My first book by this author but will certainly not be the last, a great read, was hard to put down, great characters, great settings. Great!

A real page turner, love this type of cliff hanger novel. Will definitely look out for this author in future

What a fantastic read this book had me twisting and turning my head spinning all the way threw. I flew threw the pages it was definatly a fast read i loved it

I got a free copy of this book via NetGalley. I seldom get books this way but the blurb appealed and I wanted an easy crime novel so ...

I'm so glad I read this. From the very opening I felt I was reading a superior piece of crime fiction. Though the plot is strong, the book is character led and the character of the first-person narrator is established quickly and effectively in the opening paragraphs.

It is almost impossible to say anything about this book without spoilers. It is a brilliant book that kept me turning the pages to the very end. That said, it is not an especially easy read. Much of the plot revolves around sexual crime involving very young girls. Although the book is carefully non-prurient, the subject matter may be difficult for some. I guess it falls into the 'gritty crime' genre rather than 'cosy crime'. But if you like gritty crime with compelling characters and a complex but involving plot, I cannot recommend this too strongly.

I have been reading crime fiction books for a fair few years now and this is my first by Candice Fox but a really fantastic read
.
Set in the remote Cairns settlement of Crimson Lake, (that's Australia folks) former detective Ted Conkaffey is hiding from the public and the press after being accused but not convicted of a young girl's abduction. While in prison his wife files for divorce, he has of course lost his job, his friends on the force and the right to see his baby daughter. On his arrival in Crimson Lake, he takes heed from his lawyer, and looks up an Amanda Pharrell, a troubled young woman who has just set up as a Private Investigator. She had recently been released from prison after spending 10 years inside for murder. The first case they are working on is the disappearance of a famous local author. But as the town folks slowly begin to discover who Ted is, he must fight for his survival as well as help Amanda with the case.

There are several threads followed in the book and I loved the writing style and how the very place itself lent to the atmosphere of the book where the humidity and dangers from snakes and crocodiles were present on every page

In the croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake, Ted Conkaffey is living a shadow of his former life. Accused but not convicted of the abduction and sexual crimes against A teenage girl.

Amanda Pharrell is the local teen murderess, fairly fresh out of prison and starting her own private investigator business, but something about her crime doesn’t quite ring true.

When local author, Jake Scully, goes missing Amanda enlists the help at the top of the towns most hated list, Ted.

With the residents of Crimson Lake watching their every move will the pair be able to solve the case? Or will their own misdemeanours from the past overshadow the present?

At first glance I thought this novel had promise, but I soon became bogged down by the details of too many narrative strands. This book follows not one, not two, but three different cases and although this wasn’t hard to follow I felt that none of them had my full focus. Too much was going on for me to really feel invested in any of the plot outcomes or the characters themselves.

The relationship between Amanda and Ted was sometimes comical, which offered brief windows of light relief in a mostly bleak story.

Unfortunately, as my interest was finally piqued the conclusion was wrapped up in a few paltry pages. Not only was it a swift almost rushed ending but I also felt the outcome was somewhat ridiculous. Almost as though Fox hadn’t known herself what would happen and had scribbled some thoughts down to meet a deadline.

If not for the story, then what was it that kept me going you may ask? Well the writing, it was engaging and of a high standard and the descriptions were immersive. Sadly, with a more defined plot this book could have been a real winner.

This is a disturbing crime thriller. It is multi-layered, with a lot going on. I thoroughly enjoyed it but can see that for some the deepening problems experienced by Detective Ted Conkaffey might be a step too far, not sure the story is improved by all of these. There are many secrets to be revealed but the basic story line of a policeman accused of a horrific crime and the public behaviour in response to this are both innovative and sadly ring true. Would not hesitate to recommend

I found this book good to read however I didn't love it. A great story line and interesting characters and definitely worth a read to make up your own mind what you think of it.

This is a story with plenty of action and a lot going on. Just not written in a style I enjoy.

This one was a slow burner for me. Felt it took a little while to reel me in, but once it did I was glad I'd stuck around for the ride (this was probably around the 25% mark). Amanda and Ted make an interesting pairing. Each has their own secrets they're not comfortable sharing with the world, or with each other. It takes a while, but slowly they start to let each other in, and we edge closer to the truth about what happened to Amanda up at Kissing Point, to Ted that day on the road, and also to local author, Jake Scully, whose disappearance Ted and Amanda are investigating.

The setting is very effective - small town mentality, judgement raining down from all sides on Ted; The townsfolk, local kids, right the way through to a pair of local cops intent on abusing their power to drive Ted out The only one not judging him is Amanda, who's been through the same wringer herself.

It's a skill in itself to make a reader feel pity for characters accused of murder, and abduction, as Ted and Amanda have, but the author achieves that with ease, and propels you forward to a very satisfying conclusion that I didn't see coming! Really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend. Thanks to Random House for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

Oh my goodness, this book took me by surprise! I read a lot of novels in this genre, but the premise here is new to me and adds considerable tension to the tale. With three mysteries running a thread through the book, from opening line to closing words, there are absolutely no moments when you're not wondering what might happen next. The denouement(s) are perfectly timed and judged - and all along the clues are there for us to spot, but it would take a smarter man than I to see then as they rise.

The two main characters are easy to connect with from the start and you are desperate for happy endings for both as the book draws to a close. I can't wait to see where Fox takes them next.

A page turner it was not. A familiar construct for readers of this genre. Two misfits - or perceived to be do - pushed together by circumstance. Shunned by local community, persecuted by local dirty cops, but with a few who can see through public opinion and are on their side. Slow narrative, often loaded with irrelevant details. The carpet python incident? Extensive exctracts from Jake's writing. Improbable denouement. A pet crocodile? Two asocial teenagers. Then the whole thing unravels over relatively few pages, with the predictable outcome of the two misfits getting together. Potentially.

One detective in disgrace - OK, that absolutely no one believes his innocence even though there is only circumstantial evidence? that he is fired ? that his lawyer doesn't answer questions, that ....? thart.....? there are too many 'thats..' and too many inconsistencies. I got as far as page 10 skip a few more then abandoned hope for the author.
I once read Mickey Spillane - for a twelve year old they were good. A Candice Fox at my age doesn't meet the level of authorship required.

This is certainly an unusual murder mystery with intriguing characters tracking down the criminals. The setting is good as is the suspense. The outcome is by no means assured and that makes it very readable.

Thoroughly enjoyable and will keep you gripped, until the very end! Highly recommended!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It was brilliantly written the storyline and characters where fantastic. It kind of dragged on a bit in the beginning but it was definitely worth the read, great writing I look forward to reading more like this.

I was surprised when I got to the end of this book and found from reading the Acknowledgments that the author was a woman (in my Kindle it just said the title and Netgalley, so I didn't note author's name) because the male protagonist was so well-developed and I think I must assume that male leads are written by men.

In any case this was a great read - there's an awful lot going on right from the outset - almost too many crimes for credibility, but who cares when the action is this fast-paced and the characters this compelling?
I was rooting for Ted from the start - any man who pays his last $700 to save a wounded goose is OK in my opinion :) His solitary life is gatecrashed by another broken person, equally intriguing, and then things really start to get out of hand. The last 20% I couldn't put down, and despite some issues around the sheer level of crime going on in a place even the locals have barely heard of, I would recommend this, not as crime fiction but as a really well-crafted and interesting novel about people (and geese) ...

First class book. Story line was like living on a knife edge at times.

I must confess that in the beginning I wasn't impressed with the characters but then they grew on me and by the time I finished the book I was hoping they'll be a second installment with Amanda and co.
This is definitely your run of the mill murder mystery: this is a story about a community with a lot to lose if their story is laid bare. The characters are rich and full-bodied and the heroes (sorry Amanda!) are surprisingly flawed.
I love this book and will be looking out for more from this author.

This author appealed as she had worked with James Patterson, unfortunately that does not mean she writes like him
the book and twisted plot were brilliant but it was way too long the middle section seemed to go non forever and there was to much information about things we didn't as a reader need to know
Condense the next book and you will have a winning formula