I received a free copy of this book in expectation of an honest review in return. Here it is!
Set in Australia, this is a quick read, more of a thriller than a mystery – I found myself guessing early on who the criminal *really* was, it turned out not only incorrectly but also rather unnecessarily. Although, I was left feeling like I’d missed some detail about one of the minor characters which our heroine understands at the very end and I don’t, so there is a bit of mystery! Mostly though, it’s a thriller.
This is the story of a cold missing person’s case becoming “hot” again as a disturbing discovery is made during home renovations and the police are called in to investigate, and develops into a hunt for evidence that will reveal a serial killer.
It is somewhat bizarre to have technology from your childhood described as a sort of ancient history, but I guess this is a sign that I am… no longer young and cool. Okay, I was never cool.
I have to say that I enjoyed my earlier Anna Willett read, Dear Neighbour, a bit more than The Family Man, and I think it was because I had trouble really rooting for our main hero in The Family Man, police officer Veronika Pope. There was an action she takes which results in the grand confrontation with the villain towards the end of the book, which simply broke my powers of suspension of disbelief – I just could not accept that a professional policewoman would make that decision and nothing about the character seemed to justify the break in professionalism. I also sometimes just had trouble following her (and the other police) logic as they pursue the case.
The story also switches point-of-view to another character a few times, but to say more about that would risk spoilers.
The picture on the cover to the book in the download I received seems to have nothing to do with the story inside.
There were also times where the style felt a bit rough, as if another round of editing might have served the book well – however, it may also be that the author’s style is just a little grating to my reading ‘ear,’ and it may be perfectly tuned for someone else.
A few little things in particular that I liked – I liked that Pope lives in a multi-generational household, I think we should see more of these families in fiction. I liked the few details that reminded me I was reading a book set in Australia – for example, mention of peppermint trees, which sound lovely. I was a bit disconcerted to read what struck me as a ridiculously low number of missing young people within a certain time frame in Western Australia is described by the police officers in this book as “a large number of missing people,” – is Western Australia so much safer, in general, than western Canada?!
I was able to read this book quickly, over a few hours and two days, the pace is good and quick and (my possible missing of some minor details aside) easy to follow and read. It is a “fun” book – while it has it’s violent, icky, grimacing moments, it’s not a serious book – it’s a book to enjoy, for example, as I did, over a rainy weekend in November.
I give this book 3 stars out of 5
#BlackthornTours
About Anna Willett
Anna Willett is the author of fourteen novels including Amazon bestselling thrillers, Unwelcome Guests, Small Town Nightmare and Savage Bay Nightmare. She is also the author of Amazon bestselling horror novel, Pest and the Amazon #1 New Release, Dear Neighbour. Her latest offering is The Family Man, a creepy, crime thriller.
When she’s not writing, Anna enjoys reading, travelling (one day soon) and spending time with her husband, two children and their dogs.
You may sign up for Ms Willett’s newletter, find her on GoodReads and follow her on twitter.
VT Dorchester 