A Killing Secret

A KILLING SECRET by Robert Dunn started out as a very well written and intriguing police procedural; one I am sure I will quite enjoy. I say ‘started out’ , as I soon had to put the book down in frustration. I had not realized I was jumping into the fourth book of an ongoing series, and quickly became lost in the background of the characters and over-arcing plotline. I plan to rectify this by going back to the beginning to ‘A Living Grave’ and read the entire series from the beginning.

I l liked this gritty detective novel set in the Ozarks. It had a Winters Bone feel. Overall a good read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Another 5 star read from author Robert E. Dunn

Katrina "Hurricane" WIlliams is back, this time trying to solve the murder of an up and coming country music songbird, navigate through her quagmire of feelings for the new Sheriff Bill "BIlly" Blevins, and trying to keep the two separated when it looks like they are more connected than she'd like.

In this, the fourth of Dunn's Katrina Williams books, he's allowed her to grow as a PTDS survivor, and more importantly, as a woman. I've made mention that in the other books Katrina has no solid female relationships with women, except for her therapist ( whom I adore.) In the last book, Katrina's mother played a vital role in the plotline, but did little to influence her life in the here and now.

In A KILLING SECRET, a Sheriff's department female employee (called BOB, for a shortened name) allows Katrina to show a side of her we haven't seen before - a girl code/stand by your gender side that I found wonderful to read because of the way it was written so honestly on Katrina's part. WIthout giving away any spoilers, Katrina is instrumental in helping Bob through a situation Kat is all too familiar with - male dominance and superiority and sexism.
And that's just a tiny subplotline, but it had a profound effect on me as a reader and a Katrina fan.

Dunn writes with a vivid intensity, bringing the odd bunch of characters in his tales to life effortlessly. The dialogue is loaded with the subtext I've come to expect from a Dunn book and continues to make the reader think.

All in all, another 5 star winner.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for allowing me a sneak peek for an honest opinion.

A Killing Secret is a good crime novel with interesting characters and a good storyline. Well written and keeps you entertained.

Detective Katrina Williams expects to be checking out the scene if illegal timber harvesting, but instead she finds herself investigating a murder. Country sat Sharon Rose has been shot and left like so much garbage. When sheriff Billy Blevins arrives on scene, Katrina is shocked by his visceral reaction to the body. Turns out that Billy was seeing Rose, and his unwillingness to confide in Katrina puts the investigation (and their relationship) at risk. Dunn creates thick tension between his characters and his knowledge of police procedure give this mystery an authentic feel

I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of A Killing Secret, the fourth novel to feature Detective Katrina “Hurricane” Williams of the Taney County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Katrina is called out to a tree rustling and finds the body of a young woman, shot dead. She is quickly identified as rising Country star, Rose Sharon. What is not so quickly identifiable is Sheriff Billy Blevin’s reaction and his erratic actions afterwards which complicate the case and leave Katrina to investigate alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Killing Secret which is an atmospheric slice of rural noir with a complicated plot and strong characterisation and is another strong addition to a series I have loved from the start. I say the plot is complicated but the basic premise is simple - find Rose Sharon killer, it’s the intertwining relationships, motives and histories that make it complicated. Obviously the hunt for the killer is less than straightforward with several suspects and their own motives but it’s a great read trying to work out who and why.

I feel, however, that everything in the novel is built around the characters. It is told in the first person by “don’t call me Hurricane” who has a strong but damaged voice. She is a recovering alcoholic with serious trauma in her past and struggles every day with her temper and propensity for violence. She is also struggling in her relationship with Sheriff Billy Blevins and he shuts her out both personally and investigatively in this novel. There is much in this novel about the conflict. That makes her sound horrible but her honest narrative makes her very likeable. She is on a journey so I would recommend reading the series in order to get the best experience of it (the actual plot is self contained). With all the forward momentum I am already eagerly awaiting the next instalment. The plot really centres on the relationships in Rose Sharon’s family. They’re a strange, dysfunctional bunch but how dysfunctional only becomes apparent as the novel unfolds. I found it fascinating in a car crash way.

A Killing Secret held my attention throughout and I had to read it in one sitting, unable to put it down so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

This is darker than my comfort zone but couldn't help being hooked and loving this book.
It's full of twists and turns, well written, engrossing and entertaining.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A very complex mystery, sometimes hard to follow, involving the murder of a young singer. Sheriff's Detective Katrina Williams is called to the site where expensive walnut trees have been illegally harvested. There she finds the body of a young woman, Rose Sharon, who is just beginning to make her mark in the country western music scene. Katrina, former military, will work a case that involves members of the small community as well as the sheriff, her boss and friend. The former sheriff is called back to assist and the current sheriff, Billy Blevins, seems to be running his own investigation. Katrina finds more questions than answers as danger follows while she moves from clue to clue to take down the killer. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

SImple, direct review -- Read this series!!! You won't be diappointed.

Thank you #netgalley and #kensington for the eARC.