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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This is the first in a new series and I listened to this book. I suspect the narration influenced my opinion of the book. It's a little precious in places - so neatly tied up I envision a huge fluffy bow, not just tied shoelaces. Some of the dialogue was repetitive and simplistic. How many times can people utter the affirmative "Understood" in a single conversation.
So coincidental that the mourning Mercy, who has retreated to the woods with her dead fiance's bomb-sniffing dog finds a recently divorced, really great guy who is a law enforcement officer of sorts and also has a working dog! And Mercy, former military police in Afghanistan, is the daughter of very wealthy and successful Boston attorneys, a lifestyle she eschews in favor of the quieter and more meaningful life in rural Vermont with her veterinarian grandmother, who is the widow of a cop.
In the midst of this, Mercy spouts Shakespeare appropriate to every incident she encounters during her brilliant and confounding unravelling of the murder mystery.
It's fine, but it didn't hook me.
So coincidental that the mourning Mercy, who has retreated to the woods with her dead fiance's bomb-sniffing dog finds a recently divorced, really great guy who is a law enforcement officer of sorts and also has a working dog! And Mercy, former military police in Afghanistan, is the daughter of very wealthy and successful Boston attorneys, a lifestyle she eschews in favor of the quieter and more meaningful life in rural Vermont with her veterinarian grandmother, who is the widow of a cop.
In the midst of this, Mercy spouts Shakespeare appropriate to every incident she encounters during her brilliant and confounding unravelling of the murder mystery.
It's fine, but it didn't hook me.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
I don't understand feeding dogs people food, and I really liked this book. How will I know if/when a second book arrives in this series?
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks Jeanie for recommending this author and series.
From the engaging cover to the last page, this book is a winner! Mercy Carr and Elvis will steal your heart. A survivor of Afghanistan, she is finding her "new" normal back home in Vermont. As a former MP she has investigative skills that help her when she finds a baby abandoned in the woods. The story races along from that point straight to a satisfying conclusion.
Animal stories are my favorite, and rescue dogs even more so.
From the engaging cover to the last page, this book is a winner! Mercy Carr and Elvis will steal your heart. A survivor of Afghanistan, she is finding her "new" normal back home in Vermont. As a former MP she has investigative skills that help her when she finds a baby abandoned in the woods. The story races along from that point straight to a satisfying conclusion.
Animal stories are my favorite, and rescue dogs even more so.
Rounding up from 4 1/2 stars. Exciting, solid thriller. I fell in love with Elvis, the dog, and Mercy, his handler is an exceptionally smart and well rounded character. Her grandmother, Patience, is the quintessential grandmother, and a vet, to boot.
Can’t wait for the next. Here’s some of what’s to love:
Characters—Mercy and Elvis tug at your heart for boldly soldiering on after losing Martinez. I loved how they grew closer, not perfectly figuring it out but definitely making progress. Of course Troy and his dog are heartthrobs, too. Love that they are not the normal type of detectives, see more below.
Setting—Vermont. Hello Vermont! Love this fresh rural setting. Thank you for setting the book in a place I’ve never been and now fervently want to visit. Loved getting to know some of the history, too, interwoven here and there.
Detective Jobs: Loved the whole game warden and dogs with jobs (bomb sniffing and search and rescue). My husband is the local DA so I hear about game wardens from time to time, and the intricacies of the job, as well as the boundaries but special skill set and calling. It was all right on here and fun to encounter in a mystery. Also loved learning about and seeing the dogs in action.
Lawyers: have to say something about the lawyers. They were all kind of bad here, so I look forward to Mercy meeting a good local lawyer at some point in this series! (Lol, seriously it could happen. We aren’t all awful. A local lawyer could be a great friend and help to Mercy as she navigates her new life.).
Now I’ll leave the book blurb to tell the story, just know that it’s a page turner, hard to put down, and satisfying resolve. Interesting twists. Great job, Paula! We expected no less, of course.
Characters—Mercy and Elvis tug at your heart for boldly soldiering on after losing Martinez. I loved how they grew closer, not perfectly figuring it out but definitely making progress. Of course Troy and his dog are heartthrobs, too. Love that they are not the normal type of detectives, see more below.
Setting—Vermont. Hello Vermont! Love this fresh rural setting. Thank you for setting the book in a place I’ve never been and now fervently want to visit. Loved getting to know some of the history, too, interwoven here and there.
Detective Jobs: Loved the whole game warden and dogs with jobs (bomb sniffing and search and rescue). My husband is the local DA so I hear about game wardens from time to time, and the intricacies of the job, as well as the boundaries but special skill set and calling. It was all right on here and fun to encounter in a mystery. Also loved learning about and seeing the dogs in action.
Lawyers: have to say something about the lawyers. They were all kind of bad here, so I look forward to Mercy meeting a good local lawyer at some point in this series! (Lol, seriously it could happen. We aren’t all awful. A local lawyer could be a great friend and help to Mercy as she navigates her new life.).
Now I’ll leave the book blurb to tell the story, just know that it’s a page turner, hard to put down, and satisfying resolve. Interesting twists. Great job, Paula! We expected no less, of course.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
If you like self-reliant, fierce female protagonists and / or Excellent Dogs, this is for you. And by you, I mean my Dad.