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Fenway Stevenson Mysteries #1
The Reluctant Coroner
Blood is thicker than oil--until murder is involved. Fenway Stevenson doesn't want to return to the coastal town where her estranged father is practically king. But the death of her mother draws her back home--and the murder of the county coroner draws her into a deepening conspiracy. As the body count rises and all signs seem to point toward her father's oil company, will Fenway uncover the truth before family bonds become deadly?
540 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
3118 people are currently reading
1801 people want to read
About the author
Paul Austin Ardoin
28 books126 followersPaul Austin Ardoin is the author of the Fenway Stevenson Mysteries. A California native with a degree in creative writing from UC Santa Barbara, Ardoin has also published short fiction and humorous essays in Bottomfish and Sweet Fancy Moses. His non-fiction articles about computer security have appeared in California Computer News and European Communications. He lives in the Sacramento area with his wife, two teenagers, and a menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
September 29, 2021
I thought I would like this more but now that I’m finished, I can only say I have mixed feelings. This is the story of Fenway Stevenson, a young nurse practitioner that is in the process of taking some additional forensic classes. She’s between jobs in Seattle when her estranged father, one of the most influential businessmen in her childhood California hometown, offers her a lifeline. He sets her up in one of his apartment buildings and she soon has a job offer as a temporary coroner. Her first case is to investigate the murder of the coroner she’s replacing. Now, I’m aware that it takes no special skills to be a coroner, unlike a medical examiner. They basically just go to the scene and sign off on the body. However, in this county, the coroner’s job is to lead a whole investigative team. It includes detectives, an attorney, and support staff. I just feel like in real life, if a coroner was in charge of investigating murders and unexplained deaths, they should at least have some background or experience in the subject. It just felt unprofessional and half-assed. Plus, the attorney that works with the group is supposed to make sure that things are done by the book so there are no issues when a case goes to court. However, it seems like so many things that happened would have made a defense attorney laugh them right out of the room.
I’m not usually a person that seeks out a strong female character for the protagonist. I just want to read a good story no matter who it revolves around. I believe the author in this case created Fenway to be this type of character. At times, I would agree. But other times, she goes right off the rails and sets the women’s movement back decades.
All this being said, I did find the story interesting enough to read it through to the end. I would be willing to read one more in the series and see if things settled down some from what bugged me in this first one. If not, that’s probably where I will stop.
I’m not usually a person that seeks out a strong female character for the protagonist. I just want to read a good story no matter who it revolves around. I believe the author in this case created Fenway to be this type of character. At times, I would agree. But other times, she goes right off the rails and sets the women’s movement back decades.
All this being said, I did find the story interesting enough to read it through to the end. I would be willing to read one more in the series and see if things settled down some from what bugged me in this first one. If not, that’s probably where I will stop.
July 24, 2020
Another beautiful genius.
An unemployed nurse practitioner becomes a coroner and solves complex crimes while making the inept sheriff fall in lust of her and winning over the crusty police officer assigned to work with her and her staff.
The plot takes in a women on her staff whose cheating husband is held for murder of the former despicable coroner then murdered himself while in prison .
The sheriff takes advice and direction from this new coroner who has been on the job for 6 hours and whose father is the richest man in the county. Of course she has a few courses in forensic science so of course she is now the great crime solver.
Not to forget the the other characters rounding up this story the young officer that has a crush on the nerdy genius computer tech and assorted other staff their to be directed by our heroic coroner. Who by the way was a abandoned by her rich father and provided no support to her now deceased beloved artist mother for over 20 years.
Nuggets of information that was not revealed earlier that in most cases would have been easily known such as Rachel who is Fenways assistant father who works for Fenways father was the vengeance killer . How could this not have come up in real life.
The sheriff who should have been solving the case was so impotent that he allows this new appointment to run the police department in less then 24 hours.
Won’t be buying any more of this series.
An unemployed nurse practitioner becomes a coroner and solves complex crimes while making the inept sheriff fall in lust of her and winning over the crusty police officer assigned to work with her and her staff.
The plot takes in a women on her staff whose cheating husband is held for murder of the former despicable coroner then murdered himself while in prison .
The sheriff takes advice and direction from this new coroner who has been on the job for 6 hours and whose father is the richest man in the county. Of course she has a few courses in forensic science so of course she is now the great crime solver.
Not to forget the the other characters rounding up this story the young officer that has a crush on the nerdy genius computer tech and assorted other staff their to be directed by our heroic coroner. Who by the way was a abandoned by her rich father and provided no support to her now deceased beloved artist mother for over 20 years.
Nuggets of information that was not revealed earlier that in most cases would have been easily known such as Rachel who is Fenways assistant father who works for Fenways father was the vengeance killer . How could this not have come up in real life.
The sheriff who should have been solving the case was so impotent that he allows this new appointment to run the police department in less then 24 hours.
Won’t be buying any more of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2018
I really enjoyed “The Reluctant Coroner.” I must admit it took me 20-30 pages to warm up to the characters, but once I did I found myself up way past my bedtime to keep reading.
Highlights:
- The storyline was complicated just enough to keep me focused on the mystery.
- Interesting details helped me really picture Fenway walk from the apartment to the coffee place, the offices, etc. I get bored with the normal background info… in “Coroner” I wasn’t bored and I could really “see” where the action was.
- The detail around computer security exposes the author’s background in tech.
- I liked how race was woven into the story, with “polite” racism exposed.
- Knowing there is another one in the works! I'm impressed this is the author's first book. Well written and a joy to read.
Highlights:
- The storyline was complicated just enough to keep me focused on the mystery.
- Interesting details helped me really picture Fenway walk from the apartment to the coffee place, the offices, etc. I get bored with the normal background info… in “Coroner” I wasn’t bored and I could really “see” where the action was.
- The detail around computer security exposes the author’s background in tech.
- I liked how race was woven into the story, with “polite” racism exposed.
- Knowing there is another one in the works! I'm impressed this is the author's first book. Well written and a joy to read.
December 12, 2018
THE RELUCTANT CORONER is a book I liked enough to make a long twitter thread about, which is frankly high praise coming from me. Here’s an edited version of that thread:
I don’t read mysteries much, so I was surprised by how much I liked THE RELUCTANT CORONER. In a lot of ways, it fits the standard mystery novel bill — with the bonus that the main character has a good reason to be involved in this & future murder investigations. (Random civilians investigating multiple distinct murders is a pet peeve of mine, let’s carry on.)
It’s got great pacing, a well-written main character, some glorious tension in her personal life that weaves into her professional life & vice versa.
One of the things I liked about THE RELUCTANT CORONER is the way race is acknowledged and present (the MC is a black woman) but the white male author doesn’t try to make a Statement about Being Black. Her blackness is present in small details (how she does her hair, etc) and also notable interactions (folks who have only met her white father are sometimes/often surprised she’s black; some react better than others). On the flip side of that coin, several folks of color are described with food words (mocha, coffee, chocolate) which is a practice that contributes to othering, objectifying, and exotifying people of color, so be aware of that.
I already mentioned the pacing, but that’s worth more exploration too. My personal preference is usually for novels with soft, tender pacing and an emphasis on character over plot, and it’s true that this book doesn’t fit that bill — but I didn’t mind. In fact, the faster pacing, the focus on furthering the action, the growth and exploration of character almost exclusively through direct plot points — these are all important parts of a murder mystery because they fit the tone. Ardoin definitely doesn’t abandon character for the sake of plot, although character rightly takes an occasional back seat.
The energy is just so good; it carries the reader straight through without needing or wanting to pause for breath. (I did put it down several times during the climax, but that was because the suspense was so strong and I am a little bit of a wimp.) I read this book in under 24 hours, which only happens when the hook is powerful and I get invested quickly, which I absolutely did.
I am just now realizing I haven’t actually described even the premise, but whatever, you can find that in the book description. My job is to tell you that this book is great, I loved it, and you should read it! I know I sound like a fourth grader giving a book report, but seriously, y’all. Such a good read. Don’t skip it.
I don’t read mysteries much, so I was surprised by how much I liked THE RELUCTANT CORONER. In a lot of ways, it fits the standard mystery novel bill — with the bonus that the main character has a good reason to be involved in this & future murder investigations. (Random civilians investigating multiple distinct murders is a pet peeve of mine, let’s carry on.)
It’s got great pacing, a well-written main character, some glorious tension in her personal life that weaves into her professional life & vice versa.
One of the things I liked about THE RELUCTANT CORONER is the way race is acknowledged and present (the MC is a black woman) but the white male author doesn’t try to make a Statement about Being Black. Her blackness is present in small details (how she does her hair, etc) and also notable interactions (folks who have only met her white father are sometimes/often surprised she’s black; some react better than others). On the flip side of that coin, several folks of color are described with food words (mocha, coffee, chocolate) which is a practice that contributes to othering, objectifying, and exotifying people of color, so be aware of that.
I already mentioned the pacing, but that’s worth more exploration too. My personal preference is usually for novels with soft, tender pacing and an emphasis on character over plot, and it’s true that this book doesn’t fit that bill — but I didn’t mind. In fact, the faster pacing, the focus on furthering the action, the growth and exploration of character almost exclusively through direct plot points — these are all important parts of a murder mystery because they fit the tone. Ardoin definitely doesn’t abandon character for the sake of plot, although character rightly takes an occasional back seat.
The energy is just so good; it carries the reader straight through without needing or wanting to pause for breath. (I did put it down several times during the climax, but that was because the suspense was so strong and I am a little bit of a wimp.) I read this book in under 24 hours, which only happens when the hook is powerful and I get invested quickly, which I absolutely did.
I am just now realizing I haven’t actually described even the premise, but whatever, you can find that in the book description. My job is to tell you that this book is great, I loved it, and you should read it! I know I sound like a fourth grader giving a book report, but seriously, y’all. Such a good read. Don’t skip it.
May 29, 2022
An interesting take on the Murder Mystery genre. Not always really deep or difficult but an enjoyable and quick romp. Certainly a nice break from the groups of books I normally read.
August 9, 2020
This was one of the best books I've read this year. Normally I waddle through a read, sometimes taking weeks to finish a book. But this one was different. It was hard to put down. The protagonist is one of the reasons, she is feisty, vulnerable and endearing. The mystery wasn't simple, it grew with the story and branched out and threw red herrings and at times, left one holding their breath. There was plenty of action and lots of suspects. One didn't know who to trust. It is one of those books you stay up late reading and when it's over, you want to download the second book and keep going. I definitely recommend this one.
February 13, 2021
Fenway Stevenson doesn't have any time to adjust to her new and unexpected job before she's involved in solving a murder. And it could be that her father might be involved. Her task won't be easy since a lot of people in town don't trust she can be unbiased.
This was a fast read with some interesting characters. There's a slight love interest, but the focus is on the crime while revealing Fenway's relationship with her estranged father. Minor characters like Dez add to the enjoyment of the story.
While the mystery doesn't knock your socks off, the book's well-written and you grow to like Fenway.
This was a fast read with some interesting characters. There's a slight love interest, but the focus is on the crime while revealing Fenway's relationship with her estranged father. Minor characters like Dez add to the enjoyment of the story.
While the mystery doesn't knock your socks off, the book's well-written and you grow to like Fenway.
May 15, 2018
The Reluctant Coroner is written in a way that is easy to read and hard to put down. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist told me I was wrong. Paul Ardoin is savvy enough to give just enough of the characters to keep the reader interested, but wanting more. I look forward to more of Fenway and McVie, and the whole Dominguez County Sheriff team.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which in no way affected my review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which in no way affected my review.
September 25, 2020
Delightful tale! Well-written, good character development (some iffy personalities, which helps it be more believable), nice incorporation of a variety of human colors and national origins. Very satisfying, even though the action and capabilities of the main character develop more quickly than seems possible.
Read
November 17, 2021There is much that is good about this mystery. The pace, situation and plot are all good. However, Fenway is too annoying. She obviously never watched CSI, NCIS or any of the myriad crime dramas as her procedural knowledge is non-existent. A high school student would handle many things better than she does - from failing to inspect and secure crime scenes, to sleeping with a married suspect, she shows poor judgement that inhibits engaging with her.
Her situation as a stop-gap coroner is intriguing, and the fact that she is the daughter of a local industrialist who is both admired and hated creates an excellent dynamic. However, she doesn't act with any consistency. Okay, she's only in her twenties, but she makes little attempt to adapt her behavior to the gravitas of her job. It doesn't help that she repeatedly says, "I should have known better."
Most egregiously, readers are prevented from "solving" the case because a crucial piece of information is withheld until the final chapters. This is not even plausible, given the gossipy nature of her colleagues.
All of these are things that a decent editor would have corrected. Perhaps he/she tried.
Her situation as a stop-gap coroner is intriguing, and the fact that she is the daughter of a local industrialist who is both admired and hated creates an excellent dynamic. However, she doesn't act with any consistency. Okay, she's only in her twenties, but she makes little attempt to adapt her behavior to the gravitas of her job. It doesn't help that she repeatedly says, "I should have known better."
Most egregiously, readers are prevented from "solving" the case because a crucial piece of information is withheld until the final chapters. This is not even plausible, given the gossipy nature of her colleagues.
All of these are things that a decent editor would have corrected. Perhaps he/she tried.
September 6, 2020
Yhis is the 1st book that I have read from this author. If any of his other books are similar to this, I look forward to reading this series.
The story relates to Fenway, whose mother died recently, and who's father is a major figure in the location she is moving to. She has been estranged from him for at least 20 years. He has made arangements to have her move into an apartment complex that he owns and has also approached the sheriff to possibly providing her with a job. This job relates to a temporary appointment of Coroner in the county. Her 1st assignment is to determine who killed the coroner that she is replacing.
Her background does not cover law enforcement, but she was a nurse practitioner and just 1 credit shy of her Masters in Forensics. With this background she has to try and make sense of the clues and bring the murderer to justice.. The twists and turns that this takes is what gives the story credence.
If you want to know what happens, I highly recommend that you read this.
The story relates to Fenway, whose mother died recently, and who's father is a major figure in the location she is moving to. She has been estranged from him for at least 20 years. He has made arangements to have her move into an apartment complex that he owns and has also approached the sheriff to possibly providing her with a job. This job relates to a temporary appointment of Coroner in the county. Her 1st assignment is to determine who killed the coroner that she is replacing.
Her background does not cover law enforcement, but she was a nurse practitioner and just 1 credit shy of her Masters in Forensics. With this background she has to try and make sense of the clues and bring the murderer to justice.. The twists and turns that this takes is what gives the story credence.
If you want to know what happens, I highly recommend that you read this.
June 24, 2018
Full disclosure: this is not a book I would have picked up if I didn't know the author. This is not my favorite genre and anything with "Coroner" in the title leaves me expecting lots of detailed autopsies and gore, which is not my thing. So I was pleasantly surprised by this book, which, although it contains all the tightly-plotted elements of a thriller, is not a gross-out book and is also a nice character study. I found the protagonist to be very human and relatable, and loved that Fenway was allowed to make real mistakes and wasn't just magically genius at something she's never done before. She struggled the way someone who is new to a profession would struggle, and she made foolish but understandable decisions in her family and romantic relationships the way real people do. This is a character I would be happy to follow through multiple books.
January 1, 2022
Trigger alert
This book needs a trigger warning on it of some sort for those who have experienced sexual abuse. This might be a great book, but not when it triggers.
This book needs a trigger warning on it of some sort for those who have experienced sexual abuse. This might be a great book, but not when it triggers.
June 29, 2025
Skillfully Written
The title didn't pull me in but I read the first few words, the second page and then the first chapter. Before long I was half way through the book. It was a satisfying read.
The title didn't pull me in but I read the first few words, the second page and then the first chapter. Before long I was half way through the book. It was a satisfying read.
August 13, 2020
Enjoyable mystery.
Fenway is new to town and she takes up the job of the coroner and the catch is that the previous coroner had been killed.
Fenway’s character and the town she comes into has been etched very well by the author. Her relationship with the town and its people was unique despite the position she held there.
Then the mystery itself was complicated with enough twists and turns all the way through.
Enjoyed reading it.
Fenway is new to town and she takes up the job of the coroner and the catch is that the previous coroner had been killed.
Fenway’s character and the town she comes into has been etched very well by the author. Her relationship with the town and its people was unique despite the position she held there.
Then the mystery itself was complicated with enough twists and turns all the way through.
Enjoyed reading it.
November 3, 2025
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this novel from EReaderNews, author Paul Austin Ardoin, and publisher Pax Ardsen. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have to admit I sat on this book for many months - pausing its rise to the top of my TBR books list when authors I was familiar with were added to the stack. Until I read the collection of short stories called 12 Shots last week and fell in love with this man's style and his protagonists. And the little town of Estancia, California.
Fenway is leery of moving from Seattle to the California town her father basically 'owns' after the very recent death of her mother and the loss of funding at her nursing job in the free clinic, but she's between a rock and a hard place. How bad can it be? She hasn't seen the man for almost twenty years and he missed her mother's funeral, but he offers her a temporary job until the fall elections as the county coroner after the murder of the currently elected coroner and a reduced rent at an apartment in one of his many owned buildings. He is now all the family she has left. She has all the required degrees to qualify for the fill-in job, and it will give her time to complete her Master's Degree in Forensics online at Seattle University. That break in her life will give her a new path to follow. She desperately needs a new path to follow. And even though her father has not been involved in her life, even financially, since the divorce, how bad can it really be?
She is about to find out. Poor Fenway.
November 3, 2025
FINALLY got back into the world of Fenway Stevenson Coroner with the addition of the rest of this series, and I have to tell you, it's a doozie of a tale, told very well. I re-read number one and the Short tale from the 12 Shots collection of short stories, 1.5 in the series titled The Coroner and the Body in the Bath, before tackling the balance of this series, and I have to say it's as intriguing still as I thought it to be years ago. I am thoroughly enjoying these characters and their surroundings in California and Seattle. Good people.
REVIEWED AGAIN on November 3, 2025, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub. and Kobo.
REVIEWED on April 24, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
Fenway is leery of moving from Seattle to the California town her father basically 'owns' after the very recent death of her mother and the loss of funding at her nursing job in the free clinic, but she's between a rock and a hard place. How bad can it be? She hasn't seen the man for almost twenty years and he missed her mother's funeral, but he offers her a temporary job until the fall elections as the county coroner after the murder of the currently elected coroner and a reduced rent at an apartment in one of his many owned buildings. He is now all the family she has left. She has all the required degrees to qualify for the fill-in job, and it will give her time to complete her Master's Degree in Forensics online at Seattle University. That break in her life will give her a new path to follow. She desperately needs a new path to follow. And even though her father has not been involved in her life, even financially, since the divorce, how bad can it really be?
She is about to find out. Poor Fenway.
November 3, 2025
FINALLY got back into the world of Fenway Stevenson Coroner with the addition of the rest of this series, and I have to tell you, it's a doozie of a tale, told very well. I re-read number one and the Short tale from the 12 Shots collection of short stories, 1.5 in the series titled The Coroner and the Body in the Bath, before tackling the balance of this series, and I have to say it's as intriguing still as I thought it to be years ago. I am thoroughly enjoying these characters and their surroundings in California and Seattle. Good people.
REVIEWED AGAIN on November 3, 2025, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub. and Kobo.
REVIEWED on April 24, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
October 8, 2021
3.5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Your typical “who dun it” murder mystery, it was fun and entertaining… it kept me guess for the half or so.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Your typical “who dun it” murder mystery, it was fun and entertaining… it kept me guess for the half or so.
June 18, 2021
Fenway Stevenson is a nurse, and also just one course shy of a masters in forensic sciences. Her estranged father, Nathaniel Ferris, is an oil tycoon who seems to own most of Estancia (a town more than a little reminiscent of several on California's central coast). When Estancia's coroner is murdered, Ferris convinces the town sheriff, Craig McVie, to appoint Fenway coroner until the election. That way, a total outsider is investigating the murder.
Well, pretty soon it's apparent that Walker, the dead man, had very few admirers ... and for good reason. Furthermore, it seems that Ferris is up to his knees in bad stuff. Fenway's caught in the middle of it all ... and that's to say nothing of her attraction to the very married McVie.
Next thing you know, someone's got it in for Fenway herself, because she's getting too close to the answers.
Equal parts fair play puzzle and thriller, this book was an entertaining read. I didn't see the "whodunnit" coming at all, but I could see in retrospect how the groundwork was laid. Nicely done.
Well, pretty soon it's apparent that Walker, the dead man, had very few admirers ... and for good reason. Furthermore, it seems that Ferris is up to his knees in bad stuff. Fenway's caught in the middle of it all ... and that's to say nothing of her attraction to the very married McVie.
Next thing you know, someone's got it in for Fenway herself, because she's getting too close to the answers.
Equal parts fair play puzzle and thriller, this book was an entertaining read. I didn't see the "whodunnit" coming at all, but I could see in retrospect how the groundwork was laid. Nicely done.
August 7, 2020
First in the series and I know I will be seeking more of these stories out. It was a typical mystery...dead body, plenty of suspects and dangerous situations. But what wasn't typical were the characters. Fenway is black, her father is white, and how he got away not paying alimony or child support for all those years is mind boggling, but it that is what lent a little animosity to the relationship between them. It's also strange that her father is so helpful at this point in her life, so she suspects ulterior motives. She reluctantly takes the job as coroner in a place where her father is one of the most important citizens and employer. The previous coroner had been murdered, and it becomes Fenway's first case. She proves to be a competent and intelligent coroner, and it is clear by the end of the story, that what is to be a temporary position, may inspire her to keep on after her term is up. I look forward to more Fenway adventures.
February 27, 2021
This is the first book that I've read by this author. I struggled with how to rate it. On one hand, the plot kept me intrigued and I liked some of the characters. On the other hand, there was a lot of deceit and questionable morals. So I finally settled on an average rating. I might do 3.5 stars on sites that allow a half star rating.
I liked Fenway at first--despite her strange name. I lost respect for her when she chose to seduce a married character and rationalized it
One of the secondary characters blurts out a sexual preference out of the blue.
I didn't guess who the culprit was but I'm not sure we, as readers, were given the information we needed to put it together until closer to the time that the author wanted to reveal who done it.
I liked Fenway at first--despite her strange name. I lost respect for her when she chose to seduce a married character and rationalized it
One of the secondary characters blurts out a sexual preference out of the blue.
I didn't guess who the culprit was but I'm not sure we, as readers, were given the information we needed to put it together until closer to the time that the author wanted to reveal who done it.
September 27, 2020
Just okay
Overall this book was a bit of a disappointment. In general I prefer books with a strong woman heroine. In the book the protagonist comes across as very immature. She's supposed to be in her mid-twenties but makes the decisions of a teenager. For me, it makes the story line unbelievable and the character sort of unlikable.
Overall this book was a bit of a disappointment. In general I prefer books with a strong woman heroine. In the book the protagonist comes across as very immature. She's supposed to be in her mid-twenties but makes the decisions of a teenager. For me, it makes the story line unbelievable and the character sort of unlikable.
August 6, 2020
I received this book free from the kobo store. Will it win an Edgar award or Pulitzer prize? No, but when you are laid up with a fractured fibula , it was entertaining enough . Likeable characters, decent storyline, and a tad tedious towards the end.
March 17, 2024
This is one of the few novels I finished in one sitting! The pacing and tension is kept well throughout, and I'm excited to pick up the next in the series.
September 2, 2024
This is a mystery about a woman who goes back home and gets drawn into a murder based on a possible conspiracy.
It was a nice introduction to Fenway Stevenson, a Nurse Practitioner who is in need of a job. She goes back home where her father owns most of the properties and businesses. He wanted her there to try and make up for the lost years. He also wanted her to take the Coroner position and help solved why the previous one, Walker was killed.
Fenway was an easy character to invest in as well as Dez. I didn’t like some of Fenway’s choices but understood since she was new in her position and really didn’t know the people. The relationship with her father was a nice conflict for her character development.
The author did a good job making it hard to figure out who was behind everything in this book. He hid the culprit well because I had no clue and I’m usually good at these things. I like there were several suspects to choose from since they all didn’t like the victim. I also like that there was some victims because the killer needed a sacrifice to switch things up and point the attention to someone else.
Overall this was a good book and I look forward to what else Fenway will get herself into.
It was a nice introduction to Fenway Stevenson, a Nurse Practitioner who is in need of a job. She goes back home where her father owns most of the properties and businesses. He wanted her there to try and make up for the lost years. He also wanted her to take the Coroner position and help solved why the previous one, Walker was killed.
Fenway was an easy character to invest in as well as Dez. I didn’t like some of Fenway’s choices but understood since she was new in her position and really didn’t know the people. The relationship with her father was a nice conflict for her character development.
The author did a good job making it hard to figure out who was behind everything in this book. He hid the culprit well because I had no clue and I’m usually good at these things. I like there were several suspects to choose from since they all didn’t like the victim. I also like that there was some victims because the killer needed a sacrifice to switch things up and point the attention to someone else.
Overall this was a good book and I look forward to what else Fenway will get herself into.
October 14, 2020
An On the Edge of Your Seat Mystery
Fenway reluctantly returns home after the death of her mother. She then ends up finding herself smack dab in the middle of a mystery. There are lots of twists and turns in the quick moving mystery.
Fenway reluctantly returns home after the death of her mother. She then ends up finding herself smack dab in the middle of a mystery. There are lots of twists and turns in the quick moving mystery.
June 12, 2021
Better than I thought it would be. Book one in a seven book series todate. Conclusion was kind of forced and it need a better opening to enforce Fenway's back story. Overall I did like it pretty good. Will probably look into more books in this series. Check it out.
September 27, 2022
A really well organized murder mystery. Enough details that if you paid really close attention you could maybe solve it but not so many that it’s blatantly obvious and you get bored. Dialogue is well written and natural and the characters are interesting.
July 9, 2023
Highly engaging story and characters.
November 19, 2024
This book is a commendable beginning to a series which intrigued me enough to add the next book to my to read list. Small town, dominated by a wealthy man, whose coroner is murdered. So the wealthy man brings his estranged daughter in to temporarily replace dead coroner. Can she build the trust of the community given she is a nepo baby?
December 6, 2022
The reluctant Coroner. Paul Austin Ardoin.
Zat gratis bij aanschaf van een Vivlio-e-reader. Mijn verwachtingen waren dus niet hooggespannen, maar ik dacht, wel ja, waarom niet als tussendoortje. Helaas…
Het hoofdpersonage Fenway Stevenson is een 28-jarige gezondheidswerkster (“a nurse”) met interesse en opleiding in forensisch onderzoek. Haar vader Nathaniel Ferris is een olietycoon in Californië, maar sterk van haar vervreemd.
Eerste vraag: Fenway is blijkbaar gekleurd, maar haar vader is wit. Al degenen die weten dat zij de dochter van Nathaniel Ferris is, maar haar nog nooit gezien hebben, schrikken van haar huidskleur. Hoe zit dat dan juist? Is ze geadopteerd of is ze een halfbloed en was haar moeder zwart? Wordt niet duidelijk gemaakt in het eerste boek van de reeks (en ik ben echt niet van plan er nog een te lezen). En zo zijn er nog elementen, belangrijk voor het plot, die door de schrijver bewust heel lang achtergehouden worden. Zo is het gemakkelijk om mysterie op te bouwen.
Gratis boek, in het Engels dus. De tekst omvat heel veel dialogen, die allemaal in vrij simplistische spreektaal zijn, met een hoop Amerikaanse slang, die ik niet ken. Lastig. Een Nederlandse vertaling is niet direct te verwachten, denk ik, en ik zou ook geen enkele Nederlandse uitgever aanraden hier geld in te steken.
SPOILERS!!
Verder is het allemaal heel Amerikaans in de slechtste zin van het woord. Overdreven politiek correct, stoerdoenerij, zwart-witte karakters, of liever karikaturen, en vooral een opeenstapeling van psychologische en feitelijke onmogelijkheden. Dez, de wat oudere zwarte sergeant mag tegen haar baas Fenway onbeleefd en superieur doen, Barry Klein, een van de stadsnotabelen, is wit en een kleinzielig rancuneus ventje en wordt dus straffeloos afgeblaft, er is uiteraard een misbruikte jonge vrouw die 30 seconden na kennismaking haar hart uitstort bij Fenway, hoewel ze zelfs haar man nog niet in vertrouwen heeft genomen. Fenway krijgt zomaar de tijdelijke job van coroner aangeboden, hoewel ze enkel een theoretische cursus forensische wetenschappen heeft gevolgd (en dan nog maar half). Een moord wordt de eerste dagen nauwelijks onderzocht. Een van de verdachten, Dylan, rijdt vrolijk rond met zijn opvallende pick-up, wordt om de haverklap gesignaleerd in de buurt van waar de sheriff woont, loopt daar ook een parkeerboete op, en dan gaat Fenway er zonder meer van uit dat hij achter de 16-jarige dochter van de sheriff aanzit. Waarom in godsnaam? In die straat wonen nog 20 of 30 andere gezinnen. Fenway kruipt bij de eerste de beste gelegenheid in de pijp met de sheriff, die getrouwd is, een collega op het werk, en nog een verdachte ook, en die eerst drie keer heeft zitten roepen “Nee, nee, nee, dat gaan we niet doen!” Als een man dat bij een vrouw had geprobeerd, was het verkrachting geweest. De politiemannen komen aanzetten met een pistool dat een ander kaliber heeft dan de kogels die bij de moord gebruikt zijn, waarop de patholoog na 3 seconden zucht: jongens, het kaliber klopt niet. Hebben politiemensen, die dagelijks met vuurwapens omgaan, nu echt een wapendeskundige nodig om te weten welk kaliber een bepaald pistool heeft? De patholoog gaat trouwens vlot door op haar elan (is uiteraard een vrouw, en een Aziatische bovendien): ze kan moeiteloos met het blote oog het onderscheid maken tussen een wurging met een koord of een ophanging met (hetzelfde) koord. Tsjongejonge, is het nu echt zo moeilijk om een klein beetje geloofwaardigheid in te bouwen? En het ergste is nog, dat één personage, Dez, dat allemaal ook doorheeft en Fenway constant moet corrigeren en bij de les houden. Dez, 55 jaar, vrouw, zwart en sergeant, is voor mij dus de hoofdpersoon van dit verhaal. En schrijver: als je één personage kunt creëren dat wél logisch denkt en zich redelijk gedraagt, waarom moet de rest dan een hoop kiekens zonder kop zijn? Dit is echt een zwaktebod: alleman loopt in zeven sloten tegelijk, waardoor het ene normale personage er compleet bovenuit springt.
Zat gratis bij aanschaf van een Vivlio-e-reader. Mijn verwachtingen waren dus niet hooggespannen, maar ik dacht, wel ja, waarom niet als tussendoortje. Helaas…
Het hoofdpersonage Fenway Stevenson is een 28-jarige gezondheidswerkster (“a nurse”) met interesse en opleiding in forensisch onderzoek. Haar vader Nathaniel Ferris is een olietycoon in Californië, maar sterk van haar vervreemd.
Eerste vraag: Fenway is blijkbaar gekleurd, maar haar vader is wit. Al degenen die weten dat zij de dochter van Nathaniel Ferris is, maar haar nog nooit gezien hebben, schrikken van haar huidskleur. Hoe zit dat dan juist? Is ze geadopteerd of is ze een halfbloed en was haar moeder zwart? Wordt niet duidelijk gemaakt in het eerste boek van de reeks (en ik ben echt niet van plan er nog een te lezen). En zo zijn er nog elementen, belangrijk voor het plot, die door de schrijver bewust heel lang achtergehouden worden. Zo is het gemakkelijk om mysterie op te bouwen.
Gratis boek, in het Engels dus. De tekst omvat heel veel dialogen, die allemaal in vrij simplistische spreektaal zijn, met een hoop Amerikaanse slang, die ik niet ken. Lastig. Een Nederlandse vertaling is niet direct te verwachten, denk ik, en ik zou ook geen enkele Nederlandse uitgever aanraden hier geld in te steken.
SPOILERS!!
Verder is het allemaal heel Amerikaans in de slechtste zin van het woord. Overdreven politiek correct, stoerdoenerij, zwart-witte karakters, of liever karikaturen, en vooral een opeenstapeling van psychologische en feitelijke onmogelijkheden. Dez, de wat oudere zwarte sergeant mag tegen haar baas Fenway onbeleefd en superieur doen, Barry Klein, een van de stadsnotabelen, is wit en een kleinzielig rancuneus ventje en wordt dus straffeloos afgeblaft, er is uiteraard een misbruikte jonge vrouw die 30 seconden na kennismaking haar hart uitstort bij Fenway, hoewel ze zelfs haar man nog niet in vertrouwen heeft genomen. Fenway krijgt zomaar de tijdelijke job van coroner aangeboden, hoewel ze enkel een theoretische cursus forensische wetenschappen heeft gevolgd (en dan nog maar half). Een moord wordt de eerste dagen nauwelijks onderzocht. Een van de verdachten, Dylan, rijdt vrolijk rond met zijn opvallende pick-up, wordt om de haverklap gesignaleerd in de buurt van waar de sheriff woont, loopt daar ook een parkeerboete op, en dan gaat Fenway er zonder meer van uit dat hij achter de 16-jarige dochter van de sheriff aanzit. Waarom in godsnaam? In die straat wonen nog 20 of 30 andere gezinnen. Fenway kruipt bij de eerste de beste gelegenheid in de pijp met de sheriff, die getrouwd is, een collega op het werk, en nog een verdachte ook, en die eerst drie keer heeft zitten roepen “Nee, nee, nee, dat gaan we niet doen!” Als een man dat bij een vrouw had geprobeerd, was het verkrachting geweest. De politiemannen komen aanzetten met een pistool dat een ander kaliber heeft dan de kogels die bij de moord gebruikt zijn, waarop de patholoog na 3 seconden zucht: jongens, het kaliber klopt niet. Hebben politiemensen, die dagelijks met vuurwapens omgaan, nu echt een wapendeskundige nodig om te weten welk kaliber een bepaald pistool heeft? De patholoog gaat trouwens vlot door op haar elan (is uiteraard een vrouw, en een Aziatische bovendien): ze kan moeiteloos met het blote oog het onderscheid maken tussen een wurging met een koord of een ophanging met (hetzelfde) koord. Tsjongejonge, is het nu echt zo moeilijk om een klein beetje geloofwaardigheid in te bouwen? En het ergste is nog, dat één personage, Dez, dat allemaal ook doorheeft en Fenway constant moet corrigeren en bij de les houden. Dez, 55 jaar, vrouw, zwart en sergeant, is voor mij dus de hoofdpersoon van dit verhaal. En schrijver: als je één personage kunt creëren dat wél logisch denkt en zich redelijk gedraagt, waarom moet de rest dan een hoop kiekens zonder kop zijn? Dit is echt een zwaktebod: alleman loopt in zeven sloten tegelijk, waardoor het ene normale personage er compleet bovenuit springt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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