Series: DC Morgan Book 1
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Length: 432 pages
First Published: 2022
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Rachael’s Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book from SourceBooks through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
During the New Year’s Day polar swim, the body of wealthy real estate developer Rhys Lloyd washes up in a small Welsh town. After an awkward one-night stand together, local detective Ffion Morgan must work with English detective Leo Brady to discover how killed Rhys. But the more they discover about Lloyd’s life, the more they realize that almost everyone has a reason to want him dead.
I attended a murder mystery event hosted by Clare Mackintosh and when I learned she is a former detective, I knew I needed to read her latest detective story. In my American ignorance, the Welsh names were impossible to pronounce and I wish I had listened to the audiobook version instead of reading it. I loved the setting, but as a whole, the book ended up being an underwhelming boilerplate mystery with glacially slow pacing and a murder victim who turned out to be too evil, the absolute scum of the earth.
Publisher’s Description
At midnight, one of them is dead. By morning, all of them are suspects.
It’s the party to end all parties….but not everyone is here to celebrate.
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.
But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.
On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family―and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.
With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.
In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.
About Clare Mackintosh
Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and an author whose works include Hostage, I See You, and The Last Party. Mackintosh currently lives in North Wales. Visit the author’s website →