Thanks to Brenda Chapman and Dundurn for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Still waters run deep.

Teacher, mother, wife, and convicted child molester Jane Thompson makes parole after losing everything — her husband, her children, her career, and her reputation. But just as she begins trying to build a life out of the public eye, the bludgeoned body of the student she abused four years earlier is found on the shores of Lake Ontario. Sergeant Rouleau assigns officers Stonechild and Gundersund to head up the murder investigation and Jane quickly becomes their prime suspect.

Meanwhile, Stonechild’s niece, Dawn, has been skipping school and running into trouble in foster care. Gundersund is more trapped than ever in his failing marriage, and Rouleau struggles to come to terms with the death of his ex-wife. But all their problems take a back seat as the investigation picks up steam. Stonechild and Gundersund wade through buried secrets to find the truth, which will take them on a twisted journey to the heart of cruelty. The question is — who will come out alive on the other side?

I love procedural books. I love 'had it all' to nothing stories. There were twists and turns, it was suspenceful, and I wish I had read the prior novels before delving into this one. Well, that is what I shall do next!

This is a well written procedural with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing about Jane, who certainly looks guilty at the start. Stonechild and Gundersund (and Rouleau) make a great team. I'd not read the first books in the series and this might have missed some nuance but I think the back stories were explained well enough and the plot for this one contained enough that it's good as a standalone. Kala and Paul's personal lives are wholly believable In their complexity, as is poor Rouleau's situation. I'm looking forward to reading another installment. Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC.

So I read the blurb and was like you know this book sounds right up my alley of reading, I need to give it a try. When I went onto Goodreads I noticed in the title it said book four and that concerned me as would I be missing out on things that I need to know? Well I can say the book can be read as a stand alone though it seems that some issues that some characters have going on, are in the previous books. With that said overall it was a good book.

Jane Thompson had been accused of being a child molester. Her whole life has gone down hill she has been in prison, her husband has divorced her and won't let her see her kids, and she no longer can be a teacher. Though the book doesn't say she had to register as an offender which I thought was weird, especially since she has kids. She really wants to just be with her kids and her husband isn't making it easy. He seems a bit of a controlling person and I felt we see why she ended up with him because of up bringing. I think it is really good for an author to write a bit of why a character acts or does something a certain way because of their past when it is needed.
When the kid she has been accused of molesting ends up dead the spotlight is back on her and the parents of the boy will stop at nothing to make sure she is behind bars again. Though it will be up to the detectives to solve the case while dealing with their own things going on in their personal lives. What they will uncover had me going oh wow this was a bit more deeper psychological than I thought it was going to be. I really liked the way the detectives just didn't go straight to blaming Jane Stonechild could really tell that something was up when she was interviewing witnesses. To me that is what makes a great detective.

There are things I didn't see coming when we got towards the end and I was very surprised with it all. Just by reading this it seems the author has an amazing way with pulling you in and having you guess why someone would kill another person.
If you enjoy cop thrillers and murders give this book a try.

Another excellent mystery in this series, which has the police and the reader looking down many paths for a solution. The story could be ripped from the headlines of AnyTown...the tale of a teacher developing an inappropriate relationship with a student. But this goes beyond the headlines, to after a sentence has been served, then--murder.

Jane Thompson is paroled after serving part of her sentence for abusing a middle school student four years before. She has lost her marriage and her children, her teaching career. Now she is living in a walk-up, working at Salvation Army, having regular meetings with her parole officer and looking forward to the day her ex will allow her to see her son and daughter again. But then that abused student from the past dies, in fact is murdered, and everything is put on hold. The who, why, where, when, etc of popular thought quickly point to Jane but the police must investigate and prove before pointing themselves.

This is an excellent procedural series with well-developed characters who have back stories of their own. This adds to the enjoyment of reading of any series. The book can be read as a stand-alone but parts of these back stories may likely be lost. The main story would be very complete! Highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Started and finished this book in a day because I was extremely eager to see how it turned out (and by the way, I did not manage to guess who the real killer was).

Shallow End starts with the death of Devon, a teenage boy. What makes Devon "special" is that a few years ago, he was involved in a case where his teacher was accused of sexually assaulting him. That teacher, Jane, got out of prison a month ago, so she's obviously the top suspect. But can Jane, who seems to want nothing more than to see her children, be the killer?

First things first. After I downloaded the book, I noticed that this was labeled as Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery #4. Kala Stonechild is one of the detectives in the book and Rouleau is her superior. To be honest, I didn't really feel Rouleau's presence in the book, and I felt that Kala was the more active character here. That being said, I had no problems reading this book as a standalone - there are probably a few things I missed, but the team dynamic was easy enough for a first-time reader to grasp.

What stood out to me was the sheer number of unlikeable characters in the book. Jane's ex-husband, Adam is unpleasant, as is his new girlfriend. I didn't like the parents of the dead boy. I didn't like Woodson, a cop that hates Jane and I didn't like the reporter either (and I seem to have forgotten her name). Luckily, I did like Jane and Kala, who were the main characters, as well as Gunderson's, Kala's partner at work.

The mystery was pretty well-done, but the characters were what stood out more. I didn't manage to guess the killer either, and I thought the twist at the end was pretty good too.

When I have the time, I'll probably go back and read the first few books in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

Convicted child molester and ex-teacher Jane Thompson has been released from prison. But within one month the child she molested has been found murdered on the shores of Lake Ontario.
When Sergeant Rouleau appoints officers Stonechild and Gundersund to the enquiry Thompson becomes their prime suspect.
An interesting and twisty mystery, with time spent on the development of these original characters.
This is the fourth in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Though I hope to go back to Book One to start reading the series.

Second outing for Officers Stonechild and Gundersund who investigate the discovery of a body at the side of Lake Ontario. The complication is that the body is that of a boy who was the victim of abuse years earlier, and the female teacher convicted of the crime has just been released on parole.
Very accomplished novel, with a well thought out plot line, believable characters and a very well described sense of the somewhat bleak Canadian landscape. The story begins at a leisurely pace but picks up speed throughout as the story reaches its conclusion. Although a slow burner don't be discouraged, this a very fine effort that will reward you with very engaging read.

This novel was a huge disappointment for me. Perhaps it was because it was the fourth book in the series and I hadn’t read any of the previous novels leading up to this one so I wasn’t up-to-date with all the characters and their relationships but this novel was boring for me until the very end. With no clues to help the team after the initial case, they had nothing to focus on which lead them to reexam the same individuals over and over again, hoping that it would lead to something. I was introduced to members of the police department and the ghosts that lived there so I was finally getting to know the stories behind the individuals who were assigned to the case. Then, they finally got a break. Just what everyone including me had been waiting for on this case and things began moving rapidly on this case. It’s a crazy, twisted story in the end, one that had been well planned out.

My feelings on this novel is that there was nothing to entertain me with in the beginning besides the initial case. The ending was where everything occurred and in the middle, I was just waiting for something, anything to happen. I would like to start this series from the beginning in the future as I enjoyed the author’s writing but this novel by itself, I give it a 3.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Dundurn in exchange for an honest review.

Five years ago, Jane Thompson, wife and mother of two, lost everything she held dear when she was convicted of sexually abusing one of her students, 12-year-old Devon Eton. Now, having served her prison sentence, she is out on parole, trying to get her life back together and fighting to get access to her kids, who are living with her ex-husband and his new partner. Living in a shabby flat and working as an unskilled shop assistant to make ends meet and comply with the conditions of her parole, her existence is about as far removed from her previous life as it can get. Then Devon’s body is found murdered on the shores of Lake Ontario, and she is suddenly the prime suspect again. But what motive would she have to murder Devon? This is a question Detectives Stonechild and Gundersund will be asking themselves many times in the course of a murder investigation which has as many turns and twists as an elaborately constructed labyrinth. Trying to see their way through the lies, they must uncover the truth to bring the murderer to justice.

Shallow End was an intriguing and clever murder mystery, and I was delighted to find out that this is part of a series featuring the troupe of detectives I had become very fond of in the course of reading this novel. Thankfully, I did not feel disadvantaged by not knowing the characters’ previous histories, though I am now more than eager to pick up earlier instalments in the series to remedy that. Why did Kala lose custody of her niece Dawn? And why did Gundersund’s marriage get into trouble? I must say I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters Brenda Chapman has created in this addictive series, and look forward to reading a lot more about them. Chapman’s skill as a writer is evident in her well rounded, true-to-life characters, who seem to leap off the page and acquire a personality all of their own.

As to the events in Shallow End: if the band of detectives wasn’t enough to keep my interest, the rest of the storyline alone kept me devouring this book until late into the night. A teacher accused of abusing one of her students – certainly a current and contentious topic. As a former special education teacher herself, it is obvious that the issue lies close to the author’s heart and she tackles it with sensitivity and grace whilst weaving it into an utterly compelling story. There are a lot of surprises along the way, so don’t get complacent reading it – just when I thought it is all over, a surprise revelation delivers a final sucker punch I did not see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed Shallow End – even better that it opens the door to a whole crime series I am sure will keep me entertained for hours to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second book in this series and I am really liking it. This one dealt with a teacher, Jane, who just got out of jail for having had sexual relations with her 12 year old student, Devon Eton. She was sentenced to three years, but only served two as she pled guilty and they minimized her sentence. Of course, she was married and lost her husband and two children during this time, as well.

Either the day of or the day after, Jane, gets out of jail, the Devon Eton is found dead near the water, near his home. Of course, Jane is the main suspect. The boy's parents are rich and obnoxious and immediately want her put back in jail. They know Jane has done it and what are the police waiting for? When I say obnoxious, I mean disgustingly so. You know the type.

So just when Jane was going to get to see her kids, her ex-husband zips them off and says no way. He is, naturally, being a real pain about all of this. Of course, he already has a live-in girlfriend whom I think he had right about the time Jane went to jail. And she's a real treat, not.

Meanwhile, Stonechild, the police officer is having her own personal problems. One of her fellow officers, Wickless (change W to D) still can't stand the fact that a woman is better than him, so he is out to get her. Also her niece in foster care (put there thanks to Wickless) is having issues).

The chief is dealing with his wife's recent death due to cancer and Stonechild's partner is dealing with a wife he wants to divorce and she thinks their marriage can be saved. Actually she thinks that her husband will go running to Stonechild if she gives him up. Now she has cheated on her husband several times and will do so again. However, there is no one in the wings right now, but she can't stand the fact he will run to Stonechild. Oh yes, there is drama. And that's just the human emotional part of this book.

Then, we have the solving of the murder part of this case. And there are also a few surprises. And a HUGE jaw dropping ending. I myself quite like all of this going on and really like seeing the bad guys tripping over themselves, like the users getting hung out to dry. There was a lot of fist pumping going on in my house due to the outcomes. Yes, quite a few.

HUGE thanks to Dundurn for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. There was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for this reader.

shallow End (Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery, #4)

I think the author wrote this book with the idea of illuminating How a life can be forever altered if allegations are made against any adult that gets accused of having sex with a child. Even if you are innocent your life is never the same. Life becomes before the allegations are made or after the allegations are made. The accused life will always be tainted even if the sexually abused and witnesses later say that the event never occurred.

In this story a twelve year old boy and his best friend say that Jane a teacher in Canada sexually molested the twelve year old. Jane goes to prison. Her husband divorces her and gets sole custody of their two kids. Jane is now out on parole. The alleged teenager is killed. Nobody knows what happened to him and Jane becomes the main suspect in the case because the dead teenagers mother and father are insisting she killed their son and they want her back in prison.

Inspector Rouleau is leading the investigation with Kala, Woodhouse, Gundersund an more officer's. It is a big mystery as to who killed the teenager. The Officer's interview witnesses, family, friends, teachers, students and of course Jane. In this story nothing is as it seems. There are definately child predators everywhere and it is scary. layers are unraveled. I really liked Kala and Rouleau and Gundersund for the very human qualities they exhibit as Officer's and ethics.

Thank you to Net Galley, Brenda Chapman and the Publisher for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Thank you.
Enjoyed it. Good read.
Will get copies for family and friends

Fourth time’s a charm for this detective novel

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the fourth Kala Stonechild mystery and will make a point of reading the first three novels in the series. Kala Stonechild is the first female First Nations detective in Canadian crime fiction so kudos to the writer for this breakthrough.

The story is set in Kingston, Ontario in Canada and the discovery of the body of a young man sets the scene for the murder investigation. The victim turns out to be sixteen year old Devon Eton and his mother is adamant that he has been murdered by Jane Thompson. Jane had been convicted of sexually assaulting Devon four years previously and had just been released from prison on parole.

The story explores how Jane is trying to rebuild her life and her struggle with her ex-husband to be allowed to see her children. In a similar parallel, Kala has lost custody of her young cousin and is also struggling to come to terms with not having her around.

Kala is also drawn into a messy relationship struggle between her partner Paul Gundersund and his estranged wife Fiona and the writer manages to flesh out her central characters fully and engage the reader in their personal issues, whilst the drama of the murder unfolds.

I felt a deep sympathy for the ex-teacher accused of and found guilty of sexual misconduct as it becomes clear that this act of totally out of character for her and has left her life in tatters. I kept hoping that she was indeed an innocent victim.

The writer spins out the storyline with great precision and keeps you wanting to go back for more. Nothing is as it seems and the big reveal at the end of a total surprise. You are kept guessing until the very end.

Gillian

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review

5 Stars

This is a very good book with exciting characters. I like the way the team of police officers gets along – except for Woodhouse of course – Woodhouse the louse.

The police officers are Kala Stonechild a First Nations woman and Paul Gundersund are partners. Kala has overcome a great deal to become an officer. She is trying to get her niece back from Children’s Services, but battling with herself over whether that would be best for the young girl. What if she loses her again?

Gundersund’s wife is Fiona, who happens to be the medical examiner. He is also trying somewhat unsuccessfully to break away from his wife. Fiona is not the monogamous type, but claims she wants to come back to her marriage. The problem is will she cheat again? Gundersund thinks she will.

Jacques Rouleau is the Detective Sergeant in charge of the case. His wife died not too long before this case began.

Devon Eton at seventeen years old is the victim who has been murdered by blunt force trauma. He is found one Monday night. Devon’s whereabouts the evening before her was murdered seem to be a mystery. Devon’s sister, Sophie knows something, but she’s not talking in front of her parents. She’s too young to be interviewed without them.

Charlie Hanson, a rather strange kid, was Devon’s friend. Charlie and his sister Tiffany are up to something but what?

Jane Thompson was released from prison one month earlier in an early release program. She was incarcerated for having an affair with one of her students, a twelve year old boy - one Devon Eton. Did Jane commit the murder as Woodhouse believes? Is she being set up?

Gundersund, Stonechild and the rest of the team are busy interviewing witnesses, family and other people but seem to be getting nowhere. Suddenly, there is a breakthrough. The author drops a couple of bombshells late in the story that will have you shaking your head.

I hadn’t read any of Brenda Chapman’s books before, but I immediately went to Amazon and ordered the first three books in the series. Very well written and plotted, this book was a remarkable find.

I want to thank Netgalley and Dundurn for forwarding to me this most suspenseful and thrilling book to read.

When Jane Thompson was sent to prison for having relations with one of her twelve-year-old students, despite declaring her innocence, she lost everything ... her job, her husband, her children and her freedom. She is now out on parole and the boy, now seventeen, is found murdered. His parents demand that Jane be arrested since she is the obvious choice. Rouleau and his team are assigned the investigation. Jane's ex-husband has custody of their children and refuses to let Jane see them until this matter is settled.

In the meantime, Rouleau is still grieving the passing of his beloved ex-wife and taking care of his elderly father. After having her niece removed from her guardianship and placed in a foster home, Kala Stonechild is trying to get on with her life without Dawn. Stonechild was also brought up in the foster system and wants Dawn to have some normalcy and stability. Paul Gundersund has accepted that his marriage is over and wants to move on but his wife is determined to win him back.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author (I read the others in last couple of weeks) and I enjoyed it. It's always nice to read a book that is happening in Ontario (these characters live in Kingston). I liked the writing style and found the storylines interesting. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on the various characters wherever the action was happening. Though it is the fourth (and latest) in the Stonechild and Rouleau series, it works as a stand alone and you don't need to have read the first one to read this one (there is enough background given). As a head's up, there is swearing.

I look forward to reading future books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of SHALLOW END from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

JANE Thompson lost her husband, children and freedom when she raped one of her students. Now out of prison, the body of the boy she abused is found floating in the lake and the investigation begins.

SHALLOW END is the fourth book in a series by Brenda Chapman featuring Stonechild and Gundersund. Having not read the previous three, I felt at a disadvantage following the detectives backstories and was more interested in Jane's parts of the story and the mystery of the murder. I think readers who follow the series will give SHALLOW END four or five stars.

I enjoyed the mystery and didn't guess the resolution. The characters were interesting and unique, even though I felt like I was missing aspects due to being a new reader of the series.

I read Shallow End as an ARC.
I have learned to eagerly await Brenda Chapman's next book. Her contemporary mystery series set in southeastern Ontario are page turners with compelling stories. They feature an indigenous female detective in a department of white males, who has engaged me since I read book one. There is always an underlying but important social justice commentary that varies in each book.
Chapman nails both the police work involved in solving murders and the emotional lives of the main characters that provides the satisfaction everyone need to keep reading a series.
I love these books and recommend them to anyone who enjoys good murder mysteries.

It's SO good to be back in Kingston with Stonechild, Rouleau, Gundersund and the rest - I've been impatiently waiting for Shallow End since devouring the third book in the series last summer. This time the murder of a teenage boy draws the Kingston investigators into the disturbing aftermath of a crime pulled from real world headlines. Jane, a gifted teacher and mother who seemed to have it all, was convicted of the unthinkable: a sexual affair with one of her young students. Two years later, Jane is released from prison the very week that same student is found murdered. The victim's family, and even some on the police team, believe Jane is the obvious culprit but Stonechild is convinced there's more behind the murder and pursues her own investigation behind the scenes.

Off the job, Stonechild must find a way to help her niece who is not coping well in foster care; Gunderson tries to ease his way out of an unhappy marriage; and Rouleau worries about his elderly father while still grieving the death of his ex-wife. I really enjoy these ongoing background stories. Chapman is highly skilled at creating personalities a reader will care about. The mystery in SHALLOW END is tightly plotted, too, with plenty of twists and genuine suspense - I was not expecting that ending! Over all, another strong book in a highly recommended series. Five stars!

With thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press who provided a digital ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

I liked this one a lot -- it had a few plot twists that I didn't anticipate, and as always the detectives have great interpersonal chemistry.