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A Cruel Light
Hidden away and decaying for decades, a cryptic mural holds deadly clues in this intoxicating mix of art, murder, and buried secrets, perfect for fans of Simone St. James.
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
Inspector Scott ‘Mac’ MacGowan is convinced the mural is a cryptic confession that will solve the cold case—but it’s looking more and more like someone will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past. Together, Mac and Annora struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, in order to provide closure to surviving family members.
Toxic mold obscures blood-chilling clues, and the painting has an eerie life of its own. Annora is haunted by what she reveals, by the dirt she digs up, by her own tragic losses, and perhaps even by the young victim herself. As she closes in on the killer, the killer inches ever closer to her, and she will come face to face with a brutal truth: some murderers never come clean.
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
Inspector Scott ‘Mac’ MacGowan is convinced the mural is a cryptic confession that will solve the cold case—but it’s looking more and more like someone will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past. Together, Mac and Annora struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, in order to provide closure to surviving family members.
Toxic mold obscures blood-chilling clues, and the painting has an eerie life of its own. Annora is haunted by what she reveals, by the dirt she digs up, by her own tragic losses, and perhaps even by the young victim herself. As she closes in on the killer, the killer inches ever closer to her, and she will come face to face with a brutal truth: some murderers never come clean.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2023
18 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
January 10, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Ontario
Publication date ~ April 4, 2023
Est page Count ~ 279
Audio length ~ 7 hours 53 minutes
Narrator ~ Nan McNamara
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ brutal child murder, references to suicide
Annora & Mac are working together on a case. She is an art restorer and he is the detective.
I'm going to plop this one in the middle. I am not super big on art, but restoration is pretty fascinating and I liked how it was used in correlation with solving a crime. I liked it well enough, but my ears started to wander in the slow moving middle. I did enjoy the surprise ending and the cover is pretty. And there's a little bit of romance to go along with the mystery and paranormal elements.
Narration notes:
A job well done
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Ontario
Publication date ~ April 4, 2023
Est page Count ~ 279
Audio length ~ 7 hours 53 minutes
Narrator ~ Nan McNamara
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ brutal child murder, references to suicide
Annora & Mac are working together on a case. She is an art restorer and he is the detective.
I'm going to plop this one in the middle. I am not super big on art, but restoration is pretty fascinating and I liked how it was used in correlation with solving a crime. I liked it well enough, but my ears started to wander in the slow moving middle. I did enjoy the surprise ending and the cover is pretty. And there's a little bit of romance to go along with the mystery and paranormal elements.
Narration notes:
A job well done
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
April 8, 2023
A Cruel Light by Cyndi Macmillan was a suspenseful and compelling mystery thriller. It was Cyndi MacMillan’s debut novel and it incorporated the elements of mystery, the supernatural and romance. Although the romance element was not essential to the plot, I believe it added an extra dimension to the plot and made the protagonist more believable. A Cruel Light took place in a small town in Canada. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Nan McNamara whose narration was quite engaging and very well done.
Annora Garde was an art conservator that traveled around the globe restoring art pieces. She loved her profession and as a single woman it suited her. Annora had experienced a devastating trauma when she was younger that had come to influence her to live her life as a single woman. All these years later, Annora still experienced repercussions from the trauma she experienced all those years ago. When Annora’s long time friend and mayor of a small Canadian town asked for Annora’s expertise and help in restoring a long buried mural, Annora acquiesced.
Annora soon found out that the mural had been discovered in the town’s parsonage that was being restored. During the restoration, a large mural was unveiled. It had been covered up for decades and now showed signs of mold and other debris that had to be removed. The people in this town were shocked to see the image of a young girl that had been murdered so long ago on the mural. An indigenous man had been charged with the girl’s murder but was recently acquitted of the charges. If the wrong person had been convicted for the murder, could the real killer still exist and be out there somewhere?
Annora had been brought onto the case to uncover the mural and reveal any clues the mural might hold about the victim and her murderer. Police detective, Mac MacGowan, worked closely with Annora. As she revealed new clues, Annora shared her findings with Mac. Soon it was pretty obvious that Mac and Annora started to develop feeling for one another. Mac also had a secret he was harboring, though. Would Mac and Annora be able to work through their secrets and trauma to allow their feelings for each other to grow and progress? As Annora worked on restoring the mural, someone was trying very hard to prevent her from finishing the task. Would Annora be able to discover enough clues from the mural in time to solve the mystery of what had happened to the young girl all those years ago or would someone successfully be able to prevent her?
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of A Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan. It was so engaging and I really enjoyed how Cyndi MacMillan used a mural as the backdrop for this mystery. How clever and creative! I really liked Annora’s character. She was clever, determined and vulnerable in just the right ways. A Cruel Light was well written and fast paced. I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the Canadian landscape Cyndi MacMillan provided throughout the book. She made it easy to visualize the surroundings. The ending was perfect. I was kept guessing throughout the entire book and had not suspected the ending at all. My favorite kind of mystery is one that keeps me guessing and this one definitely did. The ending was a complete surprise for me. I really enjoyed A Cruel Light and l am looking forward to reading more books by Cyndi MacMillan. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Annora Garde was an art conservator that traveled around the globe restoring art pieces. She loved her profession and as a single woman it suited her. Annora had experienced a devastating trauma when she was younger that had come to influence her to live her life as a single woman. All these years later, Annora still experienced repercussions from the trauma she experienced all those years ago. When Annora’s long time friend and mayor of a small Canadian town asked for Annora’s expertise and help in restoring a long buried mural, Annora acquiesced.
Annora soon found out that the mural had been discovered in the town’s parsonage that was being restored. During the restoration, a large mural was unveiled. It had been covered up for decades and now showed signs of mold and other debris that had to be removed. The people in this town were shocked to see the image of a young girl that had been murdered so long ago on the mural. An indigenous man had been charged with the girl’s murder but was recently acquitted of the charges. If the wrong person had been convicted for the murder, could the real killer still exist and be out there somewhere?
Annora had been brought onto the case to uncover the mural and reveal any clues the mural might hold about the victim and her murderer. Police detective, Mac MacGowan, worked closely with Annora. As she revealed new clues, Annora shared her findings with Mac. Soon it was pretty obvious that Mac and Annora started to develop feeling for one another. Mac also had a secret he was harboring, though. Would Mac and Annora be able to work through their secrets and trauma to allow their feelings for each other to grow and progress? As Annora worked on restoring the mural, someone was trying very hard to prevent her from finishing the task. Would Annora be able to discover enough clues from the mural in time to solve the mystery of what had happened to the young girl all those years ago or would someone successfully be able to prevent her?
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of A Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan. It was so engaging and I really enjoyed how Cyndi MacMillan used a mural as the backdrop for this mystery. How clever and creative! I really liked Annora’s character. She was clever, determined and vulnerable in just the right ways. A Cruel Light was well written and fast paced. I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the Canadian landscape Cyndi MacMillan provided throughout the book. She made it easy to visualize the surroundings. The ending was perfect. I was kept guessing throughout the entire book and had not suspected the ending at all. My favorite kind of mystery is one that keeps me guessing and this one definitely did. The ending was a complete surprise for me. I really enjoyed A Cruel Light and l am looking forward to reading more books by Cyndi MacMillan. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 7, 2023
I'm usually all for fast-paced novels, but this was too fast. There wasn't enough time for development or depth, making the experience less immersive and unbelievable. Also, there was too much telling and not enough showing.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Cyndi MacMillan, and Dreamscape Media
for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Cyndi MacMillan, and Dreamscape Media
for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
January 1, 2023
This is a gothic mystery taking place in a small town in Canada. The local Chief is convinced that a cold case - the mysterious death of a beloved young girl can be solved based on a newly found secret mural. Annora is a master art restorer and is called in by her college friend, the town's mayor to uncover the rest of the mural.
Not everyone wants Annora there - many of the town was employed to renovate the building that the mural was found in. Every day she spends working is one less day they are paid. More mysterious, are some of the locals who are uncomfortable with what she may uncover in the mural. There is a series of arsons in the area that are taking distracting the town, but the deaths begin to pile up. Can Annora get to the bottom of it before she is next?
This was a really fun mystery. I loved learning about the area, the small town and Annora's profession. I would definitely read a next in the series! #CrookedLaneBooks #ACruelLight #CyndiMacmillan
Not everyone wants Annora there - many of the town was employed to renovate the building that the mural was found in. Every day she spends working is one less day they are paid. More mysterious, are some of the locals who are uncomfortable with what she may uncover in the mural. There is a series of arsons in the area that are taking distracting the town, but the deaths begin to pile up. Can Annora get to the bottom of it before she is next?
This was a really fun mystery. I loved learning about the area, the small town and Annora's profession. I would definitely read a next in the series! #CrookedLaneBooks #ACruelLight #CyndiMacmillan
March 24, 2023
3.5⭐ Rounded down.
This has a very cool plot, a gorgeous cover and a fantastic title.
The story itself is a bit bogged down. The author tried to incorporate too many ideas and it pulled from the actual story.
An art restoration revealing clues in a murder? This is already quite fascinating.
All the "extra" side plots were not necessary. Most prominently unnecessary (actually super distracting and kind of annoying) was the love story woven into this detective procedural.
It did not enrich the story, instead it pulled me out of the plot and losing track of the important details trying to figure out why this love match was included. It did not fit and made for some weird scenes. The two MCs should have been colleagues who maybe enjoy a drink or meal together while discussing the case. The whole dating thing felt forced.
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my DRC.
This has a very cool plot, a gorgeous cover and a fantastic title.
The story itself is a bit bogged down. The author tried to incorporate too many ideas and it pulled from the actual story.
An art restoration revealing clues in a murder? This is already quite fascinating.
All the "extra" side plots were not necessary. Most prominently unnecessary (actually super distracting and kind of annoying) was the love story woven into this detective procedural.
It did not enrich the story, instead it pulled me out of the plot and losing track of the important details trying to figure out why this love match was included. It did not fit and made for some weird scenes. The two MCs should have been colleagues who maybe enjoy a drink or meal together while discussing the case. The whole dating thing felt forced.
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my DRC.
March 17, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator of this book did a great job. She was very easy to listen to and I found myself getting lost in her voice. The story itself started out strong and then slowly dwindled to the unbelievable for me. I liked the premise of a girl commissioned to restore an old mural and getting wrapped up in a decades old murder but that supernatural aspects of the book were a bit much. The characters also seemed to be moving at a breakneck pace and I wish I would have gotten a little more in depth backstory for them.
The narrator of this book did a great job. She was very easy to listen to and I found myself getting lost in her voice. The story itself started out strong and then slowly dwindled to the unbelievable for me. I liked the premise of a girl commissioned to restore an old mural and getting wrapped up in a decades old murder but that supernatural aspects of the book were a bit much. The characters also seemed to be moving at a breakneck pace and I wish I would have gotten a little more in depth backstory for them.
November 1, 2022
I loved that this book blended together elements from mystery, thriller, romance, and paranormal writing in one intriguing story. The process of a long hidden mural being painstakingly cleaned to reveal its clues beneath years of mold and dirt, was such a unique way for the mystery to unfold. There is a ton of action that takes place, making this book a page turner I didn't want to put down. Annora and Mac are both struggling with trauma from their pasts as they work together to find the killer. Great reveal of the killer at the end that I didn't guess. This was the perfect fall read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc.
January 7, 2023
I enjoyed reading "A Cruel Light" so much that I read it twice and enjoyed it, even more, the second time. From the beautiful cover to all of the blended gothic mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance elements, to the pacing, characters, appeals to our senses, and even the setting, I loved it.
Protagonist Annora Garde is a freelance art conservator who is called to Bliss River to help solve a mystery. 8-year-old Rosemary was killed years ago and the head police officer, Mac, believes that clues to discover her killer lie beneath a recently discovered mural that’s covered in mould and dirt. Cyndi Macmillan keeps the plot moving along at a great pace. Each character seems real, multi-dimensional, good and bad. She reveals just a little at a time about each character’s past making me want to know them better, and I felt sad and missed those characters when the book ended.
This book is beautifully written ... every word is carefully crafted and sometimes even poetic. I loved the author’s word choices; when curled up on the couch reading, my family would look at me when I'd say a phrase or sentence out loud; I loved the way MacMillan strung those words together. And I learned several new words along the way too.
I highly recommend “A Cruel Light” to readers who enjoy a crime story with lots of details, real facts about real places in the world and references to various art forms (fine art, film, literature, music). I learned a lot about art restoration by reading this book. Cyndi MacMillan does her homework and all those details draw the reader in. The setting is in Northern Ontario with beautiful descriptions of the wilderness and nature, wildlife, and even indigenous pictograms. Her descriptions are placed beautifully in the story. The plot moves along but I didn’t want to read too quickly as I savoured those descriptions. The pacing is great; the dialogue has lots of fun banter. There are many diverse characters of all ages. Annora is strong, elegant, witty and playful. While the setting is in a small town, Annora has travelled the world and the author even sprinkles in those details about her life in other places. I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to read more about Annora Garde in a sequel where she works her restorative art magic in another town or city.
I give this original novel a 5/5; I haven't read anything quite like it. I absolutely love the premise of an art restorer solving a mystery. Fittingly, even the book cover is a work of art with lots of symbolism. It fits the story perfectly. Even though it's fiction, the author sprinkles in just the right amount of real facts. And, I loved how the light/dark of the painting mirrors the text. Just like the layers of paint in the mural, there are so many "layers" here in the story. Pick up a copy and you won’t be disappointed.
Protagonist Annora Garde is a freelance art conservator who is called to Bliss River to help solve a mystery. 8-year-old Rosemary was killed years ago and the head police officer, Mac, believes that clues to discover her killer lie beneath a recently discovered mural that’s covered in mould and dirt. Cyndi Macmillan keeps the plot moving along at a great pace. Each character seems real, multi-dimensional, good and bad. She reveals just a little at a time about each character’s past making me want to know them better, and I felt sad and missed those characters when the book ended.
This book is beautifully written ... every word is carefully crafted and sometimes even poetic. I loved the author’s word choices; when curled up on the couch reading, my family would look at me when I'd say a phrase or sentence out loud; I loved the way MacMillan strung those words together. And I learned several new words along the way too.
I highly recommend “A Cruel Light” to readers who enjoy a crime story with lots of details, real facts about real places in the world and references to various art forms (fine art, film, literature, music). I learned a lot about art restoration by reading this book. Cyndi MacMillan does her homework and all those details draw the reader in. The setting is in Northern Ontario with beautiful descriptions of the wilderness and nature, wildlife, and even indigenous pictograms. Her descriptions are placed beautifully in the story. The plot moves along but I didn’t want to read too quickly as I savoured those descriptions. The pacing is great; the dialogue has lots of fun banter. There are many diverse characters of all ages. Annora is strong, elegant, witty and playful. While the setting is in a small town, Annora has travelled the world and the author even sprinkles in those details about her life in other places. I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to read more about Annora Garde in a sequel where she works her restorative art magic in another town or city.
I give this original novel a 5/5; I haven't read anything quite like it. I absolutely love the premise of an art restorer solving a mystery. Fittingly, even the book cover is a work of art with lots of symbolism. It fits the story perfectly. Even though it's fiction, the author sprinkles in just the right amount of real facts. And, I loved how the light/dark of the painting mirrors the text. Just like the layers of paint in the mural, there are so many "layers" here in the story. Pick up a copy and you won’t be disappointed.
March 16, 2023
3.75 stars
This is an intriguing mystery because so much of the content gets delivered in an unconventional way: through a mural!
Annora comes in to uncover the mysteries held within the mural and - ideally - that will include solving a crime. Because this crime has an obvious connection to Annora's past experiences, she is even more impacted by this project than the average expert might be. The measured reveals from the mural and ties to Annora's background are accomplished so well here.
While there are thrilling moments, this feels much more squarely like a mystery than a mystery/thriller for me. It's nicely paced regardless of its calmer than the typical thriller vibe.
The romantic inclusion did not totally work for me and was a bit distracting at times, but overall, I enjoyed the listen (I recommend the audiobook) and look forward to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is an intriguing mystery because so much of the content gets delivered in an unconventional way: through a mural!
Annora comes in to uncover the mysteries held within the mural and - ideally - that will include solving a crime. Because this crime has an obvious connection to Annora's past experiences, she is even more impacted by this project than the average expert might be. The measured reveals from the mural and ties to Annora's background are accomplished so well here.
While there are thrilling moments, this feels much more squarely like a mystery than a mystery/thriller for me. It's nicely paced regardless of its calmer than the typical thriller vibe.
The romantic inclusion did not totally work for me and was a bit distracting at times, but overall, I enjoyed the listen (I recommend the audiobook) and look forward to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 27, 2022
Okay I admit that I partially requested this one on @netgalley because of the gorgeous cover, I mean how can you see it and not want to read it? Thankfully I was not let down by the pretty cover, and the book was quite enjoyable as well.
Annora Garde is an art conservator who has been hired by Mac MacGowan to clean a cryptic painting that may have clues to a young girls murder that occurred many years ago. The painting is covered in toxic mold and cleaning it is delicate work, lucking Annora is one of the best. However, as she begins to clean the painting brings up things from Annoras past and she is placed in danger. As strange things start to take all over town, Mac and Annora team up to solve not only the murder of the girl, but also of the recent crimes. Will they be able to escape injury and solve these crimes? Or will they fall victim as well?
Something that intrigued me with this book was an art conservationist as the main character. I’d never read about art conservation and it was intriguing to me. I found Annora to be a well written character and I enjoyed the romance between her and Mac. I love a romance thrown into a thriller. While this story was enjoyable it just lacked something I can’t quite place my finger on it. It wasn’t a glaring problem and overall I did enjoy the story, just not a wow book, but an alright book. I gave this a 3.5 out of 5 stars and would recommend you check it out next spring, April 4th, 2023.
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the publisher, @crocokedlanebooks, and @netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
Annora Garde is an art conservator who has been hired by Mac MacGowan to clean a cryptic painting that may have clues to a young girls murder that occurred many years ago. The painting is covered in toxic mold and cleaning it is delicate work, lucking Annora is one of the best. However, as she begins to clean the painting brings up things from Annoras past and she is placed in danger. As strange things start to take all over town, Mac and Annora team up to solve not only the murder of the girl, but also of the recent crimes. Will they be able to escape injury and solve these crimes? Or will they fall victim as well?
Something that intrigued me with this book was an art conservationist as the main character. I’d never read about art conservation and it was intriguing to me. I found Annora to be a well written character and I enjoyed the romance between her and Mac. I love a romance thrown into a thriller. While this story was enjoyable it just lacked something I can’t quite place my finger on it. It wasn’t a glaring problem and overall I did enjoy the story, just not a wow book, but an alright book. I gave this a 3.5 out of 5 stars and would recommend you check it out next spring, April 4th, 2023.
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the publisher, @crocokedlanebooks, and @netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
October 24, 2022
Art conservator Annora Garde was called to the small town of bliss river to restore a painting of a girl named Rosemary. Rosemary was murdered a day after her 8th birthday. Mac told Annora that the killer painted himself in the painting and she has to restore the painting to find out who murdered this little girl.
Annora had been staying at the parsonage while she was restoring this painting. She was starting to not feel well and fell asleep. Annora was dreaming of Rosemary who was telling her to wake up. Annora woke up and she could barely breathe so she called 911 and the 911 operator told her she needed to get out of the house now.
After Annora’s stay at the hospital, Mac told Annora that she was not staying at the parsonage by herself anymore. She was to stay with either Lilith and her husband or with Mac and his daughter. Annora tried to say no but Mac said it was settled. Max even went to the parsonage to get her clothes while she slept.
Annora went back to work at the parsonage after thanksgiving. Annora went to work on the painting she thought she would find something but she hadn’t and she got frustrated and mac showed up. Annora worked on the mural and she found out that there was someone who had witnessed the murder of Rosemary.
I didn’t expect the killer to be who it was. I really liked this book. I didn’t want it to end. The story was well written and I devoured it from the very first page I was completely hooked. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Thank you crooked lane books and netgalley for letting me read and review this book. It was amazing!!!
Annora had been staying at the parsonage while she was restoring this painting. She was starting to not feel well and fell asleep. Annora was dreaming of Rosemary who was telling her to wake up. Annora woke up and she could barely breathe so she called 911 and the 911 operator told her she needed to get out of the house now.
After Annora’s stay at the hospital, Mac told Annora that she was not staying at the parsonage by herself anymore. She was to stay with either Lilith and her husband or with Mac and his daughter. Annora tried to say no but Mac said it was settled. Max even went to the parsonage to get her clothes while she slept.
Annora went back to work at the parsonage after thanksgiving. Annora went to work on the painting she thought she would find something but she hadn’t and she got frustrated and mac showed up. Annora worked on the mural and she found out that there was someone who had witnessed the murder of Rosemary.
I didn’t expect the killer to be who it was. I really liked this book. I didn’t want it to end. The story was well written and I devoured it from the very first page I was completely hooked. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Thank you crooked lane books and netgalley for letting me read and review this book. It was amazing!!!
May 17, 2023
Hidden away and decaying for decades, a cryptic mural holds deadly clues in this intoxicating mix of art, murder, and buried secrets, perfect for fans of Simone St. James.
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
This had quite a few elements to it. While to me I felt it was cosy mystery, it also incorporated romance, some supernatural elements and some graphic crime scenes. The writing was great and the overall premise of bringing a killer to justice from a cold case intrigued me. Unfortunately the lack of character development and too many subplots lost me. That said, I’m looking forward to what this author has out next.
Many thanks to @librofm for advanced listening copy
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
This had quite a few elements to it. While to me I felt it was cosy mystery, it also incorporated romance, some supernatural elements and some graphic crime scenes. The writing was great and the overall premise of bringing a killer to justice from a cold case intrigued me. Unfortunately the lack of character development and too many subplots lost me. That said, I’m looking forward to what this author has out next.
Many thanks to @librofm for advanced listening copy
April 30, 2023
I got an audio copy of this one via NetGalley so thank you.
I think it was a decent book but it didn't wow me. Couldn't connect with the main character and although the mural premise was haunting the whole plot just wasn't interesting enough and I probably had it figured out about a third of the way into it. Overall I just wasn't interested in it enough and it might have just been me and not necessarily a reflection on the book itself.
I think it was a decent book but it didn't wow me. Couldn't connect with the main character and although the mural premise was haunting the whole plot just wasn't interesting enough and I probably had it figured out about a third of the way into it. Overall I just wasn't interested in it enough and it might have just been me and not necessarily a reflection on the book itself.
April 15, 2023
Set in a sleepy town full of secrets, an art restoration project becomes more than the main character bargained for. She, too, has hidden secrets that strain to make this job even harder. As the reader follows her project and gets to know the townspeople, things start to go awry. Part mystery, part romance, with a touch of the paranormal, I enjoyed the fast pace and interesting premise. Most exciting of all, I did not predict the outcome! A solid debut.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and author Cyndi MacMillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. "A Cruel Light" was published on April 4, 2023!
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and author Cyndi MacMillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. "A Cruel Light" was published on April 4, 2023!
October 13, 2023
Trigger Warning: Child Death.
Good writing. Good atmosphere. Great characters. I really enjoyed this read during October. The plot was interesting and engrossing. I enjoyed the author's writing a lot and looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table next.
Good writing. Good atmosphere. Great characters. I really enjoyed this read during October. The plot was interesting and engrossing. I enjoyed the author's writing a lot and looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table next.
May 15, 2023
3-1/2 stars
Book Shelves: female protagonist, women centered, Canada, audiobook, 2023, thriller, paranormal, art, art restoration, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley
I enjoyed this thriller and I think it was a terrific debut novel. There were many, many parts to this interesting thematic story, such as a murder, art restoration, small town interests, a budding romance, and paranormal activities.
It begins with a small town Canadian village mayor calling her friend, a professional and well-known art restorer, Annora Garde. Her job is to clean up an old, decaying painting/mural that was recently discovered and now covered in mold to see what, if any, secrets it tells on a cold case murder.
The inspector, Scott MacGowan, called Mac, of the local police is sure that the painting will help solve the murder case of a young girl, and he becomes a good friend and bit of a romantic interest for Annora.
The story takes you on many interesting twists and turns, but almost to the point of there being too much of everything and stalling in the middle. I wish it would've stuck to fewer characters and I did enjoy the tension and threats that Annora and Mac faced by a probable and local killer. It is still a very good read and I look forward to more by this author.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author, Cyndi MacMillan, for the advanced ARC audiobook copy.
Book Shelves: female protagonist, women centered, Canada, audiobook, 2023, thriller, paranormal, art, art restoration, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley
I enjoyed this thriller and I think it was a terrific debut novel. There were many, many parts to this interesting thematic story, such as a murder, art restoration, small town interests, a budding romance, and paranormal activities.
It begins with a small town Canadian village mayor calling her friend, a professional and well-known art restorer, Annora Garde. Her job is to clean up an old, decaying painting/mural that was recently discovered and now covered in mold to see what, if any, secrets it tells on a cold case murder.
The inspector, Scott MacGowan, called Mac, of the local police is sure that the painting will help solve the murder case of a young girl, and he becomes a good friend and bit of a romantic interest for Annora.
The story takes you on many interesting twists and turns, but almost to the point of there being too much of everything and stalling in the middle. I wish it would've stuck to fewer characters and I did enjoy the tension and threats that Annora and Mac faced by a probable and local killer. It is still a very good read and I look forward to more by this author.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author, Cyndi MacMillan, for the advanced ARC audiobook copy.
September 25, 2022
Cruel Light
Cyndi Macmillan
Thriller
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was unlike anything I have ever read. There was a romance, and some paranormal aspects, it was full of suspense and thrills and just a great read. I enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was impeccable. Fascinating story and I loved how the author used an art conservator. I have never read anything with that in it. I haven’t read anything where the plot included murder and art and how art is used in a case to uncover a killer. It was very captivating and I enjoyed it all the way through. I didn’t feel any lulls and was never bored, I found it too interesting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
Cyndi Macmillan
Thriller
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was unlike anything I have ever read. There was a romance, and some paranormal aspects, it was full of suspense and thrills and just a great read. I enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was impeccable. Fascinating story and I loved how the author used an art conservator. I have never read anything with that in it. I haven’t read anything where the plot included murder and art and how art is used in a case to uncover a killer. It was very captivating and I enjoyed it all the way through. I didn’t feel any lulls and was never bored, I found it too interesting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
July 17, 2023
Wow! I loved this! I felt immediately invested in using art to solve a crime and, as an archaeologist, conservation is close to my heart. I loved every part of this and blew through the audiobook in less than 3 days. I loved the mystery, the characters, and even the romance, which isn't distracting at all. Annora is relatable, interesting, and fierce. I'm glad to see that there will be another book with her as lead. Artistic mystery is kind of niche but it is my comfort niche. I highly recommend this one and the audiobook was excellent if that's your jam too. All around a 10/10.
April 13, 2023
A Cruel Light is a really light read, perfect for those that just want a little mystery and romance. It definitely has Lifetime Movie feels to it. I can almost see Brooke Shields as the lead.
Through the whole book, a painting is meticulously cleaned, revealing hidden symbols. Though I thought it was a bit of a stretch at times, those little symbols were clues that helped solve a cold case. I think the drawn out revealing of the clues were meant to be suspenseful, but there were so many of them with really obscure meanings, that it became background noise. Also, someone was setting fires all over town, which was really distracting. Lol
There is a little romance thrown in. Which, in a short amount of time, becomes love. Again, Lifetime Movie stuff. I honestly could have done with out it.
I think this would be a great book for those that enjoy a cozy mystery that is a little bit more then cozy.
October 11, 2023
First of all the cover is gorgeous and the Narrator of this book did a great job. I feel this book had so much potential but in the end, sort of fell flat for me. This was a slightly confusing police procedural with so many events happening within a short time period and a bit stalling in the middle to the final revelation.
I got an audio copy of this one via NetGalley so thank you, and Dreamscape Media.
April 6, 2023
Thriller writers, his is how its done! I really loved this book! The funny thing is that the story really isn’t all THAT original for the genre, but the characters are actually pretty likable and the story kept my interest. Its just overall good writing and it truly made all the difference. I believe this is a series and I will probably be following along. I like a little mystery here and there. This wasn’t a magical book book bordered on some supernatural moments in the best ways. Not an unforgettable novel, but definitely an enjoyable one! If you like crime mysteries, this is for you!
April 4, 2023
Title: A Cruel Light
Author: Cyndi MacMillan
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars but on Goodreads I rounded down to 3
📚Synopsis
✨Annora is an expert in art restoration and jumps at the opportunity to demonstrate her talents when her long time friend invites her to be involved in solving a decades long homicide. During the renovation of an old parsonage, a painting is discovered and the subject of the painting is the young female homicide victim. Local police are interested in restoring the portrait to its original condition in hopes of uncovering clues of the little girl, long passed. As Annora arrives in the small community things begin to happen very quickly; someone replaces her cleaning materials and supplies with paint thinner - surely to tactic to destroy her restorative efforts. Annora also finds herself the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning and a fire bomb - someone is working hard at making sure Annora is not able to continue with her restorative efforts. Why? What secrets does the painting hold? And who is behind these efforts to stop Annora at all cost?
📚Thoughts/Recommendations
✨While the premise sounded intriguing, it was a swing and a miss for me. Too many events happen within a short time period making conversations and situations seem rushed. For Annora to be fairly new to the area, the level of comfort with which she interacts and inserts herself into the community felt off to me. I appreciate action happening quickly in a story but not when it means character development is sacrificed. I felt I had too little time to become invested in the characters to care one way or the other when events began to unfold.
That being said, I am aware that this very well could be someone’s favorite book or listen for the year. So for those who aren’t bothered the things listed above, I would recommend this for those who enjoy romance, mystery, a little gory and graphic details about crime scenes mixed with elements of the supernatural. It seems to hit a couple of different genres so I’m sure there is a large audience who will appreciate the book.
📚I would like to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to listen to the novel right before its release in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Cyndi MacMillan
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars but on Goodreads I rounded down to 3
📚Synopsis
✨Annora is an expert in art restoration and jumps at the opportunity to demonstrate her talents when her long time friend invites her to be involved in solving a decades long homicide. During the renovation of an old parsonage, a painting is discovered and the subject of the painting is the young female homicide victim. Local police are interested in restoring the portrait to its original condition in hopes of uncovering clues of the little girl, long passed. As Annora arrives in the small community things begin to happen very quickly; someone replaces her cleaning materials and supplies with paint thinner - surely to tactic to destroy her restorative efforts. Annora also finds herself the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning and a fire bomb - someone is working hard at making sure Annora is not able to continue with her restorative efforts. Why? What secrets does the painting hold? And who is behind these efforts to stop Annora at all cost?
📚Thoughts/Recommendations
✨While the premise sounded intriguing, it was a swing and a miss for me. Too many events happen within a short time period making conversations and situations seem rushed. For Annora to be fairly new to the area, the level of comfort with which she interacts and inserts herself into the community felt off to me. I appreciate action happening quickly in a story but not when it means character development is sacrificed. I felt I had too little time to become invested in the characters to care one way or the other when events began to unfold.
That being said, I am aware that this very well could be someone’s favorite book or listen for the year. So for those who aren’t bothered the things listed above, I would recommend this for those who enjoy romance, mystery, a little gory and graphic details about crime scenes mixed with elements of the supernatural. It seems to hit a couple of different genres so I’m sure there is a large audience who will appreciate the book.
📚I would like to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to listen to the novel right before its release in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2023
This was a slightly confusing police procedural. Annora is an art conservator who is commissioned to restore a painting the police believe hold the secret to a child murder from decades earlier. As Annora gets to work, crazy shit starts happening and someone is determined to keep the secret buried. It was fast paced and a little hard to follow the story. By the time the killer was revealed, I didn’t entirely remember who she was. Overall, it wasn’t a terrible listen on audio.
Of course Annora is swept off her feet by the charming lead detective that she ends up staying with after attempts on her life. The two work together to solve the mystery of the crime.
It wasn’t entirely clear to me how this painting came to be, or claimed to be discovered, or how anyone knew it held the answer to the murder.
Thank you for Crooked Lane Books for sending me a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Of course Annora is swept off her feet by the charming lead detective that she ends up staying with after attempts on her life. The two work together to solve the mystery of the crime.
It wasn’t entirely clear to me how this painting came to be, or claimed to be discovered, or how anyone knew it held the answer to the murder.
Thank you for Crooked Lane Books for sending me a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of those books that had so much potential but in the end, sort of fell flat. The premise behind the cold case murder and bringing a killer to justice using art restoration was super interesting and a major selling point for me to read this book. The writing was great, it was fast paced and kept you on your toes but it got to a point where it was too much. The side plot points began to overpower the main plot of the book and though I do like a novel (especially a mystery/thriller) to be complex, this was bordering on the edge of too convoluted. I would have preferred some of these subplots to be less prominent because they really did take your attention away from the mystery and in my opinion, it made the book as a whole just a bit too long.
This was one of those books that had so much potential but in the end, sort of fell flat. The premise behind the cold case murder and bringing a killer to justice using art restoration was super interesting and a major selling point for me to read this book. The writing was great, it was fast paced and kept you on your toes but it got to a point where it was too much. The side plot points began to overpower the main plot of the book and though I do like a novel (especially a mystery/thriller) to be complex, this was bordering on the edge of too convoluted. I would have preferred some of these subplots to be less prominent because they really did take your attention away from the mystery and in my opinion, it made the book as a whole just a bit too long.
April 1, 2023
What a ride! I couldn’t put the darn thing down!
We are following a single pov on the hunt to solve a 30 year old cold case using clues someone may have left behind on a mural in an abandoned home.
Though the character traits were vague and shallow, MacMillian more than made up for it with how descriptive she was with the characters surroundings. She grabs the reader in by painting a beautiful and sometimes very gruesome picture of what the character is seeing or experiencing. It’s like I can smell the Lavender perfume or see the light shining through the window just so. This paired very well with the thriller/murder mystery/romance/paranormal plot line she built. I was hooked right from the beginning.
Man McNamara did an amazing job at bringing our leading lady, Annora, to life.
This is a very fast paced storyline. I am very excited to see what other books MacMillian has in store for us.
We are following a single pov on the hunt to solve a 30 year old cold case using clues someone may have left behind on a mural in an abandoned home.
Though the character traits were vague and shallow, MacMillian more than made up for it with how descriptive she was with the characters surroundings. She grabs the reader in by painting a beautiful and sometimes very gruesome picture of what the character is seeing or experiencing. It’s like I can smell the Lavender perfume or see the light shining through the window just so. This paired very well with the thriller/murder mystery/romance/paranormal plot line she built. I was hooked right from the beginning.
Man McNamara did an amazing job at bringing our leading lady, Annora, to life.
This is a very fast paced storyline. I am very excited to see what other books MacMillian has in store for us.
July 17, 2022
had the privilege of reading this before it went to publisher, Cyndi is going to fast become your favourite author, Without giving anything away, this book has everything you are looking for in a romantic mystery with a heck of a lot of extra trivia thrown in , Buy it , you won't regret it
April 29, 2023
An interesting concept that just really missed the mark for me. The story would have been better without the random, and frankly super weird, romance. I almost added to my DNF but powered through 🤷🏽♀️
March 31, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to the audio of A Cruel Light by Cyndi ManMillan.
A young girl was brutally killed, and the killer walked free for years. There appeared to be no clues… until a time-ravaged painting of the deceased was discovered during renovations of the old parsonage. The Inspector, Scott “Mac” MacGowan calls in Conservator Annora Garde to clean the painting and uncover the hidden clues to help put her soul to rest.
The book has blended all my favorite things (mystery, thriller, paranormal) and put them into an interesting story. Annora is a strong, independent female who has traveled the world and worked on various commissions, but when she takes on the painting of Rosemary, she never anticipated what would happen. The killer had been so close and watching and would do anything to keep their secret- including killing again. “Mac” is a local inspector and single father and quickly finds himself rescuing Annora more than once. The reveal at the end takes you by a surprise, which I am always grateful for.
There is a lot of action and suspense in this book that I just wanted to keep listening and Nan McNamara does such an amazing job narrating the book that I was instantly drawn into the book.
A young girl was brutally killed, and the killer walked free for years. There appeared to be no clues… until a time-ravaged painting of the deceased was discovered during renovations of the old parsonage. The Inspector, Scott “Mac” MacGowan calls in Conservator Annora Garde to clean the painting and uncover the hidden clues to help put her soul to rest.
The book has blended all my favorite things (mystery, thriller, paranormal) and put them into an interesting story. Annora is a strong, independent female who has traveled the world and worked on various commissions, but when she takes on the painting of Rosemary, she never anticipated what would happen. The killer had been so close and watching and would do anything to keep their secret- including killing again. “Mac” is a local inspector and single father and quickly finds himself rescuing Annora more than once. The reveal at the end takes you by a surprise, which I am always grateful for.
There is a lot of action and suspense in this book that I just wanted to keep listening and Nan McNamara does such an amazing job narrating the book that I was instantly drawn into the book.
April 20, 2023
I enjoyed this delightful narrative about an art restorationist who plays a key role in uncovering the truth in a decades-old mystery.
April 28, 2023
Audio book narrator was good.
This was a fun and fast paced read. It was an interesting and unique plot.
This was a fun and fast paced read. It was an interesting and unique plot.
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