I spent the first 75-80% or so of this book thinking it was a solid start to a new police procedural series. It's got a lot of great, traditional mystery elements to it and relies on good detective work throughout to reveal breaks in the case versus big twists. However, the last quarter or so of the book absolutely blew me away. Should I have seen all of these things coming? Maybe, but I think the author did a great job pulling off a surprising and genuinely moving ending without resorting to measures that made it feel like a trick. I really love Natalie Lockhart as a character, and since these seems to be the first in a series, I am interested to see how she reacts and recovers from the events in this book. This is one not to miss!

Atmospheric and creepy, this is the perfect thriller for a dark autumn night. Natalie Lockhart is a police officer in he town where she grew up, and is investigating the murder of a woman she's known all her life, the best friend of one of her sisters. Natalie's other sister was murdered twenty years ago, and her death hangs over the current case. The town is also haunted by it's history of executing suspected witches, and generations of teen girls have experimented with magic and witchcraft.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere in this book. The town history, the teen girl drama, and the way the case intertwined with Natalie's personal life all had me completely engrossed. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes creepy mysteries or police procedurals. The witchcraft angle reminded me a bit of The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton. I will definitely read the next book in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advanced reading copy of Trace of Evil in exchange for an honest review. I really hope this one doesn't come back to bite me.

I have no idea how to review this book.

On the one hand, I hate writing negative reviews; I know how much work goes into writing even one draft of a novel, much less getting it to a publishable state, and I have no desire to trash another person’s work.

But on the other hand, the publisher granted my Netgalley request in exchange for an honest review.

The book isn’t horrible. But it reads like an early draft rather than a polished finished product from an established, award-winning novelist. There are irrelevant infodumps and constant flashbacks to rather boring parts of the protagonist’s childhood. The solution to the mystery comes out of nowhere. I couldn’t engage with any of the characters that much, which was a huge shame. There were a lot of characters (such as Bunny, a mentally ill homeless woman who is beloved in town) who could’ve been developed more.

Then there’s the police procedures. This is what really irritated me. Nothing really rang true. For example:

1. The police return to the crime scene multiple times to collect evidence. No. Once they leave, the chain of custody is broken and any evidence they find will not hold up in a court of law. They hadn’t left anyone to guard/control the sealed-up crime scene; all the police had left when Natalie returns alone to the house where the murder occurred and searches through the victim’s belongings.
(She's obviously looking for evidence because she puts on disposable gloves and brings along evidence bags. She doesn't cover her shoes, though; even if the police still maintained the chain of custody, this is unprofessional on her part as it would contaminate the scene..)

2. One cop tells another, “I’m speculating, like any responsible detective would.” Um, no, at least as I understand it. As the murder has happened only recently and they have not finished their investigation, they don’t have all the facts they need. Speculation seems premature and, frankly, irresponsible (especially as the case involves a close coworker!)

3. Luke, Natalie’s boss, should realize that having his rookie detective question her own sister and niece will not go well and either partner her with someone or take her off the case. Natalie’s too emotionally invested in all the suspects to maintain any objectivity.

4. It’s absolutely bizarre that Natalie is apparently still wearing her “lucky” bulletproof vest that caught a bullet during a drug raid. To my understanding, once a vest is damaged by a bullet, it needs to be replaced. (This is possibly not a problem. She doesn't explicitly say she wears it. But she says that she needs to have it replaced soon, since vests wear out every 5 years or so, which indicates to me that this particular one is still in use.)

5. Why, oh why, is there no internal investigation into Natalie’s actions at the end of the novel? I won’t spoil it. But she should be handing over her badge for a while; her actions are highly questionable on a number of counts.

6. It’s highly unlikely that Justin, the killer of Natalie’s older sister, would be placed in a supermax facility. Stabbing one’s ex multiple times is a horrible crime, yes, but not one that would demand the extreme isolation of a supermax prison. We’re also told that in the past 19 years, he’s been a model prisoner, received a correspondent’s college degree and tutors other prisoners (in a supermax facility?!), and has become a pen pal through an internet site (again, in a supermax facility?!)
(I wouldn’t make a huge deal about this but Blanchard specifically refers to his prison as a “supermax” prison three times; if she’d called Justin’s location simply a “prison,” there would be no issue.)

Here’s the thing that gets me: all of the information I’ve listed is readily available to anyone. I’m not in law enforcement, nor am I related to anyone in law enforcement, nor do I hang out in the coffee shops and bars favored by cops and eavesdrop on their conversations. (Although that’s an interesting idea.)

But there are expert-written websites and books specifically designed to help writers avoid these types of mistakes. For example, I found the info on bulletproof vests in a Google search that yielded scores of results, including informational sites by manufacturers.

Blanchard doesn't completely ignore all of this. There are parts where it appears that she's done some research into law enforcement and forensics (we get the almost-required-for-this-genre autopsy scene), just not enough. Incidentally, I double and triple checked the things I complained about above, making certain that there wasn't something in the book that I'd overlooked, some loophole that would resolve the issues. Nothing.

If this were a different type of book, one that didn’t focus on a police officer as a protagonist and police procedures, I might be able to overlook some of these things. (Although I'd still be frustrated.) But if one writes a book with a police protagonist, I expect a high level of realism and depth of knowledge about law enforcement. There was so much that didn’t seem realistic that I was repeatedly pulled from the story and couldn’t enjoy it.

Sorry I couldn’t give a better review. I don’t mean to sound unduly harsh, but this was a frustrating book to read. 2.5 stars (The review will appear on my blog on November 11, 2019.)

I really enjoyed this book. It was not what I had expected. There were two mysteries going on in this book. Both evil, full of family secrets, witches, covens, magic and teenage angst. Page turner.
I would give this a 4 out of 5.

This mystery had an extra element of intrigue because of the occult background of the town in which it takes place. It kept me interested and I really appreciated reading a mystery with a female detective lead in which being ostracized by the men in her department is not an element of the novel. The mystery kept me reading, but the reveal felt a bit out of left field. I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book because it is so well written and Natalie is a great protagonist. The novel opens really well setting the backstory of Natalie’s sister’s murder and some explanation of the town. Natalie is a detective and is trying to solve cold cases in her department so we get some information on those. As we are introduced to a few co-workers Natalie finds herself at a brutal crime scene. There are a lot of threads in this novel involving these crimes which keeps the pace quick even though most of the book is really centered on Natalie and her thoughts. There is a lot of references to witches and wicca which I did find overdone. Some of the elements are over the top which feels odd against such a normal backdrop of this very steady by the book cop. I am definitely interested in seeing where this series is going and I really hope it will move away from the wicca angle and focus on more straight forward crimes which would suit the tone of the book better in my opinion. If you enjoy crime fiction this one is worth checking out. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trace of Evil is a great thriller and Alice Blanchard has written a sure-fire page turner that will engross you!!

As a new detective returns to her hometown to follow in her father's footsteps, the tension and unique storyline in Trace of Evil keeps readers enthralled by the inevitable crimes, new and old, that set the tone for this outstanding book. Alice Blanchard gives us the new-to-the-job but not to town detective, setting her right into the middle of her hometown's history of unsolved violent crimes. With her own sister's unsolved death giving her extra determination to find the killer who has haunted her hometown for so long, the twists and turns thrown in this story will keep you guessing. This is truly one of the best new series I've read for awhile.

Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard was an exciting read! Natalie Lockhart., a female detective, was an exceptional lead character. I can't wait to read more entries in this series. This book had a very ominous feel to it and that added to the suspense. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)

TRACE OF EVIL takes place in a small town in New York, called Burning Lake. The town tries to promote its reputation and tourism as being like Salem because it was known to have burned three witches there. Mostly, it’s a sleepy little town where nothing much happens. Except, there is more than a little evil lurking under the surface of the town. Natalie Lockhart is a newly minted detective on the police force and is tasked with finding out what happened to nine people who just vanished, dubbed the “Missing Nine.” In following clues, Natalie discovers a murder of a beloved teacher who had many secrets herself. The writing was mediocre. Although the ending was a surprise, most of the scenes and dialogue were very unrealistic. The plot was drawn out and became kind of “ho-hum’ to me. A lot of background information about the characters was just described in a short time, without really including it in the plot which would have held my interest better. This is the first in a series of books with this character, so fans of mystery with some suspense will enjoy this book and look forward to more in the series. However, the book was just not my cup of tea as it frequently put me to sleep instead of leading me to want to read more.

I had a hard time getting into this book, and I found myself skipping around a bit. The writing was okay, but nothing that really grabbed me. Based on the description, I expected more. Nothing really jumped out at me to make this book special. There were a number of info dumps, which pulled me out of the story. I don’t think it lived up to its potential, and some of the plot points just didn’t seem believable. This is the first in a series, but I doubt I’ll check out the rest of the series.

TRACE OF EVIL has a cold case murder mystery that may incorporate the present. It’s a twisty tale with many subplots that weave a mesmerizing tale. Highly recommended.

I had a hard time getting through this one because the writing is mediocre. It’s was a paint-by-numbers novel with characters that didn’t come to life because the author relies on info-dumps of telling us a lot of background. I should have liked Detective Natalie Lockhart. She cares about people who have struggled in life because of lack of money or abusive parents, but because I was TOLD she cares about people who’ve had it rough instead of being SHOWN she cares through her actions, she didn’t seem like a real person to me. I know it’s fiction, but in a well-written novel, the characters can seem like real people because they come alive in my imagination.

This is the first of a series of books with Detective Lockhart, who lives in Burning Lake, New York, a city that has seen many people on the fringes of society disappear over the years. Transients, people with drug and alcohol problems, the homeless. Natalie’s own sister was murdered by her boyfriend twenty years ago and now Natalie is investigating the murder of her other sister’s close friend, a woman who had been like another sister to Natalie, the youngest of the three girls.

Sometimes when I read a novel with a detective as the protagonist, I’ll wonder if the author actually worked as a detective herself because the story seems so believable that it’s hard to believe the writer is in fact, just a writer who did a lot of research but has never worked in law enforcement. I didn’t feel that way with this book. Instead I found myself thinking, “hmm, really?” Like when a suspect is given a polygraph, instead of yes/no answers to yes/no questions, he gives an interview. Granted, I only know this stuff from movies, but it didn’t seem accurate. Also, the dialogue is not good. The daughter addresses her mother with the word “mom” in every sentence, which is simply not how people talk in real life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, which RELEASES DECEMBER 3, 2019.

This was a great mystery! I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this story taking place in upstate New York. Detective Natalie Lockhart was a complex character, trying to solve a crime that has plagued their town for years, as well as manage the death of her sisters friend. A great story mixed with witchcraft, murder and betrayal. I look forward to seeing what Blanchard has in store for Detective Lockhart next! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beautifully woven story that not only drops your jaw, but tugs at your heart. I am SO thankful that I had the opportunity to read this ARC! Thank you NetGalley and Alice Blanchard

What had once been beautiful was dead.

We really are kicking this fall off with some spooky great books and I’m really excited about it! At first I was hesitant about Trace of Evil because I thought it would be a boring police procedural book but it exceeded my expectations and more. We are really having a great time with mystery thrillers as of late!

Despite her mom’s wishes Natalie Lockhart knew she was destined to be a cop. It’s in her blood after all. Raised by a police chief, Natalie is the youngest of three sisters and besides the job has been through her own mountain of tragedy. Her oldest sister, Willow, was tragically murdered, as a teenager and like dominoes the rest of her family followed.

Natalie is now a rookie cop and is tasked with solving the cases of “the Missing Nines”. That all gets sidetracked when a shocking murder rocks the small town of Burning Lake and redefines the past and who she is as a person completely.

I wouldn’t say this was difficult to get into but for me it took a few chapters to read before I was fully engaged but when I was, I was all the way in. It’s a slow build of a book and we are introduced to a lot of characters and a lot of history so it’s overwhelming at first but this is to be expected when it’s a book about a small town. Everybody knows everybody else and the history is grand and toxic. That’s what makes it so great in the big scheme of things.

The plot was really interesting and a twist from the usual mystery/detective angle. I liked how there was a coven/witch angle to it. It was different and also showed how teenagers can throw things completely out of proportion. I did think that maybe a little too much was put into this book and I’m wondering if perhaps this will become a series? Especially towards the end with the big reveal…That felt a little rushed. I would have loved to see a bit more build up but I was also really happy it got wrapped up because I don’t think my anxiety could have taken any more.

Natalie. Sweet, amazing Natalie has been through so so much. Okay, there absolutely has to be more of her to read because this poor woman has absolutely been through HELL her entire life. LOL, she needs some sort of happiness. I legit gasped at the big twist and clutched my head. I wasn’t expecting it at all and was also completely pissed off. This is a great read for you thrill seekers like me who want to read about murder in a small town and get a rush at trying to solve what the hell is going on. I almost never get it right but that’s exactly what makes it so fun. Don’t judge me.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Let’s hit Replay. Let’s rewind the tape.

#Trace of Evil
#NetGalley

Burning Lake, New York, a quaint town near the Adirondack Mountains is best known for its evil past. Tourists flock there every year to see the site where witch hunts were held in the town's troubled past. Natalie Lockhart finds herself returning to her ill fated hometown after trying to escape the dark memories she has of her sister's unsolved murder there. As a rookie cop, she is assigned to a massive cold case involving nine missing transients who mysteriously disappeared years ago. But to Natalie, her sister, Grace's death remains the greatest mystery. To throw another twist into Natalie's investigation, a popular teacher has been found murdered and quickly grabs center stage.

Trace of Evil is a spooky police procedural, that is filled with witchcraft and spells dating back to the town's dark past of hanging witches. The plot involves murder, lies, drugs, and madness. All is not as it seems with the characters that are vividly defined in the story. An evil cloud invades the very atmosphere of Burning Lake, and as the plot progresses, Natalie finds herself dangerously in the center of this evil. I found Natalie to be a compelling strong character with great determination, courage, and the desire to find the person responsible for her sister's murder. Daisy, the murdered teacher, was also a sympathetic and seemingly good person. But as the plot thickens, the reader finds it more difficult to tell the good guys from the bad ones. I found that the pervasive atmosphere of evil continued throughout the book, leading up to the explosive conclusion. With so many twists and turns, red herrings, and misdirection, I think most readers will be shocked at the ending!

Sending a big thank you to the author, Alice Blanchard, and to the publishers, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy of Trace of Evil. The publication date is set for December 3. 2019, and I hope this date will go on your calendar. I highly recommend this book with a five star rating!! Those who love good spooky thrillers will want this book on their To Be Read List!!

This was a great thriller that combined many elements to make it a roller-coaster ride! Natalie is a rookie detective who is working on cold cases of missing women when a friend of her sister is discovered murdered in her own kitchen. Daisy was a teacher at the local high school so there are plenty of suspects, even her husband, and little evidence to be found. But Natalie is headstrong and even as she and her sister Grace are grieving their own sisters death years ago, she is determined to find the killer. There's a little witchcraft, crazy rumors circulating, and a mystery in her own past that haunts her as well. I did not see that end coming for sure and it took my breath away! Can't wait for the next installment of this series as Natalie is a force that cannot be stopped.

TRACE OF EVIL was a completely engrossing and intense procedural. Natalie is a rookie detective in her hometown, as her police officer father had raised her to be. Natalie has the wobbly desk that the more senior people don't want, and now she is inadvertently assigned to a major case. When she was driving another officer home after drinks at the bar, they find his pregnant wife murdered. Natalie chases down the leads and evidence.

At the same time, she was also given some cold cases, and something about them is giving her new avenues. When someone she knows disappears, they become even more important. Working both lines of investigation at the same time, this book is anything but boring.

I became quickly invested in these characters, within the first chapter, and I loved following these cases. There was never a dull moment, and I had plenty of guesses- but none close to the actual perpetrators. This is certainly a book that keeps the reader guessing with all kinds of twists and turns. When you get to the end, the clues start adding up, begging for another reread with the ending in sight (so you can catch all things you missed earlier).

The new angle to this series is in the town and Wicca culture. Not as famous as Salem, this town also hung some witches. The religion persists really strongly among young people, and it plays into the things they find and the way the cases go. I would definitely love to read more from Natalie and in this town setting.

There is also a light love interest for Natalie, and I assume this will be developed more in the future. While Natalie herself is fleshed out well and we get a great feel for her character, the primary focus of the book is on the cases, and I really enjoyed it.

Captivating and completely engrossing, TRACE OF EVIL is a delicious page turner that will keep you guessing all the way to the surprising end. Highly recommend for anyone who loves mysteries and/or procedurals.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Trace of Evil gets a solid 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story but any of the writing elements could be tightened.
Natalie is a rookie coo working on her first murder investigation, a collection of cold cases. But when one of her friends are killed in cold blood, Natalie must navigate the reality of the world without forgetting those that suffered in the cold cases.

I loved the story. I was pulled in from the moment they celebrate Grace's death anniversary. Natalie was a character that didn't hide much so you were able to really get into her head. The story then unfolds with witchcraft, abuse of nature, murder, and lies. How Natalie deals with each of these are shadowed byGrace so I was glad to see here come full circle by the end of the book.

The writing itself needs some work. The biggest issue is the pacing. The author throws in way too much background in places that slows the story keeps the suspense for building up. I skimmed over many paragraphs because I wanted to follow the plot. The other issue was there was a lot of creative freedom that ignored police procedure. A classic example is handling a voodoo without gloves even though Natalie knows better.
Alice Blanchard has a lot of potential. I want to read more of her work and see her grow into an author.