I wasn't aware when I requested for this book that it was part of a series, and feel as though maybe I needed to read the previous books to know a bit more about the characters. All in all it wasn't a terrible read, but it was more of a procedural thriller and I'm not a huge fan of that.

Brenda Chapman is a great writer that makes you want to continue reading to find out what is going to happen next. There were twists until the end but I will not give away any spoilers. This is the 6th book in the series. I have not read the previous books and I was able to connect with Kala Stonechild, Dawn, and Gundersund.

The boom has not swept me of my feet but also it was not the one that you put down after a page. I read it but I would not say I have enjoyed it. The plot was too slow and somehow unpredictable.

Turning Secrets is the most recent installment (Book Six) in the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series by author Brendan Chapman. It is nothing short of an incredible read, with a plausible plot, well-developed characters, and detailed settings that cleverly reflect the tone.

Those familiar with the series will most certainly recognize many of the characters. MC Officer Kala Stonechild and colleagues return to solve a crime, this time called upon to investigate the death of a young mother, Nadia Armstrong. At first blush, it appears Armstrong has taken her own life by leaping from the sixth floor of a construction site. Closer examination, however, reveals injuries inconsistent with a fall, and the entire Kingston Major Crimes team soon becomes convinced that what looks like a suicide is actually a murder. The closer the team gets to solving the case, the more dangerous it becomes, and the race to the finish is one that is full of suspense and unexpected revelations.

Chapman opens with alternating chapters written in third person, each initially focusing upon a different narrative. For those unfamiliar with the series, it can be a bit overwhelming, as nearly twenty characters are introduced in just the first twenty or so pages. As seemingly unrelated scenes play out, however, the characters settle in, and the reader is drawn into a variety of story lines that eventually collide. At the heart is the recurring theme of unscrupulous men who prey upon vulnerable women. Casualties of domestic abuse, human trafficking and prostitution are all painted with gentle and forgiving brush strokes that elicit both sympathy and empathy from the reader. Chapman brings to life these characters in a way that guides the reader to fully invest and be moved by the circumstances. One can’t help but feel the desperation of the single mother, the troubled teen or the wayward father, as they are brought together like interlocking puzzle pieces until finally the larger picture is revealed.

The final genius of the book is in Chapman’s ability to create settings that brilliantly reflect the tenor of each scene. The security of Stonechild’s home is supported by the soothing descriptions of the water and Canadian wilderness surrounding it. The stark nature of an apartment building adds to the tragedy of the victim who lived there. The chaos and filth of a house reinforces the brutality of the man who calls it home. This pattern is one that, once recognized, adds to a fuller appreciation of the novel.

Overall, this was a wonderful read that can be equally enjoyed by those who follow the series and those who are new to it. It stands alone, though background knowledge provided in previous installments will add depth and continuity to the experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC for review. I am already looking forward to the next book!

Another great mystery in this series from Brenda Chapman. I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series with Cold Mourning to be able to really enjoy all of the books as the background of the characters and there development really adds to the depth of the stories.

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

My first time reading Brenda Chapman. I haven't read the previous books in this series but it didn't keep me from enjoying this book.

A single mother named Nadia is found dead at a construction site and it looks like a suicide. Things aren't always what they seem. The police get involved and uncover Nadia's dark past...

4 stars. Well written, interesting, and close to reality. A good crime thriller you will enjoy for sure! I really liked it.

Full Disclosure, I have not read any other books in this series.

What I liked: That I didn't really need to all other books in the series to dive into this one. Yes, I'm sure I missed some character development and backstory, but the author did a great job of giving me just enough to give the story depth.
What I loved: Twists and turns!!
What I hated: Maybe a little to small-town inter-mingled-ness in the resolve, but not enough to ruin this for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I would definitely recommend this to mystery/thriller readers!

Another Fascinating Murder Mystery by Brenda Chapman

This is the second novel in this series by Brenda Chapman that I have read. These stories are based in Kingston, (Ontario, Canada) and surrounding areas. They are always well plotted and well written.

This novel revolves around young women who go missing. One is found dead near a construction site in a manner that poses the question: was her death a suicide or a homicide? As the plot unfolds it becomes clear that it was homicide. But why? It appears that she was selling sexual services to some unknown men. Police detective Stonechild's daughter Dawn has a school friend Vanessa who goes missing. She is mixed up with some questionable characters and Dawn herself may be at risk. Can the police crack the case before harm befalls her and others. Who is responsible?
It has a surprise ending when the "Who" is unveiled.

This story was interesting and worked as a stand alone but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had more of character’s backgrounds. It’s understandable that by this book (6) the groundwork had been laid.

I liked the plot. I liked the overall writing style but found the transitions between narrators was clunky at times. Also switching between the characters first and last names was confusing and frustrating.

The conclusion was satisfying and quite sad. I would recommend this one and maybe go back in the series to brush up before the next one comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Dundurn for a copy in exchange for a review.

Turning Secrets in the 6th installment of the Stonechild & Rouleau mystery series. Thank you #NetGalley for the e-ARC copy of the book. Even though this is the first book I’ve read of the series, I really enjoyed the read. It was a police protocol mystery book trying to figure out if there was a suicide or murder. It was a little difficult figuring out the characters until about half way through the book, but I wasn’t disappointed when I found out the ending. I definitely recommend #TurningSecrets to anyone who loves a murder mystery type book.

Although this is book 6 in a series it is the first one I have read. I found the storyline to be solid and easy to follow. A mystery which involves good old fashioned policing and grinding techniques. It involves underage prostitution and trafficking of young women. I think it will keep the readers interested until the final chapter.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

This was a great “who done it” novel.
When a case comes across det stonechild of a possible suicide of a young mother; stonechild has suspicions that this case may not be so open and shut. As the team delves deeper into the case it gets more complicated. Seedy motels, sex for money and the disappearance of stonechilds niece she is taking care of and her neices friend. I will definitely be reading more from this Canadian author!

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for honest review. This book was okay. You know how law and order, episodes are pretty much the same, but you like it anyways. That's how this book seemed. The only complaint I have is the flip flopping of officers names. Used first in 1 chapter, then only last in next. I think i understood who everyone was at 50% mark.

Turning Secrets is another suspenseful Stonechild & Rouleau mystery.

Is Nadia Armstrong's death suicide or murder? Who's leaking information about the case? Who is the older man high school student Vanessa is dating?

The suspicious death of young Nadia Armstrong is taking up much of Kala Stonechild's time, and she regrets not being home enough with her niece Dawn. In addition to complications of the current case, Kala is frustrated by the knowledge that someone on the Major Crime team is leaking information, and Kala suspects Woodhouse, who has been a thorn in her side in previous books.

While Kala is often late getting home, Dawn has more time alone, and when her father approaches her, she is able to keep their budding relationship a secret from Kala. Dawn knows that her mother has forbidden any contact with Dawn's father and that Kala agrees, so she feels guilty, but wants to help him.

Dawn's classmate sixteen-year-old Vanessa has been behaving strangely since developing a relationship with a man in his twenties. Vanessa tries to draw Dawn into a double date at the request of her boyfriend, but Dawn is decidedly wary as she is aware of Vanessa's unhappiness.

A lot of disturbing elements come to light as the case progresses. Chapman draws from social problems that are frequently in the news, making them more personal, less abstract. One of the pleasures in a good series is developing a relationship with characters, and Chapman's characters are interesting and well-developed. Sometimes they are in the background, sometimes they take center stage. Most surprising in Turning Secrets is that by the end of the book, one character behaves in an unanticipated way. Just when you believe you have the characters in a definite groove, someone jumps the track.

Read in November; blog review scheduled for May 14, 2019.

NetGalley/Dundurn
Detective/Crime. June 4, 2019. Print length: 408 pages.

A single mum is found dead on a construction site and at first looks to be a suicide.
The more officer Stonechild looks into the case the more she is convinced it's murder. Who would want to kill her and why?
Stonechild teenage neice Dawn is also living with her and is keeping secrets of her own.
Could it be that Dawn's friend Vanessa's new boyfriend Leo hold the secret surrounding this case.

"Turning Secrets" is the first Stonechild and Rouleau mystery that I have read- how have I not found this series before? I really enjoy episodic, procedural cop shows-- this felt like one of those in book form! In other words, an overarching storyline, but a series that is easy to jump into randomly and not feel too lost in.

I never read series out of order, and I was afraid that it would inhibit my understanding of the story. It's totally possible to pick this story up and have fun with it- I did! I would still recommend it from the beginning though, as I feel like some of the relationships between the characters would have been explained in previous books. I will definitely be going back and picking up the first one.

As someone jumping into the story for the first time, the characters were a bit difficult to follow. The author sometimes mentions the character's names by their first names, and sometimes by their last names. I couldn't figure out if she did last names within the detective's precinct, and first names outside of it-- but at times, it got a bit distracting. It took me a while to know which character was which, but once I did (about a third of the way through), it was a little easier to understand what was going on.

Aside from that minor issue, I really enjoyed this mystery! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dundurn for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I am so happy to have discovered this series and look forward to seeing more of it!

Nadia, a young single mother, is found dead at a construction site and at first everyone assumes it's suicide. But as the Kingston police start to investigate, they suspect she's been murdered. As they dig into her background, they discover she has a past doing drugs and prostitution.

Police officer Kala Stonechild is taking care of her teenage niece, Dawn, while Dawn's mother is in prison. Dawn's father has recently been released from prison and heads to Kingston to connect with her before he heads east to get away from some guys he owes money too.

Kala is attracted to a fellow officer (and the feeling seems to be mutual) but things are complicated because his ex-wife has returned to town and is living with him.

Dawn's sorta friend, Vanessa, has been acting funny since she started dating an older guy named Leo. Leo has a friend who would like to date Dawn but she's creeped out and not interested.

This is the sixth (and latest) in the Stonechild and Rouleau series and I enjoyed it. Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't need to have read the previous ones to read this one (there is enough background given). It's always nice to read a book that is happening in Ontario (these characters live in Kingston and the author doesn't hide this fact). I liked the writing style and found the storyline interesting. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on the various characters wherever the action was happening.

I look forward to reading future books in this series and by this author.

Turning Secrets by Brenda Chapman is the fifth book in this series. I am Not personally familiar with the series and did find that this novel can stand alone without having read the prior novels. There may be some small character related details that one may miss perhaps, but by and large the novel stands on its own.

Turning Secrets is set in Canada, and it follows Kala Stonechild, a police officer with a complicated history. Kala once ran with a very troubled crowd and has had to overcome a lot to end up in the station in life that she now enjoys. Kala is guardian to Dawn Cook, a quiet teenager who’s parents have both made mistakes and are not a presence in Dawn’s life. Dawn’s mother is serving time for armed robbery, and Dawn’s father is out on probation and is struggling to make ends meet. Dawn’s father, Fisher, has secretly been in touch with Dawn.

Kala’s unit starts investigating the violent death of an unidentified woman who’s body is found on a construction site. The woman is subsequently identified as Nadia, a young mother, who left her baby with a neighbor to enjoy a night out. It is soon discovered that Nadia was a young woman who lived a life full of secrets, and she isn’t the only one.

Dawn has been befriended by another girl in school named Emily. Emily is friends with 2 other girls named Chelsea and Vanessa. Emily has taken Dawn under her wing, although Chelsea and Vanessa do not approve of Dawn. Vanessa is a vulnerable young woman who’s parents are going through an ugly divorce, and Vanessa has recently found companionship in the form of an older boyfriend who her friends only know as Leo. Vanessa keeps Leo a complete secret from her friends and family. Dawn begins to notice that Vanessa seems withdrawn. It isn’t long before Vanessa’s issues are given a violent jolt into the serious when Vanessa suddenly disappears. Meanwhile,Kala and her unit start to draw parallels between Nadia’s death and Vanessa’s disappearance. Things become even more serious when Dawn is suddenly abducted. With two girls now missing and one young mother in the morgue, Kala’s team must act quickly to find who is behind these abductions.

The story takes us on a journey to examine the dark underbelly of society where sex is a traded commodity, and vulnerable women are exploited and sold into sex rings. It is a relatively fast paced thriller that handles the subject matter well. The characters are believable. The storyline is resolved by the end of the book with no cliffhangers. Overall, a solid novel. Copy provided by NetGalley.

The subject matter surrounding the case in Turning Secrets is not only disturbing, it's also current in today's world of high crime rates and drug abuse. It's a scary thing to think about the number of young girls that are preyed upon by older, unscrupulous men. That said, I felt like so much more could've been done with this story. There are quite a lot of characters to keep up with, and with so many POV changes throughout the book, I had a hard time getting to know any of the characters enough to really become invested in them. This is my first experience with this series, so I'm going to assume that a lot of character building was done in earlier books and base my rating on the mystery in this one. While it moved a bit slower than I care for, it did hold my interest enough to keep me reading. I wanted to know what happened to Nadia, and I wanted to see how things turned out for Vanessa and for Dawn. The biggest downfall for me was the amount of what felt like filler before getting back to the meat of the story. This one is certainly more procedural than action, which doesn't really pick up until close to the end of the book. That's not a problem for me except that I would've liked a little more on the procedure. I'm sure those who are invested in this series and know the characters will get more out of this one than I did as parts of it did feel like an ongoing story. However, it is what it is, and this is just my 2 cents worth. The story on its own is still worth the read, but I would recommend checking out the earlier books first. All in all, Turning Secrets is a decent crime drama with a thought-provoking case.

I enjoyed this tremendously. It was my first exposure to Stonechild and Rouleau, and in fact, Brenda Chapman's writing. Once I'd realised that Kingston wasn't in Jamaica, and got over the change in situation I was expecting, the story unfolded really well. As number six in the series, is there a certain amount of history with the lead characters, but this was in no way detrimental to this story, and has purely piqued my interesting at starting at the beginning. But with that, the characters are already well rounded and believable, as is the location, which seems to play a central role, almost as a character on its own. I like the writing style, which flows easily, and had me gripped from the beginning.

As a crime thriller, this one is right up there. There were enough clues for me to work out who was responsible, without being obvious, or predictable. I'll be looking out for the preceding novels, and look forward to discovering more about Kala Stonechild, as well as unravelling her cases with her.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.