Ello and welcome back. Today on the blog I've got another book review. This time I have an offering from an author I hadn't heard of before, Jackie Kabler, with her book The Development. As usual this is another crimey books but one that's a bit lighter in tone and humour so definitely perfect to pick up in the hot weather as of late.
After a stressful week, TV reporter Cora Baxter is ready for a quiet weekend. But
what she hadn’t counted on was witnessing the shocking death of a young woman on her way
home. She discovers seventeen-year- old Leanne had been protesting against a new housing
development, angering the powerful establishment. Leanne’s death is ruled a suicide, but
when puzzling information comes to light, Cora decides to investigate further.
She doesn’t know what an unscrupulous businessman, a suspended police officer and hate-
mail sending neighbours have to do with the case – but she knows there is a news story there.
With her eccentric camera crew on hand to help, can Cora tie the strands of Leanne’s case
together – or will other forces interfere?
The Development is the third in the Cora Baxter Mysteries series.
Picking up this book I was intrigued very quickly as to what was going on as you were thrown into the mystery pretty much straight away. With the suspected suicide of young Leanne, Cora starts investigating with her television crew to see whether or not the death was actually a suicide.
The book touches on a lot of heavy issues, obviously including suicide but also alcoholism, grief, depression, money issues, sex work and so much else. I think it's pretty great that all this was packed into the book as it rounded the characters out more and also showed that even tho on the surface things may be ok, there's always something going on underneath.
And on the note of characters, Kabler I feel did a great job of introducing them and exploring their personalities throughout. With the wacky fashion styles of Rodney to the driven essence of Leanne and then the unnerving chills from Douglas Granley, you were exposed to a plethora of characters that reminded you of people that you felt you already knew.
Now the main element of the book, what blew me away and hooked me in was the narrative and overarching storyline. With the way their investigation played out, you wanted to explore every avenue with the characters and make sure that both Leanne and her loving brother, Liam got the answers and then the rest they deserved. To me the storyline felt very similar to the Dutch tv show, The Killing. With crooked cops, people hiding secrets and sleazy business men, it made for a very good read.
So overall I highly recommend the book. It had everything I want in a crime/mystery novel but not in the traditional sense of it being a police officer or detective. The only part to the book that I found a bit cheesy* was towards the end of the book, when there's more unraveling between Adam and Cora. But if you can get past the slight soppyness of these two, and it's worth it too, you'll be in for a real treat!
*yes, I know this is punny. You'll understand if you've/when you read the book.
a Rafflecopter
giveaway
More information
*Disclaimer: I was sent this book free of charge in connection with the Neverland blog tours promotion of this book. This does not in any way affect my opinions. All views and thoughts are my own.
