Pesticide

Linder and Donatelli Mystery #1

by Kim Hays

"Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli make for one of the sharpest, most compelling police duos you’ll ever read. Their conflicted attraction bristles with true emotional depth and poignancy as they lead a rich ensemble cast through the surprisingly nefarious world of organic politics. A remarkable procedural set in Bern, Kim Hays’s Pesticide is Switzerland’s answer to Scandinavian noir. Fresh and oh so readable, you won’t want to put it down."
--James W. Ziskin, author of the award-winning Ellie Stone mysteries

Bern, Switzerland—known for its narrow cobblestone streets, decorative fountains, and  striking towers. Yet dark currents run through this charming medieval city and beyond, to the idyllic farmlands that surround it.

When a rave on a hot summer night erupts into violent riots, a young man is found the next morning bludgeoned to death with a policeman’s club. Seasoned detective Giuliana Linder is assigned to the case. That same day, an elderly organic farmer turns up dead and drenched with pesticide. Enter Giuliana’s younger—and distractingly attractive—colleague Renzo Donatelli to investigate the second murder. Giuliana’s disappointment that they’re on two different cases is tinged with relief—her home life is complicated enough without the risk of a fling.

But when an unexpected discovery ties the two victims into a single case, Giuliana and Renzo are thrown closer together than ever before. Dangerously close. Will Giuliana be able to handle the threats to her marriage and to her assumptions about the police? If she wants to prevent another murder, she’ll have to put her life on the line—and her principles.

Combining suspense and romance, this debut mystery in the Polizei Bern series offers a distinctive picture of the Swiss. An inventive tale, packed with surprises, it will keep readers guessing until the end.

Genres: Procedural, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

358 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2022

About the author

Kim Hays is a dual citizen (Swiss/American) who has made her home in Bern since she married a Swiss. Before that, she lived in San Juan, Vancouver, and Stockholm, as well as the US, her birthplace. Since the age of seventeen, she has worked at a wide variety of jobs, from factory forewoman to director of a small nonprofit and, in Switzerland, from sociology lecturer to cross-cultural trainer. She began writing mysteries when her son left for college. PESTICIDE (2022), the first book in her Polizei Bern series, was shortlisted for the 2020 Debut Dagger award by the Crime Writers’ Association; and mystery writer Deborah Crombie called it “a stand-out debut for 2022.” The second book in the series, SONS AND BROTHERS, was published in April 2023.

Hays has a BA in English history and literature from Harvard and a PhD in cultural sociology from UC-Berkeley.

Reviews

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a dual detective mystery and it definitely delivered! I loved Renzo and Guiliana from the start, the beautiful Swiss setting, and the mystery was definitely one that kept me intrigued!

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pesticide
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 4/19/22
Author: Kim Hays
Publisher: Seventh Street Books
Pages: 358
Goodreads Rating: 4.17

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Seventh Street Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Story is set in Switzerland. When a rave on a hot summer night erupts into violent riots, a young man is found the next morning bludgeoned to death with a policeman’s club. Seasoned detective Giuliana Linder is assigned to the case. That same day, an elderly organic farmer turns up dead and drenched with pesticide. Enter Giuliana’s younger—and distractingly attractive—colleague Renzo Donatelli to investigate the second murder. But when an unexpected discovery ties the two victims into a single case, Giuliana and Renzo are thrown closer together than ever before.

My Thoughts: I do love police procedurals, and this was no different. While there are slow parts to this mystery, it moves at a good pace. The characters are well developed, have depth, are charismatic, have growing sexual attraction between them, likable, and relatable. The author’s writing style is complex, suspenseful, mysterious, and captivating. Hays’ ability to write incredibly realistic descriptive scenes, makes you feel as if you are right there in Switzerland. Hays’ also describes the Switzerland police system extremely well, in her acknowledgements, she does acknowledge some officers she contacted while writing Pesticide. I highly recommend picking up this book today!

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a new kid on the block and it's known as Swiss noir.
Detectives Giuliani Linder and Renzo Donatello are an intriguing duo investigating crimes in Bern, Switzerland. When a young man gets killed at a riot, possibly by one of their own, and a day later an organic farmer turns up dead the two detectives get to work. They split the cases between them, each following their own leads but at the same time letting each other know what they're doing. Each is married to other people but their attraction to each other is undeniable. Will their sexual tension get in the way of their working together? Are the two cases connected? Will they be safe the closer they get to answers? I recommend you pick this one up to find out!
This is one well written story. The tension is palpable as you make your way around the towns locales. With vivid descriptions it's easy to imagine you're there in the middle of the action. The cast of characters are richly drawn, believable and easy to root for. The story kept me guessing right up to the end with plenty of surprises along the way.
If you're looking for a fresh, new police procedural you won't want to put down, this is it!
.
Thank you to the author, Seventh Street Books and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy for me to read, review and enjoy.

[Robert Intriago · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good police procedural with lots of information about the Swiss police and their methods in investigating homicides and drug deals. This novel is structurally sound with lots of good characters, even though you need a scorecard to keep track of their Swiss names. You need a lot of patience in order to get through the book as it is extremely slow and at times it goes in circles.

[Keith Alverson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this book for the whodunit and racing heartbeat final conclusion, but to truly appreciate it you should spend a bit of time in Bern, Switzerland. I lived there for 7 years (1997-2004) and the memories that this book triggered were, for me anyway, the best part. The book hews pretty tightly to the ambiance detective style - with its stars such as Louise Penny (Quebec) and Donna Leon (Venice) - so a big part of its appeal is indeed the setting. As everyone knows, Bern is boring though. Or is it ??? I did not guess (either of the) denouements until they were pretty much spoon fed to me, so I think that means the 'whodunnit' and plot aspect of the book passed muster. Constructive criticism: I would have appreciated a nice long chapter on the pros and cons of organic farming - much like the whaling chapter in the middle of Moby Dick - but I guess I am probably in a minority there. Great mystery. Thanks for the enjoyable read, Kim Hays!

[James Ziskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli make for one of the sharpest, most compelling police duos you’ll ever read. Their conflicted attraction bristles with true emotional depth and poignancy as they lead a rich ensemble cast through the surprisingly nefarious world of organic politics. A remarkable procedural set in Bern, Kim Hays’s Pesticide is Switzerland’s answer to Scandinavian noir. Fresh and oh so readable, you won’t want to put it down.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scandinavian Noir is new to me, but I do hope that Pesticide is the first of many. In this cold and dark story, readers are introduced to Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli. She is more experienced, and the pair like working together on cases. However, their reasons go beyond professional, as they share a mutual attraction, something that could derail their families.

Giuliana has been assigned a case of the death of a young man. The facts lead to a young police officer. It is Giuliana's job to discover whether or not the young officer indeed killed the man, or if something else could have occurred. When Renzo learns of the new case, he is determined to also be assigned so that he can be close to Giuliana. Before Renzo gets that opportunity, the body of a farmer in his seventies is discovered, and that is the case that Renzo will be working on.

It doesn't take very long for facts to prove that both cases are connected. This gives Giuliana and Renzo the opportunity that both of them want to work closely together, fighting temptation every step of the way.

Somethime deep is going on, and part of it is the conflict between organic and conventional farming. Drugs might also be involved. The manner of death of the old man involved pesticides and that just might be the framework of everything going on. It is up to Giuliana and Renzo to sort everything out, and this includes locating, eliminating and eventually discovering the right suspects.

While they are working on their cases, there is a strong element of drama in this captivating read. Giuliana's marriage is on tenterhooks and insight is given to her relationship with her husband and children. Then there is the intensity of the Bern police. Are they professional? Impulsive? Dangerous? If danger is part of what is going on behind the scenes, will Giuliana and Renzo also face danger as they seek to find answers?

This Switzerland police crime thriller was an excellent read from beginning to end. I liked getting to know Giuliana and Renzo and am looking forward to reading more books in what promises to be a successful series.

Many thanks to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/yMKuzi5rvvY

[Mailaenderli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Berner police is on a case. Will they solve it and which department ?

[Tanya R · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a crime/police procedural junkie like me, you will want to be sure to add Pesticide to your list!

A great detective duo with an interesting interpersonal relationship is woven in amongst two crime cases that at first, do not appear to be connected. Where these two cases intersect makes for a great story.

I'd love to see this turned into a series with both main detectives as leads throughout.

[Clare O'Dea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of a new series of mysteries set in Bern, Switzerland - intelligent crime fiction. Pesticide is authentic, clever and gripping. The heroine is homicide detective Giuliana Linder, ably assisted by her younger colleague Renzo Donatelli. Both characters are sympathetic and have depth and realistic married lives. They grapple with the moral questions thrown up by police work, and the little, or not so little, complication of being attracted to each other. I particularly like Urs, the character of Giuliana’s husband, who is a freelance journalist, working all hours and keeping the home fires burning. Nice to come across a male character in this role.

The murders are brutal and gruesome as murders inevitably are but the violence is not the focus, nor is it there in any way to titillate – something that puts me off a lot of crime fiction, especially with female victims and sadistic killers. The author writes the kinds of murders that could happen to people you know, involving murderers you might meet in the corner shop or a Dorffest (village festival).

Hays has a flair for dramatizing the investigation in a really interesting and human way, building momentum, unravelling all the knots, as her heroes doggedly search for the truth, and hopefully justice.

The suspense-filled stories take place in a Switzerland I recognise, an ordinary, gritty, diverse, and complicated place with secrets beneath the surface.

[Crimefictioncritic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A publicist acquaintance knowing of my passion for international crime fiction, suggested I’d like the debut mystery in the Polizei Bern series, Pesticide by Kim Hays. She certainly wasn’t wrong. It’s one of the best novels I’ve read this year. I’m only sorry it took me so long to get it on my list. I couldn’t put it down from the first page and inhaled it in one sitting. I had the opportunity to read an ARC back in May but decided to purchase and read the copy used for this review. I very much enjoyed meeting the protagonist, Giuliana Linder, a homicide detective in Bern, Switzerland, and a host of other interesting support characters, including Linder’s colleague, Renzo Donatelli.

We get two cases for the price of one here, and though they are ultimately linked (directly rather than coincidentally), I liked the way Hays introduces them. First, homicide detective Giuliana Linder draws a case investigating whether a civilian died due to a young Bern police officer using excessive force. Shortly after Giuliana and her partner begin investigating, the police learn someone murdered another man, a pioneer in Swiss organic farming, just thirty-six hours before the man died after the young cop struck him in the head with his riot baton.

Once Linder identifies her victim, connections to the murdered farmer quickly develop. As the story unfolds, the police try to determine what the connections mean, whether the young police officer killed the civilian or someone else did after the initial confrontation and whether they are hunting one or two murder suspects.

After the Bern police organize a task force to investigate the two murders headed by Linder and another senior detective, Renzo Donatelli, Linder’s younger and distractedly attractive colleague (who she has worked with before) gets brought in to help investigate the cases. Donatelli has a difficult marriage, and Linder’s marriage is also a bit tenuous. Also, Donatelli and Linder are strongly attracted to each other. This romantic twist adds complications and forms an intriguing subplot. The relationship adds an extra layer to both characters that helps us understand their respective lives and personalities more.

The Crime Writers’ Association shortlisted Pesticide for the 2020 Debut Dagger award, which didn’t surprise me to learn after reading the book. Hays offers readers a realistic and tightly plotted story that grips the attention from the start, and the near-perfect pacing keeps us engaged to the end. This novel is not just uncommonly good for a debut. It compares favorably with novels I’ve read authored by crime fiction writers with far more books under their belts. Pesticide is one of the two best crime fiction books I’ve read thus far this year.

In her acknowledgments at the end of the book, Hays explains she called upon high-ranking police officers in the Swiss cantonal police for insight while writing the book. While I have no firsthand knowledge about policing in Switzerland, I can say this explains why the police procedural aspects of Pesticide fit almost flawlessly the investigative tactics and techniques I know about used by other European police agencies. As a result, I have only one minor quibble with the novel’s realism.

In one scene, when circumstances force a police officer to employ deadly force, they intentionally shoot the suspect in the shoulder, careful to avoid hitting the arm and shoulder joint. As a former American police officer, I must say it doesn’t work that way except in the movies. Deadly force is always the measure of last resort, used when nothing else will do. And in a situation where a police officer decides they must use deadly force, they do not intentionally aim to wound anymore than they aim to kill. Instead, the intent is to stop the threat, and armed police officers constantly train to shoot center mass (the largest target) because that is the most reliable tactic for stopping the threat. So, the scene mentioned isn’t realistic, which most crime fiction fans find distracting because they put such high value on realism in any police procedural. It’s fine if a cop in a novel shoots someone, aiming at center mass, but ends up hitting them in the shoulder or some other non-fatal area, and the suspect survives. But realism demands that a writer avoid crafting a scene that features a tactic no trained police officer would employ.

Aside from the one tiny criticism, which didn’t detract at all from this book for me, Hays offered up a complex plot (or two), several surprises and some very likeable characters it’s easy to root for. I loved the book and believe any fan of international crime mysteries would enjoy this fast-paced read. I’m happy Pesticide is the debut in a promised series as I’m eager to meet Linder and Donatelli again in the next novel in the series.

[Kevintipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pesticide: A Polizi Bern Novel by Kim Hayes is the first book in the series. Billed as the opening book in the Linder and Donatelli Mysteries, the read takes readers to Bern, Switzerland. It is summer and the street party the night before went out of control and resulted in at least one death.
Detective Giuliana Linder is assigned to the case by her boss, Rolf Straub. A young man is dead on the plaza where the rave was being held and descended into chaos. It appears initially that he died because he was hit over the head with a police baton wielded by Officer Jonas Pauli. Detective Linder knows the young officer and the idea that he bashed in the head of anyone and killed the man is unthinkable to her. He swears he only hit him once and not that hard.

The fact that her daughter was out in that same violent and out of control crowd before she later was arrested, does not escape her attention. A lot is going on with her and she could have been killed or injured in the chaos. It doesn’t help that her husband, Ueli, is not seeing her job as she does or everything else she does. Police brutality is an issue in the book and Ueli has significant concerns about what the police are doing on a daily basis. While his wife, Giuliana, is not part of the problem of abusive police, she works in a group that is, as he sees the world. Coupled with a disagreement regarding parenting styles and the fact that he has to step in when the job takes her away, as it does frequently, and the family dynamic is going through some things.

As if things are not complicated enough, soon it become clear that her case and a case being run by Investigator Renzo Donatelli have clear links. A farmer, François Schwab, was killed and his body was hosed down with pesticide. A fervent organic farmer, he had his enemies as well as numerous friends who thought he was a bit eccentric and overly supportive of organics, but generally liked him. Was he killed over his desire to protect his land and keep things organic? Or was it something else?

Before long, the two cases come together with the identity of the Linder’s victim becoming clear, they discover that both victims knew each other. The fact that they died just hours apart may actually mean something and not random chance as things first appeared. As Linder and Donatelli and their investigative teams join forces, it becomes clear to all involved that the killings are not over. Not even the police are safe.

Part police procedural, part possible romance as Linder and Donatelli have unexpressed feelings for each other, and entirely a rich and complex multilayered mystery, a tremendous amount is going on in this atmospheric and detailed read. The cases are complicated as are the personal lives of Detective Linder, Investigator Donatelli, and others. Much like real life, chaos at home and work to varying levels, is always present. As in real life, at times, the mind imagines a lot of worst-case scenarios with loved ones are involved.

A complicated read and one that holds your attention while also dispensing a lot of education regarding history and culture, Pesticide: A Polizi Bern Novel by Kim Hayes is a very good read well worth your time. Very much recommend.

Publicist Wiley Saichek sent me a copy of the book, with no expectation of a review, after Aubrey’s review ran on the blog.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of police procedurals, and give this one high marks for distinctiveness. While other readers see this as noir in genre, it somehow seems different to me. I'd call it an unusually compassionate police tale and one which lacks most of the stereotypes of plot which haunt this type of novel.

To begin with, of course, the setting is the German part of Switzerland, and policing there is different from many other regions in quite a few ways. Don't skip the author's notes at the beginning and end of the book. For instance, officers do not refer to each other by rank, but just by the normal form of address for a person of their gender. In addition, while Renzo and Giuliana's spouses feel slighted by their spouses work hours, both marriages are intact. That's rare in US versions of this theme. Finally, the cope here do not hate upper management, and while PR is an important function of a police office, it is not entirely subservient to politics the way it usually is. And, actually, one last unusual feature is the case of the policeman Jonas Pauli. The department really wants to determine what happened, rather than sweeping it under the rug.

I found the plot thoughtful, and respect the fact that even the possible perpetrators are treated as human beings rather the potentially evil. I was fascinated by the details of the sources of illegal substances in Bern. In general, this is a story about relationships, and they are depicted with sensitivity. And, of course, while the book does indeed move somewhat slowly, this is more an author being meticulous, and the plot is complex but interesting and the reader can keep things straight.

It puzzles me why this book has not received more attention. I thought it was very good and hope Hays writes follow-ups.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review……Pesticide by Kim Hays

After a rave on a hot summer night turns into violent riots, Detective Giuliani Linder is assigned to a case of a young man who is found the next morning bludgeoned to death with a policeman’s club.

That same day an elderly organic farmer is found dead covered in pesticide. Giuliana’s younger and attractive colleague Renzo Donatelli is assigned the case.

Giuliana’s disappointment that they’re on two different cases is tinged with relief; her home life is complicated enough without the risk of a fling. But when evidence shows the cases are connected Giuliana and Renzo are once again thrown dangerously close together.

If she wants to prevent another murder, she’ll have to put her life on the line and her principles. Will Giuliana be able to handle the threats to her marriage and to her assumptions about the police?

Pesticide was a great read and hopefully the start of many more books about Giuliana and Renzo! The descriptions of Bern, Switzerland were absolutely wonderful! You can really imagine it and feel like you are there.The relationship between Giuliana and Renzo is obviously a little complicated with Giuliana being married but they are a wonderful team! The chemistry and the attraction is there but they also work well together and compliment each other's character! The suspense is fantastic! I liked that the author took two cases that you definitely wouldn't think were connected and brought them together with plenty of surprises and twists and an ending I definitely didn't see coming! In the end it's a fast paced entertaining story that will have you turning the pages long into the night!

Thank you Books Forward and Kim Hays for sharing this fabulous story with me!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the eve of the dance in riots detective Juliana Linder is overwhelmed with discord at home in cases piling up so when a rookie policeman is accused of murder and she gets the case and when the murder is connected to the death of an elderly farmer she doesn’t know what to think. With a joint task force they try to go through each thread to find the unknown killer. At the same time she tries to avoid the handsome younger detective who she trains with. Can she find the killer and at the same time stay faithful and keep her family together?
I love that Ulli didn’t trust the police even though he was married to one oh you also love the Julie didn’t talk bad about her husband to the Maori detective whose name I forget. I really like the story and hope there is a second book. I would love to explore the world of Julie her family and the Burns residence. I also loved the preamble to the book where Miss Hayes tries to explain how to say Swedish words in the different dialect they speak. The only one I got close was milk. All in all I think this book was interesting and the plot moved alone at a great pace I would say this book is a real page turner for a great mystery. I received this book by Ned Galli and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rating rounded to 4

Since I’m more apt to choose a book by its cover and genre than to ever read the synopsis, I had no idea what to expect with 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐢𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐬.

What I discovered was a police procedural set in Switzerland, a place that was interesting, to say the least. It featured two engaging detectives who didn’t have to work hard to hold my interest.

We had one detective who was assigned the case of a man found dead, bludgeoned by a policeman’s club. And the other detective was assigned the case of an organic farmer found dead, drenched with pesticide.

But when the two cases seem to tie together, the detectives find themselves working as a team to solve both cases.

This story, which combines mystery and romance, offers a forward to help explain Bern Switzerland and its languages.

Final Thoughts
While I found this very interesting there were a few challenges. First, the characters’ names were just letters to me since I don’t speak the language. And since they were sometimes referred to by first and then last names, I was occasionally challenged. Were they male or female? Who are they again?

I loved the mystery, and characters, plus enjoyed the setting.
Thumbs Up

My thanks to the publishers and Booksforwards for an early copy of the book and the ability to freely post my thoughts.

[Betsy Draine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pesticide is my pick for best mystery novel of 2022. Kim Hays's first novel (in a projected series) delivers a brilliant plot and lovable characters, especially Giuliana, the woman police detective in Bern, Switzerland, and her smart, sexy, younger male colleague, Renzo Donatelli. The gripping story raises social issues such as police brutality, integrity or lack of it in the organic food movement, national drug policy, immigration, and feminism (in a country where women didn't get the right to vote until 1971). Through the eyes of Giuliana and Renzo, the author explores these issues with sharp intelligence. By the end of the novel, you feel you've visited the city of Bern and its outlying farm districts, you've gotten to know the lives of clever, conscientious police officers, and you feel the pressures on farmers struggling to grow crops organically in a "food industry" that is complicated and vulnerable to corruption at local, national, and international levels. Pesticide, thick in plot and theme, is also beautifully written--a great pleasure to read in print or to listen to in audiobook. (I've done both!) I'm buying it for my best friends, for birthdays and holiday gifts. That's my highest recommendation.

[pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued from the beginning of this mystery by the setting, which plays a key role. Two murders take place within the space of 36 hours and police investigators from Bern, Switzerland begin to check out the alibis of local farmers, some of whom have become ardent defenders of organic produce. The use of pesticide in one of the murders is both gory and horrifying. Eventually the question of drugs and an infamous youth center near the Bern train station add another dimension to the plot leading up to a harrowing finale. More than just an ordinary who-done-it, this book delves into the ambiguities that lie behind police work and the assumptions they make. I appreciated the nuanced approach to the question of the use of violence and the humorous irony beneath the surface of loving relationships which are not in fact so straightforward as they might seem. It is this complexity which lingers even after finishing the story and I feel as though there are many subtle aspects of the vast array of characters but most particularly the two detectives, Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli, still to be explored. Perhaps in the sequel which is apparently coming out soon!

[Ju Mcmurray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe Pesticide is a first novel. This beautifully crafted mystery is a delight to read. The plot is absorbing and the story well told. Hays' forward has a beautifully written guide to the dialects of this second largest Swiss Canton, and the sub plot regarding organic farming was fascinating. Linder and Donatelli , the "star crossed" detectives go about their jobs with their secret desires ( for each other) present all the time. Bern is a novel site for the mystery, and Hays creates an intimate and appealing portrait of this medieval Swiss town. I don't know when I've read a new mystery author with more potential, and hope there will be long string of Linder and Donatelli, and Bern.

[Celia Wakefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

a tour de force

I have known Kim Hays from the Jungle Red Writers blog as one of the commentators and enjoyed reading her comments. So imagine my surprise to learn she was an author and having just finished Pesticide I can promise that you won’t be disappointed by her story. She has another book out now which I hope to read but Pesticide is worth reading. I love learning about other countries and their crime fighting procedures and Kim doesn’t disappoint with lots of background such that I felt I might be able to find my way around Bern. The organic farming background is clear and adds to the story. I loved this book.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"It's not easy to keep a secret round here."

A female detective learns of her teenage daughter's arrest at an out of control dance riot. Another young man had been killed there, the guilty man believed to.have been a young policeman who the dead man had rushed. The death by hanging had already been noted some days before: an assumed suicide, and Julianna, the police woman, was already feeling pressure in her marriage... Now this.

Interesting new police procedural set in rural Switzerland, well worth a visit, and currently free to download through the Audible Plus programme.

[brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love crime books, written in the perspective of the detectives then this story is for you! At first the crimes don't seem like they are related, but the further into the book the more you solve the mystery. Also, I am a sucker for a building relationship between two people.
I hope this author makes this into a series! I would definately read more books with these characters!

I recieved a copy of the ARC to read and review.

[Roxanne Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew organic farming could be so dangerous? Detective Guiliana Linder is called to look into the role of a cop in the death of Simu, a young drug dealer. Things get complicated when a local farmer is found dead and doused with pesticide, and it's discovered he was hosting a marijuana field for Simu. This started off slow and it took time for me to get into the story, but once I did it was an intriguing procedural. I'd read another book from Kim Hays about Guiliana and her Swiss colleagues.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combines two of my favorite things- police procedurals and Switzerland! Who knew such a book existed? Hays’s backdrop of Bern and the Seeland are spot on. Her careful description of Swiss organic farming adds to the story without becoming dull. Love her use of Swiss-German throughout to make it authentic- could do with more of that!

[Korina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read it just because I recently moved to Bern and wanted to enjoy the book settled in my surroundings. Although I have no interest in the farming and vegetables, book was very interesting and held my attention. I like how the relationship between Giulianna and Renzo is kind of a slow burn, and I will gladly read the next book just to see how will their relationship develop.

[Lisa Frankfort]

Has horrible cover art. I almost passed on the book because I couldn't stand looking at the cover. Didn't like the title either. However, I learned more about organic farming than I had ever known before, and it was an interesting setting and situation for a police procedural. I would read the second book of this series.

[John Machata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a pokey little puppy for me. Don't get me wrong, I finished it, but it felt singularly ordinary. Action sequences contrived- particularly timing. Plot plodding for my taste. Clean style but without any pizzazz.

[Darcy Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Police procedural set in Bern Switzerland. Enjoyed this storytelling and the narrators . Follows two cases of murder of an organic farmer and a man who grows pot. Enjoyed the Swiss setting. The beginning of a series that follows the two detectives. Will look for book 2.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very refreshing to read a murder mystery set in Switzerland! The characters are very believeable and the plot quite unique. Sure helps to be familiar with Swiss geography and dialect.

[Jessica]

I enjoyed the characters of Guilana and Renzo, but felt like the middle kind of stalled out. Failed to complete at page 158.