CELTICLADY'S REVIEWS: Overdue by Jo A Hiestand Review Tour!

GENRE: British mystery

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A spate of three murders in as many months has Derbyshire’s local police and populace in near panic. And there will most likely be a fourth killing in two weeks unless something happens to stop the cycle. Former police detective Michael McLaren is that “something” that his best mate, Jamie Kydd, is counting on to end the alarming deaths. He enlists McLaren’s help to look into the events, hoping his friend can solve what, so far, has confounded the Constabulary.

Each of the three crime scenes is the same, yet different: the same types of things but not the same specific things left with each body. As McLaren becomes enmeshed in the hunt for the killer, his friend Melanie arrives for a planned visit. Can his days become more complicated than simultaneously playing host and unmasking a killer? They can when he’s aware that each tick of the clock brings them closer to the next planned murder. And perhaps an unplanned one...thrown in for fun.

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McLaren tapped the tip of the pen on the pertinent item as he read his list. “One victim lived in Staffordshire, one in Derbyshire, and one in Nottinghamshire. And yet their bodies were all found in Derbyshire?”

“And, oddly, a distance away from where they lived, be it Derbyshire or Staffordshire or Nottinghamshire. As you know, Pleasley is nearly straight southwest of Hilton, where Dylan’s was found.”

“What is that?”

“Nearly forty-one miles. Clive Sheridan lived in Callow but was found in Hanging Bridge. That’s an hour’s journey. Twenty-six and a half miles.”

“A long drive, yes.”

“And Emma, who lived in Longnor, Staffordshire, was found nearly as far north as you can get in Derbyshire. In the wood near the Derwent Water Reservoir.”

“Unbelievable. That’s what...? An hour drive from her place?”

“Close. The lads clocked it at fifty minutes. Just under twenty-four miles.” Jamie folded the paper but placed it on the table. “All three people are like that, Mike. Their bodies were discovered miles from where they lived.”

“How, then, did they get to the crime scenes? And why did they go?”

My Thoughts

Overdue is part of the McLaren Mysteries has the protagonist, Mike McLaren off the police force and investigating cold cases on his own. Jamie Kydd, along with the local constabulary are investigating three murders that have happened. Each body was found near water and items left on their chests along with abbreviated parts of names. Jamie enlists the help of Mike in investigating the murders before another one occurs.

In the meantime his hopefully "significant other' Melanie is coming for a visit and Jamie's phone call happens right when Mike is preparing for her visit. While all of this is going on, Mike goes on a mission to speak to the people involved with the three deceased people, families, parents, coworkers, etc. Mike soon finds a lot of clues that are not easy to figure out. He perseveres and finally comes to a few conclusions as to who the killer is and why he/she has killed these three people.

This book was a fast-paced, character-driven, mystery novel that I really enjoy. I read it in two sittings and was surprised to find that it is the latest in a series. Reads like a stand-alone novel, but I think if you want to learn more about the characters, starting at the beginning will be beneficial. I love a good British mystery and this one is right up there with the best. It held my attention and got pretty intense towards the end of the book.

I give the book 5 stars.

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.

Jo A. Hiestand grew up on regular doses of music, books, and Girl Scout camping. She gravitated toward writing in her post-high school years and finally did something sensible about it, graduating from Webster University with a BA degree in English and departmental honors.

She writes a British mystery series (the McLaren Mysteries)—of which three books have garnered the prestigious N.N. Light’s Book Heaven ‘Best Mystery Novel’ three years straight. She also writes a Missouri-based cozy mystery series (The Cookies & Kilts Mysteries, of which "A Trifling Murder" is the second book) grounded in places associated with her camping haunts.

The camping is a thing of the past, for the most part, but the music stayed with her in the form of playing guitar and harpsichord and singing in a folk group. Jo carves jack o’ lanterns badly and sings loudly. She loves barbecue sauce and ice cream (separately, not together), kilts (especially if men wear them), clouds and stormy skies, and the music of G.F. Handel. You can usually find her pulling mystery plots out of scenery—whether from photographs or the real thing.

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Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Overdue-McLaren-Mysteries-Book-17-ebook/dp/B0BSVMJVM8/

The book will be on sale for $0.99.

GIVEAWAY RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Jo A Hiestand will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.