Winter Witness

Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery #1

by Tina deBellegarde

When a beloved nun is murdered in a sleepy Catskill Mountain town, a grieving young widow finds herself at the center of the turmoil. Bianca St. Denis is searching for a job and seeking acceptance in her new home of Batavia-on-Hudson. Agatha Miller, the nun’s closest friend and the ailing local historian everyone loves to hate, shares her painful personal history and long-buried village secrets with Bianca. Armed with this knowledge, Bianca unravels the mysteries surrounding the death while dealing with the suspicions of her eccentric neighbors.

However, Bianca’s meddling complicates the sheriff’s investigation as well as his marriage. Can Sheriff Mike Riley escape his painful past in a town where murder and infighting over a new casino vie for his attention?

Danger stalks Bianca as she gets closer to the truth. Can the sheriff solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Can the town heal its wounds once the truth has been uncovered?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2020

About the author

Tina deBellegarde is a two-time Agatha Award nominee for her Batavia-on-Hudson Mysteries. Autumn Embers, the most recent addition to the series, takes place in Kyoto, Japan. Her short stories have been nominated for an Agatha Award and a Derringer Award. Tina co-chairs the Murderous March virtual writers conference. She enjoys reviewing Japanese fiction for Books on Asia, and is the Membership Coordinator of Writers in Kyoto. Tina travels to Japan regularly to visit her son Alessandro and to do research. She is currently working on a collection of interconnected short stories and a new series, both set in Japan. Tina’s background includes work as a library clerk, a paralegal, an exporter and eighteen years as a middle school language teacher. When she isn’t writing, she is helping her husband tend their beehives, harvest shiitakes from their mushroom logs, or tend their vegetable garden. She makes lampworked glass beads and contributes to her husband’s jewelry designs. For Tina, baking and cooking are her favorite forms of meditation.
Visit her website at www.tinadebellegarde.com

Reviews

[Darcia Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Witness is an atmospheric, slow-burn mystery.

The story opens with the murder of an elderly nun in a picturesque, quiet town in the Catskill Mountains. But the focus, particularly through the first half of the book, is less about the murder investigation and more about the people in the town and the secrets they keep.

Bianca, rather than the murdered nun, is really the heart of the story. We learn about her past and watch as she tries to fit into her new life in a small town. She becomes obsessed with the nun’s murder, and it’s mostly through her, rather than the sheriff, that we unravel the tangled mess to uncover the killer.

Winter Witness feels like contemporary fiction with a mystery at its heart. Characters and emotions are central to the story, and murder is the underlying current.

*I received a review copy for the Partners in Crime blog tour.*

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally read mysteries, or stories set in upstate New York (or the US, for that matter!), but I’m glad to have read this one. The story’s setting, its full cast of characters, its clever whodunnit qualities, its mix of humor and mystery, its engaging dialogue, and the general readability of the writing all drew me in. Although there were some editing issues throughout, my overall experience with deBellegarde’s debut novel more than compensated for them. As this is apparently the first in a series, I’ll look forward to the author’s next novel.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being in the Hudson Valley I was anxious to read this mystery. Set in the Catskill Mountains, it surrounds an elderly nun that was murdered. The residents and secrets in this sleepy little town. I really liked this mystery. A great debut. I recommend this to mystery fans.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY

[Mally Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I lived in Batavia-on-Hudson with the characters that Tina deBellegarde brings to life so ably in Winter Witness. I want to sip coffee in Stella’s Café with recently-widowed Bianca St. Denis, the sympathetic newcomer trying to fit into this small Catskill Mountain town while facing financial problems. I want to know more about Sheriff Mike’s troubled marriage and the PTSD that drove him from the city to this village. And, of course, I want to know how Bianca and Sheriff Mike will track down Sister Elaine’s murderer. (That’s not a spoiler. The book opens with Sheriff Mike examining the body and murder scene.) DeBellegarde has created an entire universe of characters in this well-written mystery. They remind us that everyone bears the scars of some heartbreak that they – we – hide from casual friends and neighbors. Bianca challenges us to keep that in mind, to looks deeper and avoid judging each other based on the masks we present to the world. I can’t wait to revisit Batavia-on-Hudson when the next book in this series comes out.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Winter Witness, book one of the Batavia-On-Hudson Mystery Series, author Tina deBellegarde transports the reader to the tranquil Catskill Mountains lakeside village of Batavia-On-Hudson, New York, for an intriguing mystery story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

The past year has been difficult for Bianca St. Denis as she grieves her husband's death, while also trying to transition from an outsider and gain the acceptance of the villagers, even though she has lived in the village for the past 3 years.

When local beloved nun Sister Elaine Fisher is found murdered on the shore of the frozen lake, and her childhood friend and local village historian Agatha Miller dies two days later, Bianca thinks that there is a connection between both deaths, and decides to be an amateur sleuth and delve into investigating the deaths on her own. In a small village where the villagers seem to know everything about each other, Bianca remembers what Agatha told her while visiting her: the village is full of secrets hidden from the public eye. One never really knows what burdens each carries, what battles they are fighting, and that things are not always as they appear. With that in mind, Bianca decides to bear witness to the comings and goings of the villagers, noting down observations, but the more she learns about the villagers, the more she discovers that the more danger, potential motives, and suspects are added to the list, while her meddling also adds to the burden of Sheriff Mike Riley's investigation. Will Sheriff Riley listen to Bianca's information and find the killer before the killer strikes again?

In her debut novel, Author Tina deBellegarde weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale that follows Bianca's amateur sleuth investigation to uncover the truth behind the deaths of longtime friends Sister Elaine Fisher and Agatha Miller.

I loved reading this action-packed story. Bianca's observations of the villagers and her personal investigation into the deaths kept me intrigued as she slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together and uncovered the truth. The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as long hidden secrets, family dramas, a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues are uncovered. And if that's not enough, Bianca also has to deal with personal issues of grieving her husband's death, loneliness, and desperately wanting to gain the acceptance of the villagers.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved reading snippets of the quirky villagers' individual secrets, and the richly vivid description of the tranquil lakeside village in the Catskills Mountains, that makes me want to take a roadtrip to the picturesque Hudson Valley region.

I look forward to reading the next book in the Batavia-On-Hudson Mystery Series.

Winter Witness has enough drama, tension, action, dark secrets, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut mystery left me a warm feeling and strongly reminded me of Louise Penny's Three Pines series.

The protagonists were engaging, and the plot kept me enthralled.

There were a lot of characters to meet, but they were easily distinguishable because of the descriptions and backstory given to each by the author. I had many favorites among these. Eugene, the proprietor of Stella's cafe (named for his late wife), Lester, the elderly lawyer who had a pet skunk, Olivia Last, Bianca's friend, and cancer survivor, to name but a few.

The setting was idyllic and made you want to visit Batvia-on-Hudson for yourself. I can just imagine going into Stella's and having a coffee and danish.

I'd be hard pressed to find anything I didn't like about this novel, but if I did, I'd have to say that I found the cover didn't do the book justice as it didn't appeal to me personally.

This is a series that I intend to pursue and already look forward to the author's second novel featuring these two personable protagonists.

This story was a charming amalgam of serious crime novel and a cozy. A character-rich, well-executed mystery, and a promising beginning for a new series. Recommended!

4.5 stars rounded up

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small towns seem to have lots of secrets. Batavia-on-Hudson is one such town. One of the mysteries there is why someone chose to murder a sweet little old lady nun.

The closest friend of the murdered nun is in the process of spilling the town's secrets to a young lady with whom she is fast becoming friends. That ended when Agatha Miller died, but the secrets didn't die with her. They lived on in her journals which she had given to her new friend Bianca.

As Bianca starts unraveling the secrets, someone doesn't want them exposed. Maybe more than one someone. She's also cramping the sheriff's style. And maybe his marriage.

I've enjoyed this book by Ms deBellegarde and look forward to more of her books.

***Book provided without charge by PICT.***

[Kevin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I typically read Lee Child, Robert Crais, David Baldacci, and other blockbuster writers. I took a detour off that well traveled road and ended up in a beautiful little town with layers of complexity and intrigue that blanket the town like its snowdrifts. I couldn't help but feel a little protective of the protagonist, Bianca St. Denis, but she is as strong and smart as she is vulnerable. Like others, I was pulled deeply into this book, warming my hands around a mug of coffee at the diner, while spilling the beans with Eugene. I'm glad I took this road less traveled...

[Lori Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder, small-town secrets, heartache—what’s not to love! Tina deBellegarde brings Batavia-on-Hudson to life in Winter Witness with an intriguing plot, a reluctant amateur sleuth and rich, well-developed characters. I could smell the coffee and croissants at Stella’s. I felt the pain in Bianca’s heart. I sensed the distrust and fear of villagers who would rather point fingers outside than look within. Winter Witness kept me guessing until the end with lots of twists and turns. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Lida Sideris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this well written debut novel. The small town setting came alive for me and the characters were nicely developed. As the story unfolded, I couldn't put it down and finished the book in two sittings. Engrossing from the beginning to end!

[Beth Wienck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing!! A must read if you are a Louise Penny fan! The author brings us to a small village with a great cast of characters, a murder or 2 along the way, and of course unexpected twists and turns! I loved it!!

[Carol Pouliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous debut. I was interested from page 1 and stayed with it until the very satisfying end. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Chris Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut novel! Loved the way Tina developed the characters.. can’t wait for her next book!

[Jane Pettitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets kept in the scenic town
The Catskills , a nun is murdered but no one says a word, enjoyed this book

[Rebecca Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde is set in the quaint lakeside village of Batavia-On-Hudson in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The novel opens with the discovery of the murder of the frail and beloved nun, Sister Elaine Fisher. The shock is immediate. Nothing bad ever happens in Batavia. Or does it? With each new chapter, readers are introduced to more and more of Batavia’s secrets. There is so much to like about this novel. One of its strengths is the characters. deBellegarde creates rich and compelling characters from the emotionally scarred sheriff, Mike Riley, to the newly widowed and still grieving amateur sleuth Bianca St. Denis. Each character carries wounds. Each story matters.

The novel is full of gems. This is one of them:

"Will she ever learn that the anticipation is the real gift, the untarnished moment? She should learn to resist opening the package and savor that moment, the precious moment before. The moment that could be perfect because she alone was the architect, and designed it to please only herself. It was always wasted as she raced to the finish line. The opened gift was reality and it rarely measured up to her dream" (230).

The same might be said for a book. But not this one. As sad as I was to finish Winter Witness and leave Batavia behind, the power of this novel is that the characters linger with you. I have found myself befriending Bianca. I hear there is a sequel now, Dead Man's Leap. I look forward to spending more time with Bianca in the future!

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bone-chilling mountain winter takes the front seat in deBellegarde’s debut that’s full of vivid characterizations that evoke not only the charm of a small town but also its unique atmosphere and secrets. Bianca is new to town but is drawn into the investigation, along with Sheriff Mike Riley, at least partly because of her journalistic background but it’s also an escape from the grief that surrounds the young widow. Her story is a compelling one but so is Mike’s with his troubled marriage and his PTSD-driven flight from the big city to this seemingly peaceful village. No less interesting is Sister Elaine; why on earth would anyone want her dead?

Batavia-on-Hudson is a town I’d like very much to visit, to get to know its townsfolk with all their failings and endearing idiosyncrasies. Villages like this one can seem like a fishbowl where everyone knows every detail about your life but, in fact, one can never truly know one’s neighbor or the shopkeeper on the village square or the librarian. The author’s deft touch with the underlying murder investigation is intriguing but its her characters who really come to life and I already want to know what will happen with them in the next book.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I am able to classify this book as there are cozy mystery, women’s fiction and psychological thriller elements
I can say I liked it because it’s the excellent start of a new mystery series and I think it’s an excellent book, well written, poignant and engrossing.
It’s atmospheric and I cannot help visualising what is happening in white and grey. The winter atmosphere, the small town full of secrets and the damaged characters who are fighting to overcome their problem or are locked in their grief.
It’s not a fast paced/action packed book but the author did a great job in world building and character development. I love her style of writing and she’s an excellent wordsmith using a style that is more literary than mystery.
There’s hope at the end of the travel but you will meet the characters and share their grief.
Bianca, Mike are my favorite characters and I hope to meet them again as they are interesting and fleshed out.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
It’s not a fast paced/action packed book, you get to meet the characters and follow Bianca in her efforts to solve the mystery and become a member of the community. It’s a bit slow for about ¾ but the last part was excellent and gripping.
I want to know what will happen in the next instalments, this one is recommended.
Many thanks for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde is a fantastic atmospheric debut novel. I LOVE mysteries and I am always looking for new authors in the genre. I am really glad I gave this author a try, I was not disappointed.

The story is about the murder of an elderly nun in the Catskill Mountains. The format of the mystery is interesting in that instead of dropping clues, there is more context about the people in the small town and their secrets.

I would say Bianca is the protagonist because the story is more about her settling into this small town and her fascination with the murder and how we come to learn about the killer and who it might be.

I enjoyed the complex , well rounded characters and the story.

I would have to say that this is more fiction with elements of a mystery.

An enjoyable read. I look forward to more stories from this author.

[Korina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Witness is a book to be savored. It starts with a murder, but in order for the reader to solve the mystery along with Bianca and Sheriff Riley, we must first unearth the many layers of the story. Author deBellegarde manages to tap into complex emotions about grief, loneliness, and regret through the everyday routines of her characters. I found myself often stopping after a chapter to take in the emotional truths written within it. Each character--no matter how often they show up on the page--is fully formed, as is the snowy Catskill, NY town in the midst of winter. It's obvious the author is well versed in this type of small town community and its relationships. The richly developed atmosphere created by deBellegarde's writing kept me eagerly reading as much as the intriguing plot. By the end of the book, not only do we discover who the murderer is, but we realize we've come to care about the people of Batavia-on-Hudson. Thank goodness there are more books in this series to come.

[Andrew Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this has to be the first book in the mystery genre that I've ever read so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the small cafe, the many secrets of the characters, and the fact that the book was set just before Christmas - the same time I was reading it. I was wrong-footed several times by the many plot twists that take place, but everything fell nicely into place at the end. Despite not being a genre I typically go for, Tina's book more than allayed any doubts I had that it wouldn't match my tastes. After finishing it, I felt as though I'd come home from a holiday in a sleepy town with characters I'd like to go back and meet again some time. Tina is a very skilled writer and I look forward to seeing what she does next.
Highly recommended!

[Carole Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tina DeBellegarde’s writing shines in her first mystery novel. Her setting comes alive on the page, her plot is intriguing, and her characters so well-written. Small town life with characters who on the outside seem like everyday folks.

This is a story about a grieving widow who is considered an “outsider” in the small Catskill Mountain town of Batavia-on-Hudson.

The town of Bativia and its “locals” secrets are revealed with the death of an elderly loved nun and her closest friend, the local historian, that the villagers “loved to hate.”

Such a great story! I am hoping for another Bativia-on-Hudson mystery.

[DianeG. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book! The character development was interesting and well-paced. The locations and emotions and were so descriptive, the characters in this enchanting New England small town really come to life! The story is absorbing from page 1. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was compared to a Louise Penny but it lacked the charm and intrigue. The chief of police lacked rudimentary skills and the death of two women was solved by a recently widowed lady who had her own problems and inadequacies. The characters were all strange and the town was hardly quaint with its old diner and neglected buildings. The book just did not work for me.

[Linda Maran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good murder mystery. I enjoyed the setting and the characters.

[Shanna McClennen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cozy!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! 5 stars aren't enough. This is an excellent and thoughtful look at one person's emergence from grief and her growing awareness of her village and its residents. The main character, Bianca, has only lived in the village for a few years and it is taking a while for her to feel accepted into the community. Her emerging cognizance of her neighbors actually gives her a unique perspective as she learns more about each person she encounters.

The book starts out with a brutal murder followed by a second death a few days later. The sheriff, another "relative outsider," realizes what a murder, the first in seventy years, will do to the villagers and he is discovering that the truth, even in a little village, can be buried under layers of concealment. It takes a while before the second crime becomes obvious to him and others. Bianca is the one who slowly starts to figure out what is behind the deaths. The climax, particularly the rescue attempt, is very intense and very well done. The murderer was a total surprise, especially in the clue that gives it away.

I loved how the author slowly introduces us to Bianca and, through her newly awakened eyes, to her fellow villagers. There are so many wonderful observations she makes about the life around her, all beautifully written by the author. I can only assume that Tina deBellegarde, like Bianca, has been writing notes and observations for years and, in this book, has collected them into a wonderful whole for our enjoyment. It is very clear why this book has been nominated for numerous awards.

My book has a number of dog-eared pages where I wanted to remember certain quotes. Here is one that explains the title: "Be in the moment; stop yearning for spring and the thaw. Experience life as it can only be experienced in winter. I challenge you to truly bear witness with intent: to be a winter witness." Very wise words indeed! I am thrilled that there is a second book in this series, and hopefully more.

"Let us beware that we might be engaging our neighbors only on the surface, making judgements and choosing sides without truly knowing each other, even those with whom we have grown old. I for one, can think of a few neighbors to whom I would like to offer myself as a witness. And I challenge you, as Olivia did, to bear witness to your neighbors before it is too late." … Bianca kept her head down, no longer willing to make eye contact, hoping she hadn't overstepped her welcome in the village.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little town with a lot of secrets....that is what Winter Witness is in one sentence. Winter Witness is the first book in the Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery series by Tine deBellegarde and readers will be drawn in immediately.

in Winter Witness readers are introduced to the residents in the little town of Batavia-on-Hudson and the first thing you will experience is a murder.... the FIRST sentence actually. Sheriff Mike Riley left New York City to work in this small town thinking it would be a slower, quieter pace for him. Unfortunately he is looking at a murder and the murdered victim is beloved Sister Elaine Fisher.

Also new to this little town is Bianca St. Denis. Her and her husband Richard moved to town three years ago but they are still not considered locals. Unfortunately Bianca is dealing with Richard's death which happened not that long ago and now it seems she would mourn Sister Elaine. Even though Bianca is still new to the town and dealing with life without Richard, she is making herself do things and one of the things that she likes to do is visit with Agatha Miller. Agatha is an elderly woman with terminal cancer who recently fell and broke her hip and is confined to her bed to recover. Bianca and Agatha have developed a kind of friendship and knowing Bianca is trying to become a writer Agatha decides to tell her her story and let her write it. But before they can get into the heart of her story, Agatha dies. It is ruled that she dies from hypothermia when she is found dead with the window open. Bianca knows that there is no way Agatha would have been able to open the window and if the window was open and she got cold, she would have called someone to come close it.

While Sheriff Mike works on interviewing everyone in town to find answers to Sister Elaine's death, Bianca cannot let Agatha's death go knowing what she knows......

For Batavia being a small town, it seems the residents are clueless to how many secrets there are. And when Bianca begins to unravel some of the secrets, she doesn't realize that she is putting herself in danger !!

Readers will be drawn to this story and when you get to a certain spot in the story, you will not want to stop reading until you know the truth !! deBellegarde spins a crafty web and you will be powerless to escape getting stuck in the middle.....

[Kate Ashton · Rating 2 out of 5]

WARNING TO LOUSE PENNY FANS
Only because this book/author was likened to 'a Louise Penny' in the advertising did I feel, as an ardent Penny fan, that it required comment and a warning that it is not, I believe, a suitable comparison. Unfortunately that description encouraged me to buy it and give it a go and I was dearly disappointed. I don't want to slate the book itself as, on a different level, it does have charm and shares with Louise Penny the small-town/village setting, but there, I'm afraid, the similarity stops. Its charm and level of characterisation might be better compared to an Agatha Christie Miss Marple. So that's not faint praise and you get a decent story and fairly basic characters. But you don't get Penny's deep and very subtle insight into characters and the ways she manages to bring the theme of 'goodness' out so beautifully, despite having rightly real and flawed people. Indeed, I did not find the Batavia chief of police particularly admirable and a bit of a bumbler, to be honest. I need my 'hero' to be very attractive in character (albeit not necessarily TOO perfect), and one of great integrity (you guessed it - like Penny's Gamache); and the rest - both characters and story - to go beyond 'quaintness'. This book did not come anywhere near in either aspect.

I don't enjoy at all being critical of a book or author and, as mentioned above, I've no wish to do down this book in its own right, which has attractive features in the same way a 'Miss Marple' does or, for us (older) Brits, a TV series like 'Midsomer Murders'. That genre has its rightful place and this book fits beautifully into it - quaint and homey. BUT I'm sorry, I could not in any way support the likening of this book - or whole genre - to Louse Penny's, with their so much more deep and perceptive stories and characterisations. So ... Louise Penny fans, beware: you might like this because your interests extend to this genre, but you mustn't expect to get the likes of Gamache, the depth of characterisation, the cultural/historical interest of Quebec and its evildoers, or the ultimate triumph of goodness despite all.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This genuinely worthwhile cozyish mystery read was an Agatha Award Winner for best first novel in 2020. Taking place in a small village in the Catskill Mountains where townsfolk are unique and everyone thinks they know everyone’s business, some have compared it to Louise Penny’s Three Pines, but while there might be a sprinkling of an homage to Penny, this setting and the characters are original in themselves. Recently widowed Bianca finds her life upturned when her husband’s loss forces her to actually step out and interact with the community. While she is open to meeting people, this little town tends to not consider someone a resident if that person has been in town less than 30 or so years. Ah, small town clique Hades. Bianca finds herself reading to the old town historian who is a grumpy lump of anger, but who takes a bit of a shine in blissfully patient Bianca. She even requests that Bianca pen her memoirs, but before this can be completed, the woman is found dead, and what first looks like succumbing to chronic illness might really be a small town murder. Fast on the heels of another “accident” resulting in a pensioner nun’s demise, this little insulated town might be far from idyllic. Some of the characters’ names tend to bleed into each other, but readers will enjoy in-jokes such as friends in town named Bert and Ernie. The depiction of the main character as a woman in perpetual mourning trying to find who she is and where she stands without her better half is respectful and realistic. Near the novel’s conclusion the pace picks up significantly, and readers may be loathe to put the story down.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I was a little spaced out regarding the time and place in which this story was placed. It takes a slow meandering route through the town, its various inhabitants on its way to the actual mystery. I could feel the weight of the winter atmosphere, the small nitpicking that everyone engages in.
Although the book begins with discovering a murdered nun, the progression of the narrative focuses on how everyone deals with it while showing us the parallel police investigation, almost as an aside. The characters grew on me, and I was invested in the narrative.
As our leading lady, we have a recently widowed lady trying to live without her husband while juggling financial difficulties. She is only now venturing into the small-town community and gaining a place for herself. Since she is the only one who feels the second death in town is connected to the first and holds pieces of the entire puzzle, she sets out to figure things out. There are two reasons I rated the book the way I did. The first is because I found the pacing a tad too slow (but remained persistently atmospheric) and arrived at the conclusion just before the final reveal and did not really 'like' it. I did not feel like my emotions were invested in the right place for the ending. Also, I intend to pick up the next when available, and I want to keep this as a base rating because I have higher hopes for the next.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.