The Last Party by Clare MackintoshDC Morgan #1

 

Title: The Last Party 

Series: DC Morgan #1

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Release Date: November 8, 2022

At midnight, one of them is dead. By morning, all of them are suspects.

It's a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.

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A killer party!

On New Year’s Eve, local celebrity and opera singer Rhys Lloyd throws the party of the year at his luxury development, The Shore. He invites the wealthy new residents—along with a handful of locals.

On New Year’s Day, Rhys is found floating dead in the icy waters of Mirror Lake.

Who killed him—and why?

The investigation falls to DCI Ffion Morgan (North Wales Police) and DC Leo Brady (Cheshire Constabulary, England side). The border runs straight through the lake, so the two forces must work together.

The more we learn about Rhys, the real question becomes: why wasn’t he killed sooner—and who didn’t want him dead?

The Last Party is quite atmospheric, with Mirror Lake at the heart of everything. Rhys was a truly awful human being, so his murder came as no surprise at all.

The only downside was the sheer number of characters—it got a bit overwhelming at times. That said, I absolutely loved both leads, Ffion and Leo. Knowing this is the start of a series, I’m already looking forward to reading the next installment.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

Pray for Silence by Linda CastilloKate Burkholder #2

 

Title: Pray for Silence

Series:  Kate Burkholder #2

Author: Linda Castillo

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: June 22, 2010

The Plank family moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to join the small Amish community of Painters Mill less than a year ago and seemed the model of the Plain Life—until on a cold October night, the entire family of seven was found slaughtered on their farm. Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Formerly Amish herself, Kate is no stranger to the secrets the Amish keep from the English—and each other—but this crime is horribly out of the ordinary.

State agent John Tomasetti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case during which they began a volatile relationship. They soon realize the disturbing details of this case will test their emotional limits and force them to face demons from their own troubled pasts—and for Kate, a personal connection that is particularly hard to bear.

When she discovers a diary that belonged to one of the teenaged daughters, Kate is shocked to learn the girl kept some very dark secrets and may have been living a lurid double life. Who is the charismatic stranger who stole the young Amish girl’s heart? Could the brother—a man with a violent past, rejected and shunned by his family and the Amish community, have come to seek out revenge? As Kate’s outrage grows so does her resolve to find the killer and bring him to justice—even if it means putting herself in the line of fire.

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I flew through this novel. I mostly listened to the audio version, and the narrator was phenomenal.

Once again, we’re back in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio, where the Amish and the “English” coexist—though not always in harmony.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to investigate the horrific slaughter of the Plank family: parents and all the children, including a tiny baby.

Who could commit such an evil act?

Kate and her small department won’t rest until they find the answer. She’s joined again by state agent John Tomasetti. Their relationship began in the first book, but neither is any good at talking about feelings or what they actually want from each other.

Fair warning: this installment is very descriptive about the murders. If graphic details bother you, you might want to skip it—though the series is so good that I’d hate for you to miss out.

I’m completely invested in Kate. I love that she’s flawed and makes mistakes. John Tomasetti is another beautifully damaged, highly likable character. I really hope he stays for the long haul.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs