This series can be read in order or as stand alones.

Strong female presence and a great thriller about mental abuse, abduction, and the lengths you will go for family.

A great story and an author who is now on my favorite shelf.

This is the first book that I have read in this series, but it definitely won’t be the last as I am a newly devoted fan to Detective Jo Fournier. In this book, Jo is personally involved with a crime since her cousins are kidnapped and she is desperate to find them before it is too late. The book combines the genres of police procedural with family drama and high suspense. The pace is fast and furious as Jo races find Paxton and little Alexia, with lots of roadblocks and false clues along the way. The characters are realistic and the narrator switches between the police investigation to the perpetrator and his expectations for his captives. It was interesting to read how determined Paxton was to keep her and Alexia safe and play along with the “game” of the captor until she could figure out a possible way to escape. The setting was eerie, just creepy enough to give me chills, and the action was pulse pounding and realistic. I especially enjoyed how methodical Jo was in her investigation, following clues relentlessly. Because the victims are young and innocent, the book appealed to my need to see a quick and happy resolution. The crime was not the first one for this perpetrator though so there are a lot of red herrings and false trails for Jo and her team to follow before they find the right one. My favorite part of the book was the insight into the thought processes of the investigators and how tenacious they were. This book is enjoyable, compelling and intense with some clever twists and a satisfying conclusion.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Things that appear simple are often not as simple as they appear. Such as is the case in this book. What appears to be a simple kidnapping is anything but simple. Detective Jo Fournier is with her family preparing for the holidays when her family gets a call that her cousin, Paxton, and young daughter, Alexia, never returned from a shopping trip to the mall. Their worse nightmare comes to life when they find her car abandoned in the parking lot with the door ajar and the truck open. The final clue is a small stuffed animal that Alexia carried everywhere. The team starts investigating immediately, all the while thinking this is a singular event. When the team finds out a young mother and daughter were buried with an angel ornament, the antenna goes up as they quickly realize that this is eerily similar to the current case.

As the story unfolds, you will get a birds eye view inside the mind of the kidnapper, as the kidnapper recalls the past and how he got where he is today. Mommy issues do not even begin to describe this poor soul. There are also chapters interspersed throughout that are based solely on Paxton trying to outwit her captor and protect her daughter, all while trying to figure out a way to escape. She is fighting some inner voices herself as you will see when you read this book. This was a race against time as they knew time was not on their side in a kidnapping case.

The latter portions of the book really picked up steam and more clues are revealed explaining how we have gotten where are today in this story. It was a really sad story for all involved. M. M. Chouinard is a wonderful storyteller who knows how to add emotional depth to her stories, which is often not accomplished in a book that I would consider a thriller/mystery. She handles these emotions and hot button topics with grace. I enjoy the characters in this series. Jo Fournier is one of my favorite female characters as she is highly intelligent, fearless and very good at her job, but she is also not afraid to show her emotions, which make her more real to me as the reader. This is another winner for M.M. Chouinard.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another great addition to the Detective Jo Fournier series! M.M. Chouinard has not let up on the gas as this series continues and excels. Very clever read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

This is a brilliant crime thriller.
Jo is called when her cousin and her five year old daughter don’t arrive home. At first she thinks it’s her Aunt worrying over nothing, but when she gets to the shopping mall she finds her cousin’s car unlocked and the door ajar. Most worrying is finding Alexia’s beloved teddy bear on the floor by the car.
The hunt for the mother and daughter gets underway and while Jo and Arnett are investigating, it comes to light that other mothers and daughters have also gone missing.
We have chapters from Paxton and Alexia and it’s clear Paxton will do anything to get her and her daughter out alive.
There’s also chapters from the kidnapper who is clearly very troubled.
This is a fast paced crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gut churning book

Detective Jo Fournier gets a phone call that her cousin and daughter are missing and has been for couple of hours.... as its her mother calling jo isnt to worried at first as this isnt the first time her cousin went missing, but the scene tells another story and its not long before jo calls in the troups....

as more and more evidence is uncovered it becomes apparent that her cousin and daughter have been abducted and with it being linked to other mother and daughter abductions, the race has started to try and find them before they wind up dead...

oh my goodness me this is a heartstopper of a ride to be on... on one hand it was great catching up with jo and her colleagues and heart wrenching with the abduction and the perp...

that last chapter is heartbreaking.. and i cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series

🛍👩‍👧Shopping malls & missing dolls: what a horrible holiday "gift"!🎅

Wow! A really gripping mystery and the writing was spot on--not too descriptive or internal but I could really peer into the head of Jo's missing cousin, who's in a fight for her and her young daughter Alexia's lives. The plot is especially charged because going to the mall for Christmas shopping and to see Santa is something just about everyone does, never thinking it might all go peared-shaped in a matter of a few minutes and one kind but wrong decision.

The suspense attached to the kidnapping continues through almost to the action climax and there are more than a few twists. The total picture of how and why they disappeared comes together in bits and pieces throughout the narrative. I really was not expecting the way the story ended and I enjoy a mystery that throws me off but in a way that, after the truth is revealed, I can totally get it.

This was my first time reading a book by the author and I believe I could really get into this series. I liked Jo the detective, who has some issues at home but they don't take the focus away from the case. Of course, having the missing mother and child as close relatives makes their disappearance more personal but I never doubted that Jo Fournier would be just as dedicated to finding them if they were strangers, as her deepening the investigation to search for similar cases possibly connected demonstrates.

I found Angels in the Snow a fascinating, page-turner story and would strongly recommend it to police procedural mystery lovers.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

4.5⭐

Detective Jo Fournier returns with a story that is extremely personal to her. When out Christmas tree shopping with her nieces, sister, brother-in-law, mum and partner Matt. Her mum receives a distressing phone call alerting them that Jo's cousin Paxton and daughter Alexia have gone missing.

However, not everyone in the family is convinced that this is true. Due to Paxton's past history of running away. But her mother is sure something terrible has happened. 

And so Jo heads to her last known location in search of Paxton and Alexia, and what she finds chills her to the bone. As it's clear, her family has been kidnapped.

Which leaves Jo determined to do everything possible to bring them home, especially in light of her aunt's sad diagnosis.

And as the investigation gets underway. There are shocking details that come to light, including other missing mother-daughter cases, and Jo has no doubt that they are connected.

But is it possible for Jo to find the answers before it's too late? Or Is Paxton capable of finding a way for her and Alexia to survive on their own?

And with a multitude of twists and turns. A prologue that literally gave me chills and a killer who I actually felt sorry for. This was an enjoyable and intriguing read. That I would happily recommend to others.

Furthermore, I was impressed by M.M. Chouinard's exceptional handling of mental health issues and topics like asexuality and I recommend that anyone reading Angels in the Snow read her author notes at the end to gain additional information.

Angels in the Snow is book 8 in the Detective Jo Fournier series by M.M. Chouinard.
A fast paced, twisty thriller that had me captivated in the beginning
It was a rollercoaster of twists and turns - the skilful way that this series is written, has the reader absorbed.
Chouinard does an excellent job at making this installment a gripping story.
This book was an intriguing thriller from start to finish.
Once you open your kindle or book you will be gripped and it will be hard to put down.
Overall, it’s a good addition and I’ve enjoyed each book in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Disclaimer:
Right up front I am going to tell you: parts of the book made me upset. I can't really tell you why because that is giving away part of the story. What I can tell you is that my uncomfortableness of where the story was going was resolved satisfactorily by the end of the book. The concern and misconception I was worried about was plainly explained and pointed out to not be the root of the crimes. That being said, I highly recommend reading the author's note after you've read this book. I finished it thinking the author had the same hesitations as myself and wanted to clearly draw a distinction between what is and isn't mental illness and what is considered as atypical behavior. Okay, that's as good as I can get without spoiling parts of the book. Please don't jump to conclusions while reading and give the story and characters the chance to play out.

Review:
As is probably evident by my super long disclaimer above, this book gave me lots to think about during the course of reading it. I loved the mistaken paths and the further development of Jo's character. I enjoyed the time and space taken to develop characters that may not continue to play a large role in the series. I especially enjoyed how the victim and perpetrator both had to deal with internal negative voices. It provided a great comparison as to how the same situation can impact people differently. It is these details that makes these stories so engaging! The plot itself was super smart and well thought out. I can tell the author stepped carefully in her presentation of some of the characters and most people will know who the kidnapper is early enough on to follow the clues and want to yell answers out to Jo. I really enjoyed this book and what it brought to the series!

What a brilliant suspense drama! I loved it!
I know MM Chouinard has said that one of her favourite authors was Mary higgins clark ( and I'm a hufe fan too!) and I could feel/see the inspiration. But it still has MM Chouinard's clear and unique voice.

What I mean is that one of the perspectives in the book was the killer, a killer who has quite severe emotional damage and mental issues ( and MHC loved that trope)

I can't wait to see what Jo gets up to next. I feel that every book I read, I see a new side to her and cone to adore her even more. And as always, this is part of a series, and while there are no spoilers for previous books, I recommend reading them. It adds to the story and character growth.

This book had me guessing and questioning everything and saying, " it's got to be him! No, him! No, him!" Right to the shocking ending!

It was captivating and completely nerve-wracking, and I couldn't get enough.
I say this everytime this one is my favourite so far, they just get better and better.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Angels In The Snow’, the eighth book in the Detective Jo Fournier series written by M M Chouinard, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Jo Fournier’s cousin Paxton and her five-year-old daughter Alexia are taken from the shopping mall where they’ve been visiting Father Christmas. Then similar cases are unearthed that appear to be connected when they learn that an angel has been left in their graves. It’s a race against time for Jo and her partner Detective Arnett to identify the person who’s taken Paxton and Alexia and return them to their family before it’s too late.

‘Angels In The Snow’ has had me gripped from page one with its action-packed plot, an abundance of suspense, drama, excitement and viable suspects that have kept me glued to my Kindle while I’ve tried to identify the person responsible. I’ve enjoyed reading of Jo’s close family and her relationship with her boyfriend Matt, as well as her colleagues who work together perfectly to uncover clues. This is a brilliant thriller that’s been compulsive reading with twists and turns and a shocking conclusion that I wasn’t expecting. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

This is a tense book of a kidnapping, a search and heartbreak.
A mother and child are missing and they are the cousins of Detective Jo Fournier. An all out search commences and after an exhaustive search they are not found and they are not the first to go missing.
The author kept the drama tense with dual narrative of the kidnapper and the missing mother.
This was my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an early copy and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I've read several of this series as standalone books without it ruining my enjoyment. This one was no exception. At times I found it sad, but there was humour too (eg Christmas jumpers). The characters were believable and the settings described well. The plot involved family members of Jo, but also incorporated several 'cold' cases. A book I'd recommend reading

I spent the last half of this book, heart pounding, convinced I knew what would happen.
I was wrong. I was bereft when I read one scene, I had to reread it several times to make sure I was comprehending it. It does set up a great segue into the next JF book.
The real hero of Angels in the Snow is Paxton. I admire her grit and smarts. I wouldn’t be able to be that collected in the same situation. I also liked that she worked at the Golden Arches because I spent 6 years of my life working both grill and front line.
Although the weather outside was frightful, this latest JF book was so delicious delightful.
Don’t make me wait too long for the next one!

Angels in the Snow is a fantastic sequel in this series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.

Angels in the Snow starts out with a bang!
Detective Jo Fournier is stunned to find out her cousin and young daughter have been abducted when they go on a trip to the local Mall.
Jo and her team race to figure out what is going on. As more facts are come to light, Jo is shocked with what she discovers. Can her cousins abduction be related to other mother-daughter missing cases?
A very suspenseful story with a very surprising ending.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Though you could certainly read Angels in the Snow as a standalone, I do recommend reading the series in order. There is so much backstory to the characters that is important to know.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I totally enjoyed this fast-paced and interesting story. Detective Jo Founier is a favorite of mine and this book didn't disappoint. It's just after Thanksgiving and Jo’s cousin and child go missing. Her immediate family worries she just up and left but most know something bad has happened and it's Jo and her team who are tasked with finding them. Jo is allowed to stay on the case even though it's family and she can't rest till she finds them. So many suspects and so little time. Going missing from the mall makes it harder to sift the clues to know what direction to look. There are lots of twists, and guessing the perp is not easy for the sleuth reader, I definitely recommend this read. Thank you NetGalley and publishers Bookouture for this excellent read. I love M.M. Chouinard’s writing!

Angels in the Snow is a gripping read that you will not want to put down.

Jo Fournier is back in Book 8 and its my favourite to date.

The story was faced paced nail biting read that had you holding your breath with an ending you wont see coming.

Jo and her team are frantically trying to find Jo's cousin and young daughter that have disappeared from the mall one day.

Jo knows as the clock ticks the odds of finding them alive are diminishing.

The tension mounts as we see Paxton struggling to help and protect her young daughter.

Clear your schedule and settle in for a roller coaster of a read that will have you waning more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a 5 star read.

Angels in the Snow by M.M. Chouinard is a heartwarming holiday story about two young children who find an unexpected angel on Christmas Eve. Through the angel's guidance, the children learn the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of faith. The story is beautifully written and the characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, adding to the overall holiday atmosphere. Angels in the Snow is a delightful read that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is a reminder of the power of kindness and generosity during the Christmas season. Highly recommended!