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husnaibrahim_'s review against another edition
3.75
I’m curious about where this series is headed. It’s all about murder mysteries in a small town, and that’s intriguing. Especially because at the start of this book, we learned that the town hasn’t had a murder for almost ten years. So how will they handle it when multiple homicides occur in such a short time span? In any case, I have no doubt Zak will be up to task.
I mean I really liked him. He’s the type of character you can connect with - logical but not overpowering. This book has multiple povs, so as we follow several people in the small town, It felt like there were more subplots and storylines than the homicide investigation itself. So I’m not entirely sure if I like or dislike that, but I assume this is the series’ style, and I’m curious to see how it all plays out.
I also wonder about the potential romance between Deputy Nadine Black and Zak. It’s intriguing, especially since they share similar hobbies. Also, It seemed to me like they had better chemistry than Tiff and Kenny. Maybe it’s because Kenny didn’t make the best impression from the start, and then we didn’t get enough time at the end to come to terms with the fact that he isn’t all that bad.
Then there’s Willow. I’m sure she’ll reappear again when her luck with Paul runs out. What she did was just pretty messed up, and I can’t wait to see how Justin and his dad handle her when she returns. I’m really just hoping they don’t let her walk all over them.
And, I hope Zak won’t be a pushover either when it comes to dealing with the sheriff in the future. He might be just a dispatcher but he definitely deserves way more respect from them.
I mean I really liked him. He’s the type of character you can connect with - logical but not overpowering. This book has multiple povs, so as we follow several people in the small town, It felt like there were more subplots and storylines than the homicide investigation itself. So I’m not entirely sure if I like or dislike that, but I assume this is the series’ style, and I’m curious to see how it all plays out.
I also wonder about the potential romance between Deputy Nadine Black and Zak. It’s intriguing, especially since they share similar hobbies. Also, It seemed to me like they had better chemistry than Tiff and Kenny. Maybe it’s because Kenny didn’t make the best impression from the start, and then we didn’t get enough time at the end to come to terms with the fact that he isn’t all that bad.
Then there’s Willow. I’m sure she’ll reappear again when her luck with Paul runs out. What she did was just pretty messed up, and I can’t wait to see how Justin and his dad handle her when she returns. I’m really just hoping they don’t let her walk all over them.
And, I hope Zak won’t be a pushover either when it comes to dealing with the sheriff in the future. He might be just a dispatcher but he definitely deserves way more respect from them.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
The first installment in C. J. Carmichael's Bitter Root Mysteries series, Bitter Roots is a fast-paced and engaging mystery.
The day after Halloween is always a busy day for vandalism reports in the Sheriff's office. Zak Waller is not anticipating any kind of serious crime reports, so the discovery of the body of a young woman who has apparently been beaten to death is quite shocking. Even more disconcerting is the identity of the victim: twenty-two year old Riley Concurran, a young lady whom Zak knows in passing. Since she is a newcomer to the rural community of Lost Trail, MT, local Sheriff Archie Ford is certain her murderer is someone from her old life. Although Zak is content with his behind the scenes job as the dispatcher, he is frustrated by Ford's rush to judgment so he embarks on a bit of surreptitious sleuthing. When he uncovers some startling evidence, he turns the information over to Deputy Nadine Black to look into.
On the same day Riley's body is found, Zak is surprised to learn his old friend Tiffany "Tiff" Masterson has returned to town. Tiff left for college then moved to Seattle where she is an up and comer at an accounting firm. Unbeknownst to her friends and family, her life has undergone some upheaval and she is planning to move back to her family's Christmas tree farm. Hoping to open her own accounting business, Tiff is unhappy to discover her mom and Aunt Marsha have hired Kenny Bombard as the new manager of the family's business. Her first encounter with Kenny rubs her the wrong way and she grows even more suspicious of him in the coming days.
Several of Lost Trial's residents are in the midst of personal dramas of their own and curious minds will certainly wonder whether or not these issues have any bearing on the recent murder. Zak and Tiff's friend, Derrick Sparks and his wife Aubrey are new parents of an adopted baby boy and Tiff is shocked by the changes in her old friend. Local attorney Justin Pittman is recently married and he is very concerned about his new wife's puzzling behavior. Tiff wonders if there is any significance to an overheard conversation between her aunt and the local doctor. Will the ongoing investigation into Riley's murder reveal any connection to any of these well-known and respected citizens?
With plenty of twists and turns, a perplexing murder and intriguing characters, Bitter Roots is an engrossing mystery. C. J. Carmichael brilliantly keeps the killer's identity concealed as Zak pieces together the truth about what happened to Riley. While Riley's murder is solved, not all of the story arcs are completely wrapped up by the novel's end. These lingering questions will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment in the Bitter Root Mysteries series.
The day after Halloween is always a busy day for vandalism reports in the Sheriff's office. Zak Waller is not anticipating any kind of serious crime reports, so the discovery of the body of a young woman who has apparently been beaten to death is quite shocking. Even more disconcerting is the identity of the victim: twenty-two year old Riley Concurran, a young lady whom Zak knows in passing. Since she is a newcomer to the rural community of Lost Trail, MT, local Sheriff Archie Ford is certain her murderer is someone from her old life. Although Zak is content with his behind the scenes job as the dispatcher, he is frustrated by Ford's rush to judgment so he embarks on a bit of surreptitious sleuthing. When he uncovers some startling evidence, he turns the information over to Deputy Nadine Black to look into.
On the same day Riley's body is found, Zak is surprised to learn his old friend Tiffany "Tiff" Masterson has returned to town. Tiff left for college then moved to Seattle where she is an up and comer at an accounting firm. Unbeknownst to her friends and family, her life has undergone some upheaval and she is planning to move back to her family's Christmas tree farm. Hoping to open her own accounting business, Tiff is unhappy to discover her mom and Aunt Marsha have hired Kenny Bombard as the new manager of the family's business. Her first encounter with Kenny rubs her the wrong way and she grows even more suspicious of him in the coming days.
Several of Lost Trial's residents are in the midst of personal dramas of their own and curious minds will certainly wonder whether or not these issues have any bearing on the recent murder. Zak and Tiff's friend, Derrick Sparks and his wife Aubrey are new parents of an adopted baby boy and Tiff is shocked by the changes in her old friend. Local attorney Justin Pittman is recently married and he is very concerned about his new wife's puzzling behavior. Tiff wonders if there is any significance to an overheard conversation between her aunt and the local doctor. Will the ongoing investigation into Riley's murder reveal any connection to any of these well-known and respected citizens?
With plenty of twists and turns, a perplexing murder and intriguing characters, Bitter Roots is an engrossing mystery. C. J. Carmichael brilliantly keeps the killer's identity concealed as Zak pieces together the truth about what happened to Riley. While Riley's murder is solved, not all of the story arcs are completely wrapped up by the novel's end. These lingering questions will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment in the Bitter Root Mysteries series.
andrewspink's review against another edition
3.0
Nice easy reading but there were not enough characters to make the ending a real surprise and not exactly gripping.
selket16's review
3.0
A woman whose only been in town a few weeks is found dead and the sheriff's, admittedly lax, investigation is going nowhere. Dispatcher Zak Whaller and Tiff Masterson, the daughter of the owner of the farm that hired the dead woman start looking into some of the details.
This focuses a lot on the relationships of the characters as much as it does on the investigation, but never emphasizes one over the other, leaving a lot of room to grow for the characters as the series continues. It wasn't an "on the seat of your pants" must read in one sitting story, but it was definitely a good read.
This focuses a lot on the relationships of the characters as much as it does on the investigation, but never emphasizes one over the other, leaving a lot of room to grow for the characters as the series continues. It wasn't an "on the seat of your pants" must read in one sitting story, but it was definitely a good read.
rebekah_l's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kimmiereadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
I’d love to see this series play out on tv. I think it’s going to be one that, if done well, will really develop and get under your skin. Zak was my favorite character, and I’m curious to see how he develops. I confess I usually figure out the end before the MCs in these types of books, but I didn’t this time.
Great characters. Good mystery. Subtle and not action packed. But the heart is in the town and its people.
Great characters. Good mystery. Subtle and not action packed. But the heart is in the town and its people.
chelle934's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great read! I was not expecting the twist that occurred.
jyothi_nair's review against another edition
5.0
A good old whodunit! I really was missing this style of writing. A lovely little town and a close knit community. A murder, an investigation, many possibilities and then the solution. It was a wonderful read. I am looking forward to the other books in the series...
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
Good intro to a series and the protagonist Zac.