most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin Alabama, but there are always surprises to be had. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter, Caroline, to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings and insisting that she intervene to prevent more deaths.
I wanted this book to be the powerful and haunting read that was promised on the cover, but unfortunately it just didn't happen. The writing style was often choppy, with no real tension or suspense. There was just too much going on with Leah's love life, Caroline's love life, and the antics of the two boys. Had the author concentrated more on the main thread of the story - it would have been a much better read.
It was, at best, an okay read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and author Michael Hiebert for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2016
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Michael Hiebert returns with his third installment in An Alvin, Alabama Novel with A THORN AMONG LILIES, for more mystery, a serial killer, a psychic, revenge, family, and small town secrets.
As the book opens it is 1976 in Alvin, Alabama. Some gals are in town from Mississippi, for a bachelorette party. When there is a disagreement with the maid of honor, the limo was not an option. Anna leaves the club driving drunk and hits another innocent young mother out to buy milk for her baby at home left with her twelve year old son. The drunk gal walks away with no problems; however, not so pleasant for the young mother, Susan - never normal again. She remained unconscious in a hospital while the world went on.
Twelve years later, doctors take Anna off life support and pronounces her dead, and the jury only gives Anna five years for reckless vehicular manslaughter, the maximum sentence in Alabama.
The novel jumps forward thirteen years later, Christmas has passed and time for Carry’s birthday, only four days after Christmas. For her birthday present she wants her family to visit a psychic. They set up a time to visit with Madame Crystalle on Main Street.
In the small town of Alvin, Leah Teal the mother (of Abe and Carry) is a detective and only two police officers other than the Police Chief Ethan Montgomery. While there, Leah gets a reading and hers is focused on the clues to a murder which has not occurred. The psychic seems to know a lot and she cannot let her boss know, as he will think she has lost her mind. However, she cannot forget what the woman said. There would be writing on a body.
When the body of a woman turns up in a local Willet Lake, in the morning, matching the psychic’s description she wonders if there is a connection. When they turn over the body, they gasped, as the woman’s eyes had been stitched shut with thick black threat. Something was written on her chest in Magic Marker. “Justice is Blind in the Eyes of the Lord.”
As the investigation continues and there may be a connection to an old cold case with similarities. Then there are more. Of course, Abe which is very intuitive has input as they have to solve the mystery, and the motives behind the brutal killings with cryptic messages.
I enjoyed catching up with Abe and friend Dewey, from previous books and the characters from this small southern town. There is also the budding romance between Leah and Dan, and some suspects keeping you guessing for a light mystery serial killer of whodunit along with some evil motivations for revenge. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the three books.
Close to the Broken Hearted
Dream with Little Angels
Michael Hiebert returns with his third installment in An Alvin, Alabama Novel with A THORN AMONG LILIES, for more mystery, a serial killer, a psychic, revenge, family, and small town secrets.
As the book opens it is 1976 in Alvin, Alabama. Some gals are in town from Mississippi, for a bachelorette party. When there is a disagreement with the maid of honor, the limo was not an option. Anna leaves the club driving drunk and hits another innocent young mother out to buy milk for her baby at home left with her twelve year old son. The drunk gal walks away with no problems; however, not so pleasant for the young mother, Susan - never normal again. She remained unconscious in a hospital while the world went on.
Twelve years later, doctors take Anna off life support and pronounces her dead, and the jury only gives Anna five years for reckless vehicular manslaughter, the maximum sentence in Alabama.
The novel jumps forward thirteen years later, Christmas has passed and time for Carry’s birthday, only four days after Christmas. For her birthday present she wants her family to visit a psychic. They set up a time to visit with Madame Crystalle on Main Street.
In the small town of Alvin, Leah Teal the mother (of Abe and Carry) is a detective and only two police officers other than the Police Chief Ethan Montgomery. While there, Leah gets a reading and hers is focused on the clues to a murder which has not occurred. The psychic seems to know a lot and she cannot let her boss know, as he will think she has lost her mind. However, she cannot forget what the woman said. There would be writing on a body.
When the body of a woman turns up in a local Willet Lake, in the morning, matching the psychic’s description she wonders if there is a connection. When they turn over the body, they gasped, as the woman’s eyes had been stitched shut with thick black threat. Something was written on her chest in Magic Marker. “Justice is Blind in the Eyes of the Lord.”
As the investigation continues and there may be a connection to an old cold case with similarities. Then there are more. Of course, Abe which is very intuitive has input as they have to solve the mystery, and the motives behind the brutal killings with cryptic messages.
I enjoyed catching up with Abe and friend Dewey, from previous books and the characters from this small southern town. There is also the budding romance between Leah and Dan, and some suspects keeping you guessing for a light mystery serial killer of whodunit along with some evil motivations for revenge. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the three books.
Close to the Broken Hearted
Dream with Little Angels
April 3, 2016
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2016/0...
The book begins in 1976 with a shocking and sad event and the chapter hints that it had consequences. So, naturally, as the narrative moves on to 13 years later I kept wondering how these characters related to the previous. When I could not find any obvious connection, I started to go along with the story.
There was something about the writing that put me off. I am not sure if it was the dialogues, particular between the two 13 year olds, or the narrative bits. Maybe it was the procedural work more than anything. I don't even get how a town that has a population of over 5 thousand people can have a police department consisting of exactly 3 people: the chief, a detective and a cop. It bothered me that Leah would go on dangerous assignments by herself, for instance.
The repercussions Leah's talk with her son about serial killers had were, at first, cute but then it got tiresome. I was bored chasing those kids around, especially since every other sentence seemed to have a 'reckon' or 'on account'.
Our main character is the detective and it appears this is the third book in a series revolving around her. I didn't catch much character development. I know that it's a crime novel and one should probably not expect one but I was still disappointed. I think because it didn't feel real, none of it. Some things were particularly off, like Carrie's boyfriend being too perfect or lines such as:
Me and Dewey watched all this from the golden grass that had long ago been painted from green to gold by the winter sun. - Does not seem like something a 13 year old would think, to me.
(...) sounded great to Leah because deep inside, she wanted him to sit and be interviewed wearing that red towel all night - After making up Leah as such a modest woman who still has not gotten over her husband's death, and having she just showed distaste for the character in question that, just seemed weird, creepy and completely out of character.
"What's his name?" Her mother hesitated, then said, "Dan. Dan Truitt." Detective Dan Truitt. Sounds like a made-up name for a crime novel." - Pet peeve of mine, really dislike it when authors do that.
On top of all that, I got who the killer was almost straight away because of a few clues, or at least I was strongly convinced about it. There were far too many red herrings, on account (see what I did there? :P) of all the 'investigation' the kids did plus Leah's, but it all still seemed to point in that direction. On more than one occasion I knew what was happening before the characters did and that is never a good feeling, in my experience.
The ARC I read needs to be re-edited. Sometimes the voice changed and there was no separation. Also, there was this one character in the beginning, the uncle, who one minute was named Henry and the next he was Hank and then he was back to Henry.
All in all, it was an ok book. I had just expected more.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The book begins in 1976 with a shocking and sad event and the chapter hints that it had consequences. So, naturally, as the narrative moves on to 13 years later I kept wondering how these characters related to the previous. When I could not find any obvious connection, I started to go along with the story.
There was something about the writing that put me off. I am not sure if it was the dialogues, particular between the two 13 year olds, or the narrative bits. Maybe it was the procedural work more than anything. I don't even get how a town that has a population of over 5 thousand people can have a police department consisting of exactly 3 people: the chief, a detective and a cop. It bothered me that Leah would go on dangerous assignments by herself, for instance.
The repercussions Leah's talk with her son about serial killers had were, at first, cute but then it got tiresome. I was bored chasing those kids around, especially since every other sentence seemed to have a 'reckon' or 'on account'.
Our main character is the detective and it appears this is the third book in a series revolving around her. I didn't catch much character development. I know that it's a crime novel and one should probably not expect one but I was still disappointed. I think because it didn't feel real, none of it. Some things were particularly off, like Carrie's boyfriend being too perfect or lines such as:
Me and Dewey watched all this from the golden grass that had long ago been painted from green to gold by the winter sun. - Does not seem like something a 13 year old would think, to me.
(...) sounded great to Leah because deep inside, she wanted him to sit and be interviewed wearing that red towel all night - After making up Leah as such a modest woman who still has not gotten over her husband's death, and having she just showed distaste for the character in question that, just seemed weird, creepy and completely out of character.
"What's his name?" Her mother hesitated, then said, "Dan. Dan Truitt." Detective Dan Truitt. Sounds like a made-up name for a crime novel." - Pet peeve of mine, really dislike it when authors do that.
On top of all that, I got who the killer was almost straight away because of a few clues, or at least I was strongly convinced about it. There were far too many red herrings, on account (see what I did there? :P) of all the 'investigation' the kids did plus Leah's, but it all still seemed to point in that direction. On more than one occasion I knew what was happening before the characters did and that is never a good feeling, in my experience.
The ARC I read needs to be re-edited. Sometimes the voice changed and there was no separation. Also, there was this one character in the beginning, the uncle, who one minute was named Henry and the next he was Hank and then he was back to Henry.
All in all, it was an ok book. I had just expected more.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 28, 2015
Genre: Mystery and Thrillers
The Christmas time setting is small rural community in Alvin, Alabama in the late 1970's. Detective Leah Teal has two children, Carry and Abe. Carry’s 15th birthday is only four days after Christmas. She wishes for a visit to a psychic for her birthday present. When they visit Madame Crystalle, however, she focuses on Leah instead of her daughter.
Leah is given clues to a murder of a young woman, who will have writing on her body, that has not yet occurred. The psychic tells her she can use this knowledge, to prevent future murders. Leah doesn't know what to make of the strange revelation, but the next morning when the body of a woman washes up on shores of local Willet Lake, matching the psychic’s description, she realizes there is a connection.
The victim has been shot and has had her eyes sewn shut with thick black thread. The phrase, "Justice is Blind in the Eyes of the Lord" is written in black magic marker across her chest. A small wooden cross is found in her pocket. When Leah finds an identical murder occurred in a neighboring town six years ago, she and her partner, Dan Truitt, try to solve the case using the clues the psychic had given her.
Her small son Abe and his best friend Dewey, are also on the case. They spy on the people in town to see whether or not one of them is the serial killer on the hunt.
The book has several different threads, including: Carry's flirtation with a new boy, Abe and Dewey,s sleuthing and the budding romance between detective partners Dan and Leah. These threads,however, tend to take away and distract from the murder mystery instead of enhancing the story.
ARC is courtesy of author and publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
The Christmas time setting is small rural community in Alvin, Alabama in the late 1970's. Detective Leah Teal has two children, Carry and Abe. Carry’s 15th birthday is only four days after Christmas. She wishes for a visit to a psychic for her birthday present. When they visit Madame Crystalle, however, she focuses on Leah instead of her daughter.
Leah is given clues to a murder of a young woman, who will have writing on her body, that has not yet occurred. The psychic tells her she can use this knowledge, to prevent future murders. Leah doesn't know what to make of the strange revelation, but the next morning when the body of a woman washes up on shores of local Willet Lake, matching the psychic’s description, she realizes there is a connection.
The victim has been shot and has had her eyes sewn shut with thick black thread. The phrase, "Justice is Blind in the Eyes of the Lord" is written in black magic marker across her chest. A small wooden cross is found in her pocket. When Leah finds an identical murder occurred in a neighboring town six years ago, she and her partner, Dan Truitt, try to solve the case using the clues the psychic had given her.
Her small son Abe and his best friend Dewey, are also on the case. They spy on the people in town to see whether or not one of them is the serial killer on the hunt.
The book has several different threads, including: Carry's flirtation with a new boy, Abe and Dewey,s sleuthing and the budding romance between detective partners Dan and Leah. These threads,however, tend to take away and distract from the murder mystery instead of enhancing the story.
ARC is courtesy of author and publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2018
http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...
So my husband bought this book for me and I was excited to start reading it.
I didn't realize that it was a series so I when I saw that it was I was hoping I wasn't going to miss out on too much and of course I didn't. So I think this series could be read as a stand-alone.
So for the storyline, I liked the whole psychic way of how Detective Teal was able to solve the case. I did kind of wonder why the prologue was the way it was but then it all made sense towards the end. Which was pretty neat.
Detective Teal will have to work quickly with the help of another Detective to find how who is abducting and killing women. It might actually surprise you because I was kind of surprised myself at who the killer was.
While Teal is trying to solve the murder, her child along with his friend try to investigate as well. Which you know is going to be too funny with them trying not to get caught.
One thing I didn't really get is why her daughter and her boyfriend seemed to play a semi-big part in the book. Her boyfriend seems kind of shady when I was reading about him so I wonder if something is going to happen later on in a different book or if that is just how he is in general.
I did like how the murders were described not overly gory but just good enough to give you that visual.
So my husband bought this book for me and I was excited to start reading it.
I didn't realize that it was a series so I when I saw that it was I was hoping I wasn't going to miss out on too much and of course I didn't. So I think this series could be read as a stand-alone.
So for the storyline, I liked the whole psychic way of how Detective Teal was able to solve the case. I did kind of wonder why the prologue was the way it was but then it all made sense towards the end. Which was pretty neat.
Detective Teal will have to work quickly with the help of another Detective to find how who is abducting and killing women. It might actually surprise you because I was kind of surprised myself at who the killer was.
While Teal is trying to solve the murder, her child along with his friend try to investigate as well. Which you know is going to be too funny with them trying not to get caught.
One thing I didn't really get is why her daughter and her boyfriend seemed to play a semi-big part in the book. Her boyfriend seems kind of shady when I was reading about him so I wonder if something is going to happen later on in a different book or if that is just how he is in general.
I did like how the murders were described not overly gory but just good enough to give you that visual.
Read
March 26, 2018leah teal lost her husband many years ago in a car accident as did the mayors wife,susan when leah was still young.bringing her daughter for a psychic reading,she is told of a maniac tailor who deprives girls of their sight in a french knot.the stitches are done while the victims are still alive before they are murdered 6-7 days later.the description of the girls matches the drunk driver who killed susan,and it turns out her sister is the killer.
August 14, 2019
Another amazing book! Couldn’t put it down. I love thriller /mystery novels that I have a hard time solving before the end of the book! I recommend this to EVERYONE!
June 1, 2015
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert
I truly enjoyed this book. I have not read any books in this series, but will seek them out.
The story begins with an horrific car crash, detailing both the victim's timeline and the drunk driver who hit her. Twelve years later, the crash victim is finally taken off of life support. And then the story begins...
All Carry wants for her birthday is to get her fortune told by a real psychic. But when Detective Leah Teal takes her daughter and her son to see the psychic, Leah is given a cryptic message first. The psychic sees a maniac, who deprives sight, and also writing on a body.
Shortly after, a body is discovered in Leah's town of Alvin, with her eyes sewn shut, and writing on the body. Leah discovers that this is not the first victim, and begins a race against time to make sure there won't be another.
I truly enjoyed this novel. The writing is very descriptive, and lyrical. I stayed up way too late at night, trying to read just one more chapter, then another
A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert
I truly enjoyed this book. I have not read any books in this series, but will seek them out.
The story begins with an horrific car crash, detailing both the victim's timeline and the drunk driver who hit her. Twelve years later, the crash victim is finally taken off of life support. And then the story begins...
All Carry wants for her birthday is to get her fortune told by a real psychic. But when Detective Leah Teal takes her daughter and her son to see the psychic, Leah is given a cryptic message first. The psychic sees a maniac, who deprives sight, and also writing on a body.
Shortly after, a body is discovered in Leah's town of Alvin, with her eyes sewn shut, and writing on the body. Leah discovers that this is not the first victim, and begins a race against time to make sure there won't be another.
I truly enjoyed this novel. The writing is very descriptive, and lyrical. I stayed up way too late at night, trying to read just one more chapter, then another
July 4, 2015
I want to thank the author, Michael Hiebert, and Kensington Books for this ARC copy of A Thorn Among the Lilies. Also, thank you to Goodreads for the opportunity through the First Reads program.
This is the first book of this series I've read and I thought this was a wonderful book, with a couple threads to follow along with. The writing made me feel comfortable with the characters, and made it feel like a small town environment, so I was able to really get into the book, so to speak.
The characters are well developed and had a solid storyline with an interesting case to be solved. Following alongside that, I enjoyed family and friends, their interactions and family dynamics. It gave everything a 'lighter' side. I especially enjoyed having the two young boys in the story. Almost like sidekicks, they quickly became a big part of the book. Very nice.
The back cover verbiage made it appear this was going to be a much 'darker' read, which isn't the case. But, not a big deal for me. Sales 101. The front cover was nice though.
This one is a good read. A murder/mystery on the lighter side.
This is the first book of this series I've read and I thought this was a wonderful book, with a couple threads to follow along with. The writing made me feel comfortable with the characters, and made it feel like a small town environment, so I was able to really get into the book, so to speak.
The characters are well developed and had a solid storyline with an interesting case to be solved. Following alongside that, I enjoyed family and friends, their interactions and family dynamics. It gave everything a 'lighter' side. I especially enjoyed having the two young boys in the story. Almost like sidekicks, they quickly became a big part of the book. Very nice.
The back cover verbiage made it appear this was going to be a much 'darker' read, which isn't the case. But, not a big deal for me. Sales 101. The front cover was nice though.
This one is a good read. A murder/mystery on the lighter side.
June 14, 2015
A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Heibert is an astounding masterpiece that readers everywhere will enjoy. A woman who goes out and beyond to solve cold cases that continue to share the same patterns. Eyes sewn shut. This brilliant novel will take readers deep into a serial killer's path where suspense and danger are more real than what Detective Leah Teal thought. After a psychic tells her that she can solve cases to prevent more deaths, Leah doesn't believe it until cases are brought to her that lead to deadly chase after a killer. Michael Hiebert's story will leave readers gripping their seats in fear and sweat. I enjoyed reading Detective Leah Teal goes about solving the cold cases and trying to catch the killer before it's too late. Shivers will definitely travel down your spine as the chilling plot unfolds.A highly intensifying read that will keep you up all night long reading. I strongly recommend reading A Thorn Among the Lilies and rate it a five out of five stars.
June 2, 2015
This is the author's third novel in the Leah Teal detective series set in the small town of Alvin. I loved the first two so was delighted to get a review copy through Netgalley.
In this story Leah has the murder of a young woman to solve. The victim was shot dead and rather disturbingly had her eyelids sewn shut while she was still alive. When Leah discovers that a very similar murder occurred a few months previously in another town she realises there is a serial killer on the loose.
These novels are so easy to read and I love the likeability of the Teal family. We once again find out what is happening in the lives of Leah's daughter Carry, son Abe and his amusing friend Dewey. The ending felt a little rushed but I am hoping that I'll get to meet these characters again soon.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4
In this story Leah has the murder of a young woman to solve. The victim was shot dead and rather disturbingly had her eyelids sewn shut while she was still alive. When Leah discovers that a very similar murder occurred a few months previously in another town she realises there is a serial killer on the loose.
These novels are so easy to read and I love the likeability of the Teal family. We once again find out what is happening in the lives of Leah's daughter Carry, son Abe and his amusing friend Dewey. The ending felt a little rushed but I am hoping that I'll get to meet these characters again soon.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4
June 23, 2015
Southern Gothic meets Serial Killer Thriller meets Coming Of Age Tale.
In the wrong hands, this mix of styles and story-lines could have been a jumbled disaster. I am pleased to say Michael Hiebert successfully balances the three to put together a story equally charming, funny and chilling. Set in the small town of Alvin, Alabama --- Detective Leah Teal is facing the most daunting task of her career when the mutilated bodies of young women begin turning up in her quiet little town. Had she heeded the warning of the local psychic --- who her young daughter asked to meet with --- she might have seen that the predictions about the serial murder spree were true.
Narrated from the perspective of Leah's young son, Abe, A THORN AMONG THE LILIES (a title extracted from the Song Of Solomon) is top-notch story-telling and makes for a quick and satisfying read.
In the wrong hands, this mix of styles and story-lines could have been a jumbled disaster. I am pleased to say Michael Hiebert successfully balances the three to put together a story equally charming, funny and chilling. Set in the small town of Alvin, Alabama --- Detective Leah Teal is facing the most daunting task of her career when the mutilated bodies of young women begin turning up in her quiet little town. Had she heeded the warning of the local psychic --- who her young daughter asked to meet with --- she might have seen that the predictions about the serial murder spree were true.
Narrated from the perspective of Leah's young son, Abe, A THORN AMONG THE LILIES (a title extracted from the Song Of Solomon) is top-notch story-telling and makes for a quick and satisfying read.
July 29, 2015
I picked this up in an airport because I was looking for something in the suspense genre for the plane. I went on to read the two other novels in this series, and thought this was the best of the three, in part because less of it was told from the overly-affected perspective of the tween son. These mysteries are set in small-town Alabama and follow murder investigations conducted by a widowed mother of two who is the town's only sheriff. Here, a pair of bodies with similar distinctive markings surface in the same general area, and the sheriff tries to figure out the messages the killer seems to have left for those who would find the body; throw in some predictions from a local psychic about both the killings and her daugheter's personal life, and this is a nicely creepy book.
June 6, 2015
I got this from NetGalley. The story isn't bad, but there are some definite problems with this book. The dialogue is worthy of a middle school student. It is annoying, the only exception being the two boys, who are middle school students. There are some details that are focused on in terms of the reasons for the killings, but never fully explained. The distraction of the hokey dialogue took away a lot of the suspense, but the story was just (barely) good enough to keep me going. Not my favorite.
July 24, 2015
I really enjoy this series. The voices of Abe and Dewey add such humor and warmth to this series set in 1988/1989. Their relationship with Abe's sister is enjoyable to watch unfold; funny, yet at the same time innocent in a way that things in today's world are not innocent. For me, it isn't the mystery as much as it is the characters of this book that keep me coming back to this author. (library copy)
August 2, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Hiebert for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest and open review.
I enjoyed this book set in a small town in Alabama.
I particularly liked the interaction between Abe and Dewey, the two young boys. The explanation Dewey gave as to why he should have cake as a starter had me giggling for ages.
Even though it is classed as a murder/mystery, there are several quirky, light-hearted moments.
I'll certainly read more by this author.
I enjoyed this book set in a small town in Alabama.
I particularly liked the interaction between Abe and Dewey, the two young boys. The explanation Dewey gave as to why he should have cake as a starter had me giggling for ages.
Even though it is classed as a murder/mystery, there are several quirky, light-hearted moments.
I'll certainly read more by this author.
August 27, 2015
What started off as a very interesting premise fell flat.
The characters didn't seem interesting to me and the language felt off. One positive was that I could sort of visualize the old rundown town of Alvin, Alabama.
I simply wasn't able to get into this book and I feel as if I read it by rote.
The characters didn't seem interesting to me and the language felt off. One positive was that I could sort of visualize the old rundown town of Alvin, Alabama.
I simply wasn't able to get into this book and I feel as if I read it by rote.
July 4, 2015
Oh, I was disappointed in this book. It had such potential. But, I wasn't very keen on the detective that had no idea what she was doing.
July 7, 2015
Interesting book, a mystery set in Alabama. I recommend this book and will be reading more books by this author.
July 19, 2015
Good but not great.
July 28, 2015
Third in the Detective Leah Teal series, not only a thoroughly enjoyable police procedural but an engaging family story and coming of age narrative as well.
August 2, 2015
3.5 for being a little bit of a noir Mayberry type town with a fairly demented killer. Really different and you almost want to visit Alvin, AL
August 13, 2021
When her older daughter asks to have her future told for her birthday, Detective Leah Teal – the lead and, indeed, sole detective of the Alvin, Alabama police department – gets more than she paid for. Madame Crystalle transmits a cryptic message to her that seems to line up, detail for detail, with the evidence found on a dead body two days later. It aligns even more perfectly with a months-old case from up near Birmingham – a Jane Doe crime whose victim closely resembles the one found on the shore of Alvin's Willet Lake. It seems the tiny town of 5,000 souls has another serial killer in it, and they're not waiting long to choose their next victim.
The refreshing thing about watching Leah Teal try to crack a murder case isn't so much that she's an ace at interrogating witnesses or suspects – in fact, she's none too smooth in that area – nor that she has a keen eye for the telling detail. On the contrary, something not quite right about the evidence nags at the corner of her eye throughout this mystery, and it takes nothing particularly dramatic to bring it into focus for her. Nevertheless she plods along, getting imperceptibly closer to the solution while her 12-year-old son Abe and his goofball friend Dewey carry on a squirm-worthy side investigation of their own.
The dialogue and the plotting suffer from a bit of repetitiveness, covering some of the same ground multiple times. Nevertheless, this book keeps the reader interested by mixing a bit of light romance – a maverick detective for Leah and a nice boy for her daughter Carry – and by alternating the third-person passages mostly from Leah's point of view with Abe's hilarious first-person narrative. His "You idiot" relationship with his best friend and all their ridiculous conversations, the way they play and their innocent approach to more serious pursuits, draw you in with warmth and weirdness and light-hearted nostalgia for a time when Beetlejuice was playing in theaters and phones had cords connecting them to the wall. It isn't all G-rated innocence, though. Between Abe and Dewey's debates about tarot reading, sword fighting and Dungeons & Dragons, there are hints of danger to them that will keep you on edge. And the crimes Leah is trying to solve are really quite disturbing, drawing her into a none-too-family-friendly side of Alvin and leading to an armed confrontation with the killer.
This is the third of four "Detective Leah Teal" novels by a Canadian author, which is surprising given his ear and eye for rural Alabama detail. The other titles in the series are Dream with Little Angels, Close to the Broken Hearted and Sticks and Stones. His other works include the serialized novel The Rose Garden Arena Incident. His standalone novels include Dolls – about a girl who discovers she has the power to hurt real people by messing with paper dolls that resemble them – and Darkstone: The Perfection of Wisdom – about a Buddhist monk who moonlights as a superhero.
The refreshing thing about watching Leah Teal try to crack a murder case isn't so much that she's an ace at interrogating witnesses or suspects – in fact, she's none too smooth in that area – nor that she has a keen eye for the telling detail. On the contrary, something not quite right about the evidence nags at the corner of her eye throughout this mystery, and it takes nothing particularly dramatic to bring it into focus for her. Nevertheless she plods along, getting imperceptibly closer to the solution while her 12-year-old son Abe and his goofball friend Dewey carry on a squirm-worthy side investigation of their own.
The dialogue and the plotting suffer from a bit of repetitiveness, covering some of the same ground multiple times. Nevertheless, this book keeps the reader interested by mixing a bit of light romance – a maverick detective for Leah and a nice boy for her daughter Carry – and by alternating the third-person passages mostly from Leah's point of view with Abe's hilarious first-person narrative. His "You idiot" relationship with his best friend and all their ridiculous conversations, the way they play and their innocent approach to more serious pursuits, draw you in with warmth and weirdness and light-hearted nostalgia for a time when Beetlejuice was playing in theaters and phones had cords connecting them to the wall. It isn't all G-rated innocence, though. Between Abe and Dewey's debates about tarot reading, sword fighting and Dungeons & Dragons, there are hints of danger to them that will keep you on edge. And the crimes Leah is trying to solve are really quite disturbing, drawing her into a none-too-family-friendly side of Alvin and leading to an armed confrontation with the killer.
This is the third of four "Detective Leah Teal" novels by a Canadian author, which is surprising given his ear and eye for rural Alabama detail. The other titles in the series are Dream with Little Angels, Close to the Broken Hearted and Sticks and Stones. His other works include the serialized novel The Rose Garden Arena Incident. His standalone novels include Dolls – about a girl who discovers she has the power to hurt real people by messing with paper dolls that resemble them – and Darkstone: The Perfection of Wisdom – about a Buddhist monk who moonlights as a superhero.
June 17, 2017
A serial killer and a family life? Detective Leah Teal has her hands full with the both of them.
It all started with a psychic reading as a gift for Leah's 15-year-old daughter Carry. And Madame Crystalle revealead much more stressful news - about a body in the dark, a maniac tailor, a writing on the body.
Sure, psychics are confolk.
But a few days later, there is a body found - of a young woman with her eyes cross-stitched.
Meanwhile, her daughter carry might find a good boy.
And 12-year old Abe and his brilliant/strange friend Dewey are having a blast playing Dungeons&Dragons and looking for killers.
What I like about the book is how it can balance the normal family life and the police work. The Teals are very normal, funny and crazy as one functional family can be (Leah, being a single mom (widow), can get her hands full with them, but is obviously is more than rewarding for her).
The crime part is, on the other hand, grime and gross - given that the maniac might be one of Leah's fellow citizens.
But this balance is also the weak link here - the family part is much stronger than the mystery part. You get the Teal family and friends, you understand them, you like them (Dewey is my favourite!) and don´t mind to spend your time with them. But the mystery part, while quite good, still needs some polishing. I understand that it is a complete tonal shift to go from warm to cruel, but it might be worth the work as the quality could be even higher and the contrast might portray the crime in even darker light.
But still, I loved the reading and will come for more from Mr Hiebert.
It all started with a psychic reading as a gift for Leah's 15-year-old daughter Carry. And Madame Crystalle revealead much more stressful news - about a body in the dark, a maniac tailor, a writing on the body.
Sure, psychics are confolk.
But a few days later, there is a body found - of a young woman with her eyes cross-stitched.
Meanwhile, her daughter carry might find a good boy.
And 12-year old Abe and his brilliant/strange friend Dewey are having a blast playing Dungeons&Dragons and looking for killers.
What I like about the book is how it can balance the normal family life and the police work. The Teals are very normal, funny and crazy as one functional family can be (Leah, being a single mom (widow), can get her hands full with them, but is obviously is more than rewarding for her).
The crime part is, on the other hand, grime and gross - given that the maniac might be one of Leah's fellow citizens.
But this balance is also the weak link here - the family part is much stronger than the mystery part. You get the Teal family and friends, you understand them, you like them (Dewey is my favourite!) and don´t mind to spend your time with them. But the mystery part, while quite good, still needs some polishing. I understand that it is a complete tonal shift to go from warm to cruel, but it might be worth the work as the quality could be even higher and the contrast might portray the crime in even darker light.
But still, I loved the reading and will come for more from Mr Hiebert.
August 18, 2020
At the most, I will probably give this a 3.9. At the least, a 3.6. What I liked most about this book is that it reminds me of a criminal minds episode, except no FBI. Just a small town police department consisting of 3 people, mainly detective teal. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but as I reached the end I kept wondering when the suspense would begin. I mean, reading about a serial killer you want all the suspense. I got some, and it was pretty good but left me wanting more. A lot more. I also thought much more was going to happen with the kids as well. It wasn't so bad being put in her son's perspective and I understand what was happening there with the rest of the kids, but also kind of feel like it was rushed to be ended. Overall, without saying too much about the book I enjoyed it. A quick little fun read. I don't regret reading it. My complaints are baby complaints. I also didn't know this was a series, so idk what I'm missing. Hopefully one day I'll get around to reading more about this detective.
August 12, 2020
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
Very well crafted plot. This book I find very well written, from the first page you can dive deep into the storyline. The writing style is very good and very pleasant and fluently to read. The book has been very clearly structured and the plot is traceable and very interesting. The characters are very authentic. The author succeeds in writing very detailing about the scenery, characters, surroundings and emotions. This story is fascinating and consistent at the same time and keeps the tension until the end. I love it when I learn something new from my pleasure reading. Would love to see more from this author.
Very well crafted plot. This book I find very well written, from the first page you can dive deep into the storyline. The writing style is very good and very pleasant and fluently to read. The book has been very clearly structured and the plot is traceable and very interesting. The characters are very authentic. The author succeeds in writing very detailing about the scenery, characters, surroundings and emotions. This story is fascinating and consistent at the same time and keeps the tension until the end. I love it when I learn something new from my pleasure reading. Would love to see more from this author.
September 15, 2018
I actually really enjoyed this read. It had the perfect combination of a serious investigation conducted by Detective Leah Teal, and the lighthearted, and sometimes downright funny, investigation that her son Abe & his friend Dewey were conducting on their own. I was unaware that this was part of a series...needless to say, I will certainly be reading the rest of the series!
May 21, 2019
As I read this book, I thought that the author was giving me all the correct clues as to whom the serial killer was, however, at that point where the book is almost finished and I thought that I had - I was sure I knew how the end was going to turn out. Boy was I wrong. I really enjoyed reading and following along with Detective Teal, she most defiantly was my favorite character.
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