What do you think?
Rate this book
Murderous Morning
From Bernadette Calonego, the bestselling author of “Stormy Cove”, comes a gripping new crime novel.
A remote farm in Canada's wilderness. A man's lifeless body in the grass. The rooms in the farm house splattered with blood. Three children, brutally murdered. No trace of their mother.
Five years ago, family lawyer Tessa Griffins fled to Vancouver from the isolated mining town of Whatou Lake. Now she returns to her parents’ home there in order to search for the dead children’s mother, her stepsister Fran. And she wants to find the killer - as does Detective Sergeant Ron Halprin, head of a special RCMP unit in Vancouver who is sent to Whatou Lake to solve the case.
Tessa is stonewalled everywhere. What secrets does her father, the respected town doctor, have? And why does her mother, who had welcomed many foster children into their home, suddenly stop telling the whole truth? Is Fran leading a secret life? And why of all people is it Tessa's former boyfriend, Tsaytis Chelin from the Sitklat’l First Nation, who finds the dead bodies? On the third day, Tessa makes a gruesome discovery. As she crosses the wilderness on the trail of the murderer, she finds herself under a deadly threat.
Bernadette Calonego, a Swiss-Canadian author whose crime novels have been translated into English, has lived in Canada for over twenty years. She splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Newfoundland. Her stories are inspired by the wilderness and expeditions to the North.
“A racy blend of trapper romance, self-discovery and classic crime novel – inspired by Bernadette Calonego`s real-life experiences in the Canadian wilderness.” Annabelle magazine, Zurich, Switzerland
"The gripping plot is written convincingly and the wild setting of the Canadian wilderness breathtakingly beautiful.” Aviva-Berlin.de
A remote farm in Canada's wilderness. A man's lifeless body in the grass. The rooms in the farm house splattered with blood. Three children, brutally murdered. No trace of their mother.
Five years ago, family lawyer Tessa Griffins fled to Vancouver from the isolated mining town of Whatou Lake. Now she returns to her parents’ home there in order to search for the dead children’s mother, her stepsister Fran. And she wants to find the killer - as does Detective Sergeant Ron Halprin, head of a special RCMP unit in Vancouver who is sent to Whatou Lake to solve the case.
Tessa is stonewalled everywhere. What secrets does her father, the respected town doctor, have? And why does her mother, who had welcomed many foster children into their home, suddenly stop telling the whole truth? Is Fran leading a secret life? And why of all people is it Tessa's former boyfriend, Tsaytis Chelin from the Sitklat’l First Nation, who finds the dead bodies? On the third day, Tessa makes a gruesome discovery. As she crosses the wilderness on the trail of the murderer, she finds herself under a deadly threat.
Bernadette Calonego, a Swiss-Canadian author whose crime novels have been translated into English, has lived in Canada for over twenty years. She splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Newfoundland. Her stories are inspired by the wilderness and expeditions to the North.
“A racy blend of trapper romance, self-discovery and classic crime novel – inspired by Bernadette Calonego`s real-life experiences in the Canadian wilderness.” Annabelle magazine, Zurich, Switzerland
"The gripping plot is written convincingly and the wild setting of the Canadian wilderness breathtakingly beautiful.” Aviva-Berlin.de
- GenresFiction
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2020
45 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Bernadette Calonego
21 books98 followersI was born and raised in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, on Lake Lucerne, a very picturesque area with mountains and lakes. I grew up in a house full of book lovers. As a child, I sneaked in my brothers' rooms to read their adventure books like "Ivanhoe", "The Leatherstocking Tales", "Treasure Island", "Robinson Crusoe", "Huckleberry Finn". Or I persuaded my mother that I was old enough to read romances (they were really harmless!). To make me happy, I wanted nothing more than read a good book while eating an apple, and to be left alone!
My mother, a poet, encouraged me to try my hand at writing at an early age. My first publication was a fairytale, which appeared in a Swiss newspaper when I was eleven years old.
But I did not turn into a writer right away. I became a teacher, then a reporter and a foreign correspondent.
My career has included working as a reporter/editor for Reuters newsagency in Zurich. My time covering financial news for Reuters inspired my book "The Zurich Conspiracy".
From 1990 to 2000, I was the foreign correspondent for “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the largest circulation daily newspaper in Germany, reporting from Switzerland. After I had emigrated to Canada, I wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
I now reside and work as a crime novelist near Vancouver, Canada, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast (okay, in winter, it is raining a lot). Visitors in my backyard include black bears, racoons, coyotes and bold eagles. You can also find me often in northern Newfoundland on Canada's east coast which is moose, polar bear and humpback whale territory.
My popular mystery thriller series with intrepid RCMP detective sergeant Calista Gates is set in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Come and read my English blog on my website www.bernadettecalonego.com
You can also contact me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BernadetteCa...
Or Instagram @bernadettecalonegoauthor
Or Tiktok @bernadettecalonego.author
I would love to hear from you!
My mother, a poet, encouraged me to try my hand at writing at an early age. My first publication was a fairytale, which appeared in a Swiss newspaper when I was eleven years old.
But I did not turn into a writer right away. I became a teacher, then a reporter and a foreign correspondent.
My career has included working as a reporter/editor for Reuters newsagency in Zurich. My time covering financial news for Reuters inspired my book "The Zurich Conspiracy".
From 1990 to 2000, I was the foreign correspondent for “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the largest circulation daily newspaper in Germany, reporting from Switzerland. After I had emigrated to Canada, I wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
I now reside and work as a crime novelist near Vancouver, Canada, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast (okay, in winter, it is raining a lot). Visitors in my backyard include black bears, racoons, coyotes and bold eagles. You can also find me often in northern Newfoundland on Canada's east coast which is moose, polar bear and humpback whale territory.
My popular mystery thriller series with intrepid RCMP detective sergeant Calista Gates is set in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Come and read my English blog on my website www.bernadettecalonego.com
You can also contact me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BernadetteCa...
Or Instagram @bernadettecalonegoauthor
Or Tiktok @bernadettecalonego.author
I would love to hear from you!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 3, 2020
Set in the isolated mining town of Whatou Lake on a remote farm, a father and his three children are found murdered, a wife/mother is missing.
Vancouver family lawyer, Tessa Griffins is called to come home. A family emergency. It's been years since she's stepped foot in that mining town. Old scars, lost love and painful memories at the back of her mind. She pushes forward, her family needs her. Her sister Fran is missing.
Murderous Morning is atmospheric. The setting and descriptions transport the reader into the pages of this crime/mystery novel. The plot immediately grabs you and pulls you in. A storyline that will keep you turning pages, characters you will question and an ending you won't see coming ...
Huge thank you to the author, Bernadette Calonego for sending me a copy of her book.
Vancouver family lawyer, Tessa Griffins is called to come home. A family emergency. It's been years since she's stepped foot in that mining town. Old scars, lost love and painful memories at the back of her mind. She pushes forward, her family needs her. Her sister Fran is missing.
Murderous Morning is atmospheric. The setting and descriptions transport the reader into the pages of this crime/mystery novel. The plot immediately grabs you and pulls you in. A storyline that will keep you turning pages, characters you will question and an ending you won't see coming ...
Huge thank you to the author, Bernadette Calonego for sending me a copy of her book.
July 26, 2022
Wonderful mystery book. I chose it for the setting being in Canada, and it was really a great setting in the wilderness of British Columbia. The author who lived there herself (and wrote a great non fiction book "Oh how beautiful is Canada" about her moving to BC) so she made it very real.
In addition the plot is great! The crime is very interesting, it is long but the unfolding seems to be thrilling all the time with something new being discovered in every chapter. The characters are really well developed and so many of them are suspects for the reader. And at the end it was a very satisfying ending for me. I couldn't guess until the end and it all made sense. I really wouldn't mind if this became a series.
In addition the plot is great! The crime is very interesting, it is long but the unfolding seems to be thrilling all the time with something new being discovered in every chapter. The characters are really well developed and so many of them are suspects for the reader. And at the end it was a very satisfying ending for me. I couldn't guess until the end and it all made sense. I really wouldn't mind if this became a series.
November 4, 2020
In a remote Canadian wilderness house, the body of a man lays in the grass, his three children brutally murdered inside and the mother is missing. Tessa, a lawyer in Vancouver, is called home to support her parents and help look for her sister Fran, the children mother. With the help of RCMP sergeant Halprin, they begin to unravel the mysteries of that tragic day and finding the killer.
This was a slow burn, atmospheric and character driven book. I loved the small town setting of Whatou Lake. From the beautiful scenery, the wilderness and the overall feel of a small town, this book had me engrossed in the pages. The characters were well developed and each played a role to cast doubt and suspicion. This was a solid crime/mystery book with a touch of romance, small town secrets, self discovery and vivid imagery. 4.5⭐️
This was a slow burn, atmospheric and character driven book. I loved the small town setting of Whatou Lake. From the beautiful scenery, the wilderness and the overall feel of a small town, this book had me engrossed in the pages. The characters were well developed and each played a role to cast doubt and suspicion. This was a solid crime/mystery book with a touch of romance, small town secrets, self discovery and vivid imagery. 4.5⭐️
April 21, 2021
381 pages
5 stars
Vancouver attorney Tessa Griffins receives a startling phone call. It will change the rest of her life. Her brother-in-law Hank has been shot to death as well as his three children. They live in an isolated cabin in the woods of British Columbia without many amenities at all. The icing on this horrible story is that her foster sister and Hank's wife Fran is missing.
Tessa flies to the little settlement of Whatou Lake where her parents and another foster sister live. Her father is the very respected town doctor who has a maddening tendency to overprotect his wife.
Tessa fled Whatou Lake some five years earlier. She has made a good life in Vancouver and doesn't enjoy the idea of returning to her home. Especially when she recalls why she left in such a hurry. However, she must.
She meets Investigator Ron Halprin from Vancouver's RCMP detachment. He specializes in murders. The small department in Whatou Lake simply cannot handle the case.
Tessa has mixed feelings for all of the old friends and enemies she must deal with as she looks for Fran, along with her family. No one seems able to tell the truth – or not the whole truth. Everyone has secrets. There is also a rash of poaching going on.
The story moves on towards its conclusion. Endlessly fascinating and entrancing, the book is almost impossible to put down. There are many names and personalities to sort out so the reader must keep track. I truly enjoy reading Ann Cleeves' novels. She is such a good writer. Her characters are colorful and true to life. I liked Tessa, but found it a little difficult to believe that a lawyer would be so innocent about certain things like police procedures. I also enjoyed the Inspector Halprin character and the involvement with the local first Nations tribe.
5 stars
Vancouver attorney Tessa Griffins receives a startling phone call. It will change the rest of her life. Her brother-in-law Hank has been shot to death as well as his three children. They live in an isolated cabin in the woods of British Columbia without many amenities at all. The icing on this horrible story is that her foster sister and Hank's wife Fran is missing.
Tessa flies to the little settlement of Whatou Lake where her parents and another foster sister live. Her father is the very respected town doctor who has a maddening tendency to overprotect his wife.
Tessa fled Whatou Lake some five years earlier. She has made a good life in Vancouver and doesn't enjoy the idea of returning to her home. Especially when she recalls why she left in such a hurry. However, she must.
She meets Investigator Ron Halprin from Vancouver's RCMP detachment. He specializes in murders. The small department in Whatou Lake simply cannot handle the case.
Tessa has mixed feelings for all of the old friends and enemies she must deal with as she looks for Fran, along with her family. No one seems able to tell the truth – or not the whole truth. Everyone has secrets. There is also a rash of poaching going on.
The story moves on towards its conclusion. Endlessly fascinating and entrancing, the book is almost impossible to put down. There are many names and personalities to sort out so the reader must keep track. I truly enjoy reading Ann Cleeves' novels. She is such a good writer. Her characters are colorful and true to life. I liked Tessa, but found it a little difficult to believe that a lawyer would be so innocent about certain things like police procedures. I also enjoyed the Inspector Halprin character and the involvement with the local first Nations tribe.
December 8, 2020
This is not my first book by author Bernadette Calonego. I love all her books and she is getting better and better. You can sense that she experiences Canada's wilderness firsthand and that a lot of research and diligence goes into her writing.
Vancouver lawyer Tessa Griffins is back in her remote hometown in Northern British Columbia because the family of her stepsister Fran has been murdered, and Fran herself is missing. Tessa is an interesting character, multilayered and likeable. The interactions in the small town seem authentic and the tensions in Murderous Morning play out in a very suspenseful way. Although I tried to read all the clues, in the end I couldn't guess the outcome, which is hard to do in this genre.
Hopefully there will be a sequel with Tessa Griffins and detective Ron Halprin. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book by this author.
Vancouver lawyer Tessa Griffins is back in her remote hometown in Northern British Columbia because the family of her stepsister Fran has been murdered, and Fran herself is missing. Tessa is an interesting character, multilayered and likeable. The interactions in the small town seem authentic and the tensions in Murderous Morning play out in a very suspenseful way. Although I tried to read all the clues, in the end I couldn't guess the outcome, which is hard to do in this genre.
Hopefully there will be a sequel with Tessa Griffins and detective Ron Halprin. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book by this author.
January 12, 2022
This is an interesting mystery that takes place in a fictional remote area of British Columbia, Canada.
Tessa returns to her hometown from Vancouver after she hears that her brother in law and nieces and nephew have been murdered. Her step sister Fran, the mother of the children, is missing and the residents of the area frantically begin to search for her. There are so many quirky and interesting characters that make the search for the killer or killers more intriguing. There are great descriptions of how isolating living in the rugged Northern areas of Canada can be. The author also describes some of the ongoing issues the Indigenous people have with the government as they work toward reconciliation and more equitable arrangements for the First Nations people. Overall this was an interesting book and I couldn’t figure out who had committed the murders with so many interesting characters that could have been the suspect.
Tessa returns to her hometown from Vancouver after she hears that her brother in law and nieces and nephew have been murdered. Her step sister Fran, the mother of the children, is missing and the residents of the area frantically begin to search for her. There are so many quirky and interesting characters that make the search for the killer or killers more intriguing. There are great descriptions of how isolating living in the rugged Northern areas of Canada can be. The author also describes some of the ongoing issues the Indigenous people have with the government as they work toward reconciliation and more equitable arrangements for the First Nations people. Overall this was an interesting book and I couldn’t figure out who had committed the murders with so many interesting characters that could have been the suspect.
October 12, 2020
Tessa is called home when her sister goes missing after a horrible murder leaves a father and 3 children dead. This is the the start of a great murder mystery set in an isolated town in northern British Columbia. The author makes the small town and surrounding wilderness come alive on the pages. Like many small towns, this one holds many secrets. Many people seem suspicious and may be involved in the murder but the twists and turns will make you change your mind again and again. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and did not expect the twist ending. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.
January 26, 2020
Inhalt
Der Anblick der einsamen Farm in der Wildnis könnte so idyllisch sein, wäre da nicht die männliche Leiche im Gras vor dem Haus. Und auch in den vier Wänden haben dich grausame Taten abgespielt: Überall Blut, drei Tote Kinder. Die einzige Überlebende in der Familie – Fran – ist spurlos verschwunden.
Tessa Griffins kehrt zurück in ihren Heimatort, als sie von der Tragödie erfährt. Denn die verschwundene Frau ist ihre Stiefschwester. Die Familie droht an Verzweiflung und Trauer zu zerrechen. Und obendrein bilden sich überall im Dorf Gruppen. Jeder scheint plötzlich Geheimnisse zu haben. Auch Tessa beginnt, sich gemeinsam mit Polizeidetektiv Ron Halprin auf die Suche zu machen. Und dabei kommt grausiges ans Tageslicht …
Meinung
Kanada als Schauplatz finde ich unsagbar spannend. Ich war selbst noch nie dort, aber ich habe mich schnell so gefühlt, als würde ich dort alles kennen. Vorab also schon einmal ein dickes Lob: Die Atmosphäre dieses Buches reißt eines sofort mit sich. Die Umgebung konnte ich mir absolut bildlich vorstellen.
Ich kam sehr gut in die Geschichte hinein. Die Handlung geht schnell mit einem großen Knall los – und wir begleiten Tessa Griffins von da an auf Schritt und Tritt. Ich hatte anfangs etwas Probleme mit ihr als Protagonistin, fand sie ein wenig unnahbar, aber das hat sich rasch geändert. Sie zeigt sich als sehr starke, sehr taffe Person, die weiß, was sie will. Das hat mir gefallen.
Die Figuren, die nach und nach auftauchen, scheinen alle ein Geheimnis mit sich herumzutragen, das wird schnell klar. Diese vielen Geheimnisse haben aber auch dazu beigetragen, dass das Buch sehr schnell super spannend wurde. Leider hatte ich nicht zu jedem der Charaktere einen richtigen Zugriff, manche wirkten mir etwas zu unnahbar.
Kapitel in einer sehr angenehmen länge und ein wirklich fesselnder Schreibstil haben ihr Übriges dazu beigetragen, dass man schnell weiterlesen musste, um zu wissen, wie es weitergeht. In der Mitte hatte das Buch eine kleine Länge und ich kam etwas ins Stocken, dafür war das Finale umso fulminanter. Alles in allem kann ich das Buch sehr empfehlen.
Fazit
Die düstere Seite Kanadas – ein spannender Kriminalroman mit einer taffen Protagonistin und vielen, vielen Geheimnissen!
3 von 5 Buchherzen ♥♥♥
Danke an die Autorin für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Der Anblick der einsamen Farm in der Wildnis könnte so idyllisch sein, wäre da nicht die männliche Leiche im Gras vor dem Haus. Und auch in den vier Wänden haben dich grausame Taten abgespielt: Überall Blut, drei Tote Kinder. Die einzige Überlebende in der Familie – Fran – ist spurlos verschwunden.
Tessa Griffins kehrt zurück in ihren Heimatort, als sie von der Tragödie erfährt. Denn die verschwundene Frau ist ihre Stiefschwester. Die Familie droht an Verzweiflung und Trauer zu zerrechen. Und obendrein bilden sich überall im Dorf Gruppen. Jeder scheint plötzlich Geheimnisse zu haben. Auch Tessa beginnt, sich gemeinsam mit Polizeidetektiv Ron Halprin auf die Suche zu machen. Und dabei kommt grausiges ans Tageslicht …
Meinung
Kanada als Schauplatz finde ich unsagbar spannend. Ich war selbst noch nie dort, aber ich habe mich schnell so gefühlt, als würde ich dort alles kennen. Vorab also schon einmal ein dickes Lob: Die Atmosphäre dieses Buches reißt eines sofort mit sich. Die Umgebung konnte ich mir absolut bildlich vorstellen.
Ich kam sehr gut in die Geschichte hinein. Die Handlung geht schnell mit einem großen Knall los – und wir begleiten Tessa Griffins von da an auf Schritt und Tritt. Ich hatte anfangs etwas Probleme mit ihr als Protagonistin, fand sie ein wenig unnahbar, aber das hat sich rasch geändert. Sie zeigt sich als sehr starke, sehr taffe Person, die weiß, was sie will. Das hat mir gefallen.
Die Figuren, die nach und nach auftauchen, scheinen alle ein Geheimnis mit sich herumzutragen, das wird schnell klar. Diese vielen Geheimnisse haben aber auch dazu beigetragen, dass das Buch sehr schnell super spannend wurde. Leider hatte ich nicht zu jedem der Charaktere einen richtigen Zugriff, manche wirkten mir etwas zu unnahbar.
Kapitel in einer sehr angenehmen länge und ein wirklich fesselnder Schreibstil haben ihr Übriges dazu beigetragen, dass man schnell weiterlesen musste, um zu wissen, wie es weitergeht. In der Mitte hatte das Buch eine kleine Länge und ich kam etwas ins Stocken, dafür war das Finale umso fulminanter. Alles in allem kann ich das Buch sehr empfehlen.
Fazit
Die düstere Seite Kanadas – ein spannender Kriminalroman mit einer taffen Protagonistin und vielen, vielen Geheimnissen!
3 von 5 Buchherzen ♥♥♥
Danke an die Autorin für das Rezensionsexemplar!
October 29, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Murderous Morning, this latest book from author Bernadette Calonego.
The setting in a small community in British Columbia, Canada, brings together people who have known each other most of their lives but gone different directions. The murder of Tessa’s brother-in-law Hank, his 3 children, and the disappearance of Fran, Tessa’s sister, brings Tessa back to the community, and memories, she left behind. The unfolding of the story weaves together the nuances of small communities, with the benefits and the struggles that are very real. The ensuing investigation opens up the community to supporting each other while at the same time suspicions arise, secrets are revealed, and complexities come up for Tessa, those she loves and investigating office Ron Halprin.
I appreciated the way the author brought together the gifts the First Nations bring to communities, but the struggle with racism that exists in many communities toward the Indigenous peoples’ of Canada, and the struggle many young people also face.
The plot unfolded nicely and I was taken by surprise at the end to find out ‘who done it'. The characters developed well throughout the story. I would love to see some of them continue into sequels!
A particularly poignant connection for me reading this book, was that Fran suffered from Fibromyalgia, something many people suffer from. This autoimmune condition is very misunderstood, and very painful for those that suffer with it. The references to this condition and Fran’s suffering were done with much sensitivity. In fact, any of the characters in the story that suffered from health conditions, or addictions, were very respectfully and sensitively written about. Several of the characters were dealing with loss of dreams and disappointments and the way these were woven into the plot was very well done.
Another great read from Bernadette Calonego.
The setting in a small community in British Columbia, Canada, brings together people who have known each other most of their lives but gone different directions. The murder of Tessa’s brother-in-law Hank, his 3 children, and the disappearance of Fran, Tessa’s sister, brings Tessa back to the community, and memories, she left behind. The unfolding of the story weaves together the nuances of small communities, with the benefits and the struggles that are very real. The ensuing investigation opens up the community to supporting each other while at the same time suspicions arise, secrets are revealed, and complexities come up for Tessa, those she loves and investigating office Ron Halprin.
I appreciated the way the author brought together the gifts the First Nations bring to communities, but the struggle with racism that exists in many communities toward the Indigenous peoples’ of Canada, and the struggle many young people also face.
The plot unfolded nicely and I was taken by surprise at the end to find out ‘who done it'. The characters developed well throughout the story. I would love to see some of them continue into sequels!
A particularly poignant connection for me reading this book, was that Fran suffered from Fibromyalgia, something many people suffer from. This autoimmune condition is very misunderstood, and very painful for those that suffer with it. The references to this condition and Fran’s suffering were done with much sensitivity. In fact, any of the characters in the story that suffered from health conditions, or addictions, were very respectfully and sensitively written about. Several of the characters were dealing with loss of dreams and disappointments and the way these were woven into the plot was very well done.
Another great read from Bernadette Calonego.
December 21, 2020
Murderous Morning
By Bernadette Calonego
Available now
Self published Canadian author
Synopsis
Tessa is a lawyer in the big city working at forgetting her past and the family she left behind in the small secluded northern town she grew up in.
Suddenly she finds herself returning to help investigate her sister Fran’s disappearance and her children’s deaths. It appears like everyone has something to hide (including her parents),the RCMP unit investigating isn’t very forthcoming, and not everyone is glad to see Tessa back in town.
REVIEW
This book was a solid read for me, while not what I expected from the first few pages it definitely delivered on the whole murder mystery thriller theme.
Bonus- it takes place in Canada! Its always so nice to read #canadiancontent by a #canadianauthor. The author @Bernadette also included a parallel storyline involving the indigenous people of Whatou Lake and their struggle for land and hunting rights. Big themes right? But she interweaves this plot into the past and present lives of the characters making it feel seamless.
.
There are plenty of crumbs leading the reader in multiple different directions. You will second guess yourself thinking you have it all figured out and then the next chapter leaves you doubting...
By Bernadette Calonego
Available now
Self published Canadian author
Synopsis
Tessa is a lawyer in the big city working at forgetting her past and the family she left behind in the small secluded northern town she grew up in.
Suddenly she finds herself returning to help investigate her sister Fran’s disappearance and her children’s deaths. It appears like everyone has something to hide (including her parents),the RCMP unit investigating isn’t very forthcoming, and not everyone is glad to see Tessa back in town.
REVIEW
This book was a solid read for me, while not what I expected from the first few pages it definitely delivered on the whole murder mystery thriller theme.
Bonus- it takes place in Canada! Its always so nice to read #canadiancontent by a #canadianauthor. The author @Bernadette also included a parallel storyline involving the indigenous people of Whatou Lake and their struggle for land and hunting rights. Big themes right? But she interweaves this plot into the past and present lives of the characters making it feel seamless.
.
There are plenty of crumbs leading the reader in multiple different directions. You will second guess yourself thinking you have it all figured out and then the next chapter leaves you doubting...
November 21, 2020
Murderous Morning by Bernadette Calonego
If you are tired of simple Ho Hum plots, Murderous Morning is for you; from page one until the last page. Every page is information packed including the epilogue.
Are you tired of authors writing about the wilderness that they have never experienced? You know by their description that they have never walked an unmarked trail in the wilderness alone. Alone in every season in the forest, lakeside, seaside from land and water Bernadette Calonego has. She notices details in verbal and physical transactions between humans and nature. She writes detail in clear concise words. This book is one for the top shelf with the very best mystery and crime writers you enjoy. Thank you Bernadette, I am waiting for my next Good Read from Bernadette Calonego
If you are tired of simple Ho Hum plots, Murderous Morning is for you; from page one until the last page. Every page is information packed including the epilogue.
Are you tired of authors writing about the wilderness that they have never experienced? You know by their description that they have never walked an unmarked trail in the wilderness alone. Alone in every season in the forest, lakeside, seaside from land and water Bernadette Calonego has. She notices details in verbal and physical transactions between humans and nature. She writes detail in clear concise words. This book is one for the top shelf with the very best mystery and crime writers you enjoy. Thank you Bernadette, I am waiting for my next Good Read from Bernadette Calonego
June 10, 2021
A small town in the Canadian wilderness, where Native culture still clashes with white settlers, secrets abound, and bears rule the land. What could possibly go wrong?
Murderous Morning is a highly atmospheric, slow-burn mystery. I loved the remote setting, which made me feel like I’d been transported to Whatou Lake. Sometimes I was more worried about the dangerous landscape than I was about the killer on the loose.
The characters are well developed and interesting. We gradually get to know them as they lead the way through the complexities of the tangled relationships, reminding us that people are not always who they appear to be.
I really enjoyed unraveling this mystery, which kept me guessing until the end.
*I received a free copy for review.*
Murderous Morning is a highly atmospheric, slow-burn mystery. I loved the remote setting, which made me feel like I’d been transported to Whatou Lake. Sometimes I was more worried about the dangerous landscape than I was about the killer on the loose.
The characters are well developed and interesting. We gradually get to know them as they lead the way through the complexities of the tangled relationships, reminding us that people are not always who they appear to be.
I really enjoyed unraveling this mystery, which kept me guessing until the end.
*I received a free copy for review.*
January 2, 2022
Murderous Morning pulled me in from the very beginning. I wanted to know the answer to the questions: Who killed Hank and the children? Where was Fran? I found myself reading until the wee hours of the morning looking for the answers. Everyone was a suspect. I constantly changed my mine on who it was and was stunned with the ending. I gave this book 5 stars because a thought it was excellent!
This was the second book by this author that I read and I will be looking for more of her books.
This was the second book by this author that I read and I will be looking for more of her books.
June 10, 2024
This book is not for the faint of heart!
In the very beginning the author starts the tension building by alluding that Tessa left her home town for reasons that still hurt her to think about.
Then the phone call about her foster sister Fran.
The crimes committed in this book are heinous and unbelievable. The murderers are almost a complete surprise. There are details about the lives of the foster children that might be triggers for some people.
It is an excellent well written book about a horrible only to real topic.
In the very beginning the author starts the tension building by alluding that Tessa left her home town for reasons that still hurt her to think about.
Then the phone call about her foster sister Fran.
The crimes committed in this book are heinous and unbelievable. The murderers are almost a complete surprise. There are details about the lives of the foster children that might be triggers for some people.
It is an excellent well written book about a horrible only to real topic.
May 26, 2022
Hard book to put down once you start
I wouldn't have read this if I didn't know the author. Murdered children are not mysteries I like to read. But the characters and the plot drew me in. Nobody is what you think they are, and the deeper you get into the book, everything changes.
I wouldn't have read this if I didn't know the author. Murdered children are not mysteries I like to read. But the characters and the plot drew me in. Nobody is what you think they are, and the deeper you get into the book, everything changes.
May 3, 2025
Fantastic story and writing
I really enjoyed this book. The writer is exceptional. The story kept me intrigued thru the whole book. It’s rare for me to not be able to put a book down, but this one sure did. I was guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed this book. The writer is exceptional. The story kept me intrigued thru the whole book. It’s rare for me to not be able to put a book down, but this one sure did. I was guessing until the end.
September 9, 2025
I picked up this book while traveling through Newfoundland I was intrigued that she was a local author but it was translated from German. The book is set in a remote community in B.C it's an interesting story, and the characters are well developed, definitely worth a read
January 10, 2021
Loved this story. It kept me kissing until the end. The author also used the dangers of bears as an effective weapon to increase the tension. Yikes.
February 26, 2021
Confusing
And in the end, kind of stupid. Not really a good mystery, although it started out to be. By the end of the book I didn’t really care who did it, I was just ready for it to be over.
And in the end, kind of stupid. Not really a good mystery, although it started out to be. By the end of the book I didn’t really care who did it, I was just ready for it to be over.
March 29, 2021
An interesting tale. At first it was a little hard to follow but the further into the story you got the easier it was. I did enjoy it.
October 13, 2023
The numerous twists and turns make for a suspenseful read! Compelling characters with quite many flaws.
February 2, 2025
Recht spannende Geschichte; der Schluss hat mich etwas enttäuscht.
October 21, 2020
When Tessa Griffins finds out her foster sister, Fran, is missing, and Fran's husband and children have been found dead, she drops everything at the law firm where she works in Vancouver to get to the small town of Whatou Lake, in British Columbia where her parents live. She hasn't been back for some time, and she's not sure what she will find, except old memories she's tried to forget. But, she has to help out in the search for Fran. She will also have to dig deep to find out what happened at the remote farm where Fran's husband and children died. Could it be poachers? Or is it something more sinister that's responsible for all the carnage?
Calonego has written a riveting mystery that will keep fans glued to the page. I loved that this story had many exciting elements, such as family drama, a mystery, and enough tension between the various characters to keep me guessing until the end. Frankly, I felt like I'd been on an expedition through the Canadian wilderness by the time I finished this book. The atmosphere and descriptions were so wonderfully developed that I had a hard time putting it down. If you are craving a mystery with a depth of story, character, and plot, this is definitely one to read.
Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at www.susannesbooklist.com
Calonego has written a riveting mystery that will keep fans glued to the page. I loved that this story had many exciting elements, such as family drama, a mystery, and enough tension between the various characters to keep me guessing until the end. Frankly, I felt like I'd been on an expedition through the Canadian wilderness by the time I finished this book. The atmosphere and descriptions were so wonderfully developed that I had a hard time putting it down. If you are craving a mystery with a depth of story, character, and plot, this is definitely one to read.
Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at www.susannesbooklist.com
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews