I could not be happier that I picked it up Trace of Evil when I did. I've been in a bit of a reading slump since the beginning of 2020. I'm hoping that Trace of Evil has brought me out of that slump, because I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book.
It has been a while, since I have read a mystery/thriller that did not frustrate me (excluding any Agatha Christie book I've read recently). I think the concept of the unreliable narrator that drove the popularity of books like Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and Woman in Cabin 10 has been overdone now. It is a fun concept, but it was nice to read a mystery/thriller with a strong and reliable female main character.
Right from the beginning, you know that there will be a few different mysteries included in this story. Trace of Evil begins with Detective Natalie Lockhart visiting her murdered sister's grave. This visit actually leads to a potential clue in the cold cases of nine missing individuals that she has been investigating. However, her investigation quickly gets shelved by a new investigation, when a fellow detective's wife is found murdered. While investigating this murder, she uncovers lots of secrets in the town including her own niece's involvement in occult activity.
What I loved about this book is that it contained so many mysteries, but that the plot still flowed smoothly and kept me riveted. Who killed Detective Buckner's wife, Daisy? What happened to the "Missing Nine"? Is the right person serving time for Natalie's sister's murder? Is Natalie's niece in danger? I never had a clue how the mysteries would be solved or who the bad guys were. There were so many interesting characters and many secrets being held by all.
I literally ignored my husband to sit and finish this book, because I just had to know how it ended. The last portion of the book was so gripping and ultimately surprising and fulfilling. I thought this was a fantastic read! I highly recommend it!
It has been a while, since I have read a mystery/thriller that did not frustrate me (excluding any Agatha Christie book I've read recently). I think the concept of the unreliable narrator that drove the popularity of books like Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and Woman in Cabin 10 has been overdone now. It is a fun concept, but it was nice to read a mystery/thriller with a strong and reliable female main character.
Right from the beginning, you know that there will be a few different mysteries included in this story. Trace of Evil begins with Detective Natalie Lockhart visiting her murdered sister's grave. This visit actually leads to a potential clue in the cold cases of nine missing individuals that she has been investigating. However, her investigation quickly gets shelved by a new investigation, when a fellow detective's wife is found murdered. While investigating this murder, she uncovers lots of secrets in the town including her own niece's involvement in occult activity.
What I loved about this book is that it contained so many mysteries, but that the plot still flowed smoothly and kept me riveted. Who killed Detective Buckner's wife, Daisy? What happened to the "Missing Nine"? Is the right person serving time for Natalie's sister's murder? Is Natalie's niece in danger? I never had a clue how the mysteries would be solved or who the bad guys were. There were so many interesting characters and many secrets being held by all.
I literally ignored my husband to sit and finish this book, because I just had to know how it ended. The last portion of the book was so gripping and ultimately surprising and fulfilling. I thought this was a fantastic read! I highly recommend it!