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| Penguin November 2018 My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book |
It's been eleven years since Claire Flynn disappeared - abducted without trace from a snowy hillside, leaving her parents heartbroken.
Investigator Darby McCormick remembers the case. She knows there's only ever been one suspect, Father Richard Byrne, linked inconclusively to two similar disappearances.
Finally, terminally ill, Byrne is willing to talk. But he'll only talk to Darby.
She's expecting a confession - but what she hears is far more disturbing.
And it soon becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep this cold case on ice.
My thoughts about it..
This is the first time I have read any books by this author, so I come new to the character of Darby McCormick, who as a trained psychologist also works as an investigator, so, it would seem that she is ideally placed to help out with a cold case which involves the disappearance of six year old Claire Flynn, who disappeared one snowy night. It's coming up to the eleventh anniversary of the child's disappearance and when, Father Richard Byrne, the lead suspect in the case requests to speak only to Darby, it allows the investigation, once dormant, to take on a whole new lease of life.
This is the eighth book in the Darby McCormick thriller series and it's perfectly possible to read the story without having read the previous books as the author gives enough insight into Darby's character, so I soon felt as if I knew her and trusted her judgement. The story covers some dark stuff but it's all done with a fine eye for detail and the author's ability to weave a complicated tale made The Snow Girls quite a fascinating study into human nature. Told from Darby's perspective as the investigator and also from Mickey Flynn's viewpoint who, as the father of the missing girl, has his own demons to exorcise.
Like all psychological thrillers, this one is best read without any spoilers, that way the story evolves gradually allowing the clues to creep up on you. I really enjoyed trying to piece together all the clues and yet, there's a interesting twist to the ending which was a great reveal and not one I saw coming.
Like all book series I am sure that these US thrillers are best read from the start at book one, however, The Snow Girls certainly worked for me as a standalone.
This is the first time I have read any books by this author, so I come new to the character of Darby McCormick, who as a trained psychologist also works as an investigator, so, it would seem that she is ideally placed to help out with a cold case which involves the disappearance of six year old Claire Flynn, who disappeared one snowy night. It's coming up to the eleventh anniversary of the child's disappearance and when, Father Richard Byrne, the lead suspect in the case requests to speak only to Darby, it allows the investigation, once dormant, to take on a whole new lease of life.
This is the eighth book in the Darby McCormick thriller series and it's perfectly possible to read the story without having read the previous books as the author gives enough insight into Darby's character, so I soon felt as if I knew her and trusted her judgement. The story covers some dark stuff but it's all done with a fine eye for detail and the author's ability to weave a complicated tale made The Snow Girls quite a fascinating study into human nature. Told from Darby's perspective as the investigator and also from Mickey Flynn's viewpoint who, as the father of the missing girl, has his own demons to exorcise.
Like all psychological thrillers, this one is best read without any spoilers, that way the story evolves gradually allowing the clues to creep up on you. I really enjoyed trying to piece together all the clues and yet, there's a interesting twist to the ending which was a great reveal and not one I saw coming.
Like all book series I am sure that these US thrillers are best read from the start at book one, however, The Snow Girls certainly worked for me as a standalone.
Chris Mooney is the critically acclaimed author of Deviant Ways, World Without End, and Remembering Sarah, which was nominated for the Barry Award and the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He lives in Boston with his wife and son.
Twitter @cmooneybooks #TheSnowGirls
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