Title: Trace of Evil
Author: Alice Blanchard
Series: Natalie Lockhart, #1
Published: December 2019, Minotaur Books
Format: ARC Paperback, 384 pages
Source: Publisher
Summary:
A riveting mystery
that introduces a bold and audacious rookie detective assigned to hunt
for a killer who is haunted by the past in this gripping murder case…
Natalie
Lockhart always knew she was going to be a cop. A rookie detective on
the Burning Lake police force, she was raised on the wisdom of her
chief-of-police father. These cases will haunt you if you let them.
Grief doesn’t come with instructions.
But the one thing her
father couldn’t teach her was how to handle loss. Natalie’s beloved
sister was viciously murdered as a teenager, and she carries the scars
deep in her heart. Although the killer was locked up, the trace evidence
never added up, and Natalie can’t help wondering―is the past really
behind her?
As the newest member on the force, Natalie is tasked
with finding nine missing persons who’ve vanished off the face of the
earth, dubbed “the Missing Nine.” One night, while following up on a new
lead, she comes across a savage crime that will change everything.
Daisy
Buckner―a popular schoolteacher, wife to a cop, and newly pregnant―lies
dead on her kitchen floor. As Natalie hunts for Daisy’s killer in the
wake of the town’s shock, her search leads to a string of strange
clues―about the Missing Nine, about Daisy’s secret life, and reviving
fresh doubts about her sister’s murder.
As the investigation
deepens, Natalie’s every move risks far-reaching consequences―for the
victims, for the town of Burning Lake, and for herself.
Spellbinding and gripping, Trace of Evil is a novel of twisting suspense that will leave you breathless.
My thoughts: I read a lot of mystery/police procedural series, so it’s rare when I come across one that has a unique feel to it and that is definitely what I got from Alice Blanchard’s new series. This was the first time I have read anything by this author but I immediately fell in love with her writing and know this is a series I will absolutely be following to the end!
This is a completely gripping, atmospheric read. It is a complex and intricately woven story that involves many layers and asks the question, how well do we really know those around us? But what I liked most of all is that this is not necessarily a fast-paced mystery but rather a slow-burn suspense with all its moving parts. Alice Blanchard takes her time setting everything up, giving us the necessary background on all the pertinent characters and plot points. And yes, there are multiple threads going on that all come together for a whopper of an ending.
I love Detective Natalie Lockhart and I’m so glad this is a series because I think there is so much to explore within her character. She is a tough cop and has been dealt some major tough breaks in her past. We learn some of it in this book but some developments towards at the end will certainly be life adjusting and I cannot wait to see how that affects her.
I loved how the theme of witchcraft is woven into the plot. It gives the story the perfect undertone of creepiness, which is made all the stronger with the town’s history of executing witches and the generations of teen girls experimenting with witchcraft and black magic. I think this just added to the overall sense of tension and eeriness, without overpowering the story or making it feel contrived.
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to get book 2 in my hands. Do you ever get like that with a series?
Books in this series:
- Trace of Evil
- The Wicked Hour – due out December 2020
