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Sam Shephard #3
Containment
Detective Constable Sam Shepard knows first-hand the desperation of the scavengers- she's got the scars to prove it. Plus a skull in the sand. And a body pulled from the ocean. The undercurrents from one morning's madness are far-reaching. Who else will be caught in the backwash? Can Sam stem the tide?
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First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 21, 2024
4.5★
Vanda Symon was having some success in her home country of New Zealand with her crime novels, when she decided she would like to go for her PHD and for this reader she disappeared, although she was doing radio programmes and suchlike.
But Dr Symon has a powerhouse fan in Craig Sisterson, New Zealand crime fiction's biggest fan (and now an author himself). Sisterson gave the publisher of Orenda Books one of Symon's books and the rest is history. Or at least, a good leg up in Europe!
I'm guessing Symon is or has been editing her books for the European market, as the feisty Detective Constable Sam Shephard is a very Kiwi heroine and my (NZ) copy has a lot of Kiwi expressions - some like crib (holiday cottage) are only used in the South Island. It may be too much for foreign readers.When Symons writes about Port Chalmers and Dunedin (which I do know and love) and Aramoana (which i only know because of the Aramoana Massacre) I feel like I am walking along side Sam.
The looters at the start of the story make me think of the George Floyd riots in the States. (Pure coincidence this read came up now. Because of Lockdown I've had this library book for a couple of months, so I don't think the library would allow me to renew it) The scene setting was great.
Most of the story was too, but still think Symon puts a lot of her own opinions in Sam's mouth. For example,Sam's opinions of Otago student events the Toga Parade and the Undy 500 - cause of more riots) certainly sound like that of an older woman, as do Sam's judgemental remarks on tattoos.
These minor failings - slow the story down, but don't derail it. there is also quite a bit - always - about Sam's personal life. Reminds me of Sue Grafton but Symon is a far better writer. However, I still don't like her short chapters and think the story would flow better if the chapter numbers were halved
The ending was balls to the walls excitement! Symon put everything into her writing there. I loved it!
The only Symon I haven't read is her fourth Sam book
I''m going to get to this one as soon as possible. For all my carping, Symon is one of the best authors I have found for introducing a kiwi flavour into her work. This was a great book for my personal challenge to read more books by New Zealand writers.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
Vanda Symon was having some success in her home country of New Zealand with her crime novels, when she decided she would like to go for her PHD and for this reader she disappeared, although she was doing radio programmes and suchlike.
But Dr Symon has a powerhouse fan in Craig Sisterson, New Zealand crime fiction's biggest fan (and now an author himself). Sisterson gave the publisher of Orenda Books one of Symon's books and the rest is history. Or at least, a good leg up in Europe!
I'm guessing Symon is or has been editing her books for the European market, as the feisty Detective Constable Sam Shephard is a very Kiwi heroine and my (NZ) copy has a lot of Kiwi expressions - some like crib (holiday cottage) are only used in the South Island. It may be too much for foreign readers.When Symons writes about Port Chalmers and Dunedin (which I do know and love) and Aramoana (which i only know because of the Aramoana Massacre) I feel like I am walking along side Sam.
The looters at the start of the story make me think of the George Floyd riots in the States. (Pure coincidence this read came up now. Because of Lockdown I've had this library book for a couple of months, so I don't think the library would allow me to renew it) The scene setting was great.
Most of the story was too, but still think Symon puts a lot of her own opinions in Sam's mouth. For example,Sam's opinions of Otago student events the Toga Parade and the Undy 500 - cause of more riots) certainly sound like that of an older woman, as do Sam's judgemental remarks on tattoos.
These minor failings - slow the story down, but don't derail it. there is also quite a bit - always - about Sam's personal life. Reminds me of Sue Grafton but Symon is a far better writer. However, I still don't like her short chapters and think the story would flow better if the chapter numbers were halved
The ending was balls to the walls excitement! Symon put everything into her writing there. I loved it!
The only Symon I haven't read is her fourth Sam book
I''m going to get to this one as soon as possible. For all my carping, Symon is one of the best authors I have found for introducing a kiwi flavour into her work. This was a great book for my personal challenge to read more books by New Zealand writers.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
March 24, 2020
It seems a quirk of fate to be writing a review of a book entitled Containment given current events around the world, especially since here in the UK we seem to have moved beyond containment of COVID-19. On the other hand, what better way to distract yourself than to immerse yourself in a skilfully plotted and absorbing story.
Containment is the third outing for New Zealand police constable and rookie detective, Sam Shephard. I haven’t read either of the previous books – Overkill and The Ringmaster – but this certainly didn’t affect my enjoyment of Containment. I loved getting to know Sam and her colleagues, such as her mentor, Malcolm Smith (aka ‘Smithy’). Becoming acquainted with her arrogant and misogynist boss, DI Johns (aka ‘Shark Face Super Grump’) was less of a pleasure although it was satisfying when his attempts to belittle her by giving her the grotty jobs don’t always work out as planned. I also liked Sam’s housemate and good friend, Maggie, always ready with a glass of wine or some wise advice (if only Sam would take it).
Sam herself is independent, diligent and has a keen sense of justice which means she’s not averse to breaking the rules where necessary. And, although she may be only five feet tall, she’s tough. As she remarks at one point, “You messed with the wrong girl“. Her struggles to be taken seriously in her professional life are not the only challenges she faces. There are ‘now or never moments’ in her personal life as well, some requiring tough decisions.
Containment has all the features you look for in a great police procedural: details of securing crime scenes, gathering evidence, establishing time of death, tracking down witnesses and interviewing suspects. There are a couple of grisly scenes, such as a post mortem, for those that enjoy that sort of thing, and intriguing use of the science of decomposition. (Sorry if you’re eating while reading this.) The New Zealand setting comes across strongly in the descriptions of landscape and the book introduced me to some new terms such as ‘crib’ and ‘bach’. (In case you’re wondering, a bach – or crib if you’re from New Zealand’s South Island – is a small, usually very modest holiday home or beach house.)
The short chapters help the story zip along and, as Sam and the team close in on the culprit, the tension really builds, especially as it turns out the police are not the only people looking for answers – and they don’t have to follow the rules. I really enjoyed Containment and I’m looking forward to Sam’s next outing and, in particular, how she gets on with her new colleague!
Containment is the third outing for New Zealand police constable and rookie detective, Sam Shephard. I haven’t read either of the previous books – Overkill and The Ringmaster – but this certainly didn’t affect my enjoyment of Containment. I loved getting to know Sam and her colleagues, such as her mentor, Malcolm Smith (aka ‘Smithy’). Becoming acquainted with her arrogant and misogynist boss, DI Johns (aka ‘Shark Face Super Grump’) was less of a pleasure although it was satisfying when his attempts to belittle her by giving her the grotty jobs don’t always work out as planned. I also liked Sam’s housemate and good friend, Maggie, always ready with a glass of wine or some wise advice (if only Sam would take it).
Sam herself is independent, diligent and has a keen sense of justice which means she’s not averse to breaking the rules where necessary. And, although she may be only five feet tall, she’s tough. As she remarks at one point, “You messed with the wrong girl“. Her struggles to be taken seriously in her professional life are not the only challenges she faces. There are ‘now or never moments’ in her personal life as well, some requiring tough decisions.
Containment has all the features you look for in a great police procedural: details of securing crime scenes, gathering evidence, establishing time of death, tracking down witnesses and interviewing suspects. There are a couple of grisly scenes, such as a post mortem, for those that enjoy that sort of thing, and intriguing use of the science of decomposition. (Sorry if you’re eating while reading this.) The New Zealand setting comes across strongly in the descriptions of landscape and the book introduced me to some new terms such as ‘crib’ and ‘bach’. (In case you’re wondering, a bach – or crib if you’re from New Zealand’s South Island – is a small, usually very modest holiday home or beach house.)
The short chapters help the story zip along and, as Sam and the team close in on the culprit, the tension really builds, especially as it turns out the police are not the only people looking for answers – and they don’t have to follow the rules. I really enjoyed Containment and I’m looking forward to Sam’s next outing and, in particular, how she gets on with her new colleague!
March 13, 2020
Oh my god!! It is true... It is so freaking true... Good things come in small packages. And there cannot be anything better than DC Samantha Shephard. She was fiesty, bold, sensitive, and vulnerable. She was just perfect.
My first book by author Vanda Symon saw me chuckling and smirking at the irreverent dialogues that Sam could come up with. Her banter with partner Smithy was the most fun I'd had the whole day. Yes, there was a ship adrift on the beach with a container open where looters could scavenge as much as they wanted. Yes, there was a skull in one of them followed by assault on Sam. Yes, there was a body found in the waters. And yes, the investigation started amidst all this cacophony of subplots.
But Samantha stood as the shining beacon, guiding me to keep turning the pages. Being a police procedural, it did have the interrogation, breaking into a house and discovering illegal stuff. Suspects were abound and bosses were horrid. But nothing could deter my favourite cop. She was on a roll. Hot and happening was how she came across to me. Not sure if her best friend Maggie or boyfriend Paul would agree to it.
Being at the crossroads in her personal life, her professional one too seemed to be filled with perils. Going against your bosses was never a good idea, unless it was Sam doing it. So it was quite entertaining to see her try to dodge the commitment bullet and hide a few impertinent truths from her superior. I just had to keep saying - You go, girl.
The writing was absolutely brilliant, the humor in it forced me to keep reading, despite the late hour. The setting of the town Dunedin, the characters both good Nad bad, and the short, snappy chapters pulled me into its swirling mist. I actually didn't want to leave the most that was Samantha's life and end the story. Gosh, I sound like a propah fan girl, gushing away like that.
A crime thriller set in a small town of New Zealand, I loved how the investigation took me down its winding lanes. And the ending managed to make me gasp inspite of expecting it to be unexpected. Ah well it was so far left that I hadn't seen hints of it at all.
A brilliant book. I wouldn't expect anything less from Karen and Orenda.
My first book by author Vanda Symon saw me chuckling and smirking at the irreverent dialogues that Sam could come up with. Her banter with partner Smithy was the most fun I'd had the whole day. Yes, there was a ship adrift on the beach with a container open where looters could scavenge as much as they wanted. Yes, there was a skull in one of them followed by assault on Sam. Yes, there was a body found in the waters. And yes, the investigation started amidst all this cacophony of subplots.
But Samantha stood as the shining beacon, guiding me to keep turning the pages. Being a police procedural, it did have the interrogation, breaking into a house and discovering illegal stuff. Suspects were abound and bosses were horrid. But nothing could deter my favourite cop. She was on a roll. Hot and happening was how she came across to me. Not sure if her best friend Maggie or boyfriend Paul would agree to it.
Being at the crossroads in her personal life, her professional one too seemed to be filled with perils. Going against your bosses was never a good idea, unless it was Sam doing it. So it was quite entertaining to see her try to dodge the commitment bullet and hide a few impertinent truths from her superior. I just had to keep saying - You go, girl.
The writing was absolutely brilliant, the humor in it forced me to keep reading, despite the late hour. The setting of the town Dunedin, the characters both good Nad bad, and the short, snappy chapters pulled me into its swirling mist. I actually didn't want to leave the most that was Samantha's life and end the story. Gosh, I sound like a propah fan girl, gushing away like that.
A crime thriller set in a small town of New Zealand, I loved how the investigation took me down its winding lanes. And the ending managed to make me gasp inspite of expecting it to be unexpected. Ah well it was so far left that I hadn't seen hints of it at all.
A brilliant book. I wouldn't expect anything less from Karen and Orenda.
March 1, 2020
Just when you felt like the Crime Fiction genre was becoming over populated with not much variation or uniqueness to the storyline…BANG. Containment. Vanda Symon hits you straight between the eyes for a killer blow. It was a refreshing change to be transported some idyllic. You know what they say – a change is as good as a rest. Aramoana Beach. Just uttering those words feels tranquil. Set the scene. Golden sands, turquoise seas, glittering horizons, the sun beating down on your chest, the warmth between your toes. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? Be prepared to have that dream shattered when a cargo ship blights that landscape. Things get out of control when rational human beings start to loot, start to become violent. Things get out of hand. Oh, but if you try to maintain the law, you get the living crap kicked out of you. Let me introduce to you, Sam Shepherd.
Containment is the building blocks of betrayal and grief. With two deep motivators it is extremely refreshing to have some necessary humour injected into its essence. Sam doesn’t take herself too seriously and I had moments of laughing when I wasn’t sure it was appropriate to do so. The author makes you grapple with the two extremes of devastation and hope.
Sam is a DC with the Dunedin police force. She’s competent, motivated and will do anything to get the job done. She’s a girl after my own heart, she tends to self-sabotage her own life, but the stubbornness is strong in this one. Sometimes all she needs is a good talking to. Brilliant professionally, not so great personally.
The plot was watertight. A body has been discovered off the island, appearances suggests it’s been submerged some time. The body isn’t in good condition and they are going to need some good luck to extract a fingerprint to ID the body. Sam’s ability to rub up her superiors the wrong was as led to this fun excursion. DI Johns is a mean, grumpy old stickler and I’ve found myself growing an ever-increasing distaste of his methods. The troubling relationship was written authentically without forcing the information on the reader.
Containment often felt like a fog descending. The twists kept on creeping up when you least expected it. Little niggles, a finely painted parallel, the author grabs you by the jugular and fights to maintain control. The control the author held over me was immense. A magnet focussed on its target. Try as I may I was never going to put that book down. Containment was an assault on my senses. It was mystifying, and nothing was sugar-coated.
Containment is a lesson in vulnerability and tenacity. Blind alleys to trip you up and a beautiful vista to keep you guessing. Vanda Symon’s prose is to die for!
Thanks to Anne Cater @ Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour.
Containment is the building blocks of betrayal and grief. With two deep motivators it is extremely refreshing to have some necessary humour injected into its essence. Sam doesn’t take herself too seriously and I had moments of laughing when I wasn’t sure it was appropriate to do so. The author makes you grapple with the two extremes of devastation and hope.
Sam is a DC with the Dunedin police force. She’s competent, motivated and will do anything to get the job done. She’s a girl after my own heart, she tends to self-sabotage her own life, but the stubbornness is strong in this one. Sometimes all she needs is a good talking to. Brilliant professionally, not so great personally.
The plot was watertight. A body has been discovered off the island, appearances suggests it’s been submerged some time. The body isn’t in good condition and they are going to need some good luck to extract a fingerprint to ID the body. Sam’s ability to rub up her superiors the wrong was as led to this fun excursion. DI Johns is a mean, grumpy old stickler and I’ve found myself growing an ever-increasing distaste of his methods. The troubling relationship was written authentically without forcing the information on the reader.
Containment often felt like a fog descending. The twists kept on creeping up when you least expected it. Little niggles, a finely painted parallel, the author grabs you by the jugular and fights to maintain control. The control the author held over me was immense. A magnet focussed on its target. Try as I may I was never going to put that book down. Containment was an assault on my senses. It was mystifying, and nothing was sugar-coated.
Containment is a lesson in vulnerability and tenacity. Blind alleys to trip you up and a beautiful vista to keep you guessing. Vanda Symon’s prose is to die for!
Thanks to Anne Cater @ Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour.
March 1, 2020
Visit the locations in Containment
his is really starting to become one of my favourite crime series. Book three and I am totally invested in the characters, plot and of course setting. The setting is particularly crucial to these books as it’s so intrinsically woven into the novel on every level. The crimes, the investigations, the work force of the police, the characters who live in the small town…..all fit perfectly and can I say even complement each other? It’s a very nice mix of all you could want from a cracking crime mystery.
Containment is the title that means so much. The story centres around a container that washes up on a Dunedin beach. That gets violent as looters come to try and scavenge what they can. There is also a bizarre death as a diver is found dead and the trail goes all the way back to that.
The strange state of affairs continues with the discovery of a body that comes ashore. The body is that of a diver but it’s soon apparent that the man was stuffed into the suit after his death. He didn’t die from drowning either. Shephard has a lot on her hands and has been injured after the looting on the beach.
Now, despite all this, you might think that this is another police procedural, a study of a small-town, a New Zealand infused crime thriller. Well, it is all this and more. Sam really is the star of her own show. She’s funny, self-deprecating and does like to beat herself up about things! IT’s her commentary on her own life, what she does day and day out, her background and her sense of humour that makes the books for me, and makes her who she is. Some books narrated by the main character can become inward-looking but not this one!
That’s not to say that the supporting cast is any less appealing. Maggie is her best friend with the voice of reason and she complements her friend Sam well. I think we all wish we had a friend like her!
There’s a lot to like in this book. I have to say that I have never quite ‘enjoyed’ seeing a body recovered from water in a book before. This is a gruesome scene for sure (Try not to be eating when you read it). However, it was the humour and sensitivity attached to it that made me smile. The novel is very visual and very atmospheric so there’s a great sense that you are zooming into scenes when it matters and seeing events with a bird’s eye view the next.
A new favourite author for me. The language of Containment and the skill of the author captures the setting of Dunedin and the Aramoana coast perfectly. It’s definitely on the BookTrail radar to go there for real!
March 3, 2020
When I agreed to be a part of the Containment blog tour, I had no idea it was the third book in a series. I'm pretty anal about reading books in order but I'm thrilled to say reading this our of order worked out perfectly fine for me and has actually prompted me to go back and look up the first two.
Detective Constable Sam Shephard is dog sitting for a family friend when a large shipping boat wrecks along the shoreline of Anamoana, off of New Zealand, spilling shipping containers along the beach. People rush to the chaotic scene - some to see what has happened, some to help contain the scene and some to loot the containers. Sam ends up at the scene trying to help but ends up getting assaulted instead. Let's just say a lot of people on the scene end up with more than they've bargained for. Soon a body is found in the sea and the case only ends up uncovering more disturbing facts about the case.
I really feel in love with Sam. She is not the most favorite detective on the squad as some are skeptical about how she rose within the ranks so quickly. Luckily she is teamed with a great partner and they form a bond which is rather familial. There is also a great supporting case built around Sam with her roommate and her boyfriend Paul. Sam is independent but realizes she's a bit of a "saver" which comes back to bite her when dealing with the current case. Sam also meets a wonderful yet annoying college student, Spaz, who is an integral part in the current case and he added a nice comedic relief to a rather intense case. I also love that same reviews to her boss as Dick Head, which honestly, describes him quite succinctly.
I flew through Containment and couldn't wait to see how everything linked together. I will admit that at times, things seemed to be falling too conveniently into place, but that was really my only issue with the book. I'm definitely going to be looking into the first two book in this series as I'm curious about what I might have missed about Sam's background. That being said, I was able to jump right into this book and it flowed extremely well, given that it's part of a series. If you enjoy great characters and a good police procedural, then you'll want to give Containment a go.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Constable Sam Shephard is dog sitting for a family friend when a large shipping boat wrecks along the shoreline of Anamoana, off of New Zealand, spilling shipping containers along the beach. People rush to the chaotic scene - some to see what has happened, some to help contain the scene and some to loot the containers. Sam ends up at the scene trying to help but ends up getting assaulted instead. Let's just say a lot of people on the scene end up with more than they've bargained for. Soon a body is found in the sea and the case only ends up uncovering more disturbing facts about the case.
I really feel in love with Sam. She is not the most favorite detective on the squad as some are skeptical about how she rose within the ranks so quickly. Luckily she is teamed with a great partner and they form a bond which is rather familial. There is also a great supporting case built around Sam with her roommate and her boyfriend Paul. Sam is independent but realizes she's a bit of a "saver" which comes back to bite her when dealing with the current case. Sam also meets a wonderful yet annoying college student, Spaz, who is an integral part in the current case and he added a nice comedic relief to a rather intense case. I also love that same reviews to her boss as Dick Head, which honestly, describes him quite succinctly.
I flew through Containment and couldn't wait to see how everything linked together. I will admit that at times, things seemed to be falling too conveniently into place, but that was really my only issue with the book. I'm definitely going to be looking into the first two book in this series as I'm curious about what I might have missed about Sam's background. That being said, I was able to jump right into this book and it flowed extremely well, given that it's part of a series. If you enjoy great characters and a good police procedural, then you'll want to give Containment a go.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2020
Review to follow for the tour.
March 8, 2020
3.5 stars
This was an intelligently written police procedural which begins a little slowly before developing into an intriguing mystery. One crime leads to another as we follow protagonist DC Sam Shephard during a complex case that the author conveys in meticulous detail throughout.
It is actually the third book in a series, but despite that it works well as a standalone and there was never a moment where I needed to have read the previous two instalments to understand what was going on. This was also the first book I have read to be set in New Zealand, and I really appreciated the way it was used to bring an added sense of context to the story.
The case here begins when a ship runs aground and spills a number of the containers it was carrying, which leads to widespread looting. As she attempts to restore order, DC Shephard is assaulted by a young man and is forced to take a week away from work to fully recover.
Upon her return, she is asked to investigate the discovery of a body found at sea and soon finds that this person had been murdered at around the same time as the shipwreck. As the case progresses and throws up some interesting coincidences, Sam becomes very personally involved to the extent that she puts her career on the line.
Once it got going, I was fairly immersed in the plot and liked the fact that a lot of attention was given to each aspect of the case. However, for a crime novel it was not the kind of book that kept you guessing and although there were several characters involved there were hardly any clues to speak of that pointed to who might be the killer. I managed to guess correctly, but that was not down to any powers of deduction on my part!
The ending itself is very dramatic, and a lot is crammed in to the final few pages. It left me feeling that only half of the case had been solved and there were still some questions left unanswered. Of course, that might be something for the next book in the series, but I would have preferred to know the full picture of what happened in that last chapter.
Yet in many ways, the book is less about the case and more about Sam. She is a strong female protagonist, and it is her narration that carries you through.The way it is written made me feel as if I was living inside her mind, such was the clarity with which all of her thoughts and emotions were relayed, and I liked how this brought a great deal of depth to her character.
Although she did have one or two negative traits, I did quite like Sam. As a narrator, she was entertaining and witty with a sharp turn of phrase that did make me laugh on some occasions. Indeed, that was probably the aspect of the book that contains the most enjoyment. On the other hand, the sections about her personal life were an unwelcome sub-plot.
Another thing I slightly disliked was Sam having a rude and unreasonable boss in the police force, which for me was cliched and became a bit tiresome. Apart from DI Johns, the secondary characters were well developed and through Sam's eyes they brought something unique to the story.
The writing is continually impressive in the way it captures Sam's point of view and shows plenty of sides to her character. It is clear just from reading the prologue that Vanda Symon can paint a picture with words, but she also brings an attention to detail and an injection of humour that is never very far away.
Overall, this was a descriptive though generally fast-paced book that brought together an intricate case and an interesting protagonist who had a very distinctive voice. There were some issues relating to the ending and the sub-plots, and I would not completely describe it as a thriller, but the writing is still extremely good and it held my attention right through to the end.
This was an intelligently written police procedural which begins a little slowly before developing into an intriguing mystery. One crime leads to another as we follow protagonist DC Sam Shephard during a complex case that the author conveys in meticulous detail throughout.
It is actually the third book in a series, but despite that it works well as a standalone and there was never a moment where I needed to have read the previous two instalments to understand what was going on. This was also the first book I have read to be set in New Zealand, and I really appreciated the way it was used to bring an added sense of context to the story.
The case here begins when a ship runs aground and spills a number of the containers it was carrying, which leads to widespread looting. As she attempts to restore order, DC Shephard is assaulted by a young man and is forced to take a week away from work to fully recover.
Upon her return, she is asked to investigate the discovery of a body found at sea and soon finds that this person had been murdered at around the same time as the shipwreck. As the case progresses and throws up some interesting coincidences, Sam becomes very personally involved to the extent that she puts her career on the line.
Once it got going, I was fairly immersed in the plot and liked the fact that a lot of attention was given to each aspect of the case. However, for a crime novel it was not the kind of book that kept you guessing and although there were several characters involved there were hardly any clues to speak of that pointed to who might be the killer. I managed to guess correctly, but that was not down to any powers of deduction on my part!
The ending itself is very dramatic, and a lot is crammed in to the final few pages. It left me feeling that only half of the case had been solved and there were still some questions left unanswered. Of course, that might be something for the next book in the series, but I would have preferred to know the full picture of what happened in that last chapter.
Yet in many ways, the book is less about the case and more about Sam. She is a strong female protagonist, and it is her narration that carries you through.The way it is written made me feel as if I was living inside her mind, such was the clarity with which all of her thoughts and emotions were relayed, and I liked how this brought a great deal of depth to her character.
Although she did have one or two negative traits, I did quite like Sam. As a narrator, she was entertaining and witty with a sharp turn of phrase that did make me laugh on some occasions. Indeed, that was probably the aspect of the book that contains the most enjoyment. On the other hand, the sections about her personal life were an unwelcome sub-plot.
Another thing I slightly disliked was Sam having a rude and unreasonable boss in the police force, which for me was cliched and became a bit tiresome. Apart from DI Johns, the secondary characters were well developed and through Sam's eyes they brought something unique to the story.
The writing is continually impressive in the way it captures Sam's point of view and shows plenty of sides to her character. It is clear just from reading the prologue that Vanda Symon can paint a picture with words, but she also brings an attention to detail and an injection of humour that is never very far away.
Overall, this was a descriptive though generally fast-paced book that brought together an intricate case and an interesting protagonist who had a very distinctive voice. There were some issues relating to the ending and the sub-plots, and I would not completely describe it as a thriller, but the writing is still extremely good and it held my attention right through to the end.
March 3, 2020
Police procedural set in DUNEDIN
The novel is published to coincide with International’s Women’s Month (March). It is shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime novel.
Much of the setting is at Aramoana Beach, a township north of Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand. It is a setting that in real life experienced a massacre of 13 people in 1990. So it already has a dark history.
DC Sam Shepherd arrives early on the scene of a boat wreck, where a container ship, the Lauretia Express, has capsized and tipped a container onto the beach, spilling its contents. Local inhabitants are already out, looting some of the better items. As a note of interest, apparently 1400 shipping containers on average go overboard from ships every year, spreading their contents far and wide – just think about the spillage of 28,000 rubber ducks that have made their way around the world after the container, in which they were travelling, fell overboard (see Blue Planet for further details)!
Sam is badly assaulted on the beach but the perpetrator is caught. Once she is sufficiently recovered, she is thrown in at the deep end and has to start investigating the death of a diver. The retrieved body has, in part, been eaten away and is in a terrible state, the pungent odour clinging to everyone and everything. It is hard to assess how the body came to be in the water.
Are there any links to be made between her assault, the wrecked container and the body that has been fished from the sea?
Sam is a sassy character, a complex woman who eschews intimacy, although her friends try hard to persuade her that Paul, her squeeze, is a lovely man – if only she could see it. She withstands the banter of her department, remains resolute in the face of her overbearing boss and is prepared to cross boundaries to ensure the best outcome for the investigation. But her transgressions could cost her her job.
I very much enjoyed the carefully planned narrative, each new piece of the jigsaw fitted well and the author has plotted out a sequentially convincing story. I am looking forward to meeting DC Sam Shephard in her next outing (perhaps she will be DCI by then, a promotion that she would just love! 😉 Fingers crossed!)
The novel is published to coincide with International’s Women’s Month (March). It is shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime novel.
Much of the setting is at Aramoana Beach, a township north of Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand. It is a setting that in real life experienced a massacre of 13 people in 1990. So it already has a dark history.
DC Sam Shepherd arrives early on the scene of a boat wreck, where a container ship, the Lauretia Express, has capsized and tipped a container onto the beach, spilling its contents. Local inhabitants are already out, looting some of the better items. As a note of interest, apparently 1400 shipping containers on average go overboard from ships every year, spreading their contents far and wide – just think about the spillage of 28,000 rubber ducks that have made their way around the world after the container, in which they were travelling, fell overboard (see Blue Planet for further details)!
Sam is badly assaulted on the beach but the perpetrator is caught. Once she is sufficiently recovered, she is thrown in at the deep end and has to start investigating the death of a diver. The retrieved body has, in part, been eaten away and is in a terrible state, the pungent odour clinging to everyone and everything. It is hard to assess how the body came to be in the water.
Are there any links to be made between her assault, the wrecked container and the body that has been fished from the sea?
Sam is a sassy character, a complex woman who eschews intimacy, although her friends try hard to persuade her that Paul, her squeeze, is a lovely man – if only she could see it. She withstands the banter of her department, remains resolute in the face of her overbearing boss and is prepared to cross boundaries to ensure the best outcome for the investigation. But her transgressions could cost her her job.
I very much enjoyed the carefully planned narrative, each new piece of the jigsaw fitted well and the author has plotted out a sequentially convincing story. I am looking forward to meeting DC Sam Shephard in her next outing (perhaps she will be DCI by then, a promotion that she would just love! 😉 Fingers crossed!)
March 18, 2020
Dunedin crime writer Vanda Symon, who will be appearing at the upcoming The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival, brings back her feisty local heroine Sam Shephard for a third instalment in what has become an excellent detective series.
In Containment the junior detective is investigates a bizarre death - what seems a routine diving accident before forensics reveal the man didn’t die from drowning and his body was stuffed in its wetsuit afterwards - that might be linked to the grounding of a container ship on the Aramoana coast. A grounding that causes near-riots on the beach as the citizens of Dunedin pillage the wreckage, and leaves Shephard nursing wounds from an unexpected walloping.
Containment once again shows Symon’s talent for well-rounded characters, unique set-pieces, and Dunedin touches that give readers a strong sense of the student-packed southern city, while fleshing out even more about Shephard’s personal life. Enjoyable, and well worth reading.
In Containment the junior detective is investigates a bizarre death - what seems a routine diving accident before forensics reveal the man didn’t die from drowning and his body was stuffed in its wetsuit afterwards - that might be linked to the grounding of a container ship on the Aramoana coast. A grounding that causes near-riots on the beach as the citizens of Dunedin pillage the wreckage, and leaves Shephard nursing wounds from an unexpected walloping.
Containment once again shows Symon’s talent for well-rounded characters, unique set-pieces, and Dunedin touches that give readers a strong sense of the student-packed southern city, while fleshing out even more about Shephard’s personal life. Enjoyable, and well worth reading.
October 25, 2009
Another great book in the Sam Shepard series. This time we have Constable Detective Shepard running around the colorful streets of Dunedin in search of washed up artifacts and antiques. What will she uncover this time? Who will she piss off in the mean time? Recommend to all crime novel fans, plus an extra bonus for New Zealand fiction fans, as the story is set in the rich and vibrant southern city of Dunedin.
February 2, 2020
You know that feeling when you find a book that just pulls you in? That one more chapter kind of vibe that takes root and just won't stop growing? The one more more chapter that suddenly becomes another five or six ... or the whole book. Whatever. That was me and this book. I lost a nights sleep reading this book as whenever I thought I was going to put it down, I couldn't, and didn't.
It's not that this is a fast paced, high action kind of read. It's not. There is a sort of shoot out situation at the end, that will leave readers shocked no doubt, but it's not that kind of a book. What it is, is a book that is equal parts mystery and mayhem. Both funny and a little bit stomach churning. Quite un PC as it turns out, but not in a overly offensive way (although the sensitive amongst you may want to check those sensibilities at the door before reading.)
The book opens in relatively dramatic style. A container ship carrying a whole host of items belonging to businesses and individuals alike, takes a wrong turn and winds up getting beached, losing much of its cargo in the process. This leads to an almost riotous amount of looting, which in turn sees our hero of the hour, Sam Shephard, getting herself into a whole heap of strife. The chapters are both funny and serious at the same time, a few surprises along the way keeping all of law and order's finest on their toes.
The beached ship and the new rehomed bounty is only part of the problem though and it isn't long before Sam finds herself tasked with a whole new assignment - attending the recovery of a body. From the sea. As you can imagine, this is not the most pleasurable of tasks and there are moments here that both made me grimace and chuckle as I could see them playing out. As Officer in charge of the body, Sam is set to play an integral part of this investigation, and it is finding our the whos, whys, hows and wherefores that really sees the centre of this investigation take hold.
I love the characters that Vanda Symon has created, especially Sam. She is quick witted, practical, down to earth and very, very funny. She's kind of at sea (no pun intended) in her job, find ing her in a position that many officers coveted but which was a fast track opportunity for her. This means she lacks the support internally that other officers may be afforded, especially from her boss. I love the colourful use of language that the author employs to describe the relationship between DI Johns and his team, often finding myself sniggering and laughing aloud at the references I could very much relate to.
Once again we are treated to the brilliant friendship between Sam and her flatmate Maggie. They bounce of each other really well, Maggie pulling Sam up and calling her out when she is being an idiot. From a work perspective she has Smithy for that, but he is a little distracted this time around with his own set of personal issues to deal with. Sam's not immune to persona problems either, and the way in which the author contrasts the highs with the lows for Sam is pitch perfect. Her confusion - fear almost in some cases - feels authentic and very relatable, cementing her as one of my favourite characters.
I love the way that the author uses language to capture the setting of Dunedin and it's surrounds. I could picture the place very clearly as I read, from the city scapes, the squalid student digs and out to the opulent homes of Aramoana. It all made me feel like I was there. Now I've never been to New Zealand, may never make it out there, but a part of me was transported through the words. The sense of place was prominent, as well attitude of the characters who inhabit Sam's world.
I read this book so quickly and I have no regrets. It's a great story and a great addition to the series. The more I get to know Sam, the more I like her and all I have left to say is more please!!!
It's not that this is a fast paced, high action kind of read. It's not. There is a sort of shoot out situation at the end, that will leave readers shocked no doubt, but it's not that kind of a book. What it is, is a book that is equal parts mystery and mayhem. Both funny and a little bit stomach churning. Quite un PC as it turns out, but not in a overly offensive way (although the sensitive amongst you may want to check those sensibilities at the door before reading.)
The book opens in relatively dramatic style. A container ship carrying a whole host of items belonging to businesses and individuals alike, takes a wrong turn and winds up getting beached, losing much of its cargo in the process. This leads to an almost riotous amount of looting, which in turn sees our hero of the hour, Sam Shephard, getting herself into a whole heap of strife. The chapters are both funny and serious at the same time, a few surprises along the way keeping all of law and order's finest on their toes.
The beached ship and the new rehomed bounty is only part of the problem though and it isn't long before Sam finds herself tasked with a whole new assignment - attending the recovery of a body. From the sea. As you can imagine, this is not the most pleasurable of tasks and there are moments here that both made me grimace and chuckle as I could see them playing out. As Officer in charge of the body, Sam is set to play an integral part of this investigation, and it is finding our the whos, whys, hows and wherefores that really sees the centre of this investigation take hold.
I love the characters that Vanda Symon has created, especially Sam. She is quick witted, practical, down to earth and very, very funny. She's kind of at sea (no pun intended) in her job, find ing her in a position that many officers coveted but which was a fast track opportunity for her. This means she lacks the support internally that other officers may be afforded, especially from her boss. I love the colourful use of language that the author employs to describe the relationship between DI Johns and his team, often finding myself sniggering and laughing aloud at the references I could very much relate to.
Once again we are treated to the brilliant friendship between Sam and her flatmate Maggie. They bounce of each other really well, Maggie pulling Sam up and calling her out when she is being an idiot. From a work perspective she has Smithy for that, but he is a little distracted this time around with his own set of personal issues to deal with. Sam's not immune to persona problems either, and the way in which the author contrasts the highs with the lows for Sam is pitch perfect. Her confusion - fear almost in some cases - feels authentic and very relatable, cementing her as one of my favourite characters.
I love the way that the author uses language to capture the setting of Dunedin and it's surrounds. I could picture the place very clearly as I read, from the city scapes, the squalid student digs and out to the opulent homes of Aramoana. It all made me feel like I was there. Now I've never been to New Zealand, may never make it out there, but a part of me was transported through the words. The sense of place was prominent, as well attitude of the characters who inhabit Sam's world.
I read this book so quickly and I have no regrets. It's a great story and a great addition to the series. The more I get to know Sam, the more I like her and all I have left to say is more please!!!
March 27, 2020
Right where are we off to now on another global crime adventure- New Zealand that’s where, and into the world of Detective Constable Sam Shephard, where a seemingly simple case of container looting, leads to a whole heap of trouble for this sassier than your average cop…
Containment marks the third outing for DC Sam Shepard (following Overkill and The Ringmaster) and it’s good to see our female cop has lost none of her gumption and slightly gung-ho attitude in the interim. From getting physically assaulted at the opening of the book, Shepard is once again steaming in to perilous situations, getting right up the nose of her superior officer, and having a fairly intense crisis of confidence in both her love life, and with some unwelcome news about one of her nearest and dearest. I think Shephard’s character is what really engages the reader throughout the series, as she is so utterly believable, whether giving as good as she gets with the ribaldry of her mostly male police colleagues, or just going above and beyond in her investigations. What she so evidently displays is that no investigation is black and white, and that a slightly less dogmatic and more considered approach is the most useful way to unlock people and what they may be concealing. She often sees ‘both sides of the coin’ in terms of those she interacts with, be they colleague, friend, victim or perpetrator and a touching affinity with the underdog. There’s a lovely quote in the book, where Sam says, “If I thought about it, I’d spent my entire life trying to save things…Sam Shepard champion to the underdog…Policing was the perfect profession for someone like me. You got paid to save people, fix problems.” I love the close up of her life that Symon seems to blanket us in, be it as a female detective, a friend, a lover, a concerned daughter, and at times just one of the boys, joshing on, and fearlessly (and sometimes thoughtlessly) putting herself into the same level of physical danger as her male colleagues. She is a wonderfully well-rounded character, with an endearing amount of flaws and Symon really connects her to the reader.
Symon’s writing has a real rhythm and fluidity , and carries the reader along on a sea of humour, action and waves of human emotion from the intensely confrontational to the deeply personal, but never at the expense of the natural unfolding of what is essentially a police procedural. The interludes of humour are perfectly placed to connect the reader more with the police protagonists, and to accentuate the fact that these are just ordinary people doing a relatively thankless job, and having their own worries and pressure points. There at petty rivalries but also some deep seated loyalties, and I do like the way that Symon’s plays with the notion of ‘honour amongst thieves’ in terms of the less law abiding characters. Although, I felt some aspects of the plot were a little weaker than the previous books, Symon’s aptitude for colourful, believable characterisation across the board, and sublime dialogue gives the reader a real momentum as the investigation unfolds. If you haven’t had the pleasure of checking this series out yet, I would definitely give it a whirl, as Symon’s writing and in particular her pithy wit is akin to such stalwarts of the genre as Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone and Janet Evanovich with a beautiful New Zealand twist. Recommended.
Containment marks the third outing for DC Sam Shepard (following Overkill and The Ringmaster) and it’s good to see our female cop has lost none of her gumption and slightly gung-ho attitude in the interim. From getting physically assaulted at the opening of the book, Shepard is once again steaming in to perilous situations, getting right up the nose of her superior officer, and having a fairly intense crisis of confidence in both her love life, and with some unwelcome news about one of her nearest and dearest. I think Shephard’s character is what really engages the reader throughout the series, as she is so utterly believable, whether giving as good as she gets with the ribaldry of her mostly male police colleagues, or just going above and beyond in her investigations. What she so evidently displays is that no investigation is black and white, and that a slightly less dogmatic and more considered approach is the most useful way to unlock people and what they may be concealing. She often sees ‘both sides of the coin’ in terms of those she interacts with, be they colleague, friend, victim or perpetrator and a touching affinity with the underdog. There’s a lovely quote in the book, where Sam says, “If I thought about it, I’d spent my entire life trying to save things…Sam Shepard champion to the underdog…Policing was the perfect profession for someone like me. You got paid to save people, fix problems.” I love the close up of her life that Symon seems to blanket us in, be it as a female detective, a friend, a lover, a concerned daughter, and at times just one of the boys, joshing on, and fearlessly (and sometimes thoughtlessly) putting herself into the same level of physical danger as her male colleagues. She is a wonderfully well-rounded character, with an endearing amount of flaws and Symon really connects her to the reader.
Symon’s writing has a real rhythm and fluidity , and carries the reader along on a sea of humour, action and waves of human emotion from the intensely confrontational to the deeply personal, but never at the expense of the natural unfolding of what is essentially a police procedural. The interludes of humour are perfectly placed to connect the reader more with the police protagonists, and to accentuate the fact that these are just ordinary people doing a relatively thankless job, and having their own worries and pressure points. There at petty rivalries but also some deep seated loyalties, and I do like the way that Symon’s plays with the notion of ‘honour amongst thieves’ in terms of the less law abiding characters. Although, I felt some aspects of the plot were a little weaker than the previous books, Symon’s aptitude for colourful, believable characterisation across the board, and sublime dialogue gives the reader a real momentum as the investigation unfolds. If you haven’t had the pleasure of checking this series out yet, I would definitely give it a whirl, as Symon’s writing and in particular her pithy wit is akin to such stalwarts of the genre as Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone and Janet Evanovich with a beautiful New Zealand twist. Recommended.
March 17, 2020
Chaos has taken over the beach of the sleepy village town of Aramoana on the New Zealand coast. A series of shipping containers have washed up on shore as the result of a container ship getting stuck. Looters have emerged from all over the local area to take whatever they can get their hands on. Detective Constable Sam Shephard happens to be in Aramoana trying to get in a bit of relaxation when she is called to the scene. While trying to break up a fight between two scavengers, Sam finds herself the target of their anger and winds up in an ambulance with her assailant.
The situation appears to be an obvious case of a cargo ship running aground until a body in a wetsuit is found floating in the water by a group of fisherman. It seems this diver didn’t drown. As first officer at the scene, much to the displeasure of her superiors, Sam is given the task of investigating this case. Clues start to unravel after the identification of this mystery man, but nothing is adding up. One thing is clear and that’s that more lives may be in danger. Can Sam solve the case before anyone else ends up dead?
CONTAINMENT is the third installment in Vanda Symon’s excellent Sam Shephard series. This is easily one of my favorite series reads, as Symon can always be counted on to give the reader an exciting case in the hands of an easy to love main character. Symon doesn’t fall into the stereotypical pitfalls of an unreliable or troubled detective with Sam Shephard, but gives her reader a strong female lead. Sam is incredibly relatable with her vulnerabilities and hardheaded attitude to solving cases. You can feel how she genuinely cares about what she is investigating, which also helps to bring the reader a connection to the case at hand.
As with the first two installments of this series, Symon gives the reader an intricately layered case to investigate alongside Sam. I love how these cases always start out seemingly small, but grow to something much larger. Symon always immediately draws me in with the smaller investigation and then blows me away with where she takes things! I loved every bit of the case within CONTAINMENT. Everything from the characters to Sam’s interaction with her team flowed perfectly to bring the book to life.
If I haven’t sold you on Sam Shephard or the case within this book, then let me rave about the atmospheric quality to this story. I’ve never been to New Zealand, but I feel like I was transported to Dunedin and Aramoana thanks to Symon’s vivid descriptions within CONTAINMENT. I love when authors write about small towns because it’s so easy to provide meticulous details of the area without making it feel unnecessary.
I’m purposefully trying to be vague about the plot within this review because I would hate to spoil any bit of this story! If you haven’t already started this series I highly recommend starting from the beginning, however, this book could easily work as a stand-alone read. If you’re looking for a read to sweep you away and hook you from the start, you must add CONTAINMENT to your TBR!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my free copy of this book!
The situation appears to be an obvious case of a cargo ship running aground until a body in a wetsuit is found floating in the water by a group of fisherman. It seems this diver didn’t drown. As first officer at the scene, much to the displeasure of her superiors, Sam is given the task of investigating this case. Clues start to unravel after the identification of this mystery man, but nothing is adding up. One thing is clear and that’s that more lives may be in danger. Can Sam solve the case before anyone else ends up dead?
CONTAINMENT is the third installment in Vanda Symon’s excellent Sam Shephard series. This is easily one of my favorite series reads, as Symon can always be counted on to give the reader an exciting case in the hands of an easy to love main character. Symon doesn’t fall into the stereotypical pitfalls of an unreliable or troubled detective with Sam Shephard, but gives her reader a strong female lead. Sam is incredibly relatable with her vulnerabilities and hardheaded attitude to solving cases. You can feel how she genuinely cares about what she is investigating, which also helps to bring the reader a connection to the case at hand.
As with the first two installments of this series, Symon gives the reader an intricately layered case to investigate alongside Sam. I love how these cases always start out seemingly small, but grow to something much larger. Symon always immediately draws me in with the smaller investigation and then blows me away with where she takes things! I loved every bit of the case within CONTAINMENT. Everything from the characters to Sam’s interaction with her team flowed perfectly to bring the book to life.
If I haven’t sold you on Sam Shephard or the case within this book, then let me rave about the atmospheric quality to this story. I’ve never been to New Zealand, but I feel like I was transported to Dunedin and Aramoana thanks to Symon’s vivid descriptions within CONTAINMENT. I love when authors write about small towns because it’s so easy to provide meticulous details of the area without making it feel unnecessary.
I’m purposefully trying to be vague about the plot within this review because I would hate to spoil any bit of this story! If you haven’t already started this series I highly recommend starting from the beginning, however, this book could easily work as a stand-alone read. If you’re looking for a read to sweep you away and hook you from the start, you must add CONTAINMENT to your TBR!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my free copy of this book!
March 7, 2020
Let’s talk about our wonderful protagonist Sam Shepherd first, never have I been so happy to finally meet a character – because I am terrible and have yet to read the first two in the series (Containment is a great stand alone, but don’t do a me, start at the beginning) but i’ll be rectifying this – maybe with a #SymonSunday for Orentober? Anyway, let’s get back to Sam, she’s an absolute pleasure of a literary companion. Not only is she smart, hilarious and independent, too much so maybe, but she’s also flawed and filled with empathy, DC Shephard isn’t a DC Hardnut but rather a kind individual who is both aware of her feelings, and not. She isn’t perfect and that is what I adore. Vanda has created a character who is identifiable, who is difficult not to love and one whose voice you can vividly hear in your head as you read.
So, that prologue *wow*, I was instantly coaxed into a chaotic scene, one that you know isn’t going to be easy going and plain sailing. A beach, the wreckage of washed ashore cargo and a stampede of onlookers fighting over the swept up loots – sprinkle in a bit of gasping violence and my heart belonged to this criminal tale. I sped through the pages of Containment while adrenaline surged, utterly gripped and struggling to not read ‘one more chapter’ when I had things to do, it was difficult. The ripples of the initial incident is the basis of the book, a brilliant police procedural that has layers of research smoothed in between the fictional storylines – especially that research surrounding the events of a death! We all know that authors research a number of things for their books but i’m always in awe of their dedication, Vanda’s dedication to the authenticity of her procedural plotline made me super happy!
The whole of Containment was enjoyably addictive with its taut chapters and the inclusion of Sam’s complicated personal life, I highly (shout from the roof tops highly) recommend this book AND the series because Vanda’s writing is just so fantastically on point. I also now need to try a Toffee Pop!
So, that prologue *wow*, I was instantly coaxed into a chaotic scene, one that you know isn’t going to be easy going and plain sailing. A beach, the wreckage of washed ashore cargo and a stampede of onlookers fighting over the swept up loots – sprinkle in a bit of gasping violence and my heart belonged to this criminal tale. I sped through the pages of Containment while adrenaline surged, utterly gripped and struggling to not read ‘one more chapter’ when I had things to do, it was difficult. The ripples of the initial incident is the basis of the book, a brilliant police procedural that has layers of research smoothed in between the fictional storylines – especially that research surrounding the events of a death! We all know that authors research a number of things for their books but i’m always in awe of their dedication, Vanda’s dedication to the authenticity of her procedural plotline made me super happy!
The whole of Containment was enjoyably addictive with its taut chapters and the inclusion of Sam’s complicated personal life, I highly (shout from the roof tops highly) recommend this book AND the series because Vanda’s writing is just so fantastically on point. I also now need to try a Toffee Pop!
March 11, 2020
Containment is book three in the Sam Shephard series. This is a series that just gets hotter and better with each book. Vanda has really upped the stakes in this one. Its tense. Edgy. Thilling and a real page turner. Can easily be read as a standalone. In this case Sam finds herself in a tricky position between work and personal life. She is involved with this case but not in the police way… In other ways.
The way Sam conducts herself in this case will have readers split at her decisions. Did she go above and beyond? Did she do the right thing? Should she have followed protocol? Was she selfish to do what she did? Did she break all the rules? I admit she did a lot she shouldn’t have legally… But it worked. Even if she did feel her bosses wrath. Didn’t like her boss at all, throwing his weight around, demanding what they do etc.
Brilliant story. Great case. Love Sams character and her little team. It’s not just all about the case we get a look into her personal life too and her relationship which broke up this case perfectly throughout. She is brave, determind and a strong woman who knows what she wants and how to get the answers she needs. Brilliantly written.
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for us in book four. Really enjoyed reading this one. Four stars from me. Highly recommend. Clever case.
The way Sam conducts herself in this case will have readers split at her decisions. Did she go above and beyond? Did she do the right thing? Should she have followed protocol? Was she selfish to do what she did? Did she break all the rules? I admit she did a lot she shouldn’t have legally… But it worked. Even if she did feel her bosses wrath. Didn’t like her boss at all, throwing his weight around, demanding what they do etc.
Brilliant story. Great case. Love Sams character and her little team. It’s not just all about the case we get a look into her personal life too and her relationship which broke up this case perfectly throughout. She is brave, determind and a strong woman who knows what she wants and how to get the answers she needs. Brilliantly written.
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for us in book four. Really enjoyed reading this one. Four stars from me. Highly recommend. Clever case.
March 20, 2020
#3 in the Sam Shephard series, but can also be read as a stand-alone.
Set in the Small town of Dunedin, New Zealand, (which the author describes so well I feel I know it)…A cargo ship has run aground and shipping containers are strewn across the beach, so obviously people see this as an opportunity to loot. The police arrive amid the mayhem and DC Sam Shephard arrives only to be assaulted by one of the looters.
A skull is found on the beach and an investigation begins, for there only then to be found a divers body in a nasty state. Sam is heavily concussed, but with just a few days rest she’s back and searching for the truth….
I loved Sam, with her messy personal life, her family and her dogged determination at work. She’s strong, feisty, full of a dark humour and stubborn to say the least.
The amazing plot will keep you guessing, with plenty of twists and red herrings that all come together in a perfect and satisfying end. A marvel of creative writing by Vanda Symon and I was hooked from start to finish in this refreshingly original and totally compelling crime thriller. Brilliant.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Set in the Small town of Dunedin, New Zealand, (which the author describes so well I feel I know it)…A cargo ship has run aground and shipping containers are strewn across the beach, so obviously people see this as an opportunity to loot. The police arrive amid the mayhem and DC Sam Shephard arrives only to be assaulted by one of the looters.
A skull is found on the beach and an investigation begins, for there only then to be found a divers body in a nasty state. Sam is heavily concussed, but with just a few days rest she’s back and searching for the truth….
I loved Sam, with her messy personal life, her family and her dogged determination at work. She’s strong, feisty, full of a dark humour and stubborn to say the least.
The amazing plot will keep you guessing, with plenty of twists and red herrings that all come together in a perfect and satisfying end. A marvel of creative writing by Vanda Symon and I was hooked from start to finish in this refreshingly original and totally compelling crime thriller. Brilliant.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
July 1, 2014
Vanda never disappoints - will be visiting Dunedin in 3 weeks time and I use her books for research. Not that I want to find any bodies, and I am very grateful that the baddies in this book were located, but I've got the name of a coffee shop that is actually near where we are staying so plan to pop in as we walk down to the Octagon. Sort of author stalking without the author :)
Anyhow if you love a good edge of the seat police investigation mystery this series is for you!
Anyhow if you love a good edge of the seat police investigation mystery this series is for you!
September 25, 2024
The third in my current Orendabooks binge and I have to say Vanda Symon just keeps getting better!
The writing style is so easy to just sink into, even when the descriptions are horrific, but I will come back to that point later. The writing style keeps the reader so engrossed in the story that the huge range of emotions can be shocking to the system at times, it really makes you feel like you are by the characters side. A truly brilliant talent that I envy, and yet… it is rather uncomfortable at times with this story!
The initial murder isn’t gruesome in itself, but eurgh. I swear I could smell it for ages after, I was so pulled into the story that I was totally on board with the MCs feelings and had to get a shower. The processes were brilliantly explained, and I have to say intriguing in how things worked! But I do not envy our characters their roles.
As with previous books, we get some hints throughout the story as to where this is going, but yet again I found that I didn’t realise they were hints until the reveal, and then my brain went “OHHHH” as all those little pieces slotted together perfectly.
I have loved seeing Sam get more into the swing of things, pushing for more involvement in her stubborn way, subtly edging around the rules sometimes and others just… well. Being stubborn. It’s interesting to see how her and DI Johns mutual dislike continues to morph, but I suspect it will continue for a long while! It doesn’t feel dragged out though, more just a realistic and intense dislike of one another that is made more difficult by a power imbalance. It certainly makes for an interesting relationship dynamic!
And speaking of relationships, I love the little bits we see of Paul, and I really have my fingers crossed there!! That ending has me so hopeful for what is to come in that regard, but I can’t say much more about my hopes there without spoilers! But what I will say is that I am loving how their relationship works, and I am also loving that their physical relationship is off page. That isn’t something I would usually say, but in this case it just makes their conversations more heartfelt, and the crime element more jarring because there isn’t a let up! The situations feel more real somehow because we don’t jump between steamy scenes and tension filled crimes, instead the tension is offset with the building of the emotional relationship. it’s a very clever balance that gives you a slight reprieve without actually taking you away from the main story at all.
Overall, another brilliantly written story from Vanda Symon that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and in that last third where you can feel the tension amping up and bits falling into place, you’re so gripped by the story it’s near impossible to put it down! From start to end, a description rich story that twists and turns in unexpected ways!
Bring on book 4!
The writing style is so easy to just sink into, even when the descriptions are horrific, but I will come back to that point later. The writing style keeps the reader so engrossed in the story that the huge range of emotions can be shocking to the system at times, it really makes you feel like you are by the characters side. A truly brilliant talent that I envy, and yet… it is rather uncomfortable at times with this story!
The initial murder isn’t gruesome in itself, but eurgh. I swear I could smell it for ages after, I was so pulled into the story that I was totally on board with the MCs feelings and had to get a shower. The processes were brilliantly explained, and I have to say intriguing in how things worked! But I do not envy our characters their roles.
As with previous books, we get some hints throughout the story as to where this is going, but yet again I found that I didn’t realise they were hints until the reveal, and then my brain went “OHHHH” as all those little pieces slotted together perfectly.
I have loved seeing Sam get more into the swing of things, pushing for more involvement in her stubborn way, subtly edging around the rules sometimes and others just… well. Being stubborn. It’s interesting to see how her and DI Johns mutual dislike continues to morph, but I suspect it will continue for a long while! It doesn’t feel dragged out though, more just a realistic and intense dislike of one another that is made more difficult by a power imbalance. It certainly makes for an interesting relationship dynamic!
And speaking of relationships, I love the little bits we see of Paul, and I really have my fingers crossed there!! That ending has me so hopeful for what is to come in that regard, but I can’t say much more about my hopes there without spoilers! But what I will say is that I am loving how their relationship works, and I am also loving that their physical relationship is off page. That isn’t something I would usually say, but in this case it just makes their conversations more heartfelt, and the crime element more jarring because there isn’t a let up! The situations feel more real somehow because we don’t jump between steamy scenes and tension filled crimes, instead the tension is offset with the building of the emotional relationship. it’s a very clever balance that gives you a slight reprieve without actually taking you away from the main story at all.
Overall, another brilliantly written story from Vanda Symon that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and in that last third where you can feel the tension amping up and bits falling into place, you’re so gripped by the story it’s near impossible to put it down! From start to end, a description rich story that twists and turns in unexpected ways!
Bring on book 4!
February 10, 2021
I very much struggled to put this down. The action picked up from the very first page, and while my terrible rusty brain struggled to catch up, I finally did with a horrifying bang. Which I'll note didn't stop the plot, which kept up with the twists and turns even with everything else going on. The subplots kept my interest easily, and then everything exploded into a delicious climax. I'm sad to say that I guessed the antagonist correctly fairly early on, but I'm pleased his motives were shrouded from me. The resolution left me with too many questions, and a burning need to read the next in the series very soon.
January 11, 2022
A fairly solid police procedural set in Aramoana where I am staying on holiday. So that was fun with all the recognisable locations. I did enjoy it and will probably read the others in the series. There were some irksome elements such as some rather misogynist/old fashioned comments about women which is weird coming from a female author and with a female protagonist.
March 5, 2023
I had no trouble following this, the first I have read in this series or by the author, although there are contextual references suggesting events no doubt covered in earlier books. I enjoyed the New Zealand context, the team dynamic and the police procedure. I struggle a bit with rule breaking, but at least the tension and conflict are acknowledged and faced. The shipwreck and looting provide an excellent trigger for the story and ethics.
I’m not rushing to the next in the series, but will, I suspect, return in time for more.
I’m not rushing to the next in the series, but will, I suspect, return in time for more.
August 17, 2023
Enjoyable read set in a wonderful part of the world.
December 9, 2023
Another enjoyable book in this series.
October 13, 2022
More in my next Good Reads blog at www.sandiwallace.com/blog/.
March 30, 2020
Although this is the third instalment in the Sam Shepherd series, this book would work perfectly well as a standalone for anyone who is coming new to the novels. This book throws you straight in to the middle of the action and in to Sam’s distinctive world and character, as she finds herself immediately in the midst of an affray on a beach where locals are looting beached shipping containers after a wreck. Beaten, but coming back fighting, what at first seems like a minor issue of theft, spirals into something much more sinister as bodies begin to pile up, all linked to the wreck.
This author offers something new with every book, and this time we are confronted with the recovery and examination of a body dumped at sea (fascinating but fairly graphic and gruesome, steel your stomach), the law surrounding recovery of goods from wrecked cargo ships, the market in stolen valuables and the nefarious goings on of the local student population. All her books are packed with description and illuminating detail, meticulously researched and seamlessly stitched into the narrative until the setting and the world come to life for the reader through the text. At a time when we are all housebound, these are books that can take you to the other side of the world and immerse you in a totally different life for a few hours.
The books are well-paced, with short chapters that keep the momentum and new bits of evidence appear around every corner. In the same way a real investigation would unfold, this case starts out in one direction but gradually unfurls like a maze to become something entirely different, veering off in multiple directions and drawing the protagonists down a variety of obscure paths before they find the truth. It demonstrates how a mixture of great detective work, instinct and some pure luck can lead the police to the answer, and it may end up being more than one thing and very far from where they started. The plot is quite convoluted and complex, involving many different strands and characters, and the reader must focus to sort them out, mimicking the thought processes the police have to similarly go through to get there, but the writing is so accessible and flowing and the pace so quick that this is no chore.
Sam is a wonderful character, and she is the main draw for the books. She is small but feisty, brave, impetuous, honest but complicated, with a strong moral code and sense of loyalty. Some of her behaviour is totally outrageous, but she seems to get away with it because it comes from a positive place, a real desire to see natural justice served, which sometimes involves bending the rules. This does not always sit well with her boss, DI Johns, and the tension between the two of them plus throughout the text to add conflict. in addition, her personal life is no more straight forward, either with her blood family or in her romantic life. New developments add strain in this area, and things seem to be getting more complicated not simpler. There were certain matters in the book which were raised but not resolved, leaving me with theories about what might be coming in the next instalment, and eager to find out. However, do not fear, this book is perfectly concluded as a single story for readers who are not yet invested in this as a series, but i predict you will be once you sample Vanda’s writing.
The Sam Shepherd books are always a satisfying read, this one is no exception and I have added a physical copy to my collection. I eagerly await the next book in the series, and my next armchair visit to New Zealand.
This author offers something new with every book, and this time we are confronted with the recovery and examination of a body dumped at sea (fascinating but fairly graphic and gruesome, steel your stomach), the law surrounding recovery of goods from wrecked cargo ships, the market in stolen valuables and the nefarious goings on of the local student population. All her books are packed with description and illuminating detail, meticulously researched and seamlessly stitched into the narrative until the setting and the world come to life for the reader through the text. At a time when we are all housebound, these are books that can take you to the other side of the world and immerse you in a totally different life for a few hours.
The books are well-paced, with short chapters that keep the momentum and new bits of evidence appear around every corner. In the same way a real investigation would unfold, this case starts out in one direction but gradually unfurls like a maze to become something entirely different, veering off in multiple directions and drawing the protagonists down a variety of obscure paths before they find the truth. It demonstrates how a mixture of great detective work, instinct and some pure luck can lead the police to the answer, and it may end up being more than one thing and very far from where they started. The plot is quite convoluted and complex, involving many different strands and characters, and the reader must focus to sort them out, mimicking the thought processes the police have to similarly go through to get there, but the writing is so accessible and flowing and the pace so quick that this is no chore.
Sam is a wonderful character, and she is the main draw for the books. She is small but feisty, brave, impetuous, honest but complicated, with a strong moral code and sense of loyalty. Some of her behaviour is totally outrageous, but she seems to get away with it because it comes from a positive place, a real desire to see natural justice served, which sometimes involves bending the rules. This does not always sit well with her boss, DI Johns, and the tension between the two of them plus throughout the text to add conflict. in addition, her personal life is no more straight forward, either with her blood family or in her romantic life. New developments add strain in this area, and things seem to be getting more complicated not simpler. There were certain matters in the book which were raised but not resolved, leaving me with theories about what might be coming in the next instalment, and eager to find out. However, do not fear, this book is perfectly concluded as a single story for readers who are not yet invested in this as a series, but i predict you will be once you sample Vanda’s writing.
The Sam Shepherd books are always a satisfying read, this one is no exception and I have added a physical copy to my collection. I eagerly await the next book in the series, and my next armchair visit to New Zealand.
October 20, 2011
CONTAINMENT is the third in the Sam Shephard series from New Zealand writer Vanda Symon. It's rapidly stepped up to be one of my all time favourite series for a whole bunch of reasons.
Firstly these are truly humorous books. Subtly, ever so slightly tongue in cheek, the humour is both self-deprecating and tension alleviating. My favourite sort. Sam's voice is particularly appealing - as she busily beats herself up mentally, leaving the physical assault to the scavengers on the beach in the case of CONTAINMENT. As mentioned in earlier reviews - because the books are told from Sam's point of view, her self-deprecation and self-analysis is part of what alleviates any sense of myopia or self-servitude that can sometimes occur with that viewpoint.
Secondly they are solid, believable, twisty and nicely complex plots. They are particularly believable and realistic in the setting in which the action takes place. Symon's small town or country New Zealand is a place where the crimes, the perpetrators, the cops and the victims all fit perfectly. Often the action starts out small-time and stays that way, in other cases things escalate rapidly, frequently slightly out of control and mostly inexplicably until everything just explodes around the cops and perpetrators ears!
Lastly, but not least of all, there are great characters in these books. The stand out is obviously Sam Shephard herself. The country cop who has moved to the bigger city, but not lost that practical, self-deprecating, country sensibility. Her awareness (and willingness to beat herself up) for her shortcomings, her understanding and forgiveness and care for those who surround her is .. here's those words again .. realistic and believable. Sam is definitely the sort of cop that you can well imagine running into at a crime scene, at the pub, in a hospital bed. Because she is a little accident prone. Mostly because of enthusiasm and concern for the job, partially because of a stubborn refusal to think things through totally, Sam spends more than a bit of time in her own physical or mental wars. Just to add to the mix, the course of true love gets smacked around the head pretty regularly by Sam, and the bosom of her loving family has it's own twists and turns.
Whilst Sam is definitely the star of her own show in these books, the supporting cast isn't one dimensional or off-camera. Her interactions with the other cops in her team, her boss, her parents, cop boyfriend and best friend Maggie are very good. Particularly her relationship with friend, flatmate and voice of reason Maggie. It's actually a fantastic element of these books - to have a strong, supportive and brutally honest relationship between two women drawn so clearly is a relatively rare occurrence, and it's done extremely well in these books - although Maggie is possibly slightly less present in CONTAINMENT than I recall her in the earlier books.
For all the gushing of this review, these books aren't just light-hearted entertainment. There are often elements in the plots which are unexpected, unpleasant even - characters that are expendable, deaths that are confrontational or emotional. The light-hearted touch of Symon doesn't conceal the reality of criminal activity, murder or mayhem. It just makes the lesson slightly more palatable.
Firstly these are truly humorous books. Subtly, ever so slightly tongue in cheek, the humour is both self-deprecating and tension alleviating. My favourite sort. Sam's voice is particularly appealing - as she busily beats herself up mentally, leaving the physical assault to the scavengers on the beach in the case of CONTAINMENT. As mentioned in earlier reviews - because the books are told from Sam's point of view, her self-deprecation and self-analysis is part of what alleviates any sense of myopia or self-servitude that can sometimes occur with that viewpoint.
Secondly they are solid, believable, twisty and nicely complex plots. They are particularly believable and realistic in the setting in which the action takes place. Symon's small town or country New Zealand is a place where the crimes, the perpetrators, the cops and the victims all fit perfectly. Often the action starts out small-time and stays that way, in other cases things escalate rapidly, frequently slightly out of control and mostly inexplicably until everything just explodes around the cops and perpetrators ears!
Lastly, but not least of all, there are great characters in these books. The stand out is obviously Sam Shephard herself. The country cop who has moved to the bigger city, but not lost that practical, self-deprecating, country sensibility. Her awareness (and willingness to beat herself up) for her shortcomings, her understanding and forgiveness and care for those who surround her is .. here's those words again .. realistic and believable. Sam is definitely the sort of cop that you can well imagine running into at a crime scene, at the pub, in a hospital bed. Because she is a little accident prone. Mostly because of enthusiasm and concern for the job, partially because of a stubborn refusal to think things through totally, Sam spends more than a bit of time in her own physical or mental wars. Just to add to the mix, the course of true love gets smacked around the head pretty regularly by Sam, and the bosom of her loving family has it's own twists and turns.
Whilst Sam is definitely the star of her own show in these books, the supporting cast isn't one dimensional or off-camera. Her interactions with the other cops in her team, her boss, her parents, cop boyfriend and best friend Maggie are very good. Particularly her relationship with friend, flatmate and voice of reason Maggie. It's actually a fantastic element of these books - to have a strong, supportive and brutally honest relationship between two women drawn so clearly is a relatively rare occurrence, and it's done extremely well in these books - although Maggie is possibly slightly less present in CONTAINMENT than I recall her in the earlier books.
For all the gushing of this review, these books aren't just light-hearted entertainment. There are often elements in the plots which are unexpected, unpleasant even - characters that are expendable, deaths that are confrontational or emotional. The light-hearted touch of Symon doesn't conceal the reality of criminal activity, murder or mayhem. It just makes the lesson slightly more palatable.
November 11, 2020
The story begins with the rather dramatic event of a cargo ship, Lauretia Express, running aground in the harbour of the village of Aramoana, near the spit, and when the shipping containers wash up ashore, the scavenging locals rush to carry off as much loot as they can! Detective Constable Sam Shephard is one of the first officers on the scene and when she confronts two of the looters, she is assaulted and ends up unconscious and in an ambulance with the man who hurt her, who is in a bad way after being beaten up by the other man.
An old lady finds a skull in one of the boxes from the container ship and then, later on, a diver is discovered dead and DC Shephard, still battered and bruised with a pounding headache, is thrust headlong into a murder investigation. We get some great forensic descriptions of the state and smell of a nibbled, water-bloated body and the subsequent post-mortem, which both make gruesome reading.
Sam Shephard is great; she’s a feisty character and I love her no-nonsense attitude, sense of humour, confidence and directness. She has a difficult relationship with some of her work colleagues as she was fast tracked into the detective training programme and her boss, Detective Inspector ‘Dickhead’ Johns, is really unfair and treats her badly. He delights in giving her the most menial or demeaning tasks. She has a good relationship with her work partner and mentor, Detective Malcolm Smith (Smithy) and he looks out for Sam and stands up for her.
She has been with her boyfriend, Paul Frost, a detective in Gore, for several years but doesn’t let him get close and pushes him away when he suggests they move their long-distance relationship on a bit. I loved Sam’s flatmate; they have a great friendship and seem to understand each other well and Maggie knows exactly what to say to Sam, especially when discussing her relationship with Paul.
This was a suspenseful and cleverly plotted story with a few surprising twists, turns and misdirections. The investigation developed well and I hadn’t guessed in which direction it was going to go; there were some surprising revelations. We got to know a fair few interesting characters, dodgy and otherwise, and it was fun trying to work out whether they were connected or not and what linked the various threads of the story.
An entertaining and intriguing thriller, with some great descriptions of the New Zealand scenery, and I enjoyed getting to know Sam Shephard and her colleagues, friends and family.
I visited Dunedin when I was travelling round the South Island of New Zealand in over 10 years ago and I was fascinated to read about the city and surrounding area in this novel. It’s beautifully described and I could really picture the place. I’d love to visit again one day!
Containment is the third book in Vanda Symon’s Sam Shephard series and I’m ashamed to say it’s the first one I’ve read, despite having the other two, Overkill and The Ringmaster, on my Kindle! I’ll definitely be rectifying this now as I love a good police procedural and this was gripping, absorbing and really well written, and I raced through it!
An old lady finds a skull in one of the boxes from the container ship and then, later on, a diver is discovered dead and DC Shephard, still battered and bruised with a pounding headache, is thrust headlong into a murder investigation. We get some great forensic descriptions of the state and smell of a nibbled, water-bloated body and the subsequent post-mortem, which both make gruesome reading.
Sam Shephard is great; she’s a feisty character and I love her no-nonsense attitude, sense of humour, confidence and directness. She has a difficult relationship with some of her work colleagues as she was fast tracked into the detective training programme and her boss, Detective Inspector ‘Dickhead’ Johns, is really unfair and treats her badly. He delights in giving her the most menial or demeaning tasks. She has a good relationship with her work partner and mentor, Detective Malcolm Smith (Smithy) and he looks out for Sam and stands up for her.
She has been with her boyfriend, Paul Frost, a detective in Gore, for several years but doesn’t let him get close and pushes him away when he suggests they move their long-distance relationship on a bit. I loved Sam’s flatmate; they have a great friendship and seem to understand each other well and Maggie knows exactly what to say to Sam, especially when discussing her relationship with Paul.
This was a suspenseful and cleverly plotted story with a few surprising twists, turns and misdirections. The investigation developed well and I hadn’t guessed in which direction it was going to go; there were some surprising revelations. We got to know a fair few interesting characters, dodgy and otherwise, and it was fun trying to work out whether they were connected or not and what linked the various threads of the story.
An entertaining and intriguing thriller, with some great descriptions of the New Zealand scenery, and I enjoyed getting to know Sam Shephard and her colleagues, friends and family.
I visited Dunedin when I was travelling round the South Island of New Zealand in over 10 years ago and I was fascinated to read about the city and surrounding area in this novel. It’s beautifully described and I could really picture the place. I’d love to visit again one day!
Containment is the third book in Vanda Symon’s Sam Shephard series and I’m ashamed to say it’s the first one I’ve read, despite having the other two, Overkill and The Ringmaster, on my Kindle! I’ll definitely be rectifying this now as I love a good police procedural and this was gripping, absorbing and really well written, and I raced through it!
April 5, 2020
I'm grateful to Orenda for letting me have an advance copy of Containment for review.
Welcome to another instalment in the tumultuous private and work life of Samantha (Sam) Shephard, probationary Detective Constable in the Dunedin, New Zealand, police Murder Squad.
The story opens literally with a bang as Sam hurries to intercept looters seeking to profit from after a container ship has run aground. Unfortunately one of them isn't ready to defer before the authority of the Law and she runs into trouble, nursing a headache and other injuries throughout this story.
But that's only the start. A corpse in an advanced state of decay turns up and Sam's grisly, sexist boss DI Johns thinks she's just the right person to witness a most unpleasant recovery and autopsy. And just when she's done the unpleasant part off the job and is getting somewhere with the enquiry, he whisks her away and assigns her drudge work. Sam's also nursing mixed up feelings about boyfriend Paul and has family problems besides so, already stressed, she's not going to take this lying down...
Readers of Symon's previous Sam Shephard stories will be aware that she has a rather... unorthodox... approach to the chain of command, frequently landing herself in trouble, so you can expect fireworks here - though, having said that, she also seems to be learning a little discretion and she's a bit more conscious and calculating here about the liberties she takes with the law. I think that's a good thing in this particular story, it means there is less time taken upon by carpetings from DI Johns and more devoted to unpicking the mystery, which is a pretty knotty one. The murder victim here was known to many, but as the centre of a group of Bohemian students who spend much of their time drugged out, it becomes hard to establish who saw him last and when - the days do merge into one another.
For much of the book it's a frustrating trail that Sam has to follow - even when she's allowed to - and Symon must have had a lot of fun designing the sequence of classes, loose ends and red herrings that has DC Shephard running in circles. It certainly allows Sam to show herself at her dogged and creative professional best - even while she's misreading Paul, falling for a handsome chap who wants her to recover his possessions lost when that container ship grounded, and having famine rows with her brother.
I enjoyed seeing Symon develop and explore Sam's character through all this, even if, like her housemate Maggie, I wanted to take her aside for a serious conversation (several times, in fact). Shephard is a compelling, well-rounded protagonist in these stories, a million miles removed from the stereotypical middle-aged male detective with a booze problem (sorry, Morse) yet still interesting and quirky.
With this third book, Symon has extended the character and varied the format, giving a tense and quick moving mystery that entertains throughout and offers a few hints of trials to come for DC Shephard. Looking forward to Book 4 already...!
Welcome to another instalment in the tumultuous private and work life of Samantha (Sam) Shephard, probationary Detective Constable in the Dunedin, New Zealand, police Murder Squad.
The story opens literally with a bang as Sam hurries to intercept looters seeking to profit from after a container ship has run aground. Unfortunately one of them isn't ready to defer before the authority of the Law and she runs into trouble, nursing a headache and other injuries throughout this story.
But that's only the start. A corpse in an advanced state of decay turns up and Sam's grisly, sexist boss DI Johns thinks she's just the right person to witness a most unpleasant recovery and autopsy. And just when she's done the unpleasant part off the job and is getting somewhere with the enquiry, he whisks her away and assigns her drudge work. Sam's also nursing mixed up feelings about boyfriend Paul and has family problems besides so, already stressed, she's not going to take this lying down...
Readers of Symon's previous Sam Shephard stories will be aware that she has a rather... unorthodox... approach to the chain of command, frequently landing herself in trouble, so you can expect fireworks here - though, having said that, she also seems to be learning a little discretion and she's a bit more conscious and calculating here about the liberties she takes with the law. I think that's a good thing in this particular story, it means there is less time taken upon by carpetings from DI Johns and more devoted to unpicking the mystery, which is a pretty knotty one. The murder victim here was known to many, but as the centre of a group of Bohemian students who spend much of their time drugged out, it becomes hard to establish who saw him last and when - the days do merge into one another.
For much of the book it's a frustrating trail that Sam has to follow - even when she's allowed to - and Symon must have had a lot of fun designing the sequence of classes, loose ends and red herrings that has DC Shephard running in circles. It certainly allows Sam to show herself at her dogged and creative professional best - even while she's misreading Paul, falling for a handsome chap who wants her to recover his possessions lost when that container ship grounded, and having famine rows with her brother.
I enjoyed seeing Symon develop and explore Sam's character through all this, even if, like her housemate Maggie, I wanted to take her aside for a serious conversation (several times, in fact). Shephard is a compelling, well-rounded protagonist in these stories, a million miles removed from the stereotypical middle-aged male detective with a booze problem (sorry, Morse) yet still interesting and quirky.
With this third book, Symon has extended the character and varied the format, giving a tense and quick moving mystery that entertains throughout and offers a few hints of trials to come for DC Shephard. Looking forward to Book 4 already...!
April 24, 2020
Reading Vanda Symon has been a little like getting into a hot bath. I tentatively dipped my toe into the water of The Ringmaster, testing the temperature. Gradually I lowered the rest of my body in, taking time to adapt to this new environment. Now, with Containment I have reclined fully, leaning comfortably against the back of the bath, fully immersed into the water and enjoying its embrace.
This is the third in the Sam Shephard series and it feels like the author and character are fully finding their stride. Sam is becoming not only a talented detective but also a wiser operator in a station that still does not fully accept her. She understands where she sits in the hierarchy and her actions are a little more thought through and deliberate. She is maturing into a professional investigator.
In a crime fiction world that is perhaps dominated by Noir, Vanda Symon brings us something that is now refreshingly different. There is a lighter feel to her work, as opposed to the dark, twisted criminal minds that have now become the norm. The characters are relatable and recognisable, as are their everyday motives, and the location is small, local and contained. It is crime entertainment, that doesn’t require you to go into recovery after reading it.
Containment begins with a container ship running aground off the New Zealand coast. Several containers wash up on the beach and the local residents and weekenders of Aramoana seize the opportunity to bag themselves some booty. Thus begins a chain of events that results in a brutal murder and Sam walks a procedural tightrope, sometimes putting a foot down on the wrong side of the rules, to piece together what has happened.
During the recent Orenda Roadshow, Vanda Symon revealed that originally Sam Shephard had been a male character but something just wasn’t working with the writing until she became a woman. It is hard to imagine that first drafting of the character as so much of Sam’s appeal comes from her feminine viewpoint and the shape that gives to both her professional and social relationships. Sam’s voice is central to the books and the nice thing about author events is the opportunity to understand how these key elements develop.
This is another well-paced investigation with an enjoyable blend of appealing, rounded characters and a setting that is becoming engagingly familiar. I like that this series is not only revealing more about Sam Shephard and her immediate circle, but also introducing me to a city half a world away from where I am reading. It takes time to get to know a person and a place and I feel that having read two of Symon’s books now (I still need to get hold of Overkill) I am seeing the rewards of investing in this particular crime series and getting a flavour of a country that has long had a siren call for me.
This is the third in the Sam Shephard series and it feels like the author and character are fully finding their stride. Sam is becoming not only a talented detective but also a wiser operator in a station that still does not fully accept her. She understands where she sits in the hierarchy and her actions are a little more thought through and deliberate. She is maturing into a professional investigator.
In a crime fiction world that is perhaps dominated by Noir, Vanda Symon brings us something that is now refreshingly different. There is a lighter feel to her work, as opposed to the dark, twisted criminal minds that have now become the norm. The characters are relatable and recognisable, as are their everyday motives, and the location is small, local and contained. It is crime entertainment, that doesn’t require you to go into recovery after reading it.
Containment begins with a container ship running aground off the New Zealand coast. Several containers wash up on the beach and the local residents and weekenders of Aramoana seize the opportunity to bag themselves some booty. Thus begins a chain of events that results in a brutal murder and Sam walks a procedural tightrope, sometimes putting a foot down on the wrong side of the rules, to piece together what has happened.
During the recent Orenda Roadshow, Vanda Symon revealed that originally Sam Shephard had been a male character but something just wasn’t working with the writing until she became a woman. It is hard to imagine that first drafting of the character as so much of Sam’s appeal comes from her feminine viewpoint and the shape that gives to both her professional and social relationships. Sam’s voice is central to the books and the nice thing about author events is the opportunity to understand how these key elements develop.
This is another well-paced investigation with an enjoyable blend of appealing, rounded characters and a setting that is becoming engagingly familiar. I like that this series is not only revealing more about Sam Shephard and her immediate circle, but also introducing me to a city half a world away from where I am reading. It takes time to get to know a person and a place and I feel that having read two of Symon’s books now (I still need to get hold of Overkill) I am seeing the rewards of investing in this particular crime series and getting a flavour of a country that has long had a siren call for me.
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