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Roxane Weary #4
Once You Go This Far
Once You Go This Far is the fourth thrilling mystery from Shamus Award-winning and Anthony and Macavity Award-nominated author Kristen Lepionka.
Junior-high school nurse Rebecca Newsome was an experienced hiker—until she plummeted to her death at the bottom of a ravine in a Columbus metro park. Her daughter, Maggie, doesn't believe it was an accident, and Rebecca's ex-husband is her prime suspect. But he's a well-connected ex-cop and Maggie is certain that's the reason no one will listen to her. PI Roxane Weary quickly uncovers that the dead woman's ex is definitely a jerk, but is he a murderer?
As she pieces together the days before Rebecca died, what Roxane finds doesn't quite add up. From a series of trips to Detroit and across the border to a casino in Windsor, Canada, to strange calls from Rebecca's home to a charismatic political candidate, to a women's health organization, to a secretive church group that seems to have more information about its members than it should, Roxane needs to figure out how everything is connected before a dangerous secret gets someone else killed.
Junior-high school nurse Rebecca Newsome was an experienced hiker—until she plummeted to her death at the bottom of a ravine in a Columbus metro park. Her daughter, Maggie, doesn't believe it was an accident, and Rebecca's ex-husband is her prime suspect. But he's a well-connected ex-cop and Maggie is certain that's the reason no one will listen to her. PI Roxane Weary quickly uncovers that the dead woman's ex is definitely a jerk, but is he a murderer?
As she pieces together the days before Rebecca died, what Roxane finds doesn't quite add up. From a series of trips to Detroit and across the border to a casino in Windsor, Canada, to strange calls from Rebecca's home to a charismatic political candidate, to a women's health organization, to a secretive church group that seems to have more information about its members than it should, Roxane needs to figure out how everything is connected before a dangerous secret gets someone else killed.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2020
177 people are currently reading
4248 people want to read
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July 20, 2020
Once You Go This Far is a character-driven mystery about a murder dressed up as an accident. Led by one of my favorite heroines, PI Roxane Weary, this book did not disappoint.
Warning:
This mystery is embroiled in religious and political ideologies, so if these are not areas you enjoy reading about then this one is not for you.
Roxane Weary has a random encounter with a woman in a parking lot of a hiking trail. Shortly after, the woman is found dead. Even though the police declare the death to be an accident, the victim’s daughter hires Roxane to find out what really happened to her mother. The case takes Roxane to Toledo, to Detroit, to Canada, and leads her into an intriguing, but nasty web.
There are two things that I love about this series: Kristen Lepionka’s writing and Roxane’s character. Once You Go This Far is an atmospheric, straightforward mystery built on strong characters and sharp writing. The mystery in this installment is complex and has many layers.
Roxane’s voice carries the plot, and her character is what makes this series so compelling to read. She wears a tough facade but is vulnerable and fragile at the same time. She has taken a lot of baby steps since the first book, and her life is slowly moving in a positive direction (but Roxane could f*ck everything up in an instant). Her family drama and unresolved issues with her father play a large part, as do her romantic entanglements (I would be so happy if we never see Catherine ever again)!
I love Roxane’s one-liners and want to steal them all. I recommend starting at the beginning of this series to fully understand and appreciate Roxane’s character.
I look forward to seeing what's next for Roxane!
Warning:
This mystery is embroiled in religious and political ideologies, so if these are not areas you enjoy reading about then this one is not for you.
Roxane Weary has a random encounter with a woman in a parking lot of a hiking trail. Shortly after, the woman is found dead. Even though the police declare the death to be an accident, the victim’s daughter hires Roxane to find out what really happened to her mother. The case takes Roxane to Toledo, to Detroit, to Canada, and leads her into an intriguing, but nasty web.
There are two things that I love about this series: Kristen Lepionka’s writing and Roxane’s character. Once You Go This Far is an atmospheric, straightforward mystery built on strong characters and sharp writing. The mystery in this installment is complex and has many layers.
Roxane’s voice carries the plot, and her character is what makes this series so compelling to read. She wears a tough facade but is vulnerable and fragile at the same time. She has taken a lot of baby steps since the first book, and her life is slowly moving in a positive direction (but Roxane could f*ck everything up in an instant). Her family drama and unresolved issues with her father play a large part, as do her romantic entanglements (I would be so happy if we never see Catherine ever again)!
I love Roxane’s one-liners and want to steal them all. I recommend starting at the beginning of this series to fully understand and appreciate Roxane’s character.
I look forward to seeing what's next for Roxane!
September 17, 2022
Honestly, I can't see myself ever tiring of this series or these characters. Each time I pick up a book starring Roxane Weary, it feels a bit like coming home and giving an old friend a hug, which is kinda weird when you think about all the murder and crime that happens here. The best thing about these books is the fact that they aren't flashy or outlandish; there's simply excellent storytelling and well plotted crime solving going on, alongside character growth that is both personal and professional. As I see that the next book coming from the author is not a part of this series, I'm not sure what that means for the future of Roxane and her family/friends, but based on the final chapter I have to hold out hope that we'll see more from them in the future. These books definitely need to be read in order, but I highly recommend each one, and if you're interested in starting from the beginning you'll want to get your hands on The Last Place You Look.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy!
July 19, 2020
every time.
every single time with this series.
there are some authors whose books i look forward to the way i look forward to a meal at a favorite restaurant (i mean, from what i can remember of life before the plague). i can always count on them to satisfy me, and even though i know what i’m gonna get and that i’m gonna like it, it always comes with a *pop* of pleasant surprise because so very few things in this life are consistently enjoyable. consistently disappointing i have come to expect, but consistently good? it’s a rare treat.
this is the fourth roxane weary book, and it’s always difficult reviewing titles waist-deep into a series: if you’re a newbie, you’ll be confused by any but the most basic detail, and if you’re already initiated, you know how great these books are and you don’t need me being your huckleberry through any of this.
so, as a general review of the series, and continuing this food train of thought ‘cuz i’m hungry, i will review this series as pizza. pizza is a pretty straightforward food: dough, sauce, cheese, toppings, whatever. whether you’re a thin-cruster or a thick-cruster or a vegan with your cheese substitute or what have you, it doesn’t matter right now—regardless of your specific preferences (all of which are valid unless you’re a filthy olive-lover), the basic components of a pizza are immutable. and yet, despite being made up of the same essential building blocks, you’ve probably eaten enough pizza in your life to know that there is good pizza and bad pizza. sometimes a pizza isn’t baked all the way through, and it’ll be bland lump sitting in your gut all night. sometimes it’ll be some misguided fancypants attempt to make pizza more posh than it ought to be—with AND I QUOTE: fresh mozzarella cheese, gorgonzola fondue, speck trentino alto adige d.o.p., balsamic glaze, toasted walnuts, which FINE, that sounds really good, but i’m never going to feel okay paying $6.50 for a tiny-ass slice of—i hesitate to even call it pizza—so you can take your acronyms walking, pizza collective. soggy crust, too-acidic sauce, not enough cheese, NOT ENOUGH CHEESE, pitted all over with grease pools—there are many ways a pizza can go wrong. and sometimes, if you’re drunk enough or it’s the only option, it doesn’t matter and you’ll shove that crappy pizza in your face. but you know where the best pizza in your town is, and even if you occasionally have to settle for a second-place pie due to rival pizza factions in your house, you know what pizza sparks joy, which pizza feels like home.
AND THAT IS WHAT THIS SERIES IS TO ME!
because even though it is made up of the same basic ingredients as other mysteries: crimes, investigations, clues, conflicts, a private eye asking nosy questions, kristen lepionka is just doing it so much better than other writers. every time. i trust her, and i trust roxane because they have never let me down, not ever. these books feel less like reading the adventures of an invented character than they feel like you’re peeling back some corner of the world, falling through and watching everything unfold. her plotting is tight, the investigative avenues are logical, conclusions feel natural and earned, without any flashy bullshit. it’s not predictable, but it is reasonable—the storytelling is confident and feels (although i know it’s a shitty, shitty word) effortless. in the mystery genre, there’s a more pronounced divide between character-driven and plot-driven books, and fewer authors try to pull off both simultaneously. tana french is one of the best of 'em, but so is kristen lepionka. roxane changes and grows with her experiences, although she's still someone who says ”Ew” when her significant other tells her they missed her. even the supporting, recurring cast evolves throughout the series. for example, maybe this is the book where you’ll come around on matt and think he’s an okay guy after all. it could happen.
in conclusion: pizza.
P.S. TIL that “ho toy” is the name of an actual restaurant in ohio and not (or not exclusively, anyway) something for greg's mom.
**********************************************
too many shitty things got in the way of me writing a review for this before pub day, but i want to celebrate its book birthday anyway.
BUY THIS BOOK, GUYS!!! THIS SERIES ROCKS!!!
**********************************************
another EXCEPTIONALLY SATISFYING roxane weary novel. must ride out contented afterglow before i review. so few pleasures these days...
come to my blog!
every single time with this series.
there are some authors whose books i look forward to the way i look forward to a meal at a favorite restaurant (i mean, from what i can remember of life before the plague). i can always count on them to satisfy me, and even though i know what i’m gonna get and that i’m gonna like it, it always comes with a *pop* of pleasant surprise because so very few things in this life are consistently enjoyable. consistently disappointing i have come to expect, but consistently good? it’s a rare treat.
this is the fourth roxane weary book, and it’s always difficult reviewing titles waist-deep into a series: if you’re a newbie, you’ll be confused by any but the most basic detail, and if you’re already initiated, you know how great these books are and you don’t need me being your huckleberry through any of this.
so, as a general review of the series, and continuing this food train of thought ‘cuz i’m hungry, i will review this series as pizza. pizza is a pretty straightforward food: dough, sauce, cheese, toppings, whatever. whether you’re a thin-cruster or a thick-cruster or a vegan with your cheese substitute or what have you, it doesn’t matter right now—regardless of your specific preferences (all of which are valid unless you’re a filthy olive-lover), the basic components of a pizza are immutable. and yet, despite being made up of the same essential building blocks, you’ve probably eaten enough pizza in your life to know that there is good pizza and bad pizza. sometimes a pizza isn’t baked all the way through, and it’ll be bland lump sitting in your gut all night. sometimes it’ll be some misguided fancypants attempt to make pizza more posh than it ought to be—with AND I QUOTE: fresh mozzarella cheese, gorgonzola fondue, speck trentino alto adige d.o.p., balsamic glaze, toasted walnuts, which FINE, that sounds really good, but i’m never going to feel okay paying $6.50 for a tiny-ass slice of—i hesitate to even call it pizza—so you can take your acronyms walking, pizza collective. soggy crust, too-acidic sauce, not enough cheese, NOT ENOUGH CHEESE, pitted all over with grease pools—there are many ways a pizza can go wrong. and sometimes, if you’re drunk enough or it’s the only option, it doesn’t matter and you’ll shove that crappy pizza in your face. but you know where the best pizza in your town is, and even if you occasionally have to settle for a second-place pie due to rival pizza factions in your house, you know what pizza sparks joy, which pizza feels like home.
AND THAT IS WHAT THIS SERIES IS TO ME!
because even though it is made up of the same basic ingredients as other mysteries: crimes, investigations, clues, conflicts, a private eye asking nosy questions, kristen lepionka is just doing it so much better than other writers. every time. i trust her, and i trust roxane because they have never let me down, not ever. these books feel less like reading the adventures of an invented character than they feel like you’re peeling back some corner of the world, falling through and watching everything unfold. her plotting is tight, the investigative avenues are logical, conclusions feel natural and earned, without any flashy bullshit. it’s not predictable, but it is reasonable—the storytelling is confident and feels (although i know it’s a shitty, shitty word) effortless. in the mystery genre, there’s a more pronounced divide between character-driven and plot-driven books, and fewer authors try to pull off both simultaneously. tana french is one of the best of 'em, but so is kristen lepionka. roxane changes and grows with her experiences, although she's still someone who says ”Ew” when her significant other tells her they missed her. even the supporting, recurring cast evolves throughout the series. for example, maybe this is the book where you’ll come around on matt and think he’s an okay guy after all. it could happen.
in conclusion: pizza.
P.S. TIL that “ho toy” is the name of an actual restaurant in ohio and not (or not exclusively, anyway) something for greg's mom.
**********************************************
too many shitty things got in the way of me writing a review for this before pub day, but i want to celebrate its book birthday anyway.
BUY THIS BOOK, GUYS!!! THIS SERIES ROCKS!!!
**********************************************
another EXCEPTIONALLY SATISFYING roxane weary novel. must ride out contented afterglow before i review. so few pleasures these days...
come to my blog!
June 21, 2020
ONCE YOU GO THIS FAR by Kristen Lepionka is the fourth book in the Roxane Weary private investigator mystery series and the first book by this author that I have read. When Rebecca Newsome, an experienced hiker ends up falling, her daughter Maggie hires Roxanne Weary to investigate.
Roxanne makes an excellent protagonist. She has plenty of strengths but also a number of flaws that makes her more rounded as an individual. While this book worked as a standalone novel, I believe reading the series in order would provide more depth and background. The secondary characters enhanced the story. The story line was interesting with plenty of twists and turns. The prose was well-written, engaging and very readable. The plot was done well and the crime solving made sense and did not require the suspension of belief. However, one aspect at the end required a bit of a leap to get on the same page as Roxanne. I enjoyed piecing together all of the clues along with Roxanne.
Overall, this book was engaging, well-paced, complex and held my attention. If you enjoy this type of complex mystery, then this series may be for you. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Roxanne makes an excellent protagonist. She has plenty of strengths but also a number of flaws that makes her more rounded as an individual. While this book worked as a standalone novel, I believe reading the series in order would provide more depth and background. The secondary characters enhanced the story. The story line was interesting with plenty of twists and turns. The prose was well-written, engaging and very readable. The plot was done well and the crime solving made sense and did not require the suspension of belief. However, one aspect at the end required a bit of a leap to get on the same page as Roxanne. I enjoyed piecing together all of the clues along with Roxanne.
Overall, this book was engaging, well-paced, complex and held my attention. If you enjoy this type of complex mystery, then this series may be for you. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
July 7, 2020
Probably my favorite book in the series and that's saying *a lot.*
Private investigator Roxane Weary is out for a stroll when another hiker, Rebecca Newsome, falls to her death on a nearby trail. Her daughter, Maggie, doesn't think it was an accident, and she hires Roxane to look into the the incident, believing strongly that Rebecca's ex-husband, Keir, a former cop, was responsible. Roxane learns quickly that Keir is a bit of a jerk, but did he kill his ex? Roxane soon finds herself driving between Detroit and Canada, following the path of Rebecca's last days. Soon she's embroiled in the Fellowship, a mega-church founded by Joel Creedle and talking to Constance Archer, a wealthy businesswoman who is now running for office. Roxane's running herself so ragged she can barely make time for herself, let alone Tom, her sometimes romantic interest. Not to mention, things are heating up in her case, and she may find herself in danger, yet again.
"Only bad things happened when it was cold out, as it was becoming now."
This is one of the best detective serious out there, hands down, and I wish that Kristen Lepionka and Roxane Weary were household names. I adore these books and this one may be my favorite yet, which is high praise, as I've loved every book since the first.
"That was the thing about mysteries--no one ever deviated from the routine until the moment they did."
Roxane is her own person--a witty, intelligent private investigator who, oh yeah, just happens to be bisexual (and not a side character or the villain of our tale). Book four finds her working on a perplexing case, but also dealing with some personal growth: having to confront emotions and relationships, dreaded words in Roxane's world. I loved the balance of the mystery and Roxane's personal life in this one.
"Not knowing was hard for me. It always was."
Reading these books is like falling back with familiar friends--Lepionka captures Roxane and her crew perfectly: her brothers and mom; her on again/off again boyfriend Tom and ex-girlfriend, Catherine; her work partners; and more. She expertly portrays Roxane's wonderful sarcasm and her inability to commit. Here, we see Roxane dealing with a bombshell about her father's past--poor Roxane: she can never quite escape the shadow of her father, a former cop.
But, of course, we also read for the mystery, and this is a great one--Lepionka takes us in the world of an Evangelical church while delving into Rebecca Newsome's past, her relationship with her daughter, Maggie, and the many secrets Roxane uncovers. She also throws in Rebecca's wonderful spunky elderly neighbor who keeps things lively. This was an excellent mystery that kept me guessing (and worrying for Roxane's safety)--it's timely, interesting, and suspenseful.
Highly recommend this book and the entire Roxane Weary series. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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February 25, 2021This Roxane Weary series has been amazing! Planning a reread of the first three before picking this up.
February 5, 2023
When Roxane has a chance encounter with a hiker who winds up dead shortly after, she gets hired by the deceased woman's daughter to look into her mother's death and uncovers a lot more than that...
As I said in my last review, I'm chewing through the backlog of books I've accumulated in the last few years now that I have some extra time on my hands. I wish I would have tackled this one immediately because it was pretty damn good.
In this volume in the ongoing saga of Roxane Weary, she gets entangled with a runaway kid, an evangelical group, and finds out she has a half sister. Some other stuff happens too.
The Roxane Weary books are good mysteries but the main attraction for me now are the characters. Roxane and her two bothers, Tom, Shelby, and probably Blair in the next book even though she hasn't stepped on stage yet. Roxane is a tough lady with problems but that's what makes her so interesting. More importantly, her relationships are in a constant state of flux, something that doesn't always happen in a mystery series. There's no perfect love for Susan Silverman here.
Well, two Roxane Weary books in two days. I'll find some way to amuse myself until the next one comes out, hopefully soonish.
As I said in my last review, I'm chewing through the backlog of books I've accumulated in the last few years now that I have some extra time on my hands. I wish I would have tackled this one immediately because it was pretty damn good.
In this volume in the ongoing saga of Roxane Weary, she gets entangled with a runaway kid, an evangelical group, and finds out she has a half sister. Some other stuff happens too.
The Roxane Weary books are good mysteries but the main attraction for me now are the characters. Roxane and her two bothers, Tom, Shelby, and probably Blair in the next book even though she hasn't stepped on stage yet. Roxane is a tough lady with problems but that's what makes her so interesting. More importantly, her relationships are in a constant state of flux, something that doesn't always happen in a mystery series. There's no perfect love for Susan Silverman here.
Well, two Roxane Weary books in two days. I'll find some way to amuse myself until the next one comes out, hopefully soonish.
July 5, 2020
The Roxane Weary mysteries are officially my favourite ongoing series! Lepionka delicately balances page-turning pacing, intricate and twisty plot, and complex fascinating characterization. Her current case is a so-called hiking accident that leads Roxane to investigating a culty fundamentalist church, a Canadian casino, a charismatic politician who runs a women's health organization, and more! Some very interesting developments in Roxane's family, love life, and friends as well.
I love how we get tiny subplots that chug along the stories of supporting characters from past books who Roxane has folded into her life (Her queer "niece" Shelby and her crush on her BFF, the snarky motel employee studying criminal justice who's doing her co-op hours with Roxane). Haha and the yoga pants businesswoman shows up again too!
I also love how over the course of the series we get to see the full spectrum of Roxane's bisexuality. She's trying to be in a relationship with Tom in this book (emphasis on the trying because she kinda sucks at it). But we also see her ex-girlfriend briefly come back to fuck with her (Catherine you leave my precious Roxane alone!) and see Roxane feel surprised at her sudden attraction to a woman she meets while investigating. It just feels so real to life, you know? I feel seen!
I love how we get tiny subplots that chug along the stories of supporting characters from past books who Roxane has folded into her life (Her queer "niece" Shelby and her crush on her BFF, the snarky motel employee studying criminal justice who's doing her co-op hours with Roxane). Haha and the yoga pants businesswoman shows up again too!
I also love how over the course of the series we get to see the full spectrum of Roxane's bisexuality. She's trying to be in a relationship with Tom in this book (emphasis on the trying because she kinda sucks at it). But we also see her ex-girlfriend briefly come back to fuck with her (Catherine you leave my precious Roxane alone!) and see Roxane feel surprised at her sudden attraction to a woman she meets while investigating. It just feels so real to life, you know? I feel seen!
April 14, 2023
I am not a dedicated series reader… let’s just say I have book commitment issues, so it’s testament to Lepionka’s wordsmith-ery that I’ve made it all the way to #4 in the Roxane Weary series. And what’s not to like? Roxane is a tough and relatable private detective with a dysfunctional family background that bring to mind Tana French’s Dublin Squad. She’s a bit prickly on the outside and has her walls way up, but it’s a defense mechanism concealing her secret sensitivity. I appreciate how Roxane is capable of taking care of herself, but is simultaneously self-aware. She realizes that she does need people as much as it pains her to admit it.
In my opinion, Once You Go This Far is one of the strongest installments in the series, ranking just below the first novel, The Last Place You Look, which happens to be my favorite. When Roxane embarks on a morning hike, she is not expecting to be in the vicinity when Rebecca Newsome, an older woman walking her dog, falls off the trail and plunges to her death.
Even more surprising, the victim’s daughter Maggie, decides to hire Roxane, convinced that her mother’s accident may actually be an incident of foul play. Roxane is skeptical, but agrees to take on the case. And it’s not long until her investigation leads her down a twisted, treacherous path involving political power struggles, domestic drama, casino intrigue and a close-knit religious community that might actually be a cult.
This book is fast-paced and hooked me from the very beginning. I managed to happily demolish it in only a few short days. I enjoyed the many layers and nuances that slowly unraveled as the author kept me guessing. I love Roxane’s wry sense of humor as well as the way Lepionka makes even the most minor characters feel vibrant and fully realized.
Once You Go This Far is thrilling throughout with plenty of excitement, but avoids glorified violence altogether which I greatly appreciate. It reads more like an edgy Nancy Drew mystery. I highly recommend this book to all the mystery fans out there and I hope the fifth book comes out soon so I can get my next Roxane fix!
In my opinion, Once You Go This Far is one of the strongest installments in the series, ranking just below the first novel, The Last Place You Look, which happens to be my favorite. When Roxane embarks on a morning hike, she is not expecting to be in the vicinity when Rebecca Newsome, an older woman walking her dog, falls off the trail and plunges to her death.
Even more surprising, the victim’s daughter Maggie, decides to hire Roxane, convinced that her mother’s accident may actually be an incident of foul play. Roxane is skeptical, but agrees to take on the case. And it’s not long until her investigation leads her down a twisted, treacherous path involving political power struggles, domestic drama, casino intrigue and a close-knit religious community that might actually be a cult.
This book is fast-paced and hooked me from the very beginning. I managed to happily demolish it in only a few short days. I enjoyed the many layers and nuances that slowly unraveled as the author kept me guessing. I love Roxane’s wry sense of humor as well as the way Lepionka makes even the most minor characters feel vibrant and fully realized.
Once You Go This Far is thrilling throughout with plenty of excitement, but avoids glorified violence altogether which I greatly appreciate. It reads more like an edgy Nancy Drew mystery. I highly recommend this book to all the mystery fans out there and I hope the fifth book comes out soon so I can get my next Roxane fix!
August 31, 2020
roxane weary can step on me whenever she likes
July 8, 2020
Another excellent installment in the Roxane Weary series! Gosh I hope there’s another one in the future.
August 5, 2020
Private Investigator Roxane Weary saw Rebecca Newsome in the parking lot before she started walking the trail. She heard Rebecca fall and was the first one on the scene. Rebecca's daughter doesn't believe this was an accident and she suspects the ex-husband. Who else would want to kill a school nurse? Roxane is on the case, and a complex one it becomes.
I like Roxane's slow and methodical way of interviewing and gathering the facts. I've read all four books in this series. As I recall, in the first book, Roxanne drank excessively. She still drinks but has toned it down. She also doesn't seem as much at odds with her brothers. I hope she''s made up her mind on her love life too. I call it progress.
I like Roxane's slow and methodical way of interviewing and gathering the facts. I've read all four books in this series. As I recall, in the first book, Roxanne drank excessively. She still drinks but has toned it down. She also doesn't seem as much at odds with her brothers. I hope she''s made up her mind on her love life too. I call it progress.
November 2, 2020
More please!
July 28, 2020
So good. I confess to a bit of trepidation when I started this book, because The Stories You Tell got a little dark, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for another heavy book. But rest assured, this is a satisfying mystery, and Roxane is on the path to improve her life, (mild spoilers for those who want to know NOTHING) . At no point did I come close to solving the mystery, although once it was revealed, it all seemed like it should have been obvious.
If you love Roxane Weary, read this. If you don't know who Roxane is, go read The Last Place You Look.
If you love Roxane Weary, read this. If you don't know who Roxane is, go read The Last Place You Look.
A sign that I needed to go home: The television seemed like it was speaking directly to me. I uncapped one of the bottles and poured it into a plastic cup from the bathroom and tossed it back. I'd been thinking about this moment all day, and now that it was here, it was almost a letdown. Not the taste but what I wanted to feel, and didn't. I was still in the motel room, a hundred miles from home, and I was still me.
July 21, 2020
Roxane Weary is the bi PI of my heart. She remains an amazing, messy, layered character. I enjoy how the books in this series always have a good deal of Roxane’s personal life interspersed with solving the mysteries.
For the mystery, it was fun to see how it went from Roxane trying to solve a simple little thing to snowballing into a much larger story. However, at times there were a lot of different characters that she was investigating and I had a hard time keeping all of them straight. Also, parts of the end felt very rushed.
But overall this was another super fun installment in the series. I’ll read a billion more books starring Roxane, she’s awesome.
For the mystery, it was fun to see how it went from Roxane trying to solve a simple little thing to snowballing into a much larger story. However, at times there were a lot of different characters that she was investigating and I had a hard time keeping all of them straight. Also, parts of the end felt very rushed.
But overall this was another super fun installment in the series. I’ll read a billion more books starring Roxane, she’s awesome.
November 15, 2020
roxane weary is once again investigating murky circumstances & navigating her complicated personal life. thankfully, she's able to ignore her problems when she is investigating & is relentless in her pursuit to solve crimes. but it's her internal dialog that adds to the plot & her imperfect journey of self discovery is the best part of the series. well-written, well-paced, and the cagey dialogue makes me laugh.
April 26, 2020
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review
One of my favorite hard-drinkin' detectives is back at it with less drinking and less Catherine, both things being those which should be enjoyed only in moderation. While I of course love Roxane and will read about her sleuthing it up all day long, this also features some great interplay between Kez and Novotny, a little Shelby and a dash of young queer love but not enough, and, thrillingly, several chapters-worth of the culmination of the bad guy's plan that involves the whole gang working together, even terrible brother Matt. I'm most appreciative of Roxane's evolution over the series; how she's been scarred by events from previous books and how her father's death is a less immediate grief but still obviously something that affects all of the Wearys, and I am thrilled that she's allowed to be attracted to men and women without getting into any big 'what does it all mean' territory. Oh, and it's really funny too. I love these books a lot and Lepionka can write at least five more of them as far as I'm concerned. They never get old.
One of my favorite hard-drinkin' detectives is back at it with less drinking and less Catherine, both things being those which should be enjoyed only in moderation. While I of course love Roxane and will read about her sleuthing it up all day long, this also features some great interplay between Kez and Novotny, a little Shelby and a dash of young queer love but not enough, and, thrillingly, several chapters-worth of the culmination of the bad guy's plan that involves the whole gang working together, even terrible brother Matt. I'm most appreciative of Roxane's evolution over the series; how she's been scarred by events from previous books and how her father's death is a less immediate grief but still obviously something that affects all of the Wearys, and I am thrilled that she's allowed to be attracted to men and women without getting into any big 'what does it all mean' territory. Oh, and it's really funny too. I love these books a lot and Lepionka can write at least five more of them as far as I'm concerned. They never get old.
October 25, 2021
I love this series, but I love it less with each book. I've read them all but it's been over a couple of years and I was so frustrated trying to remember who characters were from the earlier books and what happened in the cases she referenced. This one had a ton of characters with complicated names and interlocking stories, and I kept forgetting who on earth I was reading about. The protagonist is also getting less messy and fun as time goes on, but not really growing up very much. She was a hot mess in the first book or two and I appreciated it. Now she's sort of in this sort of immature limbo that just sort of drags for me. The ultimate mystery part of this felt weird to me too, not believable at all and like typecasting. At the end I was kind of like.... Um, okay, I don't buy that these people would do most of this but fine. I still enjoy the series, but I'd like to see it get a little kick in the next book (which I'm assuming there will be, whether it's been picked up yet or not).
I read an ARC of this book for review.
I read an ARC of this book for review.
June 2, 2020
I love this series and was delighted to be reunited with Roxanne Weary! She’s a strong female detective (which I love) who has started to show her vulnerable side. The character development throughout this series has been exceptional. Her newest case was puzzling. I loved the fast paced action, the surprising twists, and the way it all came together. This was another excellent addition to the series and I look forward to more! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2020
As always a delight to be back with Roxane Weary! ❤ The mystery in this book was a bit complicated and Roxane was more removed from most of the familiar supporting characters we know, so it wasn't my favorite of the series, but just spending time with her was great, as always. Highly recommend this series to all mystery fans, but read them in order!
December 9, 2020
I’m enjoying the Roxanne Weary series. Kristen Lepionka writes well and Roxanne herself is an engaging, flawed character with an interesting, believable personal life which doesn’t intrude unnecessarily into the story.
This time, Roxanne is almost witness to the death of a woman who apparently fell while hiking in the woods, and is hired to investigate how it happened. This leads her into a complex case involving a mysteriously missing woman and her children, the politics of women’s health and a sinister fundamentalist religious group. It’s well done and gripping, with Roxanne’s narrative voice a very engaging companion. The sense of place is, as always, very strong, Roxanne’s relationship with Tom develops in interesting and plausible ways and I found myself very involved for much of the book’s length.
The book does have a couple of weaknesses: Lepionka is very keen on the big set-piece climax in which Roxanne has to try to save the day, which in this case didn’t really convince me and had a somewhat contrived feel. Also, there are a lot of characters who only appear occasionally but importantly which meant I wasn’t always sure who was who at critical moments. Nonetheless, I found it a very enjoyable read; I can recommend it and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
This time, Roxanne is almost witness to the death of a woman who apparently fell while hiking in the woods, and is hired to investigate how it happened. This leads her into a complex case involving a mysteriously missing woman and her children, the politics of women’s health and a sinister fundamentalist religious group. It’s well done and gripping, with Roxanne’s narrative voice a very engaging companion. The sense of place is, as always, very strong, Roxanne’s relationship with Tom develops in interesting and plausible ways and I found myself very involved for much of the book’s length.
The book does have a couple of weaknesses: Lepionka is very keen on the big set-piece climax in which Roxanne has to try to save the day, which in this case didn’t really convince me and had a somewhat contrived feel. Also, there are a lot of characters who only appear occasionally but importantly which meant I wasn’t always sure who was who at critical moments. Nonetheless, I found it a very enjoyable read; I can recommend it and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
May 5, 2021
Once You Go This Far was another thrilling installment in the Roxane Weary mystery series.
After Roxane Weary's brother stands her up for a hike, she decides to head out on her own. When she discovers a hiker at the bottom of a ravine, she thinks the woman suffered a horrible accident. But the woman's daughter doesn't believe her mother fell and she wants Roxane to investigate. Her prime suspect is an ex-husband with cop connections, but Roxane quickly unearths strange behavior from the victim before she died. From mysterious calls to a political candidate, to a series of trips to Detroit and a casino across the Canadian border, to a secretive church group, Roxane has her work cut out for her finding out how everything is connected.
Roxane's investigation into Rebecca Newsome, the woman who died, went in a lot of directions I wasn't expecting. I wasn't sure how all of the strange behavior mentioned in the description would end up being related and I was surprised by what the connection was. Roxane does a lot of traveling this time around as her investigation takes her from Columbus to Toledo to Detroit to Windsor, Canada. It was nice to see Roxane work outside of Columbus where she has most of her connections. Overall I found the case to be very intriguing and I liked the direction the author took things. The ending is suspenseful and I found the conclusion satisfying.
Roxane continues to be one of my favorite female leads in a thriller series. She's smart, thinks outside of the box, and is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Her position as a P.I. allows her to pursue leads that a cop wouldn't be able to, which is something I enjoy about this series as it offers a different perspective. Roxane also doesn't have to answer to anyone and is solely focused on solving the case for her client. We get a bit of a side plot that focuses on Roxane's family this time around which I'm curious to learn more about if we get additional books in the series.
Overall Once You Go This Far was a fantastic read and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a female-led thriller series.
After Roxane Weary's brother stands her up for a hike, she decides to head out on her own. When she discovers a hiker at the bottom of a ravine, she thinks the woman suffered a horrible accident. But the woman's daughter doesn't believe her mother fell and she wants Roxane to investigate. Her prime suspect is an ex-husband with cop connections, but Roxane quickly unearths strange behavior from the victim before she died. From mysterious calls to a political candidate, to a series of trips to Detroit and a casino across the Canadian border, to a secretive church group, Roxane has her work cut out for her finding out how everything is connected.
Roxane's investigation into Rebecca Newsome, the woman who died, went in a lot of directions I wasn't expecting. I wasn't sure how all of the strange behavior mentioned in the description would end up being related and I was surprised by what the connection was. Roxane does a lot of traveling this time around as her investigation takes her from Columbus to Toledo to Detroit to Windsor, Canada. It was nice to see Roxane work outside of Columbus where she has most of her connections. Overall I found the case to be very intriguing and I liked the direction the author took things. The ending is suspenseful and I found the conclusion satisfying.
Roxane continues to be one of my favorite female leads in a thriller series. She's smart, thinks outside of the box, and is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Her position as a P.I. allows her to pursue leads that a cop wouldn't be able to, which is something I enjoy about this series as it offers a different perspective. Roxane also doesn't have to answer to anyone and is solely focused on solving the case for her client. We get a bit of a side plot that focuses on Roxane's family this time around which I'm curious to learn more about if we get additional books in the series.
Overall Once You Go This Far was a fantastic read and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a female-led thriller series.
January 4, 2021
If you've gotten this far in the series, you probably adore Roxane as much as I do. I spent much of Christmas Eve and Christmas evenings snuggled up with this one, as a little present to myself.
Roxane is supposed to meet her brother, Andrew, for a hike one autumn morning. (He's turned over a new leaf after the events of The Stories You Tell.) He stands her up, but she has a chance encounter with an older woman who then falls off the trail to her (eventual) death. The woman's daughter isn't convinced that it was an accident. Her mother was an experienced hiker and things don't add up with the way that she fell. She suspects her former stepfather, a retired cop turned private investigator, of foul play.
As Roxane investigates, the PI ex-husband, a mysterious teenage boy and his missing mother, a secretive social club, even her client, all lead back to a sketchy church with a charismatic leader. (CULT! CULT! CULT!) With most people involved keeping mum, Roxane has to piece the puzzle together herself before other people get hurt.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Tom (TOM! TOM! TOM!) has fallen into a routine that works for Roxane. But when she takes off without telling him, he's left wondering how serious she actually is. And when she makes a discovery about her late father's infidelities, Roxane is put into more of a tailspin.
This one checks all my boxes (although it's a bit light on Shelby & Andrew) and has a solution that's complicated enough to leave me trying to piece all the connections together in my head, yet not so complicated as to be implausible.
I'm a little concerned because I read that Ms. Lepionka's next book does not feature Roxane. I hope that she doesn't pull a Tana French and (seemingly) abandon a series that I love.
Roxane is supposed to meet her brother, Andrew, for a hike one autumn morning. (He's turned over a new leaf after the events of The Stories You Tell.) He stands her up, but she has a chance encounter with an older woman who then falls off the trail to her (eventual) death. The woman's daughter isn't convinced that it was an accident. Her mother was an experienced hiker and things don't add up with the way that she fell. She suspects her former stepfather, a retired cop turned private investigator, of foul play.
As Roxane investigates, the PI ex-husband, a mysterious teenage boy and his missing mother, a secretive social club, even her client, all lead back to a sketchy church with a charismatic leader. (CULT! CULT! CULT!) With most people involved keeping mum, Roxane has to piece the puzzle together herself before other people get hurt.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Tom (TOM! TOM! TOM!) has fallen into a routine that works for Roxane. But when she takes off without telling him, he's left wondering how serious she actually is. And when she makes a discovery about her late father's infidelities, Roxane is put into more of a tailspin.
This one checks all my boxes (although it's a bit light on Shelby & Andrew) and has a solution that's complicated enough to leave me trying to piece all the connections together in my head, yet not so complicated as to be implausible.
I'm a little concerned because I read that Ms. Lepionka's next book does not feature Roxane. I hope that she doesn't pull a Tana French and (seemingly) abandon a series that I love.
September 10, 2020
Minus the illogical (but exciting!) climaxes, I’ve so enjoyed this series, but, darn it, this one bummed me out. It was missing the author’s unparalleled observance of people that’s brought characters to life on the page. This instead had a large, confusing web of interrelated characters who seemed like typecasts or had no distinguishing characteristics, not to mention had commonplace names and multiple marriages that made everyone a challenge to keep straight. I missed the author’s depth on this front.
The story did keep my attention but was agenda-based, taking sweeping stances that could feel disparaging, which is not my bag. And the love interest/relationship that’s kept me biting at the bit for each new release seemed to have run its course early-on in this, probably because the protagonist has yet to grow through this series.
Last I heard, the publisher hasn’t optioned for #5. If so, the end of #3 would’ve made the perfect close to this series, but I gotta give credit to the author’s careful way she gave us both closure and introduced something here if the series gets picked up again.
All told, I still root for this local author and wish her big success with her upcoming stand-alone. I’ll be watching for it.
The story did keep my attention but was agenda-based, taking sweeping stances that could feel disparaging, which is not my bag. And the love interest/relationship that’s kept me biting at the bit for each new release seemed to have run its course early-on in this, probably because the protagonist has yet to grow through this series.
Last I heard, the publisher hasn’t optioned for #5. If so, the end of #3 would’ve made the perfect close to this series, but I gotta give credit to the author’s careful way she gave us both closure and introduced something here if the series gets picked up again.
All told, I still root for this local author and wish her big success with her upcoming stand-alone. I’ll be watching for it.
June 26, 2020
I love Roxane Weary, and I never miss a chance to recommend this series to folks who want to read about the best bisexual hot mess PI in Ohio.
Roxane is still a mess, but not quite as disastrous as some of the previous books. Lepionka is great at keeping the plot perfectly paced (I do love a book with chapters on the shorter side!). I am decent at guessing the who of the whodunnit in a lot of mysteries, but I don’t think I’ve ever accurately called a Lepionka villain - I may suspect they’re involved, but she is a master of the red herring.
If you love Roxane Weary like I do, this is a solid installment in the series! Always looking forward to the next installment. ❤️
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Roxane is still a mess, but not quite as disastrous as some of the previous books. Lepionka is great at keeping the plot perfectly paced (I do love a book with chapters on the shorter side!). I am decent at guessing the who of the whodunnit in a lot of mysteries, but I don’t think I’ve ever accurately called a Lepionka villain - I may suspect they’re involved, but she is a master of the red herring.
If you love Roxane Weary like I do, this is a solid installment in the series! Always looking forward to the next installment. ❤️
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
A good one! Roxane Weary rocks!
A milder version of suspense than in previous book but still a good chase.
A milder version of suspense than in previous book but still a good chase.
August 10, 2022
I really like these books.
July 20, 2020
Roxane Weary is the bisexual private investigator in Once You Go This Far, the fourth book in this noir series. Roxane has family drama, relationship issues, and now a suspicious death to investigate.
While waiting for her brother to join her on a hike, she hears a woman, Rebecca, fall off the trail into the crevice below. She rushes to help her while another hiker calls for help. While trying to find a relative to take the fallen woman’s dog, she meets the Rebecca’s daughter Maggie.
Roxane believes that is the end of her involvement. However, a few days later, Maggie contacts her. Rebecca has died. Maggie thinks that the fall may not have been an accident. Especially because her mother’s phone is missing. She suspects her ex-stepfather Keir. Roxane agrees to investigate.
Wow, Once You Go This Far has layers and layers of plot. The blurb above is just the main story. There is much more involved than just a disgrunted ex in Rebecca’s death.
Concurrently, Roxane, her mother, and two brothers are still adjusting to her father’s death and how it impacts their relationships with each other. Roxane is also dealing with pushing away her boyfriend Tom to avoid getting hurt even while he wants to become closer. There are also temptations from previous relationships thrown in her path.
If you are in the mood for a noirish but also feminist PI book, you can’t go wrong reading Once You Go This Far. I loved it! 5 stars!
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
While waiting for her brother to join her on a hike, she hears a woman, Rebecca, fall off the trail into the crevice below. She rushes to help her while another hiker calls for help. While trying to find a relative to take the fallen woman’s dog, she meets the Rebecca’s daughter Maggie.
Roxane believes that is the end of her involvement. However, a few days later, Maggie contacts her. Rebecca has died. Maggie thinks that the fall may not have been an accident. Especially because her mother’s phone is missing. She suspects her ex-stepfather Keir. Roxane agrees to investigate.
Wow, Once You Go This Far has layers and layers of plot. The blurb above is just the main story. There is much more involved than just a disgrunted ex in Rebecca’s death.
Concurrently, Roxane, her mother, and two brothers are still adjusting to her father’s death and how it impacts their relationships with each other. Roxane is also dealing with pushing away her boyfriend Tom to avoid getting hurt even while he wants to become closer. There are also temptations from previous relationships thrown in her path.
If you are in the mood for a noirish but also feminist PI book, you can’t go wrong reading Once You Go This Far. I loved it! 5 stars!
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 25, 2022
Fourth in the Roxanne Weary series, one of my favorite female PIs, and the series propels forward with an intricate mystery, full of clues that all add up by the end. What fun it is to get there too. All the characters are interesting and usually with a surprise twist about them. Roxanne is hired by the daughter of a hiker who supposedly was tripped by her dog and plunged to her death. All is not easily explained away and Roxanne finds herself trundling back and forth in Ohio and crossing the border to Canada collecting clues. She is dogged and smart and a worthy successor to the classics PIs. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2021
This continues to hold up as my favourite murder mystery series. Lepionka nails it again with this well-paced story that begins with a woman dying “accidentally” while hiking, and as usual Roxane is the wrong - or right? - place at the time to catch the case. The case takes sidles us up to sociopolitical issues like the rise of conservative right wing evangelism as the real terrorism in America, without feeling too heavy-handed about it. I probably should have guessed the whodunnit - it’s kinda right there - but I was too pulled into the story to speculate. I perhaps would have liked a little more development of some of Roxane’s interpersonal relationships interspersed throughout the novel as I recall being the case in previous volumes, but there is some nice growth in this regard a the novel’s conclusion. I’m 100% here for team Tom/Roxane. I read this in a single sitting. Dreamy!
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