What do you think?
Rate this book
DC Holly Towns #1
Goodbye Port Alma
Discover your new favorite crime fiction series!
Starting with the deadly puzzle of a schoolgirl slaying.
A beautiful teen is killed on a glorious June afternoon, hidden in plain sight, and discovered by an anonymous caller.
Did her secrets die with her? Or are they still alive - with the power to seduce and destroy the lives of a select few?
DC Holly Towns is on the team that has to untangle a far-reaching web of sex, drugs, and money, and solve a crime that threatens to tear the city apart. Are the victim’s two best friends the next targets? With a suspect list of movers and shakers, even with all the hard work in the world, no one has more to lose than Holly herself if the killer strikes again.
As a new Detective Constable, Holly gets a second chance to prove herself in a job where even her friends wonder if she can succeed. She likes police work, but her future is a coin-toss. She’s either on the way out, courtesy of a vindictive former boss, or on the way up, thanks to her intuition and stubborn persistence. And some days are a struggle to tame her own demons and escape her past.
If you like complex characters, twisty plots, and a fast-paced story, the Port Alma Murder Mysteries series is for you.
Book 2, Goodbye Calais Club, will be out soon. You can order your copy now!
Starting with the deadly puzzle of a schoolgirl slaying.
A beautiful teen is killed on a glorious June afternoon, hidden in plain sight, and discovered by an anonymous caller.
Did her secrets die with her? Or are they still alive - with the power to seduce and destroy the lives of a select few?
DC Holly Towns is on the team that has to untangle a far-reaching web of sex, drugs, and money, and solve a crime that threatens to tear the city apart. Are the victim’s two best friends the next targets? With a suspect list of movers and shakers, even with all the hard work in the world, no one has more to lose than Holly herself if the killer strikes again.
As a new Detective Constable, Holly gets a second chance to prove herself in a job where even her friends wonder if she can succeed. She likes police work, but her future is a coin-toss. She’s either on the way out, courtesy of a vindictive former boss, or on the way up, thanks to her intuition and stubborn persistence. And some days are a struggle to tame her own demons and escape her past.
If you like complex characters, twisty plots, and a fast-paced story, the Port Alma Murder Mysteries series is for you.
Book 2, Goodbye Calais Club, will be out soon. You can order your copy now!
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2021
1430 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Anne Shillolo
98 books287 followersI love writing every day and the result so far is three mystery series, and counting. I’ve been retired from teaching for a couple of years, and am totally immersed in my new career as a mystery writer. I hope you enjoy the results!
The Murder In Season trilogy features injured detective constable Claire Beckett.
The longer Poodle Versus… series is a reader favorite. It features small-town action, zany characters, and a Nasty Small Poodle who will capture your heart.
This year I plan to release several books following DC Holly Towns, starting with Goodbye Port Alma.
The Free Prequels to all my series are available on my website, AnneShillolo.com.
You can find me on Facebook as Anne Shillolo Writer.
Happy reading!
The Murder In Season trilogy features injured detective constable Claire Beckett.
The longer Poodle Versus… series is a reader favorite. It features small-town action, zany characters, and a Nasty Small Poodle who will capture your heart.
This year I plan to release several books following DC Holly Towns, starting with Goodbye Port Alma.
The Free Prequels to all my series are available on my website, AnneShillolo.com.
You can find me on Facebook as Anne Shillolo Writer.
Happy reading!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
May 31, 2021
This is an excellent read. It is quite a departure from Anne Shillolo’s Poodle Versus series (which I enjoyed very much) but this book is much darker. One of Shillolo’s great strengths is her descriptive ability. This is just one example “ The lake was calm and pale gray, and the sky matched except for apricot streaks across the eastern horizon”. It doesn’t take any imagination to picture that sky and her character descriptions are equally detailed, clothes, hair, makeup which really brings them to life.
Our heroine, Holly, is endearing, enthusiastic and funny despite the fact that a terrible event in her past has left her very vulnerable. You are willing her to succeed and find the bad guys. The chemistry between Holly and her partner Danny Cavallo is part of what makes this book work so well.
Shillolo hits the ground running. The book opens with a violent and bloody murder. There is no shortage of suspects or motives and as the plot gets more intricate the tension builds toward a climactic finish. The ending definitely leaves you wanting more. Will Holly get answers to the unresolved issue of her parents’ death that has blighted her life? Will she and Danny become more than working partners? I am so looking forward to reading the second book in this series “Goodbye Calais Club” and hopefully getting some answers.
Our heroine, Holly, is endearing, enthusiastic and funny despite the fact that a terrible event in her past has left her very vulnerable. You are willing her to succeed and find the bad guys. The chemistry between Holly and her partner Danny Cavallo is part of what makes this book work so well.
Shillolo hits the ground running. The book opens with a violent and bloody murder. There is no shortage of suspects or motives and as the plot gets more intricate the tension builds toward a climactic finish. The ending definitely leaves you wanting more. Will Holly get answers to the unresolved issue of her parents’ death that has blighted her life? Will she and Danny become more than working partners? I am so looking forward to reading the second book in this series “Goodbye Calais Club” and hopefully getting some answers.
February 25, 2024
A great read. If you like mystery.
August 2, 2023
My first book from this author and it's not bad. It's light reading. Spoilers ahead.
Holly Towns is a newly minted Detective Constable in a small lakeside town of Port Alma somewhere in Ontario, Canada. She's single, lives in a small flat by herself and is partnered with Danny Cavello, the senior of the pair.
A young high school student (Jenna) is found dead with her face bashed in (against the wall) and her throat cut on a flight of tourist stairway near the beach. It turns out she's the daughter of police Sergeant Lew Lacoste, who was formerly Holly's boss. We don't know why but Lacoste clearly has it out for Holly and is outright hostile towards her.
They go through the police protocols by questioning her friends and looking through her belongings and soon find out that Jenna is not only dealing drugs but is the head of a small time escort ring consisting of herself and her two high school friends. She's also blackmailing the johns. As all of this is highly risky, there are a quite a few suspects who would want her dead.
Meanwhile there are two youths going around town robbing and attacking vulnerable people. A couple of victims even live in Holly's building.
The case is accidentally solved when Holly catches the two youths in the act of trying to break into a neighbor's apartment. She realizes the robbers must have seen something and solves the mystery on a hunch.
I like the book because the writing is easy to read and follow. I like the characters. One instance of the story doesn't make sense, where the robbers manage to grab Holly but then the police just let them go and leave, when the robber(s) are just in their apartment. Also the reveal is a bit of letdown, but overall I enjoy this book enough to try the other ones in the series.
Holly Towns is a newly minted Detective Constable in a small lakeside town of Port Alma somewhere in Ontario, Canada. She's single, lives in a small flat by herself and is partnered with Danny Cavello, the senior of the pair.
A young high school student (Jenna) is found dead with her face bashed in (against the wall) and her throat cut on a flight of tourist stairway near the beach. It turns out she's the daughter of police Sergeant Lew Lacoste, who was formerly Holly's boss. We don't know why but Lacoste clearly has it out for Holly and is outright hostile towards her.
They go through the police protocols by questioning her friends and looking through her belongings and soon find out that Jenna is not only dealing drugs but is the head of a small time escort ring consisting of herself and her two high school friends. She's also blackmailing the johns. As all of this is highly risky, there are a quite a few suspects who would want her dead.
Meanwhile there are two youths going around town robbing and attacking vulnerable people. A couple of victims even live in Holly's building.
The case is accidentally solved when Holly catches the two youths in the act of trying to break into a neighbor's apartment. She realizes the robbers must have seen something and solves the mystery on a hunch.
I like the book because the writing is easy to read and follow. I like the characters. One instance of the story doesn't make sense, where the robbers manage to grab Holly but then the police just let them go and leave, when the robber(s) are just in their apartment. Also the reveal is a bit of letdown, but overall I enjoy this book enough to try the other ones in the series.
July 16, 2022
The body of a teenage girl is discovered on a stairway to the Port Alma beach. For Holly Towns, a newly-promoted plainclothes officer, her investigation of the savage crime will lead to conflict within the police department that could jeopardise her career.
Although this police procedural is an introduction to a new series, it is preceded by a prologue book describing the recent past of DC Holly Towns. Because I was so eager to jump into this series, I missed the prequel (which I'll read and review next). Luckily the author's skill compensated for such folly and didn't leave me adrift.
Towns is a force to be reckoned with; she's physically capable in addition to being logical and deliberate in her critical thinking. Moreover, Towns has enough demons in both her past and present to round out her character. She is compassionate enough to be likeable while avoiding the pitfall of being prissy. The other characters support Towns for the most part, but she clashes spectacularly with her former boss adding spice to the story.
I enjoyed the plot and didn't deduce the murderer before Towns did. I was content to follow along and let the detectives slog through the evidence for me, although I would have liked them to pick up the pace a little as the story reached its resolution. I read the next book's teaser chapter (something I rarely do), and the upcoming story looks as brilliant as this one - I look forward to it. For now, I'm headed back in time to pick up Towns' origins in Goodbye Foxbridge Lane.
Although this police procedural is an introduction to a new series, it is preceded by a prologue book describing the recent past of DC Holly Towns. Because I was so eager to jump into this series, I missed the prequel (which I'll read and review next). Luckily the author's skill compensated for such folly and didn't leave me adrift.
Towns is a force to be reckoned with; she's physically capable in addition to being logical and deliberate in her critical thinking. Moreover, Towns has enough demons in both her past and present to round out her character. She is compassionate enough to be likeable while avoiding the pitfall of being prissy. The other characters support Towns for the most part, but she clashes spectacularly with her former boss adding spice to the story.
I enjoyed the plot and didn't deduce the murderer before Towns did. I was content to follow along and let the detectives slog through the evidence for me, although I would have liked them to pick up the pace a little as the story reached its resolution. I read the next book's teaser chapter (something I rarely do), and the upcoming story looks as brilliant as this one - I look forward to it. For now, I'm headed back in time to pick up Towns' origins in Goodbye Foxbridge Lane.
June 1, 2021
Goodbye Port Alma is the debut novel of a hopefully long lived new series by author Anne Shillolo.
Goodbye Port Alma is a departure from the cozy, laugh out loud amateur sleuths in the Poodle Versus series. This new series appears to be edgier, grittier with a more police procedural plot line. The new protagonist, DC Towns,carries heavy personal baggage relating to the unsolved deaths of her parents.The excellent character development and attention to detail is one of the writer’s greatest strengths. I read Ms. Shillolo’s work and the movie version is playing in my mind.
DC Holly Towns is a newly promoted rookie who along with her partner, is working the murder of a teen age girl. The victim is also the daughter of DC Towns former boss. Who happens to be looking for a reason to get her fired. The investigation uncovers secrets that jeopardize not only the former boss but other students and employees of the victim’s private school.
We follow DC Towns and Cavallo as they painstakingly forge ahead, putting the pieces and players in order to find the killer. There are as many twists and turns as there are suspects. All leading to an unexpected killer and a satisfying ending. DC Town’s backstory will be interesting as it unravels. With the help of her twin brother and partner, I feel as though Holly will get the answers she’s looking for. Eventually.
Kudos to the author on another successful novel.
I received an early copy for my honest review.
Goodbye Port Alma is a departure from the cozy, laugh out loud amateur sleuths in the Poodle Versus series. This new series appears to be edgier, grittier with a more police procedural plot line. The new protagonist, DC Towns,carries heavy personal baggage relating to the unsolved deaths of her parents.The excellent character development and attention to detail is one of the writer’s greatest strengths. I read Ms. Shillolo’s work and the movie version is playing in my mind.
DC Holly Towns is a newly promoted rookie who along with her partner, is working the murder of a teen age girl. The victim is also the daughter of DC Towns former boss. Who happens to be looking for a reason to get her fired. The investigation uncovers secrets that jeopardize not only the former boss but other students and employees of the victim’s private school.
We follow DC Towns and Cavallo as they painstakingly forge ahead, putting the pieces and players in order to find the killer. There are as many twists and turns as there are suspects. All leading to an unexpected killer and a satisfying ending. DC Town’s backstory will be interesting as it unravels. With the help of her twin brother and partner, I feel as though Holly will get the answers she’s looking for. Eventually.
Kudos to the author on another successful novel.
I received an early copy for my honest review.
October 3, 2022
Goodbye Port Alma - Surprised and excited to find this author. Finally after all the trash I have to wade through to find an author that cannot only write an interesting story with good characters and good story lines, but also does not use profanity, knows proper grammar and punctuation and does not feel the need to add current politics. Refreshing. Fast-paced. Ready for the next book. 5*
Goodbye Lake Street - One big mistake made: Why wasn't 911 called either while she was chasing her or after the other incident was under control? Fifteen minutes is too long to remember the chased. Otherwise, a good relaxation. I missed the three previous books but it did not affect the story, stand alone. Good, clean read with good characters and good story lines. Easy to read and fast-paced till the last page. 4*
Goodbye Foxbridge Lane, prequel - Interesting, short introduction to the Goodbye series. Good characters and good story lines. 4*
Goodbye Sky Field, #6 - Well written with intense story lines had me immersed in the pages, taking my time to read this book. Holly did well with all the cases from one day's events and the personal attack that puts her behind the desk. The ending was a cheerful balance to the heavy topics unfolding through out the story. Probably the best book so far. 5*
Goodbye Lake Street - One big mistake made: Why wasn't 911 called either while she was chasing her or after the other incident was under control? Fifteen minutes is too long to remember the chased. Otherwise, a good relaxation. I missed the three previous books but it did not affect the story, stand alone. Good, clean read with good characters and good story lines. Easy to read and fast-paced till the last page. 4*
Goodbye Foxbridge Lane, prequel - Interesting, short introduction to the Goodbye series. Good characters and good story lines. 4*
Goodbye Sky Field, #6 - Well written with intense story lines had me immersed in the pages, taking my time to read this book. Holly did well with all the cases from one day's events and the personal attack that puts her behind the desk. The ending was a cheerful balance to the heavy topics unfolding through out the story. Probably the best book so far. 5*
May 31, 2021
DC Holly Towns is determined o be successful in her new position as a plain clothes detective. Her partner, Danny, is easy to work with. His advice and support are invaluable. Her former boss made her work life as difficult as possible. She was glad to transfer to CUI. Unfortunately fate brings Holly and Sergeant Lew Lacoste, her former boss, on a collision course. His daughter is the murder victim. I couldn't believe what a cruel vindictive person he is. I found him offensive. Holly has great instincts. She is super focused and a hard worker. This case has dark nuisances that make it difficult to solve. Anne Shillolo has written a taut suspenseful mystery that pulled me in. The characters are interesting and quirky. Port Alma is picturesque but has a dark side. I know that Holly hasn't had an easy life. Her parents died under suspicious circumstances. I see how this effected her and her twin brother. I did enjoy the hint of romance between Holly and Danny. This mystery ends with some unresolved issues. I'm anxiously waiting for the next book in this new series. I want justice served.
May 5, 2022
An exceptional web of mystery, suspense, and crime/drama, “Goodbye Port Alma” is a spellbinding novel from start to finish. It is compulsively readable, and I was unable to put it down until I was finished. The plot revolves around the hunt for a beautiful teen’s murderer, an anonymous call to 911, and the safety of her two lookalike friends. DC Holly Towns was already investigating a break-in that left an elderly man injured and in the hospital, and multiple break-ins when no one was at home. That’s placed on the back burner (but not forgotten) as she and the squad are thrown right in the middle of the murder investigation, which, they discover, includes sex, drugs, and large amounts of cash. Her former boss, Lew Lacoste, has a mystery vendetta for her that threatens her career; unfortunately, the teen who was murdered is Lacoste’s daughter. Although he’s devastated by her murder, he’s not exactly a completely innocent man, either. There are many suspects, but just who would want her dead?
I’d like to thank Anne Shillolo for the opportunity to read her work in exchange for an honest review.
I’d like to thank Anne Shillolo for the opportunity to read her work in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2021
This is a suspenseful mystery with good cops/bad cops, break ins, thieves, murderers, lies, violence, blackmail, drugs for sale, and so much more.
Detective Constable Holly Towns is a force to be reckoned with. She may push the limit sometimes when action is warranted and she knows she’s right. Fellow detective Danny Cavallo is usually there to lend a helping hand or advice when Holly needs it.
When the violent murder of a teenaged girl is discovered, the police department detectives are determined to find out who she is, to figure out what happened, and who did it!
There is a camaraderie among the detectives to band together to solve this murder along with rampant break ins and theft from homes in the area. They sure have their hands full.
This book starts out strong and keeps getting better. It’s an edge of your seat story that it’s hard to stop reading.
I really enjoyed reading this book and hope for another next book to find out what Holly is up to next. Thanks for a great plot and characters.
Detective Constable Holly Towns is a force to be reckoned with. She may push the limit sometimes when action is warranted and she knows she’s right. Fellow detective Danny Cavallo is usually there to lend a helping hand or advice when Holly needs it.
When the violent murder of a teenaged girl is discovered, the police department detectives are determined to find out who she is, to figure out what happened, and who did it!
There is a camaraderie among the detectives to band together to solve this murder along with rampant break ins and theft from homes in the area. They sure have their hands full.
This book starts out strong and keeps getting better. It’s an edge of your seat story that it’s hard to stop reading.
I really enjoyed reading this book and hope for another next book to find out what Holly is up to next. Thanks for a great plot and characters.
November 14, 2021
An enjoyable read, if one can call a police procedural murder mystery 'enjoyable'. Faced paced and lots of attention to detail. The backstory about Holly Towns and her history was there to tantalize and pique the reader's interest, and the main crime stories - two overlapping cases - unfolded well. I actually worked out who committed the murder about halfway through but I kept reading nevertheless to see who else would be implicated and who would not be indicted for the murder. I was disappointed that one of the nasty characters would be getting away with his illegal activities but perhaps things would be resolved in the next book in the series. I won't know as I don't intend to read on - at least not now.
My main question: why was the book given that title? Don't see the relevance. I haven't read a synopsis. I rarely do. I chose this book by using my usual method: read the first three pages - if I'm drawn in, I add it to my Goodreads titles/shelves to be read. Any books which don't excite my little grey cells by page three are rejected. Time to move on.
My main question: why was the book given that title? Don't see the relevance. I haven't read a synopsis. I rarely do. I chose this book by using my usual method: read the first three pages - if I'm drawn in, I add it to my Goodreads titles/shelves to be read. Any books which don't excite my little grey cells by page three are rejected. Time to move on.
July 5, 2022
A Cozy Mystery/Thriller
After being promoted to Detective Constable, Holly Towns is settling into her new role by chasing down petty thieves and other criminals. But when she finds the body of a fellow officer’s daughter, things quickly get serious. She and her team are desperate to put away the killer, but when they look into the life of the girl and her friends, they’re drawn into a ring of crime that goes far beyond what anybody expected. Who had enough motive to kill Jenna? And is everything as it seems?
As a member of the police force, Holly has access to information that most cozy mysteries don’t have, and the type of crimes that are solved are far darker than others I’ve read. She has an intriguing past that is hinted at, and she has many quirks that make her fun to read about. Her unique take on the crime offers a great escape to those who want to go meet a new friend, and Holly is that friend.
This book is an amazing start to a new series. As a strange but compelling mix of cozy mystery and thriller, this book carves out a unique niche between the two genres. The story is fast-paced and exciting, the characters are engaging and varied, and the setting is interesting and relatable at the same time. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, thrillers, or both, this book will appeal to you. I can’t wait to read more about Holly Towns.
After being promoted to Detective Constable, Holly Towns is settling into her new role by chasing down petty thieves and other criminals. But when she finds the body of a fellow officer’s daughter, things quickly get serious. She and her team are desperate to put away the killer, but when they look into the life of the girl and her friends, they’re drawn into a ring of crime that goes far beyond what anybody expected. Who had enough motive to kill Jenna? And is everything as it seems?
As a member of the police force, Holly has access to information that most cozy mysteries don’t have, and the type of crimes that are solved are far darker than others I’ve read. She has an intriguing past that is hinted at, and she has many quirks that make her fun to read about. Her unique take on the crime offers a great escape to those who want to go meet a new friend, and Holly is that friend.
This book is an amazing start to a new series. As a strange but compelling mix of cozy mystery and thriller, this book carves out a unique niche between the two genres. The story is fast-paced and exciting, the characters are engaging and varied, and the setting is interesting and relatable at the same time. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, thrillers, or both, this book will appeal to you. I can’t wait to read more about Holly Towns.
January 6, 2025
This is a first in a series and I will definitely be continuing. It's essentially a police procedural, but with a definite 'cozy' vibe -- though not entirely. Holly is a newly minted Detective Constable in a town on the Canadian side of Lake Erie (I think, could be Ontario). She and her partner are investigating a series of break-ins when they get a call to a death at the beach.
She recognizes the girl almost right away as the daughter of her former boss -- the inspector from the Patrol division who bullied her the whole time she was assigned to his squad. And she can't help but feel he's involved. Still, there are a lot of other suspects, too, and she has been strongly cautioned against going her own way on the investigation.
We also meet her brother Nick and some of his friends with interesting and convenient skills that she is willing to use, but must do so very carefully lest the legality of any evidence obtained be compromised. That did feel a little 'not real' and even contrived, but not so as to ruin the book for me. Overall I enjoyed Holly and look forward to further investigations.
She recognizes the girl almost right away as the daughter of her former boss -- the inspector from the Patrol division who bullied her the whole time she was assigned to his squad. And she can't help but feel he's involved. Still, there are a lot of other suspects, too, and she has been strongly cautioned against going her own way on the investigation.
We also meet her brother Nick and some of his friends with interesting and convenient skills that she is willing to use, but must do so very carefully lest the legality of any evidence obtained be compromised. That did feel a little 'not real' and even contrived, but not so as to ruin the book for me. Overall I enjoyed Holly and look forward to further investigations.
July 19, 2025
An interesting police procedural that ambles along at a pace which is probably much closer to the way crime solving actually occurs in real life. The main character, DC Holly, is easy to like and her situation and propensity to attract the ire of her superiors adds some low level angst.
I’m of two minds about the degree of description provided. On the one hand, the author paints beautifully detailed pictures of the ‘Port Alma’ location as a backdrop that would make a travel agent swoon. However, I found the constant detailed assessment of the various characters’ daily attire a tad too much, even if a newly appointed detective constable feels the need to prove her powers of observation to the nth degree. No doubt those who enjoy having such details available to set the parameters of their imagination will be well satisfied, but I found it a bit of a quagmire of words at times.
Nevertheless, as a whole, this story provides a pleasing interlude with enough mystery to keep those who simply read for the sheer pleasure of doing so more than satisfied.
I’m of two minds about the degree of description provided. On the one hand, the author paints beautifully detailed pictures of the ‘Port Alma’ location as a backdrop that would make a travel agent swoon. However, I found the constant detailed assessment of the various characters’ daily attire a tad too much, even if a newly appointed detective constable feels the need to prove her powers of observation to the nth degree. No doubt those who enjoy having such details available to set the parameters of their imagination will be well satisfied, but I found it a bit of a quagmire of words at times.
Nevertheless, as a whole, this story provides a pleasing interlude with enough mystery to keep those who simply read for the sheer pleasure of doing so more than satisfied.
May 26, 2021
Anne Shillolo has already given me many hours of reading pleasure with her Cottage Country Cozy Mysteries (also known as the “Poodle versus..” series). They are good fun - sometimes even hilarious, with lots of suspense and a touch of romance.
With Goodbye Port Alma, the first book in her new series, she takes it to the next level. Detective Constable Holly Towns is a strong but complicated character with a tragic backstory, that you can relate to and empathize with. She is determined to prove herself in the murder investigation of a teenage girl, who happens to be the daughter of Holly’s nemesis and former boss…
This well-crafted story feels like a captivating psychological thriller to me, I just couldn’t put it down.
I received a preview copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing.
With Goodbye Port Alma, the first book in her new series, she takes it to the next level. Detective Constable Holly Towns is a strong but complicated character with a tragic backstory, that you can relate to and empathize with. She is determined to prove herself in the murder investigation of a teenage girl, who happens to be the daughter of Holly’s nemesis and former boss…
This well-crafted story feels like a captivating psychological thriller to me, I just couldn’t put it down.
I received a preview copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing.
October 2, 2022
Holly Towns and the rest of the Port Alma Police Department are sent out to assist in the control of a crowd of teenagers protesting the closure of some of the schools in Port Alma. While attempting to keep the students out of the street there is an explosion at the gravel pit and an airplane crashes short of the airport. Because of her confrontation with a teen with a broken bottle, Holly is forced to hit her arm with her baton. The girl starts saying Holly hit her in her face and her father threatens a lawsuit. Holly is put on light duty and sent to work with the FAA on the plane crash. Will Holly be able to help find what caused plane crash, what caused the explosion in the gravel pit,as well as solving her personal problem with the teen.
I am volunteeringly reviewing this book after receiving it free from the author.
I am volunteeringly reviewing this book after receiving it free from the author.
April 17, 2023
#1 in the DC Holly Towns mystery series set in the historic Canadian Lake Ontario port city. Around 30, Towns has been a member of the police force for several years starting with patrols and recently promoted to detective. She's earned a reputation for being impulsive, working on hunches and acting on her own. One result is there isn't a lot of trust for her with her former officers and downright hostility from her former boss. Towns is a force to be reckoned with as she's physically capable in addition to being logical and deliberate in her critical thinking. Moreover, Towns has enough demons in both her past and present to round out her character. This is her second chance to succeed in the police force.
A distracting element, to me, in the writing is author's penchant for descriptive details such as frequent descriptions of what various characters are wearing.
A distracting element, to me, in the writing is author's penchant for descriptive details such as frequent descriptions of what various characters are wearing.
May 17, 2021
Goodbye Port Alma is the first book in a new series featuring Holly Towns as a new Detective Constable who is getting a second chance to prove herself. Other police officers are leery of her because of issues with a vindictive former boss, but her partner Danny Cavallo gives her a chance to prove herself. Join Holly, Danny and the rest of the team to investigate a murder involving sex, drugs, and money. What a great start to an action-packed novel with a great cast of characters, engaging dialogue, and an atmosphere of camaraderie between Holly and Danny. So if you like complex characters, twisty plots, and solving puzzles, this is the series for you. It will not disappoint.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
A good story but lots of holes.
The author weaves a couple of story lines including the knife killing of a teen girl, a sex for hire involving the murdered girl, her friends and some significant citizens. The new detective policewoman's own family issues are a constant background story plus her growing romance with a colleague become part of the story line too. Oh did I mention the bizarre animosity of a sergeant towards our heroine is also a part of this story. Unfortunately the multi plot lines become over the top for a good murder mystery. Add in unrealistic actions of police procedures, eg. Turning tail when threatened by one gangsta brandishing a machete- what are police for?
The author weaves a couple of story lines including the knife killing of a teen girl, a sex for hire involving the murdered girl, her friends and some significant citizens. The new detective policewoman's own family issues are a constant background story plus her growing romance with a colleague become part of the story line too. Oh did I mention the bizarre animosity of a sergeant towards our heroine is also a part of this story. Unfortunately the multi plot lines become over the top for a good murder mystery. Add in unrealistic actions of police procedures, eg. Turning tail when threatened by one gangsta brandishing a machete- what are police for?
June 12, 2021
This was an excellent mystery. Three teenage girls with lots of money, one is murdered. Where did they get this money, what were they doing, and who murdered her? There's also another story of 2 crazy hoodlums robbing, and beating people in broad daylight. Both stories come together perfectly. The characters are very interesting, the story grabs you and won't let go. My only problem was the never ending descriptions of what people were wearing- but thats just me. I would still give the story a 10 if possible. In fact, I've already pre-ordered the next in this series. It's just that good. Very well written and definitely worth the read.
September 9, 2023
This story is many things rolled into one. It is thrilling. It is sad. It is encouraging. It is engrossing. I wish I had been able to read it uninterrupted. There are so many complexities to the story. Multiple crimes. Multiple suspects. Multiple investigators. Many different relationships. It all makes for a wonderfully complex mystery. DC Holly Townes is the focal point and it is easy to love her approach to crime fighting. The author paints such a vivid picture of every scene and every emotion it is easy to get drawn into the story, which I did. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.
May 22, 2021
Holly & her partner on duty are the first on the scene of a murdered schoolgirl.
She was the daughter of the policeman who really hated Holly & bullied her when she worked under him, but, now she’s with the detectives. When they interview the murdered girl’s friends & search her locker at school & where she worked they get a lot more questions than answers. Why do her specially close friends look just like her? Where did the money come from in her locker? Lots & lots more questions which get answered by the end of the book!
She was the daughter of the policeman who really hated Holly & bullied her when she worked under him, but, now she’s with the detectives. When they interview the murdered girl’s friends & search her locker at school & where she worked they get a lot more questions than answers. Why do her specially close friends look just like her? Where did the money come from in her locker? Lots & lots more questions which get answered by the end of the book!
July 1, 2021
So much going on, it’s hard to keep track!
I actually read Goodbye Calais Club first and it was so good, I went back to read this book 1! These are police procedurals, but the main character, DC Holly is what makes the book so enjoyable! She a dedicated and intuitive but somewhat impulsive new detective, and tends to get herself into trouble as a result. Both of these books are fast-paced and really keep you on the edge of your chair with the action. This is a great series and I highly recommend it.
I actually read Goodbye Calais Club first and it was so good, I went back to read this book 1! These are police procedurals, but the main character, DC Holly is what makes the book so enjoyable! She a dedicated and intuitive but somewhat impulsive new detective, and tends to get herself into trouble as a result. Both of these books are fast-paced and really keep you on the edge of your chair with the action. This is a great series and I highly recommend it.
January 7, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are believable and the description of Port Alma was easy to "see", with the mind's eye. I wasn't able to solve the murders, on my own. I mark that as a sign of a very good murder mystery because I like the challenge of trying to figure out who the murderer is. If you enjoy reading murder mysteries that contains no profanity, no gore and no sex scenes and is a fast paced read, pick up this book and read for yourself. This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last
January 30, 2022
Hurrah for Holly Towns
The murder of a high school student opens a Pandora’s box of trouble in Port Alma. Each character is deeper and more complex than in your run of the mill mystery. The surprises come fast and furious. The complex fabric of relationships inside the police and in Holly’s life have many stories happening all at the same time. I look forward to seeing more of Holly and Detective Cavallo. The setting in Canada is an extra touch of interest for this California reader.
The murder of a high school student opens a Pandora’s box of trouble in Port Alma. Each character is deeper and more complex than in your run of the mill mystery. The surprises come fast and furious. The complex fabric of relationships inside the police and in Holly’s life have many stories happening all at the same time. I look forward to seeing more of Holly and Detective Cavallo. The setting in Canada is an extra touch of interest for this California reader.
April 5, 2022
What a great mystery that pulled me into the middle of all that was happening from the very beginning and I couldn't put the book down until I read the last word and I loved it! I felt an instant connection to DC Holly Towns and enjoyed her dynamic with the great cast of characters as she untangled a far-reaching web of sex, drugs and money to solve a crime that may tear Port Alma apart. This is the first book I have read by Anne Shillolo but I love her style and look forward to reading more from this gifted author and see what happens with Holly and the folks of Port Alma.
June 11, 2022
I got this as a kindle freebie. Nothing to lose.
I actually found it an enjoyable, fast paced read. Ideal if you want a quick holiday read.
We follow the actions of Holly Towns as she tries to solve a vicious murder of a school girl in a small town in the US. This is hampered by her past interactions with the victim's father - he used to be her boss.
It's fast paced and focusses on the action rather than detailed characterisation but this isn't really a problem.
I'll look out for others in the series to add to my holiday read list.
I actually found it an enjoyable, fast paced read. Ideal if you want a quick holiday read.
We follow the actions of Holly Towns as she tries to solve a vicious murder of a school girl in a small town in the US. This is hampered by her past interactions with the victim's father - he used to be her boss.
It's fast paced and focusses on the action rather than detailed characterisation but this isn't really a problem.
I'll look out for others in the series to add to my holiday read list.
February 16, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read. Our main character, Holly, has a past experience that left her with some enemies and some lack of confidence in her abilities. Her partner is perfect for her and their relationship has been close friendship and working relationship although it is clear there is some attraction on both sides for more.
Holly is very intuitive but her lack of confidence and past experience stymies her at times in sharing her beliefs but she eventually finds opening up to her partner is working and he has confidence in her. Looking forward to another book in this series.
Holly is very intuitive but her lack of confidence and past experience stymies her at times in sharing her beliefs but she eventually finds opening up to her partner is working and he has confidence in her. Looking forward to another book in this series.
May 17, 2021
Kindle Copy for Review
It is a smart new cozy series from the author of Rocco the poodle. Cool new read that keeps you on your toes.
A pretty teen girl is murdered in daylight by an anonymous caller. What secrets did she have that would have cause her deadly end?
Enters DC Holly Towns and her team who will dig into the secrets of the dead to find the killer before the town is town apart. Are her friends next in line or will the culprit be found in time?
It is a smart new cozy series from the author of Rocco the poodle. Cool new read that keeps you on your toes.
A pretty teen girl is murdered in daylight by an anonymous caller. What secrets did she have that would have cause her deadly end?
Enters DC Holly Towns and her team who will dig into the secrets of the dead to find the killer before the town is town apart. Are her friends next in line or will the culprit be found in time?
May 23, 2021
Unputdownable Mystery!
This book is the first in a new series. I strongly suggest reading the prequel which is free from the author's newsletter. Our heroine is a new Detective and definitely thinks outside of the box and listens to her instincts. The plot has some good twists and some seriously bad perps. The characters are very well developed and seem like real people you would know. Except for the bad guys who we hope you can't relate to. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
This book is the first in a new series. I strongly suggest reading the prequel which is free from the author's newsletter. Our heroine is a new Detective and definitely thinks outside of the box and listens to her instincts. The plot has some good twists and some seriously bad perps. The characters are very well developed and seem like real people you would know. Except for the bad guys who we hope you can't relate to. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
May 31, 2021
A cozy mystery I would highly recommend that you read the free prequel for this book. It is number one in the series. This is a well written cozy mystery with interesting characters. You have many twists and turns to maintain your interest. Detective Holly finds a female body at the market. Holly's team will find secrets. Who killed her and why was she killed? Who is she? You need to read to find the answers. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews