Circumstantial Truth

by Ian G. Welch

What do you do when your best friend betrays you and steals the girl you were destined to marry? Zack Carmichael withdraws within himself, Shadow, his dog is his saviour. But she is also responsible for a catastrophic discovery which turns his life upside down. Ignoring his find is not an option.
The evidence is damning, Zach finds himself charged with a crime he did not commit. Prison is a debilitating place for someone used to the wide open spaces of country life. It is also an unlikely place to rediscover love.
Help comes from an unexpected quarter.but proving his innocence seems a forlorn hope, The witness who gave false evidence has mysteriously disappeared and the police are uncooperative.It seems everyone is operating to their own personal unrelated agenda.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2016

About the author

Ian was born and educated in New Zealand. He briefly studied accountancy and commercial law before graduating into agriculture. He started dabbling in writing three years ago more out of curiosity to see if he could actually write a novel. Vendetta was his first published novel. It is a historical novel tracing a young man's struggle to learn the truth behind a series of catastrophic events which have destroyed his family.
Target Prendergast uncovered quickly followed. Brad is a beach bum, the world's most unlikely undercover agent.
Conspiracy and Broken Wings have since followed. Check website for free chapters and more information on author and novels in the pipeline.
Take an in-depth peek into Ian's world in his Smashwords interview:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/...

Reviews

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circumstantial Truth offers an intriguing premise, which drew me in immediately. Zach Carmichael's girlfriend left him for his best friend, which made him withdraw and spend much of his time alone or with his dog, Shadow. One day, they are out walking and come across a dead body. Though Zach reports the crime, he becomes the main suspect! I don't want to give away too many details, but this is definitely a page turner! Author Ian Welch moves the story along at a fast pace, with clever hints and the occasional red herring thrown into the mix. I liked Zach, and thought the characterization of this man, who grows desperate to rove his innocence, was well done. I would certainly read another book by this author!

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Dominique Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

GR Review Round 166
Circumstantial Truth by Ian G Welch

This is a decently plotted and plainly told tale of a man who ends up convicted of a crime he didn’t do, how he survives it emotionally, and how he proves his innocence. It develops into a complicated tangle of interwoven crime angles, which give the story some enlivening complexity. The characters are all likeable and ordinary, and the villains believable. If it lacked sparkle and drive, that was maybe because the points of view kept changing around causing a loss of focus, and there was too much bland ‘telling’ us what was happening. This meant that wasn’t much suspense, as we already knew who was doing what to who, leaving the reader plodding through with a satellite’s eye view, waiting for the various characters to cotton on to what we’d already been told, rather than being drawn deep into the mystery and awaiting the final revelation with bated breath. The setting is New Zealand, which is very refreshing, and I could have done with more descriptions of the unique panoramic background to the various scenes. But this is a solid book for fans of crime fiction who prefer the descriptions ‘steady’ and ‘heart-warming’ to the epithet ‘pulse-racing’.
I was going to leave my review there, but I feel this decent book deserves an explanation of the star rating I gave it - unfortunately GR's star system differs to Amazon and whereas 3 stars on Amazon counts as a critical review, on GR three stars means 'I liked it' but this can look awfully mean if you don't realise that three stars counts as indicating approval. On Amazon I shall be giving it 4 stars.

[Segilola Salami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Ian Welch novel was a tightly woven read that was part mystery and part character study. The mystery was really good, the writing was good not great and the character study was excellent so I'm giving this a 3.5 and happily rounding up to four. The style was spare and served the purpose without unnecessary prose. I'm a huge fan of this because it lets a great story proceed without baggage and allows the reader to really focus on the narrative. This also gave me a chance to really understand and like Zach, the main character wrongfully accused of murder after he and his trusty canine companion discover a dead body on his sprawling property.. As the mystery unfolds the author kept me enthralled with the story until the conclusion. My criticisms center around the technical issues of shifting tense, dead-end statements here and there and a few inconsistencies of mood and pacing. They weren't major issues but when a story this good doesn't get a solid four or five stars I think it's only fair to explain why. Good job, Mr. Welch - I consider this well conceived New Zealand tale a winner.

[Frank Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Try as I might, I cannot give this book more than 3 stars. That does not mean that there are not people out there who will enjoy reading it. As I read it I was reminded of the days when cinemas had only one screen which showed two films on each programme. There was the 'main feature', the movie you had come to see, and there was the 'second feature', or 'B movie', which, like the support act in a live music gig, actually came first. It was shorter than the main feature and usually had an off-the-shelf plot, with off-the-shelf characters played by third rate actors.
Where this book differs is in its length. The only thing that kept me reading was the central mystery: how long could the author keep these characters acting as though they were so lacking in intelligence that they were unable to see the many glaringly obvious clues he'd given them and us?
Set in the author's native New Zealand, a couple of country boys inadvertently become entangled in the nefarious activities of various Auckland based criminal gangs. The police are portrayed as either too corrupt or too stupid to pick up on obvious clues. Meanwhile the criminal conspirators take years to carry out a clandestine deal that any competent gangster would have finished in a few weeks.

[James George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circumstantial Truth is a fast-paced whodunit by indie author Ian Welch. It is the saga of the unfortunate but resilient Zack Carmichael, a young man who endures far too much tribulation in a very brief time.

This is Mr. Welch’s sixth novel and he is writing with the ease of an experienced author. His subtle twists make the hero seem that much more heroic, and the villains that much more unlikeable.

Circumstantial Truth is a very easy read and it keeps the reader engaged. One possible description of the style is “bare-boned.” Mr. Welch does not throw a lot of frilly, descriptive prose at his readers, and he usually does not “paint a picture.” A lot of readers will love this approach, as the story moves too quickly to ever bog down. Other readers will feel somewhat deprived, as many of us love our novels chock-full of adjectives and rich, layered portraits of the scenes and people that comprise the tale.

I especially would have loved reading more vivid insights into life in the New Zealand countryside. The book has a great exotic setting, but if the storyline took place in New Jersey, New Mexico, or New Brunswick, I don’t think anything would be very different. I wish the reader was more thoroughly immersed in the dialogue, slang, food, and lifestyle of rural New Zealand. Additionally, I thought the ending could have been a bit more climactic.

Overall though, this is some nice work. I think this fast-moving tale of hunting, lost love, friendship, betrayal, and villainy is really going to resonate with a lot of readers, especially young men. Most importantly, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who has conversations with his dog.
4/5 Stars.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circumstantial Truth is a novel by Ian Welch. It takes place in Australia. It is a very interesting novel and really keeps you glued to the pages. The suspense builds and builds. It is definitely one of the best suspense books I have read.
Zack Carmichael thought he had it made. He had a wonderful girlfriend, Tara Redmond, and a fantastic best friend, Cory Wagstaff. They attended their last year of college together. The three got along beautifully and had a great time together until the day that Tara and Cory told Zack they had fallen in love. Zack simply lost it. He busied himself working for Joe Hargreaves on his sheep station and spent many days and weeks hunting with his dog, Shadow. He didn’t have anything to do with anyone he didn’t have to. When he saw Tara and Cory, he ended up having a shouting match with them.
On one of their hunting trips, Zack and Shadow came upon a clearing in the area. It was quite unusual and Shadow was drawn there by some smell. Not finding anything, they returned to their camp and that night heard gunshots. When they investigated the following day, they found a dead man who had been shot. Immediately, Zack and Shadow headed for his truck and town to tell the sheriff. What followed began a nightmare for Zack as the sheriff saw him as a suspect and the evidence began to mount up against him. It didn’t matter that Zack had no idea who the man was nor had any motive, the circumstantial evidence pointed to him.
How can Zack get out of this unfortunate situation? Who will believe his story? How do Tara and Cory become involved?

[Joanne Rolston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zack became a bit of a loner after Tara, his childhood sweetheart went off with his best friend Cory.
An outdoors guy, hunting with his faithful dog Shadow filled the void left in his life.
Life went on until the day he found a man's body in the bush and reported it to the police.
Then his world turned upside down when he was arrested - even though he'd reported the murder!
Framed by a hitman, blamed by the dull-witted police inspector Declan McBride and failed by his useless lawyer, Zack ended up in prison. How was he going to prove his innocence?
I enjoyed this book. The story went at a good pace and the characters were believable. I liked the action and Zach's character. The story had a satisfactory conclusion and is worth the read.
There were a few minor editing issues and I would have liked more description of the scenes in the story. Matarangi, where the story is set is a fictional place – but Turangi is real. Being a New Zealander I can see the scenes very easily, but overseas readers miss out on the outstanding natural beauty provided by the towering volcanos of the central North Island and the rivers that cut through the forests. It would have been a good foil to the sordidness that was going on in Auckland amongst the criminal community who'd framed Zack.
But all in all, it was a great story. I recommend it.

[T.L. Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having been to New Zealand, I was really excited to read a book based there. I've even been to some of the places mentioned in this book.

However, it doesn't take full opportunity of the beautiful country. It doesn't even tell you of the whiff of Rotorua as you enter the town of volcanic springs.

The story itself is quite predictable.

The prisoner's treatment is eluded to as being awful, and he has flashbacks, but we're not really shown anything that dreadful.

And it would benefit from another edit. There is a fair bit of tense confusion, and some spelling/grammar issues which would be good to clear up.

However, it was a good story, and it had pace. I liked the character development.

So my overall feeling is OK, but could with a little work it could be good.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man’s fiancée runs off with his best friend then things get even worse when he finds a body.

I thought this book was fast paced with a good central idea, characters and had a plot with plenty of twists and turns – in particular I liked the way that the relative positions of the characters altered over time. It kept my interest from beginning to end.

Overall my rating would only be 3.5 as there seemed to be too many coincidences / too many difference plot strands, some of the time I felt I was being ‘told’ instead of shown and in places the writing wasn’t tight enough.

Overall an entertaining read and I can imagine anyone who likes crime mysteries (with a NZ element) may enjoy it.

[Sara Claridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zach Carmichael lost his girl to his best friend and gained a dog that put him slap bang in the middle of murder, with him as the prime suspect.

I really enjoyed this book. As the story unfolds you begin to understand the pieces that make up the web of deceit that entraps an innocent man. I liked the character, he was sympathetic to the plight of others that led them to do what they did, but wasn’t a push over. I particularly enjoyed the seemingly incidental side stories that then dove tailed nicely into the downfall of others.

A definite page turner.

[Brin Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-moving thriller based in New Zealand, so it’s instantly appealing to me. Zack is a young guy into hunting and rugby. He works as a sheep shearer and fencer, typical of an iconic type of rugged rural New Zealander. The type is slightly less common now with mass migration to the cities, but does still exist: I’m rural myself and surrounded by such.
The story begins with Zack being a rather isolated character because his heart has been broken: subsequent to being betrayed by his best friend and girlfriend, the one who he thought was THE one, Zack has withdrawn from people and spends most of his free time hunting in the bush with his new best friend Shadow. This instantly proves he’s a great guy, because who can resist a man in love with his dog? And Shadow is adorable.
Zack’s world changes when he discovers a body while hunting. Inept local police, a bungled investigation, a miscarriage of justice, a professional hitman and a complex long-term sting operation all come into play and keep the story racing along. The reader has a strong sense of injustice and a keen need to see poor Zack vindicated at last. And of course his broken heart gets some healing along the way.
There is some slight over-writing, in the sense that the reader is shown that something is happening and then gets told anyway. This doesn’t seriously impact on enjoyment of the story, but for it to be absolutely top-notch Ian would do well to get in a good editor just to tighten it up here and there. There are also some slight inconsistencies that would be picked up by a good editor: for instance, at the start of the second chapter there is a reference to the jury and a trial. This is out of the blue and doesn’t fit with the continuity and sequence of the story. There are other minor slips, such as the first time Shadow sniffs disturbed earth under cut brush, Zack dismisses it as none of his business (most of us would suspect a grave at once, I would think). The second time, much later in the story, it’s immediately obvious to him that no one would be digging out there: it’s almost certainly a grave. The discrepancy could be handled, but it needs to be handled explicitly.
The story is still a thoroughly gripping read, but with a little tightening up it would compare with the very best. Zack is a great character, it has masses of narrative drive, and the twists and turns keep the pace roaring along.
Great read, highly enjoyable, and a little flavor of the backcountry to give it some uniqueness.
For more of Brin’s reviews, go to
http://www.brinmurray.com/review-blog...

[Lofty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circumstantial Truth is a delightful read with a well thought out story arc and some intriguing characters. It is clear Ian Welch has put a great deal of carefully crafted thought into every chapter, and his straight forward approach makes for easy reading.

The story is about a young man, Zack Carmichael, that tries to do the right thing and ends up coming afoul of the law. A past heart break has him fighting his good name and his own inner turmoils to move on and have a good life ahead of him. Throughout the many hardships that face him, his relationship with his dog Shadow keeps him focused. For anyone with a close connection with their dog, this book will ring true.

The book grabbed me from the very start and kept me reading to the last word. The suspense kept me wanting more, and any time things were looking certain for the characters, suddenly a new twist to the story changed everything I thought I knew was coming. Some parts had me guessing right up to the end.

The New Zealand references were enough to be familiar to a local but not off putting for anyone unfamiliar with them. It provides some interesting snapshots into life in a rural community. Many of the characters would fit right into a rural community anywhere in the world.

It is easy to empathise with the young seeking a better life and finding reality is just not always kind to us. The characters are deeply flawed people in a very human way, that you find yourself hoping will overcome even when they are in the wrong at times.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading every word, and I am glad I got this book. I will be sure to check out some more from this author for future reading.

[Cy Wyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circumstantial Truth is the story of Zach Carmichael and, to a lesser extent, his dog Shadow. Shadow is the loyal friend who stick by Zach during some tough times, including betrayal by the people he loves most. One day, Zach finds a dead body. He can’t help but go to the police, including a police detective who becomes suspicious of his find. Zach is then framed for the murder of the man, someone he’d never met. Zach spends much of the book in prison, where a series of coincidences has him meeting people who eventually lead him to the real killers. With the help of his cellmate’s sister, Zach works to clear his name, in spite of the police detective getting in his way.

I found Zach a little too passive, and the coincidences of meeting people who know each other to be too many. Surely New Zealand isn’t that small. And the setting is New Zealand, which took me a while to figure out. Their gun laws differ from those in America, they are much stricter. The book could have used some editing, as there are errors that will pop you out of the story now and again. Much of the story takes place in a tiny town away from Auckland, as well as in Auckland itself. The characters were interesting and fairly well drawn. Sometimes their motivation was a bit sketchy, and the main villain was more of a caricature. The story is what really carries the book. You want to know how Zach will clear his name (or even if he’ll clear his name), with so much stacked against him. Overall, a reasonable work with a measured pace.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zack Carmichael and his dog Shadow are avid hunters. On one such hunt, Shadow’s deft nose discovers a body in the woods. There’s a single gunshot wound at the base of the head. Execution style. When Zack reports the crime to the police, he finds himself being accused, convicted, and locked away in prison. That’s only the first quarter of the book. The reader experiences most of the story from Zack’s point of view. Having been alongside him for that fateful hunt, we can be certain the police have the wrong man. Unravelling who really killed the man in the woods (and why) comprises the bulk of the story. The answer is not a simple one.

Welch handles the small-town vibe well, both in terms of setting and inhabitants. He weaves a storyline that’s peppered with exciting action sequences while still being character driven. The plot is enhanced by a rich layering of flawed characters with shady motives, and defects of the law that allow them to get away with it. They’re not all bad, of course. Some have an inherent sense of goodness (Kayla), others redeem their poor behavior, and everyone eventually gets what they deserve. The ending did seem to wrap up a bit too easily, but I felt it worked well for the most part, and justice was definitely served.

Some may argue that there’s nothing wholly new or original here, and I’d have to agree. However, the tried and true elements are well utilized. A carefully developed plot, characters who feel like people you know in real life, a pace that doesn’t dawdle, and succinct, competent writing all make for a solid story.

[Karen Callan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Welch has a wonderful storytelling way of keeping the reader engaged and wanting more. Circumstantial Truth shares a twisting plot with animated characters. A young kind boy finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, helping the local cop find a murdered man only to find himself paying the price in more ways than one. After being wrongly accused, Zack Carmichael finds himself behind bars without hope except for the divine meeting of his cellmate's sister, Kayla. Shady characters continually show up and create havoc for Carmichael, but ultimately proving good outdoes evil, Zack's patience and endurance pay off in the long run. Fast-paced, adventurous and well written, this who-done-it delivers in a big way. Welch creates each character with traits that depict a clear vision of their personality and persona.

Because of a few missteps with punctuation, grammar, as well as some repetitious sentences, I gave this book four starts instead of five. All in all, a great ride and a book I was excited to keep coming back to. I would highly recommend this to spy lovers and anyone looking for a well-formulated fast read. I would gladly read another work by Welch.

[Kendi Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy fast-paced reads that are not overly descriptive, especially in the mystery genre. Circumstantial Truth does just that. Set in New Zealand, the author weaves local small town flavor throughout this tale about the conviction of an innocent man.

Zack, the main character and a likeable person, becomes somewhat of a recluse after a heartbreaking relationship (although there is a wisp of romance later on). One day he is out hunting with his dog, stumbles upon a body, and the next minute he is being convicted of a crime. There is an infusion of angles, perpetrators, and diversion as each shady character does their best to cast attention away from themselves. The detective is too eager to blame Zack and the remainder of the story involves Zack vehemently trying to prove his innocence.

My only recommendation for building tension to the narrative is showing more of what is happening instead of having immediate access to what Zack is thinking. In other words, as a reader I would have enjoyed an opportunity for deeper speculation. That neither impedes nor detracts from the writing, which is done well, and this conventional mystery is quite entertaining.

[Emily Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Zach a really unique and interesting character and really enjoyed reading about his relationship with Shadow, his dog. The circumstances leading up to Zach being put into prison were gripping and kept me hooked. I enjoyed reading about his relationship with his new cell mate and how other relationships in his life were formed and lost. Zach felt very real and his concerns about Shadow continued even with him being put inside. I found the middle a little confusing, with a series of new characters and subplots away from Zach added, but it kept the interest enough to keep reading. I found his thought processes interesting as he headed towards his parole hearing. I needed to know whether it would work out for Zach, whether he'd get the girl, be released from prison and be reunited with Shadow. Overall a satisfying ending, with the loose ends tied up.

I enjoyed reading this novel and found the descriptions of the outdoor and lifestyle of Zach very interesting.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this had the potential to be a great crime mystery, but a few things were not working for me as a reader. The story itself was a good one, but I got lost in the storytelling a little. Zack is ecstatic, Zack is depressed. These sentences would follow each other almost immediately in the same paragraph throughout the entire novel. Also, sometimes, the tense would switch from present to past in the same paragraph. All of this is easily fixable though.

Now for the good. After seeing Zach's relationship with his dog, I was rooting for him, even if his emotions were all over the place. I think Shadow gave Zach an extra human element. He's worried about his dog while his life is falling apart. I liked that it was his prison cell mates sister that eventually pulls him out his funk for being imprisoned over a crime he didn't commit.

The story is a good one and if you like crime mysteries, I think you would enjoy this one

[Emma Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, the main character in this book has had a lot of issues in a short period of time. His fiancé leaves him for his best friend and he really withdraws from pretty much everything except his dog. Then he finds a body and somehow becomes the main suspect. I feel really bad for Zach (main character) the majority of the book! He was a good hero! I really enjoyed the pace of this book, it was fast and without a lot of colorful detail. If you want a detailed read this is not your book. However, if you want an easy read that remains entirely entertaining, this was awesome. Even though the writing style was fairly simple, it did manage to weave an engaging story that was a pretty good mystery! I also really liked Shadow! I found Zach and Shadow’s relationship to be a highlight of the book. Very enjoyable!

[Angel Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

While out hunting with his dog, Shadow, Zack stews over the fact that his best friend has stolen the love of his life, the angelic-faced Tara - then also has the nerve to request that Zack serve as best man in their wedding.

While dealing with this issue, he and Shadow stumble across a dead body stashed in the forest. After shoddy police work, Zack serves time in prison for manslaughter - time cut short because of the help of a new love, Kayla, who enlists the help of an elusive attorney to ensure Zack an early parole. After spending time in prison for a crime he did not commit, Zack goes on the hunt for the person who set him up.

This book was full of great characters which included hustlers, hitmen, jailbirds, and corrupt politicians. Quick read. Good book.

[Stephen Martino · Rating 5 out of 5]

After losing his future wife to his best friend, Zack Carmichael finds himself set up for murder he did not commit. After wrongly being sent to jail, he vows to clear his name and find the actual criminal who perpetrated the crime. However, the same best friend who stole his future wife is now involved with the people behind the crime. With a detective breathing down his back, Zack needs to both save his friend and catch the criminals without being sent back to jail by an overly ambitious detective wants to further his career.
Welch’s page-turning mystery thriller is a must read. It’s a well thought-out and exquisitely written novel that will keep your heart pounding throughout the entire story. I would highly recommend it!

[T R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paces, engrossing, and suspenseful, Circumstantial Truth, centers around Zack Carmichael, a down on his luck protagonist. He’s been betrayed and framed for a crime he was not a part of. As the scenes develop and characters swirl with deceit, our protagonist gains comfort in his relationship with Shadow, his dog. Being a dog lover, this aspect was an added bonus to the read. Characters operating with their own motives and selfish desires create tension and conflict for Zack as he tried to prove he’s innocent. Overcoming barriers, and with no help from the police, the story moves along at a rapid pace to a satisfying ending.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Circumstantial Truth” is a suspenseful, engaging read. Hats off to the author for keeping me spellbound. I enjoyed the structure and flow of the story. The plot was well thought out, and had many twists.

I found the characters very interesting, and they were well-developed. I journeyed with them as they faced their struggles. I absolutely loved Zack and Shadow, his dog. Zack was a true hero, with many great character traits - integrity, love, strength, and honor. During his moments of discouragement and despair, I was right there with him. I have to admit that I didn’t like Cory, Zack’s friend. I felt that he didn’t deserve Zack’s friendship, especially when I learned about how his relationship with Tara began. Kayla was a strong female lead. We need more people like her in this world.

If you are looking for a fast paced read that is filled with substance, this is it. Great job, author Ian Welch. Highly recommended!

[M.K. Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real who-dunnit, this story combines heartbreak, hunting, and horrors of being incarcerated for a crime you didn't commit. Zack's story is very intriguing. With so many potential suspects, you have to keep reading to find out the truth. The plot develops quickly and the added romance keeps the story moving as the case goes cold. If you are looking for a good old-fashioned mystery, then this is for you!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery

I enjoyed this book but the writing was a bit two dimensional . Loved the new Zealand aspect. Decent mystery!

[Augustine Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable Plot

There is something about Circumstantial Truth that is atypical and chilling. The protagonist, Zack Carmichael loses the love of his life to his best friend, and then he loses his freedom in the most discreditable way possible. He is sent to jail on circumstantial evidence, and both the fiancée who jilted him and the best friend who stole her from him gleefully abandon him to his fate, yet, when their lives begin to implode on account of their poor choices, they promptly turn to him for help. His real fortune is Kayla, the gorgeous girl he meets by chance while in jail, whose help leads to his parole.

This book has the usual twists and turns that characterize good mystery/thrillers. But if it wasn’t set in New Zealand, where people’s disposition seems more spiritual, even soulful, the comportment of some of its characters might be considered a little improbable. While the story is tight, its potential is undermined by a few grammatical and proof-reading errors and too much “telling.” Thankfully, the remarkable plot makes it easy to overlook them.

[David Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cozy Tale.

The story takes place in New Zealand and centres around Zack Carmichael, a sheep shearer and hobby hunter. But one outing changes his life. He discovers a body in a lonely part of his hunting patch and reports it to the police. From then on his problems multiply – with the police who charge him with murder and his girlfriend who runs away with his best friend. The author takes the reader through Zack's trials and tribulations as he attempts to prove his innocence from inside a prison cell.
The book cover is appealing and the initial chapters promise a good story and an interesting read. However, as most readers will live in the Northern Hemisphere and never have been to New Zealand, I think more attention to the background and settings would have enhanced the story and linked it more effectively to the sub-plots. Also, I found the style of writing top-heavy with introspection, description and repetition at the cost of pacing and momentum.
But if you enjoy cozy fiction, you'll like this one.

[Darci Doll · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it wasn't so horrible you could almost say that Zach Carmichael's bad luck plays like a bad country and western song. His best friend runs off with his girl and he's left with nothing but his trusty dog. But then the dog goes and finds something which will change his life forever and actually puts him behind bars. What's a poor honest guy to do? This is a page turner from page one and you have to feel for the guy as he tries his best, under awful circumstances, to prove his innocence and try to make sense of why things happened to him the way they did. Thankfully, Zach isn't the self-pitying, moping around sort of guy and I really liked that about him. That he perseveres when the cards are so heavily stacked against him is inspirational. However, the truth does not come easy and there's enough twists and turns here to keep the interest all the way to the very last page.

[Martin Perks · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I have to say, I may be biased as this is my kind of story. A tale of Zack, a New Zealand sheep shearer who loses his girl to his best friend, and then while out walking his dog comes across a body and is framed for the murder. He ends up in prison, but this is only the beginning of his problems.
This is a slick fast paced book, that keeps you guessing throughout. Loved the main character Zack, and how he fights to prove his innocence and makes a new life for himself. I really cared about him and was so glad he got through in the end. Impressive mystery/suspense novel.

[Laura Libricz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a guy's book. Set in New Zealand, we meet Zack Carmichael, a sheep shearer and hobby hunter. He loses his girl to his best friend and retreats into what he loves best: hunting with his dog Shadow. Until she finds a dead body and Zack does the right thing by going to the police. He is framed for the murder and goes to prison.
This is a twisty-turny story as we follow the dirty dealings that lead to Zack's problems in the first place. I liked this book.