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The Neve & Egan Cases #3
Danse Macabre
‛Tis the season to be jolly. But unless one detective can find a missing ballerina, it won’t be a happy Christmas…
Private investigator Alexandra Neve is determined to live up to her newfound fame. Delighted that clients are coming their way, she’s barely squeezing in dates with her cute cop boyfriend and lending festive cheer to the bah-humbugs of her blind partner Ashford Egan. But when they take on the case of a disappearing dancer, Neve’s improved spirits plummet…
Her distress deepens when the police uncover a nearby murder scene featuring a young woman, arranged with her hands on a piano and her eyes glued open. As London comes to a grinding halt in the Yuletide blizzard, Neve fears another posed corpse will surface before the snow melts.
Will Neve and Egan catch the killer before the trail freezes over?
- GenresMystery
255 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Cristelle Comby
16 books262 followersCristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.
She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.
She is the author of the Neve & Egan Cases series, which features an unlikely duo of private detectives in London: Ashford Egan, a blind History professor, and Alexandra Neve, one of his students.
Currently, she is hard at work on her Urban Fantasy series Vale Investigation which chronicles the exploits of Death’s only envoy on Earth, PI Bellamy Vale, in the fictitious town of Cold City, USA.
She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.
She is the author of the Neve & Egan Cases series, which features an unlikely duo of private detectives in London: Ashford Egan, a blind History professor, and Alexandra Neve, one of his students.
Currently, she is hard at work on her Urban Fantasy series Vale Investigation which chronicles the exploits of Death’s only envoy on Earth, PI Bellamy Vale, in the fictitious town of Cold City, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 18, 2014
What does a singer, dancer, and pianist have in common? Death. A gruesome death that seems to baffle the New Scotland Yard police force.
Once again, Neve and Egan are back in action with what appears to be a not-a-runaway investigation. When the police give Mrs. Doughton the brush off, she hires Alexandra and Ashford to find her missing daughter, an up and coming ballet dancer and ballet teacher. It's winter time and their mystery soon turns into something even more sinister when they find the poor girl recently murdered in a very gruesome manner. Just when things can't get any worse, Ash's apartment is ransacked, a threatening note left behind and another kidnapping is announced. The race is really on to find the killer before he gets to stage another Danse Macabre.
Cristelle Comby has done it again with this next installation of the Neve & Egan series. I look forward to the next book because she leaves the readers with an epilogue that is to die for!
Once again, Neve and Egan are back in action with what appears to be a not-a-runaway investigation. When the police give Mrs. Doughton the brush off, she hires Alexandra and Ashford to find her missing daughter, an up and coming ballet dancer and ballet teacher. It's winter time and their mystery soon turns into something even more sinister when they find the poor girl recently murdered in a very gruesome manner. Just when things can't get any worse, Ash's apartment is ransacked, a threatening note left behind and another kidnapping is announced. The race is really on to find the killer before he gets to stage another Danse Macabre.
Cristelle Comby has done it again with this next installation of the Neve & Egan series. I look forward to the next book because she leaves the readers with an epilogue that is to die for!
December 4, 2014
From the outset, I have to tell you that of the three novels released thus far in the Neve & Egan Cases, Danse Macabre is my favorite. The characters have gelled together as a team and have each come into their own as individuals as they've faced their own demons. The case they find themselves on this time is also much deeper, darker, and more complex.
And we all know I like deep, dark, and complex.
Alexandra Neve (Lexa to her friends) and Ashford Egan (who has few friends) are coming to the close of their first year as a private investigative team with twenty-four solved cases. As winter sets in upon the streets of London, their most horrific and gruesome case comes home to roost.
A desperate mother has nowhere else to turn after the overworked Metropolitan Police Department classifies the case involving her missing daughter as a simple runaway. But why would a young twenty-something dancer, with the world waiting to worship at her talented and pointe-shoe clad feet, run away when everything is so right with her world? The mother is convinced something more sinister is afoot and hires Lexa and Ash to discover the truth and bring her daughter home.
When Lexa's budding relationship with DS Matthew Stenson reveals connections to other kidnappings and murders, she realizes they have a serial killer on their hands - and her client's daughter may just be the next victim. Thus our reluctant duo trudge through the snowdrifts of London and into the underbelly of life beneath the streets in search of a kidnapper, racing against the clock before time runs out on the life of a starlet.
All the while, they've got someone on the force working overtime to foil their efforts - and the Sorter reveals his hand once again.
In Danse Macabre we once again have a stand-alone novel of mystery and intrigue. The bringing forward of just enough information from the previous novels, and how Lexa and Ash developed the unlikely friendship of university student and professor turned PI team, provided appropriate background for any new readers coming into the series without bogging pacing down. However, I still recommend reading the Neve & Egan Cases from the start just because it is a wonderful little series (Russian Dolls, Ruby Heart). There is also a tiny thread woven as a continuum, hanging out along the periphery throughout the stories - the mysterious Sorter. Also, there is something that occurs at the end of this novel that will make you want to read the next - this was new to the series, but now I'm dying to know what transpired (though I have my suspicions already).
We also find out additional information in our characters' backgrounds - particularly Ash, the cantankerous, middle-aged former university professor whose blindness becomes particularly useful for discerning the lies surrounding this case. With Ash having left the security of his university position in book two, he's now much more involved in the day-to-day of each case - and I liked that because one of my complaints about book two was that there was little of Ash's involvement with that case. Now that they're both working the business full-time, it's also added a new and fun layer to their interactions - a great repartee that adds some laugh-out-loud humor to this novel that was not present in the first two. This element was fabulous, refreshing, and added twinges of lighthearted moments necessary to keep this much darker case somewhat balanced.
Pacing moved along at a steady (heart-pounding at times) clip and, as mentioned above, these characters really came into their own within the pages of this particular novel. Good showing instead of telling, with first person point-of-view once again from Lexa's continual perspective. There were only a few instances of missing small words, unnecessary commas, and one incorrect word used (rapport instead of report), but these were not enough to detract from the story.
Content warnings: There are few concerns with this series, usually just your typical few curse words, so it's appropriate for all teens in that regard. However, this particular novel contained some particularly gruesome murder scene details that might cause a few nightmares. No sex, drug use, or anything else some might consider offensive.
Like I mentioned, Danse Macabre is my favorite thus far in this mystery series - for that I'll give it a rare five stars.
I was provided with a free copy as part of a blog tour review and was not financially compensated for my opinion.
And we all know I like deep, dark, and complex.
Alexandra Neve (Lexa to her friends) and Ashford Egan (who has few friends) are coming to the close of their first year as a private investigative team with twenty-four solved cases. As winter sets in upon the streets of London, their most horrific and gruesome case comes home to roost.
A desperate mother has nowhere else to turn after the overworked Metropolitan Police Department classifies the case involving her missing daughter as a simple runaway. But why would a young twenty-something dancer, with the world waiting to worship at her talented and pointe-shoe clad feet, run away when everything is so right with her world? The mother is convinced something more sinister is afoot and hires Lexa and Ash to discover the truth and bring her daughter home.
When Lexa's budding relationship with DS Matthew Stenson reveals connections to other kidnappings and murders, she realizes they have a serial killer on their hands - and her client's daughter may just be the next victim. Thus our reluctant duo trudge through the snowdrifts of London and into the underbelly of life beneath the streets in search of a kidnapper, racing against the clock before time runs out on the life of a starlet.
All the while, they've got someone on the force working overtime to foil their efforts - and the Sorter reveals his hand once again.
In Danse Macabre we once again have a stand-alone novel of mystery and intrigue. The bringing forward of just enough information from the previous novels, and how Lexa and Ash developed the unlikely friendship of university student and professor turned PI team, provided appropriate background for any new readers coming into the series without bogging pacing down. However, I still recommend reading the Neve & Egan Cases from the start just because it is a wonderful little series (Russian Dolls, Ruby Heart). There is also a tiny thread woven as a continuum, hanging out along the periphery throughout the stories - the mysterious Sorter. Also, there is something that occurs at the end of this novel that will make you want to read the next - this was new to the series, but now I'm dying to know what transpired (though I have my suspicions already).
We also find out additional information in our characters' backgrounds - particularly Ash, the cantankerous, middle-aged former university professor whose blindness becomes particularly useful for discerning the lies surrounding this case. With Ash having left the security of his university position in book two, he's now much more involved in the day-to-day of each case - and I liked that because one of my complaints about book two was that there was little of Ash's involvement with that case. Now that they're both working the business full-time, it's also added a new and fun layer to their interactions - a great repartee that adds some laugh-out-loud humor to this novel that was not present in the first two. This element was fabulous, refreshing, and added twinges of lighthearted moments necessary to keep this much darker case somewhat balanced.
Pacing moved along at a steady (heart-pounding at times) clip and, as mentioned above, these characters really came into their own within the pages of this particular novel. Good showing instead of telling, with first person point-of-view once again from Lexa's continual perspective. There were only a few instances of missing small words, unnecessary commas, and one incorrect word used (rapport instead of report), but these were not enough to detract from the story.
Content warnings: There are few concerns with this series, usually just your typical few curse words, so it's appropriate for all teens in that regard. However, this particular novel contained some particularly gruesome murder scene details that might cause a few nightmares. No sex, drug use, or anything else some might consider offensive.
Like I mentioned, Danse Macabre is my favorite thus far in this mystery series - for that I'll give it a rare five stars.
I was provided with a free copy as part of a blog tour review and was not financially compensated for my opinion.
December 20, 2014
Last weekend I finished reading Danse Macabre, the third novel in the Neve & Egan crime novels series. The author, Cristelle Comby is on a blog tour and I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. I’ve also read Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart, the previous books in the series, and reviewed the latter in December 2013. I enjoyed the previous novels’ upbeat, humorous approach to crime fiction so when I started the latest book I knew what to expect and was looking forward to it.
The novel is aimed at the new adult market but, with its skilful use of humour, it sits well in the cosy mystery genre too. It has that upbeat feel to it and, even in the most gripping moments of the story, undercurrents of humour run through it. It isn’t sugar coated though. The gruesome details of the crimes are not glossed over but the author doesn’t dwell on them either. They provide a sense of reality to the story without overwhelming the reader.
The plot incorporates expected elements of the murder mystery while throwing in a couple unique twists, including the killer’s motivation for his crimes. Some developments in the storyline I saw coming but not all of them. But that wasn’t important as the increasing tension as the pair of private investigators got closer to solving the case kept me reading. When I was satisfied that everything had been neatly tied up at the end of the story I was surprised by the twist that brings about the cliffhanger ending. Generally I’m not a fan of such endings but, since I want to know what happens next, I’ll forgive the author as long as she releases the next book soon.
For me, the essence of these novels is the relationship between the main characters and their development from bumbling amateurs to professional investigators. Each story is told convincingly from Lexa’s point of view. She’s a young, spirited woman who is learning and maturing with each case she encounters. Her business partner, Ash, is older and more guarded about his thoughts and feelings than his vibrant partner but he is slowly revealing the depths of his character. With each snippet that he divulges, I want to know more. Lexa and Ash are each quirky in their own ways and form a strong partnership. I like the way they are gaining skill and confidence as investigators with each new case they tackle. The author depicts their tender yet respectful relationship through their subtle verbal and physical communication, using a minimum of dialogue. Detective Stenson, who is their ally and Lexa’s love interest, is the right balance of a man with a maverick streak and a tough cop. He is often the catalyst that gives the investigative duo access to information and evidence to help them solve cases. There are stereotypical elements to several of his police colleagues but, as minor characters, the way they are depicted fits the genre of the story.
Like the previous books in the series, Danse Macabre has a witty and feel good element that enervates the novel. Despite the grisly subject matter, it left me feeling uplifted. The novel is written in a simple but effective style. Since English isn’t her native tongue, I am impressed with the author’s command of the language. My one criticism of the novel relates to the prologue: I didn’t think it was necessary as the author fills in any background information that readers who have not read the previous books in the series will need as the story unfolds.
I see this novel as one that will appeal to a wider audience than the new adult market it is aimed at. Readers who enjoy cosy mysteries as well as general readers will also enjoy this story.
The novel is aimed at the new adult market but, with its skilful use of humour, it sits well in the cosy mystery genre too. It has that upbeat feel to it and, even in the most gripping moments of the story, undercurrents of humour run through it. It isn’t sugar coated though. The gruesome details of the crimes are not glossed over but the author doesn’t dwell on them either. They provide a sense of reality to the story without overwhelming the reader.
The plot incorporates expected elements of the murder mystery while throwing in a couple unique twists, including the killer’s motivation for his crimes. Some developments in the storyline I saw coming but not all of them. But that wasn’t important as the increasing tension as the pair of private investigators got closer to solving the case kept me reading. When I was satisfied that everything had been neatly tied up at the end of the story I was surprised by the twist that brings about the cliffhanger ending. Generally I’m not a fan of such endings but, since I want to know what happens next, I’ll forgive the author as long as she releases the next book soon.
For me, the essence of these novels is the relationship between the main characters and their development from bumbling amateurs to professional investigators. Each story is told convincingly from Lexa’s point of view. She’s a young, spirited woman who is learning and maturing with each case she encounters. Her business partner, Ash, is older and more guarded about his thoughts and feelings than his vibrant partner but he is slowly revealing the depths of his character. With each snippet that he divulges, I want to know more. Lexa and Ash are each quirky in their own ways and form a strong partnership. I like the way they are gaining skill and confidence as investigators with each new case they tackle. The author depicts their tender yet respectful relationship through their subtle verbal and physical communication, using a minimum of dialogue. Detective Stenson, who is their ally and Lexa’s love interest, is the right balance of a man with a maverick streak and a tough cop. He is often the catalyst that gives the investigative duo access to information and evidence to help them solve cases. There are stereotypical elements to several of his police colleagues but, as minor characters, the way they are depicted fits the genre of the story.
Like the previous books in the series, Danse Macabre has a witty and feel good element that enervates the novel. Despite the grisly subject matter, it left me feeling uplifted. The novel is written in a simple but effective style. Since English isn’t her native tongue, I am impressed with the author’s command of the language. My one criticism of the novel relates to the prologue: I didn’t think it was necessary as the author fills in any background information that readers who have not read the previous books in the series will need as the story unfolds.
I see this novel as one that will appeal to a wider audience than the new adult market it is aimed at. Readers who enjoy cosy mysteries as well as general readers will also enjoy this story.
December 1, 2014
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: Neve & Egan Cases, Danse Macabre by Cristelle Comby.
Young Women go missing every year. Often they leave on their own, with differing agendas. Other times they disappear without a trace. As a parent, the vanishing women create a gap in their lives leaving them to think the very worst.
In Neve & Egan Cases, Danse Macabre by Christelle Comby we are introduced to a situation where a young ballerina has disappeared. Her mother has hired the Private investigators Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan to help solve the mystery of her missing girl. While the police are on the case, they believe it is a simple runaway, and are tied up in a grisly murder, not putting much into the missing dancer case. Her mother, Mrs. Doughton, believes the worst. She knows her daughter better than anyone, and is convinced she has been kidnapped.
As the sleuthing duo look into the background and question the young woman’s friends they begin to understand their client’s conviction. They also understand the difficulty of beginning a case already held by the police and must find a way to work together without causing interference. The police are only too happy to release the case to their care, for they are working on the gruesome murder of a choir member. They do not have the manpower necessary to tackle both cases at the same time.
When a murder case in another jurisdiction suddenly ties the murdered girl and the missing girl together, the police are no longer as happy to have the investigators aboard. Yet there is more going on behind the scenes that put the entire investigation in jeopardy. Can they work together to decipher the clues before another young woman disappears?
Comby has done a great job of giving us a murder mystery with characters that draw you in. The teams of individuals working together are a mix of dynamic, shuttered, and fun, yet the differences seem to round out the type of brain power needed to solve the case. There is something humble and yet fierce about Neve and Egan, and their working relationship is both interesting and interactive, but in a strange way. The flaws of each character make them human, and you find the peculiarities endearing.
The case itself is deep and muddy, with a macabre killer who has his own agenda. The killings are brutal and staged, and the killer does well staying under the radar. It is only the strange characteristics of the investigators that find the way to solve the mystery. The interplay between the police and investigators is often tinged with a bit of humor, taking a bit of the horror away, but there is no doubt that a twisted killer is on the loose.
If you enjoy mystery and romance you will enjoy this work. If you are interested in puzzles and enjoy a chance to develop your own thoughts you will enjoy the red herrings and twists and turns introduced throughout.
Young Women go missing every year. Often they leave on their own, with differing agendas. Other times they disappear without a trace. As a parent, the vanishing women create a gap in their lives leaving them to think the very worst.
In Neve & Egan Cases, Danse Macabre by Christelle Comby we are introduced to a situation where a young ballerina has disappeared. Her mother has hired the Private investigators Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan to help solve the mystery of her missing girl. While the police are on the case, they believe it is a simple runaway, and are tied up in a grisly murder, not putting much into the missing dancer case. Her mother, Mrs. Doughton, believes the worst. She knows her daughter better than anyone, and is convinced she has been kidnapped.
As the sleuthing duo look into the background and question the young woman’s friends they begin to understand their client’s conviction. They also understand the difficulty of beginning a case already held by the police and must find a way to work together without causing interference. The police are only too happy to release the case to their care, for they are working on the gruesome murder of a choir member. They do not have the manpower necessary to tackle both cases at the same time.
When a murder case in another jurisdiction suddenly ties the murdered girl and the missing girl together, the police are no longer as happy to have the investigators aboard. Yet there is more going on behind the scenes that put the entire investigation in jeopardy. Can they work together to decipher the clues before another young woman disappears?
Comby has done a great job of giving us a murder mystery with characters that draw you in. The teams of individuals working together are a mix of dynamic, shuttered, and fun, yet the differences seem to round out the type of brain power needed to solve the case. There is something humble and yet fierce about Neve and Egan, and their working relationship is both interesting and interactive, but in a strange way. The flaws of each character make them human, and you find the peculiarities endearing.
The case itself is deep and muddy, with a macabre killer who has his own agenda. The killings are brutal and staged, and the killer does well staying under the radar. It is only the strange characteristics of the investigators that find the way to solve the mystery. The interplay between the police and investigators is often tinged with a bit of humor, taking a bit of the horror away, but there is no doubt that a twisted killer is on the loose.
If you enjoy mystery and romance you will enjoy this work. If you are interested in puzzles and enjoy a chance to develop your own thoughts you will enjoy the red herrings and twists and turns introduced throughout.
January 2, 2015
I was provided with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Simply wow! It's been a pretty long time since I've managed to get my hands on a completely clean and decent heart-pounding thriller and mystery such as this! I loved it from end to end, and I have to laud the author for not having resorted to the stereo-typed elements of steamy romance, substance abuse or violence in her scenes. This was the first book I read in the Neva and Egan series, and I was in for a tremendous surprise as the characters stormed into my mind and now it's really hard to shake them off.
This particular story revolves around a young and promising ballerina goes missing. Her mother, alone in her conviction that there's more to her daughter's disappearance than a teenager's crankiness, and her quest to find out what happened to her daughter, turns to Neva and Egan desperately for help when she finds no aid from the legal system. As Neva and Egan step in, they find a lot of powerful dealings behind this one single disappearance, and the discovery of the ballerina's brutal murder makes them realise they're on to a serial killer. With the Winter being specifically torturous, Neva and Egan trudge along in their journey of seeking the truth and unraveling the sad mystery. Do they succeed, is what the book takes us through.
The unlikely friendship and business partnership of Neva and Egan is something I would love to get to the bottom of - I can't wait to read the other stories now. Now that the team has become a formidable one, having solved 24 cases, and having crossed a year, they seem to be working in easy camaraderie and rhythm. Remarkable characters, both of them! The pace flows very briskly and the narrative is so engaging that at times the heart is almost in the mouth.
This was a brilliant piece of work and I recommend this to all lovers of thrillers and mysteries.
Simply wow! It's been a pretty long time since I've managed to get my hands on a completely clean and decent heart-pounding thriller and mystery such as this! I loved it from end to end, and I have to laud the author for not having resorted to the stereo-typed elements of steamy romance, substance abuse or violence in her scenes. This was the first book I read in the Neva and Egan series, and I was in for a tremendous surprise as the characters stormed into my mind and now it's really hard to shake them off.
This particular story revolves around a young and promising ballerina goes missing. Her mother, alone in her conviction that there's more to her daughter's disappearance than a teenager's crankiness, and her quest to find out what happened to her daughter, turns to Neva and Egan desperately for help when she finds no aid from the legal system. As Neva and Egan step in, they find a lot of powerful dealings behind this one single disappearance, and the discovery of the ballerina's brutal murder makes them realise they're on to a serial killer. With the Winter being specifically torturous, Neva and Egan trudge along in their journey of seeking the truth and unraveling the sad mystery. Do they succeed, is what the book takes us through.
The unlikely friendship and business partnership of Neva and Egan is something I would love to get to the bottom of - I can't wait to read the other stories now. Now that the team has become a formidable one, having solved 24 cases, and having crossed a year, they seem to be working in easy camaraderie and rhythm. Remarkable characters, both of them! The pace flows very briskly and the narrative is so engaging that at times the heart is almost in the mouth.
This was a brilliant piece of work and I recommend this to all lovers of thrillers and mysteries.
December 25, 2014
What does a singer, dancer, and pianist have in common? Death. A gruesome death that seems to baffle the New Scotland Yard police force.
Once again, Neve and Egan are back in action with what appears to be a not-a-runaway investigation. When the police give Mrs. Doughton the brush off, she hires Alexandra and Ashford to find her missing daughter, an up and coming ballet dancer and ballet teacher. It's winter time and their mystery soon turns in to something even more sinister when they find the poor girl recently murdered in a very gruesome manner. Her body is staged as if she were dancing and her eyes are sewed open. Just when things can't get any worse, Ash's apartment is ransacked, a threatening note left behind and another kidnapping is announced. The race is really on to find the killer before he gets to stage another Danse Macabre.
I love how Comby really pulls the reader into the story at the beginning and keeps you there. She has fleshed out more of the main characters, especially my favorite character in the book, Ash. He never ceases to amaze me. This is one page turner that any one who loves a good mystery will not want to put down. I must say, if you have trouble sleeping at night after reading something scary/gory (my standards of gory that is) then proceed with caution and read this in the day time :D
Once again, Neve and Egan are back in action with what appears to be a not-a-runaway investigation. When the police give Mrs. Doughton the brush off, she hires Alexandra and Ashford to find her missing daughter, an up and coming ballet dancer and ballet teacher. It's winter time and their mystery soon turns in to something even more sinister when they find the poor girl recently murdered in a very gruesome manner. Her body is staged as if she were dancing and her eyes are sewed open. Just when things can't get any worse, Ash's apartment is ransacked, a threatening note left behind and another kidnapping is announced. The race is really on to find the killer before he gets to stage another Danse Macabre.
I love how Comby really pulls the reader into the story at the beginning and keeps you there. She has fleshed out more of the main characters, especially my favorite character in the book, Ash. He never ceases to amaze me. This is one page turner that any one who loves a good mystery will not want to put down. I must say, if you have trouble sleeping at night after reading something scary/gory (my standards of gory that is) then proceed with caution and read this in the day time :D
October 21, 2014
This is a fairly good mystery detective novel. Private investigators Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan are entangled in a series of crimes involving abduction and ritual killing of budding female music stars. They manage to score leads where the police cannot, but the police in charge nevertheless, would prefer they butt out of the investigation. This does not settle well with either PI, so they stay in and manage to find the only clues in the case the police or anyone else have. This was a very interesting book to read. The plot takes a great many twists and turns, so I never really knew what was going to happen next. How the author managed to put this mystery together in such a skillful way only underscored her wonderful writing skills and clever imagination. I have not read any other of her works but will definitely be looking for them after reading this book. This is a real keeper and a must read for the reader who enjoys a good crime mystery. Just how the two PI’s put the facts together, finding and tying together clues is fascinating and definitely held my interest from the very beginning. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
Fascinating, intriguing, and filled with twists and turns, Danse Macabre is a fabulous mystery novel. It kept me guessing, and I wasn't quite sure how things were going to turn out. I certainly wasn't expecting that surprise at the end.
Combe is a masterful storyteller, slowly adding pieces to the puzzle that ultimately creates a page-turning novel. I loved the relationship between Neve and Egan as they battle their own demons while solving the case. And though I wouldn't necessarily say it's something you would pick up for a seasonal read, it is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's.
There are some gruesome parts, but this novel is so well done I didn't mind them at all. I would like to go back and read the previous novels in this series: Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart.
Combe is a masterful storyteller, slowly adding pieces to the puzzle that ultimately creates a page-turning novel. I loved the relationship between Neve and Egan as they battle their own demons while solving the case. And though I wouldn't necessarily say it's something you would pick up for a seasonal read, it is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's.
There are some gruesome parts, but this novel is so well done I didn't mind them at all. I would like to go back and read the previous novels in this series: Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart.
December 23, 2014
This is the second book I have read in the series. I started with book 2 which I liked. And this book is just as good.
The story takes place during the holiday winter season which fits for cozy reading this time of year.
The friendship relationship between the detective duo of Neve and Egan is the heart of this series that keeps me interested in shadowing their investigations. Their banter and funny shared moments are entertaining.
I liked that this story revealed some of Egan's history especially in regards to his blindness which contributed to his character background.
This kidnapping mystery has an element of creepiness with the clues found that kept me engaged and wanting to find out why and most of all who?
The story takes place during the holiday winter season which fits for cozy reading this time of year.
The friendship relationship between the detective duo of Neve and Egan is the heart of this series that keeps me interested in shadowing their investigations. Their banter and funny shared moments are entertaining.
I liked that this story revealed some of Egan's history especially in regards to his blindness which contributed to his character background.
This kidnapping mystery has an element of creepiness with the clues found that kept me engaged and wanting to find out why and most of all who?
August 18, 2016
Mystery with a touch of romance.
Intriguing series. Each one different from the other but well written. A little romance with lots of mystery. Turns and twists intersect for a reading adventure.
Intriguing series. Each one different from the other but well written. A little romance with lots of mystery. Turns and twists intersect for a reading adventure.
March 27, 2024
Che cazzo, what a cliffhanger! Cannot wait for the 4th one!
April 21, 2015
Loved it
I loved the way the characters played off of each other. The book was a fast paced thriller to the very end.
I loved the way the characters played off of each other. The book was a fast paced thriller to the very end.
January 4, 2020
Fascinating, intriguing, and filled with twists and turns, Danse Macabre is a fabulous mystery novel. It kept me guessing, and I wasn't quite sure how things were going to turn out. I certainly wasn't expecting that surprise at the end.
Combe is a masterful storyteller, slowly adding pieces to the puzzle that ultimately creates a page-turning novel. I loved the relationship between Neve and Egan as they battle their own demons while solving the case. And though I wouldn't necessarily say it's something you would pick up for a seasonal read, it is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's.
There are some gruesome parts, but this novel is so well done I didn't mind them at all. I would like to go back and read the previous novels in this series: Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart.
Murder mysteries don't get better than this one.
Combe is a masterful storyteller, slowly adding pieces to the puzzle that ultimately creates a page-turning novel. I loved the relationship between Neve and Egan as they battle their own demons while solving the case. And though I wouldn't necessarily say it's something you would pick up for a seasonal read, it is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's.
There are some gruesome parts, but this novel is so well done I didn't mind them at all. I would like to go back and read the previous novels in this series: Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart.
Murder mysteries don't get better than this one.
March 17, 2019
A serial killer is killing talented young women and posing them in situations that showcase their particular talent, for example a pianist is posed as though playing a piano in a former concert hall with her fingers broken so they could look like they were playing. The victims have their eyes sewn open. Neve and Egan are hired by a distraught mother to find her ballerina daughter who is missing at the same time as the murders are occurring. Again the villanouse Sorter rears his ugly head.
April 27, 2015
This is the third book in a series and I give the author kudos for not spending too much time rehashing the previous stories. The plot involves two British Private Detectives, one with some unique powers solving crimes in London all while coming up against a hidden criminal mastermind. The Police resent their interference; one of the PIs has seemingly unlimited access to unique sources.
There is a serial killer on the loose, taking and killing young women who are preforming artists. The killer leaves no clues. The murders are gruesome. The police and the PIs both miss the connection that seemed obvious to me as a reader.
There is a serial killer on the loose, taking and killing young women who are preforming artists. The killer leaves no clues. The murders are gruesome. The police and the PIs both miss the connection that seemed obvious to me as a reader.
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