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Detectives Kane and Alton #1

Pas un mot: Les enquêtes de Jenna Alton & David Kane 1

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Déjà 1 000 000 de lecteurs dans le monde pour cette série à suspense par l’autrice best-seller primée par USA Today.

Jenna Alton est shérif de la paisible petite ville de Black Rock Falls et tout le monde n’apprécie pas le fait que ce poste soit tenu par une femme. Lorsque David Kane, le tout nouvel adjoint, s’y installe pour prendre ses fonctions, il le constate par lui-même en étant témoin d’un accident de la route qui sonne comme un avertissement. Jenna est forcée de rester sur le qui-vive, d’autant plus qu’elle a du mal à croire à l’histoire que lui livre David sur son passé, elle qui a fui le sien et le garde farouchement secret. Mais les cadavres s’accumulent dans la petite bourgade du Montana coincée sous la neige et Alton et Kane doivent mener l’enquête coûte que coûte. Quelqu’un a forcément vu quelque chose, mais personne ne parle. Jenna connaît-elle finalement vraiment les gens qui l'entourent ? Un indice troublant vient soudain tout chambouler et Jenna se met à chercher là où il faut. Juste au moment où elle commence à poser les bonnes questions, elle se rend compte qu'elle est suivie. Est-elle la prochaine sur la liste du tueur ? Dans une course contre la montre, Jenna et David doivent percer le sombre secret qui gangrène la ville et ses habitants avant qu'il ne soit trop tard...

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First published October 24, 2017

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D.K. Hood

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 397 reviews
Profile Image for Mackey.
1,255 reviews357 followers
May 2, 2018
Don't Tell a Soul is a fascinating debut mystery by author D.K. Hood. It is set in rural Montana, a sleepy little town where the Sheriff, Jenna Alton, is in the witness protection program. Ironically, her new Deputy is too! Sent to this small town where nothing ever happens for both of them to hide - except now people are going missing and it is up to these two to figure out why.

I actually was conflicted about this review. The story itself was interesting. I read the book in one sitting just to see how it would end, or rather, to see if I was correct about the culprits - I was. So, from an interest perspective I would rate the book highly.

However, normally I am not picky about details but there were so many incongruities in the book that I couldn't overlook them and it got to the point that it became a game to find them. That's truly not okay. Hood is from the UK and there are certain colloquialisms in our common language that are not shared. For example: in the US we pay with bills, as in dollar bills or usually with a card, not with notes, as in bank notes. The guys go to a hockey rink, not the "ground." These kids are high school age, yet they regularly were hanging out at bars with the sheriff and her deputies. The legal drinking age in the US is higher than in Europe. And, most glaringly, she sent her deputy off to search for a blue Chrysler truck. Hmmm. Good luck with that considering Chrysler never made one. Dodge, Ford, Chevy, yes, but never Chrysler. This doesn't begin to touch on the subject of Alton's puerile behavior. Never have I read about a female cop who behaved so childishly. No professional woman would act like this or they would be fired.

I never would presume to write a mystery about Britain's police or legal system even though I've read about them and watched them on the "telly." If I were going to, however, I would do copious amounts of research and have a legion of beta readers from the area to catch any mistakes I might make. My gosh, even in America you cannot order a soft drink without knowing where a person is from - soda, pop, cola or Coke? These are small tells that a writer should know.

Because I appreciate the time and research that other, great mystery writers put into their work, I simply can not recommend this book to you to read. One star for creativity, one for an interesting plot but sans recommendation.
Profile Image for Sheyla ✎.
2,023 reviews652 followers
November 20, 2020
My curiosity has been piqued.

So where do you go when you had plastic surgery and Witness protection has to place you somewhere in the States? Well, you move to Black Rock Falls, Montana of course.

David Kane is the new Deputy Sheriff at Black Rock Falls. The first night he gets there, he's witness to a car accident. A truck has tried to run over a car. To his surprise, he discovers that the victim's car is none other than his new boss, Sheriff Alton.

Sheriff Alton is not what he was expecting. She seems too young for her job however she's very confident and knowledgeable. He also believes she's hiding something or hiding from someone.

His job is also not what he was expecting. He was expecting to relax in a new town without major drama but he soon discovers that the town is full of surprises. Two people have gone missing without a trace and then a body is found at the garbage dump. It's up to him and Sheriff Alton to discover the truth behind these disappearances.

I really like the beginning of this series. I thought both characters were very likable and interesting. Both were hiding in plain sight and you know that at some point their past is going to come looking for them.

I'm intrigued, so I will continue reading the next installment.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,567 reviews1,692 followers
October 30, 2017
David Kane needed to take a step back so he applied for a job as deputy sheriff in the small town of Black Rock Falls. Expecting for a more laid back time in his new job with the low crime rate in the small town David never thought the night he arrived he'd witness a car accident that looked an awful lot like a murder attempt. David immediately goes to help the victim but ends up with a gun in his face.

Detective Jenna Alton knew that her new deputy was on due to arrive soon but didn't expect to meet him late at night climbing out of her wrecked police cruiser. Jenna had gone to the small town to hide from her own past which she worries might be catching up to her. Jenna tries to put aside her doubts with her new deputy and puts him in charge of finding out who ran her off the road but the pair quickly end up with another case when a body is found in a barrel at the garbage dump looking as if it might be a missing person leaving them to wonder if the crimes are connected.

Don't Tell A Soul by D.K. Hood is the first book in the new Detectives Kane and Alton crime thriller series. This opening book in the new series introduces readers to a pair of detectives that have their own pasts they are hiding from. Both are tough as nails and determined to find out who is behind the crimes in the small town while they navigate the waters of their own new working relationship.

I started off this book really liking both of the main characters in the story and I still look forward to getting to know them more in future books. I did however find that Jenna's character seemed to contradict her own qualities later in the read so hopefully that gets worked out to where she's the strong lead she should be.

I also liked that the author seemed to pay attention to the details of police work when it came to investigating the various crimes in the story. Often times the forensic side of a crime scene is forgotten about in police investigating but this story kept those details along with a darker edge with some twists and turns to keep the pages turning. A solid series opener that I'd recommend checking out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Profile Image for Liz.
2,825 reviews3,732 followers
November 25, 2017
“I seem to attract crime”. David Kane has been put in the Witness Protection Program and sent to Black Rock Falls, Montana as the new deputy sheriff. Arriving in town, he happens on a car accident when a pickup truck pushes Sheriff Alton’s car off the road.

I like the premise of Kane’s and Alton’s back stories and their backgrounds. I found both characters to be immediately likeable. And in the same way I liked both Kane and Alton, they immediately respect each other’s professionalism as well (even as both can tell their histories aren’t what they say). And I really appreciated a book where the main characters are not damaged souls. That trend starts getting old after awhile.

This book did a good job of hooking me from the beginning and keeping me interested. Hood paints a convincing picture of small town life.

It’s a straightforward police procedural - nothing fancy, but well told. My one complaint is that descriptions of Kane sometimes read like a romance novel with repeated references to his broad shoulders and narrow hips.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
Profile Image for Eline Van Der Meulen.
418 reviews84 followers
February 5, 2021
The first book I read in English. I must say it was a rollercoaster but I really liked this Kane & Alton
characters! It took me much longer to read than normally in Dutch, so for now I go back to reading Undone from Karin Slaughter but in Dutch ;) Later on I'll try another English book to improve my language skills.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,655 reviews1,690 followers
October 15, 2017
Detective Jenna Alton and her new deputy, David Kane, rush to a scene where a body has been found stuffed into a barrel at a garbage dump. As nothing ever happens in the town of Black Rock Falls, Jenna believes that the victim must be one of two recent missing persons. But is anything ever that easy?

The pace is set fast from the beginning. There are plenty of twist and turns to keep your attention. With dead bodies and attacks on the sheriff, find how they were linked will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to reading the second book in this new series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author DK Hood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for  Li'l Owl.
398 reviews275 followers
August 6, 2019
Fast Paced! Gripping! A nerve-wracking crime thriller and riveting debut!

Jenna Alton shot bolt upright in bed and blinked at the light coming through the curtains.
Someone had found her. Three years had passed since giving evidence against underworld Kingpin Victor Carlos. The thug had threatened to kill her during his trial for trafficking in sex slaves. Believing he she would be safe once he was behind bars had been a stupid mistake. The FBI had relocated her to Black Rock Falls. Although her new identity should be rock solid, Carlos had hackers and she remained on alert waiting for the other shoe to drop.


David Kane
His Commander had organized the escape to the country right down to the demotion to deputy sheriff. Changing identities came with the job, and after spending months and Recovery perfecting his cover story, he had expected to have time to mourn the loss of his wife in a lazy Country Town. Instead, he had marched into trouble yet again.

Black Rock Falls is normally a quiet town but when a body is found in a garbage dump and two people go missing the town is turned into a very dangerous place. And if things wasn't bad enough, Sheriff Jenna Alton has had her life threatened when someone drives her off the road on a dark and snowy night. The first time could be seen as an accident. The second time can't be seen as anything but someone wanting her dead.

Sheriff Alton and Deputy Sheriff Kane have just met but they will have to trust each other to stop a killer who will do anything to keep from getting caught. Including killing Jenna.

******
D.K. Hood's debut novel, Don't Tell A Soul, is the first in an exciting new (to me) series! It begins with a scary car accident and the tension rises at an alarming rate all the way to the terrifying conclusion! I was quite surprised to discover that this is a debut novel because it does not read like one!

Something that sets this series apart from many others is that the characters are more like real people with real fears who learn very quickly that they are in it together. Jenna isn't afraid to tell David that she's scared and is greatful for his protection. Despite having seen many dead bodies, David is still so disturbed when he discovers a murder scene he turns pale and vomits.
Real people with real feelings is a refreshing theme to this exciting crime thriller series! ! I can't wait to read book two!
Profile Image for Mandy White (mandylovestoread).
2,778 reviews849 followers
October 7, 2017
Sheriff Jenna Alton and her deputy David Kane are both in Black Rock Falls to escape their pasts. They soon become involved in a case that no small town should ever have to deal with. Murder, missing people and more. This is a great, fast paced story that keeps you wanting more. I hope this series continues with these characters. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review
Profile Image for Adrian Dooley.
506 reviews156 followers
October 19, 2017
3.5 stars for this one. Lots of promise. An interesting partnership with plenty of back stories to be fleshed out in future books, this was enjoyable enough, but not without it flaws.

Set in the small town of Black Rock Falls, when a body turns up in a barrel in a rubbish dump, Detective Jenna Alton and her new deputy David Kane go to investigate. With little or nothing usually happening in the sleepy small American town, Jenna is convinced the victim must be one of two recently reported missing persons, two strangers to the town and to each other. Jenna fears the second missing person is in danger too.
With her own secret past Jenna hopes her instincts are right and that it’s not someone from her past catching up with her. When she finds herself being followed and threatened, she faces a race against time to find out who the killer is, be it from her past or unrelated, she seems to be in the firing line too. Has Black Rock Falls got hidden secrets she doesn’t know about and will it cost her her life to find out?

So let’s get to the good stuff first. We are introduced to two very promising characters in Jenna and David. Although David is Jenna’s newly arrived deputy, they feel like a partnership and there’s a good chemistry between them, both professionally and personally. Both with their own secret pasts that are touched on but not gone into in detail, I’m sure that will be developed in future books.
The story is pretty snappy for the most part. The town itself nicely written as a setting, populated with interesting characters. The story reads a lot more complicated than it is. That’s probably down to the author writing diversions and red herrings but I suppose it keeps you guessing.

The not so good. The two characters of Jenna and David ending up working together in the small town with both having their secret pasts just seemed an unfathomable coincidence, one that we as a reader are asked to swallow from the off. I went with it and it sort of made it all the more mysterious and interesting to see how it was fleshed out, but it’s only touched on troughout the book and not evolved at all. As I said the two of them finding themselves working together is just a big ask of the reader to swallow.
I also had a problem with some of the final part of the book. Without going into spoiler territory, Jenna is as solid as a rock throughout the book. More than a match for her male counterparts and as cool as a cucumber under pressure, she goes totally out of character near the end as a plot device to set up the finale and it felt completely out of place with the rest of the book. I found it totally puzzling and it left a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.

Overall I did enjoy the book, more for the promise it gives to the obvious series of books planned by the author. The two central characters are very interesting and work well together and we have only scrapped the service of their back stories so, hopefully plenty to look forward to in the future on that front.
The story itself was decent if flawed, with a couple of very clunky decisions by the author that asked too much of the reader to swallow and one that did the female lead character a disservice.

I was going to rate this 3 stars and if it was a stand alone I probably would but I’m giving it and extra half star because it has introduced and interesting couple and despite it flaws has shown plenty of potential for future development.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and D.K. Hood for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Holly in Bookland.
1,347 reviews619 followers
November 22, 2017
Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me. It wasn’t bad but I think my dislike of the two main characters played a factor in my overall enjoyment. The sheriff and her new deputy had backgrounds that are similar but both of them are carrying a lot of secrets that I’m sure will come out in future books. The sheriff is being harassed and has a few murder attempts on her but doesn’t know why. The new deputy is trying to figure out why and attempting to solve multiple homicides that are happening in this small town. For one, I actually figured out the killer early on, so that also took away the “surprise”. Another thing is that there was just too much repetition for me. I think this will be a good book for some but I felt a little bored at times. I could see potential in this new series but I don’t think I will continue on with it myself.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Eva.
957 reviews530 followers
November 3, 2017
Don’t Tell A Soul is the first instalment in a brand-new detective series by D.K. Hood. Set in the small town of Black Rock Falls, you’d think nothing much extraordinary happens there. Which is exactly why David Kane ends up there, for a quiet life. But things don’t turn out that way.

Kane and Alton meet in the most unusual circumstances that I won’t talk about because hello, spoilers. Suffice to say, Kane’s dreams of a restful existence soon bite the dust and it’s one of the best introductions between characters I’ve ever read. Then a body is found dumped in a barrel at a landfill. It soon transpires more visitors to the town may be missing. What is happening to these people? Why are they being targeted? And who is responsible?

Both Kane and Alton seem to have incredibly interesting backstories. While the author does allude to some events, we don’t yet get a lot of information but it will keep a reader hooked and eager to find out more about them in the next book. There is a truckload of potential there! It did take me a while to warm to these characters as I felt most of them were just plain arrogant and unlikable but I’m glad I kept on reading.

As for the investigation, I figured things out quite early on but that didn’t stop me from eagerly swiping the pages. My only misgiving was related to Jenna Alton. For most of the story, she’s a strong and intelligent woman, capable of fighting her own battles until she suddenly makes a few stupid decisions and things become a tad too predictable. While I realise this was in an effort to move the storyline ahead, I can’t help but wonder if maybe that couldn’t have been done another way.

Overall though, this is a solid start to a new series. Don’t Tell A Soul has an intriguing and gripping plot and I enjoyed getting to know the residents of Black Rock Falls. I look forward to learning more about Kane and Alton and see their characters develop as the series continues.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,708 followers
February 13, 2018

This is a 2-book series, with DON'T TELL A SOUL the first in line. it certainly made me want to read the second one, BRING ME FLOWERS.

David Kane is the new Sheriff's Detective, working for Sheriff Jenna Alton. In the beginning, they are both suspicious of the other ... with good reason. Both of them have secrets hidden in their pasts. Neither of them are who they say they are. It's going to take a lot of effort on both parts to learn to trust each other.

A body is found at the garbage dump ...encased in a large barrel. The man is identified and was found to have been missing for days. This is so unusual for their small town, but what worries Alton the most, is that there is still another missing person to be found.

What Kane finds is that several people went missing in the months before Alton took office. There seems to have been no follow-up, and these people have never been seen since.

And just when they think things can't be worse, there are attempts on Jenna's life three times. Has someone from her past found her? Or is it related to the current events? David takes over leading the investigation into her stalker.

This is a well written crime thriller with a hint of romance to come. The characters are both solidly constructed, although Jenna seems to revert to a helpless female at times. David is only too happy to have someone to protect. The killings are brutal and I was surprised by the murder of one of the secondary characters.

Best of all ... no cliff hanger.
Profile Image for Kate.
606 reviews579 followers
October 30, 2017
I love a good serial killer thriller, especially ones based in the USA, so it was an easy yes to taking part in the blog tour for Don’t Tell A Soul by DK Hood. It sounded like something right up my street and I was not disappointed!

When a body is discovered in a barrel at a waste disposal site in Black Rock Falls, it’s up to Detective Jenna Alton and her new Deputy, David Kane to find out who it is and what happened. This is a small town, where nothing ever happens, but there are a couple of missing persons cases and Alton is afraid that the victim may be one of the missing so she begins an investigation that will threaten everyone’s safety around her.

Gah! I’m writing this review eager to tell you EVERYTHING about this book, but I can’t, because SPOILERS!!!!

So lets discuss characters instead for a bit. Jenna Alton is a strong female lead in this book, she takes no prisoners and takes s*** from NO-ONE! I loved her no-nonsense attitude and how she carries herself. Everyone has a past, and Jenna is no different but hers is one she has hidden away from the rest of the world. Enter Deputy David Kane….

Kane is such a great character. Full of machismo, but ultimately a very caring and honest man, he leaves the reader in no doubt that he is a very determined and interesting character. Alton and Kane meet in a great scenario (not going to say more!!!!) and their relationship starts off on an uneven keel for sure. As a pair, these two work so well together. They have each other’s backs, but are respectful of their differing methodologies and approaches to crimes/suspects. I really liked their inner monologues throughout the course of the book!

That plot though!!! It is detail-heavy, there are lots of extra stuff in there that creates the scenes and sets up the characters really well. So much so, that you will question everyone’s motives in the course of reading the book. I had inklings as to the whodunnit bits, but the author created such a wider picture that my theories were disproved more than once. I did get some bits right, but the ultimate reveal wasn’t what I was expecting. In a good way of course!

DK Hood, I need more Kane and Alton in my life, ASAP please 🙂 I am a huge fan of these two, and thanks to the author’s skill at not disclosing every minute detail, I am hankering for the next book and for answers!!!! Read it, and you’ll want to know what I want to know!

Don’t Tell A Soul is an absorbing, clever and dark book. Delving into small-town America and creating a sinister snapshot of life in a sleepy Montana town, it is compulsive and moreish. You need to keep reading, gleaning more information, putting it together in your head. And then the author will add in a tiny detail to make you go OMG! How did I miss that?!

Bravo, Ms. Hood. Bring on book 2.

Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Richard.
825 reviews
December 13, 2017
Dissonance! I don’t often write a single-star review, so when I do, I try to explain to readers what prompted such a bad rating. The sloppiness with which this book appears to have been written merits such an explanation.

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Written by D. K. Hood, and published by Bookouture, an imprint of StoryFire Ltd., London, U.K. in 2017, the book appears to have a definite British/Australian flavor. After reading only a few pages, I developed the distinct opinion that this novel was not very well written. The choices of words by the author is often grating, the dialogue generally is stilted and not believable, and many of the assertions are just plain wrong. I believe that the author failed to adequately research this story, which is set in Montana in the present day. I found the entire story to be unrealistic. I thought, perhaps, it was meant to be YA or juvenile fiction, but at least one scene in the book was sufficiently explicit to dissuade me of that notion.

The story is about two former federal agents who are in some sort of witness protection program, having both gone through plastic surgery and a complete identity change. The first of these is Jenna Alton, who has become the sheriff of Black Rock Falls, Montana, where she has served for two years. The second is David Kane, who arrives in Black Rock Falls as the story begins. He is to serve as Sheriff Alton’s Chief Deputy. At least two people have gone missing, and the sheriff is run off the road by a mysterious dark Ford pickup truck in a hit-and-run incident. Deputy Kane sees the Ford, and hears the collision. He is first on the scene to render aid to the sheriff, who is still buckled into her upside down police car. This sets the stage for the intrigue, crime, and murders that ensue.

Logical inconsistencies abound. On Deputy Kane’s very first day on the job, he already has business cards, and he is handing them out to everybody he meets. Perhaps the sheriff had them pre-printed, but this is never explained to us. On the science fiction side, in Chapter Four the author would like us to believe that Deputy Kane can convert a diamond stud earring (which is largely transparent because diamonds refract light) into a hidden panic alarm system capable of calling him on his cell phone. That’s just fantasy, IMO. Does anybody really believe that a battery with enough power to dial and initiate a cell phone call, and small enough to be hidden in a diamond stud earring, has ever been developed — or even could be? (Assuming that the required electronic circuitry could be sufficiently miniaturized to fit into a diamond stud earring, which it might not.)

At the end of Chapter Five, Hood tells us that Kane carries a “Zig nine-one-one backup pistol.” There is no such thing. Zig, a Turkish firearms manufacturer, makes a semi-automatic pistol called the “Zig 1911 Pistol,” but it appears to be more suitable for use as a primary weapon, rather than a backup, because it has a five inch barrel and comes chambered in .45 ACP caliber ammunition. We have been told that Kane’s primary weapon is a Glock 22, which is a .40 caliber weapon with a 4½ inch barrel, so why would the backup weapon be even bigger, and more powerful, than the primary weapon? It makes no sense. Another gun inconsistency in the book is the assertion that Deputy Kane is creeping through the snow “straining to listen for another gunshot. He would have a millisecond to react . . .” Umm . . . Nope! Rifle bullets travel faster than the speed of sound. If he was shot, he would never hear the gunshot before the bullet struck him. Another gun inconsistency is that Kane “slid a bullet into the chamber” of his Glock before putting it back into his holster. Why wouldn’t there already have been a cartridge in the chamber? If not, why carry a Glock? Cops have to rack the slides of their handguns before using them only in poorly made TV shows and movies, and in poorly managed law enforcement agencies. The notion is very unrealistic, in my view.

Early in Chapter Six, the author implies that Montana might be in the “Upper Midwest.” Most Americans would probably tell you that Montana is a part of the West, and not the Midwest. A little research could have told the author this.

At location 2509 in the Kindle format version of the novel, we learn that a body was found “In the root cellar behind the bunk beds.” But earlier (at location 2331) we had been told that the root cellar was in the barn, and not in the bunk house. Later, we learn that the deputies have put “cartons of milk and cream packed in snow on the kitchen windowsill.” We know it is outside of the window because Kane has to lift the window to access it. Never mind that, if it is as cold in Black Rock Falls, Montana as the author would like us to believe it is, then milk and cream would freeze rather quickly if left outside on a window sill.

Continuing, at location 2747 Deputy Kane inspects a bunk house at a long-abandoned ranch and has “no doubt someone had used the shower.” Never mind that there was no electricity to pump the water, no heat to prevent the water pipes from freezing, and no heat to prevent the person taking the shower from being frostbitten, or worse, by very cold water. No emergency backup generator was used by the perps, and the power was definitely disconnected, as we learn at location 3381 where we are told that the ranch has water (in the ground?), “and it only needs reconnection to the [electrical] grid.” And at location 2720, we are told that the bunkhouse “was built to store preserves and protect from twisters . . .” However, it is pretty clear that the story is set in the mountainous area of Western Montana, where the likelihood of seeing a twister (tornado) is practically zero. Perhaps some Montanans would build tornado shelters, but that would more likely be in the flatter Eastern part of Montana. Also, we are told that “bugs and seeds” are found on a dead body in mid-Winter Montana. Most insects are dormant in the winter, and would not be active on a dead body.

About half-way through the book, we are told that Kane visits Miller’s Garage, where he is greeted by a “blast of heat” as he comes in from the cold. But then, in spite of the heat, he “pulled on his glove.” Why would he don his gloves while drinking coffee in a warm garage, and do so before he even begins his interview with potential witnesses?

Sheriff Alton asserts that the cameras in small town ATMs are “useless” because the photographs they take are “grainy.” Never mind that there are a limited number of manufacturers of such machines, and all of the cameras are pretty much the same. She assumes that, because they are located in smaller towns, the machines are somehow different. Actually the machines are available for purchase by any financial institution or business. Most of them take pretty good photos.

At another point in the story, we are told that a suspect tells Deputy Kane that “I own a Chrysler pickup.” Never mind that Chrysler never made a pickup truck. Dodge (now RAM) made (and still makes) pickup trucks. Plymouth made pickup trucks from 1937 to 1941, and from 1974 to 1983, but not Chrysler. In fact, Dodge Ram pickup trucks have been popular in the US for many years, and are still made today under the name “Ram.” I think most Americans would probably be aware of this. If the book was written for British and Australian readers, then it is misleading.

Throughout the story, we are told about how members of a local ice hockey team called the “Larks” might be suspects. (What self-respecting hockey team would name itself after a lark? A Penguin, a Thrasher, or a Mighty Duck, maybe, but not a Lark. ☺ ) Anyway, one suspect tells the deputy that [he] “went to the Larks ground and dumped my stuff in the bin.” Ground? Ice hockey is not played on a “ground.” Perhaps she meant to say “rink.”

The book is rife with British/Australian terminology. Hood constantly refers to Sheriff Alton and Deputy Kane’s former superiors as “commanders.” This might be proper terminology in the U.K. or Australia, but not in the United States. She also exclusively uses the British word “enquiries,” instead of the American word “inquiries.” She mixes the words “vacation” and “holiday.” Americans do not refer to their vacations as holidays, which are something different in the US. What Americans would refer to as “cubicles” in an office are regularly referred to by the author as “booths.” Not in the US, they aren’t. The characters in the book constantly drop “notes” on the table to pay for their food in restaurants. Most Americans would probably say “bills,” as in one-dollar bill, five-dollar bill, twenty dollar bill, etc. We tend not to call them “bank notes” in the US. The author also refers to what an American might call Scotch tape, duct tape or packing tape as “sticky tape.” It is not clear what kind of tape she is referring to, or why it might be found in the office of a motel.

We know that both the sheriff and her new deputy have blue eyes. The knowledge is constantly reinforced by the words “blue gaze,” like: “Her blue gaze moved over him.” Talk about inappropriate adjectives . . . At location 1449, we are told that the sheriff is sipping her coffee and sighing in “contentment.” This, while she is on her way to the scene of a gory murder. “Contentment” appears to be an ill-fitting word choice. And at location 3010, we are told that “Kane rubbed the back of his neck and his gaze raked her face.” Raked? Couldn’t she find a better word? The cognitive dissonance generated by this novel is more than I have experienced in years. In some places it is positively jarring.

Sheriff Alton is not a very appealing character. For one thing, she is incredibly stupid. There’s nothing like a stupid law enforcement protagonist to stir the affections of crime readers, eh? After bemoaning the fact that her deputies treat her as a woman first, and as the sheriff second, she blabs about her secret earring panic button to the other deputies in her office. So naturally the bad guys find out about it and are able to take it away from her. Duh! Even her new deputy, Kane, is “Dumbfounded.” She also fails to follow up on a telephone number scrawled on a bill in a victim’s possession. This turned out to be a very important clue that was completely overlooked by our sheriff. Finally, Sheriff Alton tells us: “I feel like an incompetent fool.” Well, duh! Do you think? She makes one stupid decision after another that would cost most sheriffs in most American towns their jobs. Yet, the author seems to believe that this is an attractive trait.

It is glaringly obvious to me, as it should be to most readers, that writing a good novel takes a tremendous amount of work, meticulous research, numerous re-writes, and careful editing. Good authors are highly skilled professionals. I saw little evidence of such efforts in this book. Besides, the whole notion that two former federal agents, both hiding under the auspices of some sort of witness protection program, should be placed by the authorities into the same small sheriff’s department in the same small town in Montana is ludicrous. It wouldn’t happen. The author should abandon this story line and try to find a different one. How about a crime thriller set in Australia? Maybe Americans, Brits and Aussies might all like something like that. Feel free to skip this book. I wish I had.
Profile Image for Matt.
4,822 reviews13.1k followers
October 9, 2023
Eager to embark on this series by D.K. Hood, I remember the strong first novel of hers I read. Hood does a fabulous job at painting a picture the reader can easily visualise and provides superb support throughout the mystery. This was no exception and proves to be a great start to what looks like a well-established series. David Kane is hired as a new deputy in a small Montana community, but brings a great deal of work and personal experience to the job. When a killer strikes and appears to have Sheriff Jenna Alton on the radar, Kane is quick to act, though he must soon learn to follow the chain of command. When more bodies emerge, Alton enlists Kane’s expertise to help solve the case before too many others fall victim. D.K. Hood opens this series with a bang and has me eager to read more.

David Kane has seen a great deal during his life in law enforcement, including the murder of his wife and child at the hands of some lowlifes. In hopes of convincing them that he is also dead, Kane travels under the radar to reinvent himself. He ends up in the small community of Black Rock Falls, Montana, where crime is less intense and the people seem friendlier. While he does not always remember the way things are in small communities, Kane will soon have to learn that Sheriff Jenna Alton is the one who calls the shots, leaving him to play the role of subordinate.

After Alton and Kane are called to the scene of the remains a body stuffed in a barrel, they can be sure that someone is out to sends d a message. Kane uses his past skills to try honing in on the suspect, but with little knowledge of the community, no one comes to mind. However, Sheriff Alton has some people she’d like to explore a little more and begins laying out her plan for Deputy Kane to follow, which leads to some dust-ups as they begin their working relationship.

While the body has significantly deteriorated, there are two missing person that fit the bill. As Sheriff Alton seeks to make sense of it all, she is targeted in an attack, from which she barely escapes with Kane’s assistance. Could this be a means to pushing them off the scent of the killer and the larger case? Anything seems possible as the intensity builds.

Asking the tough questions may be good police work, but if it leads to Sheriff Alton’s murder, it may all be for naught. Kane must work with his new boss, while dodging the many questions posed of him by the locals, all while trying to make sense of the killer’s motive. A great start to this series that has me ready to delve deeper with the next book.

I always enjoy mysteries and police procedurals, particularly when they stray from the traditional cookie-cutter layout. D.K. Hook does well to differentiate herself from those stories and offers up something intriguing and off the beaten path. The narrative momentum keeps the reader engaged and leaves little for them to wonder, as things get heated quickly and take numerous turns. The writing is quick paced and well-supported, keeping the reader wondering

Character development is key in the series debut novel, as it sets the tone for what is to come. Hood provides a strong backstory for both protagonists without revealing too much. The opening interaction between Alton and Kane is strained, but it leaves much in the way of imagination and possible future connections that could benefit everyone in Black Rock Falls.

Plot points develop with ease as the story gets stronger and more intense. The twists develop when needed and yet never block the overall movement of the story to a climactic finish. I can only hope things that start as riveting as the series progresses, something that a few who recommended these novels told me would come soon.

Kudos, Madam Hood, for a great debut!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Namita.
639 reviews38 followers
July 1, 2018
Deputy David Kane and Sheriff Jenna Alton are both trying to hide from the secrets buried in their past and hoping for a quiet, calm life in small town Black Rock Falls.But the quiet is shattered when a body is discovered dumped in a barrel at a garbage dump. With another person missing and Jenna receiving life threats, David and Jenna have to race against time to find a killer who might be closer than they think.

Don’t Tell a Soul by D.K.Hood is the first book in Detective David and Sheriff Jenna’s police procedural series. It is a fast paced crime thriller book with well developed strong likable characters. An entertaining , enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Malina Skrobosinski.
241 reviews114 followers
November 28, 2017
"I wonder if you've had plastic surgery like me."

Say what? Why on earth would BOTH the main characters be in a protection program, and have undergone plastic surgery to change their appearance? That's when I started to lose interest, which is sad because it was only about 10% into the book. The book was a bit too flawed for me to really sink into it. It took me much longer than I thought to read this because I just couldn't get into it. I'd read a few chapters and then just get bored and have to put it down.

There's so much about this novel that just sent it straight into a tailspin for me. Aside from the obvious flaw with the main characters having similar backgrounds, there were a few inconsistencies for having taken place in Montana. Why was it that they were always paying with notes? What happened to bills? Probably the most confusing for me was how old exactly were the members of the hockey team? Initially, they are portrayed as high school students, but then later Kane and Alton are confiscating car keys at a bar for having too much to drink? Uhh... I thought the drinking age in the U.S. was 21? These must be some really old high school students.

In addition to the various inconsistencies, I found the constant back and forth about whodunit was complete overkill. They were bouncing back and forth from suspects so much I thought I was on a boat about to get sea sick. All the while, I thought it was pretty obvious who the real suspects might be.

I had high hopes for this one initially, but in the end, I just wasn't impressed. The writing wasn't bad; grammatically, there were minimal errors. It just didn't hold true for a suspenseful mystery as I had hoped. Which in the end is why I decided to change my rating from 3 stars to 2 stars. I don't think I will be moving forward with the series.

I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and D.K. Hood for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Pat.
2,310 reviews501 followers
April 17, 2018
This is the first instalment in a new series. David Kane is on his way to Black Rock Falls to take up a new job as a detective looking for a quieter life when he sees a car being run off the road by a speeding pickup. The car belongs to none other that Police Chief Jenna Alton who greets him with a gun to face by way of introduction. Once they sort that out it goes a bit better. Strangely both these characters are in some sort of protection program, we don't get many details, that must come in later books. I thought it was an unnecessary distraction and highly unlikely but, who knows, it may become relevant in the future.

Things heat up pretty quickly when a body is found in a barrel at the garbage dump. Is this a missing person? As they investigate they realise that a number of people passing through have gone missing in the area. Alton herself is threatened and it all gets very tense. What is going on?

Yes, its all pretty obvious to the reader, and there are some inconsistencies in the writing but the pacing was good and the story rattled along quite well. The main characters were at least strong and functional and honest. All in all a pretty good effort and I'll give the sequel a go.
Profile Image for Patricia Romero.
1,789 reviews48 followers
October 8, 2017
This was a fast paced thriller with a tight timeline. Small towns harboring horrific secrets. And some grisly murders.

I had some issues with the main characters. When we first meet Sheriff Jenna Alton, someone has slammed into her cruiser and left her spinning in the snow. When a face shows up at the window she isn't aware the man coming to her rescue is her new Deputy Sheriff Kane.

She is strong, former FBI undercover, a woman who has been given a new identity and plopped down in a tiny Montana town after her partner was killed by the drug kingpin she testified against. She is a strong, capable officer and woman.

It seemed like when she met Kane, she turned into a simpering female who was now leaving her alarms off, her curtains open and not carrying her phone. Helpless. Until he rushes in to rescue her from certain death.

I was all prepared for a crime thriller with a strong female lead and that's not what I got.

Netgalley/Bookouture October 30th release.
Profile Image for Denise.
2,406 reviews103 followers
Read
November 1, 2017
''Small town. Big crimes. Dark secrets."

In this first of a new series, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her new hire, Deputy David Kane, try to solve what looks like 3 separate cases in the Montana town of Black Rock Falls. Missing persons, a body in a molasses barrel in the dump, and a hit-and-run attempt on Jenna herself. Part police procedural, part chilling thriller, and part suspenseful mystery combine to make this a single-sit read!

When I first started the book, I was immediately concerned about two things: an obvious set up for a romance angle AND the need to suspend disbelief at the notion that two people, formerly government agents who are now supposedly in hiding, could possibly end up in the same town. I managed to put those issues aside as the action started and the working investigations began. The short-staffed department is hard-pressed to take care of all the things that need to be done as other events pile up. The author is very adept at throwing out red herrings, so I honestly didn't know how this was going to end up as far as the identity of those responsible for the crimes. NO SPOILERS!

I liked the narrative told from the points of view of both Jenna and David. They both have backstories that I imagine will be further revealed in subsequent books in the series. I did have a bit of a problem with how quickly Jenna's "tough girl" turned into someone who all of a sudden needed a man to protect her and she makes some incredibly stupid decisions that ultimately result in her having to be rescued. WHY do this to the character? Keep her strong and independent so that the inevitable partnership with Kane is more on equal footing. Sure, we are told often that she is the "boss", but she abdicates her power position routinely and lets Kane take over. SHE is the Sheriff after all.

Regardless, I ended up racing through the book and ended up enjoying it. I'm looking forward to see where this story is going and want to know more about the characters. Obviously that small town will see an uptick in serious crime in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review!
Profile Image for Renita D'Silva.
Author 20 books410 followers
October 10, 2017
One word - amazing! Loved this book from start to finish! A suspenseful, edgy tale that grips you and doesn't let go until the last page. One of the best crime novels I have had the pleasure of reading. The characters are so vividly drawn that they stay with you long after the book is finished. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Brilliant, thrilling, unputdownable. Five worthy and wonderful stars.
Profile Image for Susan.
3,560 reviews
October 25, 2017
Ugh! I really really wanted to like this book! It had a great story line with people going missing in a small town and two supposedly strong main characters, but the wheels got wobbly quickly for me and fell off by the end. David Kane is the new deputy sheriff but he is also a former special forces guy whose death was faked and is now hiding out. Jenna Alton is the sheriff, formerly in some type of law enforcement, and now an FBI relocated witness after testifying in a sex trafficking case. Both. In a small town. Still in law enforcement. That doesn't seem right. Then Alton almost instantly becomes the damsel in distress with Kane stepping up to save her. What happened to all her training and experience? Sure she tries to stand up for herself but it feels more like the kid stamping her foot saying "I can protect myself." So, if you can ignore the sexist stereotypes and focus on the mystery, the book is worth reading. Maybe Alton can save Kane in the next one?

A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔.
2,884 reviews430 followers
September 22, 2019
I was eager to start a new series.
This authors books I’ve read before so I settled down to start.

The plot is exceedingly written well, however I did guess beforehand but still enjoyed reading until the end.

There were a few things in here that didn’t logically compute in my brain.

I thought and thought, just who was the grown up here at times. Jenna seemed a bit immature.
And then some other thoughts regarding the young folk in the bars.

On the whole it was an ok read.
I’m hoping the series gets stronger.
3,216 reviews69 followers
October 12, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Don't Tell a Soul, the first in the Montana based Detectives Kane and Alton series of police procedurals.

David Kane, not his real name, has just arrived in Black Rock Falls to start his new job when he sees a car run off the road. Rushing to help the trapped woman pulls a gun on him before the misunderstanding is cleared up and she identifies herself as Sheriff Jenna Alton, not her real name, his new boss. David busies himself with investigating this attempted murder, two missing people cases and murder when a body is discovered.

I thoroughly enjoyed Don't Tell a Soul. It is an engrossing read with plenty of twists and turns and two mysterious protagonists. Black Rock Falls is a small, rural county but it has some spectacular crime with dead bodies and several attacks on the sheriff. How they are linked is the meat of the novel and it held my attention from start to finish. The reader gets brief glimpses of the killer's sadism but no idea of his identity, he is referred to as "cowboy boots", or motive.

It is interesting that both Kane and Alton have been placed in Black Water Falls to hide them from serious bad guys in their more elevated law enforcement past but neither knows each other from that past. As a result they are two wary professionals in a small community. This is not explored in the novel but there has to be a purpose to it that I assume will be expanded on in future novels otherwise the coincidence is too ridiculous to be believable because they are mostly scarily competent especially Kane. My jury is out on their characterisation pending future developments.

Don't Tell a Soul is a good, absorbing read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Profile Image for Claire.
1,104 reviews183 followers
February 10, 2018
I have to say, I love this cover. It totally encapsulates the premise of the story; it’s winter in Montana and the town we’re heading to is predominantly surrounding by farmland. So what better an image to have than a snow covered farm building. And this story is dark just like the cover’s backdrop.

I felt cold reading this. I am not a fan of venturing out in the snow – I’m a sun loving, warmth loving human so spending 344 pages in an extremely snowy Montana hunting a stalker and a killer chilled me to the bone!!! Saying that, I was there in Black Rock Falls driving the SUV with Kane and Alton trying to piece together the clues.

I was totally flummoxed by who the culprit is. Normally I settle on either one or two characters as my suspect (irrespective of being right or wrong) but with D K Hood’s murder mystery, I could not narrow it down. Half the county were under suspicion!!

And the partnership between the sheriff and her new deputy!! With their previous lives lending themselves to their crime fighting partnership, Black Rock Falls should be in safe hands, if it weren’t for those pesky criminals! I sense there is potential for chemistry of the romantic variety but would that spoil the story? Maybe… having the secret pasts between them adds the element of intrigue.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sinister crime thriller and I’m really looking forward to reading Bring Me Flowers.
Profile Image for Donna Maguire.
4,895 reviews119 followers
November 2, 2017
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

Ooooh this book was good!!  After seeing the cover and reading the blurb I knew it was definitely going to be a book that was right up my street - and I wasn't wrong!!

I thought that the book was set at an excellent pace and it kept me engaged from the beginning - I really enjoyed the plot, there was plenty of suspense and it holds you right to the end.  The characters were great and their interaction was on of the things that made the book so good for me.  You can tell that a lot of thought went in to the book and that along with the writing style made it a must read for me - definitely a book I'm going to be recommending - 5 stars from me!
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews223 followers
November 28, 2020
I read this much later after I read the others in the series. It was wonderful to see the author come a long way to bring the series to be one of the most interesting police procedural. I was happy that I didn't read this at the beginning. I might have not continued with the series.
Profile Image for ☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆.
463 reviews137 followers
October 15, 2017
I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Title:Don't Tell A Soul(Detectives Kane and Alton Book #1)

Author:D.K. Hood

Page Count: 277 Pages

Publication Date: 10/30/2017

Synopsis: David Kane just arrived in to start his new job on the force when he sees a car wrecked on the side of the road. He rushes to help the woman that is stuck in the car and surprisingly she pulls a gun out on him because of a misunderstanding. Then the two realize that she is Sheriff Jenna Alton, the deputy's new boss! They both find themselves in this small town running from their past and hiding from their secrets. They busy themselves in new cases. There is two missing person's cases and a murder that turned up in this small town. With these two different people and these new acts of violence it feels that there is more that connects these two mysterious officials together. Are Kane and Alton able to escape from their scary past that led them to this small town? Are these crimes related? Is this the work of sadistic serial killer? Read Don't Tell A Soul by D.K. Hood to find out!

Review: From the beginning this book was intense! I give this book 4 out of 5 stars! I was on the edge of my seat! I was up late turning pages and made sure to keep the lights on! I really enjoyed the main characters in this story! The only thing I didn't like that I felt Jenna would be more of a strong woman and that is the impression I got in the beginning but it seemed her character shifted a bit. This was still a gripping tale nonetheless and I highly recommend this psychological suspense to anyone who is looking for a great crime fictional read! I think this duo and book was very fun and intense. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for Kane and Alton!
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