This one was a great mix of mystery, suspense and romance! The setting of this one is not to be missed- look forward to more of her work!

I'm a sucker for a cover and a good title so this one drew me in right away. Then I found out it was set in New Zealand! Loved the main characters, and the mystery kept me reading. Definitely would recommend to psychological thriller lovers.

Overall a good read. An interesting mystery with twists and turns you may not suspect. However at times the story drags on. Great characters that keep you interested and wondering what they will do.they are also characters that have flaws.

Because of the cover of the color and the title I was expecting more sunshine than I got from this book. The book is set on the rainy, gray, wild New Zealand west coast. The sunshine is from a girl that everyone gravitates to.

This girl is not the main character in the book, though. Anahera, one of the main characters, is returning to her home town, the ironically named Golden Cove (the gold never panned out) to hide and heal after her marriage to a London playwright was blown to smithereens. Will Gallagher, the new and only cop in town, is the other POV character. He has also come to Golden Cove to hide. The two of them team up when Miriama the sunshine girl goes missing. Anahera knows the big players in town because she grew up here. Will has his cop's instincts. Both of them have blind spots.

The mystery was decent- I wasn't sure of the identity of the perp until pretty far into the book. The book itself was rather bleak. The two main characters are damaged, hurting people and the author doesn't hold back from letting the reader experience that. The setting was wild and dangerous; the author repeatedly drummed home how careful one must be in the natural environment in order to avoid disaster. It's sort of a rural noir, I suppose. It was well written and I'd try another book by this author but this was not necessarily an easy read.

Nalini has always been one of my favorite authors and this new direction of hers into the genre of mysteries/thrillers is amazing! She is a master of storytelling and this new book is no exception. Anahera is flawed by the betrayal of her husband which she only discovered after he died. The story takes place in New Zealand, a small community called Golden Cove. Will was sent there to be the only cop, partly as a punishment for just trying to save the life of an abused woman and her son, both of whom died. Anahera returned to her home in Golden Cove, to attempt to come to terms with what has happened in her life. This was such a good book! I cannot wait to read more from Nalini Singh in this genre!

Read this stand alone after reading Quiet in Her Bones by the same author, Ending up listening to it and the narrator was very good. Good readalike to Jane Harper fans. Modern-day New Zealand setting.

**4.5 Stars**

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Nalini Singh’s first thriller, but I should have known I would absolutely love it. At this point, if she asked me if I would like to read her grocery list, I would say, “I adore groceries,” and read happily. While A MADNESS OF SUNSHINE is marketed as a thriller, I would categorize it as more of an atmospheric murder mystery. When I think “thriller,” I think “scary,” and while this book hummed with underlying tension, it wasn’t terrifying in a jump-scare way.

The story follows the disappearance of a young, beautiful woman in a small, remote New Zealand town. Our two main characters are the local police detective and the town’s prodigal daughter, who returned home after the death of her husband. There haven’t been any outsiders in their small town in days, so everyone is a suspect.

Now I am notoriously bad at guessing whodunnit, so my thoughts about who was responsible for the disappearance changed every chapter or two – by Nalini’s design. The guessing was so fun, though! Anytime I was sure of the villain’s identity, another clue or personality trait would reveal itself, and I would have three more suspects to consider. Nalini’s writing style really lends itself to mysteries because she is so good at giving each and every character hidden depths.

The real stars were the descriptions of the New Zealand landscape. The power of the ocean, the lushness of the wilderness, and the people who live respecting and understanding nature’s power – absolutely gorgeous. I loved that there was a romance, and yes, this is not a romance novel because it is absolutely a secondary plot to the mystery, but it made me happy amidst a pretty bleak plotline.

By the end of the book, when everything is wrapped up, Nalini’s messages become clear. They made me melancholy and forced me to think about gender roles, power dynamics, and manipulation.

I took off half a star because there were a lot of red herrings in this book, but some of them weren’t wrapped up by the end of the book, leaving me scratching my head a bit. What can I say? The romance reader in my likes a book with any and all subplots neatly tied up.

Overall, I just love Nalini Singh’s storytelling, and I could tell she had fun with this one, which added to my enjoyment.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

This was reminiscent of a lot of small town mystery romances that I've read before, but with an interesting and fairly unique setting that kept me engaged.

If you've been kicking around this blog for a while you'll have noticed I read next to zero paranormal anything. Nothing against it, it's just really, really not my jam. All this to say that A Madness of Sunshine is the first book I've ever read by Nalini Singh. Probably terribly shocking to some of you, but it's my way of saying that I walked into this book with no preconceived notions or set of expectations whatsoever. And honestly, I think that was a good thing. I had quibbles, but truly this was an engrossing read and I loved every moment of it.

She returned home two hundred and seventeen days after burying her husband while his pregnant mistress sobbed so hard that she made herself sick.

Growing up in tiny, claustrophobic Golden Cove, New Zealand Anahera's sole dream was getting the hell out of town - which she did. A celebrated pianist, she fell in love with Edward, a celebrated playwright, and settled in London living a glamorous, cosmopolitan lifestyle with an equally glamorous and cosmopolitan social circle. Until a tragedy strained their marriage and eventually Edward died unexpectedly bringing a pregnant mistress to Ana's front door. Finding refuge in her music? Not happening. Staying in London? Really not an option. All she can think of is escape and what better place than to go home, living in her mother's isolated, abandoned cabin. Even if there are nothing but ghosts there.

She's in town for a hot second when she meets the lone cop on the beat, Will. Famous in his own right, having solved some very difficult cases, Will is basically banished to Golden Cove after a domestic violence case goes horribly wrong. Golden Cove is his penance. A quiet job in the middle of nowhere. He rubs Ana the wrong way, mostly because she's on guard and prickly - but they soon find themselves drawn together when pretty, vivacious, 19-year-old Miriama goes missing. Without a trace. And everybody in town is apparently hiding secrets.

This is basically a domestic thriller that uses an entire small town as a backdrop. Golden Cove is a tourist destination (mostly hikers and outdoorsy types) but it is largely a backwater burg with clear class and ethnic lines (White and Maori). The disappearance of Miriama rocks the small town - namely because she was a smart, bright girl who respected the rugged landscape (Getting swept out to sea or lost in the bush is unthinkable for someone like her) but she was breathtakingly gorgeous. She's dating the town doctor but seriously every dude in this town is a lecher hot for Miriama, even before she was legal. Will's been in town for a while, but he's still a newcomer and there are things the locals are not going to tell him. But they will tell Anahera, one of their own even if she did run off to London. Miriama's disappearance also stirs up memories from years before. When Anahera was a girl, three young, beautiful backpackers disappeared in the bush, never to be seen again.

I ended up listening to this on audio and I'm glad I did - this is a slow burn thriller. There's zero fast-paced thrills and chills as it quietly unfolds and Singh peels back the layers of this isolated town and it's secretive residents. There are a lot of secondary characters and the search for Miriama takes up a good chunk of the story - with most of the intensity coming into play in the final third of the book.

To be honest, I'm not sure I would have liked this one quite as much as I did had I read it. Singh spends a lot of time setting up her town, introducing her secondary character, and laying the groundwork on Anahera's and Will's emotionally messy baggage. Also, fair warning that this one has all the trigger warnings for domestic violence. Nothing on page, but a good chunk of Ana's past was shaped by her abusive alcoholic father and her mother's accidental death some years after she left him.

This wasn't an "OMG I cannot put this down!" sort of read but it was hypnotically engrossing, with deeply drawn characters and a really well put together romantic storyline between Anahera and Will. I've been reading suspense for a long time, and while I've read darker, this one is still pretty dark - with haunted characters, plenty of secrets, and a creepy methodical Big Bad. Will I ever read Singh's paranormal romances? Probably not. But I immediately downloaded her second thriller after finishing this one.

Final Grade = B+

I procrastinated reading this book for so long and I regret it so much! This book was so unexpectedly good. I don’t know why I thought I would hate this book but “au contraire”, it’s one of my favorites and I truly hoped it would become a series, but unfortunately, it’s a stand alone.

I will read all of Nalini’s books thought, I’m a fan for life now!

The setting of this book takes place in New Zealand, which I thought was super awesome! For some reason, I end up reading books that are set in the U.S or the U.K so this was a really nice change. Being that the small town pictured in the novel is on the New Zealand coast, Nalini was able to include so much atmosphere. Just her description in the summary “West Coast of the South Island, populated by all the remembered faces and set against a backdrop of lush greenery, jagged cliffs, and crashing waves.” Brilliant!! Loved that so much.

Plus, I feel in love with the characters, HARD! The character development was excellent! You could tell that there was much love and respect for one other in the community (minus some characters of course) but I truly loved the feel of the book.

I expected this book to be more general fiction, but I was so wrong. Nalini did an amazing job at bringing in the suspense and mystery! Exceptional writing, great plot; I highly recommend this book to everyone!

After living in London for a while, Anahera returns to her hometown - a small, rural village in New Zealand - to recover from the death of her husband and the discovery that he was cheating on her. Not much has changed. Many of the same people are living there, and those annoying social stratifications still exist. When a popular young woman disappears, the townspeople are consumed with the search and they are reminded of the disappearance of 3 young women years ago -- are the incidents connected?

This is an intriguing, taut mystery/suspense story with overtones of racial, social, & cultural prejudices, family pressures, and abuse. Ana is a well-drawn character and the (for most Americans) the unusual setting adds to the mystery and intrigue. New Zealand aboriginal culture is interspersed throughout. A great read with an action-packed heart-stopping ending.

Don’t you just love seeing an author you love venturing into different genres? I’m all for it and when I saw that Nalini Singh was writing a mystery I did a little happy dance. I think my favorite thing about A MADNESS OF SUNSHINE is something that you may want to keep in mind especially considering this is marketed as a thriller. The story has a very laid back feel to it. I personally really enjoyed it!

Our main protagonist, Anahera, had left behind the small town where she grew up in New Zealand and went on to be a successful concert pianist and married to one of London’s elite. After the death of her husband and a discovery that left her rattled, she comes back to her small town. Some things have changed and others have stayed the same. And amidst her reconnecting with old friends a young local girl goes missing. A disappearance that seems to have some resemblance to some hikers that had gone missing back when she was a teenager. Could the two be connected? And will they be fast enough to find the young girl still alive?

Have you watched the movie THE DRESSMAKER with Kate Winslet? I think that’s the perfect vibe for this book, just adding the murder/mystery. I loved the small coastal town setting and I think it was the perfect backdrop for this kind of story. Ms. Singh has a talent for making the setting of her books come alive and be an integral part of her stories and this was no different.

I also really liked the main characters. In this case, there is a small element of romance to this story that will keep romance fans satisfied even if it’s not the major part of this story. I think Anahera and Will had plenty of chemistry but also kept their heads in what was important at the moment. And they were just perfect together, just the right amount of tragedy in their past and a little broody.

Now about the mystery… I had no trouble figuring things out and having a good suspicion of what was going on. Turned out I was right. So I guess I was missing that element of surprise because it was a bit too easy to figure out. But maybe that’s just me.

Still that didn’t take away my enjoyment of reading this story and going on this journey with Ms. Singh. I think this was a great debut for her in the mystery genre and I can’t wait for her to give us more stories like this one!

I’ve been a longtime fan of Nalini Singh’s writing. Within the romance realm she’s quite well known and loved, with good reason. A Madness of Sunshine is her first foray into the suspense/thriller/mystery genre and is a solid, if somewhat predicable read.

Anahera has come back to the small, remote town of Golden Cove on the New Zealand coast after the death of her husband. She never though she’d be back on Golden Cove but finds herself back in her childhood home which is full of the memories of her past. When a young local goes missing, Anahera becomes embroiled in the mystery of her disappearance and entangled with the William Gallagher, the only law enforcement in town. William is battling his own demons and he and Anahera are drawn together as they try to unravel the mystery of the missing girl. But Anahera remembers another time 8 years ago when other women went missing. She can’t help but think that the events are related but can she and William figure out who the killer is before he silences her for good?

I’m not a huge suspense reader so I don’t have a lot to compare this to. While the story was compelling, I found the ending to be a little anticlimactic and not very surprising.

The best part of the book for me was the atmosphere and setting. The book definitely had a dark almost gothic feel to it. I could really sense how remote and isolated the town was. I’ve never been to New Zealand but Singh does an amazing job of describing the landscape and setting of the town. I could imagine myself there and it really felt like a character of its own. The atmosphere was moody, dark, and full of menace at times.

I liked both Anahera and William. I think they made a good pair and I was happy to have a little romance in an otherwise pretty serious book. Truthfully the others characters in the book weren’t super memorable and I’m having trouble recalling any of them now.

Overall I liked this book but it did not blow me away. I give Singh credit for creating a a world that felt very true and real. It is the perfect setting for a creepy suspense thriller. I wish that it had been a little more exciting or had a more surprising ending but I’m willing to cut Singh some slack since it was her first book in the suspense lane. If you’re looking for something with lots of atmosphere and a unique setting, A Madness of Sunshine might be for you. As always, I remain a fan of Nalini Singh’s and am excited to see where she goes next in this genre.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.

A dark but entertaining paranormal mystery that launches a series for those who may be intimidated by the longevity of her romance series.

A completely addictive read. Knowing Singh's other books, I was surprised at how well her transition into this genre was. It was gripping, kept my interest, and I was thrilled by all the twists and turns the story took.

A compelling thriller set in a remote New Zealand coastal town. The characters are fresh and exciting but realistic. The tension builds with every change in the weather right up to the end. A perfect choice for a thriller on a stormy night.

I'd never read anything by Nalini Singh, but after A Madness of Sunshine, I must now read everything she has ever written. A phenomenal work. An excellent selection for book clubs.

I'm not usually a fan of mystery, but I enjoyed this book. A great plot and I highly enjoyed the setting in New Zealand. Looking forward to the next.

This one started out strong for me. Anahera fled her hometown as a teen, but years later finds herself in an unfortunate situation and has to return. While back, local Miriama goes missing.

Unfortunately, this one fell super short for me. I lost interest almost as soon as soon as I gained it. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters, even the protagonist. Most of the book was centered around the search for Miriama, but to me it lacked suspense and any substantial reveals. My disinterest could be blamed (in part) on the fact that I recently read two really great thrillers (Invisible Girl and Little Secrets).

On a positive note, I loved the setting— New Zealand. I also listed to part of the book on audible and I loved the narrator’s accent.

*4.5 stars*

I loved this author’s foray into something different…

Heavy on mystery with a low-key romance blended in, I loved this author’s foray into something different. Her shifters and paranormal reads are the bomb (the good kind!) so having even more to read, well, bring it on…

Anahera (I love that name) and Will’s story had past meeting the future as they both struggled to overcome what they’d already survived. Golden Cove had many bad memories for her yet she found herself back home, somewhere she’d sworn she’d never go back to. Will had his own struggles and found himself the law in a small town, with little to do. Until it all changed…

This story had character development and twists to spare as the mystery continually amped up. Surprises for sure as the story’s tension built to a stunning ending. The characters were everything and I found myself craving every new detail, each revelation. If the romance between the main characters was quiet, and I might have craved more, it really did fit exactly as it should have within the forceful, non-hearts and flowers plot.

If you’ve hesitated to try this new offering, I recommend you forge ahead. Loved it!