Ellie Matthews is a criminologist, teaching at a local college and consulting with the FBI and local police. She has had a very tough early life (which perhaps prompted her interest in criminology) but things have finally started to go well for her. But her comfort is disrupted when, while at the college, she is visited by her stepfather, Marcus. but Marcus isn't supposed to be anywhere near Ellie and she asks her T.A. to call the police while she keeps a wary eye on the man.

Marcus begs for her to listen but Ellie doesn't trust a word he has to say. When she is later called to an apparent overdose death and discovers the victim is Marcus, she has conflicting emotions. A search of his home reveals evidence of murders that Marcus may have committed, including that of Ellie's mother.

Ellie tries to recuse herself from the investigation, but she's one of the best at what she does, and she's local, and is kept on the case. It could be easy to follow the apparent evidence and convict the man, post mortem, but something about the overdose, and the evidence in Marcus' home, doesn't sit right with Ellie. She hopes to get to the truth, but someone doesn't want her digging too deep and the more she learns the more danger she puts herself into.

It has been well over three years since I last read anything in the Ellie Matthews series, so I honestly can't say that I remember anything that's happened before (I did go back to reread a couple of older reviews of mine) but what's nice, here, is that author Caroline Fardig manages to keep the reader informed and caught-up with everything we need to know. The savvy reader can also make some educated inferences based on what's said, as well.
Fardig has come a long way since I first discovered her with her cozy mystery/romance Java Jive series. Here the romance takes a deep back seat to the mystery (not at all cozy) and the character. And character is where Fardig really shines. 'Character' is what kept me interested in the Java Jive series and it's what makes Ellie Matthews as engaging as it is. It's great to see a woman of integrity and skill using both, being a role model, and not needing to fall back or rely on a man. Which is not to suggest there are no men in the book ... there is and there is romance - part of the character development, but not integral to the mystery.

As much as I like Ellie, it's the plot here - the mystery - that really engages and keeps me reading. And the personal nature of the victim and the past deaths to Ellie, means that character plays an incredibly tight role in the plot. The methodology (often referred to as 'police procedural') appears to be strong (other than keeping someone so close to the victim on the case). I enjoyed the discovery of evidence and the search for more clues and witnesses.

After the initial visit by Marcus, I never felt the threats to Ellie as strongly as I probably should have, and this would be the reason for a missing star in my rating. But even without this threat, I was fully engaged in the story.

Looking for a good book? Sins of the Father by Caroline Fardig is a well-crafted, character-driven police procedural mystery in the Ellie Matthews series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Matthews has always wondered if she would see anyone arrested for her mothers murder. She assumed her sister's father, Marcus, had killed her, but never had proof. Then, once Marcus is found dead at a house where he has been squatting, she finds the proof, along with evidence of a number of other murders. Unfortunately, things at the crime scene aren't adding up, and Ellie quickly thinks the evidence is too good to be true.

There were a number of twists that left me thoroughly enjoying this book. I love all of Caroline Fardig's books and I will say that this series is my favorite. I am so invested in these characters and because of the personal tie this case had to Ellie, made it all the more satisfying to read.

Ellie Matthews is one of my absolutely favorite characters.... Caroline Fardig does an incredible job making her lead character so smart, actionable, and tender at the same time. Ellie is shocked when her abusive ex-stepfather shows up on campus... and then at her home. Marcus was horrible to Ellie, her bio mom, as well as Ellie's half-sister. He swears someone is out to get him... and he's right... he turns up dead. The cast of potential murders is long - and Ms. Fardig does an excellent job at keeping the reader on track with all the potential suspects. The backstories and supporting characters are some of the best around. I absolutely love this series! Thank you to Severn River Publishing for an advanced reader of this book - the opinions expressed are my own.

I couldn’t stop reading this the story was just so good and the funny lines our characters graced us with were 10/10 for a murder mystery. As for the mystery this was a really good story with lots of details as well as character development. I didn’t see the ending coming at all and hope there are more books coming to this series.

Ellie Mathews quit forensics at crime scenes for teaching forensics after the scattered body parts she had been processing for evidence turned out to be her mother. She has reluctantly agreed to consult on cases because her successor in the crime lab is a lazy slob and is only keeping his job because his mother is a county official.
Her latest crime scene, a hit and run, turns out to be her mother's rival, whom her step-father ping-ponged between. Ellie recuses herself, but her abusive step-father, Marcus, (and her sister Rachel's father) shows up on her doorstep claiming his innocence and in fear of his life. Ellie calls 911 and makes him leave. The next day, Marcus is found clinging to life a few houses down from Ellie's where he had been squatting
As his only relatives, Rachel and Jack, his son with the hit and run victim, have to decide to unplug his life support.
Soon, the murders of Ellie and Rachel's mother, Jack's mother and several other victims appear to be connected. Finding out the truth turns out to be a wild ride with secrets exposed and relationships strengthened.
Ellie is an amazingly strong and resourceful woman who has overcome unimaginable hardships and obstacles in her life. Her sister, Rachel is following in her footsteps with the support of friends and family.
I am so glad to see some hopeful developments in this final book of the series. It has been a wonderful and often scary ride with Ellie and company through this series.
HIGHLY recommend!

Tried hard to read to the end – but I didn’t finish

This is the first book I have read by this author. I was not familiar with her previous works, so I read reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. All titles have been highly rated, so I assumed this book would match those excellent ratings. Unfortunately, I did not find this to be the case.

The central characters of this novel are Ellie Matthews and her estranged stepfather Marcus Copland. During her younger years, Ellie suffered tremendous physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Marcus. He is vividly drawn as a low life who “replaced women like you would replace a tire. When one got worn out, he’d ditch her and get a new one.”

The main plot revolves around “an apparent” self-administered drug overdose by Marcus. An investigation by Ellie and others discovers this may not be the case. Ellie is not sad to be rid of her stepfather but learns that here is a lot more to this case than originally thought.

Ellie, Nick Baxter, Sheriff Jayne Walsh and about two dozen others are involved in one way or another as the story becomes more and more intricate and convoluted. I eventually resorted to writing down the names of individuals and their relationships to each other as I couldn’t keep all of this straight in my head.

The story is very dark and became so complicated that toward the end of the book, I really didn’t care who had done what to whom. A reviewer of book one in this series wrote that it was “easy to follow”. I certainly would not describe this book with those words. Hopefully others will enjoy this book much more than I did and prove me wrong.

Thank you to Severn River Publishing and Goodreads for providing me with an advanced reader copy for review.

Great book! It is the sixth book in a series that I have not read yet and still couldn't put it down. I need to go back and read the series from the beginning. I loved her Java Jive series and "Sins of the Father" has much more depth to it. Ellie is a great character!

It looks like I am in the minority of readers of Sins Of the Father. I don't mind that as we all see things differently. I thought the novel centered on too many lowlifes and offered no one for the reader to care much about. There were too many characters, especially law enforcement personnel. We have multiple murders over some nine years and I wondered why. A clear, concise murder mystery is not impossible to write and I would encourage author Caroline Fardig to narrow her goals on her next attempt.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The relative tranquility of Ellie Matthews’s life in Sins of the Father by Caroline Fardig is shattered when her estranged stepfather Marcus resurfaces, pleading for help against an unknown danger. Ellie’s peaceful sanctuary is quickly tainted by an ongoing murder investigation. The victim: Marcus's ex-wife, Katie.

I like Ellie; she is a strong female protagonist. Sins of the Father is the sixth book in this forensic mystery series. I have read some of the other books in this series, but I feel this book can be read as a standalone book.

The story kept me guessing, and the revelations in the book are quite good, some eye-opening and shocking.

I would recommend this author, who has a knack for telling an intriguing story and would recommend this book.

#NetGalley @SvrnRvrPublish

"Sins of the Father" is a gripping and compelling addition to Caroline Fardig's Ellie Matthews series, delivering a thrilling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

This book was my introduction to Caroline Fardig's work, and I was immediately drawn into Ellie Matthews's world. The seamless blend of suspense, mystery, and emotional depth made it impossible to put down. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I went back to the beginning of the series and am already halfway through book two. While "Sins of the Father" can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with book one to fully appreciate the character development and overarching storyline.

Fans of authors like Kendra Elliot, Melinda Leigh, and Lisa Regan will find themselves right at home in Fardig's skillful hands. The intricate plot twists, layered characters, and relentless pacing make this a five-star read for anyone who loves a good mystery.

The synopsis of "Sins of the Father" hints at the complex journey Ellie Matthews embarks on when her past collides with a present-day murder investigation. Fardig deftly navigates themes of family secrets, betrayal, and redemption, keeping readers guessing until the final page. Ellie's determination to uncover the truth, even when faced with danger and uncertainty, makes her a protagonist worth rooting for.

What sets this book apart is Fardig's ability to weave together multiple threads of suspense while delving into the emotional turmoil of her characters. The revelations throughout the story are both shocking and satisfying, culminating in a conclusion that leaves readers wanting more.

In summary, "Sins of the Father" is a standout novel in the Ellie Matthews series, showcasing Caroline Fardig's talent for crafting gripping mysteries with heart. I eagerly anticipate the next installment and recommend this book to anyone craving a captivating read that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Thanks to Ms Fardig, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! That's some messed up characters!! Great read!! This book had everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic who done it that I didn't see coming, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
When the sins of the past come knocking on her door, Ellie Matthews must confront her darkest fears. The relative tranquility of Ellie Matthews’s life is shattered when her estranged stepfather Marcus resurfaces, pleading for help against an unknown danger. Ellie’s peaceful sanctuary is quickly tainted by an ongoing murder investigation. The victim: Marcus's ex-wife, Katie. When investigators set out to question Marcus, he is nowhere to be found. In a jarring twist, Marcus dies in an apparent drug overdose. When Ellie and Detective Baxter search Marcus’s residence after his demise, they find unsettling evidence linking him to a series of murders, including the death of Ellie's own mother. Despite the mounting evidence against Marcus, the case isn’t sitting right with Ellie. Was Marcus a cold-blooded killer, or was he being set up for the perfect crime?!