Politics and crime generally go hand in hand, throw family politics, drama and a colourful cast of characters into the mix and you get an entertaining way to accompany your chores

Joanna Kilborn and her husband Zack Shreve live in the city of Regina where Zack is running for mayor and Joanna is running his campaign and that of a close friend who is running for a seat on the City Council. While it is unlikely that Zack can unseat the current mayor, the two feel that they need to try as the people in their community are underrepresented and poverty surrounds them.

But politics is not always a gentle game. At the opening of a community center Zack has headed up, a local real estate investor tells them he has heard rumors that a child will be kidnapped. That doesn't happen, but the man is killed that night. Joanna and Zack feel that his murder is connected to the story he told them.

As the campaign heats up, more incidents occur. Joanna's family live close by and helping with her grandchildren is another big part of her life, as is the activities of her daughter still at home. Joanna reconnects with an old friend but their friendship is tested by the revelation of an earlier betrayal. The friend also starts seeing Zack's opponent and that tests the friendship as well. As the election approaches, more secrets emerge and more crimes occur. Can Joanna keep her family together and solve the crimes?

Gail Bowen is a popular Canadian crime writer and this book is the fifteenth in the Joanna Kilborn series. It is reminiscent of a Louise Penney novel as the main focus is on Joanna's family and friends and how crime impacts them. The characters are finely drawn and much time is given to developing the relationships between Joanna and the other characters. This book is recommended for mystery readers and those who want to experience a Canadian crime writer.

I found this book a bit hard to get into at first, and I felt confused by all of the characters. However, once I got into the book more, I started to understand it more and I enjoyed it.

I liked Joanne and her husband, but I wasn't very keen on any of the other characters. Joanne and her husband have good chemistry together and they are also the best of friends. The story is good and it is interesting to read about the politics and the mystery side of it all. The audiobook narrator was perfect for the job and I enjoyed dipping in and out of the book when I had time.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have listened to another in the series " The image in the Lake " which was obviously a later book and found it sickly sweet and didn't realise until I listened to this it was a series till the end.

Admittedly this was a better listen and also answered a few of my questions from the later book even though this was more of a stand-alone than as part of a series. .

Its all about a Canadian family their lives , loves and a politics with a murder thrown in to give this the book the thriller aspect but personally I prefer a good psychological thriller

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Draws in the reader quickly. It’s filled with red herrings, which I enjoy but will have to be careful about recommending it due to the gratuitous, explicit description of a rape.

12 Rose Street is the 15th book in the Joanne Kilbourn series, but the first I’ve read. I’ll admit it took me a while to get the plethora of characters straight. I’m not sure I would recommend this as a stand-alone, at least the audio version.
This book is a stark reminder of how ugly and dirty politics have gotten, even at the mayoral level of a medium sized Canadian town. Hopefully this takes it to an unbelievable extreme, as there are threats of kidnapping, a murder that might have been committed by political operatives and personal threats aplenty. The plot rolled out almost exactly as I would have expected with only one major twist I did not anticipate. The book tackles trust and fidelity as its main themes.
I did have a quibble with the idea of the progressive mayoral candidate being buddies with a slumlord. I also was not thrilled by the explicit sex details. I am not a fan of romance novels and this veered into that lane too often for my taste.
That said, this is a decent, entertaining read. The characters were interesting and I appreciated that Zach was not the typical able bodied man.
The narrator, Athena Karkannis, was okay but didn’t bring anything special to the tale.
My thanks to Netgalley and ECW Audio for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honesty review.

12 Rose Street was fascinating. I love books with a political backdrop, a mystery, and a dab of romance. This book had everything to make a wonderful book for my strange blend of tastes - and I absolutely adored it! It was fast paced, but easy to keep up with, all ends of the story wrap up nicely and though it is a series you can read it as a stand alone and not feel like you missed anything. The end does not leave any loose hanging threads and I enjoyed the journey and roller coaster ride that this book took me on! Read to find out what is the deal with 12 Rose Street!

I went into this audio without any knowledge of the author or the series, so this was great as a standalone. 12 Rose Street replicates political forces that will do anything to smear the campaign efforts of others. This is a sinister mystery thriller that defies the laws of legality and friendships. When the dark past of candidates is lurking in the shadows, you better think twice about running for an office.

The audio was not the best way to sink into, but I was connected with the intrigue of the main character Joanne Kilbourn, a former political professor, helping her husband run for mayor of North Central District of Regina, Saskatchewan. Zack Shreve, is a paraplegic lawyer, which makes him a first for this candidacy. Joanne's intelligent character is so giving and real that she makes the story come to life.

At the beginning, the family is preparing for a celebration of a center to benefit the impoverished community, which is heavy with crime and corruption. A good move on his part to help those in need, but to disparage his work, a rumor surfaces a child will be kidnapped at the ceremony and it is told from a slum landlord that will turn out to be a fatal and brutal mistake for him. What is even more sinister, with little knowledge of him, he made Zack beneficiary to all of his rundown housing units. This raises red flags🚩 to his opponent and stoops Zack & Joanne. The crime appears to be centered around the address 12 Rose Street and you will not know what course it will take until that final twist. Wow!!

There are also red herrings throughout and delivered in the most creative format. People are enveloped in that caught me off guard and still pondering, but overall this was a worthwhile gift of audio that helped me get through some grueling yard work, kayaking and house cleaning.

*Needs to be noted: sexual violence against women and children*
Thanks NetGalley & ECW Press Audio for 12 Rose Street.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this audiobook.

This book is the 15th in a series that I had never heard of before listening to 12 Rose Street.

After the first hour of listening, I did not expect much to like it. I was very wrong. It was just a slow start but,
what evolved over the course of the book, was a fascinating story of Canadian indigenous people, the racisim, the greed of white entitled people, and all the unfortunate familiar characteristics of places where hate is the result of people being afraid of other people for no real reason.

The focus of the story is an election in a small town where, for unknown reasons, the stakes are very high and people are being murdered. Our heroine, and narrator, is married to one of the men running for election as Mayor--a good guy who wants the best for his people. Ms. Bowen manages to pull the good guy stuff off without being saccharinely and, for that alone, she gets my stars.

So...as well as being a very good mystery, this book was a small education in the lives of the Canadian indigenous. I am very glad they have a supporter like Ms. Bowen.
I know nothing of the rest of the series but, if they are like this story, it is a series well worth investigating.
I recommend this book

This is #15'in the Canadian Crime Series, and my first Joanne Kilbourne Mystery. The story is heavy on her family. There is a deceased husband, current husband, adult kids, a teenager , grand kids, etc. The premise is based on her current husband's political race. I wasn't impressed with that storyline which includes what Bowen interprets as dirty politics. There is a long affair, and then a lot of will or can you forgive me. The book ran too long.

There were several Charlie Brown Teacher moments where the narrator was speaking, and I heard blah blah blah. I wasn't crazy about the narrator for this production. I also had several moments where I felt like I had read this before.

All-in-all I'm going with three stars. It wasn't horrible and I'm not likely to remember it. There is senseless profanity that only the author knows the necessity.

I don't repeat the synopsis or give spoilers.

Thank you NetGalley, Gail Bowen, and ECW Press for accepting my request to read and review this book.

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Readers are gonna wanna make sure to pick this one up before they decide to run for any type of local politics… Who knew things could get so vicious!?!?

12 Rose Street offers readers an intense look an the seedy underbelly of campaigning in this suspenseful thriller. Full of twists and some disturbing, (hopefully unrealistic) tactics reads are sure to have a hard time putting this one down at night. While this is book 15 in a series it read perfectly fine as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars with a 14+ reading for mature content and language

12 Rose Street by Gail Bowen
This is book 15 in a series of 20 plus books. This book was a little hard to get into but I did think it was good. Who knew that local politics could be so bloodthirsty? MacBeth had nothing on this tale of evildoers. Seriously, this is probably not the best place to start in this series and not best read as a standalone. Not my favorite of the series but it was good nevertheless. The narration was fine.
Thanks to Netgalley

I had the opportunity to listen to 12 Rose Street and was a bit concerned jumping into a series already in progress. I was pleasantly surprised at how accessible this stood as a stand-alone novel. Please note content warnings for domestic violence, sexual violence, and violence against children.

12 Rose Street is intense, suspenseful, and engaging. It is thrilling, at times quite disturbing, and very twisty. The audiobook narrator brought this nicely written mystery to life. I think I just may need to get into the full Joanne Kilbourn Mystery series!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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This is a story that focuses on relationships between family, friends, and professionals. When you add in the competitive and dirty nature of politics, betrayals and past secrets, what you get is a fascinating mystery. That’s exactly what Gail Bowen gives us with 12 Rose Street I listened to the audiobook of 12 Rose Street, and the narration was superb.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

12 Rose Street - Gail Bowen
Narrated by Athena Karkanis

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Joanne's husband Zack is the leading progressive candidate in a neck-and-neck race, with the existing mayor, for Regina's top job. The tough campaigning is well underway when a disturbing threat disrupts the celebration for the opening of the Racette-Hunter Centre -- a project Zack has been spearheading, intended to benefit the impoverished community of North Central Regina. Joanne soon realizes that sinister interests are working behind the scenes of the election, and another savage act makes clear that someone will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo.

This is the second book I have read in the series and this was read as more of a stand-alone than as part of a series. This is a well-written thought provoking novel containing difficult topics such as; miscarriage, poverty and social justice.

An emotional and gripping read that I would highly recommend.

Rating 4/5