Wow, what a start to the book! We are straight into the action on the very first page of The Dead of Summer as a fairground ride malfunctions leading to multiple deaths. Then a comic book store owner is found murdered, horrifically tortured before death.
Piper and her team begin their investigations and soon negligence and witness protection are thrown into the mix…
This is soooo different from the last two books (The Dead of Winter and The Dead of Night) but just as enthralling. The plot and cases are totally unique and an absolute credit to the author ‘s amazing imagination and literary talent. The funfair deaths are tragic and emotive so really pulled at my heartstrings as I imagined my own children enjoying a day out only for horror to unfold.
There are mentions of events in the previous books but no spoilers so The Dead of Summer could be read on its own but I guarantee you will want to read the others in the series!
The drama unfolds at a rapid pace and I felt completely drawn in to both cases. The professional relationships between Piper and her team and now more trusting and respectful, although tensions do exist due to Piper’s lack of experience and her own self-doubt. Piper’s romance with Nang continues to develop which adds a gentle subplot to counter the graphic and tense investigations.
There is a realism about the plot, characters and style of writing that make it so believable and easy to engage with. The unpleasant forensic detail of the murder and aftermath of the funfair accident are delivered factually and sensitively yet conveys the impact on Piper and her team to make it emotive.
The Dead of… series is simply superb and I can’t wait for the next one!
The Dead of Summer book blurb:
Shouts of delight turn to screams of terror when a carnival ride goes berserk at the Spencer County Fair. Sheriff Piper Blackwell must contain the chaos and investigate the possible sabotage, even as she tries to solve a local businessman’s horrific murder.
But managing two investigations with at least one killer on the loose pushes the young officer and her tiny staff to their limits. Can Piper catch the murderer, or will the summer’s body count continue to rise?
About the Author: Author of over forty science fiction/fantasy novels, innumerable short stories, and a career that’s allowed her to experience most every aspect of the publishing industry, Rabe continues to add to her prolific career with her current love of mysteries–thrillers, suspense, and un-cozy cozies. In good weather, she can be found writing on her back porch with her dogs wrapped around her feet. I have a newsletter filled with tidbits about weird news items, pics of my dogs, discussions of upcoming books, reviews of things I’m reading, and writing advice. You can subscribe here: http://jeanrabe.us14.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=89364515308e8b5e7ffdf6892&id=9404531a4b Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jean-Rabe/e/B00J1QR5U2/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3406.Jean_Rabe Website: https://jeanrabe.com/
