This was a slow and steady read, that takes the reader along a journey that ends with a explosive twist ending that you don't expect! Recommended.

While I wanted to like this book, and eagerly gave it my best shot, I'm afraid I wasn't totally enamoured as the style of writing and the story in general was quite outdated. It did keep me guessing however so for that reason I'm giving it 3 stars.

Thrilling story, great plot and characters that keep you guessing right til the end. Great for fans of this genre. Really enjoyable.

3.5 Stars

PI Alexandra Best is contacted by a man who is searching for his missing adult daughter. Alex is put off immediately as he comes across as secretive about his deaf daughter. He doesn't seen to know much about her life... and of course, there's also the healthy inheritance she is due to receive.

But is she missing? Is she even his daughter? Is she dead?

With more suspects than she can keep track of, Alex might be in deeper than she realizes.

On top of a puzzling mystery, Detective Nick Frobish is still hanging around, hoping to be more than just a friend. He knows Alex is up to something, but she's being secretive, as well. And then there's Gary .. a new friend, a new lover. But the timing of his appearance in her life is suspect. Is he who he says he is?

THICKER THAN WATER was first published in 1999. There are some moments that seem to take me back in time ... a song from the 60s ... a movie from the 80s. It's well written with slow, deliberate pacing. The suspense is there, but understated. The ending is explosive!

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

Originally published in 1999, Thicker Than Water is the first instalment in the Private Investigator Alexandra Best series. Thirty-something Caroline Price has been missing for over two weeks. But the question is, is she really missing at all? The style of writing sometimes feels a little old fashioned but there was an engaging cast of characters and a good plot which was both easy to follow and deduce placed in a nice setting. It was a little light for my taste but would appeal to readers who like a cosy mystery with a little romance on the side.

Originally published in 2000, Thicker Than Water is the first instalment in the Private Investigator Alexandra Best series. A further two additions were made later in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Somewhat foreseeably this is rather an outdated story, but if you like the feeling of nostalgia associated with looking in the rear view mirror and revisiting arguably one of the best decades in history -- the 90s -- then this is worth a read. I loved that aspect of the story.

I did, however, have problems firstly connecting with the writing and secondly investing in or engaging with our scatterbrained protagonist, Alexandra, who has made a grave mistake joining a profession that requires good intuition, memory and a reasonable level of intelligence. Unfortunately, these are not traits she appears to possess, therefore, the whole story stretched credulity to the limit making me less interested in completing it and finding out what eventually happens.

There was also the rather major issue of predictability - I had worked out the direction the plot was heading after only a few chapters, so this was not a very satisfying experience for me. I wasn't expecting the romantic side of things to play such a substantial role either, but I guess that was the author's alternative incarnation impinging on a book that should've focused solely on the mystery element instead of trying to be too many things all at once.

Many thanks to Agora Books for an ARC.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

This was average for me. Ms Best can be a bit scatter-brained, and written in a way that made it a challenge to connect with her. The plot unfolded in a mostly-satisfying way. But this book didn't stand out. OK for a light read without high expectations. The author is obviously talented, so maybe her other books are better.

I really appreciate the free copy for review!

I think this book can be appreciated by anyone who likes cosi mysteries.
It's engaging and entertaining, sometimes a bit old fashioned but enjoyable.
I liked the plot, the cast of characters and the setting.
The style of writing is sometimes a bit outdated but pleasant.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.

I ARC received via NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.

Alexandra is private investigator. When she is hired to find a women name Caroline who been missing for weeks. When she investigate she realize how can a woman be missing when she rarely leaves her home. As she digs deeper she start to wonder if Caroline is missing at all especially when her father doesn't want the police involved.

When she does start to get somewhere it leaves more questions then answers and with all the suspects she has to keep track of she races to against the clock to find Caroline and to keep herself from danger.

It was a fast paced story I like the character of Alex she flaw but at sometimes I wonder why she was P.I in the first place. I look forward to the next book for this author.

Thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alexandra Best, female PI, is not someone I would ever want investigating anything on my behalf. Inept, easily distracted, no follow-through... it's a wonder she ever gets within a country mile of the solution that was obvious within the first couple of chapters. I found her so annoying that it was hard to get through the book - plus the author's first life as a romance novelist kept intruding on the plot, in the form of various "romantic and sexual" complications.

All in all, not a book I would recommend, unless you're looking for a combination of easy mystery and stereotypical romantic novel.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2730984412?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1