this was a great sequel in the Hennessey Reed series, it had what I enjoyed from the first one. The plot was wonderfully done and had great characters.

Between the writing style and the .... I dont know if it needed a better editing job or what, but the plot just didn't do it for me, and I simply couldn't complete it. I'm so sorry!

I was excited to read this book it sounded so good and i loved the title and cover. The first 2 chapters was brilliant, I felt this is so exciting. Then after they find the dog and a few dead bodies the story just fell apart for me. The story felt a bit disjointed and became easily confused as to what exactly was happening and why. The story was very flat with no sense of atmosphere, no suspense or tension. I failed to connect with the characters, there was nothing to like or dislike about them. I didn't even feel like I knew them. Yes this book is the second book in the series and I haven't read the first book. However, I have read many books out of sequence and still understood the plot and fell in love with the characters. The only character I felt a connection with was the yellow cur dog. There were words in the story that felt like they didn't need to be there. As the book was reading OK then random words I felt was better placed it a literary fiction book or a classic, it made the writing feel disjointed as I had to google some of them and the words didn't fit the period of the novel. Looking up words doesn't happen often for me. I read the whole book as it didn't feel right to review a book I gave up on half ways through. Right near the end I started to feel tension building and got excited again. However after the cave section (I'M not giving away the end or the plot, no spoilers here), and then the book finished on the flat story, and I was once again confused. This book really dragged for me as I couldn't connect with the story it took 4 days to read instead of the usual 2 days. This book had so much potential to be really good but alas it was not the story for me but it may still be the story for you!

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Dying Grass Moon by Andrea Jacka
Red River Pony Publishing
Unfortunately the blurb for this book is more appealing than the actual story. Although I did persevere and finish this book, it took me four days which is unheard of for me if I like a book. It was not really very engaging even though a fair part of it was taken up by a chase of sorts.
One of the most annoying things was that in the first chapter the author gives away what happened in the first book in this series. So no need to read that book.
Also the time period was confusing. There is mention that the main character owns a water lily painting by Monet. How she got hold of it, I don’t know. Maybe that was in the first book . However, Monet did not begin that series of paintings until the late 1890’s but the action takes place in Idaho Territory. Idaho became a state in 1890 so the painting could not have existed before Idaho was a state.
Last gripe, some of the language used was overly obscure. It was the 19th century, not three hundred years before that.
Received this ebook from Netgalley

Hennessy Reed is awesome. Not exactly completely likeable but a really complex, well developed character who is a fantastic heroine in a very unusual context! It’s a great story, too - plenty of action, enough twists to keep you concentrating and interesting characters galore.

Dying Grass Moon by Andrea Jacka
Hennessey Reed Mystery Series #2

The writing style of this book requires patience. It reminds me of reading The Scarlet Letter in high school because that, too, required patience. Once I got into the flow of the words and the writing style I was taken into the era, the thought processes of Hennessey and saw a story unfolding that was quite unlike any other I have read. Well, it was also LIKE other stories I have read but still quite special in its own way.

What I liked:
* Hennessey: complex, intriguing, difficult to like but also difficult to dislike, businesswoman, secretive, cares deeply, uses addictions to buffer memories and hide, stubborn, and I want to get to know her better.
* Raff: police keeper, intriguing, complex, loves Hennessey, resolute, capable, lethal, interesting backstory, skilled, focused, and someone I would like to get to know better.
* Walsh: lawyer but more than a lawyer, secretive, dedicated to his work, someone you would rather have with than against you.
* The twisty turns of the story and where it took me
* The way clues were shared with the reader
* The setting and plot
* The town and the townspeople
* That romance was in the air for some in the story
* That it felt real and carried me away
* That the bad guys were people I could understand but still find despicable
* That it was different and drew me in
* That the story was told from two perspectives: Hennessey in first person and Raff from third.
* That not everybody “good” survived
* That I cared about the characters and would like to meet up with them again in the future.

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what and whom I was meant not to like.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Red River Pony Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I’m sad to say that this book was not for me.

I liked the idea of this book much more than the execution. From the synopsis, this book had all of the elements I enjoy in an engaging mystery. Unfortunately the writing style, wordiness, and lack of editing got in the way.

I did like the setting and there are some interesting characters in this book, especially Hennessy.