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Detective Jo Larsen #1
Walk Into Silence
A woman vanishes from a Texas town. Did she simply run off, or is something darker at play?
When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it’s a case of a bored housewife running away.
But as she digs deeper into Jenny’s life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny’s first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts—including her doctor’s—she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can’t be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear.
For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.
When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it’s a case of a bored housewife running away.
But as she digs deeper into Jenny’s life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny’s first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts—including her doctor’s—she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can’t be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear.
For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.
357 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2016
2438 people are currently reading
5438 people want to read
About the author
Susan McBride
24 books497 followersSusan McBride is the USA Today Bestselling author of Blue Blood and five more award-winning Debutante Dropout Mysteries from HarperCollins, including The Good Girl's Guide To Murder, The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club, Night Of The Living Deb, Too Pretty To Die, and Say Yes to the Death. Susan has a second bestselling series with HC/Avon, the River Road Mysteries, that include To Helen Back, Mad as Helen, and Not a Chance in Helen. A fourth installment, Come Helen High Water, will be released in 2017.
Walk Into Silence, a thriller featuring Texas police detective Jo Larsen, was named a Kindle First pick for November 2016 and was the #1 paid Kindle bestseller in the US and UK (and #3 in Australia!). Walk a Crooked Line, the second Jo Larsen book, will be released in July 2018 by Thomas & Mercer.
Susan's young adult thriller, Very Bad Things, was released by Random House in 2014. In addition to her mysteries, she has penned three well-received women's fiction titles from HarperCollins: The Truth About Love & Lightning, Little Black Dress, and The Cougar Club. Foreign editions of Susan's books have been published in France, Turkey, Croatia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria.
Susan has one nonfiction title: In the Pink: How I Met the Perfect (Younger) Man, Survived Breast Cancer, and Found True Happiness After 40, which tells her tale of becoming an "accidental Cougar" and marrying a younger man, her cancer diagnosis at age 42, and finding herself pregnant at 47.
She has authored several YA non-mystery novels for Delacorte about debutantes in Houston: The Debs (2008) and Love, Lies, And Texas Dips (2009). Gloves Off, the third book, will be out sometime in the future.
In January of 2012, Susan was named one of St. Louis's "Most Dynamic People of the Year" by the Ladue News. In April of 2012, she was given the "Survivor of the Year" Award by the St. Louis affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. As Susan likes to say, "Life is never boring."
Walk Into Silence, a thriller featuring Texas police detective Jo Larsen, was named a Kindle First pick for November 2016 and was the #1 paid Kindle bestseller in the US and UK (and #3 in Australia!). Walk a Crooked Line, the second Jo Larsen book, will be released in July 2018 by Thomas & Mercer.
Susan's young adult thriller, Very Bad Things, was released by Random House in 2014. In addition to her mysteries, she has penned three well-received women's fiction titles from HarperCollins: The Truth About Love & Lightning, Little Black Dress, and The Cougar Club. Foreign editions of Susan's books have been published in France, Turkey, Croatia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria.
Susan has one nonfiction title: In the Pink: How I Met the Perfect (Younger) Man, Survived Breast Cancer, and Found True Happiness After 40, which tells her tale of becoming an "accidental Cougar" and marrying a younger man, her cancer diagnosis at age 42, and finding herself pregnant at 47.
She has authored several YA non-mystery novels for Delacorte about debutantes in Houston: The Debs (2008) and Love, Lies, And Texas Dips (2009). Gloves Off, the third book, will be out sometime in the future.
In January of 2012, Susan was named one of St. Louis's "Most Dynamic People of the Year" by the Ladue News. In April of 2012, she was given the "Survivor of the Year" Award by the St. Louis affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. As Susan likes to say, "Life is never boring."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 655 reviews
December 15, 2016
There seems to be a trend that is growing by leaps and bounds with novels featuring deeply flawed, damaged female detectives. It would be a treat to come across an interesting lady cop character who is not dealing with some deep-seated emotional scarring, barely hanging onto her sanity by working cases which are invariably similar to her own background trauma. That is not going to happen here. Agreed, the setup is a good one, but I already have a couple of fast favorites with Marson's Kim Stone and Bryndza's Erika Foster.
Setting that aside, this is a good serviceable police crime murder mystery. I liked the team of Jo Larsen and Hank Phelps, but not enough to seriously consider following the series. This was a Kindle First offering from November.
Setting that aside, this is a good serviceable police crime murder mystery. I liked the team of Jo Larsen and Hank Phelps, but not enough to seriously consider following the series. This was a Kindle First offering from November.
dnf
December 27, 2018The 2nd crime mystery in a row with a cheating involved.
I try to escape CR for that reason, and they throw cheating in thrillers my way?!
Come on, authors, please don't do it.
It ruins your supposing strong heroine!
I can only speak for myself, but I have ZERO respect for women, who get involved with married men. Zero!
And men, who cheat on their wives (even if those are portrayed as evil, are just plain shitty cheaters).
He cheated with you on his wife/gf? We would definitely cheat on you with another woman!
Bummer!
DNF!
I try to escape CR for that reason, and they throw cheating in thrillers my way?!
Come on, authors, please don't do it.
It ruins your supposing strong heroine!
I can only speak for myself, but I have ZERO respect for women, who get involved with married men. Zero!
And men, who cheat on their wives (even if those are portrayed as evil, are just plain shitty cheaters).
He cheated with you on his wife/gf? We would definitely cheat on you with another woman!
Bummer!
DNF!
November 8, 2016
Here I am again, in this uncomfortable position of not liking a book many people have loved. The feeling is a bit like walking into a formal event wearing a bikini - and I don't even wear a bikini on the beach anymore, much less to a formal party. So I'll apologize for my inappropriate attire, but I can't apologize for my opinion.
This book is not horrible, not at all. The author clearly knows how to write. The plot is intriguing.
But...
The characters have no flare, nothing unique or surprising. They feel flat and one-dimensional. We get to know Jo, the lead character, gradually as the story unfolds. She has some secrets and a darkness to her that should have captured my interest, but she never truly comes alive. The "bad guys/girls" are clearly unlikable from the start. They have no redeeming factors, nothing that makes you want to like them even a little bit. This is all too black and white, good and bad, without any of the tension that accompanies complex characters.
The book is written mostly from Jo's perspective, but we get to know Jenny, the murder victim, through snippets of her journal along the way. Oddly, this dead character is the only one that really comes alive on the pages. The journal entries are exceptionally well written.
Pacing is quite slow. We spend a lot of time in Jo's head, which should have helped us get to know her, but most of this introspection is spent rehashing the exact same thought process and case details. The repetition slows everything down without adding depth. The book is quite long, but through much of it there isn't a lot happening.
Then we get to the 'whodunit' at the end. I figured out who did it early on, so that wasn't a surprise. Even the why is pretty obvious before the midway point. There is a bit of a twist, but it doesn't make much sense. The ending seems tossed together, with no plausible explanation allowing me to make the leap and believe the twist.
In the end, I'm left with a story that should have been compelling but instead is largely forgettable. Of course, this is only my opinion. Lots of early reviewers have loved this story, so, if the plot appeals to you, go ahead and give it a try.
This book is not horrible, not at all. The author clearly knows how to write. The plot is intriguing.
But...
The characters have no flare, nothing unique or surprising. They feel flat and one-dimensional. We get to know Jo, the lead character, gradually as the story unfolds. She has some secrets and a darkness to her that should have captured my interest, but she never truly comes alive. The "bad guys/girls" are clearly unlikable from the start. They have no redeeming factors, nothing that makes you want to like them even a little bit. This is all too black and white, good and bad, without any of the tension that accompanies complex characters.
The book is written mostly from Jo's perspective, but we get to know Jenny, the murder victim, through snippets of her journal along the way. Oddly, this dead character is the only one that really comes alive on the pages. The journal entries are exceptionally well written.
Pacing is quite slow. We spend a lot of time in Jo's head, which should have helped us get to know her, but most of this introspection is spent rehashing the exact same thought process and case details. The repetition slows everything down without adding depth. The book is quite long, but through much of it there isn't a lot happening.
Then we get to the 'whodunit' at the end. I figured out who did it early on, so that wasn't a surprise. Even the why is pretty obvious before the midway point. There is a bit of a twist, but it doesn't make much sense. The ending seems tossed together, with no plausible explanation allowing me to make the leap and believe the twist.
In the end, I'm left with a story that should have been compelling but instead is largely forgettable. Of course, this is only my opinion. Lots of early reviewers have loved this story, so, if the plot appeals to you, go ahead and give it a try.
November 10, 2023
I liked the first book so much that I hope to read the second and get into the series. There was a lot of suspense and the detective had to rely a lot on intuition. I can't say much more than that or it might spoil something, but I truly loved the book.
February 10, 2017
Walk into Silence is a tense and absorbing psychological thriller and Susan McBride writes with a sharp edge and a clever eye towards characterisation that just draws you in.
I liked how there was hidden common ground between the woman who has disappeared and the woman who is trying to find her – the plot is solid and addictive and the question of whether Jenny has gone by choice or by force is one that keeps you reading. The lines are blurred, there are some dark themes and current issues underneath the outer narrative and the whole story was riveting.
It is at times thrilling then melancholy, the storytelling is solidly compelling and its one of those books where you just want everything to be ok but realise that it probably won’t be. As a reader I became emotionally invested in the characters quite early on, always something that needs to happen for me to enjoy a novel.
Overall I thought it was very good indeed. And I’m happy that it seems this will become a series. I would love to read more.
I liked how there was hidden common ground between the woman who has disappeared and the woman who is trying to find her – the plot is solid and addictive and the question of whether Jenny has gone by choice or by force is one that keeps you reading. The lines are blurred, there are some dark themes and current issues underneath the outer narrative and the whole story was riveting.
It is at times thrilling then melancholy, the storytelling is solidly compelling and its one of those books where you just want everything to be ok but realise that it probably won’t be. As a reader I became emotionally invested in the characters quite early on, always something that needs to happen for me to enjoy a novel.
Overall I thought it was very good indeed. And I’m happy that it seems this will become a series. I would love to read more.
November 10, 2016
Very good murder/mystery.
Starts out with with missing wife, but you suspect she isn't just missing. Her second controlling husband reports about his life didn't come home last night, her son from her first marriage is died almost three years ago. She's very depressed and wonders about his death, was it murder? Trying to find the answer to questions, meantime strange things happening in her house. She suspects her husband is having an affair with her, and doesn't listen her. Her first husband is very famous doctor in Dallas, and married to rich Dallas real estate developer's daughter, and about to get big promotion. Story line in parts slow, but gave me a time to figure out who was behind this. Characters and all the supporting characters are well written. Exciting and suspenseful story. Glad I chose this book, very happy to have another female author on my must read list. Also very happy about Ernie, he has a loving mother again.
Starts out with with missing wife, but you suspect she isn't just missing. Her second controlling husband reports about his life didn't come home last night, her son from her first marriage is died almost three years ago. She's very depressed and wonders about his death, was it murder? Trying to find the answer to questions, meantime strange things happening in her house. She suspects her husband is having an affair with her, and doesn't listen her. Her first husband is very famous doctor in Dallas, and married to rich Dallas real estate developer's daughter, and about to get big promotion. Story line in parts slow, but gave me a time to figure out who was behind this. Characters and all the supporting characters are well written. Exciting and suspenseful story. Glad I chose this book, very happy to have another female author on my must read list. Also very happy about Ernie, he has a loving mother again.
October 10, 2016
I’m not a new reader to author Susan McBride’s books. Her Debutante Dropout Mystery series is a favorite of mine. Ms. McBride has a great sense of humor and the characters in her books take after her. They are witty and really funny. There’s always a laugh and a smile when I read one of her novels.
Then I received a copy of the author’s newest book, “Walk Into Silence”, and I suspected that this novel wouldn’t have very many laughs in it at all. I was right. This is a serious book and one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in awhile.
Police Detective Jo Larsen is sitting in her office one day thinking about Adam McCaffrey, the married man she loves. Jo knew that it was wrong falling for a taken man but love sometimes wins out over logic but he just called and said that he left his wife and can now be with her. Jo isn’t sure what to make of all this so when Patrick Dielman entered her office she was happy to get her mind off Adam, that was until she heard why Mr. Dielman was at the police station.
Jenny, Patrick’s 35 year - old wife, is missing. The last her husband heard from her was when she told him that she was on her way to the Warehouse Club to do some shopping. That was earlier in the day and she never returned. Patrick swears that Jenny is not the kind of person who would just up and leave. She leads a quiet life and works at the library when she isn’t home. To Jo, Patrick seemed like the type of man who controls his wife’s life and this might be the reason why Jenny vanished. But when Jo and her partner, Detective Hank Phelps, start to investigate they learn a lot about the missing Mrs. Dielman.
Previous to Patrick Dielman Jenny was married for seven years to Dr. Kevin Harrison. They had a son together, Finnegan, who died when he was six years old. Kevin was supposed to have been watching the young boy but was on the phone when Finn climbed up to his tree house and fell. Kevin and everyone else said it was a tragic accident but Jenny believed differently. Needless to say their not so great marriage went downhill from there and the couple divorced each marrying someone else. But Jenny knew something strange happened that caused her son to die and she needed to find the proof that showed that her ex husband, Kevin Harrison, had something to do with the death and had been lying to everyone.
No one believed that Finn’s death wasn’t an accident and that Jenny was obsessed about her son because the anniversary of his death was a couple of weeks away. But now Jen is missing and her husband Patrick and the detectives are getting concerned.
Jo checked the Warehouse Club and there was proof that Jen did go there and it looked like she left because her car wasn’t in the parking lot. Where was Jenny and where was the car? Both questions were soon answered when her vehicle was located at the quarry and Jenny’s body was found 50 feet blow in a basin, a gunshot wound in her head. Right beside Jenny’s body was the gun her husband Patrick bought for her for protection. Did Jenny kill herself because of her severe depression; did her controlling husband murder her; or was she getting a little too close for comfort to someone in discovering what really happened that caused the death of her son, Finn?
That’s the murder mystery of this terrific thriller but there’s so much more to the novel than that. Jo and Jenny share a similar problem. Both had horrible childhoods dealing with a parent that caused each of them to run away from society and to not trust people. Jo couldn’t tell anyone what her life was like as a child and because of that she built a wall around her not letting anyone in. Not Adam, the man she loved, nor her partner, Hank, who would do anything for Jo.
Jenny did have people who knew what her life was like as a child. Her sister, Kimberly Parks knew what Jen went through and how Jen protected Kim as they were growing up. The abuse caused Jen to have problems trusting people the same trust problem that Detective Larsen had.
Readers know about the pain that these two women share. The book masterfully describes Jo’s feelings and her fears but the amazing part was how readers learn about how Jenny was feeling when it came her childhood and how she tried to find out the truth when it came to her first husband and her son's death. Jenny kept a journal and readers get glimpses of what was going on in Jenny’s head by reading some of her entries.
Susan McBride wrote the journal entries so realistically that tears will come to your eyes as you read them. Jen describes her fears, thoughts, and ideas so beautifully that it will make you wonder how Ms. McBride was able to get so much emotion out of this sad character. Emotions that she couldn’t share with the rest of the world because no one took her seriously. Even when strange things started to occur at the home she shared with husband, Patrick, her concerns about them were chalked up to her being upset over the upcoming anniversary of her son’s death.
Detective Larsen worked hard to find Jen’s killer because she felt that she and Jen were sisters, sharing the same abuse as a child and sharing the affects of that abuse as adults. Where at first her partner, Hank, believed that Jen’s death was a suicide Jo soon persuades him to see it as a murder.
“Walk Into Silence” is not your typical “whodunit.” We aren’t given a list of suspects and then have the real murderer appear out of left field. Ms. McBride has Jo and Hank take our hands and lead us into their investigation and when they figure out who the culprit is readers discover it along with the detectives as we walk with them as they find the proof they need.
This an amazingly good book and I’m happy to see that Susan McBride can write an excellent serious mystery with a wonderful story line. She’s able to explain to readers how an abusive relationship, no matter who it is with or when it occurred, will always affect the person and the people in their lives.
With any luck “Walk Into Silence” is the first of a new Susan McBride series and we'll be seeing much more of Detectives Jo Larsen and Hank Phelps. Do not miss this incredible story.
Then I received a copy of the author’s newest book, “Walk Into Silence”, and I suspected that this novel wouldn’t have very many laughs in it at all. I was right. This is a serious book and one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in awhile.
Police Detective Jo Larsen is sitting in her office one day thinking about Adam McCaffrey, the married man she loves. Jo knew that it was wrong falling for a taken man but love sometimes wins out over logic but he just called and said that he left his wife and can now be with her. Jo isn’t sure what to make of all this so when Patrick Dielman entered her office she was happy to get her mind off Adam, that was until she heard why Mr. Dielman was at the police station.
Jenny, Patrick’s 35 year - old wife, is missing. The last her husband heard from her was when she told him that she was on her way to the Warehouse Club to do some shopping. That was earlier in the day and she never returned. Patrick swears that Jenny is not the kind of person who would just up and leave. She leads a quiet life and works at the library when she isn’t home. To Jo, Patrick seemed like the type of man who controls his wife’s life and this might be the reason why Jenny vanished. But when Jo and her partner, Detective Hank Phelps, start to investigate they learn a lot about the missing Mrs. Dielman.
Previous to Patrick Dielman Jenny was married for seven years to Dr. Kevin Harrison. They had a son together, Finnegan, who died when he was six years old. Kevin was supposed to have been watching the young boy but was on the phone when Finn climbed up to his tree house and fell. Kevin and everyone else said it was a tragic accident but Jenny believed differently. Needless to say their not so great marriage went downhill from there and the couple divorced each marrying someone else. But Jenny knew something strange happened that caused her son to die and she needed to find the proof that showed that her ex husband, Kevin Harrison, had something to do with the death and had been lying to everyone.
No one believed that Finn’s death wasn’t an accident and that Jenny was obsessed about her son because the anniversary of his death was a couple of weeks away. But now Jen is missing and her husband Patrick and the detectives are getting concerned.
Jo checked the Warehouse Club and there was proof that Jen did go there and it looked like she left because her car wasn’t in the parking lot. Where was Jenny and where was the car? Both questions were soon answered when her vehicle was located at the quarry and Jenny’s body was found 50 feet blow in a basin, a gunshot wound in her head. Right beside Jenny’s body was the gun her husband Patrick bought for her for protection. Did Jenny kill herself because of her severe depression; did her controlling husband murder her; or was she getting a little too close for comfort to someone in discovering what really happened that caused the death of her son, Finn?
That’s the murder mystery of this terrific thriller but there’s so much more to the novel than that. Jo and Jenny share a similar problem. Both had horrible childhoods dealing with a parent that caused each of them to run away from society and to not trust people. Jo couldn’t tell anyone what her life was like as a child and because of that she built a wall around her not letting anyone in. Not Adam, the man she loved, nor her partner, Hank, who would do anything for Jo.
Jenny did have people who knew what her life was like as a child. Her sister, Kimberly Parks knew what Jen went through and how Jen protected Kim as they were growing up. The abuse caused Jen to have problems trusting people the same trust problem that Detective Larsen had.
Readers know about the pain that these two women share. The book masterfully describes Jo’s feelings and her fears but the amazing part was how readers learn about how Jenny was feeling when it came her childhood and how she tried to find out the truth when it came to her first husband and her son's death. Jenny kept a journal and readers get glimpses of what was going on in Jenny’s head by reading some of her entries.
Susan McBride wrote the journal entries so realistically that tears will come to your eyes as you read them. Jen describes her fears, thoughts, and ideas so beautifully that it will make you wonder how Ms. McBride was able to get so much emotion out of this sad character. Emotions that she couldn’t share with the rest of the world because no one took her seriously. Even when strange things started to occur at the home she shared with husband, Patrick, her concerns about them were chalked up to her being upset over the upcoming anniversary of her son’s death.
Detective Larsen worked hard to find Jen’s killer because she felt that she and Jen were sisters, sharing the same abuse as a child and sharing the affects of that abuse as adults. Where at first her partner, Hank, believed that Jen’s death was a suicide Jo soon persuades him to see it as a murder.
“Walk Into Silence” is not your typical “whodunit.” We aren’t given a list of suspects and then have the real murderer appear out of left field. Ms. McBride has Jo and Hank take our hands and lead us into their investigation and when they figure out who the culprit is readers discover it along with the detectives as we walk with them as they find the proof they need.
This an amazingly good book and I’m happy to see that Susan McBride can write an excellent serious mystery with a wonderful story line. She’s able to explain to readers how an abusive relationship, no matter who it is with or when it occurred, will always affect the person and the people in their lives.
With any luck “Walk Into Silence” is the first of a new Susan McBride series and we'll be seeing much more of Detectives Jo Larsen and Hank Phelps. Do not miss this incredible story.
November 24, 2016
A good police procedural...
This was one of the Kindle First titles offered for November, and I'll admit that I had my reservations after seeing previous reviews. I was pleasantly surprised,as the main characters were complex and well fleshed out. I was impressed because even the heroes had flaws, instead of being typical cookie cutter good guys, with perfect hair and stellar backgrounds.
Walk Into Silence has a pervasive sadness that some might find difficult to deal with, but to me, it gave the story an authenticity that would have been lost had there been the levity that others might have attempted. The victims and their families were treated with respect and kindness, and the officers, coroners office and crime technicians were professional and dedicated. Some reviewers mentioned that they had figured out "who done it" before the police, but we readers had information that the police weren't privy to, namely the victim's journal.
Walk Into Silence was excellently written, thought provoking, and flowed well. Highly recommended.
This was one of the Kindle First titles offered for November, and I'll admit that I had my reservations after seeing previous reviews. I was pleasantly surprised,as the main characters were complex and well fleshed out. I was impressed because even the heroes had flaws, instead of being typical cookie cutter good guys, with perfect hair and stellar backgrounds.
Walk Into Silence has a pervasive sadness that some might find difficult to deal with, but to me, it gave the story an authenticity that would have been lost had there been the levity that others might have attempted. The victims and their families were treated with respect and kindness, and the officers, coroners office and crime technicians were professional and dedicated. Some reviewers mentioned that they had figured out "who done it" before the police, but we readers had information that the police weren't privy to, namely the victim's journal.
Walk Into Silence was excellently written, thought provoking, and flowed well. Highly recommended.
February 8, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a really good book from beginning to end! The story is told through the Detective, Jo and through journal entries by Jenny who has disappeared either because she has run off or because she has been the victim of foul play. The characters were very well developed and the story itself was very suspenseful and at times quite intense. I like how the author was able to throw in humor here and there to lighten it up and make the characters even more endearing. I hope there will be more stories about this detective in the near future.
November 30, 2016
From the July 3, 2016, edition of Publishers Weekly:
"This gripping standalone from McBride (Not a Chance in Helen and two other Helen Evans mysteries) successfully entwines the story of troubled Jenny Dielman with that of Jo Larsen, a serious and methodical police detective who investigates Dielman’s sudden and inexplicable disappearance. Both women are haunted by their difficult and traumatic pasts, and both have left the big-city gloss of Dallas for the apparent simplicity and tranquility of the small town of Plainfield, Tex. But their change of location has not, as the women hoped, brought about a resolution to their respective problems. Both Dielman and Larsen have begun treatment with psychologists. Excerpts from Dielman’s diary, which her therapist suggested she keep, heighten the suspense. Analyzing the crimes perpetrated against the missing woman helps Larsen to find the strength to examine her own inner demons. A suspicious death, a murder, and submerged passions all figure in this tale of twisted love and redemption."
"This gripping standalone from McBride (Not a Chance in Helen and two other Helen Evans mysteries) successfully entwines the story of troubled Jenny Dielman with that of Jo Larsen, a serious and methodical police detective who investigates Dielman’s sudden and inexplicable disappearance. Both women are haunted by their difficult and traumatic pasts, and both have left the big-city gloss of Dallas for the apparent simplicity and tranquility of the small town of Plainfield, Tex. But their change of location has not, as the women hoped, brought about a resolution to their respective problems. Both Dielman and Larsen have begun treatment with psychologists. Excerpts from Dielman’s diary, which her therapist suggested she keep, heighten the suspense. Analyzing the crimes perpetrated against the missing woman helps Larsen to find the strength to examine her own inner demons. A suspicious death, a murder, and submerged passions all figure in this tale of twisted love and redemption."
November 6, 2016
This is the first time I have ever written a review, and I'm only writing it because I feel like I must have read a different book from all the glowing reviews on the main page. None of these characters had any depth or made you care about them. The plot was entirely predictable and frankly just didn't make any sense. Why would they DO that?! I'm glad I didn't pay for this book.
December 16, 2016
Finished reading: December 11th 2016
“The human mind is a tricky piece of machinery. It's hard to anticipate what anyone might do from one day to the next, even the most rational human being, but especially those under severe psychological stress.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
May 18, 2018
Loved this mystery even though it dealt with some serious topics that made me wonder if Susan had looked into my mind.
February 7, 2017
Good book
I gave this book five stars because I really enjoyed it. I let others review all the points of the story as it unfolds, but I just want to let others know why they should pick it up. It is well edited, no typos, and enough twisty turns to keep you guessing. It's told with no unnecessary profanity or graphic sex that some object to. It's also helped along with chapters from the victim's journal to provide hints. Still it's difficult to pre-solve the mystery until the end. I like this author and will certainly watch for the second book with this one's detective.
I gave this book five stars because I really enjoyed it. I let others review all the points of the story as it unfolds, but I just want to let others know why they should pick it up. It is well edited, no typos, and enough twisty turns to keep you guessing. It's told with no unnecessary profanity or graphic sex that some object to. It's also helped along with chapters from the victim's journal to provide hints. Still it's difficult to pre-solve the mystery until the end. I like this author and will certainly watch for the second book with this one's detective.
November 27, 2016
Well written and intriguing police procedural with a likable detective protagonist and a whole lot of twists and turns. I found this story engaging from beginning to end and wickedly tough to figure out. Highly recommended.
February 6, 2017
I love when I download a free (or cheap) book for my Kindle and discover a new author. Walk Into Silence was a gripping story with believable, real characters, and a lot of depth. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to other books by Susan McBride in the future.
October 8, 2017
This was a really good book. Jo Larsen is a detective and a darned good one. When Patrick Dielman comes to her office claiming his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo promises to look into it. She soon learns that Patrick is Jenny's second husband. She and her first husband, Kevin Harrison, had a son named Finn who died in a freak accident almost three years ago. After the boy's death, Jo and Harrison divorced. Harrison has moved on and is married another woman who is currently pregnant with their first child. Jo might have married Patrick but she'll never have another child to hold as she was forced to have a hysterectomy. Now, it seems, Jenny wasn't handling things well, had been depressed and acting paranoid.
This book kept me turning the pages. The writing is superb and the characters people you can relate to. This was a great start to the author's new series.
This book kept me turning the pages. The writing is superb and the characters people you can relate to. This was a great start to the author's new series.
avoid
December 27, 2018Cheating
September 22, 2018
*Book source ~ Kindle First
Patrick Diehlman, distraught husband of Jenny, goes to the police station to file a missing person’s report and ends up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk. Well, there’s not a lot of officers to choose from in the small town of Plainfield, Texas, and since her partner Hank wasn’t in yet, Jo it is. So, Jenny has only been missing since the evening before and reports for adults usually don’t get filed for 48 hrs, but Jo’s not busy and Patrick is so insistent that she decides to go ahead and get started on finding either a person who is missing due to something bad happening or because she just wants to be gone. Jo doesn’t have enough info yet to make that determination. But as she delves into Jenny’s life Jo finds a woman drowning in sorrow, someone who may have done harm to herself. And when they find the body, that’s what it looks like. Except…Jo’s not convinced. And the story is off and running.
This is a really great mystery and I would have given it 5 bites except Jo is a bit unlikeable. I mean, I really hate a character who has people telling her to do something, something she KNOWS she needs to do and yet…she doesn’t. It’s irritating as fuck. This is something that has been going on for years. Omg, shit or get off the pot already. For fuck’s sake. *sigh* Anyway, I really did enjoy the story otherwise. The addition of Jenny’s diary entries at the beginning of every chapter is something I particularly enjoyed.
Patrick Diehlman, distraught husband of Jenny, goes to the police station to file a missing person’s report and ends up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk. Well, there’s not a lot of officers to choose from in the small town of Plainfield, Texas, and since her partner Hank wasn’t in yet, Jo it is. So, Jenny has only been missing since the evening before and reports for adults usually don’t get filed for 48 hrs, but Jo’s not busy and Patrick is so insistent that she decides to go ahead and get started on finding either a person who is missing due to something bad happening or because she just wants to be gone. Jo doesn’t have enough info yet to make that determination. But as she delves into Jenny’s life Jo finds a woman drowning in sorrow, someone who may have done harm to herself. And when they find the body, that’s what it looks like. Except…Jo’s not convinced. And the story is off and running.
This is a really great mystery and I would have given it 5 bites except Jo is a bit unlikeable. I mean, I really hate a character who has people telling her to do something, something she KNOWS she needs to do and yet…she doesn’t. It’s irritating as fuck. This is something that has been going on for years. Omg, shit or get off the pot already. For fuck’s sake. *sigh* Anyway, I really did enjoy the story otherwise. The addition of Jenny’s diary entries at the beginning of every chapter is something I particularly enjoyed.
December 3, 2016
Jo Larsen, a detective with the Plainfield police department, presumes that Jennifer Dielman is a runaway housewife. She quickly discovers that although Jennifer may have had a good reason to leave her husband, she most likely didn't run away from her home and marriage in Susan McBride's newest book, Walk Into Silence.
Jo Larsen is a thirty-something-year-old police detective on a small town police department. She transferred there after working on the Dallas police department. Initially, Jo presumes that the missing Jennifer Dielman is nothing more than a wife that's run away from home. However, the more she learns about Jennifer the more she realizes that this woman didn't leave voluntarily. Just as the investigation is starting to take off, Jennifer's body is discovered in a local quarry. The autopsy reveals that she was murdered. Was Jennifer still stricken with grief from the tragic death of her young son years earlier? Yes. Was Jennifer dealing with an inordinate amount of stress related to her grief? Yes. Was Jennifer the type of person to walk away from her marriage? No. Jo isn't happy with the answers she's receiving from Patrick Dielman - Jennifer's current husband, Dr. Kevin Harrison - Jennifer's ex-husband, or Lisa Barton - the Dielmans neighbor.
Walk Into Silence is the first book in the Jo Larsen series by Ms. McBride. The reader is given a glimpse into Jo's backstory (an abusive childhood at the hands of her stepfather and neglectful mother) as well as the mindset of deceased, Jennifer Dielman. Although Jennifer is still grieving her son's death, she is also seeking answers about his death and feels that her ex-husband is lying about what happened the night their son died. Jennifer also knows that someone is playing games with her mind in an attempt to make her look unhinged (just because she's paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't watching her). Bit by bit, Jo discovers the truth about Jennifer Dielman's life and death while also dealing with the trauma from her own childhood. I found the beginning of Walk Into Silence a bit slow, but it quickly picked up the pace and sucked me in. I enjoyed the characters and action in this story and am looking forward to reading more about Jo Larsen in the future.
Jo Larsen is a thirty-something-year-old police detective on a small town police department. She transferred there after working on the Dallas police department. Initially, Jo presumes that the missing Jennifer Dielman is nothing more than a wife that's run away from home. However, the more she learns about Jennifer the more she realizes that this woman didn't leave voluntarily. Just as the investigation is starting to take off, Jennifer's body is discovered in a local quarry. The autopsy reveals that she was murdered. Was Jennifer still stricken with grief from the tragic death of her young son years earlier? Yes. Was Jennifer dealing with an inordinate amount of stress related to her grief? Yes. Was Jennifer the type of person to walk away from her marriage? No. Jo isn't happy with the answers she's receiving from Patrick Dielman - Jennifer's current husband, Dr. Kevin Harrison - Jennifer's ex-husband, or Lisa Barton - the Dielmans neighbor.
Walk Into Silence is the first book in the Jo Larsen series by Ms. McBride. The reader is given a glimpse into Jo's backstory (an abusive childhood at the hands of her stepfather and neglectful mother) as well as the mindset of deceased, Jennifer Dielman. Although Jennifer is still grieving her son's death, she is also seeking answers about his death and feels that her ex-husband is lying about what happened the night their son died. Jennifer also knows that someone is playing games with her mind in an attempt to make her look unhinged (just because she's paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't watching her). Bit by bit, Jo discovers the truth about Jennifer Dielman's life and death while also dealing with the trauma from her own childhood. I found the beginning of Walk Into Silence a bit slow, but it quickly picked up the pace and sucked me in. I enjoyed the characters and action in this story and am looking forward to reading more about Jo Larsen in the future.
December 12, 2016
So when I first started this book, I had felt like the adrenaline was kind of pushed, and it didn't really get me into the story. That could have just been my mindset when I started reading, though. Because after I pushed through the first couple of chapters, I could not put this book down.
Jo is a detective whose gut instincts have definitely gotten her far. She was referenced a couple of times as being like a dog with a bone--very determined. A strong female lead is always enjoyable to read, especially when she doesn't really question herself. She may have this past that's incredibly painful that she's trying to get away from, but it's exactly that past that makes her a stronger detective.
The story of Jenny and her past as a parallel to Jo and her own past was really striking. It was so sad to read, to see how other people look at you when you're consumed with grief. Jenny's son had tragically fallen from a tree and died during her first marriage. The three-year anniversary is coming up and Jenny is seeking answers, no matter the cost. I loved all of the writing from Jenny's perspective. Really, really great work there.
I adored Jo's boyfriend, Adam, one of the medical examiners. He was so strong and determined to be there for Jo, even if she thought she didn't need him. She really needed that foil against her mother who was not there for Jo when she needed her most. It was an important distinction to make her a stronger detective.
One thing I would have changed though is the formatting. There are two different perspectives in this book, Jo and Jenny, and those perspectives are in the same chapter while still being first person. It would have been better just to split each perspective into its own chapter. It was difficult to distinguish sometimes who was supposed to be talking and I had to keep going back to double check. This could have been a formatting issue with the Kindle and it could be fine for print.
Kind of funny how often Coke was the drink of choice in this book, it almost felt like an advertisement. Sorry if this review came off more like an essay, it just felt so right!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Jo is a detective whose gut instincts have definitely gotten her far. She was referenced a couple of times as being like a dog with a bone--very determined. A strong female lead is always enjoyable to read, especially when she doesn't really question herself. She may have this past that's incredibly painful that she's trying to get away from, but it's exactly that past that makes her a stronger detective.
The story of Jenny and her past as a parallel to Jo and her own past was really striking. It was so sad to read, to see how other people look at you when you're consumed with grief. Jenny's son had tragically fallen from a tree and died during her first marriage. The three-year anniversary is coming up and Jenny is seeking answers, no matter the cost. I loved all of the writing from Jenny's perspective. Really, really great work there.
I adored Jo's boyfriend, Adam, one of the medical examiners. He was so strong and determined to be there for Jo, even if she thought she didn't need him. She really needed that foil against her mother who was not there for Jo when she needed her most. It was an important distinction to make her a stronger detective.
One thing I would have changed though is the formatting. There are two different perspectives in this book, Jo and Jenny, and those perspectives are in the same chapter while still being first person. It would have been better just to split each perspective into its own chapter. It was difficult to distinguish sometimes who was supposed to be talking and I had to keep going back to double check. This could have been a formatting issue with the Kindle and it could be fine for print.
Kind of funny how often Coke was the drink of choice in this book, it almost felt like an advertisement. Sorry if this review came off more like an essay, it just felt so right!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
February 2, 2017
Sometimes when things were too close, they weren't as easy to see. Not until you took a step back, far enough to make the blurred edges crisp. For the little girl she'd never been and a child she'd never known.
Two women brought together because of a crime. Detective Jo Larsen has a past that she is stuck in. She avoids intimacy and as a wall around her heart but she is faithful. Faithful in that she is like a dog with a bone. When something grips her heart, she can't let go. Jenny Dielman has disappeared and her husband is concerned because of Jenny's past. A loss of child from a previous marriage. Jenny has been haunted by her son's death and is unable to get past it. With her new marriage, it all seems pristine. But is it? Larsen and her partner continue to dig deeper into Jenny's past and her past marriage. When Jenny is found by Larsen, Larsen feels a connection and becomes determined to give Jenny justice for the losses she suffered.
The narration is told by the two women - Jenny's narration by her journal as she searches for the answers to her son's death and Larsen as she finds the answers to what happened to her and her son and the connection that they all share. This was a balanced plot and character driven crime mystery that has you guessing to what happened and why. Was Jenny crazy or did she have reason to believe that a crime was committed to against her son. Larsen who worked better thru the connection she had with her victims than the average detective. Larsen who never was a little girl but had to grow up fast and Jenny who would never hold her child again and the loneliness it caused. The connection between the two drove the plot and the characters. I liked it!
A Special Thank You to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Two women brought together because of a crime. Detective Jo Larsen has a past that she is stuck in. She avoids intimacy and as a wall around her heart but she is faithful. Faithful in that she is like a dog with a bone. When something grips her heart, she can't let go. Jenny Dielman has disappeared and her husband is concerned because of Jenny's past. A loss of child from a previous marriage. Jenny has been haunted by her son's death and is unable to get past it. With her new marriage, it all seems pristine. But is it? Larsen and her partner continue to dig deeper into Jenny's past and her past marriage. When Jenny is found by Larsen, Larsen feels a connection and becomes determined to give Jenny justice for the losses she suffered.
The narration is told by the two women - Jenny's narration by her journal as she searches for the answers to her son's death and Larsen as she finds the answers to what happened to her and her son and the connection that they all share. This was a balanced plot and character driven crime mystery that has you guessing to what happened and why. Was Jenny crazy or did she have reason to believe that a crime was committed to against her son. Larsen who worked better thru the connection she had with her victims than the average detective. Larsen who never was a little girl but had to grow up fast and Jenny who would never hold her child again and the loneliness it caused. The connection between the two drove the plot and the characters. I liked it!
A Special Thank You to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
November 6, 2016
The investigation into a missing woman's life reveals she lead a very sad life. A father that abused her making her run at 18 where she unknowingly ended up marrying a man just like her father. She was willing to live in her unhappy marriage for the sake of her son but when he died at the age of 6 that marriage ended and then she ended up married to man who micro managed her life. Deep in her heart she knew that her son's death was not an accident. Did her disappearance mean she found out what really happened to her son and met with foul play or did she finally get tired of living in a world without her son.
This is the first a new series about Detective Jo Larsen. Jo hasnt had the easiest life herself and finds herself relating to the heartbreaking past of Jenny, the missing woman. As Jo digs into Jenny's life we, the reader, get excerpts from Jenny's diary start from her childhood to the last entry before her disappearance.
The investigation leads to lots of twist before the final revelation. My feelings when I ended this book were ones of sadness for Jenny. The author did a great job of making you feel for the characters – especially Jo and Jenny.
I liked that Jo was pretty flawed in her personal life yet tenacious in her professional life and wanting to find justice for Jenny.
This is the first a new series about Detective Jo Larsen. Jo hasnt had the easiest life herself and finds herself relating to the heartbreaking past of Jenny, the missing woman. As Jo digs into Jenny's life we, the reader, get excerpts from Jenny's diary start from her childhood to the last entry before her disappearance.
The investigation leads to lots of twist before the final revelation. My feelings when I ended this book were ones of sadness for Jenny. The author did a great job of making you feel for the characters – especially Jo and Jenny.
I liked that Jo was pretty flawed in her personal life yet tenacious in her professional life and wanting to find justice for Jenny.
February 5, 2017
Author Susan McBride has created a protagonist that will stay with you long after the story ends and a tale that will have you shaking your head in wonder.
Narrator Christina Traister does an excellent job bringing these unique characters to life. Her interruption of the emotions throughout the story adds depth to this thriller. Her pitch and volume add to the heart-pounding events.
The author quickly draws you in with this fast-paced mystery. The twists, turns, and surprises along the way will keep you shrouded in doubt until the end.
The characters are realistic and well-developed. Sharing the elements of one’s character’s emotional state in layers enhances the story. Just when you think you have it figured out, a new development is revealed. Blending in the protagonist’s personal issues makes for a well-balanced story.
WALK INTO SILENCE is a captivating story filled with suspense and intrigue with a touch of romance. It’s a mesmerizing beginning to a fascinating new series with characters you’ll want to know more about.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
Narrator Christina Traister does an excellent job bringing these unique characters to life. Her interruption of the emotions throughout the story adds depth to this thriller. Her pitch and volume add to the heart-pounding events.
The author quickly draws you in with this fast-paced mystery. The twists, turns, and surprises along the way will keep you shrouded in doubt until the end.
The characters are realistic and well-developed. Sharing the elements of one’s character’s emotional state in layers enhances the story. Just when you think you have it figured out, a new development is revealed. Blending in the protagonist’s personal issues makes for a well-balanced story.
WALK INTO SILENCE is a captivating story filled with suspense and intrigue with a touch of romance. It’s a mesmerizing beginning to a fascinating new series with characters you’ll want to know more about.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
November 16, 2016
Walk into Silence by Susan McBride is the first book in a series featuring Detective Jo Larsen.
Jo Larsen has left her previous job in Dallas for a small town on the outskirts of the city with fewer incidents of serious crime.
Patrick Dielman's files a missing person report for his wife and seems genuinely concerned about her. Jenny Dielman had a bad first marriage which collapsed after the death of her son. Unable to get over the loss of her only child, Jenny has battled depression and grief for several years despite her efforts to start fresh with her marriage to Patrick.
Jo wonders if Jenny needed an escape from her husband, who apparently adores her, but seems controlling, or if Jenny's grief over her son's death has finally overwhelmed her.
Jo's investigation appears to offer a third option--Jenny did not leave by choice. And if foul play is involved, who would want Jenny dead...and why?
I found Walk into Silence an interesting introduction to a series--allowing room for further character development in succeeding novels.
Kindle First
Police Procedural. 2016. Print length: 370 pages.
Jo Larsen has left her previous job in Dallas for a small town on the outskirts of the city with fewer incidents of serious crime.
Patrick Dielman's files a missing person report for his wife and seems genuinely concerned about her. Jenny Dielman had a bad first marriage which collapsed after the death of her son. Unable to get over the loss of her only child, Jenny has battled depression and grief for several years despite her efforts to start fresh with her marriage to Patrick.
Jo wonders if Jenny needed an escape from her husband, who apparently adores her, but seems controlling, or if Jenny's grief over her son's death has finally overwhelmed her.
Jo's investigation appears to offer a third option--Jenny did not leave by choice. And if foul play is involved, who would want Jenny dead...and why?
I found Walk into Silence an interesting introduction to a series--allowing room for further character development in succeeding novels.
Kindle First
Police Procedural. 2016. Print length: 370 pages.
February 8, 2017
Easy and entertaining
I really enjoyed this story! It started quickly and really drew me in. The characters were entertaining and exciting. I like Jo Larsen and her character. I recommend this for a good read. It would be a good sit by the pool or beach read. I was hooked in the last 100 pages and wanted to know who did it!
I really enjoyed this story! It started quickly and really drew me in. The characters were entertaining and exciting. I like Jo Larsen and her character. I recommend this for a good read. It would be a good sit by the pool or beach read. I was hooked in the last 100 pages and wanted to know who did it!
June 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. Good thriller that kept me guessing and wanting more. Will have to check out more from this author.
September 2, 2019
Book club book. So wonderful,
July 24, 2017
Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride is a nail-biting mystery which will grip the reader from start to finish. Set in modern-day Texas, author Susan McBride masterfully interweaves two stories into one and leaves the reader totally mesmerized. It is the story of Jenny Dielman and Jo Larsen, two unrelated women with a haunting past. Jenny is presumed missing or dead while Jo is the detective who is tasked with the mission of finding Jenny. It is a story written convincingly, and the intense pain swirling in the minds of the two women will move many readers.
The story begins when an upset and almost hysterical Patrick Dielman reported that his wife has gone missing, and demanded from Jo Larsen, “Tell me, Detective, where could my wife be?” Assessing Patrick, Jo was initially inclined to believe that Jenny was fed up of his second husband’s heavy-handed attitude and made good her escape. But it seemed more than that. Jenny had a haunting past. She was married for seven years to Dr. Kevin Harrison. They had a son whom Jenny adored. But the tragic death of their son instead of uniting them in grief drifted them apart, slowly. Ultimately, Jenny fled the big city and try to find comfort and solace in the quietness of a small town. And that was how she met Patrick Dielman.
As Jo takes on this seemingly simple case of a missing wife, her own traumatic past returned to haunt her. Much like Jenny, Jo too had fled Dallas hoping to rebuild her life in the small town of Plainfield, Texas. But that is easier said than done. Fighting her own demons, Jo with the help of her partner Detective Hank Phelps investigated and discovered that Finn’s death anniversary was fast approaching. Is Jenny’s disappearance connected to the event? Or is Patrick Dielman in any way responsible? What about Dr. Kevin Harrison who claimed that Finn’s death was accidental while Jenny said it was not? Author Susan McBride crafted an intensely suspenseful mystery with characters and their problems one one can relate to. The writing is wonderful and the way Susan McBride builds up the story is quite astonishing. The ending was way beyond my expectation. If you want to read about characters and their stories that will grip you from start to finish, Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride is your best bet.
The story begins when an upset and almost hysterical Patrick Dielman reported that his wife has gone missing, and demanded from Jo Larsen, “Tell me, Detective, where could my wife be?” Assessing Patrick, Jo was initially inclined to believe that Jenny was fed up of his second husband’s heavy-handed attitude and made good her escape. But it seemed more than that. Jenny had a haunting past. She was married for seven years to Dr. Kevin Harrison. They had a son whom Jenny adored. But the tragic death of their son instead of uniting them in grief drifted them apart, slowly. Ultimately, Jenny fled the big city and try to find comfort and solace in the quietness of a small town. And that was how she met Patrick Dielman.
As Jo takes on this seemingly simple case of a missing wife, her own traumatic past returned to haunt her. Much like Jenny, Jo too had fled Dallas hoping to rebuild her life in the small town of Plainfield, Texas. But that is easier said than done. Fighting her own demons, Jo with the help of her partner Detective Hank Phelps investigated and discovered that Finn’s death anniversary was fast approaching. Is Jenny’s disappearance connected to the event? Or is Patrick Dielman in any way responsible? What about Dr. Kevin Harrison who claimed that Finn’s death was accidental while Jenny said it was not? Author Susan McBride crafted an intensely suspenseful mystery with characters and their problems one one can relate to. The writing is wonderful and the way Susan McBride builds up the story is quite astonishing. The ending was way beyond my expectation. If you want to read about characters and their stories that will grip you from start to finish, Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride is your best bet.
June 18, 2021
I got this as a Kindle First Read back in 2016 and it was just chillin’ in my Kindle unread, so I finally decided to read it.
I liked a lot of aspects of this book. For starters, the book was told primarily from Jo’s point of view but the end of each chapter contained a journal entry of Jenny’s. This allowed you to get to know both characters and to understand how they were feeling and what they were going through. I enjoyed how Jo’s story had different layers to it and how she evolved throughout the book. I also truly loved the way you were constantly guessing the outcome and in my opinion were seriously surprised with the ending. It also helped that there was a cat because in my opinion all books should include cats in some capacity.
Now, for as much as I enjoyed the character of Jo, I also would LOVE just once to read a book where the lead female character, who is also a detective, doesn’t have this super fucking tragic backstory. Yes, it builds character & sets the stage and blah blah blah BUT does it always need to be the case? Can’t there be a female protagonist who just had a normal boring upbringing but is still a super badass without having to become hardened????
Other than that, I thought the book was good and I’d be down to read more stories with Jo as the female protagonist (especially if the cat is still there).
I liked a lot of aspects of this book. For starters, the book was told primarily from Jo’s point of view but the end of each chapter contained a journal entry of Jenny’s. This allowed you to get to know both characters and to understand how they were feeling and what they were going through. I enjoyed how Jo’s story had different layers to it and how she evolved throughout the book. I also truly loved the way you were constantly guessing the outcome and in my opinion were seriously surprised with the ending. It also helped that there was a cat because in my opinion all books should include cats in some capacity.
Now, for as much as I enjoyed the character of Jo, I also would LOVE just once to read a book where the lead female character, who is also a detective, doesn’t have this super fucking tragic backstory. Yes, it builds character & sets the stage and blah blah blah BUT does it always need to be the case? Can’t there be a female protagonist who just had a normal boring upbringing but is still a super badass without having to become hardened????
Other than that, I thought the book was good and I’d be down to read more stories with Jo as the female protagonist (especially if the cat is still there).
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