"The Gift" by Kate Anslinger is a heartwarming and emotional read that explores the power of kindness and connection, leaving a lasting impact.

I didn't know what to expect from this book going into it but I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of the book!

loved getting to know Detective Grace McKenna, she was wonderfully done. I loved the mystery and the horror elements. This was such a good read.

I loved this one and was completely sucked into Grace's world. This gave a unique twist to the typical detective story. Grace is interesting and complex. I also loved Mark. The mystery is full of suspects and I was surprised by the reveal. The ending left me with my mouth hanging open and wanting more. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

The Gift had me gripped from the word go. The plot was at times predictable especially with the love interest but the depth of the heroine had me grappling for more. I was in her corner wanting to fight the bad guys and wondering how it must be to live a life when you can see others pain and see evil when you look it in the eye. Absolutely five star read.

** spoiler alert ** Well I actually liked this. The ideas used within it we unique. I found the big reveal of her gifts to her love interest to be a little bit of a let down and I would of thought that more people would know about her unique gifts. You can't keep things like that a secret without a lot of money and resources. The story line was good and I like the way she uses her powers. I feel like her mum is abusing her gifts slightly by making her check out her dates even with her background but that's just me. I'll try to check out the rest of the series.

Detective Grace McKenna has a secret. She's been blessed .. or cursed... with a gift. She can look at a person's eyes and if they've done anything nefarious, she will see visions of the victim .. and the culprit. Makes it a little difficult with her job. How does she explain that so-and-so killed someone .. when no one knows the victim is even missing?

That's what Grace is dealing with today. A teenage girl hasn't been in touch with her family in two days. Luckily, she's only been staying with a friend and is soon home safe and sound. But in speaking to the girl and wrapping up her case, she sees something in the girl's eyes that lead her to making tough decisions to solve a case on her own.

This is an entertaining read with appealing, solidly written characters. There's plenty of action, especially as McKenna crosses a few lines that she shouldn't have. There's a bit of romance as McKenna and another cop start a friendship that may become more. Telling him of her secret may stop whatever is brewing right in her tracks. The plot is well-written and I look forward to following this series.

Many thanks to the author / Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime mystery with paranormal overtones. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I thought the representation in here was harmful and would not recommend this book. Please look for own voices reviews on goodreads for details.