As we speak I’m completely delighted to share my ideas on Preym, the model new Sam Shephard thriller from Vanda Symon. It’s been far too lengthy since we had a bit of Sam in our lives and I’m so glad she is again. My due to Orenda Books for sending me an advance copy, and to Anne Cater of Random Issues Excursions for the tour invite. Right here’s what the e book is all about:
Launch Date: 15 August 2024
Writer: Orenda Books
In regards to the Guide
On her first day again from maternity go away, Detective Sam Shephard is thrown straight right into a cold-case investigation – the unsolved homicide of a extremely revered Anglican Priest in Dunedin.
The case has been a thorn within the facet of the Police hierarchy, and for her boss it’s private.
With all of the witness testimony portray an image of a devoted church and household man, what attainable motive may there have been for his homicide?
However when Sam begins digging deeper into the case, it turns into obvious somebody desires the sins of the previous to stay hidden. And when a brand new potential witness to the crime is discovered brutally murdered, there’s stress from all quarters to resolve the case earlier than anybody else falls prey.
However is it already too late…?
My Ideas
Oh how I’ve missed expensive Sam Shephard. In equity, after the hell Vanda Symon put her by within the final e book, she in all probability deserved a little bit of a break, however nonetheless. It’s good to have her again. Effectively, for us readers not less than. If there’s an equal of a Canadian Mountie in New Zealand, then Sam Shephard should be it, as she is bound as hell going to get her man. Not at all times the outcome folks suppose they’re in search of. On this, her first case again on the job following maternity go away, her arch nemesis in cost, DI Johns, assigns her to a chilly case. It’s a case she can’t afford to get fallacious, largely as a result of it issues the homicide of Johns’ father in regulation. No stress then. Going through the standard withdrawal signs of leaving a small child at dwelling while nonetheless breastfeeding – the guilt and different ‘uncomfortable side effects’ – simply provides one other layer of stress to an already unimaginable process. And it makes for one hell of an entertaining, tense and generally emotional learn.
I actually love the character of Sam. The books are advised in first particular person which means that we get all the good thing about her razor sharp wit and infrequently humorous observations. She is candid, sarcastic, however most of all, a extremely decided and intrepid investigator – even when she can be a bit of distracted this time round. I just like the bond between her and her companion, Paul, and likewise the best way wherein they strategy parenting, by no means sugar coating the considerably much less lovable habits (?) of a small baby that I do know any father or mother (or Auntie) will recognise. Regardless of these odd moments of distraction, each at work and at dwelling, it doesn’t cease Sam from getting her tooth right into a case that’s far darker than anybody may have anticipated.
Amongst the entire humour and asides from Sam, that is really a surprisingly emotional story, and it permits us to see a bit of little bit of one other facet of DI Johns. He’s nonetheless the identical conceited arse at work, particularly in direction of Sam, however his resolution to reopen the case is pushed by a want to do proper by his household in a means he couldn’t when the homicide first occurred. And it means opening a proper can of worms – this wouldn’t be a Sam Shephard story if it didn’t actually. None of her circumstances have ever been that easy. Vanda Symon has achieved a superb job of developing a narrative that’s hampered by folks retaining secrets and techniques, witnesses who’re extra desirous about private achieve than serving to clear up a homicide, and individuals who would do something to guard these they love. It’s very a lot a case of being cautious what you would like for. Some secrets and techniques are finest left alone and even from the beginning, it appeared laborious to see how there can be a optimistic end result on this case, for anybody.
There are some moments of actual pressure peppered all through the e book and some sudden turns which appear set to derail the investigation. I used to be, as at all times, hooked from the very begin, Vanda Symon leaving us with a really, very massive query mark over simply what we’ve witnessed within the prologue, and who we might have witnessed it with. There may be really extra misdirection than you would possibly suppose on this e book. The moments of smoke and mirrors, that had me trying from one place to a different to try to decide the actual suspect. It isn’t till later within the e book when one essential piece of proof is revealed that we get an actual flavour of what this all is perhaps about. It’s a extremely believable state of affairs, and for that purpose the writer had me feeling greater than a contact of sympathy for the entire folks concerned on this case. And the ending … Effectively, I’m unsure what meaning for the longer term, however I’m positive hoping we’ll get to seek out out. Loving this collection extra with each e book and followers are going to only eat this one up. Welcome again Sam (and Vanda). Positively advisable.
In regards to the Creator
Vanda Symon lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. In addition to being a crimewriter, she has a PhD in science communication and is a re- searcher at the Centre for Pacific Well being on the College of Otago. Overkill was shortlisted for the 2019 CWA John Creasey Debut Dagger Award and she is a three-time finalist for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Greatest Crime Novel for her critically acclaimed Sam Shephard collection. Vanda produces and hosts Write On, a month-to-month radio present specializing in the world of books at Otago Entry Radio. When she isn’t working or writing, Vanda could be discovered within the backyard, or on the enterprise finish of a fencing foil.
Comply with the tour
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