Different characters and storyline from the norm. Had you hooked from the getgo. Resolved ending. All the makings of a good thriller which I enjoyed in the main.. Just too much detail in parts hence 4stars.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it. I look forward to her next novel.

A gripping fast moving story that moves seamlessly from one charcter's viewpoint to another. You are drawn into the lives of the characters and feel sympathy for what you they are going through and want a resolution for them.

I didn’t realise this was book 2 in a series until I had it on my kindle ready to start. I decided to chance it anyway and I’m so glad I did. While I can see that it would have been better to have read book 1, this definitely worked ok for me as a standalone. I do have a soft spot for unusual or odd ball characters so Amanda and Ted were perfect for me. This is a bit of a two for one as we have the investigation into the homicide in the bar and the earlier abduction. This is a gripping, tense read and one of the best I’ve read this year. I absolutely loved this and I will need to read book 1.

Worth waiting for - now I want the next one!
Like the first book in this series, the writing, the plot with many twists and turns, and worrying about the welfare of those geese kept me reading until the book was finished, regardless of what I was meant to be doing.
The author is excellent at creating very 'real' people - Ted and Amanda are so quirky, so different, yet so completely believable; I can almost imaging going there and finding them. Not many authors have this ability, to make characters seem as though they really exist. I also like the settings - the author does not waste pages on description of places, yet with a few choice words one can imagine those places so vividly.
I like very much that this is a standalone book and there was no cliffhanger at the end of the previous book, but there is a natural progression through the books and I would recommend reading Crimson Lake first.
Personally, I hope the author has the next book in this series ready to go as I am hooked!

Candice Fox’s Redemption is the second in her Crimson Lake series about mismatched Australian PIs, Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell. I have not read the first but that in no way hindered my understanding or enjoyment of this novel. In fact, it feels like the first in a series.

To get the blurb out of the way first, the publisher compares this book to Jane Harper’s The Dry and, while there are similarities - Australia, murder, suspicion thrown on the protagonist - The Dry uses the environment almost as a main character, the oppressive heat is palpable and integral to the story; Redemption is not that novel. But, it is a very good thriller with interesting characters.

Having been aware of the first in the series, I was under the impression that the suspicion of child abduction and rape hanging over Conkaffey would have been dealt with in Crimson Lake, but the crime and its aftermath still follow him and he finds it hard to escape despite moving away from Sydney in an effort to escape those who deem him guilty despite the collapse of his trial. I have to admit, I didn’t particularly warm to Ted. His, first-person narrated, sections of the novel read almost self-serving; he seems to be trying hard to convince the reader that he didn’t do what he was accused of while, at the same time, telling us that he tries to ignore the support he is getting from podcasters championing his innocence. Not particularly liking him is not the same as not enjoying reading about him; I did and the touches such as the podcast are very well done.

Amanda, I did like. Unconventional, a one-off, a little bit weird, she is a convicted murderess, who did do it - although she got the wrong person. I really preferred the sections of the story that tell Amanda’s tale, and that of the police officer, Phillipa Sweeney, with whom Ted and Amanda become involved when investigating the local murder of two late-night bar staff when the father of one of the victims hires the pair to balance his mistrust of the police.

The stories of the local murder and of the attack of which Ted is accused intertwine and overlap and each is brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the author. Redemption is a very good detective novel and I will go back and read Fox’s first book in the series.

This is the second book in the Crimson Lake series and this one gets five stars as well.
Ted Conkaffey is a detective in the drugs squad in Sydney until one he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is arrested, charged and sent to prison until his case comes to court. It is thrown out for lack of evidence but not closed.
Ted has lost his old life, his wife and baby daughter, his home and his job. He is trying to get on with his life even though he is now known as ' the most hated man in Australia '. He moves out to live away from most people, he has the rain forest as a backdrop and a river with alligators as his front garden. The only friends he has are the local coroner who mother's him and puts him back together again when he is attacked and Amanda a damaged fairie pixie ( this is how Ted describes her ) and a mother goose who is called Woman and her gaggle of babies.
Ted and the real perpetrator begin a game of cat and mouse and the outcome will be only one winner. But who ?????
From page one I was hooked it was beautifully written. Ted with his feathered family was endearing and his partner the forest pixie was a breath of fresh air. I could not put this book down I loved it. Can't wait for the next in this series.
I would like to thank the author Candice Fox, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Redemption Point is the second book in the Crimson Lake Series following the story of Ted Conkaffey an ex policeman wrongly convicted of rape and assault .This book tells how Ted is still reviled by most of Australia but he is trying to rebuild his life and is now working as a Private Investigator with his partner Amanda a cookie ex con who has killed in the past .They are asked to work on a case of two teenagers killed in a local bar ,Ted is also trying to find out who the real rapist is and running through the story is the diary of the real Paedophile which is a very chilling read .I feel real empathy with Ted he comes across as a good guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time .I was pleased that Ted still had his duck Woman and her ducklings living with him .Along with Drug Barons thrown into the mix an eccentric bar owner the story rushes to a very satisfactory conclusion .Thoroughly enjoyable .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review

Detection with a difference.

Redemption is a grab you by the throat thriller from the get go.

Ted Conkaffey AKA Ted Collins and his quirky partner Amanda Pharell have a crime to solve in Crimson Lake the steamy and isolated Australian outback town where they live: the terrible murder of two young bar workers.

As P.I.s they are bound to engender irritation in the local police but being who they are earns them outright hatred and contempt Amanda has served time for murder while Ted, a former drug squad detective, has been accused of being a pedophile. While the charges were dropped, he is still widely regarded as guilty. Only Sweeney, the novice detective in charge oft he case has any time for them.

The novel follows two threads; that of the murder case and that of Ted’s struggle to prove his innocence and save himself from the vengeance of Dale Bingley, father of the girl he is accused of raping.

Into the mix we are give an insight into he mind of the real pedophile through his diary and thoughts as he contemplates what he has done and ponders what to do about his hero - Ted.

Fast paced and complex Redemption Point is peopled with a rich tapestry of well drawn characters in an original and multi layered narration. We are shown life from all angles and the ever increasing spider web of effect that violent crime has not just on the obvious victims but on those others whose life it touches. At the same time it is both gritty and touching.

The outcome is never predictable and we are led through the maze of twists and turns that leave us gasping on the edge of our seat.

A fantastic sequel to Crimson Lake. I look forward to more from Candice Fox.

An interesting book. Thought provoking too. How the media can throw out accusations without checking. The book tells of the life of a man accused of being a predatory paedophile, blameless, but still living with the knowledge that he is the most hated man in Australia. Living a half life. Working as an assistant to a Private Detective who has served 10 years for murder. Trying to keep his head down, visit his family and prove to the father of the child he's accused of abusing that someone else did it.

What happens to him if the true abductor can't be brought to justice.

Redemption Point is the second book in the Crimson Lake series, I had not read the first but had no problem diving straight into this crime fiction thriller that is full of atmosphere, tension and vivid descriptions of the area around the Australian town of Crimson Lake.
Ted Conkaffey an ex policeman was accused of murdering a 13year old girl, after charges were dropped due to lack of evidence he has had to build a new life for himself without his now ex wife and beloved young daughter. Through the eyes of most he is a paedophile and murderer but with the help of genuine friends he is able to keep under the radar and get on with his life.
When the old life comes back with a vengeance he realises he must prove his innocence, working with Private investigator Amanda Pharell an eccentric ex con they travel down a road full of thrills, twists and turns, suspense and evil.
With a range of unique characters this is an excellent and compelling read.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book.

I bought and read the first one in the series prior to reading this one, as I like to read books in order. I'm glad I did as a large part of the story is the relationship between Ted and Amanda, and their back story. A unique crime thriller that is written in a style that I haven't come across before. I don't like to give plots away as I dislike spoilers. I would advise reading the first book Crimson Lake first. I'm glad I didn't have to wait for the second as you will want to read them back to back. This book has a great storyline, twists, darkness and a brilliant punch at the end. The complex relationship between Amanda and Ted adds interesting dialogue. I also love that it is set in Australia, it makes a nice change. I'll be reading Candice's other books now that I've discovered her. Highly recommend, it's a great read.

I didn't like this at all. It was full of violence and nasty people from the start. Not my sort of thing, so I gave it up after 30%.

First off, my thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my ARC of Redemption Point.

An absolute ripper from Downunder (well, down under in my case)! Candice Fox has written a thriller that sizzles with tension and menace. This is Crimson Lake #2 and it’s a pity that I missed #1 as that no doubt sets the scene for Redemption Point. Nevertheless, it reads perfectly as a standalone.

Detective Ted Conkaffey’s life has been ruined. Accused but not convicted of abducting a teenage girl. Remanded for nine months, tried but not convicted due to ‘insufficient evidence’. He has escaped north to the wetlands of Crimson Lake. Fox has created a nightmare world of hatred towards a man who seems helpless in trying to prove his innocence. Conkaffey is despised by everyone. He has taken up with Amanda Pharrell, a convicted murderer, who has obtained a private investigator’s licence, much to the disdain of the local police. (She puts me so much in mind of Lisbeth Salander - a feisty free spirit and so good at what she does). There is more to Amanda’s past than first meets the eye. There is a synergy between these two that - just works.

When two bar workers are ruthlessly murdered, Michael Bell - the father of one of the victims - hires their services. He has no faith in the determination of the local police to seek justice. Two distinct plots then. Can Ted find the perpetrator of the crime for which he remains the number one suspect and will Ted and Amanda get to the bottom of what happened to the two bartenders in a roadside hovel? There is so much evil here that puts both protagonists in harms way. Will Ted find the redemption he so desperately seeks?

Redemption Point is a superb, heart-stopping thriller - well paced and full of pulse-racing moments. Hats off to Candice Fox for a great read - one of my top five this year.

I loved this book! It’s the second in the Crimson Lake series and I hadn’t read the first but it really doesn’t matter, there is enough backfill for it all to make sense.
Amanda and Ted are great characters, the plot rattles along and I couldn’t wait to see how it all concluded.
I hope that that this isn’t the end for Amanda and Ted, they make a great team!
I will definitely be looking at the other books written by this author. My thanks to Netgalley for a great read.

I just love Amanda and Ted - the two Private Investigators in Crimson Lake who have interesting backgrounds and an interesting partnership. don’t worry if you haven’t read bookone, there’s enough here to keep you happy but still want to go back to Crimson Lake anyway which you should.
It’s now Ted in the spotlight here and having the tables turned proves to be very interesting indeed. It’s a very tragic crime and interesting to see how the accused acts and feels as well as those on the other side of the fence so to speak.

What was particularly interesting and gripping here was teh fact that the rapist who had committed the crime had kept a diary and that was both uncomfortable to read yet fascinating all at once. Getting an insight into what makes someone do this -seeing all sides of the case was like being at the front of the courtroom. As evidence comes by, Candice handles everything with ease.

That’s not the only crime involved here either. There’s also a murder in a bar. A double one to be precise.
Both this and the rape accusation create a drama filled with tension and humid rage. The setting is a character in itself and the whole novel is an expertly crafted read.

Cunning and intrepid these Foxes aren’t they?

What an unusual detective story with a range of unique characters not least of which is a family of pet geese and a dog that leads to unmasking of a dangerous paedophile. The central character is a detective accused but unproven of a terrible crime that causes him to be persecuted and ostracised. He is teamed with a young woman private eye who also bares scares from her past to find the murderer of two young people killed for no apparent reason. It is really a story of the damaging effects on the lives of people who due to no fault of their own have to suffer the consequences of crime on their lives. This provides the background to the investigation of murder and the escape from death by the young private eye and the death of her rescuer. Quite a story that is thrilling and humorous in parts.

This is a beautifully written and constructed book. Redemption Point suggests that time is ripe for restoration of justice and also speaks of an area by the lake where former Detective Ted Conkaffey goes walking, savouring the freedom he had lost while in prison, having been wrongly accused of a heinous crime.

It's hard not to love razor-sharp, sassy-smart, streetwise Amanda Pharrell, the deliciously irreverent PI with a checkered past, who partners Ted. She's flawed but shrewd in the ways of the world and a canny character assessor to boot.

The swampy, crocodile-infested, humid and oppressive environment of Crimson Lake feels like another character in itself, populated as it is with wild life of every kind. The natives are far from friendly to the private investigators in their midst. Most are downright hostile and resentful.

Ted has supporters fighting for his cause, while he is holed up in a place where he can retreat from it all. Estranged from his wife and toddler daughter, lost to his previous career, he lives alone, save for a gaggle of geese, who he converses with.

The past suddenly catches up with him when he gets brutally attacked in his hideaway home by the father of the teenage girl he was accused of sexually assaulting. As he’s reeling from this, and being forced to help clear his own name, a local murder requires his attention.

Nowhere feels safe any more. Even the help of heavies, enlisted on his behalf, fail to eliminate the feeling that he is both suspect and target. Parallel to this thread, diary entries unfold, shedding light on the true perpetrator of the crime he was accused of.

Will Ted be able to clear his name before someone takes him down? Or will he die at the hands of those thirsty for revenge and their own kind of restorative justice? Questions remain as this chilling crime thriller reaches its denouement. A gripping, compulsive read. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Cornerstone Digital for the ARC.

I picked up this book not knowing what to expect but, having loved The Dry and being told it was a similar read I thought I'd give it a go. I was so pleased I did.
Candice Fox weaves an intense, thrilling tale set against a backdrop of smalltown Australia. Ted has fled the city after being accused of the most heinous crime - the rape and attempted murder of a child. He has made his home in the Queensland back water and even managed to form an investigation company with the eccentric former criminal Amanda. A brutal crime hits Crimons Falls and Amanda and Ted are brought in to investigate alongside the police force but Ted has issues of his own, with the broken father of his accused victim trackng him and determined for revenge.
This is such a tightly woven novel and the story roars along at a fast pace, it's strange to feel sympathetic towards the two main protagonists but it's clear that neither are truly guilty of the crimes of which they are accused. but Fox writes beautifully, the cast of supporting characters all have their own struggles and she takes the time to engage with those stories too, without losing any of the gripping storyline.
The landscape of Crimson Lake is almost a character in the book, with it's heat and wildlife, including Ted's 'pet' geese, creating an oppressive atmosphere which adds a distinctive element to the story.
This is the second Ted Conkaffey book and I will definitely be seeking out the first one. Fox is a great writer with a unique flavour to her thrillers.

I hadn't read the first book but you can bet I shall, even though some of that book will be compromised by the content of this. I just loved this. I can only imagine the desperation of an innocent person accused of an unspeakable crime and unable to either exonerate himself or continue his life. Starting again to make a new life with fellow outcasts and continuing a search for justice old and new. Great.

Ted Conkaffey, drug squad cop, devoted husband, and father, lost everything when he was wrongly accused of abducting a young girl from the side of the road two years earlier. Now living  in the small town of Crimson Lake and working as a private investigator with Amanda Pharrell, who herself spent years in jail for murder, he is trying to rebuild his life. When two young people are found shot to death in a small bar outside town Ted and Amanda, brought in by one of the victims' fathers, struggle to solve the murders while the abduction case shifts up a notch as further allegations are made and more hatred is aimed at Ted.
This is the second of the Crimson Lakes series and although I haven't read the first there was enough information for this not to be a problem.  The storytelling was first class, and the characterisation is excellent. I liked Ted and his geese right from the start and Amanda is a great foil for everyone; disarming, clever, loyal and with an outlook all her own she made the book for me.
I had never read any of Candice Fox's work before but thanks to Netgalley who provided this early copy that has changed and I intend to acquaint myself with her other books right away.