Review: A Dark Chill

 

A Dark Chill

Bernadette Calonego

Detective Calista Gates of the RMCP is taking on a new job as Police Chief in the small town of St. Anthony in Newfoundland. She hasn't even settled into her new home when she discovers a twelve-year-old boy tied up and abandoned at a campsite. He's too scared to say what happened or who is to blame. The locals think it's all some kind of childish prank, but Gates believes it's something far more dangerous and sinister. Before she can make any headway with the investigation, she's confronted with an incident involving a group of college students trying to prove they can climb an iceberg. Could they have something to do with the incident at the campground? Do they have something to hide? When Owen, a local boy, goes missing, Gates has to act fast to find him. The more she investigates, the more she realizes St. Anthony's is not a quiet backwater. The residents of this small town seem to have a lot of secrets, and she'll have to unravel quite a few of them if she wants to find a killer.

A Dark Chill is another fast-paced, suspenseful mystery from Calonego that I just couldn't put down. It has all the elements that make for a great read: thrilling twists and turns, excellent character development, and enough action to ensure there is never a dull moment in the story. I love how she draws the reader right into Calista's world. She's vulnerable due to her past and the fact that she's still suffering from a traumatic event that happened while she was working in Vancouver. But Calista is determined to be the best detective she can be no matter where she's posted. And while this is a stand-alone book, I love that it not only draws on events from the previous book it also sets the stage for Calista's personal story to continue in another edition. One that I can't wait to read.

Review: Cries From The Cold

Cries From the Cold

Bernadette Calonego

Detective Calista Gates of the Vancouver RCMP is recovering from a violent assault when she learns she's being transferred to a small coastal town in Labrador. The thought of cold, ice, and snow is not encouraging, but she doesn't have a choice if she wants to keep her career afloat. Upon arrival, she is quickly caught up in a cold case. The remains of a local girl Lorna Taylor who went missing three years ago, have appeared in a wooden box with strange markings. Now Calista has to prove to her new team of colleagues that she can hold her own in the investigation. But, before she can do that, another body is found; this time, it's a prominent chef planning to help with a charity dinner for the local medical clinic. In a small town like Port Brendan, secrets are rife, and gossip is sustenance for the isolated locals which means Calista will have to dig deep to uncover the killer. But will she be quick enough to keep the town and herself safe?

Cries From The Cold is a riveting story that kept me glued to the pages. It's full of mystery, adventure, and engaging characters. I loved Calista Gates. Despite her difficulties and the setbacks she's experienced, she's still a fighter. I felt like I was able to look over her shoulder throughout the investigation. And, getting to see the points of view of some of the other main characters gave this story a lot of depth which helped me feel like I was a part of all the scenes. I'm hoping there will be more in this series to come because I can't wait to find out more about Calista's somewhat mysterious past and that of her ex-husband back in Vancouver as well. All in all, this was a fun and satisfying read.

Thanks to the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Review: Murderous Morning

Murderous Morning

Bernadette Calonego

When Tessa Griffins finds out her foster sister, Fran, is missing, and Fran's husband and children have been found dead, she drops everything at the law firm where she works in Vancouver to get to the small town of Whatou Lake, in British Columbia where her parents live. She hasn't been back for some time, and she's not sure what she will find, except old memories she's tried to forget. But, she has to help out in the search for Fran. She will also have to dig deep to find out what happened at the remote farm where Fran's husband and children died. Could it be poachers? Or is it something more sinister that's responsible for all the carnage?

Calonego has written a riveting mystery that will keep fans glued to the page. I loved that this story had many exciting elements, such as family drama, a mystery, and enough tension between the various characters to keep me guessing until the end. Frankly, I felt like I'd been on an expedition through the Canadian wilderness by the time I finished this book. The atmosphere and descriptions were so wonderfully developed that I had a hard time putting it down. If you are craving a mystery with a depth of story, character, and plot, this is definitely one to read.

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.