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Snow Light
When Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas encounters a man attacking a young woman in a local park, the DI is unable to save her. Out of guilt, Thomas quits his job at Homicide Headquarters and relocates to the tiny village of Crottendorf, where he regains control of himself and begins to enjoy life again.
However, a year later, all the guilt and shame of the park incident re-emerges when a local hermit, Ethan Wright, is murdered with an unusual weapon and left on display in the centre of the village.
For Thomas, the situation gets worse when Detective Sergeant Ann Collins, a colleague from his past, appears to help with the case. But things become complicated when the victim’s identity is put into question.
Who is the victim? And why was he murdered?
Whilst Thomas and Collins find themselves trying to solve the unusual case, they may have more in common than they could have ever imagined.
However, a year later, all the guilt and shame of the park incident re-emerges when a local hermit, Ethan Wright, is murdered with an unusual weapon and left on display in the centre of the village.
For Thomas, the situation gets worse when Detective Sergeant Ann Collins, a colleague from his past, appears to help with the case. But things become complicated when the victim’s identity is put into question.
Who is the victim? And why was he murdered?
Whilst Thomas and Collins find themselves trying to solve the unusual case, they may have more in common than they could have ever imagined.
- GenresThriller
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2017
86 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 15, 2017
When I read the blurb for Snow Light I was intrigued immediately as it sounded like the kind of book I would enjoy and I was definitely not disappointed!
Snow Light introduces us to Nathaniel Thomas, a Detective Inspector, who stumbled upon an attack but was unable to save the victim. Fast forward a year and he has relocated to a quiet town to try and work through his guilt away from Homicide HQ.
From here, Snow Light moves along quite slowly in terms of pace. A local hermit has been found dead, but here is little in the way of evidence or suspects. The investigation takes time, and there doesn’t seem to be much for Thomas or his team to go on initially. From here though, the pace picks up as they find out the victim wasn’t who he purported to be.
I don’t want to say much about the plot though, because the author has skilfully woven a taut narrative that leads the team on quite the investigation. The characters are well-written, the location lends itself really well to the chilling nature of the murder and the plot is definitely one for mystery lovers. I really enjoyed Snow Light. And its a DEBUT. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to seeing where the author will take the reader next!
Recommended for sure!
Snow Light introduces us to Nathaniel Thomas, a Detective Inspector, who stumbled upon an attack but was unable to save the victim. Fast forward a year and he has relocated to a quiet town to try and work through his guilt away from Homicide HQ.
From here, Snow Light moves along quite slowly in terms of pace. A local hermit has been found dead, but here is little in the way of evidence or suspects. The investigation takes time, and there doesn’t seem to be much for Thomas or his team to go on initially. From here though, the pace picks up as they find out the victim wasn’t who he purported to be.
I don’t want to say much about the plot though, because the author has skilfully woven a taut narrative that leads the team on quite the investigation. The characters are well-written, the location lends itself really well to the chilling nature of the murder and the plot is definitely one for mystery lovers. I really enjoyed Snow Light. And its a DEBUT. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to seeing where the author will take the reader next!
Recommended for sure!
November 15, 2017
Snow Light is the authors debut novel of which I have to say I am very impressed and can't wait to see where she goes from here.
The cover really is perfect for the story. Set in a small village at a time when it is hit with bad snow, it really added to the whole atmosphere of the book and how isolated a place can be.
The story starts off with an event that has haunted the main character, Thomas ever since. He has never been able to forget or to forgive himself for what happened that fateful night and has left him quite damaged.
It was certainly a new one on me where a detective fighting his own demons is left in charge of his friends daughter. It really added something to the story though and really humanised Thomas of which I really liked. The relationship between him and Sky, I absolutely loved. It was great to see a different side to him from the work one. Saying this though I also enjoyed the working relationship between him and Collins.
Snow Light is an atmospheric and intriguing read. A great start to what I hope is the first of many more featuring DI Nathaniel Thomas. A great debut from a promising author.
The cover really is perfect for the story. Set in a small village at a time when it is hit with bad snow, it really added to the whole atmosphere of the book and how isolated a place can be.
The story starts off with an event that has haunted the main character, Thomas ever since. He has never been able to forget or to forgive himself for what happened that fateful night and has left him quite damaged.
It was certainly a new one on me where a detective fighting his own demons is left in charge of his friends daughter. It really added something to the story though and really humanised Thomas of which I really liked. The relationship between him and Sky, I absolutely loved. It was great to see a different side to him from the work one. Saying this though I also enjoyed the working relationship between him and Collins.
Snow Light is an atmospheric and intriguing read. A great start to what I hope is the first of many more featuring DI Nathaniel Thomas. A great debut from a promising author.
July 19, 2020
The story is set in a small village which was hit hard by snow. It is a murder mystery with the main detective Thomas who is fighting demons of his own.
The small town laid down an atmosphere of its own as the detective set about solving the murder.
The narration is crisp and the plot is completely rounded off. Loved the mystery.
The small town laid down an atmosphere of its own as the detective set about solving the murder.
The narration is crisp and the plot is completely rounded off. Loved the mystery.
June 17, 2020
I read the synopsis for 'Snow Light' and it certainly appealed to me on so many different levels. I couldn't wait to start reading and so without further ado, I jumped straight in. Oh boy, 'Snow Light' was an amazing read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas from the first time I met him. It emerges that he went through a traumatic experience with a previous case, which still affects him greatly to this day. I won't go into specifics as that might spoil the story for others. He has something of a crisis of confidence and he transfers to a quieter place where nobody knows him or what happened. Little does he realise that his quiet existence is about to come to an end.
Well where do I start with 'Snow Light' ? I mean that in the nicest possible way. When I agreed to take part on the blog tour, I hadn't realised that the author actually studied at a college just up the road from me in the North East of England. That, together with the setting of the story in Germany and the fact that the synopsis was so darn intriguing, convinced me that I had to read the book as soon as I possibly could. I have a fondness for Germany after having lived there during my university studies. I thoroughly enjoy reading books set in Germany, as it fills me with nostalgia of happier times and reminds me of living over there.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'Snow Light'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages I knew that this was a book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time. I was spot on too because I couldn't put the book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I seemed to race to the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story concluded but I wasn't pleased because I was enjoying the characters, the storylines and the author's writing style that much that I didn't want the story to end.
'Snow Light' is very well written. Danielle certainly grabs your attention with an incident so shocking that it will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. The story starts with a bang and maintains a fast pace throughout. I loved the way in which the author has described that particular part of Germany because it felt as though I was back there myself. Had I closed my eyes, it would have been easy to imagine that I was right there in the thick of the action with all the snowy mountains and things round about. I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that's all thanks to Danielle's very realistic and vivid storytelling. 'Snow Light' was a truly gripping and page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing.
There's just a teensy weeny little comment I want to make about the different police characters. The police officers in the book have the ranks that their British counterparts would have and are called as such (Detective Inspector etc), which reads a little strange when you consider that the story is set in Germany. That said, the use of British ranks didn't confuse me nor did it put me off reading this book. I just went with the flow as it were.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Snow Light' and I would recommend it to other readers. I look forward to learning much more about Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas in future books in the series. I will certainly be reading more of Danielle's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I couldn't help but take to Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas from the first time I met him. It emerges that he went through a traumatic experience with a previous case, which still affects him greatly to this day. I won't go into specifics as that might spoil the story for others. He has something of a crisis of confidence and he transfers to a quieter place where nobody knows him or what happened. Little does he realise that his quiet existence is about to come to an end.
Well where do I start with 'Snow Light' ? I mean that in the nicest possible way. When I agreed to take part on the blog tour, I hadn't realised that the author actually studied at a college just up the road from me in the North East of England. That, together with the setting of the story in Germany and the fact that the synopsis was so darn intriguing, convinced me that I had to read the book as soon as I possibly could. I have a fondness for Germany after having lived there during my university studies. I thoroughly enjoy reading books set in Germany, as it fills me with nostalgia of happier times and reminds me of living over there.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'Snow Light'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages I knew that this was a book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time. I was spot on too because I couldn't put the book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I seemed to race to the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story concluded but I wasn't pleased because I was enjoying the characters, the storylines and the author's writing style that much that I didn't want the story to end.
'Snow Light' is very well written. Danielle certainly grabs your attention with an incident so shocking that it will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. The story starts with a bang and maintains a fast pace throughout. I loved the way in which the author has described that particular part of Germany because it felt as though I was back there myself. Had I closed my eyes, it would have been easy to imagine that I was right there in the thick of the action with all the snowy mountains and things round about. I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that's all thanks to Danielle's very realistic and vivid storytelling. 'Snow Light' was a truly gripping and page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing.
There's just a teensy weeny little comment I want to make about the different police characters. The police officers in the book have the ranks that their British counterparts would have and are called as such (Detective Inspector etc), which reads a little strange when you consider that the story is set in Germany. That said, the use of British ranks didn't confuse me nor did it put me off reading this book. I just went with the flow as it were.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Snow Light' and I would recommend it to other readers. I look forward to learning much more about Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas in future books in the series. I will certainly be reading more of Danielle's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
November 17, 2017
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This is a great debut novel from Danielle Zinn! It is a well thought through plot that has just the right amount of twists, turns and red herrings to keep you engaged until the end.
The characters were great and worked really well within the story, I loved the descriptive nature and I thought that the location suited the book perfectly.
A solid four stars from me for this book and looking forward to reading more from this author in the future - I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
This is a great debut novel from Danielle Zinn! It is a well thought through plot that has just the right amount of twists, turns and red herrings to keep you engaged until the end.
The characters were great and worked really well within the story, I loved the descriptive nature and I thought that the location suited the book perfectly.
A solid four stars from me for this book and looking forward to reading more from this author in the future - I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
November 16, 2017
This is a debut novel by this author and a very impressive one at that.
DI Nat Thomas is traumatised by his inability to save a young woman the previous year and has hidden away in a remote village where he shares his nights with nightmares and his day with 'What if's'.
Life in Turtleville is quiet and peaceful. Nothing much happens and Nat is quietly licking his wounds when a dead body is found. Collins is sent to assist in the investigation she doesn’t want to be there and Nat doesn’t want her there.
The book moves along steadily as Nat and Collins work around their differences to try to solve the murder. It is an intriguing story with many twists and turns and a shocking revelation at the end.
I loved reading about the area and having a story set in a snow bound remote village brought a different perspective to the story. Absolutely love Sky she is one amazing kid.
It is a very intriguing read with emotions and history intertwined among the lines of the story. I am looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the advance copy.
DI Nat Thomas is traumatised by his inability to save a young woman the previous year and has hidden away in a remote village where he shares his nights with nightmares and his day with 'What if's'.
Life in Turtleville is quiet and peaceful. Nothing much happens and Nat is quietly licking his wounds when a dead body is found. Collins is sent to assist in the investigation she doesn’t want to be there and Nat doesn’t want her there.
The book moves along steadily as Nat and Collins work around their differences to try to solve the murder. It is an intriguing story with many twists and turns and a shocking revelation at the end.
I loved reading about the area and having a story set in a snow bound remote village brought a different perspective to the story. Absolutely love Sky she is one amazing kid.
It is a very intriguing read with emotions and history intertwined among the lines of the story. I am looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the advance copy.
June 18, 2020
Snow Light by Danielle Zinn
The first scene is just after a Christmas party in Dresden. Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas has a wake up call on his way home that leads to big changes in his life. One year later and working in Crottendorf he is called to the marketplace where a body has been staged on a pyramid. As Christmas is coming soon decorations are up for the holidays and one of them is the wooden pyramid with carved figures. And thus, begins the search to solve the riddle of who, what, when, where and why in regard to the body on the pyramid.
What I liked:
* Nathaniel sometimes called Thomas: a big man with a heavy load to carry. He is guardian for his friend’s daughter when David travels, acting constable for the town and rather mired in what happened a year before.
* Ann Collins: a difficult to get along with Detective Sergeant sent from Dresden to “help” with the case. I liked and understood her more and more as the book progressed
* Sky: a precocious eleven-year-old girl nearing her twelfth birthday – she tests the limits regularly but has a heart of gold.
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The twists and turns as the story unfolded
* Nathaniel’s willingness to act as guardian to Sky and his ability to do it well
* The community and how it played into the story
* The secret divulged that was the catalyst for the murder
* That I felt I was there
* It was believable and realistic and made me think
* Finding out that Crottendorf exists and googling to learn more about it
* Reading about the tradition of lights in the windows
* The healing I felt took place toward the end
* Wondering if perhaps Nathaniel and Ann would work together in the future (is there a series in the making?)
* All of it really except
What I didn’t like:
* That some people are evil and get away with it for much too long
* Having to leave the characters behind wondering what will happen in their lives next.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
The first scene is just after a Christmas party in Dresden. Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas has a wake up call on his way home that leads to big changes in his life. One year later and working in Crottendorf he is called to the marketplace where a body has been staged on a pyramid. As Christmas is coming soon decorations are up for the holidays and one of them is the wooden pyramid with carved figures. And thus, begins the search to solve the riddle of who, what, when, where and why in regard to the body on the pyramid.
What I liked:
* Nathaniel sometimes called Thomas: a big man with a heavy load to carry. He is guardian for his friend’s daughter when David travels, acting constable for the town and rather mired in what happened a year before.
* Ann Collins: a difficult to get along with Detective Sergeant sent from Dresden to “help” with the case. I liked and understood her more and more as the book progressed
* Sky: a precocious eleven-year-old girl nearing her twelfth birthday – she tests the limits regularly but has a heart of gold.
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The twists and turns as the story unfolded
* Nathaniel’s willingness to act as guardian to Sky and his ability to do it well
* The community and how it played into the story
* The secret divulged that was the catalyst for the murder
* That I felt I was there
* It was believable and realistic and made me think
* Finding out that Crottendorf exists and googling to learn more about it
* Reading about the tradition of lights in the windows
* The healing I felt took place toward the end
* Wondering if perhaps Nathaniel and Ann would work together in the future (is there a series in the making?)
* All of it really except
What I didn’t like:
* That some people are evil and get away with it for much too long
* Having to leave the characters behind wondering what will happen in their lives next.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
November 17, 2017
Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas stumbles upon a young woman being attacked. Although he did his best, the girl doesn’t survive. This breaks him and he ends up retiring and moving to Turtleville. It’s been a year of peace and growth until a local hermit, Ethan Wright, is found murdered and left on display. He investigates to the best of his ability but there are no leads until Detective Ann Collins shows up.
Thomas has a history with Collins at the Homicide Headquarters. Things go from bad to worse when the identity of the body is questioned and it seems Ethan Wright is not who he said he was. But who couldn’t have murdered him in the small village. Thomas and Collins are going to have to be careful as they hunt down a killer.
I really enjoyed this story. It quickly hooked me in with a failed attempt at saving a young girl. This just wrecks Thomas and has him heading to the peace and quiet of a small village to put his life back together. Then when Ethan was discovered you can see the cracks starting to open up again.
This is a great mystery that will keep you guessing with ever twist and turn. It is a debut novel and definitely surprised me. This is a great mystery/thriller and one you should check out.
I received Snow Light from Bloodhound Books for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Thomas has a history with Collins at the Homicide Headquarters. Things go from bad to worse when the identity of the body is questioned and it seems Ethan Wright is not who he said he was. But who couldn’t have murdered him in the small village. Thomas and Collins are going to have to be careful as they hunt down a killer.
I really enjoyed this story. It quickly hooked me in with a failed attempt at saving a young girl. This just wrecks Thomas and has him heading to the peace and quiet of a small village to put his life back together. Then when Ethan was discovered you can see the cracks starting to open up again.
This is a great mystery that will keep you guessing with ever twist and turn. It is a debut novel and definitely surprised me. This is a great mystery/thriller and one you should check out.
I received Snow Light from Bloodhound Books for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
June 11, 2018
When I read the blurb for this book, I was hooked. Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas seems like a man crippled by guilt, always second guessing himself. I have to say that I like books where the protagonists are flawed characters. It gives more dimesion and depth to the book and their actions.
Cudos to Danielle Zinn for masterfully weaving a dark thriller which had me reading well into the night. It is hard to believe that this is her debut. I can't wait to see what she has to offer next!
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a good edge of your seat thriller.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
Cudos to Danielle Zinn for masterfully weaving a dark thriller which had me reading well into the night. It is hard to believe that this is her debut. I can't wait to see what she has to offer next!
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a good edge of your seat thriller.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 15, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Snow Light, from the setting to the baffling crime set up.
It is being published perfectly for a winter read, as it is set beautifully in the back drop setting in Turtleville.
Nathaniel was such a fabulous character to get to know. With his background story to how he lives his life.
As the book is set in a village there is a slight feeling of being in a fish bowl and wondering who done it, which I did not guess at all. For a change, I was quite happy to read and let the story evolve and the killer be revealed as I was totally immersed in the unfolding mystery.
A very classy, clever read with a wonderful setting, and traditions explained with ease and fitting in with the story.
A perfect crime winter read, that will leave you wondering on this conundrum right to the end.
It is being published perfectly for a winter read, as it is set beautifully in the back drop setting in Turtleville.
Nathaniel was such a fabulous character to get to know. With his background story to how he lives his life.
As the book is set in a village there is a slight feeling of being in a fish bowl and wondering who done it, which I did not guess at all. For a change, I was quite happy to read and let the story evolve and the killer be revealed as I was totally immersed in the unfolding mystery.
A very classy, clever read with a wonderful setting, and traditions explained with ease and fitting in with the story.
A perfect crime winter read, that will leave you wondering on this conundrum right to the end.
June 17, 2020
This is a very good well written debut novel.
Traumatised from the past DI Nathaniel Thomas moves to Turtleville, a small village. A year on there’s a murder in the village. A blast from his past arrives to help with the case, DS Ann Collins.
I thought the pace of this story was good and I really liked the storyline.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Traumatised from the past DI Nathaniel Thomas moves to Turtleville, a small village. A year on there’s a murder in the village. A blast from his past arrives to help with the case, DS Ann Collins.
I thought the pace of this story was good and I really liked the storyline.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
December 7, 2017
I really enjoyed meeting a new detective. Nathaniel Thomas is a great character and I look forward to reading more mysteries that he gets involved with. A clever story with lots of red herrings. Well worth a read
November 12, 2017
Once again I am indebted to Bloodhound Books for introducing me to yet another new author, Danielle Zinn, whose Snow Light I received as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The book is an enjoyable read but I felt that it lacked the tension and pace of a top crime novel and there was no real sense of place. The interaction between the two detectives is good and their back stories are interesting but I did not feel engrossed.
November 18, 2017
I never needed to ponder over Snow Light, the synopsis was an attraction straight off when deciding if I would be part of the amazing tour for Danielle, secondly was the cover, who doesn’t love a winters scene, I certainly wasn’t going to pass up on this opportunity. Bloodhound has a knack of finding amazing debut authors, Danielle Zinn is another exceptional discovery.
Snow Light opens with the main character Nathaniel Thomas, suffering flashbacks from an investigation he was previously involved in where he tried to save the life of a young woman, but was unable to do so and the woman in question died. The turmoil swirling through his brain causes him to quit his job in Homicide Headquarters and plant roots in Turtleville, a small village where he hides away and manages to salvage his sense of proprietary and learns to take control of his life again. All this is short-lived when the local hermit is found murdered and put on display in the centre of the village, unconsciously all his dark thoughts about the young woman who died re-emerges, sending him close to the edge. Thomas ends up working with DS Ann Collins, the last person he wanted to work with, DS Ann also has the unenviable position of working the case, can they manage to put there differences aside and solve this investigation.
Snow Light is an easy going book, I literally sat curled up on my settee, coffee in hand and absorbed the plot at a sedate pace, there was no need for the book to roar off at break neck speed, it wouldn’t have suited the style of writing Danielle was portraying.
I can’t believe that this book is a debut, Danielle has an immense talent which is showing through in spades in Snow Light, you would be forgiven for thinking Danielle had written other books. Lets hope there are many more to come and they are as enjoyable too read as Snow Light.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books, Danielle Zinn and Sarah Hardy for the advanced readers copy of Snow Light. Its been an honour to read Snowlight in exchange for an honest review.
Snow Light opens with the main character Nathaniel Thomas, suffering flashbacks from an investigation he was previously involved in where he tried to save the life of a young woman, but was unable to do so and the woman in question died. The turmoil swirling through his brain causes him to quit his job in Homicide Headquarters and plant roots in Turtleville, a small village where he hides away and manages to salvage his sense of proprietary and learns to take control of his life again. All this is short-lived when the local hermit is found murdered and put on display in the centre of the village, unconsciously all his dark thoughts about the young woman who died re-emerges, sending him close to the edge. Thomas ends up working with DS Ann Collins, the last person he wanted to work with, DS Ann also has the unenviable position of working the case, can they manage to put there differences aside and solve this investigation.
Snow Light is an easy going book, I literally sat curled up on my settee, coffee in hand and absorbed the plot at a sedate pace, there was no need for the book to roar off at break neck speed, it wouldn’t have suited the style of writing Danielle was portraying.
I can’t believe that this book is a debut, Danielle has an immense talent which is showing through in spades in Snow Light, you would be forgiven for thinking Danielle had written other books. Lets hope there are many more to come and they are as enjoyable too read as Snow Light.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books, Danielle Zinn and Sarah Hardy for the advanced readers copy of Snow Light. Its been an honour to read Snowlight in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2020
DI Nathaniel Thomas comes across a murder in progress but is unable to stop. He quits his job and moves to the small village of Turtleville in the Ore Mountains. His quiet life is thrown into chaos when Ethan Wright, the local odd ball and hermit is murdered and placed on public display. But Ethan Wright is not who everyone thinks he is. With the help of DS Ann Collins, he must find out who Wright really is and catch the killer.
The opening to this book was fantastic, you’re thrown right into the action, when we relive DI Thomas’s memory of him comes across a murder in progress. It skips to a year later with Thomas being called out to another crime scene, this time in a sleepy little village.
I loved the setting up in the snowy mountains, which was so realistic it made me shiver at times. I’m just glad I don’t live there myself, I don’t think I could live with all that snow!
I liked the character of DI Thomas. You really feel his guilt and pain throughout the book as this murder brings up a lot of his unresolved issues. There is also an extra complication because he is acting guardian/surrogate dad to his friends’ 11-year-old daughter Sky, who is full of sassiness and is constantly trying to break the rules (She reminds me of a cheekier version of my son). His partner DS Ann Collins was not overly likeable, she’s quite blunt and moody (which makes a change it’s usual the men who are the taciturn ones), but she was a fascinating character and played off DI Thomas well.
It is fairly slow to start off but there were a few twists I did not see coming once the story got nearer the end, which made me not want to put it down until I finished it.
My only issue was it was quite a complicated story line and I got a little bit lost in the middle with who was who and who were the suspects.
Overall a great debut novel and is the perfect Christmassy read for crime fans.
The opening to this book was fantastic, you’re thrown right into the action, when we relive DI Thomas’s memory of him comes across a murder in progress. It skips to a year later with Thomas being called out to another crime scene, this time in a sleepy little village.
I loved the setting up in the snowy mountains, which was so realistic it made me shiver at times. I’m just glad I don’t live there myself, I don’t think I could live with all that snow!
I liked the character of DI Thomas. You really feel his guilt and pain throughout the book as this murder brings up a lot of his unresolved issues. There is also an extra complication because he is acting guardian/surrogate dad to his friends’ 11-year-old daughter Sky, who is full of sassiness and is constantly trying to break the rules (She reminds me of a cheekier version of my son). His partner DS Ann Collins was not overly likeable, she’s quite blunt and moody (which makes a change it’s usual the men who are the taciturn ones), but she was a fascinating character and played off DI Thomas well.
It is fairly slow to start off but there were a few twists I did not see coming once the story got nearer the end, which made me not want to put it down until I finished it.
My only issue was it was quite a complicated story line and I got a little bit lost in the middle with who was who and who were the suspects.
Overall a great debut novel and is the perfect Christmassy read for crime fans.
January 29, 2018
A promising debut, a good plot and lots of atmospheres.
Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas is haunted by the killing of a young girl, a year ago, in front of his eyes in a playground. He was unable to save her because he was so unfit and could not catch the murderer before he stabbed the victim.
He has been so traumatised by the event that he has moved to a small village, Turtleville, where there is hardly any crime. He has become fit and healthy but cannot escape the nightmares and self-blame over the young victim’s murder.
The story begins with the discovery of a body left on the pyramid which is a feature of the village square. The victim is Ethan Wright, a recluse living in a remote spot who appears to know nobody and is known by no-one. Nat is tasked with solving this murder and to his dismay, is sent Detective Sergeant Ann Collins, a young lady known for her attitude and problematic behaviour, despite her proficiency as a detective.
Nat is happy in his small village, he helps look after his best friend’s daughter, an 11-year old called Sky, whilst her father David is away on business and he is beginning a fledgeling relationship with Sky’s extremely attractive teacher Katherine Adams.
However, he has no choice but to investigate this murder and the plot is full of twists and turns. He soon discovers that Ethan Wright, is in fact, Dr William Lawson. Dr Lawson was a popular doctor many years before, living locally and not only working at the hospital but with a reputation for helping the poor village people’s children for free. He had been revered by all but why does nobody now recognise him or do they? Also, he was renowned for an obsessive interest in kidney donations and Nat soon discovers that far from being popular, there are many people who suspect him of illegally using his skills.
The story moves on rapidly and there are twists at the end that I never saw coming which is always a good thing for me in any book of this type. The other overwhelming feeling is cold as it permeates throughout and is described so vividly that I felt like putting more clothes on whilst I was reading. The author comes from the Ore Mountains, an area of Germany, which is the setting for this book and perfectly describes the area and the bitter winter weather found there, which added to the atmosphere.
There is also a possibility of further books featuring DI Nat Thomas and if this happens I would like to read them. The book loses one star purely because at times I felt the writing was a little contrived, however that could be attributed to it being translated and also because it was the debut from this author. However, I felt it was a very good first novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Detective Inspector Nathaniel Thomas is haunted by the killing of a young girl, a year ago, in front of his eyes in a playground. He was unable to save her because he was so unfit and could not catch the murderer before he stabbed the victim.
He has been so traumatised by the event that he has moved to a small village, Turtleville, where there is hardly any crime. He has become fit and healthy but cannot escape the nightmares and self-blame over the young victim’s murder.
The story begins with the discovery of a body left on the pyramid which is a feature of the village square. The victim is Ethan Wright, a recluse living in a remote spot who appears to know nobody and is known by no-one. Nat is tasked with solving this murder and to his dismay, is sent Detective Sergeant Ann Collins, a young lady known for her attitude and problematic behaviour, despite her proficiency as a detective.
Nat is happy in his small village, he helps look after his best friend’s daughter, an 11-year old called Sky, whilst her father David is away on business and he is beginning a fledgeling relationship with Sky’s extremely attractive teacher Katherine Adams.
However, he has no choice but to investigate this murder and the plot is full of twists and turns. He soon discovers that Ethan Wright, is in fact, Dr William Lawson. Dr Lawson was a popular doctor many years before, living locally and not only working at the hospital but with a reputation for helping the poor village people’s children for free. He had been revered by all but why does nobody now recognise him or do they? Also, he was renowned for an obsessive interest in kidney donations and Nat soon discovers that far from being popular, there are many people who suspect him of illegally using his skills.
The story moves on rapidly and there are twists at the end that I never saw coming which is always a good thing for me in any book of this type. The other overwhelming feeling is cold as it permeates throughout and is described so vividly that I felt like putting more clothes on whilst I was reading. The author comes from the Ore Mountains, an area of Germany, which is the setting for this book and perfectly describes the area and the bitter winter weather found there, which added to the atmosphere.
There is also a possibility of further books featuring DI Nat Thomas and if this happens I would like to read them. The book loses one star purely because at times I felt the writing was a little contrived, however that could be attributed to it being translated and also because it was the debut from this author. However, I felt it was a very good first novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
November 16, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
One thing I love about reading books published by BloodHoundBooks is the fact I am able to read so many new authors, a lot of them producing books I probably wouldn't have picked out for myself on Amazon. Why? Because I never really knew these types of books existed and you can't really type random words into the Amazon search bar, hoping that you'll be given a new style of book. I love that I am able to step out of my comfort zone by reading a lot of different genres. Especially this book.
DI Nathaniel Thomas is living in the past. After a previous case didn't go to plan, Nathaniel was left feeling extremely guilty and in need of a fresh start. Whilst the idea of a fresh start was all well and good, it didn't exactly turn out that way a year down the line. Faced with another murder and a case of mistaken identity, Nathaniel is thrown head first into the snow as he attempts to find the culprit. If DI Thomas thought that his fresh start was going to be easy, he was completely mistaken.
My first thought of DI Thomas and the murder was 'WAHEYYYY welcome back!'! What a corker of a case to get stuck into eh! Of course DI Thomas attempts to be as professional as possible without bringing his past back into future, but when he gets told that a colleague from his past will be assisting him on the case, I really do think that he would have made yellow snow right there and then if he could have done.
I found myself rather engrossed in the developing storyline, especially when fingers seemed to be pointing to everyone in the village! How on Earth could I begin to narrow it down? I had absolutely no idea who the culprit was yet several characters seemed to be showing a lot more signs of guilt than others.
Whilst I was hooked on 'Snow Light', I did find some parts of the storyline to be a little slow. For me, I would have preferred it to be a little more fast paced as I felt that there were too many pregnant pauses. That said, 'Snow Light' did keep me guessing until the very end, with the conclusion stealing the show. Definitely a heart in mouth moment!
Thanks BloodHoundBooks.
One thing I love about reading books published by BloodHoundBooks is the fact I am able to read so many new authors, a lot of them producing books I probably wouldn't have picked out for myself on Amazon. Why? Because I never really knew these types of books existed and you can't really type random words into the Amazon search bar, hoping that you'll be given a new style of book. I love that I am able to step out of my comfort zone by reading a lot of different genres. Especially this book.
DI Nathaniel Thomas is living in the past. After a previous case didn't go to plan, Nathaniel was left feeling extremely guilty and in need of a fresh start. Whilst the idea of a fresh start was all well and good, it didn't exactly turn out that way a year down the line. Faced with another murder and a case of mistaken identity, Nathaniel is thrown head first into the snow as he attempts to find the culprit. If DI Thomas thought that his fresh start was going to be easy, he was completely mistaken.
My first thought of DI Thomas and the murder was 'WAHEYYYY welcome back!'! What a corker of a case to get stuck into eh! Of course DI Thomas attempts to be as professional as possible without bringing his past back into future, but when he gets told that a colleague from his past will be assisting him on the case, I really do think that he would have made yellow snow right there and then if he could have done.
I found myself rather engrossed in the developing storyline, especially when fingers seemed to be pointing to everyone in the village! How on Earth could I begin to narrow it down? I had absolutely no idea who the culprit was yet several characters seemed to be showing a lot more signs of guilt than others.
Whilst I was hooked on 'Snow Light', I did find some parts of the storyline to be a little slow. For me, I would have preferred it to be a little more fast paced as I felt that there were too many pregnant pauses. That said, 'Snow Light' did keep me guessing until the very end, with the conclusion stealing the show. Definitely a heart in mouth moment!
Thanks BloodHoundBooks.
November 5, 2017
Bloodhound adds yet another fledging talent to its stable, and a hugely entertaining novel to their catalogue with Danielle Zinn’s Snow Light.
Opening with a flashback/nightmare scene relaying the lead character’s historic failure, Zinn wastes no time in placing her readers straight into the action in Snow light. It’s an often-used, but well utilised technique, in the crime genre and works well in this instance.
Employing Third-person, past-tense throughout, Zinn’s writing style is solid and unflashy, which for this type of story is most definitely a positive. This simple narrative style is perfect for the plot and for the characters, both of which could, for me, have lost a great deal of their vitality had another, or a variety of, POVs and tenses been employed.
Descriptive without getting bogged down in minutiae, Zinn’s writing style feels fresh and immersive, particularly when she allows her characters to do the talking.
For me, Zinn’s strength as a writer lies in her skilled use of dialogue, which is witty and, more importantly, feels natural in that it reflects and coveys the characters’ mind-set and intent and succeeds well in moving the narrative forward at pace. In those sections where the characters are allowed to exchange dialogue, Zinn’s writing shines and suggests a more seasoned writer than the debut novelist she is.
At times the narrative is, as is common with a first-time author, a little exposition-heavy at times. There’s rather a little too much telling, and just a tad not enough showing, but like any writer, Zinn will have developed a greater array of tools and skills with which to tell her future stories during the course of writing her debut.
Certainly, from a starting point, Zinn is a skilled novelist who will only continue to improve her considerable ability and whom already possesses a great deal more insight, skill in characterisation and realistic dialogue than many writers with several books under their belts.
A solid debut from a writer to watch.
Opening with a flashback/nightmare scene relaying the lead character’s historic failure, Zinn wastes no time in placing her readers straight into the action in Snow light. It’s an often-used, but well utilised technique, in the crime genre and works well in this instance.
Employing Third-person, past-tense throughout, Zinn’s writing style is solid and unflashy, which for this type of story is most definitely a positive. This simple narrative style is perfect for the plot and for the characters, both of which could, for me, have lost a great deal of their vitality had another, or a variety of, POVs and tenses been employed.
Descriptive without getting bogged down in minutiae, Zinn’s writing style feels fresh and immersive, particularly when she allows her characters to do the talking.
For me, Zinn’s strength as a writer lies in her skilled use of dialogue, which is witty and, more importantly, feels natural in that it reflects and coveys the characters’ mind-set and intent and succeeds well in moving the narrative forward at pace. In those sections where the characters are allowed to exchange dialogue, Zinn’s writing shines and suggests a more seasoned writer than the debut novelist she is.
At times the narrative is, as is common with a first-time author, a little exposition-heavy at times. There’s rather a little too much telling, and just a tad not enough showing, but like any writer, Zinn will have developed a greater array of tools and skills with which to tell her future stories during the course of writing her debut.
Certainly, from a starting point, Zinn is a skilled novelist who will only continue to improve her considerable ability and whom already possesses a great deal more insight, skill in characterisation and realistic dialogue than many writers with several books under their belts.
A solid debut from a writer to watch.
November 17, 2017
The opening chapter definitely made me sit up and pay attention it really was a great beginning. Danielle Zinn really sets the scene and I could feel Nathaniel's helplessness over the situation.
The murder case itself is very intriguing, easily pulled me in making me wonder about the motives and of course the way the victim had been found. It was such an interesting way for a murder to be committed and sets up a good mystery. I really don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to stop right there. However it's safe to say that the story was like one big puzzle and I really enjoyed trying to piece it all together. As I have said before I would never make a good detective but this is part of the enjoyment of reading a crime/thriller.
Even though Snow Light isn't necessarily fast paced it does have a steady and constant pace throughout which gave me the chance to get to know the characters better and let the story develop more naturally. I loved the setting and Danielle Zinn wrote about it in a descriptive way that easily brought the place to life. It was great to hear about the traditions especially involving the light arches. The characters are developed well especially with Nathaniel still trying to put the events of the previous year behind him and you definitely get a feel for that struggle. Then you add in Ann Collins to the mix and the pair of them spark off each other pretty well. With Ann being quite stand offish it adds a little bit of tension to their work partnership. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this story takes it will keep you guessing right to the very end!
With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The murder case itself is very intriguing, easily pulled me in making me wonder about the motives and of course the way the victim had been found. It was such an interesting way for a murder to be committed and sets up a good mystery. I really don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to stop right there. However it's safe to say that the story was like one big puzzle and I really enjoyed trying to piece it all together. As I have said before I would never make a good detective but this is part of the enjoyment of reading a crime/thriller.
Even though Snow Light isn't necessarily fast paced it does have a steady and constant pace throughout which gave me the chance to get to know the characters better and let the story develop more naturally. I loved the setting and Danielle Zinn wrote about it in a descriptive way that easily brought the place to life. It was great to hear about the traditions especially involving the light arches. The characters are developed well especially with Nathaniel still trying to put the events of the previous year behind him and you definitely get a feel for that struggle. Then you add in Ann Collins to the mix and the pair of them spark off each other pretty well. With Ann being quite stand offish it adds a little bit of tension to their work partnership. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this story takes it will keep you guessing right to the very end!
With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 17, 2020
D.I. Nathaniel Thomas is recovering from a tragic incident that happened a year ago when he could not save a young woman who was attacked. Settling in the small village of Crottendorf where his best friend resides, he is acting Constable where crime is nearly non-existent until a local hermit is found murdered and on display at the town square. The suspects are many and with the help of the tactless and snarky D.S. Ann Collins they are given a daunting task of narrowing down who is responsible. In the meantime, Nat is caring for his best friend's cheeky eleven-year-old daughter, Sky, who is trouble with a capital T.
I love the dynamics between Nat and Ann. He is a bit stuffy and a stickler for discipline, and she is outspoken and unpredictable. They make an interesting team with his field experience and her technology skills and there seems to be something more going on between them that gradually reveals itself. Nat is also a great cook and a gifted artist which gives him more depth. As for Sky, she is a sly one popping out of class to go skiing and such, but she truly loves Nat who is a good surrogate dad to her in her father's absence. In addition, I love the descriptions of the cold, but beautiful scenery and information about the area.
Overall, I enjoyed this engaging and well-written debut novel with diverse characters and a surprise ending. If you like police procedurals with interesting characters and will keep you guessing, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Zinn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
I love the dynamics between Nat and Ann. He is a bit stuffy and a stickler for discipline, and she is outspoken and unpredictable. They make an interesting team with his field experience and her technology skills and there seems to be something more going on between them that gradually reveals itself. Nat is also a great cook and a gifted artist which gives him more depth. As for Sky, she is a sly one popping out of class to go skiing and such, but she truly loves Nat who is a good surrogate dad to her in her father's absence. In addition, I love the descriptions of the cold, but beautiful scenery and information about the area.
Overall, I enjoyed this engaging and well-written debut novel with diverse characters and a surprise ending. If you like police procedurals with interesting characters and will keep you guessing, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Zinn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
June 15, 2020
It's always a step into the unknown with a new author, but I soon settled into the rhythm of this one and rather enjoyed it!
Nathaniel Thomas is a big man - in more ways than one; when it impacts upon his ability to do his job he changes things and a year later is almost unrecognisable as the same person. Now living in a small village, his old life collides with the new one when a body turns up in the village square and the job of investigating falls to Nat.
I admit to struggling at first, finding the writing to be a little stiff and stilted. However, before very long I was so involved in the story that it no longer bothered me. With a good mixture of personal and professional, it moves along easily with plenty going on and there is no shortage of suspects. As with all good crime novels, it all comes down to gathering and analysing the evidence and all of this happens alongside life bumbling along and, along with a few creepy moments regarding the crime, there are several lighter one which brought a smile to my face. I liked the interactions between Nat and Ann, the sergeant sent from his previous station to assist while Sky and her puppy provided lots of fun. With it all finished off neatly and no unanswered questions it was a very decent read and one I'm happy to give 4*.
Nathaniel Thomas is a big man - in more ways than one; when it impacts upon his ability to do his job he changes things and a year later is almost unrecognisable as the same person. Now living in a small village, his old life collides with the new one when a body turns up in the village square and the job of investigating falls to Nat.
I admit to struggling at first, finding the writing to be a little stiff and stilted. However, before very long I was so involved in the story that it no longer bothered me. With a good mixture of personal and professional, it moves along easily with plenty going on and there is no shortage of suspects. As with all good crime novels, it all comes down to gathering and analysing the evidence and all of this happens alongside life bumbling along and, along with a few creepy moments regarding the crime, there are several lighter one which brought a smile to my face. I liked the interactions between Nat and Ann, the sergeant sent from his previous station to assist while Sky and her puppy provided lots of fun. With it all finished off neatly and no unanswered questions it was a very decent read and one I'm happy to give 4*.
July 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Danielle Zinn. I do hope this will be the beginning of a great new series.
The setting of this book is beautiful, conjuring up images of snowy covered mountains and trees. It is the perfect book to curl up with in the depths of winter.
DI Nathaniel Thomas needs to find a killer in the tiny village he lives in, a local man has been murdered and left for all to see in the town. This will turn into a very complex case for him. He is determined to get justice for the victim, while coping with the guilt he feels from a past event.
The author has created some very interesting characters in Nathaniel, Sky and DS Ann Collins. I am looking forward to reading more.
The setting of this book is beautiful, conjuring up images of snowy covered mountains and trees. It is the perfect book to curl up with in the depths of winter.
DI Nathaniel Thomas needs to find a killer in the tiny village he lives in, a local man has been murdered and left for all to see in the town. This will turn into a very complex case for him. He is determined to get justice for the victim, while coping with the guilt he feels from a past event.
The author has created some very interesting characters in Nathaniel, Sky and DS Ann Collins. I am looking forward to reading more.
February 8, 2018
Winter detective story
It was appropriate to read this book in January. This story takes place in Eastern Europe in December during a snow storm. I could identify!
This is a well written crime story, with plot twists and well developed characters. The lead detective, Nathaniel Thomas, carries a secret that threatens to affect his careen. When a reclusive man is murdered, a whole cast of characters are suspects, and I was surprised at the real killer. I was interested to read about traditions in the Ore Mountain region such as the arc lights in the windows. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful crime novel.
It was appropriate to read this book in January. This story takes place in Eastern Europe in December during a snow storm. I could identify!
This is a well written crime story, with plot twists and well developed characters. The lead detective, Nathaniel Thomas, carries a secret that threatens to affect his careen. When a reclusive man is murdered, a whole cast of characters are suspects, and I was surprised at the real killer. I was interested to read about traditions in the Ore Mountain region such as the arc lights in the windows. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful crime novel.
Read
July 10, 2024A Cold Story Full of Complications
If you don't find your muscles tense with straining against the freezing temperatures and constant snow of this book -- to say nothing of the page turning twists and to.rents of the ine vita ble body count , something is wrong. The presence of young Sky and her dog Barney is a helpful lightener to the dark atmosphere of this tale that begins with the death of a hermit who lives in a desolate it'scabinon the fringe of the Forrest out.side as small village.
If you don't find your muscles tense with straining against the freezing temperatures and constant snow of this book -- to say nothing of the page turning twists and to.rents of the ine vita ble body count , something is wrong. The presence of young Sky and her dog Barney is a helpful lightener to the dark atmosphere of this tale that begins with the death of a hermit who lives in a desolate it'scabinon the fringe of the Forrest out.side as small village.
December 10, 2017
Excellent!
What a super reading experience! I feel so cold after reading about the ever-present snow and ice. I would love to see the lights on the Windows of the village houses. The characters are so clearly described and so compelling that you really feel you know them! I want to read another book about them! Plot keeps you guessing up till the last line! Very satisfying!
What a super reading experience! I feel so cold after reading about the ever-present snow and ice. I would love to see the lights on the Windows of the village houses. The characters are so clearly described and so compelling that you really feel you know them! I want to read another book about them! Plot keeps you guessing up till the last line! Very satisfying!
December 14, 2017
Easy crime read.
Enjoyed learning about the area where the story is set. Also the characters are filled out. Interesting area, and culture. Mystery was up to par, and resolution ok. Main character problems, but working them out. Crime in small village shocks all. Villagers want murderer caught. An ok read.
Enjoyed learning about the area where the story is set. Also the characters are filled out. Interesting area, and culture. Mystery was up to par, and resolution ok. Main character problems, but working them out. Crime in small village shocks all. Villagers want murderer caught. An ok read.
December 17, 2017
I was looking for a book to suit my pre-Christmas mood and to relax with in between rushing around with preparation for the holiday. A very good read. A light and crisp detective crime novel set within a snowy landscape and gathering storms with murders unsteadying the normal ambience of the village. The plot was good and the characters came quite alive through the narrative. I will definitely be looking out for another Danielle Zinn novel.
December 3, 2017
Excellent
I really enjoyed the many twists and turns. I did figure put the actual killer but not all the other twists.. Like the character growth and I interaction Characters seemed real and I was lost in the story. Lived it.
I really enjoyed the many twists and turns. I did figure put the actual killer but not all the other twists.. Like the character growth and I interaction Characters seemed real and I was lost in the story. Lived it.
December 9, 2017
An intense story
A taut well written storyline. Strong suspense, unexpected twists, interesting characters. Tense atmosphere. Not easy to guess ahead who has done what. Satisfying ending. All in all I recommend this book.
A taut well written storyline. Strong suspense, unexpected twists, interesting characters. Tense atmosphere. Not easy to guess ahead who has done what. Satisfying ending. All in all I recommend this book.
December 10, 2017
A great read.
A wonderfully atmospheric novel, that transports you to the beautiful landscape depicted so vividly.
An interesting tale with likeable charachters and a plot line that keeps the neurons firing x
A wonderfully atmospheric novel, that transports you to the beautiful landscape depicted so vividly.
An interesting tale with likeable charachters and a plot line that keeps the neurons firing x
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews