Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Once again I was not that impressed with the Kindle First choices this month. Wasn't in the least interested in the two historical books, but even among the remaining four choices this was the only selection that had any appeal at all. Although it isn't my favorite Kindle First selection to date, I DID enjoy it - so much so that I read it in one day. Although the book starts with one autopsy being completed, the real story begins with Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman examining a body in her (the dead woman's) own bed. However, SHE wasn't the one to point out how much the dead woman looked like her: it was Homicide Inspector Hailey Wyatt who noticed the resemblance. As it turns out, Anna (she hates being called Annabelle) has her own suspicions as to why this woman would look so much like her. AND she immediately noticed the flowers: YELLOW flowers. While not exactly the same as a bouquet placed outside her OWN door - in her security protected building - she has very strong suspicions regarding the sender. However, rule one for the medical examiner is to never make assumptions and then try to make your findings support those assumptions. No, one must let the body and the scene where the body is found (whether it is a crime or death by natural causes) tell the story. Even so - flowers or no flowers, there IS something about this body that causes Anna to collapse to the floor. Something for which (in her mind) there could be only one explanation. Just the night before, Anna had shared her own history with Hailey. She seldom spoke of herself or her past. Never knowing who was trustworthy, it was easier (and safer) to keep to herself. However, she had taken a chance last night, and she was glad she did. Dr. Schwartzman had fled an abusive, controlling husband. Even now, seven years later, she was still looking over her shoulder - living in fear. He was a wealthy, powerful man, and she was afraid he had found her again. Fortunately, she was no longer alone. She now had friends she could trust: Hailey and Homicide Inspector Hal Harris. Turns out everything is not as it seems when it comes to this body. But even while investigating this case, other bodies begin turning up - one of them someone very dear to Anna. However, some of these bodies are on the opposite side of the country! How could all the cases be connected? ARE these bodies related? Is the same person responsible for all these deaths. If so, why? Why kill all these people? Or is Anna just paranoid? Maybe they weren't even all murdered. Sometimes an accident really IS an accident. Poor Anna has been looking over her shoulder for so long perhaps she is imagining something that couldn't be further from the truth. Seeing connections with the cases where none exists. Is her life (and the lives of those close to her) in danger? Or is she seeing a monster that no longer exists? While there's no doubt her husband was a mean - oh, come on: he was evil - man, has he been haunting her all these years? Or has he found a new target for his abuse? A new "love interest" to replace Anna. Sometimes when these abusive husbands realize their wife is really gone, they find someone to take her place. Why not Anna's ex? This book never becomes bogged down with fluff. Everything moves along with a fast enough pace to hold one's interest, but not so fast that it is difficult to keep up with the characters or the action. Also, the story is never gory. No steamy sex scenes (or any sex scenes at all for that matter). No foul mouthed characters. Nothing to offend most readers. So if those things are important to you when you select a book, you should be aware they are not a concern here. I enjoyed the book. Not as much as the other reviewers perhaps, but enough to give it four stars. It didn't really WOW me or have me on the edge of my seat anxiously waiting to see what would happen next. There was no great suspense for me - no tension building to draw me to keep turning pages without ever setting the book down. In fact I DID set it down for several hours to take a nap. Then I also went to bed last night (OK - early this morning) before writing the review today. Thus four stars instead of five: it didn't grab me so that I couldn't let go. Would I recommend this book to you? Certainly. I don't think it's something you can't live without, but I do believe it is enjoyable enough to recommend to others who love a good cop story. (Definitely more of a cop story than a medical examiner's story. That just HAPPENED to be Anna's job: she could have been something else and the story would not have changed significantly.) And I would DEFINITELY recommend this story if you are trying to decide on your Kindle First selection for the month: it is still better than the other choices based on the descriptions and my interests. However, if your interests differ, then by all means go with your gut. But as for me: I was satisfied with my choice, and I have no qualms in recommending it.