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Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery #2
Butterfly Kills
Two separate crimes, two tragic outcomes.
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to look after his father and take up the position of head of the town's Criminal Investigations Division. One hot week in late September, university student Leah Sampson is murdered in her apartment. In another corner of the city, Della Munroe is raped by her husband. At first the crimes appear unrelated, but as Sergeant Rouleau and his new team of officers dig into the women's pasts, they discover unsettling coincidences. When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau's former officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston, Rouleau enlists her to help.
Stonechild isn't sure if she wants to stay in Kingston, but agrees to help Rouleau in the short term. While she struggles with trying to decide if she can make a life in this new town, a ghost from her past starts to haunt her.
As the detectives delve deeper into the cases, it seems more questions pop up than answers. Who murdered Leah Sampson? And why does Della Monroe's name keep showing up in the murder investigation? Both women were hiding secrets that have unleashed a string of violence. Stonechild and Rouleau race to discover the truth before the violence rips more families apart.
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to look after his father and take up the position of head of the town's Criminal Investigations Division. One hot week in late September, university student Leah Sampson is murdered in her apartment. In another corner of the city, Della Munroe is raped by her husband. At first the crimes appear unrelated, but as Sergeant Rouleau and his new team of officers dig into the women's pasts, they discover unsettling coincidences. When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau's former officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston, Rouleau enlists her to help.
Stonechild isn't sure if she wants to stay in Kingston, but agrees to help Rouleau in the short term. While she struggles with trying to decide if she can make a life in this new town, a ghost from her past starts to haunt her.
As the detectives delve deeper into the cases, it seems more questions pop up than answers. Who murdered Leah Sampson? And why does Della Monroe's name keep showing up in the murder investigation? Both women were hiding secrets that have unleashed a string of violence. Stonechild and Rouleau race to discover the truth before the violence rips more families apart.
376 pages, Audiobook
First published January 10, 2015
65 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Chapman
40 books356 followersI'm an Ottawa author with 18 published novels in the mystery genre, both adult and YA. I am currently writing two adult mystery series: The Stonechild and Rouleau police procedurals from Dundurn include Cold Mourning (2014), which was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for crime novel of the year, Butterfly Kills, Tumbled Graves, Shallow End and Bleeding Darkness. Turning Secrets, 6th in the series, will be released spring 2019.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
October 20, 2022
In which Kala Stonechild’s dark life becomes even darker and more difficult
If you’re a fan of contemporary mysteries, suspense thrillers or police procedurals, then it’s a pretty solid bet that you’ve encountered a much used plot device trope. C’mon … admit it! You know the drill! Multiple unrelated story lines, victims and crimes, apparently separated by light years of facts, evidence and circumstance, slowly evolve, weave, intertwine and merge into a single story line that the embattled protagonist solves with a combination of perseverance, dogged police work, brilliant insight and a measure of luck and happenstance. In fact, it’s a fairly good wager that, off the top of your head, you’d be hard pressed to come up with the name of a recently published novel that comprised a single crime and linear plot line, without a furrowed forehead and considerable thought.
BUTTERFLY KILLS is certainly not going to qualify. But, that said, BUTTERFLY KILLS is a contemporary mystery that develops and draws on contemporary issues and personalities. It's a definite winner and a gripping page-turner!
Leah Sampson, a psychology graduate student who selflessly toils for hours manning Kingston’s Queens University student help line “talking students through school jitters, boyfriend troubles, and suicidal thoughts” meets a slow gruesome death by torture at the hands of what has to be a psychopath. Elsewhere Della Munroe kills her husband obviously defending herself and her son when the husband violates a protection court order imposed after a brutal spousal rape. Last but not least, Dalal Shahan, a troubled Muslim teenager, works to protect herself from domestic sexual assault and to save her younger mentally challenged sister from being trafficked into a child marriage to a perverted elderly suitor.
In this, the second installment of the Rouleau-Stonechild pairing, Chapman gives Rouleau a quiet offstage role taking care of his aging father while Stonechild works front and center allowing her involvement with the murders to lead her into an ultimate resolution of her decision about where to lead her adult life after a typically troubled aboriginal childhood.
Plot development, character development, dialogue, story timing, typical red herrings and dead ends, atmosphere and location – all well done. BUTTERFLY KILLS (despite the fact that I have absolutely no idea what that title means??) is easy to recommend and I look forward with considerable eagerness to #3 in the series, TUMBLED GRAVES.
Paul Weiss
If you’re a fan of contemporary mysteries, suspense thrillers or police procedurals, then it’s a pretty solid bet that you’ve encountered a much used plot device trope. C’mon … admit it! You know the drill! Multiple unrelated story lines, victims and crimes, apparently separated by light years of facts, evidence and circumstance, slowly evolve, weave, intertwine and merge into a single story line that the embattled protagonist solves with a combination of perseverance, dogged police work, brilliant insight and a measure of luck and happenstance. In fact, it’s a fairly good wager that, off the top of your head, you’d be hard pressed to come up with the name of a recently published novel that comprised a single crime and linear plot line, without a furrowed forehead and considerable thought.
BUTTERFLY KILLS is certainly not going to qualify. But, that said, BUTTERFLY KILLS is a contemporary mystery that develops and draws on contemporary issues and personalities. It's a definite winner and a gripping page-turner!
Leah Sampson, a psychology graduate student who selflessly toils for hours manning Kingston’s Queens University student help line “talking students through school jitters, boyfriend troubles, and suicidal thoughts” meets a slow gruesome death by torture at the hands of what has to be a psychopath. Elsewhere Della Munroe kills her husband obviously defending herself and her son when the husband violates a protection court order imposed after a brutal spousal rape. Last but not least, Dalal Shahan, a troubled Muslim teenager, works to protect herself from domestic sexual assault and to save her younger mentally challenged sister from being trafficked into a child marriage to a perverted elderly suitor.
In this, the second installment of the Rouleau-Stonechild pairing, Chapman gives Rouleau a quiet offstage role taking care of his aging father while Stonechild works front and center allowing her involvement with the murders to lead her into an ultimate resolution of her decision about where to lead her adult life after a typically troubled aboriginal childhood.
Plot development, character development, dialogue, story timing, typical red herrings and dead ends, atmosphere and location – all well done. BUTTERFLY KILLS (despite the fact that I have absolutely no idea what that title means??) is easy to recommend and I look forward with considerable eagerness to #3 in the series, TUMBLED GRAVES.
Paul Weiss
August 23, 2014
In this second of the Stonechild/Rouleau series, after Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery, Jacques Rouleau has moved from Ottowa to Kingston to take up a position leading the Criminal Investigation Division. This move also allows him to help out his aging father who has had some health issues. He has sent out messages to Stonechild letting her know a position is open for her on his team but she is in the wind, possibly spending time up North on the Reserve.
Meanwhile there is a murder in Kingston which does not experience such violence often. A university student who worked at the hot line has been murdered. Violently. And then is a spousal rape. Suddenly Rouleau needs all the good policing he can have...and Stonechild shows up in Kingston with no promise for how long.
I enjoy the way Chapman creates her characters and her stories. They are all multi-faceted. The characters, at least all the main ones, have back story that builds during the primary investigation. The criminals may be somewhat less multi-dimensional but they do represent real problems, very real crimes in today's society, in North America.
I continue to recommend the series and I am now looking forward to the next volume in this series.
An ecopy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review
Meanwhile there is a murder in Kingston which does not experience such violence often. A university student who worked at the hot line has been murdered. Violently. And then is a spousal rape. Suddenly Rouleau needs all the good policing he can have...and Stonechild shows up in Kingston with no promise for how long.
I enjoy the way Chapman creates her characters and her stories. They are all multi-faceted. The characters, at least all the main ones, have back story that builds during the primary investigation. The criminals may be somewhat less multi-dimensional but they do represent real problems, very real crimes in today's society, in North America.
I continue to recommend the series and I am now looking forward to the next volume in this series.
An ecopy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review
June 24, 2021
OMG, this was one of the most unexpected thrillers I have read in a long time. I did not see so many twists, turns, domestic abuse, suspense, and sexual violence coming. Oh, the secrets, the lies, and oh the suspects! This book is a continuation of the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery Series.
First, let's start off with Leah Sampson, who worked as a counselor at a college crisis helpline. After Leah got off from work one evening and was heading inside her apartment, an intruder came in before she could close her door. That night Leah was murdered. On the other side of town, Della Munroe who was allegedly raped by her husband Brian reported that her husband broke into her house after he was served with a restraining order, and she freely admitted that she killed him.
When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau’s former officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston at his father's place, Rouleau enlists her to help with the investigation. Rouleau and Stonechild worked on a murder and spousal rape case at the same time. Could their deaths be related?
Bobby Hamilton, a druggie who found Leah's body was interviewed by Rouleau and Kala. Did he kill Leah? What about Leah's boyfriend Wolfe Edwards? Or was it the married man Leah was allegedly having an affair with? Was it possible that Brian was having an affair with Leah? Oh, the questions!
We also meet an Indian girl named Dalal who is struggling to conform to her parent's traditional rules. Her older sister Nadirah rebelled and escaped as not to have to be turned over and be enslaved by Mr. Khan. Dalal escapes with her little sister who was going to be turned over to Mr. Khan, in order to find her sister Nadirah.
It seems like the more Rouleau and Stonechild investigate these murders, the more questions and doubts arose about the reputation and character of Della Munroe. It appears that she was an evil woman who was malicious and could turn a situation in her favor, by convincing people she was the innocent victim.
The one thing I didn't like was the racist detective who had Della's house under surveillance and spotted Dalal's brother Ghazi pulling up on the street in a 4-door black Sentra. He suspected that Ghazi was up to something suspicious just because of his ethnicity. But what was Ghazi up to? You find out what Ghazi Shahan and his mother have been conspiring to do. You will eventually find out who killed Leah and who killed Brian Munroe. You will be in shock when you find out who did.
First, let's start off with Leah Sampson, who worked as a counselor at a college crisis helpline. After Leah got off from work one evening and was heading inside her apartment, an intruder came in before she could close her door. That night Leah was murdered. On the other side of town, Della Munroe who was allegedly raped by her husband Brian reported that her husband broke into her house after he was served with a restraining order, and she freely admitted that she killed him.
When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau’s former officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston at his father's place, Rouleau enlists her to help with the investigation. Rouleau and Stonechild worked on a murder and spousal rape case at the same time. Could their deaths be related?
Bobby Hamilton, a druggie who found Leah's body was interviewed by Rouleau and Kala. Did he kill Leah? What about Leah's boyfriend Wolfe Edwards? Or was it the married man Leah was allegedly having an affair with? Was it possible that Brian was having an affair with Leah? Oh, the questions!
We also meet an Indian girl named Dalal who is struggling to conform to her parent's traditional rules. Her older sister Nadirah rebelled and escaped as not to have to be turned over and be enslaved by Mr. Khan. Dalal escapes with her little sister who was going to be turned over to Mr. Khan, in order to find her sister Nadirah.
It seems like the more Rouleau and Stonechild investigate these murders, the more questions and doubts arose about the reputation and character of Della Munroe. It appears that she was an evil woman who was malicious and could turn a situation in her favor, by convincing people she was the innocent victim.
The one thing I didn't like was the racist detective who had Della's house under surveillance and spotted Dalal's brother Ghazi pulling up on the street in a 4-door black Sentra. He suspected that Ghazi was up to something suspicious just because of his ethnicity. But what was Ghazi up to? You find out what Ghazi Shahan and his mother have been conspiring to do. You will eventually find out who killed Leah and who killed Brian Munroe. You will be in shock when you find out who did.
June 10, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars
Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery #2
I didn’t read first in this series but just downloaded it as I wanted to know more about Kala.
(In that story we meet Kala Stonechild, who has just transferred to the police department. She is an Aboriginal Canadian who grew up on the reservation and then a series of foster homes. )
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to take care of his ailing father and accepted a position with Criminal Investigation Division. He asks Detective Kala Stoneshild to join his unit on a temporary basis. Kala accepts and partners with Detective Paul Gundersund.
There are several stories lines going on that melt together.
Story is told from the POV of Kala and Dalai.
Kala and Gundersund are helping Rouleau with his latest cases or cases: murder, assault and spouse abuse.
It took a bit for me to get the character straight.
Leah Sampson a university student, who works on the help-line, is found dead in her apartment. Soon another girl who works on the help-line is attacked.
Della Munroe, a mother of a young son, filed a rape charge against her husband. When husband is called in, he states Della is lying ~ that she faked the rape. Needless to say, no one believes him until he shows up dead and then there are doubts.
Another POV is Dalai, who is a young Muslin girl with 3 sisters and an older brother who is cruel and abusive. The girls are all struggling to keep their parents traditional rules. Her older sister is often beaten for bring disgrace to the family traditions. She leaves home, however it not happy about leaving her younger sisters. She knows the girls will be treated as slaves and the brother treated like a prince.
There is no doubt Dalai’s home life is so disturbing, but this story was a page turner and I could not put this down.
Personal Note: I read A Woman’s is no a Man a few years ago
as it was a “Read with Jenna Book Club” selection.
~ My comments “I know I am in the minority with my low rating of this
novel; I don't want to be disrespected to another culture but ...this story is so
disturbing. It is the story of Arab women who are stuck in an abusive life and
feel trapped.
The ratings were all amazing on this novel. A reviewed responded to my
comments and assured me that the book was excellent and ~ I was ignorant
of the situation.
I will definitely read another story in this series. In fact, there are now seven books.
I enjoyed reading Brenda Chapman Acknowledgements ~ to me this part of any novel is always the inside scoop to the author’s research and motivation for write the book.
BTW: I looked up the meaning of 'butterfly kills' it states if one kills a butterfly they will be cursed.
Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery #2
I didn’t read first in this series but just downloaded it as I wanted to know more about Kala.
(In that story we meet Kala Stonechild, who has just transferred to the police department. She is an Aboriginal Canadian who grew up on the reservation and then a series of foster homes. )
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to take care of his ailing father and accepted a position with Criminal Investigation Division. He asks Detective Kala Stoneshild to join his unit on a temporary basis. Kala accepts and partners with Detective Paul Gundersund.
There are several stories lines going on that melt together.
Story is told from the POV of Kala and Dalai.
Kala and Gundersund are helping Rouleau with his latest cases or cases: murder, assault and spouse abuse.
It took a bit for me to get the character straight.
Leah Sampson a university student, who works on the help-line, is found dead in her apartment. Soon another girl who works on the help-line is attacked.
Della Munroe, a mother of a young son, filed a rape charge against her husband. When husband is called in, he states Della is lying ~ that she faked the rape. Needless to say, no one believes him until he shows up dead and then there are doubts.
Another POV is Dalai, who is a young Muslin girl with 3 sisters and an older brother who is cruel and abusive. The girls are all struggling to keep their parents traditional rules. Her older sister is often beaten for bring disgrace to the family traditions. She leaves home, however it not happy about leaving her younger sisters. She knows the girls will be treated as slaves and the brother treated like a prince.
There is no doubt Dalai’s home life is so disturbing, but this story was a page turner and I could not put this down.
Personal Note: I read A Woman’s is no a Man a few years ago
as it was a “Read with Jenna Book Club” selection.
~ My comments “I know I am in the minority with my low rating of this
novel; I don't want to be disrespected to another culture but ...this story is so
disturbing. It is the story of Arab women who are stuck in an abusive life and
feel trapped.
The ratings were all amazing on this novel. A reviewed responded to my
comments and assured me that the book was excellent and ~ I was ignorant
of the situation.
I will definitely read another story in this series. In fact, there are now seven books.
I enjoyed reading Brenda Chapman Acknowledgements ~ to me this part of any novel is always the inside scoop to the author’s research and motivation for write the book.
BTW: I looked up the meaning of 'butterfly kills' it states if one kills a butterfly they will be cursed.
July 14, 2014
**Thanks to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.**
It is rare that I read a book that makes me feel as though if I don't write my review the second I finish it the wonderfulness of it may escape me. This was one of those.
Yearning for a good whodunit, I requested this novel without knowing what to expect. It had been years since I read a detective novel. It would be unfair to say that this book exceeded my expectations since I went about reading this with very little. However, I will say this satiated the want for a good mystery beyond what I hoped and left me wanting more! So much, in fact, that I have added two more Brenda Chapman novels to my "to be read" list.
Jacques Rouleau moves to Kingston to look after his father, transferring his life from Ottawa, including his job. With a short staffed force, Rouleau is being pushed to hire a new detective, but there's only one he wants. He just can't seem to find her.
It's by chance that Kala Stonechild shows up the day after a husband rapes his wife and the day a local university student is murdered. With no intentions to stick around, Kala finds herself in a precarious situation. It isn't until Stonechild, Rouleau, and Gundersund have checked out the crime scene that she acknowledges she'll have to stick around for, at the very least, a few days.
From page one Butterfly Kill gripped me in an unrelenting vice. The opening scene emotionally attached me to two of the key players in the story. As the story progressed a short ways, I was stunned. Already I liked this broken couple, Leah and Wolf, who worked at the university help line and wanted in on the cause of their wounded courtship. I felt betrayed for not getting to see more of Leah and who she was. What happened, however, was that by the end I felt I knew the heart of the character, which made this mystery all the more a worthwhile read.
Leah wasn't the only character who garnered my attention. The three main detectives had me flipping pages with anticipation. Rouleau for his slight crush on the real estate agent, whom he had only met once, and for the heartfelt relationship between him and his father. It humanized him, as Kala's familial estrangement, and Gundersund's marriage (or lack thereof) humanized them. These glimpses into their lives brought them to life for me, and admittedly, I wanted more, especially of Stonechild and Gundersund. The sexual tension between these two was perfect.
Brenda Chapman acknowledges in her author note that these events are fictitious, however, the basis of the story is very real. Once you have all the key pieces to the puzzle and meet each character, you find that Butterfly Kill is more than a mere tale of tragedy. The events that led up to the murders of this story are things we hear about on the news, happening around the world, but may not consider happening in our own backyard. The twist that links these crimes I didn't see coming, but loved it through and through, as I was guessing "whodunit" the entire length of the book.
I will remember this novel fondly for a time to come. Dalal, her sisters, Leah, Gail, Brian Munroe, are all characters, that as an emotional reader, I felt deeply for.
Butterfly Kill is a book that made me feel a little bit of everything. It was entertaining and as mysterious as it sets out to be.
It is rare that I read a book that makes me feel as though if I don't write my review the second I finish it the wonderfulness of it may escape me. This was one of those.
Yearning for a good whodunit, I requested this novel without knowing what to expect. It had been years since I read a detective novel. It would be unfair to say that this book exceeded my expectations since I went about reading this with very little. However, I will say this satiated the want for a good mystery beyond what I hoped and left me wanting more! So much, in fact, that I have added two more Brenda Chapman novels to my "to be read" list.
Jacques Rouleau moves to Kingston to look after his father, transferring his life from Ottawa, including his job. With a short staffed force, Rouleau is being pushed to hire a new detective, but there's only one he wants. He just can't seem to find her.
It's by chance that Kala Stonechild shows up the day after a husband rapes his wife and the day a local university student is murdered. With no intentions to stick around, Kala finds herself in a precarious situation. It isn't until Stonechild, Rouleau, and Gundersund have checked out the crime scene that she acknowledges she'll have to stick around for, at the very least, a few days.
From page one Butterfly Kill gripped me in an unrelenting vice. The opening scene emotionally attached me to two of the key players in the story. As the story progressed a short ways, I was stunned. Already I liked this broken couple, Leah and Wolf, who worked at the university help line and wanted in on the cause of their wounded courtship. I felt betrayed for not getting to see more of Leah and who she was. What happened, however, was that by the end I felt I knew the heart of the character, which made this mystery all the more a worthwhile read.
Leah wasn't the only character who garnered my attention. The three main detectives had me flipping pages with anticipation. Rouleau for his slight crush on the real estate agent, whom he had only met once, and for the heartfelt relationship between him and his father. It humanized him, as Kala's familial estrangement, and Gundersund's marriage (or lack thereof) humanized them. These glimpses into their lives brought them to life for me, and admittedly, I wanted more, especially of Stonechild and Gundersund. The sexual tension between these two was perfect.
Brenda Chapman acknowledges in her author note that these events are fictitious, however, the basis of the story is very real. Once you have all the key pieces to the puzzle and meet each character, you find that Butterfly Kill is more than a mere tale of tragedy. The events that led up to the murders of this story are things we hear about on the news, happening around the world, but may not consider happening in our own backyard. The twist that links these crimes I didn't see coming, but loved it through and through, as I was guessing "whodunit" the entire length of the book.
I will remember this novel fondly for a time to come. Dalal, her sisters, Leah, Gail, Brian Munroe, are all characters, that as an emotional reader, I felt deeply for.
Butterfly Kill is a book that made me feel a little bit of everything. It was entertaining and as mysterious as it sets out to be.
November 23, 2014
I found this book very slow going and struggled to have it maintain my interest for very long. The synopsis held much promise but in reading the book I felt a strong lack of connection with both the plot and the characters. One of those books where I was straining to keep focus, you know the ones?
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to look after his father and take up the position of head of the Criminal Investigations Division. One hot week in late September, university student Leah Sampson is murdered in her apartment; in another corner of the city, Della Munroe is raped by her husband. At first the crimes appear unrelated, but as Sergeant Rouleau and his new team of officers dig into the women's pasts, they discover unsettling coincidences. When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau's officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston, Rouleau enlists her to help.
The book has multiple different plot lines running at the same time, whilst this is not a bad thing, I felt in this particular book that it led to a lack of connection with the book and almost some confusion at times. It did not have the fast pace, nor tight plot that I think a crime/mystery novel needs to keep the fans happy.
It's relatively well written in places but I found the characters very one sided and complex to connect with or relate to, or even like. To be really honest I was bored for most of this book and have no desire to read anymore in this series or from this author. I had zero desire to keep picking it up again, always a bad sign.
I have read nearly 400 books in 2014, the majority of them with a crime element in them and have learned to pick the mediocre from the fabulous, this one falls in the mediocre category. If you are hardened crime thriller fan like myself I think you will find this one a bit cumbersome and slow going. 2.5 stars, I did not like this one.
I received a copy of this novel thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to look after his father and take up the position of head of the Criminal Investigations Division. One hot week in late September, university student Leah Sampson is murdered in her apartment; in another corner of the city, Della Munroe is raped by her husband. At first the crimes appear unrelated, but as Sergeant Rouleau and his new team of officers dig into the women's pasts, they discover unsettling coincidences. When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau's officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston, Rouleau enlists her to help.
The book has multiple different plot lines running at the same time, whilst this is not a bad thing, I felt in this particular book that it led to a lack of connection with the book and almost some confusion at times. It did not have the fast pace, nor tight plot that I think a crime/mystery novel needs to keep the fans happy.
It's relatively well written in places but I found the characters very one sided and complex to connect with or relate to, or even like. To be really honest I was bored for most of this book and have no desire to read anymore in this series or from this author. I had zero desire to keep picking it up again, always a bad sign.
I have read nearly 400 books in 2014, the majority of them with a crime element in them and have learned to pick the mediocre from the fabulous, this one falls in the mediocre category. If you are hardened crime thriller fan like myself I think you will find this one a bit cumbersome and slow going. 2.5 stars, I did not like this one.
I received a copy of this novel thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 13, 2014
Book #2 in this great series picks up where "Cold Mourning" left off.
Jacques Rouleau is now living in Kingston to be near his ailing father & heads up the small homicide squad. He kept a spot open for Det. Kala Stonechild & is rewarded when she comes to town & agrees to join the unit on a temporary basis. It's not long before they have their hands full.
Initially, there are 2 separate investigations. Della Munroe accuses her husband of domestic abuse & has the bruises to prove it. Then grad student Leah Sampson is found horribly mutilated in her flat. She manned the phones at the campus Crisis Centre with 4-5 others with backgrounds in psychology. Rumours swirl about her affair with a married man but his identity is a mystery.
In alternate chapters we meet Dalal, a young Indian girl struggling to conform to her parents' traditional rules. After her older sister rebelled & fled, she is little more than a slave in her own home . Her dream of being a nurse seems just that as she is groomed for the inevitable arranged marriage.
Family honour is at stake & as this chilling story line progresses, it becomes apparent the biggest threat to her future may come from someone close to her.
Already stretched thin, Rouleau & his team begin to feel the heat as a second Crisis Centre worker is attacked. The MO is familiar & as the detectives dig into the personal lives of all involved there is no shortage of secrets & hidden agendas.
On the home front, Kala remains restless & haunted by her past. She's unsure of where she belongs and this is complicated by a growing attraction to colleague Paul Gundersund. Meanwhile, Rouleau is putting down roots & his house search brings him into contact with a pretty real estate agent. Just one teeny little problem...she may have something going on with Malcolm Heath, his perm-tanned & PR obsessed superior officer.
As the investigations progress, the author skillfully weaves together the story lines as some hard truths begin to surface. Tension mounts as Kala & Paul race to save the next victim & the last third of the book will have you turning the pages as fast as you can to see who-dun-it & who's left standing. Even then there are a few surprises left over that hint at big changes in store for the next instalment.
I really enjoy this series. Rouleau & Stonechild are original & compelling characters, fully realized with distinct personalities & well developed histories. This book introduces new peripheral characters that flesh out the story but it is the interplay between these 2 very different people that drives the narrative. Add smart dialogue & a tight complex plot and you've got a compulsive read on your hands.
While not necessary, I would recommend reading "Cold Mourning" first. As with many series you'll get more out of this book knowing the fill history behind these characters.
Jacques Rouleau is now living in Kingston to be near his ailing father & heads up the small homicide squad. He kept a spot open for Det. Kala Stonechild & is rewarded when she comes to town & agrees to join the unit on a temporary basis. It's not long before they have their hands full.
Initially, there are 2 separate investigations. Della Munroe accuses her husband of domestic abuse & has the bruises to prove it. Then grad student Leah Sampson is found horribly mutilated in her flat. She manned the phones at the campus Crisis Centre with 4-5 others with backgrounds in psychology. Rumours swirl about her affair with a married man but his identity is a mystery.
In alternate chapters we meet Dalal, a young Indian girl struggling to conform to her parents' traditional rules. After her older sister rebelled & fled, she is little more than a slave in her own home . Her dream of being a nurse seems just that as she is groomed for the inevitable arranged marriage.
Family honour is at stake & as this chilling story line progresses, it becomes apparent the biggest threat to her future may come from someone close to her.
Already stretched thin, Rouleau & his team begin to feel the heat as a second Crisis Centre worker is attacked. The MO is familiar & as the detectives dig into the personal lives of all involved there is no shortage of secrets & hidden agendas.
On the home front, Kala remains restless & haunted by her past. She's unsure of where she belongs and this is complicated by a growing attraction to colleague Paul Gundersund. Meanwhile, Rouleau is putting down roots & his house search brings him into contact with a pretty real estate agent. Just one teeny little problem...she may have something going on with Malcolm Heath, his perm-tanned & PR obsessed superior officer.
As the investigations progress, the author skillfully weaves together the story lines as some hard truths begin to surface. Tension mounts as Kala & Paul race to save the next victim & the last third of the book will have you turning the pages as fast as you can to see who-dun-it & who's left standing. Even then there are a few surprises left over that hint at big changes in store for the next instalment.
I really enjoy this series. Rouleau & Stonechild are original & compelling characters, fully realized with distinct personalities & well developed histories. This book introduces new peripheral characters that flesh out the story but it is the interplay between these 2 very different people that drives the narrative. Add smart dialogue & a tight complex plot and you've got a compulsive read on your hands.
While not necessary, I would recommend reading "Cold Mourning" first. As with many series you'll get more out of this book knowing the fill history behind these characters.
September 11, 2021
So, I enjoy the main characters but the way the author uses BIPOC as villains and the casual white supremicy like a white blonde woman murdering her Black husband as part of the story? The xenophobic vibes by the villains being Muslim and Indian? The one gay character came on to her HS best friend awkwardly like gay people are predatory? That has a flavor of racism & I will likely not read the books more since this is the way the author likes to stage characters.
November 3, 2021
Pretty basic mystery. Fans of Law and Order special victims unit will find this feels familiar.
The low rating is due to the islamophobia. Yes, things like this do happen, but it could be handled better.
The low rating is due to the islamophobia. Yes, things like this do happen, but it could be handled better.
January 11, 2023
I found the tension in this author's books a little different than some writers in this genre. I like the characters and this story had an interesting element in the family relationships. I liked it but just haven't been wowed and love it. I would say it is a solid story, but would like to hear from others that read her and see if they share any common points with my opinion or maybe it just isn't a connection for me as a reader...
June 27, 2021
I am really liking the characters and milieu in Chapman's books.
October 3, 2021
Audiobook. The plots are great and, having spent 5years inKingston, it’s fun being able to picture exactly where the events are taking place. That being said, the dialogue between characters is often so unrealistic I found my self rolling my eyes several times. And is the narrator from Ontario? I have never heard an Ontarian enunciate Toronto so clearly 🤣
January 11, 2017
This is the second book written by Brenda Chapman that I've read and I enjoyed it even more than the first book in the series. Very well written and fast paced. It's just amazing how the seemingly random events dovetailed to be all connected with no sense of disbelief. I don't understand the title but perhaps missed something in the book since I read it pretty quickly. I'll have to research it to satisfy my own mind. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
April 6, 2021
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this second book was a real disappointment. It really played into dangerous tropes regarding Islam that are all too common. After the concerning stereotypes in the Strike series I was really hoping this would be my new detective go to - apparently not!
September 23, 2021
Reeked of Islamaphobia, and the elements of the story did not seemed researched and the whole book was herky-jerky. The stories did not weave together very well and Stonechild is more of a frustrating character than anything else, in closing off everyone she also closes off the reader and I have a hard time caring about what happens to her.
April 8, 2021
The first novel in this series, with the same narrator, was acceptable, so I looked forward to this second one. Unfortunately, the narration is so uneven, oftentimes amateurish, that for me it got in the way of the story. I won't bother with the third novel.
April 10, 2022
In this second entry to the Rouleau and Stonechild series, Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to be closer to his father who has some struggles with his health. There is a position open in his Criminal Investigations unit that he would love Kala Stonechild to take; however, he hasn't been able to track her down despite leaving numerous messages. Although she doesn't return his calls, she does turn up in Kingston and agrees to temporarily help with the investigation of the murder of Leah Sampson, a young university student working at the Queen's University helpline. Other cases pop up, including a spousal rape which is complicated.
This is a solid police procedural series which explores societal issues. I enjoyed the location change too as I am familiar with Kingston, a beautiful city on the shores of Lake Ontario and home to one of Canada's top universities.
This is a solid police procedural series which explores societal issues. I enjoyed the location change too as I am familiar with Kingston, a beautiful city on the shores of Lake Ontario and home to one of Canada's top universities.
May 4, 2021
This is a well-organized police procedural. But I wish there had been more about the detective's personal history here. The previous book started with an exciting and heartrending story from her childhood. If I had come to this book without reading the previous one, I would only have a generic idea that she'd been a foster child.
One detail in the writing pulled my focus for a bit. The detective walks into a room and sizes up a character. The narration says that she's wearing blue pants and a white shirt. It's only slightly less vague than saying the character wasn't naked.
One detail in the writing pulled my focus for a bit. The detective walks into a room and sizes up a character. The narration says that she's wearing blue pants and a white shirt. It's only slightly less vague than saying the character wasn't naked.
August 17, 2021
Second book in the series and I think it’s good to read in order so you have the background on Stonechild. The detective has moved on to a new city, but her old boss is there and he brings her onboard to help with the murder of a college student working the campus help line. The other two storylines come together in the end as the crime is solved.
September 1, 2021
I find this series to be complex and engrossing. Two seemingly different crimes are investigated and it isn’t until almost the end of the book that they are solved. I listened to this and although the reader wasn’t particularly good - never changing her voice for the various characters, the story was exciting enough for me to continue listening.
November 30, 2021
Very glad to have found this entertaining series. Kala Stonechild is an interesting and likable protagonist. She’s private and reserved but her warm and kind heart sings through with her thoughts and actions. In this story she’s appeared in Kingston to work alongside her boss from Ottawa, Jacques Rouleau. He’s made the move to Kingston to be near his ailing father. A University student is brutally murdered and another part time student violently raped. The reasons for both heinous crimes is not what they may seem on first glance. Chapman slowly and effectively reveals the evil behind and the relationship between both crimes. Butterfly Kills is a slow burning whodunit with enough twists and red herrings to keep you guessing and enjoying the journey.
April 19, 2021
A great sequel that will have you on the edge of your seat.
May 30, 2021
Just as good as the first!
August 12, 2021
I’m obsessed with Kala Stonechild!!! Give me ALL THE BOOKS!!!
October 1, 2021
For this second book in the series, the author added a third main character, who is also very likeable and compelling! I’m still really enjoying this series.
July 11, 2023
I read this as an audiobook and found it very well done. Interesting, multi-cultural stories interwoven. This one was based in Kingston ON, while the first book was based in Ottawa ON. I think the author mixed up highway numbers but otherwise it was fun to be familiar with the setting. I look forward to the next one!
April 5, 2021
I’m so glad I gave this series a chance after the first book didn’t leave a memorable impression. I enjoyed this second outing much more; I will definitely look out for #3.
I should read more Canadian books! Such generally polite sounding characters!!
I should read more Canadian books! Such generally polite sounding characters!!
January 28, 2019
Another good edition to the series. The story was very fun to follow. Took me awhile to figure out the family story line that kept coming up in the book. Was quick to figure one of the suspects, but who was tied to her was not figured out till well into the book.
The characters in this series are playing out well with good descriptions of their pasts and the author gives you a good view of the appearance of the characters as you go through the book.
Being familiar with first Ottawa and now Kingston, I’m enjoying reading a series with locations you can relate to. I e found it hard in my young reading career to find that as I search through good detective / mysteries
Wasn’t fussy on how the lily, sun played out in the end. Was a quick resolution to one of the storylines in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed book two of the series and look forward to book three and where the character storylines lead to.
Enjoyable read !!!
The characters in this series are playing out well with good descriptions of their pasts and the author gives you a good view of the appearance of the characters as you go through the book.
Being familiar with first Ottawa and now Kingston, I’m enjoying reading a series with locations you can relate to. I e found it hard in my young reading career to find that as I search through good detective / mysteries
Wasn’t fussy on how the lily, sun played out in the end. Was a quick resolution to one of the storylines in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed book two of the series and look forward to book three and where the character storylines lead to.
Enjoyable read !!!
July 20, 2021
2nd book in the series. Set in Kingston this time.
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