Crimson Lake
Book - 2018
Ted Conkaffey is introduced to private investigator Amanda Pharrell, herself a convicted murderer. Not entirely convinced Amanda is a cold-blooded killer, Ted agrees to help with her investigation, a case full of deception and obsession, while secretly digging into her troubled past. The residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair's every move - once Ted's true identity becomes known, the threats against him become violent and the town offers no place to hide.
Publisher:
New York, New York :, Forge,, 2018.
Edition:
First Forge edition.
Copyright Date:
©2017
ISBN:
9781250179296
Characteristics:
348 pages ;,24 cm.



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The ending saved this book that and Amanda. The lead character is so frequently an idiot I felt like I was in a horror movie shouting advice constantly.
Part hard-boiled PI story, part murder mystery, evocatively set in the humid, crocodile infested rainforest of Queensland, Australia. Cleverly written, engaging characters, good twists throughout.
I really enjoyed this book. It has three crimes running through the storyline which kept you going to find out what happened. It is a quick and fast read.
Many layers in this crime novel
Terrible book and I appreciate that's a harsh thing to say about someone's effort. First up we have a former seasoned narcotics cops unjustly charged with rape of a child. When charges get dropped he decides to leave town for somewhere no one knows him and ends up in the nastiest town imaginable filled with nasty people who immediately recognize him which is ridiculous, turns into a slob and is literally terrified of his own shadow and the teens who harass him. Former cop I think not! Then his lawyer suggests he meets a woman in town who's a PI so after protesting he does.
She's an extremely unpleasant foul mouthed young woman who served time for a murder she committed as a teen (obviously not guilty) and is seriously weird for no apparent reason. She also dresses up and acts like the town whore at the bar with men who hate her. Again adds nothing and makes no sense. Anyway the guy goes home from meeting her and orders furniture, food and a fridge for his crappy home he deliberately chose and loves and suddenly overnight he's cleaned up.
The book involves solving 3 crimes, his, her's and another one all equally boring as the other with a whole lot of moaning and feeling sorry for themselves along the way. It does not read like a good mystery but a boring soap opera. Everything is rehashed over and over and over meaning the book should be a quarter as long as it is. Finally a third of the way thru I had to give up and read the last few pages. Of course it ends up everything solved. If it's mystery you're after I'd not recommend this one.
Lots of action, a real page turner. Very quick read. No red herrings, easy to tell who the bad guys were and that the good guys won at the end. Excerpt from her next book at the end did not inspire me to want to read it.
I loved, loved, loved this book. Candice Fox did a good job with character, place and all that other literary jazz. Looking forward to reading #2-Redemption Point because I care about the MC's and want to know what happens to them.
What a book!! There is damaged. There is quirky. And then there is Amanda! Amanda is mysterious and not willing to reveal anything about herself. She's also a spitfire and more than a little wacky. Some of her comments were an absolute scream, like: "I’m dead fascinated with your case. I’m so fascinated, someone should pin me in their hair and wear me to the races.”
And then there is Ted. Ted Conkaffey is hiding. He’s tired, sad and angry. However, he has had no choice other to accept what fate has dealt him to date. Then the geese found him. Amanda baffled him. The case he was drawn into working on with Amanda interested him. I found the stories behind Ted’s innocence and Amanda’s guilt were the best part of this book. I found the themes of criminal injustice, negligence, withholding or tampering with evidence making me feel angry and sad, as well as a little scared. I can't wait to read Redemption Point!!!
Plot. Intricately woven with three separate murder investigations, all these characters have complicated pasts.
Can’t say I enjoyed this book. I didn’t engage with the characters and the solutions at the end were totally unbelievable