Empty Houses

Kate Waters is trying to put her past and an abusive relationship behind her, Dudley, Arizona, a small town in the desert seems as good a place as any. Malcom MacGregor, a former Phoenix cop is in Dudley, trying to get over the death of his wife. It turns out lots of folks have move to Dudley for a fresh start. Carrie and Wes Cooper did, but now they’re dead. Dudley may be small, but it’s popular with the tourists, so the locals want a quick arrest to keep the tourists happy. Kate didn’t know Carrie well, but she believes the police have arrested the wrong man. She and MacGregor team up and as they investigate, Kate finds some disturbing links between Carrie and herself. If she and MacGregor don’t act fast, Kate may be the next victim.

A dusty desert town, strange locals and an intriguing mystery make this an enjoyable read

Kate Waters has run away to Dudley to a friend's house, to escape an abusive relationship.

Cop Malcolm MacGregor is in Dudley to recover from his wife's death. The tiny touristy town of Dudley, is shocked when Carrie and Wes Cooper are shot dead. The local authorities arrest a local man, but MacGregor is pulled into the investigation by the suspect's sister, convinced that her brother is not capable of murder.

Kate is pulled into the investigation when she finds some disturbing links to the dead victims. Kate and Malcolm now need to act fast before the murderer strikes again.

A 3.5/5 read for me. A quick paced, interesting read with an unexpected ending.

This is the first novel in a new ‘Kate Waters’ series and as an introduction to Kate, her life and her friends.

The story opens with Kate and her boyfriend, Harry Light, going out for a meal. But Harry isn’t always light and on this occasion he throws a major tantrum and shows a very dark side. This isn’t the first time he has verbally attacked Kate but she is determined it will be the last, especially as she has discovered that Harry has a gun. She gets home, packs her things and sets off to her friend Dakota’s home in Dudley, Arizona. Harry doesn’t know Dakota, or where she lives and Kate doesn’t leave a note.

No sooner has Kate settled in Dudley, then there is the annual Brewery Gulch festival, an excuse for major drinking and frolics; but this year two tourists are shot, and a local Latino boy, Chico, is found holding the gun. The Chamber of Commerce is anxious that the murderer be apprehended immediately so as to not put off valuable tourist trade, and so Chico is arrested and charged on the flimsiest of evidence.
There are three main, interwoven strands to this novel, and sometimes I did find it a little confusing. Kate experiences a series of disturbing events and is sure that Harry has discovered where she is; Chico’s defence lawyer employs Detective Malcolm MacGregor who is on leave following the suicide of his wife, as an investigator; and he and Kate find themselves becoming attracted to each other.

There is plenty of misdirection, interesting characters and enough twists to make this a satisfying and enjoyable read and I look forward to meeting Kate, and possibly Malcolm, as the series takes shape.—Pashtpaws