Talk about a dysfunctional family, this debut novel grabs you from its first words and holds on tight until the last. Told in two different voices, it is well written with a great plot and a great cast of well developed characters. The voices are 13 years apart and weave seamlessly together until the books very satisfying ending.

The intertwined story of two women. Vanessa Alba is a detective with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office in California. She and her partner are investigating the deaths of 2 bodies found in the local mountains. Their search leads them to Charon Springs in Central New York. The town is under the rule of the Harris crime family and their extended clan. It is while visiting Charon Springs to investigate that the detectives learn of the families activities, and of the life of Marley Shaw.

Marley's story is told in flashbacks, from the year 2000 when she is attacked by her step father and his father, to 2013 when 2 bodies are found in California. Her story is very compelling. She lives a life in fear of her step father and his family. Not behaving as the family wishes results in beatings or worse. We follow Marley as she makes plans to leave Charon Springs and get away from the Harris family.

I thought this was a really interesting book, especially the story of Marley. She is a really strong character. This book is full of strong women. Some, like Marley and Vanessa, are good. Others are pure evil. But all are strong. I was rooting for Marley the whole way through, and even though I finished a couple of days ago, I still find myself thinking about her. I would definitely recommend this for fans of crime thrillers.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Marly Shaw, of Charon Springs, New York, has missed her lift home and is now being chased by two men.
Detectives Vanessa Alba and Jack Wong, are investigating why two members of the Harris criminal clan ended dead up in California, thirteen years later, a long way from Charon Springs.
The story tales what happened between these two dates.
An interesting thriller with a lot of unlikeable characters but it still made for a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this great debut thriller!

The book is told in two different voices 13 years apart. Marly Shaw is a teenager growing up in Central New York in the Harris family that is holding the area hostage to their violent ways. The police are powerless, the family breeds among themselves, and no one can get away. Marly is coming home from a dance when she is chased by two men, one of them her stepfather. Both die and Marly is forced to start making plans to escape.

Thirteen years later, Vanessa is a sheriff's detective trying to solve the deaths of two people found in California. The dead turn out to be from the Harris family and her and her partner, Jack, are off to New York to investigate.

This is a great thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Filled with powerful women who show their resilience and faith in each other. Don't miss this one! I'm already looking forward to Bickford's next novel!

I received a copy of this book "A Short Time to Die" from NetGalley for my honest opinion. First this is a book I probably would not have bought. I don't usually read this type of book. I am so glad that I received this book to read because I really loved it! I went to look up the author and this is her first novel - wow! I want to read more! Anyway this book held my attention from the beginning to the end. I was sad that it ended and that is how I know it was a good book. The story starts out in Central New York and travels across country to California. This story really kept me guessing and it had many twists and turns. Marly needs to get out of Charon Springs before she ends up dead. The Harris family runs everything in this small town and you go along with what they say or you won't be around much longer. The story switches back and forth between 2000 and 2013 and mainly follows Marly and her life of terror. Very suspenseful book - I highly recommend! Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

I do not want to read a book about poor white trash. I will not be reviewing this book online.

Very unique storyline, Marly is just going with the hand she was dealt, from her selfish co dependent drunk mom to her not so bright sister who is flattered her step dad thinks she sexy. Marlys family is run like the mafia but she knows to much and when her step dad and his father try to silence her she gets lucky and they both die in the pursuit of her. She pushes their truck in the quarry. No one believes they just disappeared so Marly has to outsmart everyone. This book is full of suspense, terrifying moments and one tenacious, resourceful girl.

5 Stars

We begin our book with a chase through the woods. A young girl is being chased by two men who are firing a gun at her. She escapes, but is she really safe?

This book has some real characters of depth, especially the woman, Marly and Vanessa. While Marly’s story begins with a chase through the woods in central New York State, Vanessa’s picks up thirteen years later in California.

Marly’s life is ruled by the Harris family. Terroristic and cold-blooded the Harris clan rules everything that goes on in the town. Thirteen years later, two of the Harris clan are found dead in California. The police, Vanessa and her partner, come to central NY to give notice and learn what happened.

Fast paced and suspenseful, this book is a remarkable journey through the life of a frightened young girl and a resourceful and determined detective. It is a very well written book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book to read and review.

Couldn't read fast enough,an absolute gem of a book the family were pure evil, and the end WOW don't think anyone could of predicted that left me speechless highly recommended

This book goes back and forth between the past and present and at the end the two merge to an exciting conclusion. Throughout the author keeps you in suspense as you try to understand how past and present will come together, leaving me wanting to keep reading but not wanting the story to end. This is a classic story of good conquering evil in a way you would never expect. Looking forward to hearing more from this author!

An amazing story that lays bare the activities of a criminal clan from a small town in New York. Elements of the narrative bounce in time and location as the reader develops an understanding of the evil deeds that have transpired, and the impact on the people involved. The suspense remains high from page to page, with many different kinds of danger for the people involved. Marly is the young woman trying to save herself and her family. Vanessa is the detective trying to solve the deaths of two people whose bones were found in a California mountain gulley. They each do what they have to do until the very end when they finally connect. The descriptions of weather issues, family interactions and geography create interest and make the story real. Great writing makes this a great book.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Normally, I'm not a big fan of books that switch back and forth in time. But this one did it perfectly. Great characters, a great heroine, and a suspenseful story that grabs you from the beginning. This is a new author for me, but I'll be looking for more from Susan Alice Bickford

Thank you to Kensington Books & NetGalley. I received a galley Kindle e-book A Short Time To Die by Susan Alice Bickford for review.

The beginning is in a small town. Secluded enough from prying eyes and powerful magistrates to get away with murder. They are ripe with inbred mafias. It is rare that anyone escapes from these cloistered holes long enough to tell their stories. Successful escape is unheard of. The odds are a million-to-one.

A Short Time to Die is ripe with strong females. Protagonists and antagonists abound. It is a relief to see the roles change, in some cases it is murder.

Marly Shaw has a lot to live for. She risks generational laws of punishment. Using survival skills passed down through her community since pioneer days. The librarian helps save her.

Clara County Sheriff’s Detective Vanessa Alba shows up decades late in a sordid game of King of the Mountain. She and partner Jack Wong travel out of jurisdiction to make death notifications. The journey takes them to the Finger Lakes of central New York. Back in time. Where they attempt to wrap up loose ends on a California death scene. The mystery is no easy solve.

This novel evoked a wide range of emotions in me. The characters are well developed. I could picture them and feel their essence.

Once I started reading, I could not stop.

Powerful, enchanting and haunting.

I will recommend this for our library collection and to other readers who like unique mystery.

This is an intriguing debut thriller set in two time frames 13 years apart. In 2000 young Marly Shaw is walking home from a local dance in Charon Springs,New York after her step father, Del, fails to pick her up as had been arranged. En route she is attacked by two men who follow her in a truck and her life changes forever.
In 2013 two bodies are found in California and they are identified as Louise and Troy from Charon Springs. Part of the Harris crime family who rule the town and related to Del, why have they turned up dead on the other side of the country?
Californian detectives Vanessa Alba and Jack Wong are tasked with looking into the murders and they fly to Charon Springs to find out what has been going on.
I loved the female characters in this book, particularly Marly who has had a difficult start in life but uses her keen intelligence and natural leadership qualities to turn her life around and escape her past. Vanessa is also a strong character and is dogged in her determination to discover what has happened. She will not give up until she thinks she has solved the crime.
It was one of those books that just kept the reader guessing. Even when I'd worked out what had happened I really wasn't sure how it was going to end. Using the different time frames to tell the story worked extremely well and I was equally interested in Marly's story set in 2000 and Vanessa's in the present.
A five star review from me and I will be looking forward to Susan Alice Bickford's next novel. If you like suspense thrillers that really grab your attention I suggest you read this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.