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Detective Gina Harte #2
Dit heb je verdiend
Het enige geluid was het echoën van zijn voetstappen in de gang. Pas toen zijn ogen aan het donker gewend waren, zag hij het bloedspoor. Zijn hart begon sneller te kloppen. Hij sloop naar de keukendeur, voorzichtig het spoor ont-wijkend. ‘Melissa?’ Hij drukte zijn oor tegen de deur.
Melissa Sanderson leek het perfecte leven te hebben: een heerlijk gezin en een prachtig huis in een rustige buitenwijk. Maar nu is ze dood, en haar gewurgde lichaam vertoont bewijs van eerdere verwondingen. De plaats delict doet detective Gina Harte terugdenken aan haar eigen inktzwarte verleden – en juist dat maakt haar vastbesloten de moordenaar te vinden. Is het Melissa’s echtgenoot, met zijn losse handjes? Haar door jaloezie verteerde minnaar? Of is er nog iemand in het spel – iemand die Melissa al tijden in de gaten hield en die zijn volgende slachtoffer al in het vizier heeft?
Melissa Sanderson leek het perfecte leven te hebben: een heerlijk gezin en een prachtig huis in een rustige buitenwijk. Maar nu is ze dood, en haar gewurgde lichaam vertoont bewijs van eerdere verwondingen. De plaats delict doet detective Gina Harte terugdenken aan haar eigen inktzwarte verleden – en juist dat maakt haar vastbesloten de moordenaar te vinden. Is het Melissa’s echtgenoot, met zijn losse handjes? Haar door jaloezie verteerde minnaar? Of is er nog iemand in het spel – iemand die Melissa al tijden in de gaten hield en die zijn volgende slachtoffer al in het vizier heeft?
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2018
1729 people are currently reading
4626 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kovach
33 books1,039 followersCarla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
September 1, 2018
4 Bold Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is the second book in the Gina Hart police procedural series... although I think you would be fine to read it as a standalone... these books are more plot driven then character driven.... although admittedly I am hoping to get to know Gina better in future books... I think her character has tremendous potential for some major character growth.... i’m guessing there are some pretty major secrets we are yet to learn!
So what does a sexual assault in 1993 and a murder in 2018 have in common? That is what Gina and her team need to figure out... told from many different points of view we really got a clear picture of this crime.... and bonus, we also got into the minds of the criminal as well, I always love this! Once again my amateur detective skills were put to the test, and once again I was foiled! There are a few twists and turns that caught me off guard, that is for sure!
Recommend to those of you who enjoy a good police procedural or crime thriller...
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
This is the second book in the Gina Hart police procedural series... although I think you would be fine to read it as a standalone... these books are more plot driven then character driven.... although admittedly I am hoping to get to know Gina better in future books... I think her character has tremendous potential for some major character growth.... i’m guessing there are some pretty major secrets we are yet to learn!
So what does a sexual assault in 1993 and a murder in 2018 have in common? That is what Gina and her team need to figure out... told from many different points of view we really got a clear picture of this crime.... and bonus, we also got into the minds of the criminal as well, I always love this! Once again my amateur detective skills were put to the test, and once again I was foiled! There are a few twists and turns that caught me off guard, that is for sure!
Recommend to those of you who enjoy a good police procedural or crime thriller...
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
August 29, 2018
EXCERPT: ...his knees buckled as he saw his wife tied to one of their carver chairs under the light of the cooker hood. A piece of blue cord was looped under her chin and the raw marks around her neck told him exactly what had happened.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Melissa Sanderson is the perfect wife and mother. She dotes on her daughter, and lives in her dream home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburbs.
But looks can be deceiving.
Something is amiss in that house – all the neighbours think so. Some say Melissa is having an affair. Others say she’s been drinking too much.
Then one night, sirens wake up the whole neighbourhood.
Melissa Sanderson is dead.
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Next Girl. I forgave the author her use of the stereotypical caricature of most major female detectives currently being written - heavy drinking, hard-nosed, has been in an abusive relationship, estranged from family, as her character developed through the first book. But there is absolutely zero further character development in Her Final Hour.
I also commented that 'some of the investigative techniques left something to be desired, but it does develop into a good crime thriller'. I stand by the first part of that comment as it is also true of Her Final Hour. Unfortunately Her Final Hour does not develop into a good crime thriller.
This book is clumsily written, as though it was dashed off in a hurry. The dialogue is mostly stilted. As I said earlier, there is zero character development. It was repetitive, and the characters constant dwelling on and rehashing of their traumatic pasts became extremely wearing.
There were times when I considered abandoning this read. The only thing that kept me reading was that I had enjoyed The Next Girl. I skimmed pages in an effort to get to the end, and heaved a sigh of relief when I closed the covers.
This was not 'AN ABSORBING THRILLER WITH AN ENDING YOU WON’T SEE COMING'. It didn't even come close. I won't be recommending this book to others, and I probably won't bother reading any further books in this series. 😕😕.5
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy Her Final Hour by Carla Kovach and read it. I sincerely wish that I had enjoyed this more than I did.
THE AUTHOR: Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Final Hour by Carla Kovach for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Melissa Sanderson is the perfect wife and mother. She dotes on her daughter, and lives in her dream home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburbs.
But looks can be deceiving.
Something is amiss in that house – all the neighbours think so. Some say Melissa is having an affair. Others say she’s been drinking too much.
Then one night, sirens wake up the whole neighbourhood.
Melissa Sanderson is dead.
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Next Girl. I forgave the author her use of the stereotypical caricature of most major female detectives currently being written - heavy drinking, hard-nosed, has been in an abusive relationship, estranged from family, as her character developed through the first book. But there is absolutely zero further character development in Her Final Hour.
I also commented that 'some of the investigative techniques left something to be desired, but it does develop into a good crime thriller'. I stand by the first part of that comment as it is also true of Her Final Hour. Unfortunately Her Final Hour does not develop into a good crime thriller.
This book is clumsily written, as though it was dashed off in a hurry. The dialogue is mostly stilted. As I said earlier, there is zero character development. It was repetitive, and the characters constant dwelling on and rehashing of their traumatic pasts became extremely wearing.
There were times when I considered abandoning this read. The only thing that kept me reading was that I had enjoyed The Next Girl. I skimmed pages in an effort to get to the end, and heaved a sigh of relief when I closed the covers.
This was not 'AN ABSORBING THRILLER WITH AN ENDING YOU WON’T SEE COMING'. It didn't even come close. I won't be recommending this book to others, and I probably won't bother reading any further books in this series. 😕😕.5
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy Her Final Hour by Carla Kovach and read it. I sincerely wish that I had enjoyed this more than I did.
THE AUTHOR: Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Final Hour by Carla Kovach for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 17, 2018
Gina Harte #2
Melissa Sanderson is the perfect wife and mother. She dotes on her daughter, and lives in her dream home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburbs.
A woman was found murdered in her home. She was a wife and mother. She had been tied to a chair and strangled. But all was not as it seemed. Her husband, Daryl, was playing away and Melissa liked a drink. Detective Gina Harte was given the case to investigate.
There is a lot going on in this storyline. Even though, at times, I felt I knew where this book was going, and I dd, I was not put off reading the rest of the book. I think it was written this way intensionally (I could be wrong, maybe it was just me). There were some parts where I still held my breath. The storyline also had some bizarre twists in it. It's not a bad read though. Although this is the second book in the series, I do think it could be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Carla Kovach for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Melissa Sanderson is the perfect wife and mother. She dotes on her daughter, and lives in her dream home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the suburbs.
A woman was found murdered in her home. She was a wife and mother. She had been tied to a chair and strangled. But all was not as it seemed. Her husband, Daryl, was playing away and Melissa liked a drink. Detective Gina Harte was given the case to investigate.
There is a lot going on in this storyline. Even though, at times, I felt I knew where this book was going, and I dd, I was not put off reading the rest of the book. I think it was written this way intensionally (I could be wrong, maybe it was just me). There were some parts where I still held my breath. The storyline also had some bizarre twists in it. It's not a bad read though. Although this is the second book in the series, I do think it could be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Carla Kovach for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2018
I have found a new great series to follow! A well written, intriguing and fast paced read which would keep you on your toes till the last page!
Ellie is drugged and raped in 1993 in the back seat of a car. Years later, she is still searching for her attacker.
Melissa Sanderson, mother of two year old Mia, is found murdered in her own house in 2018.
Her husband has an airtight alibi. Her lover does not.
As detective Gina Harte and her team start investigating, they find that Melissa’s perfect life may not be as it seems. Beneath the beautiful house, a perfect husband and a peachy life, hides a hideous secret. A secret which if revealed, would show the killer’s identity and shed light on Ellie’s rapist.
Thanks to Carla Kovach, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
Ellie is drugged and raped in 1993 in the back seat of a car. Years later, she is still searching for her attacker.
Melissa Sanderson, mother of two year old Mia, is found murdered in her own house in 2018.
Her husband has an airtight alibi. Her lover does not.
As detective Gina Harte and her team start investigating, they find that Melissa’s perfect life may not be as it seems. Beneath the beautiful house, a perfect husband and a peachy life, hides a hideous secret. A secret which if revealed, would show the killer’s identity and shed light on Ellie’s rapist.
Thanks to Carla Kovach, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
August 23, 2018
'Her Final Hour' is the second book to feature DI Gina Harte, set in the fictional town of Cleevesford. England. Having enjoyed the first book of the series and Gina's inimitable personality, this one was just as compelling.
Melissa Sanderson appears to have the perfect life. So, when she is murdered in her small hometown noone has any idea who would target the young mother. When the team are called in to investigate the killing. they begin to discover things about her that indicate that her whole life was a facade, and that what her life was truly like and how her life was described like by others are in deep conflict. She has been hiding a lot of shady secrets from everyone for a long time. This is the first case Gina Harte has taken control of since becoming Senior Investigative Officer, so the desire to do it well is clear to see. Her tenacity and willingness to throw herself into a case and not leave alone when she has a gut-feeling is admirable and fun to read.
'Her Final Hour' was cleverly plotted, with a great storyline and the wonderful Gina Harte. Gina really makes this series what it is and is a wonderful creation. It is mainly told from her point-of-view, but there is other POV's in the mix too. I found myself rapidly page-turning to find out exactly what happened, and the twists properly caught me out! The explosive twist at the end of the book was something I greatly appreciated as I love to be shocked! There is a gradual build-up of tension through the story, and the more information and layers are revealed the more suspenseful it became. This leads me to conclude that the author is an expert in her craft!
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Melissa Sanderson appears to have the perfect life. So, when she is murdered in her small hometown noone has any idea who would target the young mother. When the team are called in to investigate the killing. they begin to discover things about her that indicate that her whole life was a facade, and that what her life was truly like and how her life was described like by others are in deep conflict. She has been hiding a lot of shady secrets from everyone for a long time. This is the first case Gina Harte has taken control of since becoming Senior Investigative Officer, so the desire to do it well is clear to see. Her tenacity and willingness to throw herself into a case and not leave alone when she has a gut-feeling is admirable and fun to read.
'Her Final Hour' was cleverly plotted, with a great storyline and the wonderful Gina Harte. Gina really makes this series what it is and is a wonderful creation. It is mainly told from her point-of-view, but there is other POV's in the mix too. I found myself rapidly page-turning to find out exactly what happened, and the twists properly caught me out! The explosive twist at the end of the book was something I greatly appreciated as I love to be shocked! There is a gradual build-up of tension through the story, and the more information and layers are revealed the more suspenseful it became. This leads me to conclude that the author is an expert in her craft!
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 13, 2018
Her Final Hour is book 2 in the Detective Gina Harte series and I am happy to report that it is just as twisty and dark but enjoyable as the first book which I absolutely loved. Gina is a strong, determined and at times extremely stubborn character.... love her... let there be more like her.
Gina returns home from a short break to be called to the scene of a murdered woman... Melissa is found bound to a chair and strangled. From the outside it appears that she had the perfect life but looks can be deceiving. The more that this case it investigated the darker it becomes. There are some rather nasty characters in this book but that just makes it better. Gina won't give up until the murderer is found and justice is served... putting her own life in danger.
With a gorgeous cover this is a book... and series not to be missed. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Gina returns home from a short break to be called to the scene of a murdered woman... Melissa is found bound to a chair and strangled. From the outside it appears that she had the perfect life but looks can be deceiving. The more that this case it investigated the darker it becomes. There are some rather nasty characters in this book but that just makes it better. Gina won't give up until the murderer is found and justice is served... putting her own life in danger.
With a gorgeous cover this is a book... and series not to be missed. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
December 24, 2020
"Het is vooral leuk om Gina Harte bezig te zien en te worstelen met haar verleden. Ondanks de problemen die ze gehad heeft en nog steeds mee te kampen heeft, is ze een echte doorzetter en een vechter. Dit deel vond ik opnieuw zeer goed, maar net iets minder dan het eerste luik. Daarom een mooi verdiende score van 4 sterren."
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
February 25, 2019
HER FINAL HOUR is the second crime thriller novel in the Detective Gina Harte Series, by author Carla Kovach. Having enjoyed the first book in the series, I move on to book 2. The story is set in Worcestershire England.
The 3 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
Melissa Sanderson has it all; she is the perfect wife and mother and lives in a dream home in the quiet suburbs. Her daughter is everything to her.
But looks can be deceiving.
Something is amiss in that house – all the neighbors think she is having an affair, and/or drinking too much.
Then one night, Melissa Sanderson is dead. Who would do this to a young mother?
The case is assigned to newly promoted Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) Gina Harte. The team soon discovers that the victim, Melissa Sanderson whole life was a front, and she was hiding a lot of secrets from everyone.
Told from multiple viewpoints, through Gina's investigation, but also those involved with the crime. A dark twisty mystery with strong female detectives.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Net Galley for my digital copy.
The 3 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
Melissa Sanderson has it all; she is the perfect wife and mother and lives in a dream home in the quiet suburbs. Her daughter is everything to her.
But looks can be deceiving.
Something is amiss in that house – all the neighbors think she is having an affair, and/or drinking too much.
Then one night, Melissa Sanderson is dead. Who would do this to a young mother?
The case is assigned to newly promoted Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) Gina Harte. The team soon discovers that the victim, Melissa Sanderson whole life was a front, and she was hiding a lot of secrets from everyone.
Told from multiple viewpoints, through Gina's investigation, but also those involved with the crime. A dark twisty mystery with strong female detectives.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Net Galley for my digital copy.
December 13, 2018
4 - 4.5 stars
Well done. Liked this book a lot!
Absolutely abhorrent villains - a group of misogynists, one of them was a woman. Awful. An illusion of a perfect wife... A murderer... Manipulators...
I wish they killed them all slowly and with extra torture!
Very low on romance. Gina broke up with Briggs, but I'm sure their love story is not over yet.
Well written 'classical' detective story.
Well done. Liked this book a lot!
Absolutely abhorrent villains - a group of misogynists, one of them was a woman. Awful. An illusion of a perfect wife... A murderer... Manipulators...
I wish they killed them all slowly and with extra torture!
Very low on romance. Gina broke up with Briggs, but I'm sure their love story is not over yet.
Well written 'classical' detective story.
March 8, 2019
Her Final Hour by Carla Kovach is the second in the Detective Gina Harte series.
Series Background (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books):
DI Gina Harte is a good boss, and she has earned the respect of her team, which consists of: DS Jacob Driscoll, DC Harry O’Connor and DC Paula Wyre. She is a stubborn lady, and a determined detective. She has been having an affair with her boss DCI Briggs, and knows it is not one of her better decisions. Thankfully no one knows about it. Of course it isn’t the only secret Gina has. No one knows she helped her abusive husband fall to his death either.
My Synopsis:
Ellie Redfern has finally tracked down the man who had raped her when she was 18 years old. She has never told anyone about that night, not even to her soon-to-be wife, Becky. She will regret that decision.
Gina comes home from a much-needed three day weekend. She has finally ended her relationship with her boss, but it seems that DCI Briggs doesn’t seem to understand that. She vows to convince him.
Barely in the door, Gina is called to a horrific murder scene. Melissa Sanderson is tied, hand and foot, to a chair in the kitchen. She has been strangled with blue wash line. Melissa had it all. She was the perfect wife to Darrel and wonderful mother to Mia, living in a beautiful home on a quiet street. The ideal life...but looks can be deceiving. Was it her controlling, sadistic husband, or maybe her lover, or was there someone else?
Natalie Garrison suffers from severe anxiety, but her loving husband Bruce provides enough sleeping pills so she doesn’t have to deal with day to day life. What would she do without him. She tries so hard to be the perfect wife, but she is always making mistakes.
Selina Dixon also strives to be the perfect wife, and succeeds. Her house is immaculate, dinner is on the table whatever time Rob wants it, and she is the perfect hostess, always ready with baking for any of her husband’s guests. If only her husband would include her in all these secret meetings.
Jennifer Munroe is another perfect wife (to Lee). She seems to carry this impression off with ease.
Gina is looking at the husbands of these women. They are all friends of Darrel, and there is something “off” with all of them. But angering Darrel has put her own life in danger. And where is Ellie?
My Opinions:
This is a good follow-up to the first book, and you could probably read this as a stand-alone novel, but I hate doing that, so I rarely recommend it.
I was glad to see the break-up of Gina and her boss, as I see it as such a cliché, and it just pisses me off. My fear is that it might not really have ended.
The other thing that was off was the fact that Gina was allowed to work after being attacked – twice. That was far-fetched, as no police force would condone this.
On the good side, this was a great story, and it flowed fairly well. There were a fair number of characters to keep straight and I did get confused once or twice, but it wasn’t a big deal. Be warned that the plot is fairly dark, and included the abuse, sexual assault, rape and torture of women. It was interesting, even when it was dark.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and look forward to the next book.
August 13, 2018
A woman is found murdered in her home. The woman was a wife and mother, and the murder scene doesn't add up with the life the woman appeared to be living. Detective Gina Harte is assigned the case, and soon realizes there is more to the case than originally thought.
Her Final Hour is the second book in the Detective Gina Harte series by Carla Kovach. I have not read the first book in this series, but this one was easily read as a standalone.
This book opens with a prologue of a woman being sexually assaulted in 1993, then the current story starts with a woman's murder in 2018. Her Final Hour is told with multiple viewpoints, so the reader is aware of not only Gina's investigation, but also those involved with the crime. This works fine for the story, and it's nice to get points of views from both sides. There is an extensive cast of characters, and plenty happening to keep the reader engaged with the story.
Gina is smart and tough. She has a difficult past that involves a lot of abuse, so she relates to the victims of the crimes she investigates on a personal level. She's also stronger for surviving her past and making something with her life.
A dark and twisty mystery. Good for fans of crime fiction, especially for those who enjoy books with strong female detectives.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Her Final Hour is the second book in the Detective Gina Harte series by Carla Kovach. I have not read the first book in this series, but this one was easily read as a standalone.
This book opens with a prologue of a woman being sexually assaulted in 1993, then the current story starts with a woman's murder in 2018. Her Final Hour is told with multiple viewpoints, so the reader is aware of not only Gina's investigation, but also those involved with the crime. This works fine for the story, and it's nice to get points of views from both sides. There is an extensive cast of characters, and plenty happening to keep the reader engaged with the story.
Gina is smart and tough. She has a difficult past that involves a lot of abuse, so she relates to the victims of the crimes she investigates on a personal level. She's also stronger for surviving her past and making something with her life.
A dark and twisty mystery. Good for fans of crime fiction, especially for those who enjoy books with strong female detectives.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2018
DI Gina Harte is back on the case in Carla Kovach's latest book, Her Final Hour. When I opened up this book last night I only intended to read the first chapter. Just to get a feel for the novel; to help me decide which book I was going to read next. But from the first scene I was hooked. Then the novel jumped 25 years and I found myself catapulted into a murder scene. The pacing of the novel was swift. Not for a moment did the suspense let up. DI Harte channeled strength from her past and was ardent in her pursuit. At one point in the book I thought I had the mystery solved but was enjoying myself so much that I was riveted. If my Kindle hadn't died I probably would not have slept last night. So excited to see what Kovach and DI Harte have in store for the next installment in this series.
August 13, 2018
After reading the first in this series The Next Girl, I was so excited to receive a copy of Her Final Hour. I wasn’t disappointed.
After having a well-deserved mini break away and not even unpacked her bags, Detective Gina Harte gets a phone call that there has been a murder. Wife and Mother Melissa Sanderson is found tied to a chair and strangled with blue cord of washing line and with her child Mia screaming uncontrollable upstairs. Melissa had the perfect life. She has a lovely home with husband Darrell. But all is not as it seems. Their marriage is struggling. Darrel is playing away and Melissa drinks. Darrell seems innocent of murder but, Melissa’s lover is in the frame for her murder.
Detective Gina is made Senior Investigating Officer of the case. But, as she investigates we slowly learn some of the history of the victims involves experiencing physical abuse, rape and sexual discrimination, brings back memories for Gina of her abusive relationship with her late husband Terry to cope with but also the ending with her relationship with her boss Briggs. She is finding it hard. But, with her stubborn attitude and strong determination she doesn’t stop until she finds the killer.
Wow like the first book in the series I loved this especially the strong will of Gina. Whatever happened to her, she carried on regardless. She didn’t stop until she caught the killer. The storyline was intriguing it kept me wanting more and I didn’t want it to stop. It was quite sinister in parts too. I can’t wait to hear more from this series. Will Gina ever get her own happy ending?
Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy off this book.
After having a well-deserved mini break away and not even unpacked her bags, Detective Gina Harte gets a phone call that there has been a murder. Wife and Mother Melissa Sanderson is found tied to a chair and strangled with blue cord of washing line and with her child Mia screaming uncontrollable upstairs. Melissa had the perfect life. She has a lovely home with husband Darrell. But all is not as it seems. Their marriage is struggling. Darrel is playing away and Melissa drinks. Darrell seems innocent of murder but, Melissa’s lover is in the frame for her murder.
Detective Gina is made Senior Investigating Officer of the case. But, as she investigates we slowly learn some of the history of the victims involves experiencing physical abuse, rape and sexual discrimination, brings back memories for Gina of her abusive relationship with her late husband Terry to cope with but also the ending with her relationship with her boss Briggs. She is finding it hard. But, with her stubborn attitude and strong determination she doesn’t stop until she finds the killer.
Wow like the first book in the series I loved this especially the strong will of Gina. Whatever happened to her, she carried on regardless. She didn’t stop until she caught the killer. The storyline was intriguing it kept me wanting more and I didn’t want it to stop. It was quite sinister in parts too. I can’t wait to hear more from this series. Will Gina ever get her own happy ending?
Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy off this book.
November 8, 2020
Na het lezen van haar 1ste boek in de reeks van Gina Harte was ik benieuwd of dit 2de deel me ook zo kon bekoren.
En echt...ik werd niet teleurgesteld.
Spanning van het begin tot het einde.
Je denkt dat je alles weet maar op het eind dan blijkt het toch helemaal anders in elkaar te zitten.
Carla Kovach kan me echt wel bekoren met haar vlotte schrijfstijl, haar korte hoofdstukken.
Ik ga alvast de andere delen in het Engels lezen.
Voor mij een 4,5 * waard.
En echt...ik werd niet teleurgesteld.
Spanning van het begin tot het einde.
Je denkt dat je alles weet maar op het eind dan blijkt het toch helemaal anders in elkaar te zitten.
Carla Kovach kan me echt wel bekoren met haar vlotte schrijfstijl, haar korte hoofdstukken.
Ik ga alvast de andere delen in het Engels lezen.
Voor mij een 4,5 * waard.
October 12, 2018
I absolutely loved this book as well as the first book in the series. DI Gina Harte is an awesome character.
I was glued to this book for a few days until I completed it. I have to say the plot was really original and highly plausible.
I don’t want to give too much away, just buy it and read for yourselves. Eagerly awaiting book three in the series.
I was glued to this book for a few days until I completed it. I have to say the plot was really original and highly plausible.
I don’t want to give too much away, just buy it and read for yourselves. Eagerly awaiting book three in the series.
October 29, 2020
Inspecteur Gina Harte wordt opgeroepen om een gruwelijke moordzaak te onderzoeken. Een jonge moeder is vastgebonden en gewurgd in haar eigen huis. Gina krijgt de leiding over het onderzoek en is vastbesloten de dader te vinden, ook omdat de plaats delict haar doet terugdenken aan haar eigen verleden en het trauma wat ze daaraan overgehouden heeft.
Maar wie heeft Melissa Sanderson vermoord? Is het haar gewelddadige echtgenoot? Haar jaloerse minnaar die wilde dat ze voor hem zou kiezen? Of is er iemand anders? Wanneer er nog een vrouw verdwijnt en er een verband lijkt te bestaan tussen de moordzaak en een verkrachting die jaren geleden heeft plaatsgevonden, wordt het onderzoek verder geïntensiveerd en zet het team alles op alles om de zaak tot een goed einde te brengen, ook al worden hun eigen levens daardoor ook in gevaar gebracht.
Het boek begint direct gruwelijk en spannend, je voelt de dreiging en de angst, het tempo ligt hoog en de schrijfstijl is vlot. Door wisselende perspectieven en terugblikken naar het verleden blijven verbanden lang onduidelijk en eindigt een hoofdstuk regelmatig met een cliffhanger. Je hebt wel relatief snel een idee in welke hoek je de dader zou kunnen zoeken, maar je bent daar nooit helemaal zeker van en wanneer er wat plotwendingen volgen, blijft het zeker spannend genoeg om snel door te willen lezen!
Waar ik in het vorige boek de onderlinge relaties en emoties heel sterk beschreven vond, vind ik dat in dit deel net iets minder goed uitgewerkt. De verhoudingen binnen het team lijken wat anders te liggen en dialogen verlopen soms wat stroever. Wel wordt verder ingegaan op het trauma van Gina dat in ‘Stil maar’ al werd vermeld. De moordzaak blijft het hele boek sterk overeind staan en de personages die daar een rol in spelen zijn, hoewel vaak mysterieus, goed uitgewerkt. Dit is een goede thriller over dominante, overheersende mannen en vrouwen die het gevoel hebben gevangen te worden gehouden, in hun eigen huis of door hun geest. Maar het gaat ook over sterke vrouwen, het omgaan met trauma’s en jezelf overwinnen. Niet alles is wat het lijkt en ik wil heel graag meer over Gina Harte lezen!
3.5-4⭐️
Maar wie heeft Melissa Sanderson vermoord? Is het haar gewelddadige echtgenoot? Haar jaloerse minnaar die wilde dat ze voor hem zou kiezen? Of is er iemand anders? Wanneer er nog een vrouw verdwijnt en er een verband lijkt te bestaan tussen de moordzaak en een verkrachting die jaren geleden heeft plaatsgevonden, wordt het onderzoek verder geïntensiveerd en zet het team alles op alles om de zaak tot een goed einde te brengen, ook al worden hun eigen levens daardoor ook in gevaar gebracht.
Het boek begint direct gruwelijk en spannend, je voelt de dreiging en de angst, het tempo ligt hoog en de schrijfstijl is vlot. Door wisselende perspectieven en terugblikken naar het verleden blijven verbanden lang onduidelijk en eindigt een hoofdstuk regelmatig met een cliffhanger. Je hebt wel relatief snel een idee in welke hoek je de dader zou kunnen zoeken, maar je bent daar nooit helemaal zeker van en wanneer er wat plotwendingen volgen, blijft het zeker spannend genoeg om snel door te willen lezen!
Waar ik in het vorige boek de onderlinge relaties en emoties heel sterk beschreven vond, vind ik dat in dit deel net iets minder goed uitgewerkt. De verhoudingen binnen het team lijken wat anders te liggen en dialogen verlopen soms wat stroever. Wel wordt verder ingegaan op het trauma van Gina dat in ‘Stil maar’ al werd vermeld. De moordzaak blijft het hele boek sterk overeind staan en de personages die daar een rol in spelen zijn, hoewel vaak mysterieus, goed uitgewerkt. Dit is een goede thriller over dominante, overheersende mannen en vrouwen die het gevoel hebben gevangen te worden gehouden, in hun eigen huis of door hun geest. Maar het gaat ook over sterke vrouwen, het omgaan met trauma’s en jezelf overwinnen. Niet alles is wat het lijkt en ik wil heel graag meer over Gina Harte lezen!
3.5-4⭐️
January 29, 2022
This is the second book in the Detective Gina Harte series by author Carla Kovach. For some reason I started this series on number ten and then the second, but didn’t spoil my enjoyment of either book. Based on the two books I have read this is a good police procedural series with interesting characters and decent plots.
DI Gina Harte is back at work following a well deserved holiday and is thrown straight back into the action and asked to lead a murder investigation. A woman has been killed and the murderer appears to be very aware of the dangers of leaving any forensic evidence, which only means he will be harder to track down. The victim was in an abusive marriage and was trying to escape the clutches of her husband when she was murdered.
Gina was also a victim of an abusive marriage for many years so this is going to be a difficult case for her to deal with.
A good plot full of twists building up to an exciting climax.
DI Gina Harte is back at work following a well deserved holiday and is thrown straight back into the action and asked to lead a murder investigation. A woman has been killed and the murderer appears to be very aware of the dangers of leaving any forensic evidence, which only means he will be harder to track down. The victim was in an abusive marriage and was trying to escape the clutches of her husband when she was murdered.
Gina was also a victim of an abusive marriage for many years so this is going to be a difficult case for her to deal with.
A good plot full of twists building up to an exciting climax.
August 16, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.
I kept feeling a weird sense of deja vu while reading this book. I know it's been a long while since The Stepford Wives (Ira Levin) but.... Maybe that interfered with my enjoyment of the book. The story was okay, but felt unnecessarily long to me with all the digressions into the characters' past hurts and traumas and the endless feeling of their repetitiousness.
I had a tough time connecting to the characters as well. Maybe some of that was due to my issues with the story.
I found it difficult to reconcile their pasts with their present effectiveness.
Overall 2.5 stars rounded up.
I kept feeling a weird sense of deja vu while reading this book. I know it's been a long while since The Stepford Wives (Ira Levin) but.... Maybe that interfered with my enjoyment of the book. The story was okay, but felt unnecessarily long to me with all the digressions into the characters' past hurts and traumas and the endless feeling of their repetitiousness.
I had a tough time connecting to the characters as well. Maybe some of that was due to my issues with the story.
I found it difficult to reconcile their pasts with their present effectiveness.
Overall 2.5 stars rounded up.
August 22, 2022
“Carla Kovach - Dit heb je verdiend”
🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼
Wat een boek opnieuw?! 🫢
Spannend, verwarrend en zalig om te lezen! 👌🏻
Wel wat meer personages in het boek & ik las niet dagelijks, dus soms moest ik toch ff denken “wie was dat nou weer?”. Maar het was niet storend! 🫣 Ik denk dat het eerder aan mijn concentratie lag 😶🌫️😅
Ik ga verder! 🤪
🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼🤱🏼
Wat een boek opnieuw?! 🫢
Spannend, verwarrend en zalig om te lezen! 👌🏻
Wel wat meer personages in het boek & ik las niet dagelijks, dus soms moest ik toch ff denken “wie was dat nou weer?”. Maar het was niet storend! 🫣 Ik denk dat het eerder aan mijn concentratie lag 😶🌫️😅
Ik ga verder! 🤪
February 11, 2025
Świeżutka premiera, która wskoczyła dosłownie ostatniego dnia czerwca, a obok której nie mogłam przejść obojętnie. Zaczynając pierwszy tom przeklinałam, że seria ma aż trzynaście tomów, a teraz już niecierpliwie przebieram nóżkami i wyczekuję kolejnego! I zaczynam się zastanawiać, czy przypadkiem nie znalazłam nowej ulubionej detektyw, której losów będę wypatrywać - tylko niech nie pakuje się tak często w kłopoty, bo nie wiem, czy dożyje finału!
Ale poza tym - odrobinę gorsze niż pierwszy tom, głównie dlatego, że tam dostaliśmy przeszłość Giny, która niesamowicie podkręciła napięciu, za to tutaj samej Giny (przynajmniej na początku) jest mniej. Ale nie zmienia to faktu, że wciągnęłam się strasznie i kinęłam na czym świat stoi, gdy w połowie najlepszej akcji wyczerpała się bateria w słuchawkach. Dla mnie nieodkładana, jestem zachwycona i pytam się ja, kiedy kolejny tom!
Ale poza tym - odrobinę gorsze niż pierwszy tom, głównie dlatego, że tam dostaliśmy przeszłość Giny, która niesamowicie podkręciła napięciu, za to tutaj samej Giny (przynajmniej na początku) jest mniej. Ale nie zmienia to faktu, że wciągnęłam się strasznie i kinęłam na czym świat stoi, gdy w połowie najlepszej akcji wyczerpała się bateria w słuchawkach. Dla mnie nieodkładana, jestem zachwycona i pytam się ja, kiedy kolejny tom!
December 6, 2020
4*. Tweede boek van deze serie dat ook weer prettig las. Je vliegt door het verhaal heen. Vooral de eerste helft van het boek vond ik erg goed. Tweede helft was ietsje minder en het einde viel mij persoonlijk ook een beetje tegen. Maar dan nog is het zeker wel een goed en interessant boek!
August 23, 2018
3.5 stars
I flew through this book in a day. It’s weird because I got the digital arc of this novel and I didn’t read the first one in the series so I went in the opposite direction. I don’t think it was a continuation, it just had the same lead, Detective Gina Harte.
One thing that drew me most to the story was its interesting plot. I really love murder stories and I love trying to figure out who the murderer is before the characters do. This one was a bit obvious but we don’t know why. Or you think you know and then it turns out it’s someone else. The mystery in this story is there for sure.
It’s evident why Gina Harte is the protagonist of the story. She’s a very lovable character and she’s such a great detective. She never gives up even though when she’s at her worst and she’s determined to find the killer no matter what. Kovach did a tremendous job writing her character.
This story is told in multiple point of views and it’s a lot more interesting this way. The story opens with a women who was raped many years ago and left in the parking lot and then it switches to the present day. But this story is different from the murder, but it’s also connected and the way it’s linked is very smooth and you can tell that Kovach has put a lot of thought into how she will link these two stories together. It’s just amazing!
I will be reading the first novel sometime this year and hopefully I will get a glimpse of Gina Harte because I did feel as though I missed something that might have occurred in the first book.
Overall, a great mystery and it is hard to put down once you pick it up.
I flew through this book in a day. It’s weird because I got the digital arc of this novel and I didn’t read the first one in the series so I went in the opposite direction. I don’t think it was a continuation, it just had the same lead, Detective Gina Harte.
One thing that drew me most to the story was its interesting plot. I really love murder stories and I love trying to figure out who the murderer is before the characters do. This one was a bit obvious but we don’t know why. Or you think you know and then it turns out it’s someone else. The mystery in this story is there for sure.
It’s evident why Gina Harte is the protagonist of the story. She’s a very lovable character and she’s such a great detective. She never gives up even though when she’s at her worst and she’s determined to find the killer no matter what. Kovach did a tremendous job writing her character.
This story is told in multiple point of views and it’s a lot more interesting this way. The story opens with a women who was raped many years ago and left in the parking lot and then it switches to the present day. But this story is different from the murder, but it’s also connected and the way it’s linked is very smooth and you can tell that Kovach has put a lot of thought into how she will link these two stories together. It’s just amazing!
I will be reading the first novel sometime this year and hopefully I will get a glimpse of Gina Harte because I did feel as though I missed something that might have occurred in the first book.
Overall, a great mystery and it is hard to put down once you pick it up.
April 25, 2024
DI Gina Harte has just returned home to Cleevesford from a short holiday spent with her daughter and granddaughter when she gets called to work. A murder. A 35-year-old wife and mother, Melissa Sanderson, was beaten and strangled to death in her own kitchen. Harte is made Senior Investifating Officer (which thrills her as it will be her first time and a huge step in her career) and she and her team begin to gather and follow the few clues and leads that will soon spiral into quite the case. There's no shortage of motives and suspects -- could it be Melissa's own husband who found her body and called police when he came home after a night out at the pub? Or is it Melissa's secret lover? Then there's the personal attack on Gina Harte herself. And yet another victim. In all 3 cases, there are some links and similarities. Gina and her fellow detectives are frustrated and stalled at every turn in this complex crime investigation. Painstaking attention to detail and chasing down people who may or may not be involved is going to take some doing.
I enjoyed this fast-paced police procedural, the second in the series. I like Gina Harte's character and she is working on achieving some personal growth with issues in her own life while still staying focused on her job. The personalities of the other members of the team are becoming more solid but there is still a long way to go before they become more than one-dimensional as the focus is mainly on Gina. It seems that in many books like this that the female detectives are messed up and have difficulty with relationships and I hope that Gina can break out of that mold. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.
I enjoyed this fast-paced police procedural, the second in the series. I like Gina Harte's character and she is working on achieving some personal growth with issues in her own life while still staying focused on her job. The personalities of the other members of the team are becoming more solid but there is still a long way to go before they become more than one-dimensional as the focus is mainly on Gina. It seems that in many books like this that the female detectives are messed up and have difficulty with relationships and I hope that Gina can break out of that mold. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.
August 25, 2018
The original title of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a book so good that I named my cat Lisbeth, was “Men Who Hate Women”. Well this could be named “English Men Who Hate Women”. A darker follow up to The Next Girl, you don’t need to have read the first book, although it helps to know the characters, but is a new story set four months later.
DI Gina Harte gets back from a short holiday and is called to the scene of a home invasion, where a woman has been tied to a chair and strangled. Her husband has a solid alibi, so the police suspect her lover, but then find signs of chronic abuse on the victim’s body, and her daughter also has bruises. Meanwhile, one woman is planning to finally confront the man who drugged and raped her years earlier, another is trapped indoors by her confusion and anxiety, and a third listens at doors when her husband’s friends come round.
This one kept me reading late into the night - just one more chapter... Gina is a frustrating heroine, so stubborn and determined to stay in control that she refuses to rest or seek help, despite a concussion that has her missing signs and making mistakes, although she is still sharper than anyone else. I spent half the book worrying that something would happen to her poor neglected cat Ebony, but it’s ok, she survives. I liked her on-off relationship with Briggs, her boss, and was happy to hear that Rosie, from the first book, got a happy ending.
This has been added to my list of New Favourite Series, and I await the next one eagerly. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture (fast becoming one of my favourite publishers) for the ARC, with apologies for being a little late finishing it, as it was published two days ago.
DI Gina Harte gets back from a short holiday and is called to the scene of a home invasion, where a woman has been tied to a chair and strangled. Her husband has a solid alibi, so the police suspect her lover, but then find signs of chronic abuse on the victim’s body, and her daughter also has bruises. Meanwhile, one woman is planning to finally confront the man who drugged and raped her years earlier, another is trapped indoors by her confusion and anxiety, and a third listens at doors when her husband’s friends come round.
This one kept me reading late into the night - just one more chapter... Gina is a frustrating heroine, so stubborn and determined to stay in control that she refuses to rest or seek help, despite a concussion that has her missing signs and making mistakes, although she is still sharper than anyone else. I spent half the book worrying that something would happen to her poor neglected cat Ebony, but it’s ok, she survives. I liked her on-off relationship with Briggs, her boss, and was happy to hear that Rosie, from the first book, got a happy ending.
This has been added to my list of New Favourite Series, and I await the next one eagerly. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture (fast becoming one of my favourite publishers) for the ARC, with apologies for being a little late finishing it, as it was published two days ago.
December 27, 2021
Dit is weer zo'n boek wat te lang ongelezen in de kast staat en nu vraag ik mezelf af: "Waarom heb ik dit boek niet eerder gelezen?"
Ik kan niet anders zeggen dan dat ik dit een geweldig verhaal vond. Ik heb het binnen een paar uur verslonden. Even was ik bang dat ik het personage Gina Harte kwijt was, omdat ik deel één al een flinke tijd gelezen geleden heb, maar gelukkig viel dit reuze mee. Ik zat direct goed in het verhaal. Ik vond de personages enorm goed. Ook was er door het hele verhaal heen een fijne spanning aanwezig, welke bij de ontknoping nog eens extra werd benadrukt.
Ook vond ik dit verhaal ergens wel indrukwekkend, omdat de onderdrukking van vrouwen best benadrukt wordt. Wel vond ik dat ik hierdoor echt een verhaal las en niet zomaar een paar zinnen!
Ik kijk er nu al naar uit om aan deel drie te beginnen! ❤
Ik kan niet anders zeggen dan dat ik dit een geweldig verhaal vond. Ik heb het binnen een paar uur verslonden. Even was ik bang dat ik het personage Gina Harte kwijt was, omdat ik deel één al een flinke tijd gelezen geleden heb, maar gelukkig viel dit reuze mee. Ik zat direct goed in het verhaal. Ik vond de personages enorm goed. Ook was er door het hele verhaal heen een fijne spanning aanwezig, welke bij de ontknoping nog eens extra werd benadrukt.
Ook vond ik dit verhaal ergens wel indrukwekkend, omdat de onderdrukking van vrouwen best benadrukt wordt. Wel vond ik dat ik hierdoor echt een verhaal las en niet zomaar een paar zinnen!
Ik kijk er nu al naar uit om aan deel drie te beginnen! ❤
September 23, 2018
I can suspend disbelief along with the best of them but this was just silly. Detective gets assaulted in her home, TWICE, & still continues to work, no protective detail, not even an alarm on her house? Please.
Quote : “The shade of denim we have in evidence matches that of her jeans - I should know, I spent ages staring at it last night.” Yes, let’s just rely on her ability to judge shades of denim! I know it gets forensically tested later but this is just a plain silly statement for a detective inspector to make.
Quote : “The shade of denim we have in evidence matches that of her jeans - I should know, I spent ages staring at it last night.” Yes, let’s just rely on her ability to judge shades of denim! I know it gets forensically tested later but this is just a plain silly statement for a detective inspector to make.
March 12, 2019
This was an excellent follow up to the first book. A woman, Melissa Sanderson, is found dead in her home - bound to a chair and strangled. She had an apparently perfect life which turned out to be not so perfect. There are secrets (when are there not). It is DI Gina Harte's first case as SIO and she acquits herself well as the twists get twistier and the plot gets murkier. This is turning into a really good series.
November 2, 2022
Een sterk 2e deel in deze reeks. Vlot geschreven, een goed uitgewerkt en origineel verhaal met veel actie en een goed plot. Op naar deel 3
April 14, 2022
‘Her Final Hour’ is the second book in Detective Gina Harte's series. Just like the first book, this one also has an original plot, unexpected turns and remains exciting throughout. I think I liked this book better than the first one.
In this part you also get to know Gina Harte a bit better and personal relationships are expanded a bit further. I do hope the story will continue to give us more of her personalty and history and will allow her to grow.
You can read the books in this series as standalones, because each book has its own plot line. However, I personally would recommend reading the series in order as you can get to know Gina and the rest in the way it is intended.
In this part you also get to know Gina Harte a bit better and personal relationships are expanded a bit further. I do hope the story will continue to give us more of her personalty and history and will allow her to grow.
You can read the books in this series as standalones, because each book has its own plot line. However, I personally would recommend reading the series in order as you can get to know Gina and the rest in the way it is intended.
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