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Lillian Dove #3
Let Her Go
Murder. Betrayal. Love Gone Wrong.
With her ability to present clues without giving away the endings and offering surprising twists encouraging the reader to the next page, D. J. Adamson delves into a family tragedy ending up in murder and a teenage daughter missing. When Lillian Dove finds herself involved in the police investigation, she realizes the daughter holds the key to unravel who killed her mother.
It is three days before Christmas when Lillian Dove comes across Dr. Conrad standing out in front of his house, covered in blood. When going inside the house to help other members of his family, she finds his wife killed, his son seriously injured, and his teenage daughter, Peyton Clayton, missing. Even more shocking, the police suspect Dr. Conrad. Understanding how emotional dilemmas have strained the family emboldens Lillian to help Detective Jacque Leveque, Major Crimes Detective for the Frytown Police Department, find the prime witness to the Conrad truths.
Let Her Go is a nerve-wracking exploration into a family lost, and the extent love elicits both the good and the bad. In this Third Step in Personal Recovery Lillian works to find Peyton Clayton, while battling the worse arctic freeze in Frytown’s history, untangling human frailties, and confronting the ghosts of Christmas.
With her ability to present clues without giving away the endings and offering surprising twists encouraging the reader to the next page, D. J. Adamson delves into a family tragedy ending up in murder and a teenage daughter missing. When Lillian Dove finds herself involved in the police investigation, she realizes the daughter holds the key to unravel who killed her mother.
It is three days before Christmas when Lillian Dove comes across Dr. Conrad standing out in front of his house, covered in blood. When going inside the house to help other members of his family, she finds his wife killed, his son seriously injured, and his teenage daughter, Peyton Clayton, missing. Even more shocking, the police suspect Dr. Conrad. Understanding how emotional dilemmas have strained the family emboldens Lillian to help Detective Jacque Leveque, Major Crimes Detective for the Frytown Police Department, find the prime witness to the Conrad truths.
Let Her Go is a nerve-wracking exploration into a family lost, and the extent love elicits both the good and the bad. In this Third Step in Personal Recovery Lillian works to find Peyton Clayton, while battling the worse arctic freeze in Frytown’s history, untangling human frailties, and confronting the ghosts of Christmas.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2018
86 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Adamson
8 books261 followersAdmit to Mayhem, Midwest Book Festival Award, Nominated for a Clue Award in Suspense.
Suppose, 2018 Mystery & Mayhem Award.
D. J. Adamson is the author of the Lillian Dove Mystery series and the Deviation science fiction-suspense trilogy. She teaches writing and literature at Los Angeles colleges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 30, 2018
Great story and mystery!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love it when you can tell from the beginning of a book whether it’s going to be an engaging and fun read. This book was both from the beginning and I was thrilled to find that it was very well written with plenty of twists to keep me hooked.
This is book three in a series and while I have never read the other books before, I never really felt overly lost. The author did a great job of blending in some of the backstory.
I love Lillian! She is snarky, quick witted, recovering alcoholic, and just cannot keep out of police business. She has an on/off crush with the police chief and a love/hate (mainly hate) relationship with the detective. That made things interesting! HA
The author created a delightful book that leads us on a mystery journey through the icy and frozen Christmas holiday. Her characters are totally imperfect, but you cannot help but love them! A bit crazy, a bit intense, and a whole lot of strange happenings.
I had so much fun reading this. You get a taste for Lillian and her crazy antics but yet her heart is full too. A wonderful mixture of family issues, love issues, sleuthing, and even getting in trouble with the law.
This is the first book by D.J. Adamson I have experienced and I am definitely heading over to find the first books in the series. Cannot wait to read more!
*copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/let-her-go-b...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love it when you can tell from the beginning of a book whether it’s going to be an engaging and fun read. This book was both from the beginning and I was thrilled to find that it was very well written with plenty of twists to keep me hooked.
This is book three in a series and while I have never read the other books before, I never really felt overly lost. The author did a great job of blending in some of the backstory.
I love Lillian! She is snarky, quick witted, recovering alcoholic, and just cannot keep out of police business. She has an on/off crush with the police chief and a love/hate (mainly hate) relationship with the detective. That made things interesting! HA
The author created a delightful book that leads us on a mystery journey through the icy and frozen Christmas holiday. Her characters are totally imperfect, but you cannot help but love them! A bit crazy, a bit intense, and a whole lot of strange happenings.
I had so much fun reading this. You get a taste for Lillian and her crazy antics but yet her heart is full too. A wonderful mixture of family issues, love issues, sleuthing, and even getting in trouble with the law.
This is the first book by D.J. Adamson I have experienced and I am definitely heading over to find the first books in the series. Cannot wait to read more!
*copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/let-her-go-b...
November 6, 2018
Review of LET HER GO by D. J. Adamson
Lillian Dove is a five-years sober recovering alchoholic in Iowa. By a bizarre chain of circumstances, she inherited a discount liquor store and the owner's residence. That keeps her fairly well occupied after losing her position on the city police force. That, and longing after the police chief but trying to keep away from him since he has a wife permanently in a care home, and a ton of constant self-analysis. Lillian is doing Third Step work, and when a situation occurs virtually in front of her involving violence, murder, and disappearance, Lillian leaps into the fray, despite having no official standing.
Lillian Dove is a five-years sober recovering alchoholic in Iowa. By a bizarre chain of circumstances, she inherited a discount liquor store and the owner's residence. That keeps her fairly well occupied after losing her position on the city police force. That, and longing after the police chief but trying to keep away from him since he has a wife permanently in a care home, and a ton of constant self-analysis. Lillian is doing Third Step work, and when a situation occurs virtually in front of her involving violence, murder, and disappearance, Lillian leaps into the fray, despite having no official standing.
April 7, 2019
How many times have I asked this question of myself?
“If only I could go back and do life differently. Isn't that what people say? Life would be so much better. Would it?”
Gosh, what a book this turned out to be! “Let Her Go” by D.J. Adamson is a book you ought to read. Highly amusing, risqué and calamitous is a description of it, just like Lillian’s life.
“ Let Her Go” is the third novel in D.J. Adamson’s ‘Lillian Dove’ series, the first book being ‘Admit to Mayhem’ followed by ‘Suppose.’ Although I haven’t yet read these two from the series, it wasn’t a problem for me as the author provided plenty of history. This was interwoven very neatly with the current story and indeed, for me, complemented it.
I didn't have any particular expectations when starting this book, other than I had assumed it would be a typical thriller. This would have been great so I was very surprised to find that it began with Lillian's disappearing Christmas tree! It was a delightful and highly amusing beginning to start this book and I couldn’t have imagined the impact this would continue to have throughout the story.
D.J Adamson has drawn a truly fascinating character in creating Lillian Dove. I dare say that she probably won’t appeal to everyone, but she was definitely pretty remarkable for me. Lillian is a recovering alcoholic, among other things.
She has a dynamic, though flawed character whose personality and often ill-thought actions made her the scourge of law enforcement officials in her home-town of Frytown, Iowa. Though scorned by many, she had a kind heart and warm personality though a few would have preferred her to keep her opinions to herself and not ask so many searching questions.
As the narrator of the story, Lillian couldn’t be relied upon because she had a tendency towards self-doubt and frequently questioned her own opinions and actions.
In “Let Her Go” there is a heavy focus on Lillian's self-development rather than the mystery itself, as she copes with the trepidations of her sobriety, relationships, and her own financial situation. The fast pacing and many twists and turns all increase the anticipation for what is a very fulfilling final reveal.
Many of the character interactions were tremendously entertaining, especially those between Lillian and Detective Jacque Leveque or her mother, Dahlia. There were a lot of unresolved, emotional issues from their past between Lillian and Dahlia, problems that Lillian needed to address in case it became too late. Just to add a bit of icing on the cake, an only partially ended affair with the Chief of Police is thrown into the mix, adding another layer to the already complex, thrilling plot.
Brilliantly written, impressionistic, with a delicious and at times, vicious humour and populated with fabulous characters, this is a mystery like no other. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read it and look forward to checking out the previous instalments. I thoroughly enjoyed the darker tone and grittier nature of the story that made this such a suspenseful read!
Verdict: Read it and whatever you have to do to bag your copy, do it.
Thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author, D.J. Adamson, for my free ARC of Let Her Go in exchange for an honest review.
[#NetGalley #LetHerGo]
“If only I could go back and do life differently. Isn't that what people say? Life would be so much better. Would it?”
Gosh, what a book this turned out to be! “Let Her Go” by D.J. Adamson is a book you ought to read. Highly amusing, risqué and calamitous is a description of it, just like Lillian’s life.
“ Let Her Go” is the third novel in D.J. Adamson’s ‘Lillian Dove’ series, the first book being ‘Admit to Mayhem’ followed by ‘Suppose.’ Although I haven’t yet read these two from the series, it wasn’t a problem for me as the author provided plenty of history. This was interwoven very neatly with the current story and indeed, for me, complemented it.
I didn't have any particular expectations when starting this book, other than I had assumed it would be a typical thriller. This would have been great so I was very surprised to find that it began with Lillian's disappearing Christmas tree! It was a delightful and highly amusing beginning to start this book and I couldn’t have imagined the impact this would continue to have throughout the story.
D.J Adamson has drawn a truly fascinating character in creating Lillian Dove. I dare say that she probably won’t appeal to everyone, but she was definitely pretty remarkable for me. Lillian is a recovering alcoholic, among other things.
She has a dynamic, though flawed character whose personality and often ill-thought actions made her the scourge of law enforcement officials in her home-town of Frytown, Iowa. Though scorned by many, she had a kind heart and warm personality though a few would have preferred her to keep her opinions to herself and not ask so many searching questions.
As the narrator of the story, Lillian couldn’t be relied upon because she had a tendency towards self-doubt and frequently questioned her own opinions and actions.
In “Let Her Go” there is a heavy focus on Lillian's self-development rather than the mystery itself, as she copes with the trepidations of her sobriety, relationships, and her own financial situation. The fast pacing and many twists and turns all increase the anticipation for what is a very fulfilling final reveal.
Many of the character interactions were tremendously entertaining, especially those between Lillian and Detective Jacque Leveque or her mother, Dahlia. There were a lot of unresolved, emotional issues from their past between Lillian and Dahlia, problems that Lillian needed to address in case it became too late. Just to add a bit of icing on the cake, an only partially ended affair with the Chief of Police is thrown into the mix, adding another layer to the already complex, thrilling plot.
Brilliantly written, impressionistic, with a delicious and at times, vicious humour and populated with fabulous characters, this is a mystery like no other. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read it and look forward to checking out the previous instalments. I thoroughly enjoyed the darker tone and grittier nature of the story that made this such a suspenseful read!
Verdict: Read it and whatever you have to do to bag your copy, do it.
Thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author, D.J. Adamson, for my free ARC of Let Her Go in exchange for an honest review.
[#NetGalley #LetHerGo]
October 13, 2018
I was asked by the author if I wanted to read and review this book. I accepted and here is my honest review.
Let her go had some pretty good twists and turns. It all starts with a Christmas tree being mysteriously stolen from a house. Lillian’s house to be exact and she thinks it’s a certain detective who has done it. Enter leveque.
From the moment these two interact, I’m seeing some sexual frustration. There’s obvious chemistry between these two and I was hoping to get more than I got from them. They do end up sort of working on a case together, again. This murder mystery was pretty interesting. From the moment Lillian interacts with the stabbed victim, walks throughout the house to find some more victims, and then gets yelled at by the actual police because she’s not an actual detective. Just a person who was there at the wrong time.
From her being a witness, all kinds of things are happening. You meet her mom, and there’s some obvious tension between the two. I liked how their relationship got better towards the end though. Then there’s tension between her and the police chief, which okay..the relationship was alright. Definitely wanted her with the detective though.
Back to this case. Wife’s murdered. Son is injured. Dad is injured. Daughter is missing. Sounds like a lot is happening to this poor family. Well, it turns out the husband was unfaithful to a lot of people. He cheated on his wife with the nurse - who turned out he batshit crazy. Then there’s the whole sleeping with his wife’s twin sister. YESH THIS GUY! But who killed who? Where his daughter?
I had so many questions and I was trying to figure out who murdered who. Like the game of clue and shit. Turns out, I shouldn’t quit my day job and become a detective. However, I did like the ending of this book and how it was a page turner.
Let her go had some pretty good twists and turns. It all starts with a Christmas tree being mysteriously stolen from a house. Lillian’s house to be exact and she thinks it’s a certain detective who has done it. Enter leveque.
From the moment these two interact, I’m seeing some sexual frustration. There’s obvious chemistry between these two and I was hoping to get more than I got from them. They do end up sort of working on a case together, again. This murder mystery was pretty interesting. From the moment Lillian interacts with the stabbed victim, walks throughout the house to find some more victims, and then gets yelled at by the actual police because she’s not an actual detective. Just a person who was there at the wrong time.
From her being a witness, all kinds of things are happening. You meet her mom, and there’s some obvious tension between the two. I liked how their relationship got better towards the end though. Then there’s tension between her and the police chief, which okay..the relationship was alright. Definitely wanted her with the detective though.
Back to this case. Wife’s murdered. Son is injured. Dad is injured. Daughter is missing. Sounds like a lot is happening to this poor family. Well, it turns out the husband was unfaithful to a lot of people. He cheated on his wife with the nurse - who turned out he batshit crazy. Then there’s the whole sleeping with his wife’s twin sister. YESH THIS GUY! But who killed who? Where his daughter?
I had so many questions and I was trying to figure out who murdered who. Like the game of clue and shit. Turns out, I shouldn’t quit my day job and become a detective. However, I did like the ending of this book and how it was a page turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2018
**SPOILERS**
This book, though not being tagged as a thriller, was overflowing with suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It also made me pull my hair in frustration, since I couldn't figure out who the killer was! It is an entertaining read, with endearing characters, an ingenious plot, and a massive character development for the main character.
Somehow, recovering alcoholic Lillian Dove always manages to get tangled up in every bad thing that happens in small-town Frytown. This time a man is stabbed, his wife killed, and his daughter gone missing. Will she, and the police, be able to solve this Christmas murder case?
I didn't have any particular expectations when starting this book, but I did absolutely not expect it to begin with Lillian's stolen Christmas tree! It was a fun way to start this book, maybe even hilarious, and I would never have predicted the impact it would have on the rest of the story.
Let her go is the third installment in this series and despite not having read the two earlier books, I couldn't help but be charmed by Lillian and the people around her. The character interactions are sometimes tremendously entertaining, especially when it is Lillian vs. Detective Leveque or her mother. There is a lot of unresolved, emotional problems between Lillian and her mother, problems Lillian must face before it is too late. Also, one cannot help but notice the underlying tension between Lillian and Leveque, despite them claiming to dislike each other. And just to make it a bit more interesting, a not wholly ended affair with the Chief of Police is thrown into the mix.
The murder plot is creative; I didn't see that end coming. However, I feel that the importance of finding Peyton Conrad to solve the murder is exaggerated. Lillian managed to figure it out just fine, before even finding Peyton. But hats off to the author for inventing this murder case.
Another small thing that kept nagging me was why Dr. Conrad's son got hurt. It turned out to be an accident, but how can you accidentally crush someone's leg? We're never told exactly how it happened. Furthermore, who stole the Christmas trees?! Did I miss that little piece of information somewhere?
I was surprised by how much of Let Her Go focused on Lillian's self-development rather than the mystery. After reading a little about the earlier books, Admit to Mayhem and Suppose, the reason behind this was apparent. The main focus in these books is the trials she must undergo on her path to personal recovery after her alcohol addiction.
It seems that one of the steps she must take is accepting herself as she is, recovering alcoholic and all, and let go of the past. Even though Lillian is smart, stubborn, and kind, she is quite dense regarding emotions and psychological problems. Her issues concerning relationships and the strained relation to her mother are evidence of this. Nevertheless, her being haunted by "ghosts of Christmas past," just to make sure she understands what she must do, might be a bit over the top.
To conclude: Despite me being a bit skeptical about ghosts and loose threads, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I am curious to see how the author will continue Lillian's story. I believe reading the two earlier books will provide a much more detailed image of Lillian as a character, as well as her relationships with the other characters in the book. As mentioned above, I didn't read them beforehand, but I would recommend it, to get an even better experience when reading this book.
This book, though not being tagged as a thriller, was overflowing with suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It also made me pull my hair in frustration, since I couldn't figure out who the killer was! It is an entertaining read, with endearing characters, an ingenious plot, and a massive character development for the main character.
Somehow, recovering alcoholic Lillian Dove always manages to get tangled up in every bad thing that happens in small-town Frytown. This time a man is stabbed, his wife killed, and his daughter gone missing. Will she, and the police, be able to solve this Christmas murder case?
I didn't have any particular expectations when starting this book, but I did absolutely not expect it to begin with Lillian's stolen Christmas tree! It was a fun way to start this book, maybe even hilarious, and I would never have predicted the impact it would have on the rest of the story.
Let her go is the third installment in this series and despite not having read the two earlier books, I couldn't help but be charmed by Lillian and the people around her. The character interactions are sometimes tremendously entertaining, especially when it is Lillian vs. Detective Leveque or her mother. There is a lot of unresolved, emotional problems between Lillian and her mother, problems Lillian must face before it is too late. Also, one cannot help but notice the underlying tension between Lillian and Leveque, despite them claiming to dislike each other. And just to make it a bit more interesting, a not wholly ended affair with the Chief of Police is thrown into the mix.
The murder plot is creative; I didn't see that end coming. However, I feel that the importance of finding Peyton Conrad to solve the murder is exaggerated. Lillian managed to figure it out just fine, before even finding Peyton. But hats off to the author for inventing this murder case.
Another small thing that kept nagging me was why Dr. Conrad's son got hurt. It turned out to be an accident, but how can you accidentally crush someone's leg? We're never told exactly how it happened. Furthermore, who stole the Christmas trees?! Did I miss that little piece of information somewhere?
I was surprised by how much of Let Her Go focused on Lillian's self-development rather than the mystery. After reading a little about the earlier books, Admit to Mayhem and Suppose, the reason behind this was apparent. The main focus in these books is the trials she must undergo on her path to personal recovery after her alcohol addiction.
It seems that one of the steps she must take is accepting herself as she is, recovering alcoholic and all, and let go of the past. Even though Lillian is smart, stubborn, and kind, she is quite dense regarding emotions and psychological problems. Her issues concerning relationships and the strained relation to her mother are evidence of this. Nevertheless, her being haunted by "ghosts of Christmas past," just to make sure she understands what she must do, might be a bit over the top.
To conclude: Despite me being a bit skeptical about ghosts and loose threads, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I am curious to see how the author will continue Lillian's story. I believe reading the two earlier books will provide a much more detailed image of Lillian as a character, as well as her relationships with the other characters in the book. As mentioned above, I didn't read them beforehand, but I would recommend it, to get an even better experience when reading this book.
November 14, 2018
Lillian Dove always seems to find herself in the middle of some kind of tragedy. This time, she finds a doctor in front of his house covered in blood. She goes into the house and discovers that his wife has been brutally killed, his son is injured and his teenage daughter is missing. Despite the police advising against it, Lillian jumps right into the investigation. She’s not a cop, but she’s sure she can add some of her knowledge to the investigation.
Lillian has her own problems to deal with, too. The local detective, Jacque Leveque, has it in for her, her mother is being stalked and someone stole her Christmas tree. Still, Lillian refuses to back down and vows to find out who attacked the Conrad family.
This is an engrossing, captivating novel that grabbed me right from the first page. It’s filled with strong, realistic characters in a fast-paced drama. Watching Lillian tear away each layer of this story is fascinating. As many problems of her own that Lillian is dealing with, she manages to keep her strength and put them aside to solve this murder.
It’s the third book in the Lillian Dove series. I read the first one, but not the second. It didn’t seem to ruin my enjoyment of the book. They do refer to some past events, but I didn’t feel left out at all. This is an exciting adventure. I hope this series continues with a fourth book. I’ll be waiting :)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lillian has her own problems to deal with, too. The local detective, Jacque Leveque, has it in for her, her mother is being stalked and someone stole her Christmas tree. Still, Lillian refuses to back down and vows to find out who attacked the Conrad family.
This is an engrossing, captivating novel that grabbed me right from the first page. It’s filled with strong, realistic characters in a fast-paced drama. Watching Lillian tear away each layer of this story is fascinating. As many problems of her own that Lillian is dealing with, she manages to keep her strength and put them aside to solve this murder.
It’s the third book in the Lillian Dove series. I read the first one, but not the second. It didn’t seem to ruin my enjoyment of the book. They do refer to some past events, but I didn’t feel left out at all. This is an exciting adventure. I hope this series continues with a fourth book. I’ll be waiting :)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 21, 2018
Let Her Go by D.J. Adamson
Lillian finds Dr. Conran outside of his house covered in blood and a bit dazed. She discovers his wife dead, Son injured and Daughter missing. The Police suspect Dr. Conrad, but Lillian is not too sure. Along with Detective Leveque they set out to solve the crime and find the truth.
The plot moves at a fast pace, with attention to detail, and engaging dialog. There is suspense, twist and turns, a (true) compelling who-done-it. Lillian is very likable, she is battling her own inner problems, yet is determined to help solve this crime. The Midwest setting and Christmas season (to me) made Let Her Go even more enjoyable. I highly recommend to those who love a great murder/mystery.
Lillian finds Dr. Conran outside of his house covered in blood and a bit dazed. She discovers his wife dead, Son injured and Daughter missing. The Police suspect Dr. Conrad, but Lillian is not too sure. Along with Detective Leveque they set out to solve the crime and find the truth.
The plot moves at a fast pace, with attention to detail, and engaging dialog. There is suspense, twist and turns, a (true) compelling who-done-it. Lillian is very likable, she is battling her own inner problems, yet is determined to help solve this crime. The Midwest setting and Christmas season (to me) made Let Her Go even more enjoyable. I highly recommend to those who love a great murder/mystery.
August 15, 2018
Good read ... now I need to find out about Lillian's back story!
March 15, 2019
This book is part of a series, which I have not read, and I think I might have enjoyed this book more had I read the other two books. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but be warned that it may impact how much you enjoy the book.
Basic Plot - Lillian Dove is a former police department employee and she seems to often find herself mixed up in some mystery/criminal activity. In this book, she finds an injured man on a street corner and learns that his family has been brutally attacked. She stops to help and ends up getting herself involved in trying to find out what happened to this family.
The first page of the book spoke to me...
If only I could go back and do life differently. Isn't that what people say? Life would be so much better. Would it?
Don't know about you, but I've had that exact thought! So I was super encouraged about reading the rest of the book and thought that I was really going to enjoy the Lillian character. The book was going along so well and then it started going downhill. I didn't developed any interest or feelings for Lillian and the whole book is about her. BUT, in all fairness, I did not read the other books and this book only gives snippets of her back story, not enough to develop an interest in the character. Lillian had some quirks and a thought process that I found absolutely annoying and eye-roll worthy. But, this might be part of her charm, had I gotten to know the character from book 1. I am sure there is some character building that happened during the other books, that I missed out on.
With that said, Lillian and the entire Frytown Police Department (FPD) kind of got on my nerves! I got the impression that Lillian was a former desk clerk, or something of that nature, with the FPD and not that she was a former cop. She kept inserting herself into a murder investigation in ways that would have made more sense if she was a former cop. If she had been a former gun carrying member of the FPD, I would have cut her a little slack for sticking her nose in where it didn't belong. It just didn't make sense to me that she was going around town trying to solve what happened to this family to the point of questioning people of interest in the case. She was basically running her own investigation concurrently with the police.
The other thing that I don't care for in general with mystery/thriller books, is when a character knows that something they are doing is stupid, but they do it anyway. Like in scary movies where the person is home alone and they hear a noise in the dark basement, attic, woods, etc. and instead of getting the heck out of there, they go investigate (smh). Lillian did a lot of "I know I shouldn't do this" or "I should really stay out of this" only to do that exact thing. This could honestly be part of her quirky charm.
I would read another book by this author, to give it another chance. I did keep reading the book because I was interested in the overall story and finding out what exactly happened to this family. And I did enjoy the glimpses into Lillian's back story. I have one lingering question, which may have been answered in the earlier books, but does she see actually see ghosts or are these dream sequences???
Basic Plot - Lillian Dove is a former police department employee and she seems to often find herself mixed up in some mystery/criminal activity. In this book, she finds an injured man on a street corner and learns that his family has been brutally attacked. She stops to help and ends up getting herself involved in trying to find out what happened to this family.
The first page of the book spoke to me...
If only I could go back and do life differently. Isn't that what people say? Life would be so much better. Would it?
Don't know about you, but I've had that exact thought! So I was super encouraged about reading the rest of the book and thought that I was really going to enjoy the Lillian character. The book was going along so well and then it started going downhill. I didn't developed any interest or feelings for Lillian and the whole book is about her. BUT, in all fairness, I did not read the other books and this book only gives snippets of her back story, not enough to develop an interest in the character. Lillian had some quirks and a thought process that I found absolutely annoying and eye-roll worthy. But, this might be part of her charm, had I gotten to know the character from book 1. I am sure there is some character building that happened during the other books, that I missed out on.
With that said, Lillian and the entire Frytown Police Department (FPD) kind of got on my nerves! I got the impression that Lillian was a former desk clerk, or something of that nature, with the FPD and not that she was a former cop. She kept inserting herself into a murder investigation in ways that would have made more sense if she was a former cop. If she had been a former gun carrying member of the FPD, I would have cut her a little slack for sticking her nose in where it didn't belong. It just didn't make sense to me that she was going around town trying to solve what happened to this family to the point of questioning people of interest in the case. She was basically running her own investigation concurrently with the police.
The other thing that I don't care for in general with mystery/thriller books, is when a character knows that something they are doing is stupid, but they do it anyway. Like in scary movies where the person is home alone and they hear a noise in the dark basement, attic, woods, etc. and instead of getting the heck out of there, they go investigate (smh). Lillian did a lot of "I know I shouldn't do this" or "I should really stay out of this" only to do that exact thing. This could honestly be part of her quirky charm.
I would read another book by this author, to give it another chance. I did keep reading the book because I was interested in the overall story and finding out what exactly happened to this family. And I did enjoy the glimpses into Lillian's back story. I have one lingering question, which may have been answered in the earlier books, but does she see actually see ghosts or are these dream sequences???
December 14, 2018
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
Although this was the third book in a new to me series, I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read it and look forward to checking out the previous installments! I thoroughly enjoyed the darker tone and grittier nature of the story that made this such a suspenseful and thrilling read!
Lillian is a dynamic and flawed character whose mixed bag personality and crazy antics make her a thorn in the side of law enforcement officials. Her heart is definitely in the right place though many would rather she minded her own business. As quite the unreliable narrator, Lillian can't be trusted because she is filled with so much self-doubt and questions so much about herself, her own actions, and the past that it is ultimately difficult to predict where the story is going to go. While there is a strong focus on Lillian's self-development as she deals with the stresses of sobriety, relationships, and finances, the fast pacing and twists and turns along the way builds steadily and increases the anticipation for the final reveal.
The author did a fabulous job of blending information from the previous books to give the needed backstory, while also providing enough intrigue to make you want to pick up those previous books to find out more. I also thoroughly enjoyed the addition of supernatural elements into Lillian's dream sequences which brought to mind A Christmas Carol and completely enriched the atmospheric setting of this intensely winter story made even more so by the fact that I was reading it as Texas began to experience some of the earliest and coldest weather on record!
Overall, this well written plot was fascinating to read and really set some high expectations for the series as I read from the beginning and wait for future releases. Although Lillian's future and happiness would benefit greatly from her NOT getting involved with any more criminal investigations, I'll be wondering what she stumbles upon next!
Although this was the third book in a new to me series, I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read it and look forward to checking out the previous installments! I thoroughly enjoyed the darker tone and grittier nature of the story that made this such a suspenseful and thrilling read!
Lillian is a dynamic and flawed character whose mixed bag personality and crazy antics make her a thorn in the side of law enforcement officials. Her heart is definitely in the right place though many would rather she minded her own business. As quite the unreliable narrator, Lillian can't be trusted because she is filled with so much self-doubt and questions so much about herself, her own actions, and the past that it is ultimately difficult to predict where the story is going to go. While there is a strong focus on Lillian's self-development as she deals with the stresses of sobriety, relationships, and finances, the fast pacing and twists and turns along the way builds steadily and increases the anticipation for the final reveal.
The author did a fabulous job of blending information from the previous books to give the needed backstory, while also providing enough intrigue to make you want to pick up those previous books to find out more. I also thoroughly enjoyed the addition of supernatural elements into Lillian's dream sequences which brought to mind A Christmas Carol and completely enriched the atmospheric setting of this intensely winter story made even more so by the fact that I was reading it as Texas began to experience some of the earliest and coldest weather on record!
Overall, this well written plot was fascinating to read and really set some high expectations for the series as I read from the beginning and wait for future releases. Although Lillian's future and happiness would benefit greatly from her NOT getting involved with any more criminal investigations, I'll be wondering what she stumbles upon next!
May 5, 2019
This was my first book by this author and it. Seems it’s the third in a series but that didn’t dampen this particular story although the back stories would have enriched the reading experience. Rather fun actually, with a good mystery in the center.
October 30, 2018
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I was happy to read Let Her Go because I’d already read Admit to Mayhem and Suppose, both books in the Lillian Dove series, and I enjoyed both of them.
Lillian Dove has been battling an addiction to alcohol most of her life. She has been sober for over 5 years and has straightened out her life. She worked at the police department but was laid off. After the owner of the local liquor store died, he left Lillian the store and his house. Although it’s ironic that an alcoholic is running a liquor store, she handles it well.
What she hasn’t handled well in the past is relationships. She has slept with the Chief of Police a couple of times but she found out he’s married. His wife has been sick and in a facility for years, but Lillian doesn’t know if she wants to date a man who is technically married. There is also Detective Leveque, a player who she has a like/hate relationship with. Although Lillian is a bit confused at times about men, I think she is handling things better than she thinks. Even Lillian’s relationship with her verbally abusive mother is in the process of changing for the better.
When Lillian is driving by the home of the Conrads, Dr. Conrad is holding a knife and has been stabbed. Of course, Lillian stops and finds that his wife has been murdered, his son is badly injured, and his daughter is missing. It’s a murder mystery that Lillian says she’ll let the police investigate, but her curiosity gets the best of her. There are some good twists in Let Her Go and the big questions are will the murderer be found before someone else dies and where is Dr. Conrad’s daughter?
The author’s writing flows well and made this a quick read. Anyone who enjoys mysteries with twists, humor, and a touch of romance will enjoy Let Her Go.
Lillian Dove has been battling an addiction to alcohol most of her life. She has been sober for over 5 years and has straightened out her life. She worked at the police department but was laid off. After the owner of the local liquor store died, he left Lillian the store and his house. Although it’s ironic that an alcoholic is running a liquor store, she handles it well.
What she hasn’t handled well in the past is relationships. She has slept with the Chief of Police a couple of times but she found out he’s married. His wife has been sick and in a facility for years, but Lillian doesn’t know if she wants to date a man who is technically married. There is also Detective Leveque, a player who she has a like/hate relationship with. Although Lillian is a bit confused at times about men, I think she is handling things better than she thinks. Even Lillian’s relationship with her verbally abusive mother is in the process of changing for the better.
When Lillian is driving by the home of the Conrads, Dr. Conrad is holding a knife and has been stabbed. Of course, Lillian stops and finds that his wife has been murdered, his son is badly injured, and his daughter is missing. It’s a murder mystery that Lillian says she’ll let the police investigate, but her curiosity gets the best of her. There are some good twists in Let Her Go and the big questions are will the murderer be found before someone else dies and where is Dr. Conrad’s daughter?
The author’s writing flows well and made this a quick read. Anyone who enjoys mysteries with twists, humor, and a touch of romance will enjoy Let Her Go.
November 9, 2018
I was given an advanced reader's copy of "Let Her Go" in exchange for an honest review.
Christmas is on the way, the temperature falling and snow is piling up on Frytown, but worst of all Lillian Dove's Christmas tree has been stolen. And Lillian knows who took it: Detective "Samson" Leveque, Lillian's nemesis and also the person whose cases she seem to constantly interferwith. On the back from confronting Leveque she slams on her brakes when sees a man stnading out front of a house with blood all over his white T-shirt and holder a large knife. After calling 911 Lillian enters the house only to find a women murdered in the living room.
Even though Lillian vows she won't get involved in Frytown Police Department business this time, she ends up smack dab in the middle anyway. Doctor Conrad is the man with the knife and his wife Ely is the murder victim, but it is Doctor Conrad's now missing Daughter that may hold the key to solving the murder of Ely.
Lillian has other issues to deal with when she learns her mother Dahlia's condo has been broken into. And it may be that the break in may have sonething with the Conrad family tragedy. And now the irascible Dahlia is moving in with Lillian and bring Bud, er Bacardi the cat, with her.
D.J. Adamson's third book in the Lillian Dove series is every bit as enjoyable as "Admit to Mayhem" and "Suppose". Lillian Dove is a great new character that readers will grow to love as they learn more and more with each new book. "Let Her Go" is richly deserving of my 5 star reveiw and hope there will be many more Lillian Dove novels in the near future.
Christmas is on the way, the temperature falling and snow is piling up on Frytown, but worst of all Lillian Dove's Christmas tree has been stolen. And Lillian knows who took it: Detective "Samson" Leveque, Lillian's nemesis and also the person whose cases she seem to constantly interferwith. On the back from confronting Leveque she slams on her brakes when sees a man stnading out front of a house with blood all over his white T-shirt and holder a large knife. After calling 911 Lillian enters the house only to find a women murdered in the living room.
Even though Lillian vows she won't get involved in Frytown Police Department business this time, she ends up smack dab in the middle anyway. Doctor Conrad is the man with the knife and his wife Ely is the murder victim, but it is Doctor Conrad's now missing Daughter that may hold the key to solving the murder of Ely.
Lillian has other issues to deal with when she learns her mother Dahlia's condo has been broken into. And it may be that the break in may have sonething with the Conrad family tragedy. And now the irascible Dahlia is moving in with Lillian and bring Bud, er Bacardi the cat, with her.
D.J. Adamson's third book in the Lillian Dove series is every bit as enjoyable as "Admit to Mayhem" and "Suppose". Lillian Dove is a great new character that readers will grow to love as they learn more and more with each new book. "Let Her Go" is richly deserving of my 5 star reveiw and hope there will be many more Lillian Dove novels in the near future.
November 1, 2018
This is another very good installment in the Lillian Dove mystery series. The character development is a strong point of the book. The protagonist, a recovering alcoholic, runs a local liquor store which she inherited. Although diligently moving towards self-improvement, Lillian is still dealing with her demons, has trouble sorting out complicated relationships, can be rough-around-the-edges, and is quick to jump to conclusions. Despite this, the author conveys sympathy and patience for the lead character through her interactions with the supporting characters. Everyone has something to learn about themselves as they cope with a brutal murder in their small town.
The plot is engaging with plenty of twists and turns.
I suspect Lillian will continue to stumble her way into more mysteries in the future, and I’ll enjoy reading about those as well.
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The plot is engaging with plenty of twists and turns.
I suspect Lillian will continue to stumble her way into more mysteries in the future, and I’ll enjoy reading about those as well.
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2018
Lilian Dove’s Christmas Carol
Lilian Dove comes with a lot of baggage. She’s a recovering alcoholic who owns a liquor store. She has an on again off again love affair with Frytown’s married chief of police. She has a fraught relation with her difficult mother. And she has a genius for getting entangled with murder cases, which has her butting heads with the chief detective. Thus time, she finds a man sitting on the curb in front of his house bleeding. Inside she finds his wife with her throat cut, his son grievously wounded, and his teenage daughter missing. It’s Christmas time, the weather is freezing, and it is snowing hard, but she feels obliged to investigate (in a car with bald tires). Her mother is being more difficult than usual, and Lilian has two dreams about her past life that lead her to change the way she thinks about her life and her mother. And they lead her to change her behavior. She also solves the murder case.
This is the best Lilian Dove adventure so far.
Lilian Dove comes with a lot of baggage. She’s a recovering alcoholic who owns a liquor store. She has an on again off again love affair with Frytown’s married chief of police. She has a fraught relation with her difficult mother. And she has a genius for getting entangled with murder cases, which has her butting heads with the chief detective. Thus time, she finds a man sitting on the curb in front of his house bleeding. Inside she finds his wife with her throat cut, his son grievously wounded, and his teenage daughter missing. It’s Christmas time, the weather is freezing, and it is snowing hard, but she feels obliged to investigate (in a car with bald tires). Her mother is being more difficult than usual, and Lilian has two dreams about her past life that lead her to change the way she thinks about her life and her mother. And they lead her to change her behavior. She also solves the murder case.
This is the best Lilian Dove adventure so far.
May 9, 2019
This is the third book in the series with Lillian Dove. I haven't read the first two, but this is good as a stand-alone.
Lillian has inherited a business and house from a one time friend, and still thanks her good fortune.
She wakes one Sunday morning, three days before Christmas, to discover that her front door is wide open. Remarkably her Christmas tree has disappeared.
She comes across Dr. Conrad outside his house, covered in blood. On further inspection, his wife is dead, son badly injured and daughter missing.
This is a tense thriller which will keep your attention until the end. Detective Jacque Leveque is heading up this investigation, with only Dr. Conrad as a chief suspect for most of this.
You cannot be like Lillian Dove and the main characters are well described.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Lillian has inherited a business and house from a one time friend, and still thanks her good fortune.
She wakes one Sunday morning, three days before Christmas, to discover that her front door is wide open. Remarkably her Christmas tree has disappeared.
She comes across Dr. Conrad outside his house, covered in blood. On further inspection, his wife is dead, son badly injured and daughter missing.
This is a tense thriller which will keep your attention until the end. Detective Jacque Leveque is heading up this investigation, with only Dr. Conrad as a chief suspect for most of this.
You cannot be like Lillian Dove and the main characters are well described.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
August 21, 2018
This is the first time reading this author but it won't be the last. The main character is a woman named Lillian who sees a man covered in blood walking out of a house in a daze. She calls 911 and then goes to look in the house and find his wife dead from stab wounds and his son who appears to be in a coma but still alive. Lillian has helped the cops before but they want her to stay out of this one. She also has her mother to deal with and they seem to have love/hate relationship going. She has to figure this all out and help the cops even though they don't want the help. It keeps your interest and keeps you guessing.
January 20, 2020
I would like to thank Horatio Press and the Netgalley website for this partnership.
Between love and betrayal, love can sometimes go wrong.
It features Lillian Dove who's involved in a police investigation and that a girl holds the key to finding out more about her mother's murder.
Three days before Christmas Dr Conrad stands outside his house covered in blood. In the house Lillian discovers that the doctor's wife is dead, his son injured and his daughter missing. He is immediately suspected.
I immediately fell in love with the story, which is so gripping, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters.
Between love and betrayal, love can sometimes go wrong.
It features Lillian Dove who's involved in a police investigation and that a girl holds the key to finding out more about her mother's murder.
Three days before Christmas Dr Conrad stands outside his house covered in blood. In the house Lillian discovers that the doctor's wife is dead, his son injured and his daughter missing. He is immediately suspected.
I immediately fell in love with the story, which is so gripping, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters.
January 18, 2021
The whole thing started when Lillian happened to drive past a man on his front lawn covered in blood on her way to track down her stolen Christmas tree ... and that's just about the least bizarre thing that happens in this one. Don't let me put you off on the story. It's actually a good one - well told and well read. It's just one of the most twisted and convoluted mysteries I've seen in a long time.
Liberally salted through the whole thing is the Lillian's back story and her difficult history with her now aging mother.
It's a pre-Christmas roller coaster that's well worth the read.
Liberally salted through the whole thing is the Lillian's back story and her difficult history with her now aging mother.
It's a pre-Christmas roller coaster that's well worth the read.
May 13, 2019
This book drew me in and held me delightfully-captive from beginning to end. The palpable tension held me in thrall. The plot kept me guessing. The characters were realistic, likable and identifiable. And, every settings was described in such a way as to make me feel like I was an actual bystander in that scene. Once I started reading this story, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down!
#LetHerGo #NetGalley
#LetHerGo #NetGalley
February 1, 2021
Let Her Go (Lillian Dove #3) was a great read by D.J. Adamson. Lillian comes across a family tragedy that ended in a murdered mother and the teenage daughter missing. She then realizes that the daughter holds the key to who murdered the mother. She couldn't understand why the police thought Dr. Conrad murdered his wife. I really enjoyed reading Lillian's story and can't wait to read more by the author.
November 2, 2018
This is another very good installment in the Lillian Dove mystery series. The character development is a strong point of the book. The protagonist, a recovering alcoholic, runs a local liquor store which she inherited.
I was given an advanced reader's copy of "Let Her Go" in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an advanced reader's copy of "Let Her Go" in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2018
Humorous book with enjoyable characters. Blends the hectic holiday season with stolen Christmas trees, snowy, icy wintery weather and murder. Add in a dash of good-natured joking (ha) and a little love and a missing girl. Funny Book.
December 10, 2022
Great police thriller
This story kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of suspense and drama. Loved the main character Lillian.. Kind of liked the sort of happy ending. Would definitely like to read more with this character.
This story kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of suspense and drama. Loved the main character Lillian.. Kind of liked the sort of happy ending. Would definitely like to read more with this character.
April 26, 2021
This feels like the ghosts of Christmas past, but with a murder mystery thrown in.
Good read, although convoluted in parts.
Good read, although convoluted in parts.
July 23, 2021
Good fast pace book
Enjoyed the beginning and the ending of the book. The characters seem like real people. Enjoyed the ending. Will read another book
Enjoyed the beginning and the ending of the book. The characters seem like real people. Enjoyed the ending. Will read another book
February 27, 2025
Not sure what I was expecting but I got more than I probably thought I was going to get. This book will keep you going. It's a good read to snuggle in for the night with!
August 22, 2025
If I was a teacher grading this book I would give it an F. Poor grammar, poor spelling, inaccuracy in the story lines hard to follow. I don't think this book was ever proofread.
November 6, 2018
Full disclosure: I was given this book for review.
Driving back from an angry confrontation, Lillian finds a man standing on the sidewalk. A bloody man, holding a knife. It’s the beginning of a family drama, with murder, injuries and possible kidnapping. Lillian, former employee of the police department, can’t stop herself from following up on clues that cross her path, no matter how furious it makes the police chief - and another man, Lillian’s nemesis on the force. Even while trying to deal with her aged mother and her non-serviceable car, Lillian feels compelled to sort out the facts.
The inclusion of her mother Dahlia in the drama is not a good thing. When Dahlia’s condo is first broken into, she accuses Lillian to the police. The next time, her life is threatened. Lillian has no choice but to come to grips with her very unwelcome childhood memories.
The plot of LET HER GO is nicely complicated. The prose moves at breakneck speed, and I found that once I glanced at the colorful beginning of a chapter, it was necessary to continue to read. This means that whether you like LET HER GO or not will depend on how you feel about the main character. Lillian is an aggressive, isolated, recovering alcoholic with lots and lots of baggage.
I haven’t read Books 1 and 2 of this series. There is quite a bit of back story in the text, so I think I had a good idea of the necessary background. About her future … well … Even though Lillian is a loose cannon, her possible future happiness depends on her not getting involved in any more murder mysteries. That would either bring the series to an end, or create an even more antagonistic atmosphere in future books.
Driving back from an angry confrontation, Lillian finds a man standing on the sidewalk. A bloody man, holding a knife. It’s the beginning of a family drama, with murder, injuries and possible kidnapping. Lillian, former employee of the police department, can’t stop herself from following up on clues that cross her path, no matter how furious it makes the police chief - and another man, Lillian’s nemesis on the force. Even while trying to deal with her aged mother and her non-serviceable car, Lillian feels compelled to sort out the facts.
The inclusion of her mother Dahlia in the drama is not a good thing. When Dahlia’s condo is first broken into, she accuses Lillian to the police. The next time, her life is threatened. Lillian has no choice but to come to grips with her very unwelcome childhood memories.
The plot of LET HER GO is nicely complicated. The prose moves at breakneck speed, and I found that once I glanced at the colorful beginning of a chapter, it was necessary to continue to read. This means that whether you like LET HER GO or not will depend on how you feel about the main character. Lillian is an aggressive, isolated, recovering alcoholic with lots and lots of baggage.
I haven’t read Books 1 and 2 of this series. There is quite a bit of back story in the text, so I think I had a good idea of the necessary background. About her future … well … Even though Lillian is a loose cannon, her possible future happiness depends on her not getting involved in any more murder mysteries. That would either bring the series to an end, or create an even more antagonistic atmosphere in future books.
January 31, 2019
Let Her Go by D.J. Adamson
Book starts out with her pondering if she could go back and do things different.
Lilian Dove and she's been sober for 5 years now...she inherited the liquor store and the owners house because she had worked for him.
On her way back from trying to find her Christmas tree she sees a man, blood on his shirt, with a knife. She calls it in and the man goes down and tells her the family is still inside and the man is getting away.
She runs for the house to help...police show up...
Lilian cheks in on her mother who's back at the condo, and she has a boyfriend there...missing girl is still missing and they know her of time volunteering at the retirement center...
She also checks on her father who's comfortable with others dropping in from time to time...
She is still investigating, collecting clues as to the crime...
She had forgotten about the woman who approached her upon leaving the scene, she'd have to fill the cops in ...
Lilian has the rep of solving the crime in their town. Cop Sampson used to be FBI and now works locally and they don't get along together-they are opposites.
She ends up talking to a lot of people piecing things together... Like this book and can't wait to read more of this town from the author. Some parts are graphically gory.
First time author for me and like her style of writing and the detailed descriptions-I can picture myself seeing it all happen.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Book starts out with her pondering if she could go back and do things different.
Lilian Dove and she's been sober for 5 years now...she inherited the liquor store and the owners house because she had worked for him.
On her way back from trying to find her Christmas tree she sees a man, blood on his shirt, with a knife. She calls it in and the man goes down and tells her the family is still inside and the man is getting away.
She runs for the house to help...police show up...
Lilian cheks in on her mother who's back at the condo, and she has a boyfriend there...missing girl is still missing and they know her of time volunteering at the retirement center...
She also checks on her father who's comfortable with others dropping in from time to time...
She is still investigating, collecting clues as to the crime...
She had forgotten about the woman who approached her upon leaving the scene, she'd have to fill the cops in ...
Lilian has the rep of solving the crime in their town. Cop Sampson used to be FBI and now works locally and they don't get along together-they are opposites.
She ends up talking to a lot of people piecing things together... Like this book and can't wait to read more of this town from the author. Some parts are graphically gory.
First time author for me and like her style of writing and the detailed descriptions-I can picture myself seeing it all happen.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
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