An extremely unusual but fascinating read with a raft of interesting, nuanced characters. This dark mystery really lured me in and the second half of the book in particular was packed full of action and many surprises with a twist that comes out of nowhere. Ritu Sethi created a wonderful atmosphere for the story, complete with winter storms and lashing rain. The main protagonist was DCI Gray James, working for Vancouver police, who was a man trying to accept his own history. There were some hints in this book but not enough to explain what lies behind his drive and personality.

Kill Me Why? was the second instalment of a series and I am away to read the first book - His Hand In the Storm.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Dark mystery that sucks you into a different place. A nightmare where no one wants to be. Good read. Can’t put it down. Wondering where it’s going to go And which way to turn

2.5* What started off as an unusual story with quirky characters and an uncommon setting, (without giving away spoilers, it’s where Dr. Emmy Kaur works and lives) turned into a plodding read.

The characters were varied, but not particularly engaging and all the relationships were flawed. If DCI Gray James was to be believable and appealing to the reader, he should have been easier to read. Which woman, if any, did he love? It seemed he was playing one woman off against each other, not a likable quality in a hero.

Which brings me to the women! Not one of them, other than Emmy in flashes and Detective Vivienne, was in the least bit likable. Don’t even get me started on Farrah – a trashy character, perfunctorily described. Sita, whom Sethi describes alternately as Gray’s wife, estranged wife and ex-wife, was the hardest to a) like; b) understand. Was Gray supposed to be pursuing her or the other way around? It seemed the author had no clue herself but wanted the reader to care. In the end it didn’t matter as none of the relationships mattered or were resolved. I still didn’t know what Gray’s internal state was at the end after a long time meandering around in his mind.

The reason I am bringing these characters up is that Sethi wanted the relationships to matter. She devoted pages upon pages to the convoluted connections. I wasn’t sure if the outcome was supposed to be a cliff-hanger, or the author thought she had wrapped up the ends. In my case, it was neither a cliff-hanger in that it doesn’t motivate me to buy the next book, nor is it resolved.

Gray’s grieving about Craig was a long nightmare that served as a distraction into the mystery. It didn’t serve to a) help the reader understand Gray; or b) like Gray more; or c) to create an interesting side plot.

The mystery and setting were lacklustre. I skipped paragraphs to get to the end of each chapter and to the end of the novel. There is only so many times you can read about cars hurtling along on a stormy day on twisting mountainous roads that end on a cliff into the sea on one side. There are only so many ways to describe being soaked through by variously the storm, the sea or both. However, the reader is subjected to chapters of these weather, setting and roading challenges that all run into one another to form an extended, water-logged read.

The plot was hard to follow, full of jumps and starts, and didn’t end satisfactorily. It was really all over the place, and left the protagonist, Grey, less likable than he had been in the beginning. Odd indeed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. # Kill MeWhy #NetGalley. This book review also appears in:
https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2019/07/kill-me-why-by-ritu-sethi.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2886244086

Gray finds himself facing his demons. Will he be able to find out why all these people are dying and who the Stitcher is before its too late? Twists, and a rollercoaster ride of a story is found within these pages. Thank you NnetGalley for allowing me to read this book and write this.

Chief Inspector Gray James has returned to Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia for the first time in three years. Still traumatized by the drowning death of his son Craig, he accompanies his friend, forensic scientist John Seymour to a nearby body farm used for research. The research head, Dr. Emmy Kaur claims to have found a male victim with his lips sutured shut with medical nylon but that the body disappeared within minutes of her going to report the crime. Has the killer known as the Stitcher returned after a 15-year absence?

Gray is stunned when his former Montreal team member Vivienne is found on a boat on the coast with two men. She is working undercover as the boat's engineer to try and stop an international art smuggling ring. When the male victim is identified as a freelance art critic, the two cases become linked. Now as a fierce storm approaches, Gray must confront his tragic past and protect his estranged wife Sita and baby daughter Noelle from a crazed killer and help Vivienne find a priceless painting.

I received an eARC via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Kill Me Why? by Ritu Sethi
Chief Inspector Gray James Detective Mystery #2

Dead bodies? Yes
A murderer to find? Definitely
Weird things going on in town? Without a doubt
Characters I could relate to? Not many
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Do I want to read more in this series? Of course!

After reading book one in the series I was eager to find out just what would happen in Gray James life. His estranged wife and an unknown toddler daughter appeared on his doorstep at the end of book one and I wondered how that would work out. So, this book begins and there is a body found at a body farm and...the body disappears. There is one thing about the body that brings back a case from fifteen years ago that Gray was on the task force for. He needs to catch The Stitcher...NOW. There are more bodies with lips stitched closed...that disappear. There is a group of people in town wanting to oust the body farm. There is a caretaker of the body farm that is...different...but intriguing. Gray’s father makes an appearance. Seymour, the pathologist, is there for the Christmas holidays and a big part of the story. There is smuggling and romance and psychos and sickos and eventually Gray does suss out who did what to whom BUT again, the story ends with a big reveal that leads me to wondering when the next book will be out because...I really wonder how Gray will get out of the mess he may find himself in!

Thank you to the author who bequeathed me a copy of this book through NetGalley – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

This is the second in the series and having loved the first I was eager to get started on this. Like the previous book it's very atmospheric and the writing really draws you in. It's quite a convulated tale but it's so well written that it's easy to follow. Like the previous book there is a while host of interesting, nuanced characters. I'm looking forward to reading more!

4.5 Stars

KILL ME WHY? is the sequel to HIS HAND IN THE STORM which features Chief Investigator Gray James.

It's been 15 years, but the Stitcher is back. This serial killer is known to leave his victims with their lips sewn shut with nylon sutures. He has left his victim at a Body Farm... but the body has since disappeared before any law official saw it. The woman who runs the Body Farm is as puzzled as James .. and angry that the Sheriff did not believe her.

Unfortunately for James, this happens in the small town where he lived as a young man ... where he had a hand in his own son's death.

There will be more bodies with evidence of the Stitcher, but they too will disappear ....

When threats are launched at his family, Gray finds himself caught in the tail end of a hurricane .. a house full of suspects ... and dead bodies.

I highly recommend reading these books in order. Gray James has a history that he is still trying to come to grips with. There are some hints in this book ... but not near enough to explain what lies behind the man.

This is a well written mystery with peculiar, and sometimes deadly characters. Especially the last half of the book is action-packed and full of surprises. The biggest surprise is a twist that comes out of nowhere.

Many thanks to the author / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author a page turner

I would like to thank Netgalley and SFWA for a review copy of Kill Me Why?, the second novel to feature DCI Gray James of the Vancouver police.

Gray is spending the Christmas holidays at his father’s home in Halfmoon Bay on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast when he is asked to unofficially visit a crime scene, and what a scene. Dr Emmy Kaur runs a body farm and claims that there was a dead body lying on one of her sites which disappeared while she went to report it. Her description of the corpse reminds Gray of The Stitcher who murdered fifteen years ago and was never caught.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kill Me Why? which is an exciting read with so much going on. It is not a long novel but it certainly packs a punch with plenty of action and emotion. I have not read Ms Sethi’s work before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely read more. The novel opens with Gray driving to a crime scene at the request of his friend Dr John Seymour. This is intriguing as neither he nor the reader have any information about what he’s going to find. It is a great hook which draws the reader in and doesn’t let go. I must admit that my heart sank when the next chapter was the voice of the killer, not my favourite, but fortunately it is not a continuing theme throughout the novel and I assume is only there to set the scene. After that it seems like non stop action as more bodies are seen then disappear and Gray puts his life on the line. This latter I thought was particularly well done as I lived every excruciating minute with him.

I loved the atmosphere created in the novel. It is winter so rain and storms abound but they almost become a character in their own right. I could feel the danger they present and their menace.

Gray James is an odd kind of protagonist. Three years ago his son died in an accident (the author promises full details in the next novel) and he feels responsible. It cost him his marriage and his emotions. I found his angst a bit wearing, not that I don’t empathise, more that it’s a bit excessive in a crime novel. He did grow on me as the novel progressed and I got used to his idiosyncrasies.

There is much to like in Kill Me Why? so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.