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Coffin Cove Mysteries #2
Hell's Half Acre
One betrayal.
Two suspects.
Three murders.
Andrea “Andi” Silvers thought moving to the tiny fishing village of Coffin Cove, on the Vancouver coast, would be a fresh start. But she got shot during a murder investigation.
Her boss at the Coffin Cove Gazette keeps telling her to take it easy. But she’s back on the booze and won’t get help. Instead, she’s going to do what she does best and follow her next lead.
Now Ricky, the former mayor’s son, has disappeared. The police don’t seem to care. Ricky runs the town’s new cannabis shop.
Then two dead bodies are discovered in an abandoned chapel.
Has Ricky finally turned up?
Discover a web of murder and mystery laced with humour and a thread of romance in this fast-paced whodunnit set on the gorgeous coast of Western Canada.
Two suspects.
Three murders.
Andrea “Andi” Silvers thought moving to the tiny fishing village of Coffin Cove, on the Vancouver coast, would be a fresh start. But she got shot during a murder investigation.
Her boss at the Coffin Cove Gazette keeps telling her to take it easy. But she’s back on the booze and won’t get help. Instead, she’s going to do what she does best and follow her next lead.
Now Ricky, the former mayor’s son, has disappeared. The police don’t seem to care. Ricky runs the town’s new cannabis shop.
Then two dead bodies are discovered in an abandoned chapel.
Has Ricky finally turned up?
Discover a web of murder and mystery laced with humour and a thread of romance in this fast-paced whodunnit set on the gorgeous coast of Western Canada.
- GenresMystery
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2021
159 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Elliott
20 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 10, 2021
Hell’s Half Acre is the second instalment in the Coffin Cove series of mysteries and is another twisty-turny whodunit with a unique atmosphere set in the fictional small town of Coffin Cove, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, off Canada’s Pacific Coast, known for its mild climate and thriving arts community. Investigative journalist Andrea ‘Andi’ Silvers’ nose for news gets her into all manner of bother and as she recovers from a gunshot wound she becomes invested in an interesting cold case. The disappearance of the former town mayor, Dennis Havers’ son, Ricky Havers, piques Andi’s interest and his mother, Sandra, asks Andi to investigate even though she is not strictly back at work. He has been missing for the past nine months, but his mother doesn't believe he left on his own accord like many people assume. Unfortunately, as he's an adult the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) cannot do that much especially with people speculating it was his choice to leave and is building a new life elsewhere. As Andi is in the middle of interviewing Coffin Cove’s new Mayor, Jade Thompson, news comes through that two young women, Clara Bell and Katie Dagg, out looking for intriguing local historical sites to offer tours to during The Heritage Festival, which is imminent, discover human remains.
They were searching for an old, abandoned chapel, built by a priest in the middle of the dense woodland, when they come upon a skull buried nearby and the bones of two dead bodies are later uncovered at the site by police teams. One of them is Ricky, confirming Sandra’s doubts. As Andi digs deeper, she is about to uncover dirty deeds aplenty in her supposedly sleepy and law-abiding corner of Western Canada. Often the places that fight hard to keep a clean image have the furthest to fall or the most to hide, and Coffin Cove has a murky past that is about to be revealed to the detriment of everyone in the area. Let the crime wave begin! This is a compulsive addition to the series set in the remote fishing village with a multitude of dirty secrets lurking just below the surface. It's an atmospheric locale with a close-knit community with everyone knowing everyone else’s business, gossip and wariness of outsiders, which all influence the compelling and enthralling plot. There is a decent suspect pool, plenty of action and drama, brutal violence, tension, twists, red herrings, complex plotting, eccentric characters and great characterisation, this is a thriller packed with drug activity, bullying, intrigue, drama, revenge, envy, love/hatred and dark secrets. Recommended.
They were searching for an old, abandoned chapel, built by a priest in the middle of the dense woodland, when they come upon a skull buried nearby and the bones of two dead bodies are later uncovered at the site by police teams. One of them is Ricky, confirming Sandra’s doubts. As Andi digs deeper, she is about to uncover dirty deeds aplenty in her supposedly sleepy and law-abiding corner of Western Canada. Often the places that fight hard to keep a clean image have the furthest to fall or the most to hide, and Coffin Cove has a murky past that is about to be revealed to the detriment of everyone in the area. Let the crime wave begin! This is a compulsive addition to the series set in the remote fishing village with a multitude of dirty secrets lurking just below the surface. It's an atmospheric locale with a close-knit community with everyone knowing everyone else’s business, gossip and wariness of outsiders, which all influence the compelling and enthralling plot. There is a decent suspect pool, plenty of action and drama, brutal violence, tension, twists, red herrings, complex plotting, eccentric characters and great characterisation, this is a thriller packed with drug activity, bullying, intrigue, drama, revenge, envy, love/hatred and dark secrets. Recommended.
May 11, 2021
Andrea (Andi) is still working for the Coffin Cove Gazette, even though mentally she's still trying to avoid what she went through previously in order to get a story.
She has agreed to investigate the disappearance of Ricky Havers, the former mayor's son. Ricky was well-known if not well-liked. The police have declined to look for him. He's been associating with some rough characters, and they think he's gone on a drug binge and will be back in a few days. His mother feels differently.
While interviewing the new mayor, she learns that two bodies have been found. One of them is Ricky.
Book Blurb: The more Andi digs, the more she’s sure she’s on to something. The new mayor is covering something up, while the old mayor’s corrupt dealings are coming back to haunt him.
Set on the coast of Western Canada, it's hard to image a place more unsuited for murder. This one seems to have it all... murder, intrigue, mystery, a little humor, a little romance. It's a fast-paced mystery with than one body falling. The clever plot is filled with skillfully drawn characters .. but beware .. there are a lot of twists and turns that lead to an explosive conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She has agreed to investigate the disappearance of Ricky Havers, the former mayor's son. Ricky was well-known if not well-liked. The police have declined to look for him. He's been associating with some rough characters, and they think he's gone on a drug binge and will be back in a few days. His mother feels differently.
While interviewing the new mayor, she learns that two bodies have been found. One of them is Ricky.
Book Blurb: The more Andi digs, the more she’s sure she’s on to something. The new mayor is covering something up, while the old mayor’s corrupt dealings are coming back to haunt him.
Set on the coast of Western Canada, it's hard to image a place more unsuited for murder. This one seems to have it all... murder, intrigue, mystery, a little humor, a little romance. It's a fast-paced mystery with than one body falling. The clever plot is filled with skillfully drawn characters .. but beware .. there are a lot of twists and turns that lead to an explosive conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 27, 2021
I enjoyed this murder mystery set on the east side of Vancouver Island, B.C. It is the second in a series but reads very well on its own. I was pleased with how Elliott wove backstory from the first novel into the second one. I read the first one but I appreciate refreshing my memory.
Andi, a disgraced newspaper reporter who found a job in rural Coffin Cove is our heroine. Rather than being the sole lead, however, a number of the town's residents figure in solving the mystery of a murder, the body only recently found. Inspector Vega of the RCMP is back too. I appreciate the bit of romantic tension between the meddling Andi and the investigating Vega.
This novel delves into the past of Coffin Cove, once a bustling lumber and fishing town. The relationships and events from the past help Andi and others piece together a motive for the initial murder and the ones that follow. The mystery is not so cleverly constructed that readers cannot guess the culprit before revealed in the novel. The strength of this book is the depiction of the characters and the flavor of the town. There is a good amount of action too. Overall, it was a enjoyable novel.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Andi, a disgraced newspaper reporter who found a job in rural Coffin Cove is our heroine. Rather than being the sole lead, however, a number of the town's residents figure in solving the mystery of a murder, the body only recently found. Inspector Vega of the RCMP is back too. I appreciate the bit of romantic tension between the meddling Andi and the investigating Vega.
This novel delves into the past of Coffin Cove, once a bustling lumber and fishing town. The relationships and events from the past help Andi and others piece together a motive for the initial murder and the ones that follow. The mystery is not so cleverly constructed that readers cannot guess the culprit before revealed in the novel. The strength of this book is the depiction of the characters and the flavor of the town. There is a good amount of action too. Overall, it was a enjoyable novel.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
May 14, 2021
3 stars
This is a good follow up to the first book in this series. I enjoyed spending more time with the characters introduced in book one, as well as meeting new ones. There is plenty of action, but it fizzled towards the end unfortunately.
[What I liked:]
•I liked the first book & enjoyed coming back to this series to get to know the characters better, especially Harry, Hephzibah, & Jim. This sequel built on the established characters & the town setting, but also introduced new characters & a new mystery to solve. A satisfying second installment. I’ll be reading the next one.
•I appreciate that one of the characters, Jade, had a learning challenge (dyslexia) that wasn’t diagnosed til adulthood. I had a very similar experience in school struggling with undiagnosed & unsupported learning challenges. It’s always nice to see differently abled characters in fiction who are portrayed as smart & capable.
•I do like the setting of the town of Coffin Cove, with its citizens banding together against economic decline & shady outside developers. Clara Bell was an interesting character in her own right, & also served to extend the town’s mystique & back history by sharing her wealth of stories.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At the beginning of the book, the previous book’s plot is summarized, which then leads straight into a summary of the current mystery’s outline & key players. It would have more impact if the current story/mystery was introduced in action/dialogue scenes & not just more summary.
•Why on earth would Vega’s team not search the fish plant right away when they found out a missing person might be there? That was a major plot hole, imo.
•The ending really fizzled. I mean we have four murders, & all these hints about a dark & mysterious past, but then the person who is key to explaining the motivations (why commit murder now, & not 20 years earlier? why kill some targets’ extended families but not others’?) never gets the chance to. That totally ruined the build up for me.
CW: murder, assault, suicide, sexual assault, substance abuse, infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
This is a good follow up to the first book in this series. I enjoyed spending more time with the characters introduced in book one, as well as meeting new ones. There is plenty of action, but it fizzled towards the end unfortunately.
[What I liked:]
•I liked the first book & enjoyed coming back to this series to get to know the characters better, especially Harry, Hephzibah, & Jim. This sequel built on the established characters & the town setting, but also introduced new characters & a new mystery to solve. A satisfying second installment. I’ll be reading the next one.
•I appreciate that one of the characters, Jade, had a learning challenge (dyslexia) that wasn’t diagnosed til adulthood. I had a very similar experience in school struggling with undiagnosed & unsupported learning challenges. It’s always nice to see differently abled characters in fiction who are portrayed as smart & capable.
•I do like the setting of the town of Coffin Cove, with its citizens banding together against economic decline & shady outside developers. Clara Bell was an interesting character in her own right, & also served to extend the town’s mystique & back history by sharing her wealth of stories.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At the beginning of the book, the previous book’s plot is summarized, which then leads straight into a summary of the current mystery’s outline & key players. It would have more impact if the current story/mystery was introduced in action/dialogue scenes & not just more summary.
•Why on earth would Vega’s team not search the fish plant right away when they found out a missing person might be there? That was a major plot hole, imo.
•The ending really fizzled. I mean we have four murders, & all these hints about a dark & mysterious past, but then the person who is key to explaining the motivations (why commit murder now, & not 20 years earlier? why kill some targets’ extended families but not others’?) never gets the chance to. That totally ruined the build up for me.
CW: murder, assault, suicide, sexual assault, substance abuse, infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
May 9, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Hell’s Half Acre, the second novel to feature reporter Andi Silvers, set in the fictional small town of Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island.
When human remains are found at the site of an abandoned chapel it becomes clear that they are Ricky Havers, son of the former mayor, who went missing nine months earlier. Andi was sure at the time that there was more to Ricky’s disappearance and has been quietly investigating since then. Now, the discovery of his remains has set off a crime spree in the town.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hell’s Half Acre, which is an absorbing read with a plot that stretches back into the past and a web of interconnected intrigue. It is told mostly from the investigative point of view, be it Andi, her boss Jim, or Inspector Andrew Vega of the RCMP. Other characters contribute to widen the reader’s perspective but the killer and the motive remain obscure for much of the novel.
I found the plot quite compulsive as it weaves together a narrative of past misdeeds, speculation about current wrongdoing and plenty of motives. It seems to give and then take away on a regular basis as just when I’d settled on a possibility the author would introduce a twist or move the goalposts and it was back to more brain work. It certainly held my attention and I was glued to the pages. I was slightly disappointed by the ending as it didn’t include a full reckoning of events, just some wild statements that left much to the reader’s imagination. I like my plots fully explained because I don’t have much imagination.
After two novels I’m coming to love Coffin Cove and its quirky inhabitants. Andi Silvers is a troubled young woman who has found a modicum of stability there and the sudden crime wave gives her the opportunity to exert her considerable journalistic talents for the good of the community.
Hell’s Half Acre is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When human remains are found at the site of an abandoned chapel it becomes clear that they are Ricky Havers, son of the former mayor, who went missing nine months earlier. Andi was sure at the time that there was more to Ricky’s disappearance and has been quietly investigating since then. Now, the discovery of his remains has set off a crime spree in the town.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hell’s Half Acre, which is an absorbing read with a plot that stretches back into the past and a web of interconnected intrigue. It is told mostly from the investigative point of view, be it Andi, her boss Jim, or Inspector Andrew Vega of the RCMP. Other characters contribute to widen the reader’s perspective but the killer and the motive remain obscure for much of the novel.
I found the plot quite compulsive as it weaves together a narrative of past misdeeds, speculation about current wrongdoing and plenty of motives. It seems to give and then take away on a regular basis as just when I’d settled on a possibility the author would introduce a twist or move the goalposts and it was back to more brain work. It certainly held my attention and I was glued to the pages. I was slightly disappointed by the ending as it didn’t include a full reckoning of events, just some wild statements that left much to the reader’s imagination. I like my plots fully explained because I don’t have much imagination.
After two novels I’m coming to love Coffin Cove and its quirky inhabitants. Andi Silvers is a troubled young woman who has found a modicum of stability there and the sudden crime wave gives her the opportunity to exert her considerable journalistic talents for the good of the community.
Hell’s Half Acre is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 12, 2021
I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent mystery on May 4, 2021, from Netgalley, author Jackie Elliott, and publisher Joffe Books. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add Jackie Elliott among my favorite authors. She writes a tightly wound mystery with personable characters in a setting in eastern Victoria Island, Canada.
I love reading about Canada's Island communities, both on the cold Atlantic coast and the temperate Pacific isles. I am pleased to have found the Coffin Cove Mystery series - thank you Netgalley and Joffe books. I am ready for more of Andie Silvers and the characters who call Coffin Cove home.
pub date May 11, 2021
received May 4, 2021
Joffe Books
Reviewed on May 12, 2021, on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on BarnesI&Noble, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
I love reading about Canada's Island communities, both on the cold Atlantic coast and the temperate Pacific isles. I am pleased to have found the Coffin Cove Mystery series - thank you Netgalley and Joffe books. I am ready for more of Andie Silvers and the characters who call Coffin Cove home.
pub date May 11, 2021
received May 4, 2021
Joffe Books
Reviewed on May 12, 2021, on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on BarnesI&Noble, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
May 10, 2021
This is the 2nd book in the Series, and the first book I read and had no trouble getting into the story, it does want me to read book 1!
All seems well in Coffin Cove, they are over the excitement of a murder last year but the disappearance of the “no good” son of the mayor 9 months ago still seems to simmer. Andi promises the Mayor’s wife that she will keep looking into her son disappearance.
An election gives a new mayor, and a vision for Coffin Cove, it starts off with a festival, the new museum curator gets a ‘legend’ of why the town is called Coffin Cove and this stars a little field trip, which ends up with the finding of a decomposed body. Is it the old mayor’s son, what other secrets does the town hold.
Great book, and look forward to seeing the characters grown in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an early read in exchange for my opinion.
All seems well in Coffin Cove, they are over the excitement of a murder last year but the disappearance of the “no good” son of the mayor 9 months ago still seems to simmer. Andi promises the Mayor’s wife that she will keep looking into her son disappearance.
An election gives a new mayor, and a vision for Coffin Cove, it starts off with a festival, the new museum curator gets a ‘legend’ of why the town is called Coffin Cove and this stars a little field trip, which ends up with the finding of a decomposed body. Is it the old mayor’s son, what other secrets does the town hold.
Great book, and look forward to seeing the characters grown in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an early read in exchange for my opinion.
May 19, 2021
There’s a lot of change coming to Coffin Cove. Former corrupt mayor, Dennis Havers, who thought he pretty much had the job for life, has been ousted by Jade Thompson and she is trying to bring new business and much needed regeneration to the area, now that the fishing and forestry industries are almost defunct. Jade grew up in the area, daughter of Summer, an artist, and an unknown father, and after university and a successful business career, has returned home. One of her first projects is the Heritage Festival. Andi Silvers, journalist at the Coffin Cove Gazette, has been struggling with nightmares since getting shot last year uncovering the truth behind a cold case disappearance and a murder. With counselling, the bad dreams are receding and she knows that she really needs to get her teeth into something juicy. Fortunately along came Sandra Havers begging Andi to investigate the disappearance of her 42 year old son, Ricky, since the RCMP pretty much gave up looking for a grown man who could leave if he chose. Andi believes there is a connection to Jade Thompson. Sandra believes her husband was involved. When Andi eventually confides all this in boss Jim, he agrees to help her investigate. Another person who has returned home is Katie Dagg, daughter of electrician Lee and mother Nadine. Nadine is completely absorbed in her looks and money, and has little time for her family. Hardly surprising since she has been carrying on with the former mayor for years, although still retaining her office manager job at City Hall working for Jade now. She is organizing a belly dancing night at the Fat Chicken pub to kick off the festival. Katie has taken over running the museum and, keen to find more interesting spots for tourists, seeks out the old chapel rumoured to be near her house on land where Art Whilley was believed killed when his home, known as Hell’s Half Acre, burned down. Together with her old history teacher and Clara Bell, the old museum curator, they hit the trail but find more than they bargained for. A decomposed body lies in the ruins, soon to be identified as Ricky when DI Andrew Vega returns to the island to conduct a murder investigation. As the body count rises, things begin to look very sinister indeed and the detectives struggle to piece all the evidence together.
What are the secrets held by the old all-women commune, the Knights and Hell’s Half Acre itself? Can Vega, with help from Andi, Jim, Clara and Harry, get to the truths that have been buried in this small town?
As in book one, there is loads going on in this story, lots of history to unravel in this insular little town and many great suspicious characters all with their own stories to tell which gradually get knitted together to lead to a shocking and explosive ending. It was nice to see many of the characters from the first story who needed no introduction although this does still work as a standalone. It is much more pacey than book one and was hard to put down once I started reading. Recommended to all. 5*
What are the secrets held by the old all-women commune, the Knights and Hell’s Half Acre itself? Can Vega, with help from Andi, Jim, Clara and Harry, get to the truths that have been buried in this small town?
As in book one, there is loads going on in this story, lots of history to unravel in this insular little town and many great suspicious characters all with their own stories to tell which gradually get knitted together to lead to a shocking and explosive ending. It was nice to see many of the characters from the first story who needed no introduction although this does still work as a standalone. It is much more pacey than book one and was hard to put down once I started reading. Recommended to all. 5*
August 3, 2021
Hell's Half Acre is the second book in a series that takes place in the cheerily named Coffin Cove, I have not read the first book, but this gives enough background that it is unnecessary.
Coffin Cove is a tiny town in Canada, rife with the sort of issues that tiny towns have, and where almost everyone knows your business. The number of characters is large, but they are not all dumped on the reader at once.
Coffin Cove has elected a new mayor and ousted the guy who was mayor for what seems like forever - and like Kwame Alexander, seemed to think that in his position he could grift off almost any deal to enlarge his real estate empire.
Meanwhile, the new mayor has plans: revitalize the town to bring in more business and more tourists. Then the former mayor's son goes missing,and Andi Silvers, disgraced big newspaper reporter turned small newspaper reporter in Coffin Cove is assigned to cover the investigation.
There are a number of twists and turns, and quite a deep dive into the town's past - including why there is an area of land within the town called Hell's Half Acre.
The RMCP is called in to assist, and it seems as if the lead investigator has a bit of history with Andi in the last book. Some of that background is provided to ensure the reader has a good picture of their relationship.
When a body turns up in the area of Hell's Half Acre, it's clear that the body belongs to the former mayor.
Meanwhile, a stranger appears in town, presumably a developer looking for projects within Coffin Cove. And, the body count starts rising.
Andi continues to investigate the disappearance just as the police do, and that investigation reveals some very nasty things about the small town - as anyone can tell you, sometimes the most sordid tales come from small towns.
The book reaches a crescendo as the good guys close in on the bad guys.
It's a solid book, with a nice characterization of Andi and her reinvention as a small town reporter. Some of the other characters don't get much more than broad strokes, to let us know of they're nice or not, and (seemingly, to me) how sad or not we should be at their deaths. I also had issues with some of the writing. I think it could have been tightened up just a tad, and there were some redundant or "telling us again, in case we missed it", identifying Summer as the mother of Jade, the new mayor in one chapter, and then in the very next, telling us again "Summer was Jade's mother." Yes, we know,because we're already been told.
The culprit is pretty easy to see, and if the reader pegs the bad guy early, the rest of the book is still good, to watch the net close in.
I'm giving it four out of five stars.
Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
Coffin Cove is a tiny town in Canada, rife with the sort of issues that tiny towns have, and where almost everyone knows your business. The number of characters is large, but they are not all dumped on the reader at once.
Coffin Cove has elected a new mayor and ousted the guy who was mayor for what seems like forever - and like Kwame Alexander, seemed to think that in his position he could grift off almost any deal to enlarge his real estate empire.
Meanwhile, the new mayor has plans: revitalize the town to bring in more business and more tourists. Then the former mayor's son goes missing,and Andi Silvers, disgraced big newspaper reporter turned small newspaper reporter in Coffin Cove is assigned to cover the investigation.
There are a number of twists and turns, and quite a deep dive into the town's past - including why there is an area of land within the town called Hell's Half Acre.
The RMCP is called in to assist, and it seems as if the lead investigator has a bit of history with Andi in the last book. Some of that background is provided to ensure the reader has a good picture of their relationship.
When a body turns up in the area of Hell's Half Acre, it's clear that the body belongs to the former mayor.
Meanwhile, a stranger appears in town, presumably a developer looking for projects within Coffin Cove. And, the body count starts rising.
Andi continues to investigate the disappearance just as the police do, and that investigation reveals some very nasty things about the small town - as anyone can tell you, sometimes the most sordid tales come from small towns.
The book reaches a crescendo as the good guys close in on the bad guys.
It's a solid book, with a nice characterization of Andi and her reinvention as a small town reporter. Some of the other characters don't get much more than broad strokes, to let us know of they're nice or not, and (seemingly, to me) how sad or not we should be at their deaths. I also had issues with some of the writing. I think it could have been tightened up just a tad, and there were some redundant or "telling us again, in case we missed it", identifying Summer as the mother of Jade, the new mayor in one chapter, and then in the very next, telling us again "Summer was Jade's mother." Yes, we know,because we're already been told.
The culprit is pretty easy to see, and if the reader pegs the bad guy early, the rest of the book is still good, to watch the net close in.
I'm giving it four out of five stars.
Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
May 18, 2021
‘Hell’s Half Acre’ is the second book in the Coffin Cove series, with Andi Silver being the lead character in both books. I read and loved the first book in the series called ‘Coffin Cove’. I couldn’t wait to read the next instalment so I grabbed a copy as soon as I could and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this book from the very first word on the very first page. It was as if the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. To say that reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ became addictive is a huge understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I soon got through the story and I had to bid farewell to the residents of Coffin Cove for a second time. I found ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention from start to finish and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Hell’s Half Acre’ is extremely well written but then I thought that to be true of the first book in the series. Jackie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Jackie describes her characters so vividly and realistically that they seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Jackie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action. Reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ felt like being on an times scary rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jackie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I was drawn into this book from the very first word on the very first page. It was as if the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. To say that reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ became addictive is a huge understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I soon got through the story and I had to bid farewell to the residents of Coffin Cove for a second time. I found ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention from start to finish and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Hell’s Half Acre’ is extremely well written but then I thought that to be true of the first book in the series. Jackie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Jackie describes her characters so vividly and realistically that they seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Jackie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action. Reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ felt like being on an times scary rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jackie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
July 5, 2021
Gripping
All too often Kindle Unlimited books border on the insipid. Not the two books I’ve read in Jackie Elliott’s Coffin Cove Mysteries series. Hell’s Half Acre was even better than the first. Complex and likable main characters, deft and compelling plotting, not too gruesome. I like that there are two men interested in journalist Andi. Looking forward to the next in the series.
All too often Kindle Unlimited books border on the insipid. Not the two books I’ve read in Jackie Elliott’s Coffin Cove Mysteries series. Hell’s Half Acre was even better than the first. Complex and likable main characters, deft and compelling plotting, not too gruesome. I like that there are two men interested in journalist Andi. Looking forward to the next in the series.
September 14, 2021
Gripping, fast moving story!
There's a lot of backstory in this book which keeps the read interesting. Also, a lot of inter woven characters as well. It would've been nice to have a 'playbook' of characters to refer back to; but sooner or later you sort them all out. While I knew who the perpetrator was about 2/3 of the way in, it was still intriguing to see how it would play out. If you enjoy suspense, you'll like this book!
There's a lot of backstory in this book which keeps the read interesting. Also, a lot of inter woven characters as well. It would've been nice to have a 'playbook' of characters to refer back to; but sooner or later you sort them all out. While I knew who the perpetrator was about 2/3 of the way in, it was still intriguing to see how it would play out. If you enjoy suspense, you'll like this book!
May 20, 2021
Good solid mystery
This is the second book of a series and both books are solid. I am looking forward to the next one. The characters are engaging and believable; they are flawed, but worth cheering for.
This is the second book of a series and both books are solid. I am looking forward to the next one. The characters are engaging and believable; they are flawed, but worth cheering for.
May 28, 2021
EXCELLENT STORY
This book had a great storyline that flowed smoothly and showed the various characters as real people. It was the dogged determination of many of them to get to the cause of the murders that carried the day.
This book had a great storyline that flowed smoothly and showed the various characters as real people. It was the dogged determination of many of them to get to the cause of the murders that carried the day.
June 22, 2021
Who is the killer?
Excellent read that will keep you changing your mind about who the killer is! Andi Silvers works for r Gazette and is always going get the story! This time she is part of the story! So who is killing people in Coffin Cove?
Excellent read that will keep you changing your mind about who the killer is! Andi Silvers works for r Gazette and is always going get the story! This time she is part of the story! So who is killing people in Coffin Cove?
July 15, 2021
Good storyline
A lot of names to remember so I did get a little confused to start with but soon got I the story, it gradually got more and more intriguing building to a cracking climax.
A lot of names to remember so I did get a little confused to start with but soon got I the story, it gradually got more and more intriguing building to a cracking climax.
August 6, 2022
The first booknin this series was a little repetitive. I still liked but felt it could have been much better. This book I loved, it held my attention, it was a real page turner and I am looking forward to the next book.
July 28, 2024
Good.
You need to read the first one really, but it wouldn't matter if you hadn't. Good story not quite as good as the first book but still good . I like the way the author can really describe grim scenes and dirty people so well .
You need to read the first one really, but it wouldn't matter if you hadn't. Good story not quite as good as the first book but still good . I like the way the author can really describe grim scenes and dirty people so well .
June 17, 2021
Well worth reading, very good plots.
This is the second in the Coffin Cove series, don't know if there is a third yet.
This is the second in the Coffin Cove series, don't know if there is a third yet.
October 1, 2021
Second helping of small town intrigue.
There are indeed lots of twists and turns in this book. The story moves along in fits and starts and this gives it a sense of reality.
There are indeed lots of twists and turns in this book. The story moves along in fits and starts and this gives it a sense of reality.
January 7, 2022
Terrific story
The Coffin Cove mysteries are very interesting. Great characters and plots! I'm looking forward to reading more books by Jackie Elliot.
The Coffin Cove mysteries are very interesting. Great characters and plots! I'm looking forward to reading more books by Jackie Elliot.
March 15, 2022
Who killed Ricky Havers and why??? AND now lots more dead bodies!!! The sins of youth!!! I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
February 21, 2024
Elliott creates amazing mysteries by twisting past and present character's lives. Recommended.
August 7, 2024
Another well constructed and intriguing story in the Coffin Cove series, bolstered by very human characters each with their own flaws. I look forward to reading the next one in the series
March 5, 2023
The characters, the small town going down hill since the bigger industries faded away, the very believable actions, including murder that occurred, and the fledgling mewspaper organization lead to a great mystery adventure.
June 3, 2021
First of all I would like to say thanks to #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks, and author #JackieElliott for the ARC of #HellsHalfAcre.
This was a slow starter and a slow read for me. It's not that the story was good, in fact it is a fabulous story. There are just a lot of characters to get to know.
There is a small little town named Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island. That is where our story takes place.
The people who live in this town are struggling. Some because they don't make enough money, others because they make too much.
When the mayors son, Rickey, goes missing his mother goes to Andi, who is a local reporter. She used to be an investigative reporter in the city but after being shot she ended up in this little town with a tiny little newspaper.
While Andi is trying to gather her courage, everyone else in town seems to look the other way or just doesn't care. Finally when she confides in her boss and they start to dig deep into the history of their little town things start to make more sense. At least for minute.
When another young lady in town finds what appears to be human bones no one can ignore the craziness anymore. The more they dig the deeper in trouble the town seems
If you are looking for a good story Jackie has one to share. You will be able to but this book at your favorite retailer on 5/11/21.
As always the above opinions are all mine. #HappyReading!
Merged review:
First of all I would like to say thanks to #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks, and author #JackieElliott for the ARC of #HellsHalfAcre.
This was a slow starter and a slow read for me. It's not that the story was good, in fact it is a fabulous story. There are just a lot of characters to get to know.
There is a small little town named Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island. That is where our story takes place.
The people who live in this town are struggling. Some because they don't make enough money, others because they make too much.
When the mayors son, Rickey, goes missing his mother goes to Andi, who is a local reporter. She used to be an investigative reporter in the city but after being shot she ended up in this little town with a tiny little newspaper.
While Andi is trying to gather her courage, everyone else in town seems to look the other way or just doesn't care. Finally when she confides in her boss and they start to dig deep into the history of their little town things start to make more sense. At least for minute.
When another young lady in town finds what appears to be human bones no one can ignore the craziness anymore. The more they dig the deeper in trouble the town seems
If you are looking for a good story Jackie has one to share. You will be able to but this book at your favorite retailer on 5/11/21.
As always the above opinions are all mine. #HappyReading!
This was a slow starter and a slow read for me. It's not that the story was good, in fact it is a fabulous story. There are just a lot of characters to get to know.
There is a small little town named Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island. That is where our story takes place.
The people who live in this town are struggling. Some because they don't make enough money, others because they make too much.
When the mayors son, Rickey, goes missing his mother goes to Andi, who is a local reporter. She used to be an investigative reporter in the city but after being shot she ended up in this little town with a tiny little newspaper.
While Andi is trying to gather her courage, everyone else in town seems to look the other way or just doesn't care. Finally when she confides in her boss and they start to dig deep into the history of their little town things start to make more sense. At least for minute.
When another young lady in town finds what appears to be human bones no one can ignore the craziness anymore. The more they dig the deeper in trouble the town seems
If you are looking for a good story Jackie has one to share. You will be able to but this book at your favorite retailer on 5/11/21.
As always the above opinions are all mine. #HappyReading!
Merged review:
First of all I would like to say thanks to #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks, and author #JackieElliott for the ARC of #HellsHalfAcre.
This was a slow starter and a slow read for me. It's not that the story was good, in fact it is a fabulous story. There are just a lot of characters to get to know.
There is a small little town named Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island. That is where our story takes place.
The people who live in this town are struggling. Some because they don't make enough money, others because they make too much.
When the mayors son, Rickey, goes missing his mother goes to Andi, who is a local reporter. She used to be an investigative reporter in the city but after being shot she ended up in this little town with a tiny little newspaper.
While Andi is trying to gather her courage, everyone else in town seems to look the other way or just doesn't care. Finally when she confides in her boss and they start to dig deep into the history of their little town things start to make more sense. At least for minute.
When another young lady in town finds what appears to be human bones no one can ignore the craziness anymore. The more they dig the deeper in trouble the town seems
If you are looking for a good story Jackie has one to share. You will be able to but this book at your favorite retailer on 5/11/21.
As always the above opinions are all mine. #HappyReading!
Read
May 11, 2021Read the full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Protagonist Andrea “Andi” Silvers works as a journalist and assistant editor at the Coffin Cove Gazette. She is looking into the cold case of the disappearance of the son of the former mayor. Ricky’s body is found on private property in the process of finding interesting locations for a museum historical walk, one of the new mayor’s ideas for revitalization.
In the plans to regenerate the town, they will repair, rebuild, and modernize, but Coffin Cove has a dark past that includes biker gangs, drugs, and murder. There are stories, unfortunate and sad, that haunt the village, unsolved. Ricky’s body isn’t the first to be found but it does seem to have set off a spate of retributions.
Andi is dealing with her explicable attraction to RCMP Inspector Andrew Vega while she also has another interest, his more so than hers. I liked the characters of her editor, Jim Peters new recruit PC Matt Beaufort, and Clara Bell, the retired museum curator living off the grid. The storyline gets complex, expands on characters, and introduces clues and twists that continues to leave the reader in confusion, although there is a dawning of suspicion.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of the location, the descriptions of the area, and the immersive characters and I can see this series doing well. The conclusion settles most of the dust, exposes the perp (correctly guessed), and suggests possible scenarios for the next installment although this as Book 2 can be read as a standalone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.
Protagonist Andrea “Andi” Silvers works as a journalist and assistant editor at the Coffin Cove Gazette. She is looking into the cold case of the disappearance of the son of the former mayor. Ricky’s body is found on private property in the process of finding interesting locations for a museum historical walk, one of the new mayor’s ideas for revitalization.
In the plans to regenerate the town, they will repair, rebuild, and modernize, but Coffin Cove has a dark past that includes biker gangs, drugs, and murder. There are stories, unfortunate and sad, that haunt the village, unsolved. Ricky’s body isn’t the first to be found but it does seem to have set off a spate of retributions.
Andi is dealing with her explicable attraction to RCMP Inspector Andrew Vega while she also has another interest, his more so than hers. I liked the characters of her editor, Jim Peters new recruit PC Matt Beaufort, and Clara Bell, the retired museum curator living off the grid. The storyline gets complex, expands on characters, and introduces clues and twists that continues to leave the reader in confusion, although there is a dawning of suspicion.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of the location, the descriptions of the area, and the immersive characters and I can see this series doing well. The conclusion settles most of the dust, exposes the perp (correctly guessed), and suggests possible scenarios for the next installment although this as Book 2 can be read as a standalone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.
March 14, 2022
Anybody who has lived in a small community anywhere in the world will understand what Coffin Cove on the west coast of Canada is really like. You are always going to be an outsider unless born and brought up there and the people can say what they want about each other but no outsider is allowed to. This is the backdrop for Andi Silvers who is still in recovery after the last murder there and thinks she is now part of the community until she tells a few home truths after the discovery of the body of the ex mayor's son who had been missing for nine months. And then more bodies are added to the list. Old feuds and drugs are at the top of the list but just who is orchestrating it all? Jackie neatly pulls together all of the pieces, although I did have my suspicions as to the guilty party.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Merged review:
Anybody who has lived in a small community anywhere in the world will understand what Coffin Cove on the west coast of Canada is really like. You are always going to be an outsider unless born and brought up there and the people can say what they want about each other but no outsider is allowed to. This is the backdrop for Andi Silvers who is still in recovery after the last murder there and thinks she is now part of the community until she tells a few home truths after the discovery of the body of the ex mayor's son who had been missing for nine months. And then more bodies are added to the list. Old feuds and drugs are at the top of the list but just who is orchestrating it all? Jackie neatly pulls together all of the pieces, although I did have my suspicions as to the guilty party.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Merged review:
Anybody who has lived in a small community anywhere in the world will understand what Coffin Cove on the west coast of Canada is really like. You are always going to be an outsider unless born and brought up there and the people can say what they want about each other but no outsider is allowed to. This is the backdrop for Andi Silvers who is still in recovery after the last murder there and thinks she is now part of the community until she tells a few home truths after the discovery of the body of the ex mayor's son who had been missing for nine months. And then more bodies are added to the list. Old feuds and drugs are at the top of the list but just who is orchestrating it all? Jackie neatly pulls together all of the pieces, although I did have my suspicions as to the guilty party.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
May 8, 2021
Feisty reporter Andi Silvers is back in Hell’s Half Acre, the second in Jackie Elliot’s excellent Coffin Cove series. While recovering from a gunshot wound, Andi has been working on a cold case, the disappearance of Ricky Havers, the son of Dennis Havers, Coffin Coves’s former mayor. His mother Susan has never believed that Ricky left town on his own and, sadly she is proved right when Ricky’s skull is discovered buried near an old chapel.
Coffin Cove is on the verge of renewal. Plans have been made to revitalize the downtown waterfront, the old town museum is being modernized and tours of the area’s historic sites are planned. Jade Thompson is the new mayor and has begun to change some of the questionable decisions made by her predecessor, Dennis Havers. However, in Coffin Cove’s murky past, there were bikers, gangs, drugs and murder. Ricky’s body won’t be the last one found before a mystery from the bad old days is solved.
Once again, Jackie Elliot has delivered a perfect thriller that pulls you in from the first chapter. The town of Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island, with its atmospheric, haunting setting, is a character by itself. Andi has settled in to her new home and is dealing with her attraction to two very different men. Matt Beaufort and Katie Dagg are new characters that I hope to see more of. 5 stars and I’m waiting eagerly for the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Jackie Elliot for this ARC.
Coffin Cove is on the verge of renewal. Plans have been made to revitalize the downtown waterfront, the old town museum is being modernized and tours of the area’s historic sites are planned. Jade Thompson is the new mayor and has begun to change some of the questionable decisions made by her predecessor, Dennis Havers. However, in Coffin Cove’s murky past, there were bikers, gangs, drugs and murder. Ricky’s body won’t be the last one found before a mystery from the bad old days is solved.
Once again, Jackie Elliot has delivered a perfect thriller that pulls you in from the first chapter. The town of Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island, with its atmospheric, haunting setting, is a character by itself. Andi has settled in to her new home and is dealing with her attraction to two very different men. Matt Beaufort and Katie Dagg are new characters that I hope to see more of. 5 stars and I’m waiting eagerly for the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Jackie Elliot for this ARC.
May 8, 2021
Coffin Cove, Vancouver Island. Some months ago, Ricky, the 42 year old son of ex-mayor Dennis Havers and his wife Sandra disappeared. A group of people when visiting the ruins of a chapel discover bones. Who do they belong to and where is the actual killing site. Inspector Andrew Vega is brought in to investigate with his team. Meanwhile reporter Andi Silvers does her own investigation. But more killings will occur.
Another enjoyable and well-written mystery in this series with its likeable characters. Which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Another enjoyable and well-written mystery in this series with its likeable characters. Which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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