Angels in the Snow by M.M. Chouinard

Published: November 8, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Serial Killer Thrillers
Pages: 378
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

M.M. Chouinard is the author of the Detective Jo Fournier mystery thrillers, and the standalone mystery thriller The Vacation. Her first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millennium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity's sake, she released them.

“What does the famous Fournier instinct say?”

I officially have a new favorite Jo novel. From the beginning, this book captivated and held me hostage. With a terrifying and fast-paced plot, this story kept me on the edge of my seat.

The gang is here, and some serious twists will leave you speechless. If you are a long-time reader of this series, immediately preorder this book. I promise you it’s worth it!

Something I love about M.M. Is that she will usually have a social focal point within her books. And she uses this platform to inform, explain, and provide some (book-based) justice.

I love that she tackled mental illness, asexuality, complicated family dynamics, and the power of words with this story. Told through alternating perspectives, we rotate between these characters and, ultimately, realize there may not have been as many differences as we initially thought.

The note from Chouinard at the end (do not read until after you have finished the book, as there are noted spoilers) is beautifully written and contains a powerful message.

The end of this book made me cry. It healed some wounds from previous books, and I am beyond excited to see how this story will continue.

Also, brief fangirl moment, but it will never get old seeing the talented Michelle Chouinard thank me in her acknowledgments. I found these books through a group on Facebook and, connected with Michelle on social media, and have built a friendship. I adore this brilliant human and am so honored to have any part in her storytelling journey.

I really enjoyed this book! I picked this book not fully knowing it was apart of a series but have no fear- I still hung on to every word and loved it through and through.

I was very pleased that by page 23 I was hooked! I really felt like I was there right alongside trying to figure out what happened to Paxton and her daughter.

The twists in this story were everything I adore! I plan to go back and read the entire series now!

Christmas is Detective Jo Fournier's favorite time of the year - along with the rest of her family. The day after Thanksgiving the family is out selecting a tree when Jo receives a frantic call from her Aunt - her cousin is missing. Jo goes to the mall where she was last seen shopping with her daughter, Alexia. The car is there, but it's open. Presents have been stolen and things are not adding up. With her partner at her side, Jo forges ahead to find her missing cousin and daughter. However, when they look closely, they find that other young mothers and daughters have gone missing throughout the area. M. M. Chouinard has created such a fantastic, driven character in Jo Fournier. In this book, she pushes her main character even further - with family and relationship ties strained. I look forward to each and every book - Angels in the Snow is OUTSTANDING! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first read by this author and it wont be the last. I wanted to read it primarily based on the cover and the description and I wasn't disappointed. It didn't really matter that I was coming in late but I think it would have added more for me if I had read the others. The reasoning was that it was more about the victims and I liked that rather than being a normal police procedural.
I read this in one setting it was that addictive.

I was given an advance copy by bookouture and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

Many thanks to both Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Angels in the Snow. This book is #8 in the Detective Jo Fournier series and the expected publication date is November 8, 2023.

When Detective Jo Fournier’s cousin goes missing, along with her sweet five-year-old Alexia, Jo heads straight to where they were last seen. Her heart stops when she finds their unlocked car—one door has been left open and Alexia’s beloved teddy is lying in the snow.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. I couldn't put Angels in the Snow down! Jo Fournier and her partner Bob Arnett head up a fabulous team. Not one of them held back in the search of finding out what had happened to Jo's cousins.

Angels in the Snow flipped back and forth between the kidnapper's side of the story and Jo's, which added to the already nerve-wracking tension. It's a gripping story that will also tug on your heartstrings. I recommend it!

Detective Jo Fournier gets a call from her mom telling her that a cousin and her daughter have disappeared. The two were shopping at the mall and seem to have disappeared in thin air. The car is still in the mall parking lot with the trunk open. What happened? Jo and her team begin the search for the missing mother and daughter. In the process, they discover a pattern of mothers and daughters who have disappeared in similar ways and are found murdered. Time is of the essence for Jo to find her cousin and her daughter before they end up dead as well. Meanwhile, the missing mother is being held hostage by a man that wants her to call him husband and her daughter to call him father. He also gives them new names that they must use around him. Locked in a room with no clue where, the mom is determined to escape. It's a race to see who survives. Can Jo save them and capture the perpetrator of these crimes? It kept me guessing until the end!

"Angels in the Snow" by M.M. Chouinard is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found it to be a compelling read, and I'd rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

The story follows Detective Jo Fournier as she races against time to find her missing cousin and her young daughter. The opening scene, with Jo searching for footprints in an empty parking lot in the cold, immediately grabs your attention and sets the tone for the rest of the book. The sense of urgency and desperation is palpable from the very beginning.

Chouinard's writing style is engaging, and she knows how to build and maintain tension throughout the story. The discovery of other missing mothers and daughters in the snowy forest near Oakhurst adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to the plot. The author's ability to weave multiple storylines together is impressive.

The character of Detective Jo Fournier is well-developed, and I appreciated her determination and the depth of her emotions as she searches for her family. The supporting characters are also interesting, adding depth to the narrative. The book keeps you guessing, and the twists and turns in the investigation are well-executed.

My only minor gripe is that the resolution felt a bit rushed, and some loose ends could have been tied up more satisfactorily. However, this didn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book. I also can’t wait to see what happens in the next book after the unexpected, but heartwarming, twist at the end. Thanks to Ms Chouinard, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Angels in the Snow (Detective Jo Fournier Book 8) by M.M. Chouinard is so good!! I did not want this story to end. It was quite the gripping crime thriller that did have a nail-biting ending.

When Detective Jo Fournier’s cousin goes missing with her sweet five-year-old Alexia, Jo heads straight to where they were last seen. Her heart stops when she finds their unlocked car—one door has been left open and Alexia’s beloved teddy is lying in the snow. Jo’s blood runs cold as she realizes her family have been kidnapped…

Jo and her team are excellent. The dialogue is great, the interactions are realistic and believable, and the characters are credible.

The story was so twisty and kept me guessing on who was involved and how it would eventually end. The story was sad and made me cry at the end.

I was able to read this book in one sitting; it was so intense and kept you wanting more, but I was also sad to say goodbye (for now) to these characters. I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for Jo and her team next.

I highly recommend this book, this author, and this series.

#AngelsintheSnow #NetGalley @Bookouture

Detective Jo Fournier has another case to solve and it hits close to home. Her cousin and five year old daughter have been abducted. Jo and her team are in a race against time to find them, especially since they found out this could be connected to other mother-daughters missing cases. I have really enjoyed this series and can’t wait for the next book. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc.

I loved this!! As I love all of MM Chouinard books! Strong female lead ✔️ festive period ✔️ serial killer ✔️ wicked twist ✔️ what is not to love!! As always the only negative I can say is that I finished it!! I cannot wait for the next Jo Fournier instalment! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW! This is the first book of M.M. Chouinard I've read and I am impressed. this book had me hanging on every word from the first chapter. Amazing and thriller. The suspense had me on my seat. I thought I knew who it was but surprised to find out who it really was.
The characters were great and the story just flowed.
It was like watching a movie.

I am so happy Jo invited us into her life again. I am glad so see she is still as determined as before and I like the way her personal life seems to move into a satisfactory direction.

Usually with books where the main character is a detective, the focus often is on the police investigation. I had the feeling the author moved that focus to put the spotlight more on the actions of the victim and the sad story of the culprit. Don't get me wrong, we still get to enjoy the teamwork between Jo and Bob and the other members of the police force, spitting through everything and making the pieces fall together.

I liked the switching of the points of view from the different characters. I make me feel more alert somehow. 

There is no way you cannot love lioness Paxton... 

Another amazing series I adore reading! Bring on book 9, please. I cannot wait to find out how this is going to continue. 5 stars

Thank you

When Detective Jo Fournier’s cousin goes missing with her sweet five-year-old Alexia, Jo heads straight to where they were last seen. Her heart stops when she finds their unlocked car—one door has been left open and Alexia’s beloved teddy is lying in the snow. Jo’s blood runs cold as she realizes her family have been kidnapped…This great read spirals towards its dark conclusion, wrong footing the increasingly uneasy reader at every turn. This twisty detective thriller is jam-packed with tense moments and a growing sense of unease…..

This is book 8 in the series and I have enjoyed every book in this series. It feels like hanging out with friends and have liked seeing how they have grown and changed as the story progresses.

This one brings it close to home for Detective Jo as someone in her family goes missing from the mall. It looks like it is tied to other cases. Someone is kidnapping mothers and daughters right before Christmas from area malls. How far will a child go to try and make a parent happy?

This book is so engaging but will also pull at your heart strings. It is so well written and captivating that I read in one sitting.

The Christmas holiday Sweater contest was fun comic relief in the book.

Can't wait to see what happens to Jo.

This is book 8 in the Jo Fournier series and another very good read. I would recommend starting with book one, although this can be read as a stand alone, for background information. The characterisation and plotting is very good and switching back and forwards between characters works very well. I liked the suspense and the surprise ending, overall, it's a good mystery. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Another great book in the Jo Fournier series. I’m not always crazy about books that switch back and forth between characters on each chapter but I got use to it. There was one aspect that I thought got brushed over too quickly and I kept thinking I had missed something but all in all the mystery kept me glued to my book.

Angels in the Snow is number 8 in this series. While the book serves as a stand alone I also recommend the series in order. That said.....

Jo is a detective. Her cousin and her young daughter disappear completely. As Jo finds the car and the child's teddy bear in the snow she realizes that this is a very dangerous crime and that she must find them quickly.

As she and her group search, Jo discovers a cold case of another mother and child who disappeared in the same way. Their bones are soon found and this ratchets up the stakes in this disappearance.

Security footage aids Jo in finding the clue that brings her closest to the answer but is it enough?

A twist ending makes the book all that much more delicious.

Read this in just a few hours. SO GOOD! Read this series from the beginning. You won't be disappointed. I can't WAIT for book 9!! Huge character arcs happening....

Thank you #netgalley and #bookoouture for this eARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the copy of Angels In The Snow by M.M. Chouinard. This is book 8 in the Jo Fournier series. If you want a book you can’t put down, this is it. While you can read this as a standalone, I suggest reading the whole series also to appreciate how the characters and their relationships grow and change. The writing was mesmerizing and drew me right into the story, and I appreciated that there was nothing graphic or gory so it was a tense and suspenseful read but not gross. I loved the shocking reveal as well as the touching ending. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Great book and series! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, murder, gas lighting, a great who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!