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Lizzie Snow #1
Winter at the Door
Perfect for fans of Jenny Milchman, Linda Castillo, and Lisa Gardner—the first book in a suspenseful new crime thriller series featuring the tough but haunted police chief Lizzie Snow, a big-city cop with a mission, taking on a small town with a dark side.
Moving from Boston to remote Bearkill, Maine, isn’t homicide cop Lizzie Snow’s idea of a step up. But breaking away from tragedy and personal betrayal is at least a step in the right direction. Her dead sister’s fate still torments her, as does her long-missing niece’s disappearance. Lizzie hopes to find the mysteriously vanished child here, amid the coming ice and snow. But in the Great North Woods, something darker and more dangerous than punishing winter is also bound for Bearkill.
The town is a world apart in more than distance—full of people who see everything, say little, and know more than they’ll share with an outsider. The only exceptions are the handsome state cop who once badly broke Lizzie’s heart and desperately wants another chance—and Lizzie’s new boss, sheriff Cody Chevrier, who’s counting on her years of homicide experience to help him solve his most troubling case, before it’s too late.
A rash of freak accidents and suicides has left a string of dead men—all former local cops. Now the same cruel eyes that watched them die are on Lizzie—and so is the pressure to find out what sort of monster has his hooks in this town, what his ruthless game is, and just how brutally he’ll play to win. Whatever the truth is, its twisted roots lie in the desolate backwoods of Allagash County: where the desperate disappear, the corrupt find shelter, and the innocent lose everything. It’s there that a cunning and utterly cold-blooded killer plans the fate of the helpless lives at his mercy—one of whom may be the lost child Lizzie will do anything to save. As a blizzard bears down, and Bearkill’s dark secrets claw their way to the surface, Lizzie gears up for a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow stained blood red.
Moving from Boston to remote Bearkill, Maine, isn’t homicide cop Lizzie Snow’s idea of a step up. But breaking away from tragedy and personal betrayal is at least a step in the right direction. Her dead sister’s fate still torments her, as does her long-missing niece’s disappearance. Lizzie hopes to find the mysteriously vanished child here, amid the coming ice and snow. But in the Great North Woods, something darker and more dangerous than punishing winter is also bound for Bearkill.
The town is a world apart in more than distance—full of people who see everything, say little, and know more than they’ll share with an outsider. The only exceptions are the handsome state cop who once badly broke Lizzie’s heart and desperately wants another chance—and Lizzie’s new boss, sheriff Cody Chevrier, who’s counting on her years of homicide experience to help him solve his most troubling case, before it’s too late.
A rash of freak accidents and suicides has left a string of dead men—all former local cops. Now the same cruel eyes that watched them die are on Lizzie—and so is the pressure to find out what sort of monster has his hooks in this town, what his ruthless game is, and just how brutally he’ll play to win. Whatever the truth is, its twisted roots lie in the desolate backwoods of Allagash County: where the desperate disappear, the corrupt find shelter, and the innocent lose everything. It’s there that a cunning and utterly cold-blooded killer plans the fate of the helpless lives at his mercy—one of whom may be the lost child Lizzie will do anything to save. As a blizzard bears down, and Bearkill’s dark secrets claw their way to the surface, Lizzie gears up for a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow stained blood red.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
330 people are currently reading
2687 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Graves
34 books794 followersSarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she's not writing Jake's adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
April 30, 2016
Homicide cop Lizzie Snow moves from Boston to Bearkill, Maine. She is searching for her niece that disappeared not long after her sister died. And now she has a photo of a little girl that could me Nicki. Sheriff Cody Chevrier is problems of his own. Four ex-cops have died during the last year and only he suspects that it is murder.
Winter at the door was a great book. I liked Lizzie Snow from the moments she was introduced into the book, short black hair, red lipstick and red fingernails. Small but strong, a really tough cop! She has moved from big-city Boston to little Bearkill (great name for a town) with ulterior motives; to find her niece that went missing. But soon she is caught up in the suspicious deaths of the ex-cops and then a child disappears...
I liked the characters; her ex-boyfriend Dylan Hudson who is trying to make amends for how their relationship ended and Trey Washburn the local vet who isn’t her type but still a very nice man and an excellent cook. And of course, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, who reminds me of Sheriff Longmire from Craig Johnson’s books and when I think about it; Lizzie Snow reminds me of Vic Moretti. No wonder I like this book.
The plot was good, it was never boring and Sarah Graves tied everything good together in the end. There are some things still not resolved, but I never expected everything to be fully explained in the end. This is the first book in a series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
I received this copy from the publisher through Netgalley in return for an honest review!
Winter at the door was a great book. I liked Lizzie Snow from the moments she was introduced into the book, short black hair, red lipstick and red fingernails. Small but strong, a really tough cop! She has moved from big-city Boston to little Bearkill (great name for a town) with ulterior motives; to find her niece that went missing. But soon she is caught up in the suspicious deaths of the ex-cops and then a child disappears...
I liked the characters; her ex-boyfriend Dylan Hudson who is trying to make amends for how their relationship ended and Trey Washburn the local vet who isn’t her type but still a very nice man and an excellent cook. And of course, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, who reminds me of Sheriff Longmire from Craig Johnson’s books and when I think about it; Lizzie Snow reminds me of Vic Moretti. No wonder I like this book.
The plot was good, it was never boring and Sarah Graves tied everything good together in the end. There are some things still not resolved, but I never expected everything to be fully explained in the end. This is the first book in a series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
I received this copy from the publisher through Netgalley in return for an honest review!
July 8, 2017
I've always been a sucker for the storyline that whisked me away to those small, quaint towns that scream of yesteryear where time had seemed to slow down. One Watering Hole, one food mart, one gas station et al. - just like Mayberry, USA. I waited in anticipation for the slow parts to kick in but the author insisted on keeping the action moving along, briskly. That worked well for me. It was well-written and contained no digressions.
Lizzie Snow, an experienced homicide cop fresh out of Boston took a position as deputy in an out-in-the-sticks hick town in Bearkill, Maine. That's right - Bearkill. Her dead sister's daughter, nine-year-old Nicki had been missing and was believed to be somewhere in that area - needle in a haystack. However, she wasn't about to give up the search. Not yet anyway.
Her boss, County Sheriff Cody Chevrier was happy to have an experienced homicide law enforcement officer on his staff. He needed outside help to solve an ongoing case of four ex-cops, who it had been determined committed suicide. All within a short period of time. The Sheriff wasn't in the market for any of that hogwash. He knew these guys. They went hunting together. They were friends.
One of Lizzie's former boyfriends Dylan Hudson suddenly showed up from out of the clear blue. They had a recent falling out. All signs pointed to him wanting to make amends. It was a work in progress. He's a detective with the Maine State Police and assured Lizzie that he was there on official business but was tight lipped about it. If he told her he'd have to... This left her with more questions than answers. Not what she was hoping for.
The storyline made a 180-degree turn and shifted way up into 5th gear. The author decided It was time to turn the heat up. Way up. Everything began to escalate from the ex-cops suicide to murder and kidnapping. When it rained it poured.
Clues pointed to a young girl possibly matching her niece's description was spotted in the woods. The odds that it could have been Nicki seemed remote at best. Against horrid weather and a sniper at the ready, Lizzie struggled through a vast frozen forest in the dead of night to the one place reported where her niece might be held by a madman who had nothing to lose. There was no turning around at this point. All bets were off. It was either him or her.
Lizzie Snow, an experienced homicide cop fresh out of Boston took a position as deputy in an out-in-the-sticks hick town in Bearkill, Maine. That's right - Bearkill. Her dead sister's daughter, nine-year-old Nicki had been missing and was believed to be somewhere in that area - needle in a haystack. However, she wasn't about to give up the search. Not yet anyway.
Her boss, County Sheriff Cody Chevrier was happy to have an experienced homicide law enforcement officer on his staff. He needed outside help to solve an ongoing case of four ex-cops, who it had been determined committed suicide. All within a short period of time. The Sheriff wasn't in the market for any of that hogwash. He knew these guys. They went hunting together. They were friends.
One of Lizzie's former boyfriends Dylan Hudson suddenly showed up from out of the clear blue. They had a recent falling out. All signs pointed to him wanting to make amends. It was a work in progress. He's a detective with the Maine State Police and assured Lizzie that he was there on official business but was tight lipped about it. If he told her he'd have to... This left her with more questions than answers. Not what she was hoping for.
The storyline made a 180-degree turn and shifted way up into 5th gear. The author decided It was time to turn the heat up. Way up. Everything began to escalate from the ex-cops suicide to murder and kidnapping. When it rained it poured.
Clues pointed to a young girl possibly matching her niece's description was spotted in the woods. The odds that it could have been Nicki seemed remote at best. Against horrid weather and a sniper at the ready, Lizzie struggled through a vast frozen forest in the dead of night to the one place reported where her niece might be held by a madman who had nothing to lose. There was no turning around at this point. All bets were off. It was either him or her.
August 22, 2022
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As a blizzard bears down, and Bearkill’s dark secrets claw their way to the surface, Lizzie gears up for a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow-stained blood red.
The first in a new series, Winter at the Door introduces us to big-city cop, Lizzie Snow. She moves to small-town Bearkill, Maine, in the hopes of finding her missing niece - the only family member she has left. She takes a job at the local Sheriff's department and is assigned a case that could be the murders of local cops staged to look like suicides. To make things even more stressful for Lizzie, her former lover, Det. Dylan Vanilla-Jerkface, hangs around outside his jurisdiction, like a lot.
Okay, that's not his real name. Whatever.
The positives: the writing isn't terrible. There is a lot of atmosphere, setting and vibrant character detail. And Lizzie Snow is a tough, likable MC.
The negatives: overwrought with country bumpkin clichés. The first 1/3 of the book is Lizzie meeting all the town locals who stare at her like she's the obvious outsider from the big ol' city with her knee-high boots and makeup and personal hygiene and whatnot. Golly gee, they ain't never seen a pretty woman with short hair before!
Hey, I get it, the country and the city are different, with different people with different interests. But let's not play like they don't have the internet or running water. Different doesn't mean isolated and stupid.
Then there are the conversation cutoffs that were driving me completely banana-sandwich.
"Every time -"
"- someone said something?"
"Yes, they would -"
"Be interrupted?"
"Um, yes, if you would -"
"Let you get a whole sentence out?"
ANDDDDDD SCENE!
Reading character conversations was sooooo annoying. And when a conversation would end, it seemed as though the scene picked up in an entirely different location and I was lost as to how we got from the office to the car and down the street without ever being led there by the author.
And if just once,I could read a romance subplot that didn't include an asshole ex that an otherwise totally intelligent female-lead couldn't stop drooling over that would be fantastic. I wait for the day when a woman doesn't spend her entire character development pining after the emotionally unavailable "bad boy." It's cringe.
Obviously, judging by reviews, a lot of people really liked this book, but it just wasn't for me. I found it disjointed, like two different books mashed together with kind of annoying subplots.
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded down
As a blizzard bears down, and Bearkill’s dark secrets claw their way to the surface, Lizzie gears up for a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow-stained blood red.
The first in a new series, Winter at the Door introduces us to big-city cop, Lizzie Snow. She moves to small-town Bearkill, Maine, in the hopes of finding her missing niece - the only family member she has left. She takes a job at the local Sheriff's department and is assigned a case that could be the murders of local cops staged to look like suicides. To make things even more stressful for Lizzie, her former lover, Det. Dylan Vanilla-Jerkface, hangs around outside his jurisdiction, like a lot.
Okay, that's not his real name. Whatever.
The positives: the writing isn't terrible. There is a lot of atmosphere, setting and vibrant character detail. And Lizzie Snow is a tough, likable MC.
The negatives: overwrought with country bumpkin clichés. The first 1/3 of the book is Lizzie meeting all the town locals who stare at her like she's the obvious outsider from the big ol' city with her knee-high boots and makeup and personal hygiene and whatnot. Golly gee, they ain't never seen a pretty woman with short hair before!
Hey, I get it, the country and the city are different, with different people with different interests. But let's not play like they don't have the internet or running water. Different doesn't mean isolated and stupid.
Then there are the conversation cutoffs that were driving me completely banana-sandwich.
"Every time -"
"- someone said something?"
"Yes, they would -"
"Be interrupted?"
"Um, yes, if you would -"
"Let you get a whole sentence out?"
ANDDDDDD SCENE!
Reading character conversations was sooooo annoying. And when a conversation would end, it seemed as though the scene picked up in an entirely different location and I was lost as to how we got from the office to the car and down the street without ever being led there by the author.
And if just once,I could read a romance subplot that didn't include an asshole ex that an otherwise totally intelligent female-lead couldn't stop drooling over that would be fantastic. I wait for the day when a woman doesn't spend her entire character development pining after the emotionally unavailable "bad boy." It's cringe.
Obviously, judging by reviews, a lot of people really liked this book, but it just wasn't for me. I found it disjointed, like two different books mashed together with kind of annoying subplots.
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded down
March 9, 2015
Lizzie Snow leaves her Boston homicide job when she is hired as a deputy in the small town of Bearkill, Maine. The sheriff needs Lizzie's expertise to help solve the rash of murders of recently retired policemen. She also has reason to believe that she may find her missing niece in this area.
A fast-paced story with many twists, lots of suspense and non-stop action. The author has created interesting characters that I look forward to reading more about in the next book.
"Winter At The Door" by Sarah Graves is a chilling, page-turning introduction to Lizzie Snow and the town of Bearkill.
A fast-paced story with many twists, lots of suspense and non-stop action. The author has created interesting characters that I look forward to reading more about in the next book.
"Winter At The Door" by Sarah Graves is a chilling, page-turning introduction to Lizzie Snow and the town of Bearkill.
May 6, 2015
This is the first in a new series by the author of the long running "Home repair is homicide" books, also set in Maine. I haven't read any of those but from perusing the reviews, I'm guessing this one is a little grittier.
Lizzie Snow was a homicide detective in Boston before she upped stakes for a position with the Aroostook County Sheriff Dept. in Bearkill, Maine. It's not exactly what she expected. Turns out her new boss Sheriff Cody Chevrier had an ulterior motive for offering her the job. That's ok. She has an ulterior motive for accepting.
Cody's a little uneasy about the recent deaths of several ex-cops but he's the only one who is suspicious. A big city homicide cop is just what he needs & his buddy Maine State Police Det. Dylan Hudson recommended Lizzie.
Eight years ago Lizzie's sister was killed & her infant daughter Nicolette disappeared. Searching for clues to Nicki's whereabouts has been a part time job for Lizzie ever since. So when her ex-lover (and cheating rat bastard...uh...sorry) Dylan Hudson contacts her with news that Nicki may be in the Bearkill area, suddenly that job looks pretty good.
Besides, there should be lots of time to investigate. How much crime can there be in a one stoplight town? Actually, you'd be surprised. In addition to the dead lawmen, there's a task force searching for a meth lab & Dylan's looking into the murders of 2 young women. And that's before her house gets vandalized, there's a kidnapping, a few more bodies are added to the pile & she inherits one very smelly dog.
What I enjoyed: this is a fast paced read with plenty of action & a wide range of characters. The author does a good job of bringing a rural small town to life. There's natural suspicion of a newcomer & everyone knows everyone else's business. Cops here have a bit more latitude than in Boston & Lizzie has to quickly adapt to a more personal approach.
Descriptions of the rugged landscape & frigid weather are evocative. You can almost feel the cold & isolation in passages where characters are out in thick forests during a snow storm. The residents of Bearkill are well established from a pierced & tattoo covered rebellious teen to a middle aged woman slowly succumbing to dementia.
What I didn't like: initially, Lizzie is a tough, prickly character who faces any bad guy with a calm demeanour & spine of steel. Except when Dylan is around. She ended things with him a year ago when she discovered he forgot to mention an important detail about his personal life. But every time she sees him that spine somehow turns to silly putty.
This is exacerbated by the author's habit of interjecting her internal monologue into the middle of dialogue. Conversations on the page are interrupted by long italicized sections of Lizzie's inner thoughts which swing from fretting about Nicki to lusting after Dylan. This improves as the book progresses but is distracting for the first half.
As stated above, there are multiple story lines & when everything is neatly tied up at the end some suspension of disbelief will be required.
Still, Lizzie grew on me as she slowly relaxed & became more attuned to small town life & I really liked the setting. As this is the first book, the author had to establish the characters & their relationships as well as plant the seeds for what comes next. A couple of those angles look promising so I'll be picking up the next instalment to see where Lizzie ends up.
Lizzie Snow was a homicide detective in Boston before she upped stakes for a position with the Aroostook County Sheriff Dept. in Bearkill, Maine. It's not exactly what she expected. Turns out her new boss Sheriff Cody Chevrier had an ulterior motive for offering her the job. That's ok. She has an ulterior motive for accepting.
Cody's a little uneasy about the recent deaths of several ex-cops but he's the only one who is suspicious. A big city homicide cop is just what he needs & his buddy Maine State Police Det. Dylan Hudson recommended Lizzie.
Eight years ago Lizzie's sister was killed & her infant daughter Nicolette disappeared. Searching for clues to Nicki's whereabouts has been a part time job for Lizzie ever since. So when her ex-lover (and cheating rat bastard...uh...sorry) Dylan Hudson contacts her with news that Nicki may be in the Bearkill area, suddenly that job looks pretty good.
Besides, there should be lots of time to investigate. How much crime can there be in a one stoplight town? Actually, you'd be surprised. In addition to the dead lawmen, there's a task force searching for a meth lab & Dylan's looking into the murders of 2 young women. And that's before her house gets vandalized, there's a kidnapping, a few more bodies are added to the pile & she inherits one very smelly dog.
What I enjoyed: this is a fast paced read with plenty of action & a wide range of characters. The author does a good job of bringing a rural small town to life. There's natural suspicion of a newcomer & everyone knows everyone else's business. Cops here have a bit more latitude than in Boston & Lizzie has to quickly adapt to a more personal approach.
Descriptions of the rugged landscape & frigid weather are evocative. You can almost feel the cold & isolation in passages where characters are out in thick forests during a snow storm. The residents of Bearkill are well established from a pierced & tattoo covered rebellious teen to a middle aged woman slowly succumbing to dementia.
What I didn't like: initially, Lizzie is a tough, prickly character who faces any bad guy with a calm demeanour & spine of steel. Except when Dylan is around. She ended things with him a year ago when she discovered he forgot to mention an important detail about his personal life. But every time she sees him that spine somehow turns to silly putty.
This is exacerbated by the author's habit of interjecting her internal monologue into the middle of dialogue. Conversations on the page are interrupted by long italicized sections of Lizzie's inner thoughts which swing from fretting about Nicki to lusting after Dylan. This improves as the book progresses but is distracting for the first half.
As stated above, there are multiple story lines & when everything is neatly tied up at the end some suspension of disbelief will be required.
Still, Lizzie grew on me as she slowly relaxed & became more attuned to small town life & I really liked the setting. As this is the first book, the author had to establish the characters & their relationships as well as plant the seeds for what comes next. A couple of those angles look promising so I'll be picking up the next instalment to see where Lizzie ends up.
November 29, 2017
It started out well, promising to be an interesting police procedural about a tough female cop investigating the "accidental" deaths of several ex-cops. But I first got suspicious when the author spent an inordinate amount of time detailing the MC's appearance, right down to her lipstick and every article of clothing she's wearing. Then hints of a possible romantic interest, then love triangle. And now we have an assholish love interest where she's apparently more interested in getting nekkid with him than in solving crime. No NO NOPE. This is showing every sign of being a Romance disguised as a mystery/thriller and it's already using too many of the genre tropes that I really dislike.
DNF after 51 minutes, or 9% of total.
Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive. Good performance by Kirsten Potter.
I was attempting to read this for The 16 Tasks of the Festive Season, Square 7: Book themes for Saint Lucia's Day: Read a book set in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden - and Finland for the purposes of this game) or a book where ice and snow are an important feature. Hopefully I won't have a hard time finding another book to fit this square.
DNF after 51 minutes, or 9% of total.
Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive. Good performance by Kirsten Potter.
I was attempting to read this for The 16 Tasks of the Festive Season, Square 7: Book themes for Saint Lucia's Day: Read a book set in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden - and Finland for the purposes of this game) or a book where ice and snow are an important feature. Hopefully I won't have a hard time finding another book to fit this square.
February 21, 2015
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy of Winter at the Door. I gather that Graves has written other mysteries but this is meant to be the first in a series. I liked the detective -- Lizzie Snow --, the Maine small town setting and the set up at the beginning when Lizzie arrives as a new cop in a small town. But I didn't love the story. It seemed messy and disjointed, and dependent on a few improbable characters -- Spud in particular. But there's a stable of mystery writers that I read faithfully every time they write a new book -- Elizabeth George, Michael Connelly, Louise Penney, Robert Rotenberg, Sue Grafton and Sara Paratsky -- and their first mysteries were not necessarily particularly skilful -- certainly not as good as some of their later books. So having created a decent detective and placed her in an interesting setting, Graves' series certainly deserves a chance to mature.
December 29, 2014
Winter at the Door is a book that chilled me to the bone. It takes place in Bearkill, Maine. Lizzie Snow has come to Maine to take a job with the police department. She also has an ulterior motive. She's hoping to find her niece, who's been missing. This thriller held my attention throughout the book and when I said it chilled me, I meant it. Not only does it take place in Maine, but it takes place in the winter in Maine. The author manages to make the winter a character and I love that. The character, Lizzie, is an independent police officer from Boston. She does not take to the rural lifestyle very well in the beginning. I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and cannot think of one that I didn't understand. This is a great start of a new series and I plan to continue reading it as soon as book 2 comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 23, 2014
*NetGalley book review*
This book was a very good thriller. There's a cop killer, a missing girl, other law breakers and drama... lots and lots of drama. I very much enjoyed this book and it wasn't that long of a read. I am looking forward to when the next book in the series comes along.
This book was a very good thriller. There's a cop killer, a missing girl, other law breakers and drama... lots and lots of drama. I very much enjoyed this book and it wasn't that long of a read. I am looking forward to when the next book in the series comes along.
March 3, 2021
Lots of bad goings-on in the the backwoods of upstate Maine. This is the first (2015) in what I anticipate will be a nail-biting series (Lizzie Snow Mystery series) in which the former Boston police homicide detective, Lizzie Snow, is a bit out of her milieu but who demonstrates her policewoman instincts when put to the test. Lizzie is lured to Bearkill. Maine by a former lover who tells her there is a possibility of finding her long lost niece whom he believes has been seen in Maine's north woods. While Lizzie becomes consumed with the active investigation of apparent serial murders of retired police investigators and with drug traffickers in and around Bearkill, the author gives insights into Lizzie's personal feelings and "hormonal" reactions to a couple of the characters, her former lover and a local, wealthy and handsome veterinarian. Her emotions, however, came across as rather like those of a immature teenager (moonstruck) rather than those of a mature adult.
The descriptions of the Maine woods provide a rather sinister setting: the bleak woods looked "implacable, as if it would do whatever it wished with you without explanation. As if once you were in it, you’d be just another specimen of prey, engaged in the age-old dance of the hunter and hunted.” Not very inviting! The other characters that Graves creates run the gamut from good people, to the truly evil and demented. Suspense builds as we experience the cold of winter, the darkness of the woods and the evil of the villains minds.
The one problem I had with the writing style was the sudden hopping from one scene to another in the very next paragraph. One second the reader is with Lizzie and her activities and suddenly in the next paragraph (not the next chapter) the reader is with the the thoughts and actions of one of the villains or other characters. I had to suddenly stop reading for a second to clarify who was now being written about. This may have been a technique to build suspense, but caused some confusion in the flow of the novel. Eventually, you catch on that this is the author's style and you go with it.
So far, there are two books in this series. The second book of this mystery series is titled The Girls She Left Behind (2016) which I would like to read. Sarah Graves is also a writer of many books in her Home Repair is Homicide Mystery series and of the cozy mystery series Death by Chocolate Mystery. Sarah Graves is the pen name of American mystery and crime novelist Mary Squibb.
The descriptions of the Maine woods provide a rather sinister setting: the bleak woods looked "implacable, as if it would do whatever it wished with you without explanation. As if once you were in it, you’d be just another specimen of prey, engaged in the age-old dance of the hunter and hunted.” Not very inviting! The other characters that Graves creates run the gamut from good people, to the truly evil and demented. Suspense builds as we experience the cold of winter, the darkness of the woods and the evil of the villains minds.
The one problem I had with the writing style was the sudden hopping from one scene to another in the very next paragraph. One second the reader is with Lizzie and her activities and suddenly in the next paragraph (not the next chapter) the reader is with the the thoughts and actions of one of the villains or other characters. I had to suddenly stop reading for a second to clarify who was now being written about. This may have been a technique to build suspense, but caused some confusion in the flow of the novel. Eventually, you catch on that this is the author's style and you go with it.
So far, there are two books in this series. The second book of this mystery series is titled The Girls She Left Behind (2016) which I would like to read. Sarah Graves is also a writer of many books in her Home Repair is Homicide Mystery series and of the cozy mystery series Death by Chocolate Mystery. Sarah Graves is the pen name of American mystery and crime novelist Mary Squibb.
January 23, 2016
I'm between 3 and 4 stars on this book from Sarah Graves. Just give me anything with Maine in the mix and I'm there. This one adds adept scenes of Aroostook County and the deep, deep woods.
Having never read the book prior to Winter at the Door, I was unfamiliar with the character of Lizzie Snow. I liked her immediately....from her spikey black hair to her red lipstick. Yes, it was a bit of a stretch expecting a Boston cop to fit in with a woodsy Maine setting, but it seems to work here. However, there's also a lot of back stories to fill in and multiple plotlines to follow. That in itself drives the author to juggle situations back and forth without adequate presentation of characterization. Nowadays, it's always the character that the author rarely touches on that is the most guilty. Hence, the element of surprise is not really the element of surprise.
I'd like to see the next Lizzie Snow book devoid of romantic complications. Let Lizzie stand alone as a strong, capable female lead character. Why is it that female cops/detectives are always befuddled and distracted by love interests and males are stoic and hardnosed when it comes to romance? Lizzie is a well-trained Boston cop who has seen her share of big city crime. Don't make her crumple easily. Let's see her put her analytical skills to better use.
This has the opportunity to make a great series involving Lizzie Snow. I'm on board, Sarah Graves.
Having never read the book prior to Winter at the Door, I was unfamiliar with the character of Lizzie Snow. I liked her immediately....from her spikey black hair to her red lipstick. Yes, it was a bit of a stretch expecting a Boston cop to fit in with a woodsy Maine setting, but it seems to work here. However, there's also a lot of back stories to fill in and multiple plotlines to follow. That in itself drives the author to juggle situations back and forth without adequate presentation of characterization. Nowadays, it's always the character that the author rarely touches on that is the most guilty. Hence, the element of surprise is not really the element of surprise.
I'd like to see the next Lizzie Snow book devoid of romantic complications. Let Lizzie stand alone as a strong, capable female lead character. Why is it that female cops/detectives are always befuddled and distracted by love interests and males are stoic and hardnosed when it comes to romance? Lizzie is a well-trained Boston cop who has seen her share of big city crime. Don't make her crumple easily. Let's see her put her analytical skills to better use.
This has the opportunity to make a great series involving Lizzie Snow. I'm on board, Sarah Graves.
February 14, 2016
This book was so chaotic. There was so much going on and I still don't understand how it all tied together. Even moment to moment, I lost track of what was happening and kept thinking to myself, "Where are they now? Are they still in her office? Oh, they're driving now -- when did they get in the car?" At the same time, the author over-explained things that really didn't need to be explained. At one point, she explained what having a long rap sheet meant and at the end there was a line along the lines of "he was the guy from the bar when she first arrived" -- yeah, we know! Also, she clearly doesn't understand how dreadlocks work. Finally, I was just irritated at yet another prickly straight female cop who has a tumultuous romantic history with another cop who she works with. Why can't there be happily single or happily partnered/married or lesbian cops? It just gets old. Rant over.
December 7, 2020
Loved listening to this one!
January 30, 2016
This was quite put-downable, but a bit better than "just OK", so I have rounded up to 3 stars. I finished it, to find out how it was resolved, but I don't think it was as good as the first of Ms Graves books I read years ago (her other series, beginning with The Dead Cat Bounce).
I have trouble with one of the basic premises of this book (the start of a series, evidently): that Lizzie had to give up her job in Boston and move to northern Maine in order to look for her niece, who has been missing for nine years. Surely she could have just taken leave? Plus the hints from Ryan always seem to get interrupted, so the moment becomes very frustrating to me. He has news about the search for the niece, but it's not important enough for him to finish a sentence?
I have trouble with one of the basic premises of this book (the start of a series, evidently): that Lizzie had to give up her job in Boston and move to northern Maine in order to look for her niece, who has been missing for nine years. Surely she could have just taken leave? Plus the hints from Ryan always seem to get interrupted, so the moment becomes very frustrating to me. He has news about the search for the niece, but it's not important enough for him to finish a sentence?
February 26, 2018
This is really a one star read for me, the only reason I'm giving this a second star is because I zoned out in several places. I don't know if I missed something, but since neither of the two mysteries introduced in the book are solved, I can't bring myself to care. Lizzie Snow is super unlikable, and she's supposed to be a great homicide officer but I don't know if she actually did something to really solve anything other than rush into things headlong with barely a backup. To make matters worse, the lady is part of a love triangle. One person is shady AF, the other one is even more unlikable than Lizzie, if that can be believed. Spare me.
I have the second book on my TBR, but I'm going to remove it now.
I have the second book on my TBR, but I'm going to remove it now.
January 16, 2015
This book had a lot of promise, and from the preview blurb, I anticipated enjoying a new heroine cop. This story just didn't deliver what I expected. There was too much of a convoluted storyline, predictable character action, and not enough "tough" from tough girl Lizzie Snow. When the chips were down and a butt kicking was on the menu, it was delivered in a pat and unbelievable way which made this story hard to get through. Truth be told, I read up through chapter seven and then skipped to chapter twelve, and didn't really feel like I missed anything. Rather than thinking of Lizzie as kickass and bulletproof, I thought she was flighty and irresponsible. The supporting characters did little to add to my interest.
That being the case, not all books suit all readers’ palates. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.
That being the case, not all books suit all readers’ palates. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.
December 23, 2014
REVIEW: WINTER AT THE DOOR by Sarah Graves
Wow!! Sarah Graves rocks! I discovered her first series, HOME REPAIR IS HOMICIDE, in 2008 or 2009, and began with the then-newest, working my way back to the first. I admired and enjoyed her writing then (and learned a lot), but her newest--first in a new series--goes far beyond, into literary territory. In WINTER AT THE DOOR, a novel I couldn't set aside, Sarah Graves carves entirely new territory, delving into abnormal psychology, domestic abuse and violence, sociopaths hiding in plain sight, obsession, and so much more. I am metaphorically biting my nails and holding my breath for the sequel.
Wow!! Sarah Graves rocks! I discovered her first series, HOME REPAIR IS HOMICIDE, in 2008 or 2009, and began with the then-newest, working my way back to the first. I admired and enjoyed her writing then (and learned a lot), but her newest--first in a new series--goes far beyond, into literary territory. In WINTER AT THE DOOR, a novel I couldn't set aside, Sarah Graves carves entirely new territory, delving into abnormal psychology, domestic abuse and violence, sociopaths hiding in plain sight, obsession, and so much more. I am metaphorically biting my nails and holding my breath for the sequel.
March 8, 2015
Winter at the Door was an interesting start to a new series. I really liked Lizzie Snow from the beginning, and I thought the storyline was intriguing. The last half of the book seemed very busy, with so much going on, and with several plot lines tying in together. It kept my interest, but was almost too much during this part. There were things about Lizzie's past that I would have liked more information on, but I hope to find out more in the next book.
There were some good secondary characters in the series also, and some that weren't so likable. I look forward to seeing what happens to all of them next.
There were some good secondary characters in the series also, and some that weren't so likable. I look forward to seeing what happens to all of them next.
April 6, 2021
YEEEHa! A tough female cop arrives from Boston to Beerkill MN to work homicides (is that because Beerkill has so many?). Well, never been so happy about the murder rate in a small (tiny) Maine town, that's for sure!
Sarah Graves hits a home run with me.. I love tough, smart, and resilient Lizzy Snow with her painted nails and bright red lips! I am also fond of Dylan Hudson, with his crooked smile and bullet hole scars! But I think he will have to do more than he is to win the heart of Ms. Snow because I see Trey Washburn or Sheriff Cody Chevrier as competitors for her time and attention and maybe even her heart... the next book might just tell us more.
Graves' plot is smart and moves along at a brisk pace, Beerkill's small size fails to impact the speed of the action. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Sarah Graves hits a home run with me.. I love tough, smart, and resilient Lizzy Snow with her painted nails and bright red lips! I am also fond of Dylan Hudson, with his crooked smile and bullet hole scars! But I think he will have to do more than he is to win the heart of Ms. Snow because I see Trey Washburn or Sheriff Cody Chevrier as competitors for her time and attention and maybe even her heart... the next book might just tell us more.
Graves' plot is smart and moves along at a brisk pace, Beerkill's small size fails to impact the speed of the action. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
December 23, 2020
Good solid cop mystery novel. I enjoyed the setting. The story is paced well and the ending is believable. I'll check out the next one at some point.
March 28, 2021
My first from this author, it was a pretty good well written story. I liked the characters and the solid plot. I hope to find more intensity in the series going forward. I will read more in this series to see how it progresses. I liked that every plot element wasn't telegraphed and that while there weren't the omg twists, it did have turns and twists that kept me wondering. I liked Lizzy and you can't deny that a story with a dog isn't better. lol.
August 15, 2015
Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves is the first book I’ve read by this American author. It is also the first book in her Lizzie Snow series featuring a big city female cop. I was attracted to read this book because of the title, the cover and the blurb. More about this on the full review on my blog.
The premise sounded good. Lizzie Snow, a homicide detective, moves to Bearkill, Maine where she will be given the mission of solving a series of suspicious suicides of local cops, that may or may not be murders. What the people of Bearkill don’t know is that she has ulterior motives for moving there: she’s on a personal mission to find her long lost niece.
Sadly as much as I had high hopes for this female fronted story, it ended up not measuring to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it was not a bad book, but it lacked that oomph to make it one of those unputdownable and unforgettable stories. It was an OK read, nothing else.
It started OK. The first few chapters are a good intro so you can get to know the weird people of Bearkill. I kept reading and after the first quarter of the story there were still no thrills, only a bunch of weird characters whose relationship to the murders was still a mystery to me.
Half-way through, just when I thought the story couldn’t lack more spice it twisted into things that didn’t make sense. I kept hoping to be thrilled but at that point I wasn’t thrilled at all, just confused. And as the story progressed, I wasn’t fond of the sudden story-line changes. Once I was getting the hang of a story-line it changed into another one.
I kept waiting for the thrills, suspense and mystery of and I quote: “a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow stained blood red”, but that never happened. It turned out to be a predictable story in the end. And that last chapter felt like a terribly long afterword.
I was glad when I finally ended reading this book. Like I said in the beginning, Winter at the Door is not a bad book. In fact there are some rave reviews about it out there. It just didn’t do it for me. But feel free to check it out as well as the second installment in the Lizzie Snow series which will come out in 2016.
For more reviews and my other musings check out my blog :)
The premise sounded good. Lizzie Snow, a homicide detective, moves to Bearkill, Maine where she will be given the mission of solving a series of suspicious suicides of local cops, that may or may not be murders. What the people of Bearkill don’t know is that she has ulterior motives for moving there: she’s on a personal mission to find her long lost niece.
Sadly as much as I had high hopes for this female fronted story, it ended up not measuring to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it was not a bad book, but it lacked that oomph to make it one of those unputdownable and unforgettable stories. It was an OK read, nothing else.
It started OK. The first few chapters are a good intro so you can get to know the weird people of Bearkill. I kept reading and after the first quarter of the story there were still no thrills, only a bunch of weird characters whose relationship to the murders was still a mystery to me.
Half-way through, just when I thought the story couldn’t lack more spice it twisted into things that didn’t make sense. I kept hoping to be thrilled but at that point I wasn’t thrilled at all, just confused. And as the story progressed, I wasn’t fond of the sudden story-line changes. Once I was getting the hang of a story-line it changed into another one.
I kept waiting for the thrills, suspense and mystery of and I quote: “a showdown that could leave the deep, driven snow stained blood red”, but that never happened. It turned out to be a predictable story in the end. And that last chapter felt like a terribly long afterword.
I was glad when I finally ended reading this book. Like I said in the beginning, Winter at the Door is not a bad book. In fact there are some rave reviews about it out there. It just didn’t do it for me. But feel free to check it out as well as the second installment in the Lizzie Snow series which will come out in 2016.
For more reviews and my other musings check out my blog :)
January 7, 2016
I first became acquainted with Sarah Graves through her Home Repair Is Homicide cozy series featuring Jacobia Tiptree. When I saw her name on this new series that looked much edgier, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm glad I did.
Lizzie Snow is definitely a city girl with her city clothes, hair, and makeup. But don't let that fool you. She's smart, tough, and intuitive. She also has a good sense of humor, and her one-liners often bring badly needed comic relief after something dire has occurred. I really enjoyed Lizzie's voice-- and the setting of the Great North Woods of Maine. As an outsider myself, I appreciated following along with Lizzie as she became acquainted with the local residents.
One of the strengths of Winter at the Door is its cast of characters. Yes, Lizzie is front and center, but she's not the only interesting face in the crowd. Her boss, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, has some of the traits of a more famous fictional Wyoming sheriff, and it definitely makes me keep an eye on him whenever he appears. Then there's a young woman named Missy; Lizzie thinks Missy would be top notch working in her office-- and I agree. Trey, the local veterinarian, is easy on the eye and the heart, but unfortunately Lizzie keeps getting distracted by an old flame who broke her heart. Dylan is the heartbreaker, and I wish he'd leave Lizzie alone. Romantic triangles get old really fast.
Then there's the young boy called Spud. Is he a good kid? A bad one? Can he be put on the right path? I learned a lot about both Spud and Lizzie in their scenes together.
Graves had me in the palm of my hand with her setting, story, and characters. The only thing that kept me from giving this book the highest rating that I could was the fact that there was a bit too much going on all at once for such a sparsely populated area-- and a few inconsistencies (a radical personality change, smoking wood that had just been completely soaked with water, a gunshot victim who's a miracle healer) that could've been taken care of with more careful editing. I can see these things throwing some readers completely out of the story. Thankfully I just filed these tidbits away and kept on enjoying-- so much so that I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Girls She Left Behind.
Lizzie Snow is definitely a city girl with her city clothes, hair, and makeup. But don't let that fool you. She's smart, tough, and intuitive. She also has a good sense of humor, and her one-liners often bring badly needed comic relief after something dire has occurred. I really enjoyed Lizzie's voice-- and the setting of the Great North Woods of Maine. As an outsider myself, I appreciated following along with Lizzie as she became acquainted with the local residents.
One of the strengths of Winter at the Door is its cast of characters. Yes, Lizzie is front and center, but she's not the only interesting face in the crowd. Her boss, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, has some of the traits of a more famous fictional Wyoming sheriff, and it definitely makes me keep an eye on him whenever he appears. Then there's a young woman named Missy; Lizzie thinks Missy would be top notch working in her office-- and I agree. Trey, the local veterinarian, is easy on the eye and the heart, but unfortunately Lizzie keeps getting distracted by an old flame who broke her heart. Dylan is the heartbreaker, and I wish he'd leave Lizzie alone. Romantic triangles get old really fast.
Then there's the young boy called Spud. Is he a good kid? A bad one? Can he be put on the right path? I learned a lot about both Spud and Lizzie in their scenes together.
Graves had me in the palm of my hand with her setting, story, and characters. The only thing that kept me from giving this book the highest rating that I could was the fact that there was a bit too much going on all at once for such a sparsely populated area-- and a few inconsistencies (a radical personality change, smoking wood that had just been completely soaked with water, a gunshot victim who's a miracle healer) that could've been taken care of with more careful editing. I can see these things throwing some readers completely out of the story. Thankfully I just filed these tidbits away and kept on enjoying-- so much so that I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Girls She Left Behind.
December 28, 2014
A special thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Bantam Dell, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
WINTER AT THE DOOR (Lizzie Snow #1), a new crime series by Sarah Graves introduces likable cop, Lizzie Snow who has left Boston for Bearkill, Maine where things are rather dark, and not so calm.
Liz has some troubles of her own with her sister’s death and her missing niece, Nicki which is a big reason for coming to Maine in all its cold and ice. As small towns go, outside visitors are not so welcome and forthcoming with information.
To further complicate matters, the handsome state cop, Dylan who once broke her heart wants another chance and her boss, Cody needs her help in solving the death of former cops. What ties the murders to ex-cops? Dylan is also investigating the murders of two girls and leads him to the area, so Lizzie has plenty of action going on.
This was my first book by Graves and enjoyed the short fast-paced crime mystery as she sets up for the next installment. I had read Winter at the Door compares to a few books I have read: This Little Piggy by Bea Davenport, Fallen by Leslie Tentler, and Presumption of Guilt by Marti Green; however, did not find a lot of similarities as each have their own unique style.
I delighted to be introduced to this newfound author and look forward to reading more from the Lizzie Snow character, as she is funny, quirky, and smart and enjoy her personality. Sounds like the author knows her way around Maine and the snow.
(I enjoy reading about it, but prefer my warm sunny beach weather here in South Florida, even though a rustic log cabin in the woods with a fire, a crime thriller, and snow sounds warm and cozy)!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
WINTER AT THE DOOR (Lizzie Snow #1), a new crime series by Sarah Graves introduces likable cop, Lizzie Snow who has left Boston for Bearkill, Maine where things are rather dark, and not so calm.
Liz has some troubles of her own with her sister’s death and her missing niece, Nicki which is a big reason for coming to Maine in all its cold and ice. As small towns go, outside visitors are not so welcome and forthcoming with information.
To further complicate matters, the handsome state cop, Dylan who once broke her heart wants another chance and her boss, Cody needs her help in solving the death of former cops. What ties the murders to ex-cops? Dylan is also investigating the murders of two girls and leads him to the area, so Lizzie has plenty of action going on.
This was my first book by Graves and enjoyed the short fast-paced crime mystery as she sets up for the next installment. I had read Winter at the Door compares to a few books I have read: This Little Piggy by Bea Davenport, Fallen by Leslie Tentler, and Presumption of Guilt by Marti Green; however, did not find a lot of similarities as each have their own unique style.
I delighted to be introduced to this newfound author and look forward to reading more from the Lizzie Snow character, as she is funny, quirky, and smart and enjoy her personality. Sounds like the author knows her way around Maine and the snow.
(I enjoy reading about it, but prefer my warm sunny beach weather here in South Florida, even though a rustic log cabin in the woods with a fire, a crime thriller, and snow sounds warm and cozy)!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
July 30, 2015
It was ok. I had two problems with this book. The first was the use of the word "freaking" instead of the actual swear word when characters found themselves in circumstances under extreme stress - it just didn't ring true for me. Graves would have been better off changing the dialogue completely instead of making this weak substitution. I get it that some people don't like to write with swear words, and that is fine. However, Graves does use other obscenities, albeit sparingly, so I assume this isn't the reason. The second problem I had deals with the underlying premise of the book. The main character gives up her entire life to move to Nowheresville because a man she was previously involved with shows her a picture of a nine year old girl in the bush. This girl is possibly her niece whom she hasn't seen in 8 years. There was absolutely no information provided to support the idea that this might be her niece. So there is some girl who might be living in unusual circumstances out in the wilderness. Why would she think this has anything to do with her niece? It seems completely random to me. I could maybe see it if she saw a closeup of the girl and realized she looked EXACTLY like her murdered sister - it would have been a stretch, but I could maybe have suspended disbelief. As it is - hey, there's a blonde-haired, blue-eyed nine year old girl who lives in Florida who doesn't resemble her parents - maybe it's your niece! If you showed me either of my own children at age nine after they had been missing since the age of one, I doubt I could identify them from police lineup, and I am their mother; I can't imagine that an aunt would be able to distinguish between her niece and some unrelated girl. Where is the investigative work Ms. Law Enforcement Lady?
January 26, 2015
Witty, pager-turner, some-what predictable, are just a few words to describe Winter at the Door, a mysterious thriller.
Being one that likes to “solve the case” along with the protagonist, it feeds my need to living the life of a detective without putting my life in any real danger. Yes, your heart will beat a million miles a second, but I am sitting comfortable in my chair! The narration is done in two voices, Lizzie who has transferred from Boston to Maine as law enforcement agent to help with a case of mysterious deaths of law enforcement agents. Were they suicide or something more sinister? Lizzie who goes to Maine under the pretense of these deaths but she has her own reasons for the transfer. A trail has ended in Maine for her missing niece.
The other voice is contrasting to Lizzie-Spud a disturbed teenager. What role does he play and what is he hiding?
With these two voices, you are easily engaged in the setting of Maine and the several plots being played out in this little town and how they all come together.
Will be anticipating the next installment of Lizzie Snow!
A special thank you to Goodreads for the win and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Being one that likes to “solve the case” along with the protagonist, it feeds my need to living the life of a detective without putting my life in any real danger. Yes, your heart will beat a million miles a second, but I am sitting comfortable in my chair! The narration is done in two voices, Lizzie who has transferred from Boston to Maine as law enforcement agent to help with a case of mysterious deaths of law enforcement agents. Were they suicide or something more sinister? Lizzie who goes to Maine under the pretense of these deaths but she has her own reasons for the transfer. A trail has ended in Maine for her missing niece.
The other voice is contrasting to Lizzie-Spud a disturbed teenager. What role does he play and what is he hiding?
With these two voices, you are easily engaged in the setting of Maine and the several plots being played out in this little town and how they all come together.
Will be anticipating the next installment of Lizzie Snow!
A special thank you to Goodreads for the win and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 7, 2017
This book was hard to get into. The writer would stop a conversation between two characters to tell too much about the past or about what a scene looked like at that moment and go on and on about it, till the conversation continued to take place 2 pages later. This is an example of how it was...
Once upon a time Sally said, "John, why did you....." Sally noticed that the trees had snow on them, that brought back a memory from long ago, when she was 8, her father blah blah blah, John said, "What Sally?" Sally said, "why did you go over to Grams house on the night....." Sally thought about that night as it was vivid in her mind, and that brought back another memory of when she was 10, blah blah blah....
This book got on my ever lovin' nerves. I give it 2 stars, it was not put together well, and it was just a shabby read. Also I thought it would be about Winter, but it takes place in the fall and no snow arrives till the end of the book. I am a winter lover so I thought it would have descriptions of that as well, no such luck. This book was all over the place.
BLAH
Once upon a time Sally said, "John, why did you....." Sally noticed that the trees had snow on them, that brought back a memory from long ago, when she was 8, her father blah blah blah, John said, "What Sally?" Sally said, "why did you go over to Grams house on the night....." Sally thought about that night as it was vivid in her mind, and that brought back another memory of when she was 10, blah blah blah....
This book got on my ever lovin' nerves. I give it 2 stars, it was not put together well, and it was just a shabby read. Also I thought it would be about Winter, but it takes place in the fall and no snow arrives till the end of the book. I am a winter lover so I thought it would have descriptions of that as well, no such luck. This book was all over the place.
BLAH
February 3, 2015
With her new series and character, Sarah Graves joins a great group of home-grown authors depicting the grittier side of Maine. Like Kate Flora, Gerry Boyle, James Hayman and Paul Doiron, she's created a piece of hardscrabble life that's pretty real if you're a Mainer and her story and characters will grow on those from 'away.' I like the setting and the backstory as well as the crimes that kick off this book. Going from a series that has a fair amount of humor to one that is as serious as a Maine funeral in twenty below weather isn't easy, but if this debut is an example of what's to come, mystery lovers, particularly those who like Maine settings, are in for more treats down the road.
May 13, 2019
Slow in the beginning and picks up as you read. This is first book of two, hopefully it will be in a series.
August 7, 2021
Lizzie Snow was an okay character but Dylan Hudson is and always has been a total jerk and Trey Washburn is way too good for her.
The "demented grandma" story line was so stupid - like Missy would really have continued to let her baby be at risk - because there were obvious signs of dementia.
I really dislike romantic triangles, especially when one suitor is so unworthy. I will not continue with this series.
The "demented grandma" story line was so stupid - like Missy would really have continued to let her baby be at risk - because there were obvious signs of dementia.
I really dislike romantic triangles, especially when one suitor is so unworthy. I will not continue with this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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