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A Steve Thibault Mystery #1
Deadly Woods
A student’s body is found in a chimp’s cage at a world-renowned primate behavior center. Steve Thibault, the local small-town southern detective, investigates while facing opposition, disdain, and duplicity from the lead researcher and students. Fresh from a broken engagement, Steve becomes infatuated with staff member Gemma who may not be totally honest in her intentions. Something about the original research and academic jealousy led to a deadly demise for one particular person. Or was it a long ago hushed up adoption that was the motivation for the murder? Thibault must act quickly to save his own skin and before there is another death.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
ebook
Published September 22, 2020
41 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
ANDREA KRESS
57 books16 followersHooked on mysteries at an early age by Nancy Drew, Andrea blasted her way through all the Golden Age authors. Her work is reminiscent of that genre with an inquisitive amateur sleuth, a puzzling murder, a slew of suspects, multiple motives, a few red herrings and a surprise ending.
The BERKSHIRES COZY MYSTERY Series features Aggie Burnside, a young nurse and amateur sleuth trying to figure out whodunnit in 1930s small town Massachusetts. There are 9 books.
The MASSACHUSETTS COZY MYSTERY series has Amanda, Aggie's cousin, solving mysteries in the neighborhoods of Boston. There are 9 books.
The CAROLINA COZY MYSTERY series is a contemporary collection of 3 books.
The BERKSHIRES COZY MYSTERY Series features Aggie Burnside, a young nurse and amateur sleuth trying to figure out whodunnit in 1930s small town Massachusetts. There are 9 books.
The MASSACHUSETTS COZY MYSTERY series has Amanda, Aggie's cousin, solving mysteries in the neighborhoods of Boston. There are 9 books.
The CAROLINA COZY MYSTERY series is a contemporary collection of 3 books.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 16, 2023
“Deadly Woods (Steve Thibault Mystery of Suspense #1) by Andrea Ibanez ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Police Procedural. Location: Leesborough, North Carolina, USA. Time: 1993.
THE SERIES: This is a cozy mystery series combined with police procedurals. It’s based in 1990s Leesborough, North Carolina, just outside the famous research triangle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The books feature police sergeant Steve Thibault, a small-town southern police detective.
THIS BOOK: Grad student Walter Benson knows a secret about the Colter Primate Center. Before he can share it, he’s found beaten to death in a chimpanzee’s cage. Sergeant Steve Thibault is determined to find justice for him. But almost everyone is uncooperative, refuses to talk, and has a motive. Plus Thibault’s not working at full speed. His partner Mutt is sidelined with an emergency surgery, and Thibault is trying to fend off questions from family and friends about the end of his 4-year relationship. He’s drawn to Colter PR staff member Gemma, but isn’t sure he trusts her.
What led to the murder? Was the research valid, or was it just typical animal behavior labeled with human constructs? Was it academic jealousy? A hushed-up adoption? Thibault must act quickly before there’s another death.
Author Ibanez has written a cozy police procedural mystery. Her protagonist is all about his small town life, with his restored house, plans for a garden, and southern cooking. He’s also a clever detective who follows the evidence. She places the crime in an unlikely setting so her detective has to learn as he goes, and adds a few red herrings to make interesting. A floor plan of the Colter Center would have helped. Ibanez’s prose is stylistically casual and easy-to-read, and I think it’s the beginning of a go-to series. It’s 4 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to author Andrea Ibanez for this ecopy.
THE SERIES: This is a cozy mystery series combined with police procedurals. It’s based in 1990s Leesborough, North Carolina, just outside the famous research triangle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The books feature police sergeant Steve Thibault, a small-town southern police detective.
THIS BOOK: Grad student Walter Benson knows a secret about the Colter Primate Center. Before he can share it, he’s found beaten to death in a chimpanzee’s cage. Sergeant Steve Thibault is determined to find justice for him. But almost everyone is uncooperative, refuses to talk, and has a motive. Plus Thibault’s not working at full speed. His partner Mutt is sidelined with an emergency surgery, and Thibault is trying to fend off questions from family and friends about the end of his 4-year relationship. He’s drawn to Colter PR staff member Gemma, but isn’t sure he trusts her.
What led to the murder? Was the research valid, or was it just typical animal behavior labeled with human constructs? Was it academic jealousy? A hushed-up adoption? Thibault must act quickly before there’s another death.
Author Ibanez has written a cozy police procedural mystery. Her protagonist is all about his small town life, with his restored house, plans for a garden, and southern cooking. He’s also a clever detective who follows the evidence. She places the crime in an unlikely setting so her detective has to learn as he goes, and adds a few red herrings to make interesting. A floor plan of the Colter Center would have helped. Ibanez’s prose is stylistically casual and easy-to-read, and I think it’s the beginning of a go-to series. It’s 4 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to author Andrea Ibanez for this ecopy.
April 5, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author. The setting of North Carolina and the romantic suspense theme gripped me from the outset. When a young man is murdered at a primate centre, Detective Thibault has a new challenging case as the lab researchers have been suspiciously unhelpful to him. An entertaining and well-written suspense leaving me keen to follow the adventures of Steve Thibault further and to uncover the murderer. I recommend this series to anyone interested in classic American police procedurals and detective stories as there is a strong sense of place and atmosphere.
March 27, 2021
I was expecting to have to wait for this mystery to get started but instead, it grabbed me and pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the writing style too. It was easy to read and follow the colorful characters through what seemed to be a familiar environment. The dialogue was also really engaging, so good in fact I believed I was actually there following Steve around as an observer most of the way through from the very first page. If you like a good mystery then you will no doubt love Andrea Ibanes's Deady Woods as I most certainly did.
March 30, 2021
Great characters and story. I really like the main character, Steve Thibault. Really enjoyed the dialogue and how Ibáñez tied a story element from the beginning to the end. Love it when an author does that!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2022
/A story with a lot of suspense. I did not guess the killer until it was disclosed. A good story of a college research lab with a number of characters. The main characters are interesting and will probably stick in my mind for awhile. Recommend highly.
June 11, 2024
Highly Entertaining
A murder mystery set in an extremely unusual place. Big egos, feelings of betrayal & deep disappointment swirl together resulting in explosive action with horrifying consequences.
A murder mystery set in an extremely unusual place. Big egos, feelings of betrayal & deep disappointment swirl together resulting in explosive action with horrifying consequences.
October 25, 2020
An interesting story
Too many typos and some places where it seemed auto correct or auto complete had finished words and sentences with no editing. Distractracting
Too many typos and some places where it seemed auto correct or auto complete had finished words and sentences with no editing. Distractracting
March 8, 2021
Andrea Ibanez has a good flow to her story and she develops her characters well. Her writing reminds me of Stuart Woods. I look for more books from Andrea, and want to see her characters develop.
March 23, 2021
A great introduction to a new detective. Steve Thibault picks up a murder case at a research facility and has to work the clues against the odds where everyone seems to have a motive and no one is offering any useful information.
This book kept me entertained from cover to cover. Very easy to get into and left me wanting more.
I am very pleased to see there are two more available in the series. Thoroughly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book kept me entertained from cover to cover. Very easy to get into and left me wanting more.
I am very pleased to see there are two more available in the series. Thoroughly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2021
I related to Detective Thibaut immediatly, he is a believable character who is struggling to balance both his personal life and police work -
A truly fabulous murder mystery with well developed characters and very well written. I am going to purchase Deadly dunes now!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A truly fabulous murder mystery with well developed characters and very well written. I am going to purchase Deadly dunes now!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 1, 2022
A must read
Much better book than I expected. Well written, very interesting and engaging. You will never guess who the killer is until the last page.
The Main Char is a Likable enough guy, just a regular guy who is in over his head. His partner is in the hospital and he has to do this one on his own. Why you think is the killer is not, then who you suspect might be the killer if the first one isnt, also is not, in fact you wont be able to guess who the killer is, and our Hero figures it out only at the end. Fun read, as well as full of suspense !
Much better book than I expected. Well written, very interesting and engaging. You will never guess who the killer is until the last page.
The Main Char is a Likable enough guy, just a regular guy who is in over his head. His partner is in the hospital and he has to do this one on his own. Why you think is the killer is not, then who you suspect might be the killer if the first one isnt, also is not, in fact you wont be able to guess who the killer is, and our Hero figures it out only at the end. Fun read, as well as full of suspense !
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews