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Rebecca Bradley thrillers #1
Her Dark Path
16 years ago, Rebecca Bradley’s mother was murdered. Rebecca was only eight years old. The killer has never been caught. Growing up, Rebecca vowed that one day she would track him down and make him pay.
Now Rebecca is a young police woman in Ontario. She wants to become a homicide detective. Her first investigation is the cold case of a woman who vanished for 16 days and then was found dead in her own home. The brutal crime shocks the remote Canadian town of Conroy.
The puzzling case has uncanny similarities to the murder of Rebecca’s mother. Both victims were found strangled in their own kitchens.
Can Rebecca keep her emotions together as she closes in on a killer with connections to her family and tragic past? And will she finally get justice for her mother?
Now Rebecca is a young police woman in Ontario. She wants to become a homicide detective. Her first investigation is the cold case of a woman who vanished for 16 days and then was found dead in her own home. The brutal crime shocks the remote Canadian town of Conroy.
The puzzling case has uncanny similarities to the murder of Rebecca’s mother. Both victims were found strangled in their own kitchens.
Can Rebecca keep her emotions together as she closes in on a killer with connections to her family and tragic past? And will she finally get justice for her mother?
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2017
About the author
Ken Ogilvie
8 books7 followersKen has worked in a variety of roles in the environmental field, including holding positions with three governments in Canada (Federal, Manitoba and Ontario) and serving as the Executive Director of Pollution Probe, one of Canada’s longest standing environmental organizations. He remains active as an environmental policy consultant and has served on the Board of Directors of several organizations – most recently the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, and QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow). He has been awarded honourary doctorates from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, and Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia.
Ken’s first book, Her Dark Path, was published in September 2017 by Joffe Books, London, England. His second book, Hound, was published by Joffe Books in April 2019. Digital and paperback versions are available on amazon.ca (as well as in several countries, such as the U.S., U.K., and Australia).
Ken’s first book, Her Dark Path, was published in September 2017 by Joffe Books, London, England. His second book, Hound, was published by Joffe Books in April 2019. Digital and paperback versions are available on amazon.ca (as well as in several countries, such as the U.S., U.K., and Australia).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 6, 2017
Rebecca Bradley's mother was murdered 16 years ago when Rebecca was just 8 years old. The killer has never been caught and Rebecca vowed that one day that she would track him down. Now Rebecca is a young police woman in Ontario and wants to become a Homicide Detective. With her first investigation underway,a cold case of a woman who had vanished door 16 days and then was found dead in her own home. The case has uncanny similarities to the murder of Rebecca's mother.
This debut novel is full of twist and turns. I think the authors style of writing will vastly improve with every new book he writes. Unfortunately it was all a bit predictable for me. We all have to start some place and it is a goddess it novel.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Ken Ogilvie for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This debut novel is full of twist and turns. I think the authors style of writing will vastly improve with every new book he writes. Unfortunately it was all a bit predictable for me. We all have to start some place and it is a goddess it novel.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Ken Ogilvie for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2017
Constable Rebecca Bradley wants to be a homicide detective more than anything. Her mother was murdered 16 years ago and the killer was never caught. Being a detective will give her access to information she doesn't have.
She's given a chance to lead an investigation into a cold case. A woman had gone missing for 2 weeks and then found dead in her own home. The case is similar to how her own mother died ... both women were found strangled in their kitchens.
Trying to keep her emotions under control, she finds that there are many links to her own family members. And people in this small village all have secrets they do not want to see the light of day.
I especially enjoyed the characters. Hound is special in a way not clearly defined, but that just makes him more mysterious and much more interesting. There are the two barflies, for lack of a better word, who lend a little humor to this tale. There are many secondary characters that lend a credible atmosphere.
Also during this investigation, the reader learns that Rebecca has a history with her superior ... a relationship that ended 4 years ago, but he hasn't given up. There are snippets from her diary that outline what happened and why it didn't work.
Overall, this new crime writer did a good job. Suspense at times is palpable. At one point in time, the good guys are chasng the bad guys, the bad guys are trying to erase all witnesses, the cops are chasing everyone, even the bad cops. I found during all this that I needed to breathe more.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Merged review:
Constable Rebecca Bradley wants to be a homicide detective more than anything. Her mother was murdered 16 years ago and the killer was never caught. Being a detective will give her access to information she doesn't have.
She's given a chance to lead an investigation into a cold case. A woman had gone missing for 2 weeks and then found dead in her own home. The case is similar to how her own mother died ... both women were found strangled in their kitchens.
Trying to keep her emotions under control, she finds that there are many links to her own family members. And people in this small village all have secrets they do not want to see the light of day.
I especially enjoyed the characters. Hound is special in a way not clearly defined, but that just makes him more mysterious and much more interesting. There are the two barflies, for lack of a better word, who lend a little humor to this tale. There are many secondary characters that lend a credible atmosphere.
Also during this investigation, the reader learns that Rebecca has a history with her superior ... a relationship that ended 4 years ago, but he hasn't given up. There are snippets from her diary that outline what happened and why it didn't work.
Overall, this new crime writer did a good job. Suspense at times is palpable. At one point in time, the good guys are chasing the bad guys, the bad guys are trying to erase all witnesses, the cops are chasing everyone, even the bad cops. I found during all this that I needed to breathe more.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She's given a chance to lead an investigation into a cold case. A woman had gone missing for 2 weeks and then found dead in her own home. The case is similar to how her own mother died ... both women were found strangled in their kitchens.
Trying to keep her emotions under control, she finds that there are many links to her own family members. And people in this small village all have secrets they do not want to see the light of day.
I especially enjoyed the characters. Hound is special in a way not clearly defined, but that just makes him more mysterious and much more interesting. There are the two barflies, for lack of a better word, who lend a little humor to this tale. There are many secondary characters that lend a credible atmosphere.
Also during this investigation, the reader learns that Rebecca has a history with her superior ... a relationship that ended 4 years ago, but he hasn't given up. There are snippets from her diary that outline what happened and why it didn't work.
Overall, this new crime writer did a good job. Suspense at times is palpable. At one point in time, the good guys are chasng the bad guys, the bad guys are trying to erase all witnesses, the cops are chasing everyone, even the bad cops. I found during all this that I needed to breathe more.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Merged review:
Constable Rebecca Bradley wants to be a homicide detective more than anything. Her mother was murdered 16 years ago and the killer was never caught. Being a detective will give her access to information she doesn't have.
She's given a chance to lead an investigation into a cold case. A woman had gone missing for 2 weeks and then found dead in her own home. The case is similar to how her own mother died ... both women were found strangled in their kitchens.
Trying to keep her emotions under control, she finds that there are many links to her own family members. And people in this small village all have secrets they do not want to see the light of day.
I especially enjoyed the characters. Hound is special in a way not clearly defined, but that just makes him more mysterious and much more interesting. There are the two barflies, for lack of a better word, who lend a little humor to this tale. There are many secondary characters that lend a credible atmosphere.
Also during this investigation, the reader learns that Rebecca has a history with her superior ... a relationship that ended 4 years ago, but he hasn't given up. There are snippets from her diary that outline what happened and why it didn't work.
Overall, this new crime writer did a good job. Suspense at times is palpable. At one point in time, the good guys are chasing the bad guys, the bad guys are trying to erase all witnesses, the cops are chasing everyone, even the bad cops. I found during all this that I needed to breathe more.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 19, 2017
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I thought that this was a fantastic read and I am so glad that I was able to get a copy of the book to review as I think its one that needs to be shared! The author really weaves a detailed plot in the story with some fantastic characters being worked in to the plot - I thought that Rebecca was a really realistic character and the way she is portrayed in the book is spot on! I read the book in an afternoon and didn't want to put the book down, for me the pace is absolutely perfect for the plot and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped and interested in the story - 5 stars from me and this is most definitely a book I'd recommend!!
I thought that this was a fantastic read and I am so glad that I was able to get a copy of the book to review as I think its one that needs to be shared! The author really weaves a detailed plot in the story with some fantastic characters being worked in to the plot - I thought that Rebecca was a really realistic character and the way she is portrayed in the book is spot on! I read the book in an afternoon and didn't want to put the book down, for me the pace is absolutely perfect for the plot and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped and interested in the story - 5 stars from me and this is most definitely a book I'd recommend!!
September 16, 2017
My rating 5 out of 5 stars
WOW I find it very difficult to believe that this is Ken’s first novel. For an author who is dipping his toes in the murky waters of the Crime Fiction world for the first time this is a first class read and I am looking forward to reading more from an author, I am sure, will become a big name in the crime fiction genre.
I love the style of writing. Rebecca is introduced at the beginning and we learn a little more about her history via short extracts from her diary at the beginning of each chapter. She develops gradually through the course of the book to become a complex character we get to know very well.
Another character I love is Hound he is a unique individual and the author builds him gradually with such skill I feel I have a picture of him in my mind. I am sure there is a lot more to know about Hound so I am hoping to meet him again in future books.
It is an intricate plot with many different strands reaching into the past. I did wonder how it was all going to fit together but it did in a brilliant and unexpected way. I found myself gripped from the first page right through to the end as I got to know the characters. There were twists and turns all the way through as secrets and corruption are uncovered and characters turn out to be the opposite of what I thought they would be at the beginning.
An excellent book and well worth the 5 stars. I really hope this is the beginning of a series.
WOW I find it very difficult to believe that this is Ken’s first novel. For an author who is dipping his toes in the murky waters of the Crime Fiction world for the first time this is a first class read and I am looking forward to reading more from an author, I am sure, will become a big name in the crime fiction genre.
I love the style of writing. Rebecca is introduced at the beginning and we learn a little more about her history via short extracts from her diary at the beginning of each chapter. She develops gradually through the course of the book to become a complex character we get to know very well.
Another character I love is Hound he is a unique individual and the author builds him gradually with such skill I feel I have a picture of him in my mind. I am sure there is a lot more to know about Hound so I am hoping to meet him again in future books.
It is an intricate plot with many different strands reaching into the past. I did wonder how it was all going to fit together but it did in a brilliant and unexpected way. I found myself gripped from the first page right through to the end as I got to know the characters. There were twists and turns all the way through as secrets and corruption are uncovered and characters turn out to be the opposite of what I thought they would be at the beginning.
An excellent book and well worth the 5 stars. I really hope this is the beginning of a series.
September 17, 2017
When Rebecca Bradley was only 8 her mother was murdered which put this little girl on a mission to one day find out who had killed her. Now 16 years later she is in the office of her ex lover and superior Jonathan Cartwright, using the fact that he has never got over the split, to get her own way. Now a serving police woman in Ontario Rebecca is after a cold case that Jonathan had and never solved. A case that is a mirror image of the murder of her own mother. If she can use their past to gain the case then it will also open up documents that she hasn’t had access to before to solve her mother’s case too. The poor man didn’t stand a chance and acting homicide detective Rebecca Bradley exits the office.
As each chapter begins there is a drop back to earlier years and diary entries of Rebecca that give an insight into her and the decisions that she made. Rebecca knew that the new appointment wouldn’t go down well with some as she was sure that most people at least suspected they knew of her not so indiscretion with her boss before the split. For Rebecca this was her best shot and she headed off to Conroy.
Wow here we go. I do love a woman who knows how to work what she has and Rebecca really did that. All her life, well since her mother’s death, she has had one goal and this was her shot. Rebecca doesn’t just have the ability to rattle her ex lover but also a whole town and it doesn’t go down very well and this hornets nest will have a fatal sting for some. You just got to mellow to one resident, Hound a giant of a man with a soul and heart to go with it, even if he is totally random.
Ken Ogilvie builds this story through the emotions of Rebecca and turns it into a story that has an urgency and momentum as each chapter goes by. There are some real shocking moments to discover that kept me reading this book in one shot. It may be the author’s first ‘stab’ at this genre but I hope that he will follow-up with more of the same soon.
As each chapter begins there is a drop back to earlier years and diary entries of Rebecca that give an insight into her and the decisions that she made. Rebecca knew that the new appointment wouldn’t go down well with some as she was sure that most people at least suspected they knew of her not so indiscretion with her boss before the split. For Rebecca this was her best shot and she headed off to Conroy.
Wow here we go. I do love a woman who knows how to work what she has and Rebecca really did that. All her life, well since her mother’s death, she has had one goal and this was her shot. Rebecca doesn’t just have the ability to rattle her ex lover but also a whole town and it doesn’t go down very well and this hornets nest will have a fatal sting for some. You just got to mellow to one resident, Hound a giant of a man with a soul and heart to go with it, even if he is totally random.
Ken Ogilvie builds this story through the emotions of Rebecca and turns it into a story that has an urgency and momentum as each chapter goes by. There are some real shocking moments to discover that kept me reading this book in one shot. It may be the author’s first ‘stab’ at this genre but I hope that he will follow-up with more of the same soon.
September 19, 2017
Her Dark Path is a debut crime thriller for new author Ken Ogilvie, on first glance into the synopsis I thought wow its right up my street, I’m going to enjoy following the lead character Rebecca Bradley. Ken certainly didn’t disappoint.
After an unassuming but slow burn the book gathered pace and built to an inferno where I was grasping my kindle tighter trying to believe what was unfolding in front of my eyes.
The whole scenario of the book, in my opinion, was focused on Rebecca a young woman whose mother was murdered sixteen years previously when she was aged just eight and her quest to uncover the culprit responsible. Rebecca became a policewoman and progressed up through the ranks to become Acting Detective Constable following a cold case in Conway, which her superior Superintendent Cartwright was unable to solve. The case with its similarities to the death of her mother proves to be the nudge Rebecca needs to demonstrate her ability to become one of the best detectives.
Each chapter began with a brief snippet from Rebecca’s diary as she forges her path through life after her mothers death. Each of the diary entries describes a piece of invaluable insight into the woman Rebecca has become, from her progression through the police academy, her misplaced relationship with her former tutor and now present day boss Cartwright, also her fragile affinity with her father.
Another worthwhile character in Her Dark Path whom I loved reading about was Hound, he seemed a quiet but gentle giant of a man almost magical in some ways. I couldn’t put my finger on why I thought there was a lot more to Hound, we didn’t know a lot about him, he was quite distant when talking about his own family. Hopefully when Ken writes the next in the series (fingers crossed) then we will learn more about Rebecca and Hound, I certainly look forward to it if that’s the case.
Rebecca befriends the townsfolk of Conway eventually who initially did anything they could to detract from offering any assistance with closing the case involving the murder of Angela McBride. Who holds the key to the murder and what conspiracies lie within Conway a town of secrets and lies, turning the pages reveals more and more deception but can Rebecca identify the truth…..
If I could describe this book in one word I would but its just impossible.
Her Dark Path wets yours passion for crime, giving you a taster, an insight for what’s to come, but before you know it your literally salivating turning the pages craving answers. If you like a slow burn which bursts into an inferno of lies, questionable business dealings, blackmail and murder, then Her dark Path is right up your alley.
I would like to thank Joffe Books, Ken Ogilvie and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of Her Dark Path in exchange for an honest review.
After an unassuming but slow burn the book gathered pace and built to an inferno where I was grasping my kindle tighter trying to believe what was unfolding in front of my eyes.
The whole scenario of the book, in my opinion, was focused on Rebecca a young woman whose mother was murdered sixteen years previously when she was aged just eight and her quest to uncover the culprit responsible. Rebecca became a policewoman and progressed up through the ranks to become Acting Detective Constable following a cold case in Conway, which her superior Superintendent Cartwright was unable to solve. The case with its similarities to the death of her mother proves to be the nudge Rebecca needs to demonstrate her ability to become one of the best detectives.
Each chapter began with a brief snippet from Rebecca’s diary as she forges her path through life after her mothers death. Each of the diary entries describes a piece of invaluable insight into the woman Rebecca has become, from her progression through the police academy, her misplaced relationship with her former tutor and now present day boss Cartwright, also her fragile affinity with her father.
Another worthwhile character in Her Dark Path whom I loved reading about was Hound, he seemed a quiet but gentle giant of a man almost magical in some ways. I couldn’t put my finger on why I thought there was a lot more to Hound, we didn’t know a lot about him, he was quite distant when talking about his own family. Hopefully when Ken writes the next in the series (fingers crossed) then we will learn more about Rebecca and Hound, I certainly look forward to it if that’s the case.
Rebecca befriends the townsfolk of Conway eventually who initially did anything they could to detract from offering any assistance with closing the case involving the murder of Angela McBride. Who holds the key to the murder and what conspiracies lie within Conway a town of secrets and lies, turning the pages reveals more and more deception but can Rebecca identify the truth…..
If I could describe this book in one word I would but its just impossible.
Her Dark Path wets yours passion for crime, giving you a taster, an insight for what’s to come, but before you know it your literally salivating turning the pages craving answers. If you like a slow burn which bursts into an inferno of lies, questionable business dealings, blackmail and murder, then Her dark Path is right up your alley.
I would like to thank Joffe Books, Ken Ogilvie and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of Her Dark Path in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2017
For a new author to me, Ken Ogilvie has my attention. Her Dark Path is about Rebecca Bradley. She wants to become a police detective so bad she can almost taste it. Her mother was murdered when Rebecca was 8 years old. Now it is a cold case that she wants to solve. But she needs what little information the police have to try and do that. Being a detective would give her access to that information. This book weaves a great story about Rebecca and a cast of characters, including an affair with her now superior. The writer goes back in time to give the reader enough "history" to explain things in the story so they make more sense. I am looking forward to more stories by this author. Thank you Joffe books for providing me a ARC of this story. The review is done voluntarily and of my own opinions.
September 8, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Her Dark Path, a debut novel featuring acting DC Rebecca Bradley of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Rebecca is desperate to become a detective but she is blocked at every turn by Inspector Sykes. As a last resort she asks her ex boyfriend Superintendent Cartwright to let her investigate the cold case murder of Abigail McBride, hoping that it will get her into the detective bureau and give her pointers in the unsolved murder of her mother 16 years ago as she sees similarities in the two cases. In Conroy where Abigail lived her unorthodox investigation leads to an outbreak of violence and the discovery that her family has strong links to the place.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Dark Path. It is a straightforward mystery with plenty of action and some unusual twists and turns. It won't win any literary prizes (not my first choice of reading matter) but it had me glued to the pages from start to finish as I read it in one sitting. It does require a certain suspension of disbelief, like a rookie being allowed to look into a cold case murder, but it's easy to do so and get involved in the action.
I like the characters. Rebecca surrounds herself with oddballs and makes some genuine friendships. She is dedicated and rather humourless but she has her eye on the main prize, a place in the detective bureau. She is also smart, pleasant, tough and cool under pressure.
The mystery of Abigail's death is solved in the novel, making it complete. There are, however, some intriguing hints about where Mr Ogilvie will take the sequel and I'm looking forward to it. Not all readers like this so it's worth a mention.
Like all the crime novels published by Joffe Books that I have read Her Dark Path is extremely readable and engrossing so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
Rebecca is desperate to become a detective but she is blocked at every turn by Inspector Sykes. As a last resort she asks her ex boyfriend Superintendent Cartwright to let her investigate the cold case murder of Abigail McBride, hoping that it will get her into the detective bureau and give her pointers in the unsolved murder of her mother 16 years ago as she sees similarities in the two cases. In Conroy where Abigail lived her unorthodox investigation leads to an outbreak of violence and the discovery that her family has strong links to the place.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Dark Path. It is a straightforward mystery with plenty of action and some unusual twists and turns. It won't win any literary prizes (not my first choice of reading matter) but it had me glued to the pages from start to finish as I read it in one sitting. It does require a certain suspension of disbelief, like a rookie being allowed to look into a cold case murder, but it's easy to do so and get involved in the action.
I like the characters. Rebecca surrounds herself with oddballs and makes some genuine friendships. She is dedicated and rather humourless but she has her eye on the main prize, a place in the detective bureau. She is also smart, pleasant, tough and cool under pressure.
The mystery of Abigail's death is solved in the novel, making it complete. There are, however, some intriguing hints about where Mr Ogilvie will take the sequel and I'm looking forward to it. Not all readers like this so it's worth a mention.
Like all the crime novels published by Joffe Books that I have read Her Dark Path is extremely readable and engrossing so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
March 30, 2019
What role do members of society play in resolving murder mysteries?
Can one be innocent if the rest of their family is part of the problem?
The story takes us back in time, to a question that has intrigued society for millennia – can a human being exist as an individual within society, or, are individuals part of a networked society from which they cannot disentangle?
In, Her Dark Path, Ken Ogilvie uses the murder of Abigail McBride to bring into focus complications of solving murder cases, more so when grieving family members are bypassed during the investigation process.
The author uses Conroy, a fictitious small town in Ontario for readers to find answers to a myriad of questions. For example, who, within the law enforcement specialities qualifies to investigate which crime and how do they get chosen? What about the involvement of the local community? Who is a suspect, who does not want the crime investigated and why?
I applaud Ogilvie in his mastery as a mystery writer. He interweaved the suspects to the extent that each time I thought I’d solved the mystery, he brought in a new suspect with enough evidence for me to forgive the previous one. I was left panting by the time I reached the end of the novel because, I never got a reason to put the book down until I turned the last page.
What issues did the book bring to the fore?
1. Challenges that women are faced with, both in social and professional arenas. For example, Rebecca Bradley did not want to continue her relationship with Cartwright, but she had to tone down her no, out of fear that making her position clear would result in her not being allowed to investigate the McBride case.
o Related to the above, Rebecca had to take the biggest risk, the final attack to prove to Sykes that she was qualified for the job.
o We see similarities with many other women characters in the book. They work hard to earn a living while some of the men seem to have lots of money, yet they spend most of their time along the streets in town, cafes, bars, eateries – where they are served by female employees.
2. The role of law enforcement officers in the justice system – solving crime. One wonders how O'Reilly had managed to survive within the police force with such laxity, or is it because he cannot investigate himself?
3. To what extent can professionals solve crime, murder mysteries without the involvement of members of society/community?
4. One might want to ask, why does the process of solving a murder mystery always result in expositions? Secrets that community members have kept well that far, suddenly get exposed – who lives where, who has an affair with who, who should be feared, who can only bark because they have no teeth, etc.
5. There’s also the larger question, murder cases destabilize society which is expected to resort back to normality once the culprit is caught. How will people get back to normal life when their secrets and other crimes have been exposed during the investigation process.
6. Why are local people rarely willing to talk to law enforcement officers, provide information to aid in solving the crime?
The author’s style of writing gripped my attention – the choice of words, befitting character descriptions on first encounter, descriptions of setting and speeding cars have stayed with me long after I read the last page.
Often, I caught myself panting from joining in the race to catch the criminals before more damage could be done. The author makes all the characters so human until I could see some of them along a road, a street, in a cafe and many other public places.
The book sheds light on the role of professionalism in solving murder cases. If Rebecca did not have a personal investment in the McBride murder case, would the real criminals have been caught?
I like the way Ogilvie humanizes Rebecca. She sets out focused, very professional, but becomes a regular person while she’s with community members. We see her getting carried away, becomes too trusting of people, she reveals too many details of her findings to her interviewees, putting herself in dangerous situations where, intuition or training should have prepared her to avoid.
I highly recommend Her Dark Path to anyone working in the justice system, and to all readers of crime and mystery fiction.
The only side-effect from reading Her Dark Path is that it left me with more homework than I had bargained for. I have become more observant, formulating stories in my mind each time I hear a police siren, each time I see police cars in high speed, each time I see an ambulance on a highway.
Did they just find another cave?
I give the book five stars because the author maximized on suspense, thus held my attention, kept me guessing and wanting to read more to answer the why question. The book is well written, edited and proofread, does not give a reader an excuse to slow down.
What is your take on the book?
Thanks for reading this book review. I endeavour to write a review on the books that capture my interest. Please recommend books for me to read.
First published @ EileenOmosa.com
Can one be innocent if the rest of their family is part of the problem?
The story takes us back in time, to a question that has intrigued society for millennia – can a human being exist as an individual within society, or, are individuals part of a networked society from which they cannot disentangle?
In, Her Dark Path, Ken Ogilvie uses the murder of Abigail McBride to bring into focus complications of solving murder cases, more so when grieving family members are bypassed during the investigation process.
The author uses Conroy, a fictitious small town in Ontario for readers to find answers to a myriad of questions. For example, who, within the law enforcement specialities qualifies to investigate which crime and how do they get chosen? What about the involvement of the local community? Who is a suspect, who does not want the crime investigated and why?
I applaud Ogilvie in his mastery as a mystery writer. He interweaved the suspects to the extent that each time I thought I’d solved the mystery, he brought in a new suspect with enough evidence for me to forgive the previous one. I was left panting by the time I reached the end of the novel because, I never got a reason to put the book down until I turned the last page.
What issues did the book bring to the fore?
1. Challenges that women are faced with, both in social and professional arenas. For example, Rebecca Bradley did not want to continue her relationship with Cartwright, but she had to tone down her no, out of fear that making her position clear would result in her not being allowed to investigate the McBride case.
o Related to the above, Rebecca had to take the biggest risk, the final attack to prove to Sykes that she was qualified for the job.
o We see similarities with many other women characters in the book. They work hard to earn a living while some of the men seem to have lots of money, yet they spend most of their time along the streets in town, cafes, bars, eateries – where they are served by female employees.
2. The role of law enforcement officers in the justice system – solving crime. One wonders how O'Reilly had managed to survive within the police force with such laxity, or is it because he cannot investigate himself?
3. To what extent can professionals solve crime, murder mysteries without the involvement of members of society/community?
4. One might want to ask, why does the process of solving a murder mystery always result in expositions? Secrets that community members have kept well that far, suddenly get exposed – who lives where, who has an affair with who, who should be feared, who can only bark because they have no teeth, etc.
5. There’s also the larger question, murder cases destabilize society which is expected to resort back to normality once the culprit is caught. How will people get back to normal life when their secrets and other crimes have been exposed during the investigation process.
6. Why are local people rarely willing to talk to law enforcement officers, provide information to aid in solving the crime?
The author’s style of writing gripped my attention – the choice of words, befitting character descriptions on first encounter, descriptions of setting and speeding cars have stayed with me long after I read the last page.
Often, I caught myself panting from joining in the race to catch the criminals before more damage could be done. The author makes all the characters so human until I could see some of them along a road, a street, in a cafe and many other public places.
The book sheds light on the role of professionalism in solving murder cases. If Rebecca did not have a personal investment in the McBride murder case, would the real criminals have been caught?
I like the way Ogilvie humanizes Rebecca. She sets out focused, very professional, but becomes a regular person while she’s with community members. We see her getting carried away, becomes too trusting of people, she reveals too many details of her findings to her interviewees, putting herself in dangerous situations where, intuition or training should have prepared her to avoid.
I highly recommend Her Dark Path to anyone working in the justice system, and to all readers of crime and mystery fiction.
The only side-effect from reading Her Dark Path is that it left me with more homework than I had bargained for. I have become more observant, formulating stories in my mind each time I hear a police siren, each time I see police cars in high speed, each time I see an ambulance on a highway.
Did they just find another cave?
I give the book five stars because the author maximized on suspense, thus held my attention, kept me guessing and wanting to read more to answer the why question. The book is well written, edited and proofread, does not give a reader an excuse to slow down.
What is your take on the book?
Thanks for reading this book review. I endeavour to write a review on the books that capture my interest. Please recommend books for me to read.
First published @ EileenOmosa.com
September 17, 2017
*Thank you to Joffe Books and Jill Burkinshaw for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Constable Rebecca Bradley, who is working at the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters. She has an appointment with her newly promoted boss, Regional Superintendent Jonathan Cartwright.
Due to him being promoted, he no longer has time to carry on with a case that is growing cold. Rebecca persuades him to allow her some time to try and solve it on her own, before it is passed to other members of the Homicide Squad.
Rebecca has personal reasons to want to investigate – she lost her mother in very similar circumstances 16 years earlier. Her boss is aware of this as they have had a relationship previously.
Rebecca heads to the small town of Conroy, where she is met with silence by most of the locals, including Constable Jack O’Reilly.
The plot takes a while to get going due to the nature of the “intruder” on the local’s patch, but once Rebecca convinces a few locals she’s on their side, they soon begin to open up. The pace doesn’t really pick up for the first half, but once it grabs you it won’t let go!
Rebecca is a likeable character, and you immediately feel sympathy for her because she is made to feel so unwelcome. She is a determined person and has a plan to eventually solve her own mother’s murder by getting into the Homicide Squad, hence the decision to try to solve the mystery.
The other character I immediately took to was Hound, the local gentle giant, who is one of the first people to speak to Rebecca. He’s sensitive and kind, as well as a reliable friend.
I really enjoyed this debut and read it in one sitting.
At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Constable Rebecca Bradley, who is working at the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters. She has an appointment with her newly promoted boss, Regional Superintendent Jonathan Cartwright.
Due to him being promoted, he no longer has time to carry on with a case that is growing cold. Rebecca persuades him to allow her some time to try and solve it on her own, before it is passed to other members of the Homicide Squad.
Rebecca has personal reasons to want to investigate – she lost her mother in very similar circumstances 16 years earlier. Her boss is aware of this as they have had a relationship previously.
Rebecca heads to the small town of Conroy, where she is met with silence by most of the locals, including Constable Jack O’Reilly.
The plot takes a while to get going due to the nature of the “intruder” on the local’s patch, but once Rebecca convinces a few locals she’s on their side, they soon begin to open up. The pace doesn’t really pick up for the first half, but once it grabs you it won’t let go!
Rebecca is a likeable character, and you immediately feel sympathy for her because she is made to feel so unwelcome. She is a determined person and has a plan to eventually solve her own mother’s murder by getting into the Homicide Squad, hence the decision to try to solve the mystery.
The other character I immediately took to was Hound, the local gentle giant, who is one of the first people to speak to Rebecca. He’s sensitive and kind, as well as a reliable friend.
I really enjoyed this debut and read it in one sitting.
September 18, 2017
This was a good police procedural book. I've read better but this definitely held my interest. The blurb talks about the similarities between the main character's (Rebecca Bradley's) mother's murder and this new murder. However, I felt that it was such a stretch for quite a bit of the book, until it finally all fell together. I also had a hard time with the interaction between the characters. They didn't seem to mesh as well as some other police procedural books I've read. It was okay, just not great. I think that's just the way I feel about the whole book. It was good but not wonderful. Others may be okay with the book and love it, I just wasn't feeling it. Though I do admit I needed to get to the end to see how everything turned out. Judge for yourself, take a sample if you're on the edge.
November 3, 2017
One year ago, thirty-two year old Abigail McBride was found sitting in her kitchen, strangled to death, a mysterious murder resembling the killing of Rachel Bradley's mother years before? Are they connected? A young constable on her first homicide case, Rachel is off to small town Conroy to find out. Set in a dilapidated Northern Ontario town where the gold mine shut down years before, a vast array of characters come together as the mystery deepens and the dead bodies pile high. Career-climbing OPP cops, mobsters, quirky locals and the spiritual, hulking, Sherlock Holmes-loving Hound all intersect with Rachel in this page turning first novel by Ken Ogilvie. A fun read, a quick read and a satisfying read that will leave you breathless as you race with Rachel & Hound to the bloody conclusion.
October 21, 2017
Characters undeveloped more one/two dimensional.
Diary entry at beginning of chapters pointless and distracting as they were never expanded on in the story. Couldn't really visualize the scenery, story. Normally when I read a book I can "see in my mind" what is going on, what the characters look like, etc. not so here.
Dialogue stilted, formal, poorly written. No real passion or feeling even by the main character or the protagonist. I found myself "paging forward" in my Kindle even during the so called action scenes when they were fighting, etc. just never got any sense of who the characters were, why they acted like they did and frankly never cared.
Diary entry at beginning of chapters pointless and distracting as they were never expanded on in the story. Couldn't really visualize the scenery, story. Normally when I read a book I can "see in my mind" what is going on, what the characters look like, etc. not so here.
Dialogue stilted, formal, poorly written. No real passion or feeling even by the main character or the protagonist. I found myself "paging forward" in my Kindle even during the so called action scenes when they were fighting, etc. just never got any sense of who the characters were, why they acted like they did and frankly never cared.
November 1, 2017
Difficult to rate as parts of this made for a good mystery/thriller but it was dragged down in places by one-dimensional dialogue and too many coincidences as shady characters from different parts of the world all turned up in the small Canadian town of Conroy.
I quite liked the main character, Rebecca had enough background baggage to make her interesting but the way she interacted with town residents and police colleagues felt stilted. Throw in the odd presence of Hound who seemed to go from childlike giant to expert tracker via psychic abilities and I found the book a strange mix of police procedural and something like Twin Peaks that never quite gelled.
I quite liked the main character, Rebecca had enough background baggage to make her interesting but the way she interacted with town residents and police colleagues felt stilted. Throw in the odd presence of Hound who seemed to go from childlike giant to expert tracker via psychic abilities and I found the book a strange mix of police procedural and something like Twin Peaks that never quite gelled.
November 13, 2018
I have to admit that this book packed quite a punch. It was a very good start for Ken Ogilvie. I feel he is an author to keep an eye on, and I am looking forward to the next book.
Ken Ogilvie wove an intricate tale, where all the characters were so intertwined without knowing or realizing it. It was fascinating to watch the book unfold. He is able to create memorable characters that the reader identifies with. The ending took me by surprise. I had a vague notion, but not exactly as it panned out.
Great suspense and mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Ken Ogilvie wove an intricate tale, where all the characters were so intertwined without knowing or realizing it. It was fascinating to watch the book unfold. He is able to create memorable characters that the reader identifies with. The ending took me by surprise. I had a vague notion, but not exactly as it panned out.
Great suspense and mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 23, 2017
I received this book from NetGalley and Joffe books for an honest review. This is the author's debut work and it was good. There were lots of characters, including wannabe detective Rebecca Bradley, who was very likeable. So much happens in the sleepy town of Conroy that I wouldn't want to visit in a rush!! I will be reading more books by this author (hopefully!!). Thanks again for a very enjoyable read.
July 19, 2022
Her Dark Path is a book I really enjoyed reading. I found Rebecca Bradley to be a fascinating character. She's a broken figure, who prefers to keep people an arms length away from her, but finds she is drawn to some of the people in small town of Conroy. Soon, she discovers she is becoming friends with various local people and comes to trust them as she searches for clues in the murder case she's working on, something which is hard for her to do.
All in all, it's a story well told.
All in all, it's a story well told.
September 25, 2017
would like to thank net galley and publisher for letting me read and review this book
i am sure this would be a great book but i am afraid it never held my attention and i could put it down and forget it...which surprises me as its the sort of book i would normally read
there were elements in the book that i liked but not enough for me to finish sorry
i am sure this would be a great book but i am afraid it never held my attention and i could put it down and forget it...which surprises me as its the sort of book i would normally read
there were elements in the book that i liked but not enough for me to finish sorry
February 18, 2020
A young woman from a good family decides to become a detective to finally solve her mother's murder. What she finds is a somewhat abusive relationship with a superior (which, frankly, nobody missed and without which the book would have worked better), strange ties to a past and even stranger characters. Entertainment reading, without particular depth.
November 7, 2017
Her Dark Path
I love finding authors that are new to me. Especially when their book grips my interest and I can't wait to read their next book. This is the case with Ken Oglivie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book. Great read.
I love finding authors that are new to me. Especially when their book grips my interest and I can't wait to read their next book. This is the case with Ken Oglivie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book. Great read.
October 28, 2017
I could not recommend this book.the plot is weak and the ending so predictable. It wasn't worth the effort
September 7, 2017
Acting Detective Constable Rebecca Bradley of the Ontario Provincial Police, is a young woman with a lot of drive and family secrets. Her boss sends her out to the small town of Conroy on a cold case to the that has surprising links to some current murders and Rebecca herself. It also has similarities to the way Rebecca’s mother was killed when Rebecca was eight years old (both victims were found strangled in their kitchens).
I was drawn to this book because of the setting (Canada), and the possibilities in the plot – Rebecca had a prior relationship with her boss, but she’s trying to shake that and succeed at this case because she wants to become a full-fledged DC in the homicide squad. She is consumed by solving her mother’s murder, that’s the whole reason she got into law enforcement to begin with. She has a complicated backstory (what’s a young woman wearing designer clothes and driving a Mercedes doing in the OPP anyway?) and a strong desire to succeed on her own.
There were a couple of things that bothered me. Most of the chapters open with a quote from Rebecca’s diary, generally discussing her lust for the man who was her teacher and then became her supervisor. I suppose they were designed to set the tone and pass information along, but I just found the convention annoying. Also, I initially found her to be an unlikeable, unsympathetic, and the secondary characters in Conroy much more interesting than her. But I was curious to know whodunnit (and I’m very fond of all things Canadian), so I pressed on. Just about the time the diary trope went to the wayside, the plot picked up steam for me and I couldn’t put the book down. It made time fly by on the treadmill.
The ending was an action-packed, satisfying surprise. The characters showed some growth, and I learned more about Rebecca that caused her to be almost likeable. I think I would at least check out the second book in the series (when there is one) to see what happens next in Rebecca’s life, and whether the secondary characters get more screen time. I might not go out of my way to get it, but I would read it if I came across it. I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher (which has a great catalogue of interesting reads) and I’m voluntarily giving this review.
I was drawn to this book because of the setting (Canada), and the possibilities in the plot – Rebecca had a prior relationship with her boss, but she’s trying to shake that and succeed at this case because she wants to become a full-fledged DC in the homicide squad. She is consumed by solving her mother’s murder, that’s the whole reason she got into law enforcement to begin with. She has a complicated backstory (what’s a young woman wearing designer clothes and driving a Mercedes doing in the OPP anyway?) and a strong desire to succeed on her own.
There were a couple of things that bothered me. Most of the chapters open with a quote from Rebecca’s diary, generally discussing her lust for the man who was her teacher and then became her supervisor. I suppose they were designed to set the tone and pass information along, but I just found the convention annoying. Also, I initially found her to be an unlikeable, unsympathetic, and the secondary characters in Conroy much more interesting than her. But I was curious to know whodunnit (and I’m very fond of all things Canadian), so I pressed on. Just about the time the diary trope went to the wayside, the plot picked up steam for me and I couldn’t put the book down. It made time fly by on the treadmill.
The ending was an action-packed, satisfying surprise. The characters showed some growth, and I learned more about Rebecca that caused her to be almost likeable. I think I would at least check out the second book in the series (when there is one) to see what happens next in Rebecca’s life, and whether the secondary characters get more screen time. I might not go out of my way to get it, but I would read it if I came across it. I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher (which has a great catalogue of interesting reads) and I’m voluntarily giving this review.
September 9, 2017
4 stars
Rebecca is a constable in the Ontario Provincial Police. She wants to be a detective desperately. She approaches her boss and former lover Superintendent Jonathan Cartwright and begs and manipulates him into agreeing to put her on an unsolved murder from a year earlier. Her boss was in charge of the case and it irritates him greatly him that he never solved it. He very reluctantly agrees after she more or less blackmails him into it.
She travels to Conroy where the murder took place and meets Officer O’Reilly the local constable (the only constable). He likes to be called “Chief.” He is standoffish and rude to her at first. She also meets Thaddeus “Hound” Hounsley who is a colorful local citizen who on the surface seems a little odd, but is really a very nice man who saves her bacon a couple of times. She meets other locals who are or are not helpful, including Lukas and Shorty. She begins to get a picture of what is going on.
Then Hound and O’Reilly drop a bomb. Is this murder related to the murder of her own mother a number of years earlier? She has vowed to find her mother’s killer and bring them to justice.
Rebecca has a moment at the end of the book, pondering what kind of person she has turned in to. She knows what she has done, and regrets it somehow. Foes she really want to be that kind of person? There’s hope for her yet.
This is a well written and plotted novel. It is amazing that it is a debut. I didn’t care for the manner in which Rebecca manipulated and badgered Cartwright into putting her on the case. It smacked of emotional blackmail. She also made too many assumptions regarding others people’s motives and emotions and some leaps of logic that didn’t follow. Her character evened out though after she got to Conroy. The book started out a little slowly, but once it got going, the suspense increased and continued to increase throughout the rest of the novel.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very well done debut novel to read and enjoy.
Rebecca is a constable in the Ontario Provincial Police. She wants to be a detective desperately. She approaches her boss and former lover Superintendent Jonathan Cartwright and begs and manipulates him into agreeing to put her on an unsolved murder from a year earlier. Her boss was in charge of the case and it irritates him greatly him that he never solved it. He very reluctantly agrees after she more or less blackmails him into it.
She travels to Conroy where the murder took place and meets Officer O’Reilly the local constable (the only constable). He likes to be called “Chief.” He is standoffish and rude to her at first. She also meets Thaddeus “Hound” Hounsley who is a colorful local citizen who on the surface seems a little odd, but is really a very nice man who saves her bacon a couple of times. She meets other locals who are or are not helpful, including Lukas and Shorty. She begins to get a picture of what is going on.
Then Hound and O’Reilly drop a bomb. Is this murder related to the murder of her own mother a number of years earlier? She has vowed to find her mother’s killer and bring them to justice.
Rebecca has a moment at the end of the book, pondering what kind of person she has turned in to. She knows what she has done, and regrets it somehow. Foes she really want to be that kind of person? There’s hope for her yet.
This is a well written and plotted novel. It is amazing that it is a debut. I didn’t care for the manner in which Rebecca manipulated and badgered Cartwright into putting her on the case. It smacked of emotional blackmail. She also made too many assumptions regarding others people’s motives and emotions and some leaps of logic that didn’t follow. Her character evened out though after she got to Conroy. The book started out a little slowly, but once it got going, the suspense increased and continued to increase throughout the rest of the novel.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very well done debut novel to read and enjoy.
February 2, 2025
16 years ago Rebecca's mother was murdered. Now Rebecca is a young police officer investigating her mothers death. Rebecca has travelled to a small town Otario to investigate a murder. Will these two murders be linked? After all Rebecca's mother's killer was never found.
This book was really good. The whole storyline was captivating and there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. As much as this book was great, it had a lot of characters so I did find myself confused sometimes and constantly trying to remember who everyone was.
I did love all the characters though especially Rebecca and Hound.
Very well written book. I cant wait to read more from Ken Ogilvie.
Merged review:
16 years ago Rebecca's mother was murdered. Now Rebecca is a young police officer investigating her mothers death. Rebecca has travelled to a small town Otario to investigate a murder. Will these two murders be linked? After all Rebecca's mother's killer was never found.
This book was really good. The whole storyline was captivating and there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. As much as this book was great, it had a lot of characters so I did find myself confused sometimes and constantly trying to remember who everyone was.
I did love all the characters though especially Rebecca and Hound.
Very well written book. I cant wait to read more from Ken Ogilvie.
This book was really good. The whole storyline was captivating and there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. As much as this book was great, it had a lot of characters so I did find myself confused sometimes and constantly trying to remember who everyone was.
I did love all the characters though especially Rebecca and Hound.
Very well written book. I cant wait to read more from Ken Ogilvie.
Merged review:
16 years ago Rebecca's mother was murdered. Now Rebecca is a young police officer investigating her mothers death. Rebecca has travelled to a small town Otario to investigate a murder. Will these two murders be linked? After all Rebecca's mother's killer was never found.
This book was really good. The whole storyline was captivating and there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. As much as this book was great, it had a lot of characters so I did find myself confused sometimes and constantly trying to remember who everyone was.
I did love all the characters though especially Rebecca and Hound.
Very well written book. I cant wait to read more from Ken Ogilvie.
September 8, 2017
Rebecca found her world turned upside down on her 8th birthday. Her mother has been murdered. She vowed to find the killer and bring them to justice.
She is now a Constable and finds herself in Conroy, a small town full of secrets tangled with her own family.
I really like the way Ken Ogilvie tells the story, as in giving details and describing scenarios. I could so easily picture what was going on and was able to imagine everything in my head as if watching a film. I think the plot is very clever and the twists are good, but not good enough for me because I was able to tell what was going to happen from very early on so it didn't got me grasping or shocked when I finished the story. It is obvious there will be a sequel that I hope the author will pull off with better twists.
All in all, thank you so much to Joffe Books, NetGalley and of course, Ken Ogilvie, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of my honest review.
She is now a Constable and finds herself in Conroy, a small town full of secrets tangled with her own family.
I really like the way Ken Ogilvie tells the story, as in giving details and describing scenarios. I could so easily picture what was going on and was able to imagine everything in my head as if watching a film. I think the plot is very clever and the twists are good, but not good enough for me because I was able to tell what was going to happen from very early on so it didn't got me grasping or shocked when I finished the story. It is obvious there will be a sequel that I hope the author will pull off with better twists.
All in all, thank you so much to Joffe Books, NetGalley and of course, Ken Ogilvie, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of my honest review.
September 10, 2017
16 years ago, when she was 8 years old, Rebecca Bradley's mother was murdered and her killer has never been found. Now Rebecca is a police officer and she's persuaded her superior and former lover to allowed her to investigate a cold case in the town of Conroy. A woman, Angela McBride, went missing the previous year only for her murdered body to be found in her own house a few days later. When Rebecca arrives in Conroy she can't help notice the similarities and connections to Prospect the town where she grew up in. Can Rebecca discover who killed Angela when it seems a lot of the town are keeping secrets. Found the book a bit slow to begin with and didn't particularly warm to Rebecca's character however the story soon picked up and I really enjoyed it. A good debut novel.
Thanks to Joffe books and Ken Ogilvie for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Thanks to Joffe books and Ken Ogilvie for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
September 7, 2017
A woman was murdered a year ago , case unsolved. A new detective is in town and the case reminds her of the murder of her mother. Could the two be related or is she clutching at straws? This is quite a complex story to keep you on your toes with twists and turns along the way. You think the case is almost solved and another spanner is thrown into the works. I liked the main character, her tenacity and the short diary extract at the start of each chapter giving us a glimpse of Rebecca’s past. A book to enjoy and keep the grey matter active.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
October 2, 2017
Rebecca is an ambitious young lady that wants to solve the murder of her mother and at the same time solve the murder of another young girl, earning her a place within the CIB as an investigator. Along the way she makes, friends, enemies, and meets more mystery. This was full of suspense, intrigue, and a lot of twists. Thank you NetGalley and Ken Ogilvie for allowing me to read this book and write a honest review.
March 28, 2019
Acting Dectective Constable Rebecca Bradley manages to get herself in charge of investigating a cold case concerning the disappearance and then death of a female in the town of Conroy.
Although I did finish the book, unfortunately I didn't really care or like any of the characters, or the style of writing.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy
Although I did finish the book, unfortunately I didn't really care or like any of the characters, or the style of writing.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy
September 4, 2017
A fantastic debut novel that twists and turns through the pages and leaves you wanting even more. No doubt there will be a follow on from this and I hope it is sooner rather than later. Thanks to Joffe Books for allowing me to read this brilliant book.
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