Many thanks to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for my spot on this Blog Tour.
This was one of the most hard-hitting unexpected reads. Authentic writing was what I would describe author Faye Snowden’s style. Believe me, the story pulled me in so insidiously that I was mighty surprised to see myself completely immersed in it.
The plot arc was cops investigating a serial killer. The main difference was that the investigating officer, Raven‘s father, Floyd Burns had been a serial killer who had killed many women across state lines until he was caught and put to death. But his voice was the tiny, nasty monotone that Raven heard all the time. Was she as sociopathic as her father was?
Now people associated with Raven were being murdered, and her father’s calling card, a peacock feather, was left behind. Someone was setting the stage for her to be locked up. And she wasn’t cooperating. Faye’s writing gave me the emotions of anger, regret, helplessness, doubt, and determination, wafting off the main character, yet nothing showed on her calm face. Could she she keep dual faces just like her father?
Mixed in the present were the glimpses of her past with her father. Raven was with him during most of the kills, barely a child. They gave me a strong link to her as her father’s cruelty made her what she was today. But was there some part of her like him, wanting to kill the ones who hurt?
The characters were powerful yet flawed, it felt as if the flaws gave them the strength to be different. Raven’s life was quite a struggle, entrenched in the past moving into the future, wanting to be more than the father. Faye has shown this inner conundrum quite beautifully. I kept getting Raven’s desperate need to be different. But she had her own vices. Was she more like her father in more ways?
There was warmth in the prose too. Her partner Billy Ray gave her the much needed friendship and camaraderie along with her right to privacy. He was there without being intrusive. But she wasn’t truthful to him. Had her time with her father taught her more things than she knew?
Beautiful questions prepping up the story, a plot line with great surprises, a story which complexed characters, and a writing that was gritty and flawless, Faye Snowden’ s book had it all. I loved it!
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and publisher Flame Tree Press, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
Faye was born in San Fernando, California and uprooted before she was ten to a place where people supposedly had swamps in their backyards and alligators for pets. She didn’t have any alligator for pets in Shreveport, Louisiana and it wasn’t exactly a log cabin, but an amazing, resourceful single mother raised Faye and her five siblings in one of Shreveport’s now disappearing shotgun houses. At eighteen, she left Louisiana for the United States Navy. The Navy gave her an opportunity to spend some time living in Naples, Italy and on both US coasts: Washington, DC and northern California where she eventually settled. After the Navy, she went to work as an information technology professional in various industries while on her way to a masters in english literature. She also managed three novels, two boys, a husband, five dogs and three writing fellowships during those years. Today, she works, writes, and lives in Modesto, California.
As a child forced to witness her father’s crimes, homicide Detective Raven Burns dedicates every waking moment to proving that she is not her father’s child. But when she shoots a suspect who has what turns out to be an unloaded weapon, Raven finds that she must confront both the demons of her past and the stains on her soul in order to stop a killer.
Publication Date: 22nd August 2019
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
0 Responses
Another book. Another killer review. What a gentlewoman you are? I never thought that my start with the blogging community will be so great. Thank you so much. I’m falling in love with reading your reviews.
Thank you
Shhh, don’t tell anyone it is a secret
Regards I think you should fall in love with your textbooks 😂😂
Yeah, but I am bored with my textbooks.
Hahaha 😂 😂 😂 😂 still you need to do well
Man…the good books don’t end do they? 🤔 This one really sounds awesome. As you know I love serial killer stories, and to have the investigating officer’s father be one, is very original. I truly love pretty much everything that you are describing here, and with this review you made the book come alive for me😘 I have to say that I really wish I had more hours in a day: I could read more lol 😂Fantastic review for what sounds like a fantastic book! 😘❤️
This was so unexpected. I thought the cover would be of a fire and firefighter. This was just so different. Powerful writing. I wouldn’t be able to write that way
flawed characters, complex story, gritty and surprising. Wow, i’m tempted.
A different read… I loved the writing
Love you very “deep going” reviews, and how you work out the special features of every book. Thank you! Michael
Thank you so much Michael. You are very kind ❤️
Yay – glad it was a hit. From that cover, I was expecting something paranormal
I was expecting horror… It turned out to the psychopathic one
Sorry I missed some of your last reviews, Shalini. Been crazy busy here. This sounds like an awesome read. You hooked me with this line: “Was she as sociopathic as her father was?” I will definitely add it to my TBR list. Have a great week! 🙂 🙂
This was a very hard read. Hope you like it.
Amazing review! We can’t know what we inherit from our parents, and I love (is that the right word?!) the fear children of monsters can have to turn up like their parents.
So true. Thank you so much ❤️
This is a fantastic review Shalini!
Thank you so much ❤️
You’re welcome ♥
Fab review! This is a book that would have passed me by but your review has got me super interested! I’m adding this to my wish list 🙂
Me too… The cover was not too great for me. I would have thought it to be fantasy not police procedural
The fact that it also includes the whole relationship with the father and also blends perfect past and present has me intrigued. This sounds really good. Glad you loved it so much, Shalini. Awesome review! 😀
The writing got to me. Something about it just pulled me in. It was quite fab
Whoa. 5 stars from Shalini = immediately on my TBR. Fantastic review ❤
No stars in the review= what did I read 😲😂
😂😂😂😂😂 I love it
😂😂😂
I have few such reviews coming up. Didn’t understand a thing in the story except the blurb. Yet I have a review 😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂 those books kill me.