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Dr. Evan Wilding #1
At First Light
Ritual murder. Archaic clues. A visionary killer. In this heart-stopping novel by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, words can kill.
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins?
Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come.
As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins?
Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come.
As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2021
6350 people are currently reading
10103 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Nickless
13 books1,001 followersBarbara Nickless is the Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of two award-winning crime series. Her first series has been optioned for television. A teacher and activist, she uses the healing power of writing to support combat veterans and civilians in the U.S. and Ukraine. She’s a three-time winner of the Colorado Book Award and a six-time winner of the CAL awards. A former fencer and falconer, Barbara lives in Colorado where she loves to hike, cave, snowshoe, and drink single malt Scotch. Not at the same time. Her most recent research travel involved taking cover from rocket fire and being grilled at military checkpoints. Her latest novel—The Drowning Game—is a spy thriller. It dropped January 1, 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,011 reviews
December 16, 2021
Barbara Nickless wrote the excellent Sydney Rose Parnell series which I enjoyed immensely. Parnell had served in Iraq and came back home with her K-9 partner Clyde and PTSD. Then she joined the Denver railway police. But this book was something else altogether, I thought it was brilliant!
A man’s body is found on the banks of a river in Chicago very strangely posed and with a series of wooden slats around his head inscribed with runes. Detective Adrianne (Addie) Bisset knows immediately she needs the help of her good friend and forensic semiotician Dr Evan Wilding. These two characters were so endearing and their interactions were wonderfully written. Addie is the typical career driven detective but she feels deeply any slights aimed at Evan because he is a dwarf. He also has a brilliant mind and some their verbal exchanges were like music to my ears. So Evan is asked to consult on the case to help interpret the runes. Evan is, of course, secretly in love with Addie but would never admit it or presume anything in that regard but her every wish is his command.
His grad student assistant, Dianna, was another wonderful character. Unlike Evan she was of Amazonian proportions but also gifted with a brilliant mind. The team is informed of another body that had been found weeks ago but the similarities were striking. Instead of runes inscribed on wooden slats they were carved onto bone and the investigators met a young savant, Tommy, who had collected some of these bones. He played a major part later in their story.
So it was about the runes, bog bodies, Viking history, black magic, the legend of Beowulf and many other mythical, mystical and arcane things. I cannot hope to remember all of it but Nickless must have done a ton of research to write this story. It was a fairly long book but I was gripped the whole way through as the team grapples with interpreting the runes and their meaning - it was very much ‘riddle me this’. One thing became clear though, the killer intended there to be five bodies so the race was on to stop them before more people were killed.
What linked the victims, what crime or wrongdoing had they committed and how could they predict who might be next? Very good questions but I suggest you read this book for the answer. I am very happy to see there is a sequel coming and I do hope to read it. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated copy which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
A man’s body is found on the banks of a river in Chicago very strangely posed and with a series of wooden slats around his head inscribed with runes. Detective Adrianne (Addie) Bisset knows immediately she needs the help of her good friend and forensic semiotician Dr Evan Wilding. These two characters were so endearing and their interactions were wonderfully written. Addie is the typical career driven detective but she feels deeply any slights aimed at Evan because he is a dwarf. He also has a brilliant mind and some their verbal exchanges were like music to my ears. So Evan is asked to consult on the case to help interpret the runes. Evan is, of course, secretly in love with Addie but would never admit it or presume anything in that regard but her every wish is his command.
His grad student assistant, Dianna, was another wonderful character. Unlike Evan she was of Amazonian proportions but also gifted with a brilliant mind. The team is informed of another body that had been found weeks ago but the similarities were striking. Instead of runes inscribed on wooden slats they were carved onto bone and the investigators met a young savant, Tommy, who had collected some of these bones. He played a major part later in their story.
So it was about the runes, bog bodies, Viking history, black magic, the legend of Beowulf and many other mythical, mystical and arcane things. I cannot hope to remember all of it but Nickless must have done a ton of research to write this story. It was a fairly long book but I was gripped the whole way through as the team grapples with interpreting the runes and their meaning - it was very much ‘riddle me this’. One thing became clear though, the killer intended there to be five bodies so the race was on to stop them before more people were killed.
What linked the victims, what crime or wrongdoing had they committed and how could they predict who might be next? Very good questions but I suggest you read this book for the answer. I am very happy to see there is a sequel coming and I do hope to read it. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated copy which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
December 12, 2021
"Always be yourself. Unless you can be a Viking. Then always be a Viking." (Unknown)
Barbara Nickless has shape-shifted some incredible characters in At First Light. And it's always the characters who leave their footprints deeply in the minds of the readers. They move and trudge and deftly scamper throughout the storyline bringing the supreme prize of a bust-a-move ending.
Dr. Evan Wilding is exceptional in as many ways as rays on the Sun. He is a renowned forensic semiotician who teaches packed classrooms at the University of Chicago. Evan is constantly called upon by the Chicago Police Department to analyze and evaluate crime scenes where there may be mysterious symbols or writings left behind. Evan stands tall and shoulders above others. Evan is one of the Little People (Dwarfism). And Evan leaves an imprint larger than the city itself.
Evan's best friend is Detective Abbie Bisset of the Chicago Police Department. Abbie realizes that their solid friendship always pulls Evan in her direction. He'll stop the clock to help her.
If you've ever been anywhere near the ol' Calumet River in the dead of winter, you know that only the Arctic Circle comes nearer in the frigid zone. But that's where a body lies pinned to the shore with wooden stakes. Upon closer inspection, Evan notices that there are symbols carved into these stakes. Symbols depicting the Viking Age runes. But it's not long before another body is found in the same ritualistic manner. Evan knows that this won't be the last.
At First Light presents some heavy-duty crime scenes. It also has Detective Abbie Bisset dealing with some nasty individuals belonging to the bottom feeders of life. But through it all, Barbara Nickless infuses some of the best snarky, playful dialogue between Evan and Abbie with dollops of humor to break the tension. At First Light has it all. As I always say, when you come across a superb series, get in on the ground floor with #1. I'll bet the best will repeat itself novel after novel.
I received a copy of At First Light through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Barbara Nickless for the opportunity.
Barbara Nickless has shape-shifted some incredible characters in At First Light. And it's always the characters who leave their footprints deeply in the minds of the readers. They move and trudge and deftly scamper throughout the storyline bringing the supreme prize of a bust-a-move ending.
Dr. Evan Wilding is exceptional in as many ways as rays on the Sun. He is a renowned forensic semiotician who teaches packed classrooms at the University of Chicago. Evan is constantly called upon by the Chicago Police Department to analyze and evaluate crime scenes where there may be mysterious symbols or writings left behind. Evan stands tall and shoulders above others. Evan is one of the Little People (Dwarfism). And Evan leaves an imprint larger than the city itself.
Evan's best friend is Detective Abbie Bisset of the Chicago Police Department. Abbie realizes that their solid friendship always pulls Evan in her direction. He'll stop the clock to help her.
If you've ever been anywhere near the ol' Calumet River in the dead of winter, you know that only the Arctic Circle comes nearer in the frigid zone. But that's where a body lies pinned to the shore with wooden stakes. Upon closer inspection, Evan notices that there are symbols carved into these stakes. Symbols depicting the Viking Age runes. But it's not long before another body is found in the same ritualistic manner. Evan knows that this won't be the last.
At First Light presents some heavy-duty crime scenes. It also has Detective Abbie Bisset dealing with some nasty individuals belonging to the bottom feeders of life. But through it all, Barbara Nickless infuses some of the best snarky, playful dialogue between Evan and Abbie with dollops of humor to break the tension. At First Light has it all. As I always say, when you come across a superb series, get in on the ground floor with #1. I'll bet the best will repeat itself novel after novel.
I received a copy of At First Light through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Barbara Nickless for the opportunity.
November 10, 2021
This is a book that I wanted to like a lot more than I actually did. It’s not a bad book, and I admire the attempt, but it ultimately doesn’t work.
This is an attempt to write a Dan Brown-esque “academic” puzzle mystery/serial killer thriller. And the setup’s not bad; we start with an intriguing puzzle. But then we run into difficulties:
1. While I like the characters, there isn’t enough character development to get any of them to three dimensions. Both of the main characters, Addie and Evan, feel more like a bag of quirky traits than fully rounded human beings. Evan, honestly, reminded me more of an elevator pitch for a TV show starring Peter Dinklage, than a convincing character. He’s too eccentric; too good at his job when the scene requires it, and too bad at it when the strained plot requires an info dump. There are too many smart characters who should know things but don’t so the author can explain stuff to the reader. There are also too many secondary characters who are nothing more than stereotypes.
2. I found the academic stuff interesting, and it’s more accurate than a lot of books of this kind, but the plot screeches to a halt every time the focus shifts to the info dumps. There are too many sections where the reader is very aware of all the research the author had to do to write this. The book needed another major editorial pass to better integrate the academic puzzle pieces and the serial thriller killer plot together.
3. The actual serial killer plot isn’t set up very well, which leads to a clunky ending.
All that being said, I did enjoy a lot of the book, and I’d be willing to give the next one in the series a try, hoping that the issues above get fixed.
This is an attempt to write a Dan Brown-esque “academic” puzzle mystery/serial killer thriller. And the setup’s not bad; we start with an intriguing puzzle. But then we run into difficulties:
1. While I like the characters, there isn’t enough character development to get any of them to three dimensions. Both of the main characters, Addie and Evan, feel more like a bag of quirky traits than fully rounded human beings. Evan, honestly, reminded me more of an elevator pitch for a TV show starring Peter Dinklage, than a convincing character. He’s too eccentric; too good at his job when the scene requires it, and too bad at it when the strained plot requires an info dump. There are too many smart characters who should know things but don’t so the author can explain stuff to the reader. There are also too many secondary characters who are nothing more than stereotypes.
2. I found the academic stuff interesting, and it’s more accurate than a lot of books of this kind, but the plot screeches to a halt every time the focus shifts to the info dumps. There are too many sections where the reader is very aware of all the research the author had to do to write this. The book needed another major editorial pass to better integrate the academic puzzle pieces and the serial thriller killer plot together.
3. The actual serial killer plot isn’t set up very well, which leads to a clunky ending.
All that being said, I did enjoy a lot of the book, and I’d be willing to give the next one in the series a try, hoping that the issues above get fixed.
March 6, 2024
As a huge fan of Barbara Nickless’s Sydney Parnell series, I was feeling bummed about the conclusion of the series So, I decided to check out her new series on Evan Wilding, a character that was introduced in the final installment of the Sydney Parnell series. As the book summary indicates, Evan is a forensic semiotician, who is someone that studies symbolic signs and patterns at crime scenes, that may provide clues, as a form of communication from a perpetrator or suspect. Evan is also a little person, or as he likes to be considered, someone who is afflicted with dwarfism. This makes a lot of people uncomfortable when they first meet him, except Det Addie Bissett. Addie is probably in love with Evan although she doesn’t think so, which is kind of sad. Evan is definitely secretly in love with Addie, but will never go public with that for fear of losing her friendship. Evan values Addie’s friendship much more than his own romantic desires and wishes.
The story flips back and forth between Evan, Addie, and the killer. There is also a secondary story of the new Chief of Chicago PD, who is a misogynist, who overtly discriminates and dismisses Addie and her position and experience and who especially doesn’t like Evan, regardless of his experience and expertise. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the deaths that appear to be the work of some ritualistic killer influenced by Odin, the Nordic God, that the press has nicknamed the Viking Poet. None of this is a spoiler since it is basically the beginning of the story.
By the halfway point, another storyline has developed, but I’m not going to spoil that. Even so, it’s not like it is revealing any new clues as to who the killer is. Well into the second half, I’m still not sure who the killer may be, but have kind of narrowed it down to two suspects, maybe three. Idk!!! As I suspected I would be, the revelation of the killer was absolutely shocking and not anyone that I had considered. I LOVE when that happens, but then I am already well aware of what a extraordinary writer and storyteller Nickless is. I look forward to continuing this new series of hers.
The story flips back and forth between Evan, Addie, and the killer. There is also a secondary story of the new Chief of Chicago PD, who is a misogynist, who overtly discriminates and dismisses Addie and her position and experience and who especially doesn’t like Evan, regardless of his experience and expertise. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the deaths that appear to be the work of some ritualistic killer influenced by Odin, the Nordic God, that the press has nicknamed the Viking Poet. None of this is a spoiler since it is basically the beginning of the story.
By the halfway point, another storyline has developed, but I’m not going to spoil that. Even so, it’s not like it is revealing any new clues as to who the killer is. Well into the second half, I’m still not sure who the killer may be, but have kind of narrowed it down to two suspects, maybe three. Idk!!! As I suspected I would be, the revelation of the killer was absolutely shocking and not anyone that I had considered. I LOVE when that happens, but then I am already well aware of what a extraordinary writer and storyteller Nickless is. I look forward to continuing this new series of hers.
November 30, 2021
Awesome
I absolutely loved this book and definitely will read the next one! I was reminded of several authors while reading this one including Preston and Child. This author has great imagination along with holding one's attention.
The characters are well defined as each plays their role. This one will hold your attention and keep you guessing the entire way until the end. Highly recommend to thriller, police, detective readers.
This was a First Reads Book from Amazon Prime and the author.
I absolutely loved this book and definitely will read the next one! I was reminded of several authors while reading this one including Preston and Child. This author has great imagination along with holding one's attention.
The characters are well defined as each plays their role. This one will hold your attention and keep you guessing the entire way until the end. Highly recommend to thriller, police, detective readers.
This was a First Reads Book from Amazon Prime and the author.
December 11, 2021
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 5 Stars
Story - 5 Stars
October 26, 2021
A corpse is discovered on the banks of Chicago’s Calumet River, carefully arranged with ritualistic intent. When a second murder contains similarities, Detective Addie Bisset and her partner Detective Patrick McBrady realize they are up against a serial killer. The slayer has left pieces of a long poem at each site, each with clues that could solve the killer’s motive and identity. The fact that the messages consist of ancient runes adds a difficult challenge, one that Addie hopes will be successfully translated by semiotician Dr. Evan Wilding.
Addie and Evan lead us through the action, and Ms. Nickless deftly describes both characters as they race to catch the unknown suspect before there is another killing. The deep knowledge of runes, epic poetry, and the ritualistic customs of people who lived long before us lends an aura of believability to the story. While Addie is pounding the pavement searching for and verifying clues, Dr. Wilding is performing his own style of police procedural research, each matching the other step by step. The crafted result by Ms. Nickless creates a perfect pacing that draws the reader into the story, keeps us interested during the middle section, and finishes at a run.
If you’ve never read a Barbara Nickless novel before, you are in for a rare treat. Her members of the police force are hardened but not to the point where they have become jaded and lost sight of the human aspects of their job. Dr. Wilding is an interesting character, and Ms. Nickless provides a detailed sketch that emphasizes both his talents and his flaws, certainly enough to cause me to want to see him in a future book. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to the author and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary advance copy of this book.
Addie and Evan lead us through the action, and Ms. Nickless deftly describes both characters as they race to catch the unknown suspect before there is another killing. The deep knowledge of runes, epic poetry, and the ritualistic customs of people who lived long before us lends an aura of believability to the story. While Addie is pounding the pavement searching for and verifying clues, Dr. Wilding is performing his own style of police procedural research, each matching the other step by step. The crafted result by Ms. Nickless creates a perfect pacing that draws the reader into the story, keeps us interested during the middle section, and finishes at a run.
If you’ve never read a Barbara Nickless novel before, you are in for a rare treat. Her members of the police force are hardened but not to the point where they have become jaded and lost sight of the human aspects of their job. Dr. Wilding is an interesting character, and Ms. Nickless provides a detailed sketch that emphasizes both his talents and his flaws, certainly enough to cause me to want to see him in a future book. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to the author and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary advance copy of this book.
January 5, 2022
DNF @ 71% started reading this in December and took a break hoping it was just my mood that was discouraging me but alas it’s the book
The two stars are for the author’s knowledge about vikings . This feels more like a research paper one had to present in class instead of a novel, the author went on and on about the history of vikings and some hidden messages written in a tongue twisting manner you’d swear it’s a legit tongue twister 😫.
It’s a boring book really like I said , it feel like I’m in a history class 😫
The two stars are for the author’s knowledge about vikings . This feels more like a research paper one had to present in class instead of a novel, the author went on and on about the history of vikings and some hidden messages written in a tongue twisting manner you’d swear it’s a legit tongue twister 😫.
It’s a boring book really like I said , it feel like I’m in a history class 😫
November 28, 2021
NO DOGS GET KILLED IN THIS BOOK. I was nervous about one part of the book and found myself wishing I had known that fact ahead of time!
I was eager to read At First Light because I have very much enjoyed the author's Sydney Rose Parnell series. This new series takes place in Chicago and features homicide detective Adrianne “Addie” Bisset and her friend, Dr. Evan Wilding. (Dr. Wilding is a person with dwarfism, which was interesting to read about. And his goshawk, Ginny, made me want to have one!) There were some other great characters, too, like Addie's partner, Detective Patrick McBrady, and Dr. Wilding's postdoc, Diana.
The story begins with a man lying dead with three fatal wounds. His neck has been slashed and he has a noose around his neck, as well. As if that weren't enough, he's also had his head bashed in. Around the ritually posed body are sticks covered with mysterious symbols, which turn out to be Viking runes. And there the book kind of lost me...
I wish At First Light had been more about everything else that was going on in the book and less about the runes. The author must have spent a TON of time researching them but I just. wasn't. interested. My eyes started to glaze over whenever Dr. Wilding went on and on about the symbols and what they might or might not mean. I personally felt as though the infodumps broke the flow of everything else that was happening in the book. After a while, I found myself skipping over those parts.
Does that mean I'm not going to give book 2 a chance? No way! Bring it on! ☺️
I was eager to read At First Light because I have very much enjoyed the author's Sydney Rose Parnell series. This new series takes place in Chicago and features homicide detective Adrianne “Addie” Bisset and her friend, Dr. Evan Wilding. (Dr. Wilding is a person with dwarfism, which was interesting to read about. And his goshawk, Ginny, made me want to have one!) There were some other great characters, too, like Addie's partner, Detective Patrick McBrady, and Dr. Wilding's postdoc, Diana.
The story begins with a man lying dead with three fatal wounds. His neck has been slashed and he has a noose around his neck, as well. As if that weren't enough, he's also had his head bashed in. Around the ritually posed body are sticks covered with mysterious symbols, which turn out to be Viking runes. And there the book kind of lost me...
I wish At First Light had been more about everything else that was going on in the book and less about the runes. The author must have spent a TON of time researching them but I just. wasn't. interested. My eyes started to glaze over whenever Dr. Wilding went on and on about the symbols and what they might or might not mean. I personally felt as though the infodumps broke the flow of everything else that was happening in the book. After a while, I found myself skipping over those parts.
Does that mean I'm not going to give book 2 a chance? No way! Bring it on! ☺️
November 5, 2021
I got taken in by the fabulous Amazon synopsis!
This lengthy, often glacially-paced book has a decent crime fiction plot, but that plot thread winds through a lorryload of history and mythology. I appreciate the author’s research efforts, but no matter how much she develops the characters, they are still clichés.
1) Professor Evan Wilding—civilian, scholar, and mystery-solving genius—is schooled in esoteric and obscure subjects. He’s a paid consultant for the Chicago PD.
2) Detective Addie Bisset is a strong, tough, and smart female detective.
3) Her hearty partner is Patrick McBrady—a “classic old-school Irish cop” with a drinker’s red nose. Oddly, Patrick is the color of “a slab of beef” and his hair “shone red like a can of tinned meat.” SRSLY!
4) Bisset’s overbearing, misogynistic boss is a tanned, fit man from Texas—“Superman in a navy-blue suit.”
This doorstopper is 395 pages long, but as a crime fiction fan, I thought I could intuit the murderer by at least 80% gone. Nope. The murderer is a tertiary character, who is not associated with clues, hints, or logic. The killer’s surname was mentioned once in conjunction with another name at 75%, and a total of 7 times at about 90% of the book read. IMHO, the author held back information until the denouement—which didn’t satisfy me as a crime fiction reader. It wasn’t a wasted read as I did learn about Viking mythology, runes, and semiotics.
This lengthy, often glacially-paced book has a decent crime fiction plot, but that plot thread winds through a lorryload of history and mythology. I appreciate the author’s research efforts, but no matter how much she develops the characters, they are still clichés.
1) Professor Evan Wilding—civilian, scholar, and mystery-solving genius—is schooled in esoteric and obscure subjects. He’s a paid consultant for the Chicago PD.
2) Detective Addie Bisset is a strong, tough, and smart female detective.
3) Her hearty partner is Patrick McBrady—a “classic old-school Irish cop” with a drinker’s red nose. Oddly, Patrick is the color of “a slab of beef” and his hair “shone red like a can of tinned meat.” SRSLY!
4) Bisset’s overbearing, misogynistic boss is a tanned, fit man from Texas—“Superman in a navy-blue suit.”
This doorstopper is 395 pages long, but as a crime fiction fan, I thought I could intuit the murderer by at least 80% gone. Nope. The murderer is a tertiary character, who is not associated with clues, hints, or logic. The killer’s surname was mentioned once in conjunction with another name at 75%, and a total of 7 times at about 90% of the book read. IMHO, the author held back information until the denouement—which didn’t satisfy me as a crime fiction reader. It wasn’t a wasted read as I did learn about Viking mythology, runes, and semiotics.
November 7, 2021
Chose this as my Amazon First Read this month
June 28, 2022
I don’t like to leave 2* reviews but as this was an Amazon first read I feel obliged to leave a review and this was all I could give this. We have a hard drinking dwarf, an Amazonian axe throwing undergraduate, a “tough” female detective and the inevitable sexist police chief. Not the most likely set of characters! There are pages of Viking runes which made no sense to me and ‘bog bodies.’ Make of that what you will. Sadly after chapter 24, I could take no more…sorry!
March 4, 2024
I’ve read several Barbara Nickless books and enjoyed them all. Nickless is a good story and mystery writer. This book was CREEPY with a very demented killer at large. The book is centered on Norse mythology and the killer leaves his clues in the form of runes. All things Viking are hot in popular culture now so many will enjoy this book. And cheers to all Valkyrie’s who ride in to save the day.
June 15, 2022
The lost symbol but viking edition!
My first book by this author and i'm happy to have chosen it. The whole idea of viking metal age era and runes was refreshing and fascinating. The heavy details might become overwhelming but then again it also captures and stimulates your mind like no other.
Can't wait for next installment in the series.
My first book by this author and i'm happy to have chosen it. The whole idea of viking metal age era and runes was refreshing and fascinating. The heavy details might become overwhelming but then again it also captures and stimulates your mind like no other.
Can't wait for next installment in the series.
October 19, 2021
Ever since I learned that my favorite author, Barbara Nickless, was going to start a new series, highlighting Dr. Evan Wilding, a forensic semiotician, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the moment when I could devour her words to see where she’d take the story At First Light. Now, with thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early review copy, I can happily say the wait was worth it!
What a story! I was immediately drawn into Evan Wilding’s world, and I loved following how his mind processed the clues that he saw. More than that, I could feel him as a person--a man with a beautiful mind and personality that always played second fiddle to the man that people saw…a person with dwarfism. As I devoured the book and was completely fascinated by the depth of research that it took to write such an intricate thriller, I couldn’t help but wonder how Evan felt at how he was perceived. You can say one thing to the world, but in the mirror is where a person faces the truth. I continually wondered about Evan’s truth. In other words, he became real to me.
I don’t want to spoil the suspense that awaits the reader, but suffice to say I learned much more about Vikings and Norse mythology than I ever could have imagined. Barbara took us on an incredibly layered, wild ride with a flawed yet heroic protagonist, opened my eyes to a world I’d never before imagined, and whetted my appetite for the next installment starring Dr. Evan Wilding.
Thank you, Barbara Nickless, for making this such a great read!
What a story! I was immediately drawn into Evan Wilding’s world, and I loved following how his mind processed the clues that he saw. More than that, I could feel him as a person--a man with a beautiful mind and personality that always played second fiddle to the man that people saw…a person with dwarfism. As I devoured the book and was completely fascinated by the depth of research that it took to write such an intricate thriller, I couldn’t help but wonder how Evan felt at how he was perceived. You can say one thing to the world, but in the mirror is where a person faces the truth. I continually wondered about Evan’s truth. In other words, he became real to me.
I don’t want to spoil the suspense that awaits the reader, but suffice to say I learned much more about Vikings and Norse mythology than I ever could have imagined. Barbara took us on an incredibly layered, wild ride with a flawed yet heroic protagonist, opened my eyes to a world I’d never before imagined, and whetted my appetite for the next installment starring Dr. Evan Wilding.
Thank you, Barbara Nickless, for making this such a great read!
November 15, 2021
Just how much do you know about Vikings and the resurgence of neoViking gangs in your area? Turns out, I knew not much at all and certainly not as much as I thought I did! I do now! All thanks to Barbara Nickless' newest series featuring Dr. Evan Wilding.
Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the author's other series, too many war references for my comfort level, so I was hesitant to select At First Light for my Prime Reads book for November. I am so glad that I chose this one because I loved it!! Dr. Evan Wilding, a person with dwarfism, is a genius forensic semiotician who consults with Chicago detective Addie Bisset when she needs his expertise. A case that reflects Viking age runes is such a time for their collaboration leading them on a manhunt for a killer who is an expert on murder and Vikings.
I was impressed with the storytelling, character development and pace of At First Light but what had me enthralled from the start was Nickless' obvious depth of research that she put into this story. I was fact-checking right and left and everything was spot on. I got quite the history lesson with this one and enjoyed every minute of it. I cannot wait for the next the series. Well done!!
Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the author's other series, too many war references for my comfort level, so I was hesitant to select At First Light for my Prime Reads book for November. I am so glad that I chose this one because I loved it!! Dr. Evan Wilding, a person with dwarfism, is a genius forensic semiotician who consults with Chicago detective Addie Bisset when she needs his expertise. A case that reflects Viking age runes is such a time for their collaboration leading them on a manhunt for a killer who is an expert on murder and Vikings.
I was impressed with the storytelling, character development and pace of At First Light but what had me enthralled from the start was Nickless' obvious depth of research that she put into this story. I was fact-checking right and left and everything was spot on. I got quite the history lesson with this one and enjoyed every minute of it. I cannot wait for the next the series. Well done!!
February 15, 2022
Well, to begin with, this story is based out of Chicago, Illinois, my home town. So the landmarks, weather, etc., all are well known to me. 🙂
Gosh, there was much to be learned in this book! What is a forensic semiotician? It is Dr. Evan Wilding, who is smart as a whip about a multitude of things and when he’s not quite sure, he’s got his contacts and friends to lend him a hand. He is truly a brainiac! Evan is a little person or as he would insist, be called “a person with dwarfism.” He is called the Sparrow.
Evan consults for/with the Chicago Police Department. He is a Professor st the University of Chicago. Evan also has a hawk named Ginny! Evan has lapses in confidence with some of the police force, whom he’s overheard making rude references to his height or title. No one dares make rude references though to his knowledge! Evan has an Assistant, Diana, who is six feet tall and a good match for him to throw impressions at. She also throws axes at a Viking bar/re-enactment events. She is his researcher and through the book, his protector. I’d say she’s his second best friend, though there is no notion of romanticism between those two!
Detective Addie Bassett and Dr. Wilding have a respectful, friendly professional relationship. Though Evan would like Addie to see him differently. We ache to feel Evan’s emotions of possibly something more one day, between him and Addie. They make a great sleuthing pair. He believes in her and she believes in him. They do look out for each other and have a good bantering back and forth especially when trying to work through clues. She covers him and he covers her. They each can feel a premonition when one or the other is in trouble or unavailable. They are “best friends.”
“Every murderer creates his own story.” A serial killer will leave “messages” at the crime scene. Thus the beginning of ritualistic murders that are not easily figured out without digging deep into Viking lore and neo-Nazi believers. The bodies are found with clues in runic language messages merged with Old English Poetry verse on sticks, bones, etc. There are references to people that were killed long ago In the Iron Age thrown or buried in peat bogs. What does this mean? Is there a correlated significance? Read the book and all these little ties tie up into one big bow.
I must say the combination of all these different and odd things was quite interesting and fascinating to me especially when Evan was trying to search out the translations and meanings. He met quite a combination of interesting and thuggish people along the way and not all went well with that. Tommy Snow was one of my favorites though at first the reader must have misgivings about him. He’s just a young kid who is very different and he and Evan work so well together and have a sense of unity that either one of them is not “normal” but have certain gifts to use. Not everyone understands or appreciates that.
The runic alphabet tablet and their word meanings were fascinating to read about as well as some dark magic and previous personal despair sprinkled in here and there.
This is my first read by this author and it will certainly not be my last! I’m so impressed by this book and it sure made me think outside of the box along with Evan and Addie. It also exposed me to some history and psychological intent that I was previously not familiar with.
Gosh, there was much to be learned in this book! What is a forensic semiotician? It is Dr. Evan Wilding, who is smart as a whip about a multitude of things and when he’s not quite sure, he’s got his contacts and friends to lend him a hand. He is truly a brainiac! Evan is a little person or as he would insist, be called “a person with dwarfism.” He is called the Sparrow.
Evan consults for/with the Chicago Police Department. He is a Professor st the University of Chicago. Evan also has a hawk named Ginny! Evan has lapses in confidence with some of the police force, whom he’s overheard making rude references to his height or title. No one dares make rude references though to his knowledge! Evan has an Assistant, Diana, who is six feet tall and a good match for him to throw impressions at. She also throws axes at a Viking bar/re-enactment events. She is his researcher and through the book, his protector. I’d say she’s his second best friend, though there is no notion of romanticism between those two!
Detective Addie Bassett and Dr. Wilding have a respectful, friendly professional relationship. Though Evan would like Addie to see him differently. We ache to feel Evan’s emotions of possibly something more one day, between him and Addie. They make a great sleuthing pair. He believes in her and she believes in him. They do look out for each other and have a good bantering back and forth especially when trying to work through clues. She covers him and he covers her. They each can feel a premonition when one or the other is in trouble or unavailable. They are “best friends.”
“Every murderer creates his own story.” A serial killer will leave “messages” at the crime scene. Thus the beginning of ritualistic murders that are not easily figured out without digging deep into Viking lore and neo-Nazi believers. The bodies are found with clues in runic language messages merged with Old English Poetry verse on sticks, bones, etc. There are references to people that were killed long ago In the Iron Age thrown or buried in peat bogs. What does this mean? Is there a correlated significance? Read the book and all these little ties tie up into one big bow.
I must say the combination of all these different and odd things was quite interesting and fascinating to me especially when Evan was trying to search out the translations and meanings. He met quite a combination of interesting and thuggish people along the way and not all went well with that. Tommy Snow was one of my favorites though at first the reader must have misgivings about him. He’s just a young kid who is very different and he and Evan work so well together and have a sense of unity that either one of them is not “normal” but have certain gifts to use. Not everyone understands or appreciates that.
The runic alphabet tablet and their word meanings were fascinating to read about as well as some dark magic and previous personal despair sprinkled in here and there.
This is my first read by this author and it will certainly not be my last! I’m so impressed by this book and it sure made me think outside of the box along with Evan and Addie. It also exposed me to some history and psychological intent that I was previously not familiar with.
December 19, 2021
Puedes encontrar esta reseña en español al final.
I've been reading suspense all my life, that's why it's increasingly difficult for me to find something original. Everything starts to sound repeated, the plots, the bad guys, the good ones, everything. But not with this author. I have read 4 of her books and all four of them have surprised me with original plots. Including this one.
And above all, in addition to being original from the first chapter to the last, she is capable of taking me out of my comfort zone and making me think about diversity and how it is still a pending subject for me.
There is more, I think the level of documentation is stratospheric, so the background in which the story takes place becomes one more character.
The suspense is intense, it has kept me on edge throughout all the story. And the twists have been very, very subtle. I haven't seen all of them coming, really. So, despite not being perfect, and leaving me with some unanswered questions, I'm already hooked on Evan, Addie, Diana and Patrick and looking forward to seeing where Ms. Nickless lead us in her next (and highly anticipated) installment.
e-ARC kindly provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley.
Llevo toda la vida leyendo suspense, por eso cada vez me es más difícil encontrar algo original. Todo empieza a sonar repetido, las tramas, los malos, los buenos, todo. Pero no con esta autora. He leído 4 libros de ella y todos, los cuatro, me han sorprendido con tramas originales. Incluido éste.
Y encima, además de ser original desde el primer capítulo hasta el último, es capaz de sacarme de mi zona de confort y hacerme pensar sobre la diversidad y cómo aún es una asignatura pendiente para mí.
Hay más, creo que el nivel de documentación es estratosférico, por lo que el fondo en el que se desarrolla la historia se convierte en un personaje más.
El suspense es intenso, me ha tenido en vilo durante toda la historia. Y los giros han sido muy, muy sutiles. No todos los he visto venir, la verdad. Así que, a pesar de no haber sido perfecta, y haberme dejado con algunas preguntas sin respuesta, estoy ya enganchada a Evan, Addie, Diana y Patrick y deseando ver adónde no lleva Ms. Nickless en su próxima (y esperadísima) entrega.
I've been reading suspense all my life, that's why it's increasingly difficult for me to find something original. Everything starts to sound repeated, the plots, the bad guys, the good ones, everything. But not with this author. I have read 4 of her books and all four of them have surprised me with original plots. Including this one.
And above all, in addition to being original from the first chapter to the last, she is capable of taking me out of my comfort zone and making me think about diversity and how it is still a pending subject for me.
There is more, I think the level of documentation is stratospheric, so the background in which the story takes place becomes one more character.
The suspense is intense, it has kept me on edge throughout all the story. And the twists have been very, very subtle. I haven't seen all of them coming, really. So, despite not being perfect, and leaving me with some unanswered questions, I'm already hooked on Evan, Addie, Diana and Patrick and looking forward to seeing where Ms. Nickless lead us in her next (and highly anticipated) installment.
e-ARC kindly provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley.
Llevo toda la vida leyendo suspense, por eso cada vez me es más difícil encontrar algo original. Todo empieza a sonar repetido, las tramas, los malos, los buenos, todo. Pero no con esta autora. He leído 4 libros de ella y todos, los cuatro, me han sorprendido con tramas originales. Incluido éste.
Y encima, además de ser original desde el primer capítulo hasta el último, es capaz de sacarme de mi zona de confort y hacerme pensar sobre la diversidad y cómo aún es una asignatura pendiente para mí.
Hay más, creo que el nivel de documentación es estratosférico, por lo que el fondo en el que se desarrolla la historia se convierte en un personaje más.
El suspense es intenso, me ha tenido en vilo durante toda la historia. Y los giros han sido muy, muy sutiles. No todos los he visto venir, la verdad. Así que, a pesar de no haber sido perfecta, y haberme dejado con algunas preguntas sin respuesta, estoy ya enganchada a Evan, Addie, Diana y Patrick y deseando ver adónde no lleva Ms. Nickless en su próxima (y esperadísima) entrega.
September 2, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
When a body is found on the shores of the Calumet River, surrounded by slats of wood inscribed with runes, put-upon detective Addie calls in her genius partner, Semiotician, Evan Wilding, who is a dwarf.
They try to solve the case despite the competition of another consultant and the troglodytes that make up the whole rest of the Chicago Police Department.
It all gets to be a bit much.
When a body is found on the shores of the Calumet River, surrounded by slats of wood inscribed with runes, put-upon detective Addie calls in her genius partner, Semiotician, Evan Wilding, who is a dwarf.
They try to solve the case despite the competition of another consultant and the troglodytes that make up the whole rest of the Chicago Police Department.
It all gets to be a bit much.
December 9, 2021
5 +++++ stars audio and story!!!
December 20, 2022
At First Light, the first book in Barbara Nickless’ new series, has got that trademark Nickless feel.
Readability. Smarts.
It’s got a wonderful sense of interior headspace for both main characters—Chicago detective Addie Bisset and forensic semiotician Dr. Evan Wilding.
I was worried about the “forensic semiotician.” Give me a railroad cop over an ivory tower brainiac any day. (I read two books in her first series, Blood on the Tracks and Dead Stop.)
But I need not have worried. Nickless infuses Bisset and Wilding with so much humanity we slip into the story with ease and soon we are on the hunt in a puzzling case that pulls in a multitude of signs and symbols, Viking lore, runes, Norse mythology, bog bodies, Beowulf, Valkyries, and poetry.
Nickless wastes precisely zero time getting us into the thick of things in At First Light. We’re along a “forlorn section” of the Calumet River. And Detective Bisset is staring at the body of a man “murdered more than once.” The victim has three wounds. Each wound could have been fatal and “all were cruel” but she can’t be sure which wound took the life. “Had it been the slashed throat, the tightened noose, or the bone-crushing blow to the head?”
There are long wooden slates pressed horizontally into the mud around the dead man’s head and arranged to look like rays of the sun. And each stick contains tiny etchings “like letters in an unknown alphabet.” Addie pulls in Dr. Evan Wilding, a.k.a. the Sparrow, for assistance. He’s a Brit with dwarfism. He’s into falconry. He’s also into Addie. He wants to “concoct the perfect verse that would render Addie putty in his hands.” (He even chastises himself for thinking in clichés, a nice touch.) Their relationship is friendly, but platonic. Dr. Wilding would like more.
Nickless flips points of view with each chapter, however, and we know that Addie is not without some interest in Dr. Wilding, making for a fine underlay of romantic tension.
But the main thing is the hunt. There’s a second victim and indications of more to come. At First Light develops a rich intensity. Dr. Wilding puts the smarts in smarts. He attended Oxford University at age 11 and earned two PhDs by age 17. Addie has brainpower, too. She might be a touch more flawed. She’s not great at picking boyfriends. (“Someone had once told Addie that she went through men the way a rat terrier chewed through vermin—quickly and with ruthless efficiency.”). And Addie is not a big fan of rats. That’s about it. Neither is a tortured soul. (Refreshing!). Nickless lets them match wits with the killer and his complex ciphers and careful staging of his crimes. Along the way are some juicy morsels about the history of burial rites and cultural signifiers of death.
And some insightful information about semiotics. “Every human is a semiotician,” says Wilding. “That is, a reader of signs. All of us, every single day, interpret—or decode—the signs around us. Traffic lights. Road signs. The silhouette of a man or woman outside our bathroom doors. We’re constantly interpreting the manmade world around us.”
Nickless’ love for English runes and medieval literature is spelled out in her acknowledgements. Her rich background in the material comes through in abundance throughout At First Light. Dr. Wilding (who can read this book and not think of Peter Dinklage?) brings his wealth of knowledge to this case. But Addie is no slouch when it comes to analysis and seeing details. Nickless makes it enjoyable to watch the pair parse poetry and dissect words.
Thinks Wilding: “This case was like the jigsaw puzzles he used to work while he sat in hospital waiting rooms as a child. Pieces missing. Pieces from other puzzles mixed in. Half the time, the lid was gone, so you didn’t even know what picture you were trying to create. You had to fill in the blanks using your imagination. And imagination, as Sherlock Holmes told Dr. Watson, was the mother of truth.”
There is action and genuine jeopardy in At First Light, but when was the last time you read a mystery and thought: It’s just fun to watch these detectives think?
Readability. Smarts.
It’s got a wonderful sense of interior headspace for both main characters—Chicago detective Addie Bisset and forensic semiotician Dr. Evan Wilding.
I was worried about the “forensic semiotician.” Give me a railroad cop over an ivory tower brainiac any day. (I read two books in her first series, Blood on the Tracks and Dead Stop.)
But I need not have worried. Nickless infuses Bisset and Wilding with so much humanity we slip into the story with ease and soon we are on the hunt in a puzzling case that pulls in a multitude of signs and symbols, Viking lore, runes, Norse mythology, bog bodies, Beowulf, Valkyries, and poetry.
Nickless wastes precisely zero time getting us into the thick of things in At First Light. We’re along a “forlorn section” of the Calumet River. And Detective Bisset is staring at the body of a man “murdered more than once.” The victim has three wounds. Each wound could have been fatal and “all were cruel” but she can’t be sure which wound took the life. “Had it been the slashed throat, the tightened noose, or the bone-crushing blow to the head?”
There are long wooden slates pressed horizontally into the mud around the dead man’s head and arranged to look like rays of the sun. And each stick contains tiny etchings “like letters in an unknown alphabet.” Addie pulls in Dr. Evan Wilding, a.k.a. the Sparrow, for assistance. He’s a Brit with dwarfism. He’s into falconry. He’s also into Addie. He wants to “concoct the perfect verse that would render Addie putty in his hands.” (He even chastises himself for thinking in clichés, a nice touch.) Their relationship is friendly, but platonic. Dr. Wilding would like more.
Nickless flips points of view with each chapter, however, and we know that Addie is not without some interest in Dr. Wilding, making for a fine underlay of romantic tension.
But the main thing is the hunt. There’s a second victim and indications of more to come. At First Light develops a rich intensity. Dr. Wilding puts the smarts in smarts. He attended Oxford University at age 11 and earned two PhDs by age 17. Addie has brainpower, too. She might be a touch more flawed. She’s not great at picking boyfriends. (“Someone had once told Addie that she went through men the way a rat terrier chewed through vermin—quickly and with ruthless efficiency.”). And Addie is not a big fan of rats. That’s about it. Neither is a tortured soul. (Refreshing!). Nickless lets them match wits with the killer and his complex ciphers and careful staging of his crimes. Along the way are some juicy morsels about the history of burial rites and cultural signifiers of death.
And some insightful information about semiotics. “Every human is a semiotician,” says Wilding. “That is, a reader of signs. All of us, every single day, interpret—or decode—the signs around us. Traffic lights. Road signs. The silhouette of a man or woman outside our bathroom doors. We’re constantly interpreting the manmade world around us.”
Nickless’ love for English runes and medieval literature is spelled out in her acknowledgements. Her rich background in the material comes through in abundance throughout At First Light. Dr. Wilding (who can read this book and not think of Peter Dinklage?) brings his wealth of knowledge to this case. But Addie is no slouch when it comes to analysis and seeing details. Nickless makes it enjoyable to watch the pair parse poetry and dissect words.
Thinks Wilding: “This case was like the jigsaw puzzles he used to work while he sat in hospital waiting rooms as a child. Pieces missing. Pieces from other puzzles mixed in. Half the time, the lid was gone, so you didn’t even know what picture you were trying to create. You had to fill in the blanks using your imagination. And imagination, as Sherlock Holmes told Dr. Watson, was the mother of truth.”
There is action and genuine jeopardy in At First Light, but when was the last time you read a mystery and thought: It’s just fun to watch these detectives think?
December 5, 2021
Bogged Down Plot...
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. Someone is ritualistically murdering people in Chicago... Sinners...
The killer's M.O.: Placing wooden stakes carved with runes in a halo around the victim's head...
... a triple death by garroting, slitting the throat and bashing in the head...
... then placing the victim on his side at a watery site in the manner of bog bodies from the iron age...
Oh, and one eye removed for good measure...
Detective Addie Bissett and her partner Patrick McBrady are assigned to the case and upon seeing the runes...
... call in a specialist, Dr. Evan Wilding Ph.D, English transplant who is into hawks and BTW is an inconspicuous dwarf...
The killer is the wolf who walks their nights, the horror who haunts their days. There is always another sinner...
First, to the author, I would like to commend you for your exhaustive research into bog bodies and facts on Scandinavian runes and folklore but sometimes less is better and that certainly applies here.
This story was literally bogged down by the glut of facts and there was barely, after all the pages and pages of research and examples on runes, enough pages reserved for the sleuthing.
Did I mention pages and pages of facts? It became a chore to get through the story. I almost stopped reading because I couldn't bear another page of facts.
I agree with one review I read that said most of the cops were stereotypes but there was a very interesting character... the dwarf, whose storyline made this book more palatable for me.
The bottom line: if you're a reader who likes more cerebral Sherlock Holmes-like stories or if you're into Scandinavian folklore, this may be a good book for you but if you're an average Joe like me you might quickly lose interest.
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. Someone is ritualistically murdering people in Chicago... Sinners...
The killer's M.O.: Placing wooden stakes carved with runes in a halo around the victim's head...
... a triple death by garroting, slitting the throat and bashing in the head...
... then placing the victim on his side at a watery site in the manner of bog bodies from the iron age...
Oh, and one eye removed for good measure...
Detective Addie Bissett and her partner Patrick McBrady are assigned to the case and upon seeing the runes...
... call in a specialist, Dr. Evan Wilding Ph.D, English transplant who is into hawks and BTW is an inconspicuous dwarf...
The killer is the wolf who walks their nights, the horror who haunts their days. There is always another sinner...
First, to the author, I would like to commend you for your exhaustive research into bog bodies and facts on Scandinavian runes and folklore but sometimes less is better and that certainly applies here.
This story was literally bogged down by the glut of facts and there was barely, after all the pages and pages of research and examples on runes, enough pages reserved for the sleuthing.
Did I mention pages and pages of facts? It became a chore to get through the story. I almost stopped reading because I couldn't bear another page of facts.
I agree with one review I read that said most of the cops were stereotypes but there was a very interesting character... the dwarf, whose storyline made this book more palatable for me.
The bottom line: if you're a reader who likes more cerebral Sherlock Holmes-like stories or if you're into Scandinavian folklore, this may be a good book for you but if you're an average Joe like me you might quickly lose interest.
November 1, 2021
Excellent Thriller Steeped in Ancient Norse Symbols and Lore
What a delightful, utterly satisfying thriller! The pace is perfect, and I like how the author goes back and forth between the smart detective’s police inquiry and the semiotics professor’s deep dive into ritualistic murders steeped in ancient Viking history and runic lore. (FYI, semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, specifically their uses and interpretation.) The author must have had to research a TON, but she doesn’t make the book feel like a history or symbol lesson. Despite the excellent, page-turning pacing, the author has still created complex, multi-layered characters. I love that! So often, thrillers focus on the chase and twists of the plot. Three-dimensional, deep characterization of police and consultants is rare in thrillers; we’re more apt to see a deeper look into the mind of the villain; I appreciated the intricate blend of strengths and vulnerabilities she imbued the detective and professor with. I look forward to checking out the author’s catalog—this was my first book of hers—and I certainly will watch out for more featuring the intriguing Dr. Evan Wilding.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
What a delightful, utterly satisfying thriller! The pace is perfect, and I like how the author goes back and forth between the smart detective’s police inquiry and the semiotics professor’s deep dive into ritualistic murders steeped in ancient Viking history and runic lore. (FYI, semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, specifically their uses and interpretation.) The author must have had to research a TON, but she doesn’t make the book feel like a history or symbol lesson. Despite the excellent, page-turning pacing, the author has still created complex, multi-layered characters. I love that! So often, thrillers focus on the chase and twists of the plot. Three-dimensional, deep characterization of police and consultants is rare in thrillers; we’re more apt to see a deeper look into the mind of the villain; I appreciated the intricate blend of strengths and vulnerabilities she imbued the detective and professor with. I look forward to checking out the author’s catalog—this was my first book of hers—and I certainly will watch out for more featuring the intriguing Dr. Evan Wilding.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
November 19, 2021
Wowza, quite the winner for my Kindle/Amazon freebie for the month!
I know many reviewers will go into all the sordid details of the plot, but all I’ll say, is this book revolves around Det. Addie Bisset, on her first major case and her BFF, Dr Evan Wilder, an esteemed Professor and semiotician who helps her mete out the details. Oh, he also happens to 4’5…think Peter Dinklage and he has a beloved hawk named Ginny.
All the characters are finely drawn and this is a very good mystery, lots of red herrings, and quite a bit of historical content. Nice to see the mention of Beowulf, too! I have not thought about that since high school AP English.
Too bad the next one is not due until Dec 2022. I can’t wait!
I know many reviewers will go into all the sordid details of the plot, but all I’ll say, is this book revolves around Det. Addie Bisset, on her first major case and her BFF, Dr Evan Wilder, an esteemed Professor and semiotician who helps her mete out the details. Oh, he also happens to 4’5…think Peter Dinklage and he has a beloved hawk named Ginny.
All the characters are finely drawn and this is a very good mystery, lots of red herrings, and quite a bit of historical content. Nice to see the mention of Beowulf, too! I have not thought about that since high school AP English.
Too bad the next one is not due until Dec 2022. I can’t wait!
October 27, 2021
I walked by this book sitting on my mantle for at least a week, before I picked it up and started reading it. The only problem with this Authors' masterpieces, is once you start reading, you cannot put the book down! I knew that I needed most of the day dedicated to reading before I dare open to the first page.
As promised, At First Light, is another page turner! Barbara Nickless, you are amazing! Every book that you write is another feast for my eyes. Any lucky souls out there that are just starting to read the Author's first book "Blood On The Tracks" ....you are blessed and can "binge read" to catch up. I, unfortunately have to be patiently impatient and wait for the next course to bestow my eyes upon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early review copy.
And most of all, thank you Barbara Nickless for doing all the research and hard work to keep us entertained and enthralled!
As promised, At First Light, is another page turner! Barbara Nickless, you are amazing! Every book that you write is another feast for my eyes. Any lucky souls out there that are just starting to read the Author's first book "Blood On The Tracks" ....you are blessed and can "binge read" to catch up. I, unfortunately have to be patiently impatient and wait for the next course to bestow my eyes upon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early review copy.
And most of all, thank you Barbara Nickless for doing all the research and hard work to keep us entertained and enthralled!
November 5, 2021
I wanted to love this book but ...
I adore Barbara Nickless and Sydney Rose Parnell. As a matter of fact, I reread that series when I learned that a new book was coming and assumed it would be book five of that series but I was wrong. Part of what I love about that series is the sparseness of that writing and the speed with which the stories moved and this new series meets neither of my "loves." The plot is not so complicated but the level of detail and the need to understand every detail is so dense that I almost decided not to finish the book but I pushed on. I have to say I'm sorry I wasted my time. But one huge detail was missing: It seems to me that the main character who was is introduced in a Sydney Rose book is the cousin of a major character there but that was never mentioned!
I adore Barbara Nickless and Sydney Rose Parnell. As a matter of fact, I reread that series when I learned that a new book was coming and assumed it would be book five of that series but I was wrong. Part of what I love about that series is the sparseness of that writing and the speed with which the stories moved and this new series meets neither of my "loves." The plot is not so complicated but the level of detail and the need to understand every detail is so dense that I almost decided not to finish the book but I pushed on. I have to say I'm sorry I wasted my time. But one huge detail was missing: It seems to me that the main character who was is introduced in a Sydney Rose book is the cousin of a major character there but that was never mentioned!
May 5, 2024
Terrible
Right from the start. I tried to stick it out because of an interesting setup and a seemingly unique protagonist. But the clunky writing and what I suppose was meant to be clever repartee made me give up early on in the book. Another example of something being worth what you pay for. Find something else to read is my advice.
Right from the start. I tried to stick it out because of an interesting setup and a seemingly unique protagonist. But the clunky writing and what I suppose was meant to be clever repartee made me give up early on in the book. Another example of something being worth what you pay for. Find something else to read is my advice.
January 4, 2022
Great book! Not only was it a dark serial killer mystery, the fascinating details about Viking runes and riddles were page turning. I’m impressed with the immense amount of research Barbara Nickless completed to write such an intriguing book.
December 5, 2021
All the tidbits of information in this psychological thriller gives a scholarly feel on all things Vikings, the power of poems and extensive knowledge involving English runes.
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