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DI Evan Glover #1
The Wrong Boy
Perched on a Welsh clifftop, the ancient, picturesque hamlet of Rhosddraig has its peaceful façade ripped apart when human remains are discovered under a pile of stones. The village pub, The Dragon's Head, run by three generations of women, becomes the focal point for those interested in the grisly find, and it’s where layers of deceit are peeled away to expose old secrets, and deep wounds. The police need to establish who died, how, and why, but DI Evan Glover knows he can’t be involved in the investigation, because he's just two days away from retirement. However, as the case develops in unexpected ways, it becomes irrevocably woven into his life, and the lives of local families, leading to disturbing revelations – and deadly consequences . . .
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2019
25 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Ace
47 books387 followersCathy Ace migrated from her native Wales to Canada at the age of 40. She is the award-winning author of the traditional Cait Morgan Mysteries featuring her Welsh Canadian criminology professor sleuth who travels the world tripping over corpses, which have now been optioned for TV. She also writes the cozier WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries featuring a quartet of female PIs who run their business out of a Welsh stately home. Both series have been well-reviewed. Her award-winning standalone, THE WRONG BOY, is a gripping novel of psychological suspense, set in Wales, and has also been optioned for TV.
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 22, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Rhosddraig, a peaceful village in Wales, is home of The Dragon’s Head, a pub owned by a very demanding and opinionated woman, Myfanwy ‘Nan’ Jones, and managed by her daughter, Helen. Her granddaughter Sadie also works there. The pub becomes the center of attention when human remains are found nearby. The case brings DI Evan Glover to investigate but he finds there will be no way to solve the case before his retirement in just two days and has to turn the case over to his partner DS Liz Stanley and other officers. But he just can’t let it go and soon both he and his wife become entangled in the case as they seem to go down one rabbit hole after another trying to find out the real story.
First I have to say, I am always delighted by the places this author takes us too. I will never travel to Wales, but she creates such vivid imagery with her words that the places come alive and can be viewed so clearly in my mind. She put her readers right there in the moment and I love that about her writing.
This story builds slowly in a journal-like tale told from several points of few. The characters are introduced as we read their accounts of each day but we quickly see these are multilayered people, with pasts and secrets. All their lives interconnect as the story moves forward and layer after layer of their lives and inner beings are peeled away. It seems each day a different perspective took hold and completely changed my mind about where the story was headed.
Cathy Ace is a pro, she knows how to draw the reader in and keep their attention. While I didn’t feel a lot of thrilling suspense through the entire story, the psychological aspects were there the whole way. A terribly flawed individual’s words and actions had a very strong impact on several characters. The day by day observations were quite unreliable, showing so much dysfunction. Everyone saw things to the betterment of themselves and the truth was buried so deep I wondered if we would ever get there.
This terrifically written story leads up to an ending that was absolutely chilling and turned anything I had been thinking totally inside out. Part police procedural and part family drama, the book sets readers on a very unique journey. Tragic, eerie, and dark, the only light brought by two distinct characters. The Wrong Boy was different from anything I have read of late and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a psychological mind twister.
Rhosddraig, a peaceful village in Wales, is home of The Dragon’s Head, a pub owned by a very demanding and opinionated woman, Myfanwy ‘Nan’ Jones, and managed by her daughter, Helen. Her granddaughter Sadie also works there. The pub becomes the center of attention when human remains are found nearby. The case brings DI Evan Glover to investigate but he finds there will be no way to solve the case before his retirement in just two days and has to turn the case over to his partner DS Liz Stanley and other officers. But he just can’t let it go and soon both he and his wife become entangled in the case as they seem to go down one rabbit hole after another trying to find out the real story.
First I have to say, I am always delighted by the places this author takes us too. I will never travel to Wales, but she creates such vivid imagery with her words that the places come alive and can be viewed so clearly in my mind. She put her readers right there in the moment and I love that about her writing.
This story builds slowly in a journal-like tale told from several points of few. The characters are introduced as we read their accounts of each day but we quickly see these are multilayered people, with pasts and secrets. All their lives interconnect as the story moves forward and layer after layer of their lives and inner beings are peeled away. It seems each day a different perspective took hold and completely changed my mind about where the story was headed.
Cathy Ace is a pro, she knows how to draw the reader in and keep their attention. While I didn’t feel a lot of thrilling suspense through the entire story, the psychological aspects were there the whole way. A terribly flawed individual’s words and actions had a very strong impact on several characters. The day by day observations were quite unreliable, showing so much dysfunction. Everyone saw things to the betterment of themselves and the truth was buried so deep I wondered if we would ever get there.
This terrifically written story leads up to an ending that was absolutely chilling and turned anything I had been thinking totally inside out. Part police procedural and part family drama, the book sets readers on a very unique journey. Tragic, eerie, and dark, the only light brought by two distinct characters. The Wrong Boy was different from anything I have read of late and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a psychological mind twister.
May 26, 2020
Since author Cathy Ace is responsible for my fascination with Wales, with her Wise Enquiries Agency series and her Cait Morgan series and her many FB posts about her home country of Wales, I was excited to receive an ARC for The Wrong Boy. This standalone novel (or maybe not standalone) is arriving with lots of great buzz, and I can confirm that it is everything the mystery/crime world is anticipating and more. The setting of the small coastal village Rhosddraig in southern Wales with its ancient stone formations and the Dragon's Back island twisting into the sea comes alive for readers under the masterful writing of Ace. The author makes it easy to become immersed in the Welsh culture of this village, which is both charming and sinister. I'm certain that sense of place will be high on readers' list of what makes this book so special.
Cathy Ace categorizes The Wrong Boy as a "psychological suspense thriller," and there is no doubt that it is that. Her finesse at building from the roots of village character life to a the chilling and thrilling story of a family's secrets tearing the village apart is the stuff of great storytelling. Metaphorically, it is the ocean tide, coming in and going out, and with each new appearance on the shore, there are new clues as to what lies hidden in its depths. That there are twists and turns to keep the reader guessing the outcome is a reading experience of pure joy, and not coming close to what the final truth is only adds to the enjoyment.
What brings us to the picturesque village of Rhosddraig and eventually to The Dragon Head's Pub, where three generations of women reside in the misery of their secrets, is the discovery of bones, recent bones, on the hilltop where the derelict RAF listening station stand. DI Evan Glover, two days away from retirement, is called on from Swansea to visit the site and determine if those bones are talking. Glover and his able assistant, DS Liz Stanley, find an unusual pile of determined destruction in the smashed skull with no teeth and charred bones, which are covered by stones in a cairn-like structure. With reports of a fire being seen emanating its glow from that site on a recent November night, DI Glover knows that this investigation will be a lengthy one and will last well beyond his retirement. However, his involvement won't end, as the boy who is eventually accused seems to be "wrong," and Glover's sense of justice won't allow him to put it aside.
The Dragon Head's Pub is the village gathering spot for gossip and a pint, and its proprietor is Nan Jones, an elderly woman made of steel and spite. Her daughter, Helen, and Helen's daughter, Sadie, also reside and work at the pub, Helen being full-time and Sadie working after school. Sadie is in love with the accused boy, Aled Beynon, and has kept her relationship with him secret from everyone, including her mother and grandmother. Nan, Helen, and Sadie have tumultuous relations among themselves, and each one holds secrets from the others that are revealed in their narratives that Ace has divided the book into. Nan is a particularly nasty piece of work, always critical of her daughter, unimpressed by her granddaughter, and possessing a vicious tongue towards those with whom she has quarrels in the village. In spite of Nan's disgruntled nature, their pub is a popular spot, and it becomes even more so with a murder to solve.
The pace of the story is one of the great realistic aspects of it, as the investigation and build-up of the drama evolves over a period of months. From identifying the bearer of the bones to uncovering village connections to him is a time-consuming process, and while this story isn't a police procedural, it does give credence to the importance of it and allows the reader to see some of what is involved. And while the process is taking place, we are gaining insight into the main characters of this tale. Through the settling into retirement for Evan and Betty to the running of a busy pub, characters are revealed in their basic nature and desires. But, all the while suspense is building as more knowledge about the victim and suspect are uncovered. It is quite possible that you will stay up half the night reading to the end, because, well, it's that grand of a journey and finale.
The format for telling the story is through the author giving each main character a voice, where they present their perspectives and knowledge. Retired DI Evan Glover and his wife Betty, who we learn has a connection to the main players, too, are my favorites. They are genuinely a loving couple who support each other's interests and together prove to be an astute detecting team. The three females of The Dragon's Head are each given their narrative voices, too, with Nan, Helen, and Sadie showing the depth of deceit and horror of the lies upon which their lives are built. Through the eyes of these five characters we get to know others in their lives and crucial to the story line. And, as it is a psychological thriller, we should be aware that their views are not always reliable, either by choice or ignorance. Like the fog the villagers call the Dragon's Breath, the path is not always clear. As the end nears and the fog clears, my jaw dropped in surprise, and I consider Cathy Ace's final twist and disclosure one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to be gobsmacked by.
As I mentioned in the beginning of my review, I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Wrong Boy, and I can only add to my honest review that this is a book sure to be up for awards and one you don't want to miss.
Cathy Ace categorizes The Wrong Boy as a "psychological suspense thriller," and there is no doubt that it is that. Her finesse at building from the roots of village character life to a the chilling and thrilling story of a family's secrets tearing the village apart is the stuff of great storytelling. Metaphorically, it is the ocean tide, coming in and going out, and with each new appearance on the shore, there are new clues as to what lies hidden in its depths. That there are twists and turns to keep the reader guessing the outcome is a reading experience of pure joy, and not coming close to what the final truth is only adds to the enjoyment.
What brings us to the picturesque village of Rhosddraig and eventually to The Dragon Head's Pub, where three generations of women reside in the misery of their secrets, is the discovery of bones, recent bones, on the hilltop where the derelict RAF listening station stand. DI Evan Glover, two days away from retirement, is called on from Swansea to visit the site and determine if those bones are talking. Glover and his able assistant, DS Liz Stanley, find an unusual pile of determined destruction in the smashed skull with no teeth and charred bones, which are covered by stones in a cairn-like structure. With reports of a fire being seen emanating its glow from that site on a recent November night, DI Glover knows that this investigation will be a lengthy one and will last well beyond his retirement. However, his involvement won't end, as the boy who is eventually accused seems to be "wrong," and Glover's sense of justice won't allow him to put it aside.
The Dragon Head's Pub is the village gathering spot for gossip and a pint, and its proprietor is Nan Jones, an elderly woman made of steel and spite. Her daughter, Helen, and Helen's daughter, Sadie, also reside and work at the pub, Helen being full-time and Sadie working after school. Sadie is in love with the accused boy, Aled Beynon, and has kept her relationship with him secret from everyone, including her mother and grandmother. Nan, Helen, and Sadie have tumultuous relations among themselves, and each one holds secrets from the others that are revealed in their narratives that Ace has divided the book into. Nan is a particularly nasty piece of work, always critical of her daughter, unimpressed by her granddaughter, and possessing a vicious tongue towards those with whom she has quarrels in the village. In spite of Nan's disgruntled nature, their pub is a popular spot, and it becomes even more so with a murder to solve.
The pace of the story is one of the great realistic aspects of it, as the investigation and build-up of the drama evolves over a period of months. From identifying the bearer of the bones to uncovering village connections to him is a time-consuming process, and while this story isn't a police procedural, it does give credence to the importance of it and allows the reader to see some of what is involved. And while the process is taking place, we are gaining insight into the main characters of this tale. Through the settling into retirement for Evan and Betty to the running of a busy pub, characters are revealed in their basic nature and desires. But, all the while suspense is building as more knowledge about the victim and suspect are uncovered. It is quite possible that you will stay up half the night reading to the end, because, well, it's that grand of a journey and finale.
The format for telling the story is through the author giving each main character a voice, where they present their perspectives and knowledge. Retired DI Evan Glover and his wife Betty, who we learn has a connection to the main players, too, are my favorites. They are genuinely a loving couple who support each other's interests and together prove to be an astute detecting team. The three females of The Dragon's Head are each given their narrative voices, too, with Nan, Helen, and Sadie showing the depth of deceit and horror of the lies upon which their lives are built. Through the eyes of these five characters we get to know others in their lives and crucial to the story line. And, as it is a psychological thriller, we should be aware that their views are not always reliable, either by choice or ignorance. Like the fog the villagers call the Dragon's Breath, the path is not always clear. As the end nears and the fog clears, my jaw dropped in surprise, and I consider Cathy Ace's final twist and disclosure one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to be gobsmacked by.
As I mentioned in the beginning of my review, I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Wrong Boy, and I can only add to my honest review that this is a book sure to be up for awards and one you don't want to miss.
January 10, 2019
The Wrong Boy takes place in a remote Welsh village. I can’t remember ever reading a book set in Wales before and almost immediately I sensed the accent and more importantly the attitude towards the English. Particularly from people like Nan, who was one of the more formidable characters in the book.
The book starts with the investigation into human remains that have been found by a dog walker. Two officers are sent to the site but one of them, Evan, a local man is due to retire a few days later. Much of the novel focuses on him and his wife, Betty, a therapist both adapting to his new life. He does struggle, knowing that his colleagues can’t keep him informed but wanting to help. But the main focus isn’t on the murder investigation from a police point of view. This novel is mainly about the effect on the village, in particular on a family of three women. The afore mentioned Nan, her daughter Helen and her grand daughter Sadie. All three, Evan and Betty all narrate their own version of events.
All of the characters were believable, especially Nan and her family. The author did a fantastic job of creating their family life, their attitudes to each other and I had sympathy for Helen from her first appearance. Her mother was a nasty, vicious bully and Sadie didn’t seem much better. I also liked the description of village life, where there were no secrets and very long memories.
I did ‘solve’ the murder but because this novel had such strong characters and was set in a different area I enjoyed it thoroughly.
The book starts with the investigation into human remains that have been found by a dog walker. Two officers are sent to the site but one of them, Evan, a local man is due to retire a few days later. Much of the novel focuses on him and his wife, Betty, a therapist both adapting to his new life. He does struggle, knowing that his colleagues can’t keep him informed but wanting to help. But the main focus isn’t on the murder investigation from a police point of view. This novel is mainly about the effect on the village, in particular on a family of three women. The afore mentioned Nan, her daughter Helen and her grand daughter Sadie. All three, Evan and Betty all narrate their own version of events.
All of the characters were believable, especially Nan and her family. The author did a fantastic job of creating their family life, their attitudes to each other and I had sympathy for Helen from her first appearance. Her mother was a nasty, vicious bully and Sadie didn’t seem much better. I also liked the description of village life, where there were no secrets and very long memories.
I did ‘solve’ the murder but because this novel had such strong characters and was set in a different area I enjoyed it thoroughly.
February 5, 2019
I adored the location of this story which is set on the rugged coastal cliff tops in Wales, a place where the locals think the know each other and each others business but in truth their own lives are so mixed up they don’t even know themselves.
When the badly burnt remains of a man are discovered on the edge of Rhosddraig it stirs up the residents and brings outsiders and Rubberneckers to the hamlet. The identity isn’t known of the victim but one thing is for sure, he hadn’t done this to himself. The story centres round the local pub occupied by three generations of women, owned by the vile mouthed Gran, run by her daughter Helen and helper soon to be 18 grand-daughter Sadie. Gran welcomes any drama that brings more trade to the pub, often being the centre of it herself!
It would have normally been D.I. Evan Glovers domain to head the investigation but as he was due to retire in a couple of days he handed the case over to his partner DS Liz Stanley. Oh boy does Glover have itchy feet and just can’t help himself throughout the story to be involved along with his mint wife Betty.
There are a lot of voices in this book to throw any reader off the scent but so worth trying to solve this ever-growing mystery, I love being at least on par with the detectives before the end comes. There are a few story lines running along side the ‘main event’ which make the story more realistic. In real life we never just have one thing to deal with at a time. Grudges, misunderstandings and just nastiness are constantly bubbling and erupting amongst the residents causing rifts that have gone on for generations.
The last quarter of the book really starts to pull things together in the most unexpected and dramatic ways, a superb story that was all there to be picked apart. I so hope there is more to come.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this story which I have honestly reviewed.
When the badly burnt remains of a man are discovered on the edge of Rhosddraig it stirs up the residents and brings outsiders and Rubberneckers to the hamlet. The identity isn’t known of the victim but one thing is for sure, he hadn’t done this to himself. The story centres round the local pub occupied by three generations of women, owned by the vile mouthed Gran, run by her daughter Helen and helper soon to be 18 grand-daughter Sadie. Gran welcomes any drama that brings more trade to the pub, often being the centre of it herself!
It would have normally been D.I. Evan Glovers domain to head the investigation but as he was due to retire in a couple of days he handed the case over to his partner DS Liz Stanley. Oh boy does Glover have itchy feet and just can’t help himself throughout the story to be involved along with his mint wife Betty.
There are a lot of voices in this book to throw any reader off the scent but so worth trying to solve this ever-growing mystery, I love being at least on par with the detectives before the end comes. There are a few story lines running along side the ‘main event’ which make the story more realistic. In real life we never just have one thing to deal with at a time. Grudges, misunderstandings and just nastiness are constantly bubbling and erupting amongst the residents causing rifts that have gone on for generations.
The last quarter of the book really starts to pull things together in the most unexpected and dramatic ways, a superb story that was all there to be picked apart. I so hope there is more to come.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this story which I have honestly reviewed.
January 13, 2019
The best part of a psychological thriller for me is watching the unfolding revelations of the characters, especially when the protagonist or another character is an unreliable narrator, and either unaware of her/his shortcomings and failings and motives, or simply not confiding in the reader (or both are true). So I delighted in the twisty ways that THE WRONG BOY played out; the reader goes along thinking one version is true, then smack! another version (as interpreted by unreliable narrator), then yet another, another, and so forth. Quite satisfying to read through, holding on to one perception only to find it upended, and this continued throughout the novel. It is said that eyewitnesses are notoriously unreliable; and so it is in THE WRONG BOY, the characters who are eyewitnesses of their own lives (presumably) still fail to perceive truth, and they certainly fail to pass that truth on to others, even their own family members; so that generation upon generation upon generation holds concealed secrets and psychological dysfunction.
THE WRONG BOY is an excellent psychological suspense thriller, set in a stunning location with eons of history, ingrown characters, and a background on which play out the "normal" human emotions and motives, and quite a few not so "normal."
THE WRONG BOY is an excellent psychological suspense thriller, set in a stunning location with eons of history, ingrown characters, and a background on which play out the "normal" human emotions and motives, and quite a few not so "normal."
January 31, 2019
I was lucky enough to be offered an ARC of this to read, and I gladly took up the offer. Being a resident of south Wales myself, I found the descriptions very evocative, and I know where Rhosddraig really is, and it’s as beautiful in real life as it is in Cathy’s descriptions. The book perfectly catches the nature of the characters too, have known a few “Nan”s in my time here (I’m not Welsh so I get to have an outsiders point of view). I was really pleased to find that this isn’t one of those books were everything is wrapped up in a few days, which for this kind of crime would be unlikely. This is a really good story and I can see why this would get plenty of 5* reviews, the reason that I have given this 4*s is because I didn’t find myself totally gripped, now that probably says more about me than the book, but it is my honest reaction. I would still say that this novel is worth a read though.
January 8, 2019
After a slightly slow start in which the key characters are established, I zipped through The Wrong Boy. Packed full of secrets and lies, this is a crime novel that will take the reader to some very dark places indeed, as the crimes of the past come back to haunt those living in the present.
At its heart, this is the story of three women – Myfanwy ‘Nan’ Jones, her daughter Helen, and her grand-daughter Sadie. The Jones’ have run The Dragon’s Head in Rhosddraig for generations and their family story is entwined with the story of the village itself. Family matriarch Nan rules with a sharp tongue and a disagreeable temper, whilst long-suffering Helen dreams of the life that could have been hers if she hadn’t made a poor choice long ago. Sadie meanwhile sees her redemption in barman Aled Benyon. But why does Nan dislike Aled’s mother so much? And is Aled really everything he seems?
Cathy Ace does a fantastic job of making us really live alongside Nan, Helen and Sadie. I found Nan to be a really dislikeable character – she’s sharp, difficult and vindictive – and it’s a testament to Ace’s writing that there were moments in the book when I truly loathed her. Helen and Sadie are much more sympathetic although both, in their own way, are touched by trauma and darkness. Similarly, I really enjoyed the chapters narrated by DI Evan Glover, a gentle long-serving copper who has been looking forward to spending a quiet retirement with his beloved wife, but who just can’t seem to step back from this one last case.
The plot has plenty of twists and turns. The start is a little slow – there are quite a few characters to introduce and it did take me a while to work out how everyone in Rhosddraig was related to each other – but it quickly picks up the pace as new secrets emerge and the police investigation gathers pace. And the ending is really quite a revelation – to say the climax is dramatic would, I think, be an understatement!
If I had a small criticism it would be that I think there are a few too many narrative perspectives in the book. Nan, Helen and Sadie are really strong characters and their voices really lived in my head when I was reading. Similarly, I found Evan’s voice very distinctive. However some of the more minor characters, such as Evan’s wife, also narrate a few sections and I did occasionally find all the head-jumping a little frustrating, especially as their voices and characters weren’t quite as strong.
That’s a really minor niggle in an otherwise excellent book, however. Cathy Ace has written a very engaging combination of police procedural and family drama, with a fabulous sense of place and characterisation. I really felt that I could see Rhosddraig and it’s many characters and, despite all the suspicious deaths, Ace’s descriptions of the rugged beauty of the Welsh coast made me nostalgic for the many years I spent living in Wales! Deftly plotted, with engaging characters, and a bewitching sense of place, I am so glad I got over my ebook qualms and picked this one up!
This is an edited version of a review that first appeared as part of the blog tour for The Wrong Boy on my blog, The Shelf of Unread Books, at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre.... My thanks go to the author for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review, as well as to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour.
At its heart, this is the story of three women – Myfanwy ‘Nan’ Jones, her daughter Helen, and her grand-daughter Sadie. The Jones’ have run The Dragon’s Head in Rhosddraig for generations and their family story is entwined with the story of the village itself. Family matriarch Nan rules with a sharp tongue and a disagreeable temper, whilst long-suffering Helen dreams of the life that could have been hers if she hadn’t made a poor choice long ago. Sadie meanwhile sees her redemption in barman Aled Benyon. But why does Nan dislike Aled’s mother so much? And is Aled really everything he seems?
Cathy Ace does a fantastic job of making us really live alongside Nan, Helen and Sadie. I found Nan to be a really dislikeable character – she’s sharp, difficult and vindictive – and it’s a testament to Ace’s writing that there were moments in the book when I truly loathed her. Helen and Sadie are much more sympathetic although both, in their own way, are touched by trauma and darkness. Similarly, I really enjoyed the chapters narrated by DI Evan Glover, a gentle long-serving copper who has been looking forward to spending a quiet retirement with his beloved wife, but who just can’t seem to step back from this one last case.
The plot has plenty of twists and turns. The start is a little slow – there are quite a few characters to introduce and it did take me a while to work out how everyone in Rhosddraig was related to each other – but it quickly picks up the pace as new secrets emerge and the police investigation gathers pace. And the ending is really quite a revelation – to say the climax is dramatic would, I think, be an understatement!
If I had a small criticism it would be that I think there are a few too many narrative perspectives in the book. Nan, Helen and Sadie are really strong characters and their voices really lived in my head when I was reading. Similarly, I found Evan’s voice very distinctive. However some of the more minor characters, such as Evan’s wife, also narrate a few sections and I did occasionally find all the head-jumping a little frustrating, especially as their voices and characters weren’t quite as strong.
That’s a really minor niggle in an otherwise excellent book, however. Cathy Ace has written a very engaging combination of police procedural and family drama, with a fabulous sense of place and characterisation. I really felt that I could see Rhosddraig and it’s many characters and, despite all the suspicious deaths, Ace’s descriptions of the rugged beauty of the Welsh coast made me nostalgic for the many years I spent living in Wales! Deftly plotted, with engaging characters, and a bewitching sense of place, I am so glad I got over my ebook qualms and picked this one up!
This is an edited version of a review that first appeared as part of the blog tour for The Wrong Boy on my blog, The Shelf of Unread Books, at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre.... My thanks go to the author for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review, as well as to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour.
January 16, 2019
From the book's haunting cover design to the intriguing synopsis, I was instantly captivated and could not wait to delve into this one! The author's picturesque descriptions are utterly breathtaking and enhance the mood of this intensely atmospheric story. She captures the setting of this Welsh town in such amazing detail and interweaves its history into the narrative in such a gripping way that in a sense it becomes its own character as well.
Spanning a realistic timeline and told in multiple yet seamless perspectives, this is a slow-burning and deeply twisted mystery that packs a powerful punch. A compelling array of discussions into mother-daughter relationships, generational insolence, obsession, and dueling investigative techniques opens up through the strong dialogue and each character's internal conversation. The author's deft storytelling created not just an unsettling and suspenseful read, but a masterful character study on family dysfunction and the unrelenting nature of law enforcement.
This was also a fascinating exploration into the role of the unreliable narrator. You quickly discover that hardly anyone is being honest with each other let alone with themselves. Everyone has something to hide and very few of these characters have any insight into their own shortcomings, so it certainly becomes quite difficult to trust anyone or predict where the story is going to go. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and the pages flying! As each voice gradually converges towards complete understanding for the reader, it became increasingly obvious how skilled the author was at maintaining a clever plot through the smooth flow of what initially seemed so disparate. Ultimately, these convoluted and conflicted relationships unravel into an unforgettable and grisly conclusion that shouldn't be missed!
Spanning a realistic timeline and told in multiple yet seamless perspectives, this is a slow-burning and deeply twisted mystery that packs a powerful punch. A compelling array of discussions into mother-daughter relationships, generational insolence, obsession, and dueling investigative techniques opens up through the strong dialogue and each character's internal conversation. The author's deft storytelling created not just an unsettling and suspenseful read, but a masterful character study on family dysfunction and the unrelenting nature of law enforcement.
This was also a fascinating exploration into the role of the unreliable narrator. You quickly discover that hardly anyone is being honest with each other let alone with themselves. Everyone has something to hide and very few of these characters have any insight into their own shortcomings, so it certainly becomes quite difficult to trust anyone or predict where the story is going to go. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and the pages flying! As each voice gradually converges towards complete understanding for the reader, it became increasingly obvious how skilled the author was at maintaining a clever plot through the smooth flow of what initially seemed so disparate. Ultimately, these convoluted and conflicted relationships unravel into an unforgettable and grisly conclusion that shouldn't be missed!
October 20, 2019
I met Cathy Ace in 2018 at Malice Domestic and enjoyed the panel in which she participated. Her latest book, The Wrong Boy, grabbed me and wouldn't let go.
There are several things that I particularly liked:
I don't think I've ever read a mystery where the DI can't be involved since he retired two days after the burned and smashed body/bones were found. It was interesting to see how Cathy Ace worked Evan Glover into the situation even though he no longer had official standing as an officer of the law and therefore had no access to the resources he used to use. Glover and his wife were a lovely couple, and both ended up playing parts as the situation progressed.
I liked the way the various characters' viewpoints were shown during the development of the story. Each time a character entered the story, their name would be at the beginning of the section. It was easy to keep up with what was going on through this device.
The action takes place in the village of Rhosddraig in Wales. The Dragon's Head pub is owned by Myfanwy Jones, aka Nan. Her adult daughter, Helen, manages it, and Helen's daughter, Sadie, also works there.
These three women have a tricky relationship and have developed ways to cope with life and with each other; their relationships have a great deal to do with the story as it unfolds.
All of the characters are well developed. The setting was described so well that the reader could almost feel the rain or the wind. Cathy Ace knows how to spin an excellent story!
Not only is there a physical mystery, but there are psychological elements at play which add to the overall intensity of the hunt for the answers.
I highly recommend this book.
There are several things that I particularly liked:
I don't think I've ever read a mystery where the DI can't be involved since he retired two days after the burned and smashed body/bones were found. It was interesting to see how Cathy Ace worked Evan Glover into the situation even though he no longer had official standing as an officer of the law and therefore had no access to the resources he used to use. Glover and his wife were a lovely couple, and both ended up playing parts as the situation progressed.
I liked the way the various characters' viewpoints were shown during the development of the story. Each time a character entered the story, their name would be at the beginning of the section. It was easy to keep up with what was going on through this device.
The action takes place in the village of Rhosddraig in Wales. The Dragon's Head pub is owned by Myfanwy Jones, aka Nan. Her adult daughter, Helen, manages it, and Helen's daughter, Sadie, also works there.
These three women have a tricky relationship and have developed ways to cope with life and with each other; their relationships have a great deal to do with the story as it unfolds.
All of the characters are well developed. The setting was described so well that the reader could almost feel the rain or the wind. Cathy Ace knows how to spin an excellent story!
Not only is there a physical mystery, but there are psychological elements at play which add to the overall intensity of the hunt for the answers.
I highly recommend this book.
January 2, 2019
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel for the Jan 19 blogtour with Random Things.
'The Wrong Boy' is so well written, Cathy Ace invokes the colloquial and cultural aspects of village life in South Wales through the 3 female generations of Myfanwy(Nan), her daughter Helen and granddaughter Sadie.
Combining a mystery, social issues and Welsh history, this is the tale of bonfire Night that left more than overbaked potatoes and sparkler burns.
Rhosddraig, with it's prehistoric stones and paleontological discoveries is thrust into the news for all the wrong reasons when a bonfire at the old RAF building turns out to contain human remains. Discoveed by Hywel Evans and his dog Nip, out on a morning stroll, the investigation involves DI Evan Glover and DS Liz Stanley. Evan is on the verge of retiring and making plans to enjoy an unexpected inheritance with his wife but something about the case, the boy who is accused of the crime does not fit the profile and something has stirred old resentments and guilt to rise to the surface of these 3 women.
'The Wrong Boy' is so well written, Cathy Ace invokes the colloquial and cultural aspects of village life in South Wales through the 3 female generations of Myfanwy(Nan), her daughter Helen and granddaughter Sadie.
Combining a mystery, social issues and Welsh history, this is the tale of bonfire Night that left more than overbaked potatoes and sparkler burns.
Rhosddraig, with it's prehistoric stones and paleontological discoveries is thrust into the news for all the wrong reasons when a bonfire at the old RAF building turns out to contain human remains. Discoveed by Hywel Evans and his dog Nip, out on a morning stroll, the investigation involves DI Evan Glover and DS Liz Stanley. Evan is on the verge of retiring and making plans to enjoy an unexpected inheritance with his wife but something about the case, the boy who is accused of the crime does not fit the profile and something has stirred old resentments and guilt to rise to the surface of these 3 women.
January 10, 2019
Cathy Ace's new book "The Wrong Boy" is terrific. She is a master at picking great locations for her stories and this one is no exception.. a small coastal Wales village loaded with fascinating people..from teenagers, to confused and determined parents, grumpy oldsters and an almost retired detective and his charming wife! The mystery builds from the first page as the characters enter the scene one by one and you wonder how each fits into the story and what will take place on the next page. Sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy a delightful adventure in Wales, but you better have nothing planned for the next few hours as you won't want to leave until the last page is read!
February 2, 2019
Drenched in Welsh atmosphere, forbidding weather, and mysterious folklore, THE WRONG BOY is a gem of a thriller that bewitches right up to the twisted ending you won’t see coming.
Masterful plotting and characters so real, you’ll swear you know them. Ace is a master portraitist.
No one does village politics—gossip and grudges—better than Cathy Ace.
Masterful plotting and characters so real, you’ll swear you know them. Ace is a master portraitist.
No one does village politics—gossip and grudges—better than Cathy Ace.
January 9, 2019
This story has multiple threads, all of which link together eventually. You have the complicated relationships of a multi-generational family, the retired police officer who won’t let it go and the secrets hidden in plain sight.
The reader meets DI Evan Glover, a police officer at the end of his long career. He finds it difficult to let go of his daily routine and most importantly the mysteries behind the crimes. After being part of the initial investigation Glover just can’t get rid of the gut instinct that his colleagues have got the wrong culprit, and he doesn’t want to let it go, despite his wife being infuriated by his obsession with the truth and his old job.
What the author does really well is the realistic description of life in an isolated rural Welsh village and the majority of roles and personality types women embody. Just take Nan, Helen and Sadie for example, three generations of one family and each one of them represents a different era and way of life.
Nan is old school. She is also controlling and opinionated , which she believes also gives her the right to determine and plan the lives of others. Helen is more or less an unpaid skivvy, who is still trying to get over an abusive relationship and earn the respect her mother denies her. Sadie on the other hand, is trying to break free of both mother and grandmother to live her own life. The three of them run a pub, the core of the small village. There isn’t anything these women don’t find out or pass on, especially Nan.
I am not giving any indication of who did what to whom and/or why. Ace turns and points the reader in multiple directions, so they can pick up clues and slowly realise the implications of those clues. It’s a slow burner, but one that allows for insights into each character, as the plot winds in and out of the murder storyline. The strength is in the dialogue and inner dialogues of the women, especially the women in the pub.
*I received a courtesy copy*
The reader meets DI Evan Glover, a police officer at the end of his long career. He finds it difficult to let go of his daily routine and most importantly the mysteries behind the crimes. After being part of the initial investigation Glover just can’t get rid of the gut instinct that his colleagues have got the wrong culprit, and he doesn’t want to let it go, despite his wife being infuriated by his obsession with the truth and his old job.
What the author does really well is the realistic description of life in an isolated rural Welsh village and the majority of roles and personality types women embody. Just take Nan, Helen and Sadie for example, three generations of one family and each one of them represents a different era and way of life.
Nan is old school. She is also controlling and opinionated , which she believes also gives her the right to determine and plan the lives of others. Helen is more or less an unpaid skivvy, who is still trying to get over an abusive relationship and earn the respect her mother denies her. Sadie on the other hand, is trying to break free of both mother and grandmother to live her own life. The three of them run a pub, the core of the small village. There isn’t anything these women don’t find out or pass on, especially Nan.
I am not giving any indication of who did what to whom and/or why. Ace turns and points the reader in multiple directions, so they can pick up clues and slowly realise the implications of those clues. It’s a slow burner, but one that allows for insights into each character, as the plot winds in and out of the murder storyline. The strength is in the dialogue and inner dialogues of the women, especially the women in the pub.
*I received a courtesy copy*
January 27, 2019
“The Wrong Boy” earns 5/5 Dragon Head’s Pints…Clever, Engaging!
I strayed a bit from my typical cozy with Cathy Ace’s “The Wrong Boy,” and was totally thrilled! The book is lengthy at 300 pages, which Cathy uses to go beyond the mystery to create characters with depth and delve into their past as well as their present. I was totally invested in her engaging tale….wow! Her writing style, vivid description, tales, lore, and banter made this quite the page-turner, and very tense at the end. She used both the first-person narrative with Sadie, almost eighteen, sharing her inner thoughts, dreams, and fears, then she used the third-person narrative for the other characters. All was arranged well making it easy to follow the characters, connections, and drama. The crime is somewhat peripheral; it is the reactions and impact of the gruesome discovery, investigation, and attempt to close that take center stage. Together it all begins to reveal a truth I didn't see coming…oh, so clever! And the title is perfect as it refers to so much in the story. I highly recommend this book!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
I strayed a bit from my typical cozy with Cathy Ace’s “The Wrong Boy,” and was totally thrilled! The book is lengthy at 300 pages, which Cathy uses to go beyond the mystery to create characters with depth and delve into their past as well as their present. I was totally invested in her engaging tale….wow! Her writing style, vivid description, tales, lore, and banter made this quite the page-turner, and very tense at the end. She used both the first-person narrative with Sadie, almost eighteen, sharing her inner thoughts, dreams, and fears, then she used the third-person narrative for the other characters. All was arranged well making it easy to follow the characters, connections, and drama. The crime is somewhat peripheral; it is the reactions and impact of the gruesome discovery, investigation, and attempt to close that take center stage. Together it all begins to reveal a truth I didn't see coming…oh, so clever! And the title is perfect as it refers to so much in the story. I highly recommend this book!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
October 2, 2019
would make a good netflix series. the writing seemed slow, even clumsy at first, but before long I was drawn in. although the detective couple were WAY twee, I did like the delicate way ther conflict around his retirement was handled, as well as the slight undercurrent of tension where you have a securely loved wife regarding her husband's partner-young, female, in need of mentoring... ending was disastrous. another cliched situation in which the bad person confesses all, with just about every other form of melodrama thrown in as well.
overall, the story was so comprehensive, I couldn''t see why we didn't get to learn more about the archaeology and mythology. finally, given the myriad POVs, I thought Liz Stanley, the DS, should have had hers-to cut down on the extended info dumps via dialogue, and to put more of the story in scene.
overall, the story was so comprehensive, I couldn''t see why we didn't get to learn more about the archaeology and mythology. finally, given the myriad POVs, I thought Liz Stanley, the DS, should have had hers-to cut down on the extended info dumps via dialogue, and to put more of the story in scene.
May 1, 2020
This was my first experience of reading a book written with a welsh accent. So much so, that after reading it, my daughter asked.. “why are you talking more welshy mum?”
Not only did this story transport me deeper into my welsh accent, it also took me on a journey into an area of Wales I know incredibly well and touched on the many folklores Immersed within.
Anyone who has lived in Wales will recognise the dynamic of this typical welsh village. A life governed by socially compulsory visits to the local chapel, sometimes by the least charitable/Christian people. We all know a Nan, unfortunately.
My favourite character was most definitely Helen, I worry for her. I also want to thank Cathy Ace/Sophies character for reminding me of one of the fist books I ever read- The Water-Babies. Took me back that did, diolch.
Not only did this story transport me deeper into my welsh accent, it also took me on a journey into an area of Wales I know incredibly well and touched on the many folklores Immersed within.
Anyone who has lived in Wales will recognise the dynamic of this typical welsh village. A life governed by socially compulsory visits to the local chapel, sometimes by the least charitable/Christian people. We all know a Nan, unfortunately.
My favourite character was most definitely Helen, I worry for her. I also want to thank Cathy Ace/Sophies character for reminding me of one of the fist books I ever read- The Water-Babies. Took me back that did, diolch.
December 30, 2022
This was a good mystery and I like the characters of Betty and Evan Glover. The retired husband and wife worked well together in solving the initial murder and its impact on the families. I would like more adventures of this duo, he's too young to fully retire at 58.
There was one or two editing errors (Betty was called Helen in a scene)
The narration pivoted between Evan, Betty, Nan, Helen, and Sadie. Sadie's was the only one done in the first person which was distracting.
I still find it hard to believe that the murderer was able to the deed and the movement of the remains by themself and not be seen.
There was one or two editing errors (Betty was called Helen in a scene)
The narration pivoted between Evan, Betty, Nan, Helen, and Sadie. Sadie's was the only one done in the first person which was distracting.
I still find it hard to believe that the murderer was able to the deed and the movement of the remains by themself and not be seen.
February 25, 2019
A stand alone from Cathy Ace that cements her position as one of my favorite Canadian authors. It takes place in a Welsh village and follows 3 generations of women in the same family, as they try to come to grips with a gruesome crime. If you enjoy Ace's WISE Women and Cait Morgan books, you will love this book.
February 19, 2019
Absolute drivel. Utterly unbelievable characters and some of the most stilted dialogue it has been my misfortune to read. Real people do not talk to each other in this manner.
3 days of my life I won’t get back 🙄.
3 days of my life I won’t get back 🙄.
September 22, 2022
The story was engaging enough, told from various viewpoints. But the dialogue between the retired detective and his wife was a bit schmaltzy and I felt the word cariad was used so often to remind us that we were reading a book set in Wales. It wasn't needed.
February 13, 2019
Really disappointed with this one
March 13, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this story and the twists and turns. I liked how the story unfolded from multiple viewpoints.
January 13, 2019
The Wrong Boy is a crime fiction book set on the Gower Penninsula in Wales. It concerns itself with the discovery of a pile of human bones near a Stone Age site on a headland. After establishing that the bones are recent, the police find themselves with a murder investigation on their hands, and set out to establish the identity of the victim - no easy feat when the teeth have been removed and the bones have been twice burned. What's more, there are no reports of missing people in the vicinity.
The investigation unfolds, and is told mainly from five different character's viewpoints: the three generations of Jones women who run the local pub, soon to be retired detective Evan Glover and his wife, Betty - who is also a psychologist.
I loved the setting; Rhosddraig jumped out of the page with the author's descriptions, and I could clearly picture everything in my mind's eye. The characters too were wonderfully depicted - a real mix of 'goodies' along with those who were dark and dangerous. Crime fiction books always deal with dark themes, but in The Wrong Boy, these are offset with warmer moments and observations, like the relationship between Evan and Betty.
I really enjoyed it.
The investigation unfolds, and is told mainly from five different character's viewpoints: the three generations of Jones women who run the local pub, soon to be retired detective Evan Glover and his wife, Betty - who is also a psychologist.
I loved the setting; Rhosddraig jumped out of the page with the author's descriptions, and I could clearly picture everything in my mind's eye. The characters too were wonderfully depicted - a real mix of 'goodies' along with those who were dark and dangerous. Crime fiction books always deal with dark themes, but in The Wrong Boy, these are offset with warmer moments and observations, like the relationship between Evan and Betty.
I really enjoyed it.
January 14, 2024
This was written from the point of view a various people in the novel. At the beginning I thought there was something weird about that girl. It was a lot of back-and-forth with different situations.
It seems like the grandmother and granddaughter are a good example of family dysfunction going through generations.
It seems like the grandmother and granddaughter are a good example of family dysfunction going through generations.
August 2, 2019
I'll admit to being captivated by the Welsh setting and the premise, but...I wanted to love it. I didn't, despite it being a fast-paced read. The retired cop and his wife, while initially charming, wore thin as they endlessly debated his retirement. He was fine with it. No, not really. They loved each other so it would be fine. But was he fine? And so on. Tedious. The ever changing POVs became repetitive, the same facts told in a different way. I guessed the ending midway through...although not the "convenient" end that no one could see coming as there wasn't a hint of it along the way. Overall, a disappointing page turner.
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November 13, 2018This is a good book. It is an ARC title and will be published next year. The story focuses on Evan Glover who is retiring from the police force after many years. He and his wife, Betty, are looking forward to a new life style. He is called to the town of Rhosddraig in Wales, when bones are found on a hilltop. The body had been burned twice and had stones piled on top of it. Evan must turn over the case to his old partner and step aside but he just has to keep checking in on it. The story also focuses on Helen Jones and her daughter, Sadie who live in the town. Sadie is a teenager in love and her mother is trying to get her life back after living in fear for years. This was a very good story. The characters are very well written and the descriptions of the locations are great!
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