Faulty Fallen
A review of the One More Chapter eBook (December 23, 2016).

Sometimes I will read something based on a GR Friend's enthusiastic review. But there are other times I will read something that had only a so-so, or even a panned review, as a sort of reality check. Such was the case with this prequel novella for the DCI Matilda Darke series.

GR Friend Paul gave it a so-so 3 stars, with no enthusiasm to continue the series. GR Friend Berengaria gave it 1.5 stars, singling out the false-sounding tone of much of the writing.

It was much the same for me. The odd love-hate between Darke and the pathologist, calling her a "fat cow" and then finding out later they are best friends sharing family meals? The passive-aggressive thing with her husband. All that combined with a not particularly brilliant investigation which only got lucky due to forensics. Then there was a really distasteful background reveal about the culprit's motivations. There was at least a poetic justice twist at the end.

But overall, nothing about it made me interested enough in the characters to carry on.