A joy to read from start to for finish. A great story about a woman who comes in to her own and rallies her friends around her to get her life back after her husband’s betrayal. A fabulous cast of characters and wonderful writing; I laughed out loud more than once. Don’t miss out on this one!

my notes from 2002: "not Sharon McCone"

This is book one of a brand new urban fantasy series and I leaped at the opportunity to read and review.
I found myself struggling to get into this world and when I actually did, I found myself struggling to stay in this world. Don't get me wrong, Ms.Harper wove a brilliantly alternate London filled with supernatural creatures like vampires and werewolves so that wasn't the issue. The issue for me was Emma, the protagonist of the story. I did not connect with her at all. Maybe it was a you, it's me scenario but I really did not bond with her. Her idealistic views on how great the police is probably helped with that.
Consequently, some things didn't quite fit either, and seemed pretty unrealistic to me (yes yes I know, it's fiction) but she's essentially a rookie police detective and yet still, she was able to lead an investigation. Nope. That was a huge NOPE for me.
All in all, it was an ok read but it really didn't blow my mind. Would I pick up book 2? I might or I might not.
3 stars for the win though
**A copy of this book was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. It's my first experience with this author and I found her writing to be engaging and immersive. Despite the paranormal elements of the book, it was believable and relatable. I liked most of the characters, but more importantly, I had a clear picture of each of them and understood their motivations. It wasn't a remarkable book. To be honest, I think it could have benefited from the injection of some humor. But it was well-written and I enjoyed it.

Sharon McCone

8.0

Started slow. Turned out to be a decent read with good character development. Not my favorite.

I really enjoyed reading this book. For me, the paranormal aspects took a backseat to an interesting, well written mystery.

I have read much of Ms. Harper's work and find she is an adept writer in all the genres she writes.

This was a solid, well written book and I anxiously await the next one.

I am glad I had the opportunity to receive an ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

A good thriller that had me turning pages back to reread the "foreshadowing"... and had me turning pages forward towards the ending.

The main appeal is largely at the closure. The original murders have been used as a cultivation point and minstrel to one unlikely melody at the brief closure. Bait. Further enmeshed in many unnatural conversations. The upbeat use of slang may try to appeal to a YA audience at a very sickening precedence. Some colloquials are so conventional they do the author some discredit, but the ending was perfect. The book outlines some achievements at the back but my considerations towards the author remain limited. If only all that detail went into polishing the crimes.

Good mystery using flashbacks to tell the story of a young woman trying to find her past and a town trying to forget some horrific murders of 13 years prior.

An oikay read with an impossibly stupid ending. Stupid enough that I never read the author again.