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Ilka Jensen #2
Her Father's Secret
A woman's murder is only the beginning as a daughter races to unravel the maze of secrets her father left behind--before she becomes the next victim--in the latest emotionally gripping novel from Sara Blaedel, #1 internationally bestselling author with over 3 million copies sold worldwide.
After suddenly inheriting a funeral home from her father--who she hadn't heard from in decades--Ilka Jensen has impulsively abandoned her quiet life in Denmark to visit the small town in rural Wisconsin where her father lived. There, she's devastated to discover her father's second family: a stepmother and two half sisters she never knew existed. And who aren't the least bit welcoming, despite Ilka's efforts to reach out.
Then a local woman is killed, seemingly the unfortunate victim of a home invasion turned violent. But when Ilka learns that the woman knew her father, it becomes increasingly clear that she may not have been a completely random victim after all.
The more Ilka digs into her father's past, the more deeply entangled she becomes in a family drama that has spanned decades and claimed more than one life--and she may be the next victim...
"Sara Blaedel knows how to reel in her readers and keep them utterly transfixed." --Tess Gerritsen
"One of the best I've come across." --Michael Connelly
"Crime-writer superstar Sara Blaedel's great skill is in weaving a heartbreaking social history into an edge-of-your-chair thriller." --Oprah.com
After suddenly inheriting a funeral home from her father--who she hadn't heard from in decades--Ilka Jensen has impulsively abandoned her quiet life in Denmark to visit the small town in rural Wisconsin where her father lived. There, she's devastated to discover her father's second family: a stepmother and two half sisters she never knew existed. And who aren't the least bit welcoming, despite Ilka's efforts to reach out.
Then a local woman is killed, seemingly the unfortunate victim of a home invasion turned violent. But when Ilka learns that the woman knew her father, it becomes increasingly clear that she may not have been a completely random victim after all.
The more Ilka digs into her father's past, the more deeply entangled she becomes in a family drama that has spanned decades and claimed more than one life--and she may be the next victim...
"Sara Blaedel knows how to reel in her readers and keep them utterly transfixed." --Tess Gerritsen
"One of the best I've come across." --Michael Connelly
"Crime-writer superstar Sara Blaedel's great skill is in weaving a heartbreaking social history into an edge-of-your-chair thriller." --Oprah.com
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
83 people are currently reading
4765 people want to read
About the author
Sara Blaedel
35 books2,029 followersSara Blaedel is the author of the #1 international bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Her books are published in thirty-seven countries. In 2014 Sara was voted Denmark’s most popular novelist for the fourth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark’s most prestigious literary award.
In 2016 she published the first book "The Undertakers Daughter" in a new trilogy set in Racine, Wisconsin:
Already widowed by the age of forty, Ilka Nichols Jensen, a school portrait photographer, leads a modest, regimented, and uneventful life in Copenhagen. Until unexpected news rocks her quiet existence: Her father–who walked out suddenly and inexplicably on the family more than three decades ago–has died. And he’s left her something in his will: his funeral home. In Racine, Wisconsin.
In 2016 she published the first book "The Undertakers Daughter" in a new trilogy set in Racine, Wisconsin:
Already widowed by the age of forty, Ilka Nichols Jensen, a school portrait photographer, leads a modest, regimented, and uneventful life in Copenhagen. Until unexpected news rocks her quiet existence: Her father–who walked out suddenly and inexplicably on the family more than three decades ago–has died. And he’s left her something in his will: his funeral home. In Racine, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
February 27, 2019
Ilka has reluctantly left her home in Denmark to take over her late fathers’ business in Wisconsin. He ran a. Funeral home - truth be told, more like ran it into the ground! Leaving poor Ilka drowning in debt.
While she sifting through all the paper-work hoping to put the business back in the black, she comes across notes from someone named “Maggie.” It seems Maggie was blackmailing her father. But no one seems to know who this woman is.
Ilka is looking hard for answers. All the while trying to connect with her father’s second family, still feeling very much the outsider. Perhaps she’ll even discover the answer to another bothersome question…why her father abandoned his first family in Denmark
This is book two of the Ilka Jensen series. Unfortunately I missed book one and felt quite certain I missed out on some critical background leading up to this installment of the series. May have to back-up and read that one soon!
This was a fast, intriguing read that I basically flew through in just a couple sittings! There are a great number of characters and pieces of the puzzle to keep track of, but at no time did that slow me down.
With an ending that left no doubt there’ll be a follow up, and I’m already watching for it!
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and Grand Central Publishing!.
While she sifting through all the paper-work hoping to put the business back in the black, she comes across notes from someone named “Maggie.” It seems Maggie was blackmailing her father. But no one seems to know who this woman is.
Ilka is looking hard for answers. All the while trying to connect with her father’s second family, still feeling very much the outsider. Perhaps she’ll even discover the answer to another bothersome question…why her father abandoned his first family in Denmark
This is book two of the Ilka Jensen series. Unfortunately I missed book one and felt quite certain I missed out on some critical background leading up to this installment of the series. May have to back-up and read that one soon!
This was a fast, intriguing read that I basically flew through in just a couple sittings! There are a great number of characters and pieces of the puzzle to keep track of, but at no time did that slow me down.
With an ending that left no doubt there’ll be a follow up, and I’m already watching for it!
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and Grand Central Publishing!.
March 14, 2019
The first thing you should know is this is not a standalone, it’s a cliffhanger, except I won’t be reading any subsequent books because I had a tepid response to this one.
Ilka is called from Denmark to Racine, Wisconsin, when a father who abandoned her mother and her a long time ago has left her his funeral home in his will. Many mysteries are presented, and some answers are revealed, but I never felt burning tension. That feeling of HAVING to turn the page to find out what happens next. I thought it was interesting that Ilka was from Denmark, but I didn’t really care about anyone and or anything that happened.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Ilka is called from Denmark to Racine, Wisconsin, when a father who abandoned her mother and her a long time ago has left her his funeral home in his will. Many mysteries are presented, and some answers are revealed, but I never felt burning tension. That feeling of HAVING to turn the page to find out what happens next. I thought it was interesting that Ilka was from Denmark, but I didn’t really care about anyone and or anything that happened.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
September 13, 2021
Her Father’s Secret is very much part of a series, and I think I missed something by jumping in with book two (which is totally my fault) and not reading The Undertaker’s Daughter.
I own book three, so I plan to back and read book one to fill in the gaps.
Ilke is living her life as normal when her estranged father passes away and bequeaths her a funeral home in Wisconsin. She leaves her former life behind to travel there. What she finds is her father had entire second life- wife and kids and all. A life she knew nothing of prior.
Her father also had secrets, and a woman who knew him has died. Ilke is left trying to figure out her father’s life after his death.
Her Father’s Secret is well-written and has some unexpected twists. I enjoyed getting to know Ilke as a character and learning about her previous life in Denmark. This book very much ends on a cliffhanger, so it will be hard to do what I said earlier and read book one!
Overall, the main impact to my enjoyment was, again, my fault by not reading the first book. I often felt like I was missing something that I think is likely within those pages.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I own book three, so I plan to back and read book one to fill in the gaps.
Ilke is living her life as normal when her estranged father passes away and bequeaths her a funeral home in Wisconsin. She leaves her former life behind to travel there. What she finds is her father had entire second life- wife and kids and all. A life she knew nothing of prior.
Her father also had secrets, and a woman who knew him has died. Ilke is left trying to figure out her father’s life after his death.
Her Father’s Secret is well-written and has some unexpected twists. I enjoyed getting to know Ilke as a character and learning about her previous life in Denmark. This book very much ends on a cliffhanger, so it will be hard to do what I said earlier and read book one!
Overall, the main impact to my enjoyment was, again, my fault by not reading the first book. I often felt like I was missing something that I think is likely within those pages.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 16, 2020
Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you kindly, Grand Central Publishing!!!).
Please note that this is the 2nd book in the Ilka Jensen series. I read the first one immediately prior to starting this because - as per a helpful Goodreads question - I discovered book 2 begins at the exact moment book 1 ends (with a dreaded 'to be continued'). To reiterate: this isn't a standalone read. If you haven't read The Undertaker's Daughter, then unless you have a telepathic link to the author's brain, most of this story won't make sense. Only the briefest of recaps from the first book are included. Therefore, if you know what's good for you, you should totally go and get a copy of book 1! What now? Yes! Really? YES, right now!!! Don't worry, we'll wait for you :)
Okay, now the pleasantries are out of the way, the 1st book in this series was the literary equivalent of taking several boxes of dominoes and standing them upright on a large table. Each one positioned an inch or so away from its neighbour, and arranged in a series of beautifully expansive geometric patterns. However, this follow-up is very much a metaphorical fingertip reaching out to flick the nearest domino, then watching them topple into each other at ever increasing speeds, until it really begins to feel like the cascading chain of events is about to bury you (funeral home pun intended) beneath a multitude of twists and revelations. It's brilliantly done and is enormously engaging.
If I had to describe this book in one word? I mean, I don't HAVE to, but if I did, I'd probably choose 'breathtaking'. It was the type of story that demanded my usual life be placed on stand-by while I devoted all available time to completing it. My only grievance now that I've finished it is that book 2 ends with several dramatic unveilings and another 'to be continued'. Sigh.
I WANT BOOK 3 NOW!!!
Hmm, I see the 3rd book was published in Denmark - in Danish, obviously - in 2018. Note to self: How long will it take me to learn Danish...? The dilemmas never end, do they?
Please note that this is the 2nd book in the Ilka Jensen series. I read the first one immediately prior to starting this because - as per a helpful Goodreads question - I discovered book 2 begins at the exact moment book 1 ends (with a dreaded 'to be continued'). To reiterate: this isn't a standalone read. If you haven't read The Undertaker's Daughter, then unless you have a telepathic link to the author's brain, most of this story won't make sense. Only the briefest of recaps from the first book are included. Therefore, if you know what's good for you, you should totally go and get a copy of book 1! What now? Yes! Really? YES, right now!!! Don't worry, we'll wait for you :)
Okay, now the pleasantries are out of the way, the 1st book in this series was the literary equivalent of taking several boxes of dominoes and standing them upright on a large table. Each one positioned an inch or so away from its neighbour, and arranged in a series of beautifully expansive geometric patterns. However, this follow-up is very much a metaphorical fingertip reaching out to flick the nearest domino, then watching them topple into each other at ever increasing speeds, until it really begins to feel like the cascading chain of events is about to bury you (funeral home pun intended) beneath a multitude of twists and revelations. It's brilliantly done and is enormously engaging.
If I had to describe this book in one word? I mean, I don't HAVE to, but if I did, I'd probably choose 'breathtaking'. It was the type of story that demanded my usual life be placed on stand-by while I devoted all available time to completing it. My only grievance now that I've finished it is that book 2 ends with several dramatic unveilings and another 'to be continued'. Sigh.
I WANT BOOK 3 NOW!!!
Hmm, I see the 3rd book was published in Denmark - in Danish, obviously - in 2018. Note to self: How long will it take me to learn Danish...? The dilemmas never end, do they?
November 14, 2021
What an odd read. The only thing I could potentially compare this story to is a mysterious detective novel (minus the main character being a detective).
It's weird because throughout this whole novel, I didn't really find one character particularly likeable. I know that isn't a requirement in a novel but it's odd to not at least enjoy one character. I understand the complexity behind the main character of Ilka based on her traumatic history but even she was not likeable.
Overall, I would say this was a mediocre crime/mystery novel. There are many others out there that are far superior. The ending, although attempting to be a big plot twist, is really not a surprise at all due to the foreshadowing throughout the rest of the book.
I may (or may not) finish this trilogy. I would only finish this series for closure and not with the highest of expectations.
***I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
It's weird because throughout this whole novel, I didn't really find one character particularly likeable. I know that isn't a requirement in a novel but it's odd to not at least enjoy one character. I understand the complexity behind the main character of Ilka based on her traumatic history but even she was not likeable.
Overall, I would say this was a mediocre crime/mystery novel. There are many others out there that are far superior. The ending, although attempting to be a big plot twist, is really not a surprise at all due to the foreshadowing throughout the rest of the book.
I may (or may not) finish this trilogy. I would only finish this series for closure and not with the highest of expectations.
***I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
October 17, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book not only picks up pretty much right where the previous book left off, but it also does a great job filling in the reader about how things went in book one. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to read book two right after I finished book one, but for those that read the first book and didn’t have all the details in mind this book does well to catch you up.
I also really appreciated how Ilka grows and develops as a character. In the first book she was a bit lost and trying to find her way, in this book I liked getting into her flaws, her past, and watching her get to learn the truth while trying to make the most of her current situation.
My favorite aspect of this story was watching the plot unfold and the secrets come to light. It was great getting to follow Ilka into dangerous situations to learn who to trust and why, as well as who might be untrustworthy and just how cutthroat they can be. Ilka and her sister Amber have interesting bonding moments and I really hope to see more of them in book three. The twists were again unexpected and while I wasn’t sure why Ilka gives everyone a chance from the start, it was nice to see how each secondary character had an honest side to match their perceived dark or mysterious side.
The mystery in this story is well woven into her father’s storyline which was nice. The previous mystery in book one was interesting but it didn’t feel as woven into the story (now that I think more it was but not as directly as it could be), so seeing the mystery connected to the main plot was very cool. There were some big reveals which could have had more of an impact, but there were a few times I was wide eyed and shocked at what I had just read because I didn’t see the twist coming at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to those that have read The Undertaker’s Daughter because there are tons of answers to the questions that arise in book one. I would also recommend this book to readers that enjoy character driven mysteries with family drama, blackmail, and tension from beginning to end. I appreciated that this book resolved some of the previous issues in the last installment, but also ramps up for the big finale.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I also really appreciated how Ilka grows and develops as a character. In the first book she was a bit lost and trying to find her way, in this book I liked getting into her flaws, her past, and watching her get to learn the truth while trying to make the most of her current situation.
My favorite aspect of this story was watching the plot unfold and the secrets come to light. It was great getting to follow Ilka into dangerous situations to learn who to trust and why, as well as who might be untrustworthy and just how cutthroat they can be. Ilka and her sister Amber have interesting bonding moments and I really hope to see more of them in book three. The twists were again unexpected and while I wasn’t sure why Ilka gives everyone a chance from the start, it was nice to see how each secondary character had an honest side to match their perceived dark or mysterious side.
The mystery in this story is well woven into her father’s storyline which was nice. The previous mystery in book one was interesting but it didn’t feel as woven into the story (now that I think more it was but not as directly as it could be), so seeing the mystery connected to the main plot was very cool. There were some big reveals which could have had more of an impact, but there were a few times I was wide eyed and shocked at what I had just read because I didn’t see the twist coming at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to those that have read The Undertaker’s Daughter because there are tons of answers to the questions that arise in book one. I would also recommend this book to readers that enjoy character driven mysteries with family drama, blackmail, and tension from beginning to end. I appreciated that this book resolved some of the previous issues in the last installment, but also ramps up for the big finale.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2019
Uhhh. First and last book I will read by this author. This was a mystery that rambled. I found Ilka- the main character - to be an uninspiring protagonist who likes one night stands and whose character is flat. The plot was disjointed and not believable and the ending was the worst. The last sentence of the book was “to be continued....” No and no.
April 5, 2019
Summary from Goodreads:
"After suddenly inheriting a funeral home from her father--who she hadn't heard from in decades--Ilka Jensen has impulsively abandoned her quiet life in Denmark to visit the small town in rural Wisconsin where her father lived. There, she's devastated to discover her father's second family: a stepmother and two half sisters she never knew existed. And who aren't the least bit welcoming, despite Ilka's efforts to reach out.
Then a local woman is killed, seemingly the unfortunate victim of a home invasion turned violent. But when Ilka learns that the woman knew her father, it becomes increasingly clear that she may not have been a completely random victim after all.
The more Ilka digs into her father's past, the more deeply entangled she becomes in a family drama that has spanned decades and claimed more than one life--and she may be the next victim..."
My Thoughts:
Her Father's Secret was an enjoyable read that has me itching to pick up the previous book in this series. Yep, I started yet again in the middle of a series. In this case it was only book two but it still seems as I never read in order. I will admit that it took me a few chapters to really get into this book. It may have been the fact that I jumped in without having read that first book (I do honestly believe that was the reason). It just took me a bit to catch on to what was going on and what had happened. But before long I found myself just caught up within the mystery of Ilka's father and the life he had led in this small Wisconsin town. I loved the fact that this book felt very real to life. Ilka is struggling financially after basically inheriting all of her father's debt and trying to figure out if she should close the business he left of her because of it. This isn't something that is just mentioned and then forgotten either; instead, it played a prominent role throughout the book. It just felt so real to life for me which kept me reading wanting to see how everything would work out. I felt this attachment to the funeral home that her father had left Ilka because it was really the only thing that she had left of her father. This was a book that I took my time with and just enjoyed. It didn't feel like a book that needed to be rushed in the slightest, so I just let the author pull me along for the ride. I enjoyed every minute of it! That being said, the ending was much more surprising than I expected. It left me seriously wishing for (and looking forward to) the third book in this series! But first I think that I had better go back and see how this all started with that first book I missed.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and am eager to continue on with this series. I'm kind of kicking myself though because I have had this author's books on my TBR list for awhile now. I feel like I've been missing out not having read them. Once I finish the first book in this series, I will give her other series a try too! I do think that readers should probably try reading this series in order. While it didn't end up effecting my enjoyment overall, it did take me time to really catch on to what was happening with this book and the why's at first because I hadn't read that first book. This is a quieter mystery and one that I would almost label as a domestic mystery. Don't let that description deter you though because it was really good! I'm super excited to have finally given this author a try and that I have more books to look forward to. I would recommend this book to both mystery and suspense fans. Recommended!
Bottom Line: A mystery that I took my time with - it was perfect to cozy up with and enjoy over long afternoons and evenings!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Thoughts are my own.
"After suddenly inheriting a funeral home from her father--who she hadn't heard from in decades--Ilka Jensen has impulsively abandoned her quiet life in Denmark to visit the small town in rural Wisconsin where her father lived. There, she's devastated to discover her father's second family: a stepmother and two half sisters she never knew existed. And who aren't the least bit welcoming, despite Ilka's efforts to reach out.
Then a local woman is killed, seemingly the unfortunate victim of a home invasion turned violent. But when Ilka learns that the woman knew her father, it becomes increasingly clear that she may not have been a completely random victim after all.
The more Ilka digs into her father's past, the more deeply entangled she becomes in a family drama that has spanned decades and claimed more than one life--and she may be the next victim..."
My Thoughts:
Her Father's Secret was an enjoyable read that has me itching to pick up the previous book in this series. Yep, I started yet again in the middle of a series. In this case it was only book two but it still seems as I never read in order. I will admit that it took me a few chapters to really get into this book. It may have been the fact that I jumped in without having read that first book (I do honestly believe that was the reason). It just took me a bit to catch on to what was going on and what had happened. But before long I found myself just caught up within the mystery of Ilka's father and the life he had led in this small Wisconsin town. I loved the fact that this book felt very real to life. Ilka is struggling financially after basically inheriting all of her father's debt and trying to figure out if she should close the business he left of her because of it. This isn't something that is just mentioned and then forgotten either; instead, it played a prominent role throughout the book. It just felt so real to life for me which kept me reading wanting to see how everything would work out. I felt this attachment to the funeral home that her father had left Ilka because it was really the only thing that she had left of her father. This was a book that I took my time with and just enjoyed. It didn't feel like a book that needed to be rushed in the slightest, so I just let the author pull me along for the ride. I enjoyed every minute of it! That being said, the ending was much more surprising than I expected. It left me seriously wishing for (and looking forward to) the third book in this series! But first I think that I had better go back and see how this all started with that first book I missed.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and am eager to continue on with this series. I'm kind of kicking myself though because I have had this author's books on my TBR list for awhile now. I feel like I've been missing out not having read them. Once I finish the first book in this series, I will give her other series a try too! I do think that readers should probably try reading this series in order. While it didn't end up effecting my enjoyment overall, it did take me time to really catch on to what was happening with this book and the why's at first because I hadn't read that first book. This is a quieter mystery and one that I would almost label as a domestic mystery. Don't let that description deter you though because it was really good! I'm super excited to have finally given this author a try and that I have more books to look forward to. I would recommend this book to both mystery and suspense fans. Recommended!
Bottom Line: A mystery that I took my time with - it was perfect to cozy up with and enjoy over long afternoons and evenings!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Thoughts are my own.
March 17, 2019
Review coming...
#FirstLine ~ If she'd known what was about to happen, she probably would have just leaned back and enjoyed the show.
#FirstLine ~ If she'd known what was about to happen, she probably would have just leaned back and enjoyed the show.
July 12, 2020
Ilka Jensen's father left her a funeral home in Wisconsin. She left Denmark to find a mess. The business was in debt so much that none of the suppliers would give her a break.
Ilka found she have two half sisters they were very weary of her.
The innocent nun, sister Eileen that works at the funeral home has many hidden secrets. She finds out from sister Eileen that her father isn't really dead.
To be continued.
Ilka found she have two half sisters they were very weary of her.
The innocent nun, sister Eileen that works at the funeral home has many hidden secrets. She finds out from sister Eileen that her father isn't really dead.
To be continued.
December 10, 2019
Imagine going to a new country to settle your late father’s affairs only to dodge bullets, fast moving cars, and stampeding horses and that is before you get his ashes.
Sara Blaedel takes readers on a speeding journey in mid-western America when Ilka Jensen arrives to settle her late father’s affairs in Her Father’s Secret. Blaedel wastes no time and throws the reader immediately into a mystery and it is not even connected to the reason the Ilka is there. Blaedel not only gives us one mystery to solve, but multiple mysteries in this quickly paced and cleanly written story. She wastes no time in flowery words and instead gives us wit and panicked grit. There are so many mysteries, that you forget the main reason she is there because you are along for the ride just as she is and wondering what is around the next curve. I do not know how I have never read this author before because I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Her side characters have as much mystery and story and keep you interested because everyone serves a purpose and not everyone is who they seem to be. Ilka is a character that is likeable with her own problems and troubled past which is shown in glimpses like a tired detective grudgingly giving you parts of their life. This is not a woman’s romantic mystery - this is a straight mystery for those who might get confused because this is a female author. It was such a joy to read a real character and I cannot wait to see what Ilka does not and to go on Blaedel’s next ride.
#FridayReads #BookReview #PhoebesRainbowWorld #SaraBlaedel #HerFathersSecret #Ilka2 #Mystery #MysteryFiction #GoodreadsGiveaway #4Stars #FlippingRainbows
Sara Blaedel takes readers on a speeding journey in mid-western America when Ilka Jensen arrives to settle her late father’s affairs in Her Father’s Secret. Blaedel wastes no time and throws the reader immediately into a mystery and it is not even connected to the reason the Ilka is there. Blaedel not only gives us one mystery to solve, but multiple mysteries in this quickly paced and cleanly written story. She wastes no time in flowery words and instead gives us wit and panicked grit. There are so many mysteries, that you forget the main reason she is there because you are along for the ride just as she is and wondering what is around the next curve. I do not know how I have never read this author before because I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Her side characters have as much mystery and story and keep you interested because everyone serves a purpose and not everyone is who they seem to be. Ilka is a character that is likeable with her own problems and troubled past which is shown in glimpses like a tired detective grudgingly giving you parts of their life. This is not a woman’s romantic mystery - this is a straight mystery for those who might get confused because this is a female author. It was such a joy to read a real character and I cannot wait to see what Ilka does not and to go on Blaedel’s next ride.
#FridayReads #BookReview #PhoebesRainbowWorld #SaraBlaedel #HerFathersSecret #Ilka2 #Mystery #MysteryFiction #GoodreadsGiveaway #4Stars #FlippingRainbows
February 14, 2019
I read The Undertaker's Daughter by Sara Blaedel last year and liked it.
Unlike her Louise Ricks series, Blaedel has set her Ilka Jensen series in Racine, Wisconsin instead of Denmark . When Ilka was about seven, her father abandoned his family in Denmark and moved to the U.S. where he started a new family. Ilka never came to terms with the desertion of her beloved father.
When he died, Paul Jensen left his funeral home to Ilka, and she flew to Racine to finalize the estate and maybe find out more about her father. The first book details her meeting with her father's new family (who reject her) and the problems concerning the sale of the funeral home. Oh, and a disappearing corpse and a decade old murder.
In Her Father's Secret, Ilka continues to face difficulties involving selling the funeral home. Worse, there is so little money available that even getting through pre-paid funerals is a challenge. Ilka has found blackmail letters to her father from a woman named Maggie; someone is following Ilka; a feud between two wealthy and influential men becomes more threatening; Ilka's half-sister is seriously injured and her horses stolen; a woman is killed in a home invasion; and a boatload of uncomfortable and dangerous family secrets make this book much more suspenseful than the first book.
A couple of unexpected twists at the end make me eager to read the next book.
NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing
Mystery/Suspense. Mar. 5, 2019. Print version: 320 pages.
Unlike her Louise Ricks series, Blaedel has set her Ilka Jensen series in Racine, Wisconsin instead of Denmark . When Ilka was about seven, her father abandoned his family in Denmark and moved to the U.S. where he started a new family. Ilka never came to terms with the desertion of her beloved father.
When he died, Paul Jensen left his funeral home to Ilka, and she flew to Racine to finalize the estate and maybe find out more about her father. The first book details her meeting with her father's new family (who reject her) and the problems concerning the sale of the funeral home. Oh, and a disappearing corpse and a decade old murder.
In Her Father's Secret, Ilka continues to face difficulties involving selling the funeral home. Worse, there is so little money available that even getting through pre-paid funerals is a challenge. Ilka has found blackmail letters to her father from a woman named Maggie; someone is following Ilka; a feud between two wealthy and influential men becomes more threatening; Ilka's half-sister is seriously injured and her horses stolen; a woman is killed in a home invasion; and a boatload of uncomfortable and dangerous family secrets make this book much more suspenseful than the first book.
A couple of unexpected twists at the end make me eager to read the next book.
NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing
Mystery/Suspense. Mar. 5, 2019. Print version: 320 pages.
March 5, 2019
Thank you Goodreads for this giveaway win of Her Father’s Secret by Sara Blaedel.
**Fair warning this is part of a series for anyone who wants to read it.**
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I didn’t realize when I won this initially that it was part of a series so OF COURSE I had to order the first book which is The Daughter or (as previously published) The Undertaker’s Daughter.
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This book did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. I found myself hooked from the very beginning and it left me wanting to know more until the very end. I mean talk about cliffhangers!! The suspense of not knowing what happens next is killing me!! 😂 I finished this book in a day and cannot wait for her next one!
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Ilka hasn’t heard from her father in years not since he left them. However, she learns not only has he died but she has inherited his funeral home business. She decides to leave her home in Denmark to visit Wisconsin and take care of things. Ilka thinks it will be a simple matter but instead she is thrown into this tangled web of secrets and lies and a local murder. The more she learns about her father’s past the more danger she seems to be in. Will she ever find out the truth about her father’s past or will she die trying?🧐⏳
**Fair warning this is part of a series for anyone who wants to read it.**
•
I didn’t realize when I won this initially that it was part of a series so OF COURSE I had to order the first book which is The Daughter or (as previously published) The Undertaker’s Daughter.
•
This book did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. I found myself hooked from the very beginning and it left me wanting to know more until the very end. I mean talk about cliffhangers!! The suspense of not knowing what happens next is killing me!! 😂 I finished this book in a day and cannot wait for her next one!
•
Ilka hasn’t heard from her father in years not since he left them. However, she learns not only has he died but she has inherited his funeral home business. She decides to leave her home in Denmark to visit Wisconsin and take care of things. Ilka thinks it will be a simple matter but instead she is thrown into this tangled web of secrets and lies and a local murder. The more she learns about her father’s past the more danger she seems to be in. Will she ever find out the truth about her father’s past or will she die trying?🧐⏳
April 7, 2019
An adult daughter comes to America and seems convinced her dead father had a secret but how she guesses things about a man she never knew makes no sense. A lot of unexplained stuff and clearly setting things up for a sequel without making me want to finish this one.
June 13, 2019
There was no indication that this was the first book in some sort of series and this really irritated me so although it was an enjoyable read, I have given it one star because I don't enjoy books that are part of a series.
February 27, 2019
Although I wasn’t a big fan of the previous book in this series I’m glad I continued on because this one is a big improvement. I still don’t relate to or even like Ilka. I find her odd in an unpleasant way and she makes such terrible decisions that don’t seem to make rational sense. She’s definitely not a character that I can support because her behaviour is atrocious. Her choices for one-night stands in this book are especially inappropriate and distasteful. I think that I am unlikely to ever like Ilka, but I am capable of reading her story without having any emotional connection to her.
The plot in this book is a lot more robust than the first book. There’s so much going on. Everyone has a dark, criminal secret and it was almost too much. Seriously, are there no normal, boring people in this town? The depiction of Racine is bonkers with shootouts, mafia style criminal families and so much gun violence. I’m not American so I can’t say if this is true to life or not but I suspect (and hope) it is an exaggeration. I can’t imagine that this type of thing goes on in real life. The whole story is pretty crazy and so over the top that it borders on humorous. I’m really not sure if it is meant to be serious or not. Despite the weirdness I did actually enjoy the story. You may need to suspend disbelief but it is a fun ride.
In order to complete the story you have to read all three books in order. It is not at all self-contained in each book and each ends with a big cliff-hanger. It also is not a series you can jump into. You really have to follow the story from the beginning. Once you are in you are committed. As this second book just came out I think we might have to wait a fair bit to get any closure. I will be picking up the last book just to see what craziness ensues because the cliff-hanger at the end of this book was a real doozy!
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
The plot in this book is a lot more robust than the first book. There’s so much going on. Everyone has a dark, criminal secret and it was almost too much. Seriously, are there no normal, boring people in this town? The depiction of Racine is bonkers with shootouts, mafia style criminal families and so much gun violence. I’m not American so I can’t say if this is true to life or not but I suspect (and hope) it is an exaggeration. I can’t imagine that this type of thing goes on in real life. The whole story is pretty crazy and so over the top that it borders on humorous. I’m really not sure if it is meant to be serious or not. Despite the weirdness I did actually enjoy the story. You may need to suspend disbelief but it is a fun ride.
In order to complete the story you have to read all three books in order. It is not at all self-contained in each book and each ends with a big cliff-hanger. It also is not a series you can jump into. You really have to follow the story from the beginning. Once you are in you are committed. As this second book just came out I think we might have to wait a fair bit to get any closure. I will be picking up the last book just to see what craziness ensues because the cliff-hanger at the end of this book was a real doozy!
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
August 18, 2020
3.5****
Ilkas Arv er andet bind i Sara Blædels nye trilogi Bedemandens datter.
Jeg havde virkelig glædet mig til at vende tilbage til byen Racine i Wisconsin og jeg blev ikke skuffet👍
Jeg hygger mig simpelthen så meget med Ilkas historie og hendes strabadser med at få styr på den kæmpegæld hendes far har efterladt hende sammen med et hav af mysterier, der skal opklares.
De, der har læst den første bog, har fundet ud af, at vi ikke har gang i en ny politi krimi. Men der er dog masser af ting, der skal opklares og vi bliver også klogere på farens fortid.
Vi får mere at vide om farens nye familie og Ilka kommer tættere og tættere på sandheden. Og flere mysterier😃👍
Jeg kan virkelig godt stemningen i bogen og Sara Blædel har fundet på nogle rigtig gode og nuancerede personer, som er spændende at følge. Og så er det første gang jeg læser om konkurstruede bedemandsforretninger og hestevæddeløb🤓
Ilkas arv er en rigtig god toer, som læser sig selv og det var ikke svært at komme ind i historien, selvom det efterhånden er ved at være et års tid siden jeg læste etteren.
Men Sara Blædel!!! Holy smokes!!! Sikke en cliffhangerslutning!!! Total iorden!😃👏🙌
Ilkas Arv er andet bind i Sara Blædels nye trilogi Bedemandens datter.
Jeg havde virkelig glædet mig til at vende tilbage til byen Racine i Wisconsin og jeg blev ikke skuffet👍
Jeg hygger mig simpelthen så meget med Ilkas historie og hendes strabadser med at få styr på den kæmpegæld hendes far har efterladt hende sammen med et hav af mysterier, der skal opklares.
De, der har læst den første bog, har fundet ud af, at vi ikke har gang i en ny politi krimi. Men der er dog masser af ting, der skal opklares og vi bliver også klogere på farens fortid.
Vi får mere at vide om farens nye familie og Ilka kommer tættere og tættere på sandheden. Og flere mysterier😃👍
Jeg kan virkelig godt stemningen i bogen og Sara Blædel har fundet på nogle rigtig gode og nuancerede personer, som er spændende at følge. Og så er det første gang jeg læser om konkurstruede bedemandsforretninger og hestevæddeløb🤓
Ilkas arv er en rigtig god toer, som læser sig selv og det var ikke svært at komme ind i historien, selvom det efterhånden er ved at være et års tid siden jeg læste etteren.
Men Sara Blædel!!! Holy smokes!!! Sikke en cliffhangerslutning!!! Total iorden!😃👏🙌
August 26, 2019
Largely a waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
Författaren skriver verkligt bra och jag gillar att mysteriet är så här fint sammanvävt med en persons vardag, om än en ganska omtumlande och speciell vardag… Det jag gillar mest är att det är mysterium utan att blir en traditionell deckare! Det är lite vardagsberättelse, en hel del sökande efter sitt ursprung, ett maffigt mysterium och omkullkastande äventyr! 🤌🏽
Om ettan i serien skrev jag att jag borde ha läst den mer sammanhängande och troligen då gillat den mer. Det är jag övertygad om nu. Den här boken, tvåan i serien, lyssnade jag på ganska under ett drygt dygns tid och det var bra! Den var fängslande och överraskande och jag rynkade pannan och sa ”what?” flertalet gånger. Kul läsupplevelse! 🤩
Om ettan i serien skrev jag att jag borde ha läst den mer sammanhängande och troligen då gillat den mer. Det är jag övertygad om nu. Den här boken, tvåan i serien, lyssnade jag på ganska under ett drygt dygns tid och det var bra! Den var fängslande och överraskande och jag rynkade pannan och sa ”what?” flertalet gånger. Kul läsupplevelse! 🤩
October 5, 2024
Remind me to read about a book before I assume it's a sequel. I loved The Killer's Daughter and the ending left room for there to be more to the story. So I clicked on this one, but it's actually part of another series which I didn't figure out until I finished the book. And the worst part was this one ended with a total cliff hanger, but by now I don't really care. There were enough twists and turns in this convoluted tale to make my head spin. And keeping up with a cast of dozens and multiple story lines was just too much.
April 20, 2022
This was a frustrating book. One big thing that annoyed me right from the beginning was multiple characters had their names changed from the first book? Not sure why that happened. There also seemed to be multiple attempts at an explanation of the ‘mystery’ but they just didn’t really line up. There was a twist of a sort at the end but it wasn’t even regarding the main storyline which just seemed really weird. And like the first book, there were a lot of loose ends that were supposed to be mysterious but just never ended up being explained. I had bought this book without realizing it was the second in a trilogy, which apparently has happened to multiple other people too. I wish I didn’t have to read the third book but I will because of how I am.
July 25, 2022
I had to ditch this one. I didn’t realize this was a second book of a series (my fault) and I gave it 75 pages to try to figure out what was going on, but was totally lost. Additionally, the main character, Ilka, was dull.
March 8, 2019
Please see my review on bookeporter.com tomorrow!
April 29, 2019
All I can say is the author Sara Blaedel had better be writing the next book. Now!
June 12, 2023
Didn't know it was a series...and I think the story was lost in translation from another language. Did not get a feel for the characters and the story was too choppy.
August 11, 2024
Yawn, so tough to get through 🙃🥲
February 14, 2018
Jeg elskede første bog "Bedemandens datter", fordi man fik et indblik i bedemandens arbejde. "Ilkas arv" giver - udover dette - også et godt indblik i USA, deres befolkning, og de mange og store forskellige mellem Danmark og USA. En rigtig god bog, der desværre slutter brat. Så den næste må meget gerne være på trapperne snart
July 5, 2025
Always a hit or miss with Blaedel for me, maybe it's the translation from Dutch. New series. I didn't catch the first book but this second book blew me away. Now to find the third book. I can't praise this book enough. Ilka Jensen a forty year old widow from Copenhagen arrives in Wisconsin to settle her late fathers estate. She hadn't seen her father since she was three years old. He left her and her mother, ending up in American where he opened a funeral home. She never heard from her father until the death notice leaving the funeral home to her. The estate was deeply in debt along with other problems. she should have stayed in Copenhagen.
September 21, 2023
A unique and interesting series in which the main character must take over her deceased father’s business and solve a mystery. The descriptions and character development are good but my mind wandered at times.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Grand Central Publishing and Sara Blaedel for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Grand Central Publishing and Sara Blaedel for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2019
I love all of Sara Blaedel’s books about Louise Rick, therefore I decided to try her new series, starting with The Undertaker’s Daughter. For some reason, I can’t really get into them. Ilka Jensen doesn’t have the same spunk as Louise or Camilla do. There are too many side characters and the story line becomes confusing. Also, I don’t understand why two of the characters’ names were changed from the first book to the second. Ilka’s deceased husband changes from Erik to Flemming and Ilka’s mother’s lesbian partner changes from Hanne to Jette. I’m a stickler for continuity and I didn’t get why Ms Blaedel didn’t keep the original names. I hope she will go back and write more of her Louise Rick stories - they are much more interesting and fun to read.
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