Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Traces of Guilt

GIVEAWAY

HENDERSON, DEE
TRACES OF GUILT

Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective...mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

Gabriel Thane grew up in Carin County and is now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have...

When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state. She will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she studies old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths surprising connections. One way or another, she knows Gabriel Thane and his family will be key to the answers she seeks.

My Review:

I think in order to enjoy Dee Henderson's new storytelling style you have to let go of the O'Malleys. Yes cherish them and reread them and display those books on your keeper shelves, but opening a current Henderson novel and expecting an O'Malley type of story isn't doing the author or the reader any favours.

No matter what style she's writing in, Henderson is still the best at showing the slow but steady journey towards relationship. At the beginning of Traces of Guilt, Evie and Gabriel don't even know each other -- they have a bang up first meet that develops into a professional respect and then friendship over the course of the story. I like Evie and I like Gabriel and I'd like to see them romantically linked. That hasn't happened in this book but since this is labeled as An Evie Blackwell Cold Case, I'm hoping there's another book which will lead to the resolution I long for.

This isn't a nail-biting-edge-of-your-seat kind of read. Instead the author has chosen to highlight the methodical, painstaking process of police work. It's a fascinating look into the thought process of a detective. And when they talk shop it's full of realistic dialogue which isn't always riveting and is sometimes repetitive.

In a broader sense, this is a Thane family story. We're introduced to brothers, Josh, Will and Gabe. Given enough meat to whet our appetite for further books. Each brother has a complicated relationship with a woman they are interested in and Ann Turner (a recurring character from previous books) seems to know the secrets of all these women. She's as cryptic as ever -- warning without explaining, throwing out hints until your mind runs in a thousand gruesome directions but rarely coming out with something substantial when you think she should. But that's Ann -- keeper of secrets. And she does reveal all eventually.

Not your typical suspense since it highlights methodology rather than action. I can usually read a book in a  day -- especially when it's an edge-of-your-seater -- but it took me three days to finish Traces of Guilt. Not because I wasn't intrigued...but I didn't feel the kind of sense of urgency that would keep me up at night turning pages. A good, steady, enjoyable read with promise of more to come.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Traces of Guilt please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 28 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

39 comments:

  1. I have read several books with police procedures and have enjoyed them. I would like to read this one.

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  2. Yes, that's exactly right! I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
    Dee is still a fabulous writer, but since the big space of time between the O'Malley's and the 4 books written from 2012-2015, her writing has changed. Still good, just a bit different. I've read everything she's written and will continue to, she comes up with twists and turns like nobody I know.

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    1. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars too on my online reviews. She has a fascinating mind, doesn't she? Detailed and exacting. She'd be an interesting person to meet. We are definitely kindred reading spirits, Tracey.

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  3. Kav, your review is fantastic....I would certainly have been expecting another O'Malley type book...loved those books. Glad Tracey gave her opinion, too. So I am ready to be entered and try this one...she is a great author!
    Thanks!
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. She is...very different too from what's out there. If you're looking for an O'Malley type series, Dani Pettrey is a good match though. Good luck, Jackie.

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  4. I haven't read any books by Dee Henderson, so I surely won't notice her change of style ;)
    But the books sounds pretty good!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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    1. Oooohhh...you must try out an O'Malley book if you like romantic suspense, Samantha. Good luck!

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  5. Love her books. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  6. I am such a fan of Dee Henderson! I haven't read the O'Malley series in many years so I think I will be able to read this one without those expectations. Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. You just have to approach her new books with an open mind. Good luck, Loraine.

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  7. I'm new to reading Dee Henderson books but would love to read this one.
    mindyhoung (at) msn (dot) com

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  8. I am a big fan of Dee Henderson's books so I would love to win this one. sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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    1. Yes -- you need to keep your collection up to date. Good luck, Karen.

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  9. I've read most of Dee Henderson's books and have enjoyed all of them. I think it's a mark of a good writer to be able to write in somewhat different genres. Traces of Guilt sounds interesting. I appreciate your review; it's good to know it's more procedural than suspense, since that isn't what I expected.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Yes -- I think that's what upsets readers most -- when they pick up a book expecting one thing and get something completely different. Good luck, Pam.

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  10. I always enjoy Dee's books and would love to read this one. Thank you for a great review, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. She's a talented author, isn't she? Good luck, Melanie.

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  11. Although I'm familiar with this author, I haven't read any of her books. This one sounds interesting -- perhaps I should read the O'Malley series as well. Thanks for the review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Oh, yes, you should definitely read the O'Malley series. Your public library likely has them. Good luck, Pam.

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  12. I loved the O'Malley series. TY for the review.

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  13. It's so hard to let go of past characters isn't it Kav? Think of the McKenna family from Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series, they are forever instilled in my heart! :-)

    I love Dee Henderson's writing enough to want to read this new one!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Yes -- my book family is growing by leaps and bounds. Good luck, Trixi.

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  14. I think stories with police/fbi etc. are great to read. I'm not exactly sure why I find them so interesting but I do. Thanks for this giveaway! d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Me too -- there is something so compelling about these kinds of stories. Definitely not a job I could handle in real life but love to read about it. Good luck, Donna.

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  15. I also enjoy books with police involvement. There is so much to learn from them. I haven't read the O'Malley books either but by everyone's comments, it looks like I need to put them on my TBR list!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  16. It may be a change in her style, but Traces of Guilt still sounds interesting. Putting it on my TBR list. lelandandbecky(at)reagan(dot)com

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  17. Hey KAV!!!! I enjoy Dee Henderson's stories. This one sounds awesome!
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  18. I would love to try this one! I, for one, finds the sense of urgency sometimes being just a prop to hide the plot loopholes. So I would like to try this slower approach!

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. That's a good point, Janka. You won't find that here. :-) Good luck!

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  19. I've heard some complaints about the switch in Dee's style but I actually like it better than the O'Malleys. I've been desperate to read this book since I first heard about it and I hope I'm lucky this time. Great review!

    Blessings!
    Jasmine
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Just love her books! This one I haven't read yet and it's on my list. Would love the chance to win - thanks for the giveaway! Have a Blessed day!
    swanphillips4(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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