shawnerly's reviews
528 reviews

This is as watered down as dirty dishwater. 😖

This is the third entry of the Havens Rock series. I haven’t read earlier books and I didn’t feel like I needed to. However, it contains spoilers for earlier books. The series follows a group of folks that have chosen to isolate in the frozen woods of the deep north, escaping their pasts. No one knows why any of them are there. The application process should vet out any bad seeds, but since this is the third book - it must not work!

Casey and Eric, a couple, are also law enforcement in the small settlement. A woman has reported being assaulted, just as a snowstorm hits. Casey is 8.5 months into a high risk pregnancy, but won’t allow the baby, her sister the physician, or Eric, to stop her from running lead on the case. This starts with an assault but soon a body turns up and things escalate. Our killer likes to put people in situations where they can watch them die, slowly. Like freezing to death, while naked, and chained to a tree in the snow! Yikes! Besides a stubborn pregnant policewoman, Eric is a golden retriever husband, willing to choose his partner over anything, a physician on the spectrum, race and age diversity. Kudos! NetGalley sent me the audio version of this and I thought the sound was clear and the voices were well done, especially with the different characters!

Cordelia is a young girl of 14, living with her, she thinks, very weird, mom. We understand immediately that mom is physically and verbally abusive to Cordelia and all living things around her, including their family horse. The horse, a rare all white stallion is Cordelia’s only friend who she shares every secret with.

One day, Cordelia’s mom announces that money has run out and she must get married, since at 14, Cordelia cannot. A local prospect has suddenly reneged on the offer so they must travel several cities over to catch another gentleman in her web. Once there, Cordelia’s mom comes up with a dramatic lie about a fire and an overturned coach, explaining their need to beg the rich old man Squire to give them shelter. By the way, Cordelia must pretend she’s 17, instead of her actual, 14. The Squires sister, independent and headstrong Hester, doesn’t see it for ‘Doom’ as she calls Cordelia’s mum, and barely believes poor timid Cordelia, but there is something about the girl that pulls her in. 

Hester is determined to prevent a marriage between Doom and her brother. To that end she invites a few of thier friends over for an extended stay: the Squires ex-girlfrend, Hesters own ex-boyfriend, and Hesters best friend, her husband, and teenage son. Throw in a couple of the house servants and we get the team of bandits that will eventually have to go up against the wicked witch, Doom.

Full review at: shesreadingnow.wordpress.com