Really enjoyed this thriller, I'm finding that Australia is a good setting for a different type of mystery. Liked the characters who are very quirky and look forward to another one by this author.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this - so many thrillers I have read recently have been much the same as each other, but this one was nicely different! It probably helped that it was set in Cairns, Australia, and featured a great band of quirky characters. There were plenty of good twists and turns to the story, which I read within 24 hours as I kept finding myself going back to it.
I see there is a sequel out this year - yippee - although this book was perfectly self-contained with just one thing left over for the next book, but no cliffhangers, thank goodness.

Crimson Lake is the story of disgraced police officer Ted Confakkey; accused of the kidnap, physical and sexual abuse of a young girl taken from a bus stop, he tries to rebuild his life after the case against him is dropped due to lack of evidence against him. But mud sticks. And while Ted moves to a new town and tries to move on with his life past the allegations, he can’t escape the vigilantes who want to harm him and expose exactly who he is.
When his lawyer puts him in contact with Amanda Pharrell, he doesn’t know why or to what end. Amanda has her own secrets about her past, something which she has moved on from and now operates as a self-employed private investigator. Amanda recruits Ted as a fellow investigator and together they set out to try and solve the mystery of an author who has disappeared and is presumed dead.
While running from vigilantes and corrupt police and trying to uncover the truth about Amanda’s past and searching for the missing author, Ted finds the truth about horrendous crimes and fights to bring justice to those who deserve it.

Crimson Lake is packed full of storyline. We effectively have 3 different storylines ongoing and the book resolves 2 out of the 3. It all sets it up perfectly for the next book to (hopefully!) resolve the 3rd storyline.

Well written, well paced and packed full of interesting storyline, Crimson Lake is an enjoyable book that promises an exciting series of books.

Thanks to NetGalley, Candice Fox and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Do you know what I need in my life? Redemption Point the sequel to this book. And I want it now, but I've heard patience is a virtue so I will have to wait. Anyway, this book is awesome. I mean a team of a convicted murderer working together with a disgraced police officer accused of the abduction and rape of a young girl? A crime Ted is trying to clear his name from. I'm always on the lookout for thriller series that are a bit different that doesn't follow the standard model and here I have found one that I really like.

Crimson Lake is a fabulous book, with two very different individuals trying to work together to solve the disappearance of a well-known author. Ted Conkaffey has fled his old life after the charges were dropped because of lack of evidence, not that it matters very much since pretty much everyone thinks he's guilty. His lawyer fixes him up with PI Amanda Pharrell, a convicted murderer since Ted needs a job. And, them working together is brings some lightheartedness to this dark and tragic story.

There are many things about this book I like, the weird (but sweet and funny) partnership, the atmospheric little town with the crocodiles lurking in the water, the mystery of the missing author. The geese and all the cats. *sigh* I really want the next book!

A really good book, but let down by the lack of depth and garishness for the character Amanda. This story is weaved around the very gritty topic when someone is accused of a crime against a child (paedophile/murder), with circumstantial evidence, and are driven out of their life and continually hunted by those who have already convicted them in their mind.

This is a great crime-thriller set in croc-insfested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

Loved the two main characters and the way the author brought them to life in the book.

I can't wait to read more books from this author.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Couldn't read on time due to a broken e reader. My sincere apologies to the author and publisher for this.

A tense whodunnit. With circumstantial evidence linking a man to her abduction, the novel examines the fallout the tragic event has on those it touches.

Having loved Hades and Eden I was excited to read a new book and the start of a new series by Candice Fox.

Ted Conkaffey finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He passes the time of day with 13 year old Claire Bingley six minutes later his life is in tatters. Detective Conkaffey is accused but not convicted of Claire's abduction and his life as he knew it falls apart - his wife doesn't believe him and takes daughter Lillian away from him.

He spends several months in prison before being released on insufficient evidence and escapes north to Crimson Lake to start again. He meets up with Amanda Pharrell who has set up her own investigations agency and needs a partner. She's been accused of murder and spent 10 years inside. They set out to find the whereabouts of author and star Jake Scully.

Meanwhile, two heavy handed cops are determined to pin something on Ted no matter what which in turn leads Ted to investigate the murder his partner Amanda was accused of.

A great story which I enjoyed. Roll on book #2.

BRILLIANT - A MURDER MYSTERY WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE DILEMNA OF THE INNOCENTS:
This is a must read crime thriller which successfully mixes crime investigation whilst highlighting the dilemma of the innocents. Those for whom prosecution is stopped due to insufficient evidence but facing arrest at any moment should additional evidence come to light. And those convicted of murder but actually innocent of the crime they were accused of.
Ted Conkaffey (a good Australian name) is arrested and accused of abducting and raping a minor. To make matters worse his wife doubts his innocence, he loses his job as a policeman and then the State Prosecutors halt the trial leaving open the possibility of arrest and conviction at any time should more evidence come to light. He retreats into the wild back where he is an unknown and teams up with Amanda Pharrell, Private Investigator and convicted murderer. It doesn't take long before Ted's "crime" becomes known to the local community and he has to weather that storm.
But together, although an unlikely team, Ted and Amanda manage to resolve three crimes which include the crimes of which they were accused.
Candice Fox is a wonderful talent and this book deserves to be a top bestseller. A must read thriller which explores the sad fact that innocence is no defence to certain crimes. And even if you do prove your innocence your life may still lie in ruin.

This was a good first book in what I believe to be a series. I lllm forward to the second.

ATMOSPHERIC. ADDICTIVE. ORIGINAL.

12.46: Thirteen-year-old Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop
12.47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her
12.52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes – that’s all it took to ruin Detective Ted Conkaffey’s life. Accused but not convicted of Claire’s abduction, he escapes north, to the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

There he meets Amanda Pharrell, she knows what it’s like to be public enemy number one.
Maybe it’s her murderous past that makes her so good as a private investigator, tracking lost souls in the wilderness. Her latest target, missing author Jake Scully, has a life more shrouded in secrets than her own – so she enlists help from the one person in town more hated than she is: Ted.

But the residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair’s every move. And for Ted, a man already at breaking point, this town is offering no place to hide . . .

An absolutely fantastic read. Candice Fox has written a compelling story. She has combined everything I enjoy in a good thriller. Creating atmospheric scenes that gave me the chills but at the same time completely engaging me with an addictive narrative then left me turning the pages.

I would highly recommend to readers who love Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Detective, Mystery books. I can't wait to read more from this author.

**Arc provided courtesy of the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Thanks for the opportunity to have read this book.
Ted's life takes an unexpected turn when he is accused of the abduction and rape of a young girl. It causes him his life, his job as a police officer and his marriage. He moves to a small town in Australia in order to be safe of everybody accusing him and everybody's accusing glances and eyes. He meets up with another tortured soul and together they investigate crimes in the small backward town. But as he soon discovers ..... your past has a way of catching up with you. In a big and unexpected way.
Recommended.

At first I thought I wasn't going to like this book. The first few chapters didn't grab me and draw me in like some books. I have to say though it is worth sticking with as after the first bit the story picks up. There are a few story lines going on there is Ted a drug squad policeman blamed for the rape of a young girl. There is private investigator Amanda released from jail for murdering a school girl. Then there is the case that Ted and Amanda are working together the murder of writer Jack Scully. It is interesting how all the plots and loose ends get tied up at the end of the book. An interesting read

Really enjoyable read with interesting and brilliant characters, an excellent story line which is easy to read.

Ooooooo what a great book full of suspense and twists! Can't wait to read more from the author that's for sure!

A girl has gone missing and there's one suspect, who's a detective put in jail then released and things got from bad to worse for him, his marriage dissolves and the town are out for justice.....

What a book I won't spoil it but it's not what you think it's full of suspense and I read it in one sitting and cannot wait for more a must read from a great author!!!

Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell are ex cons and whilst Ted insists he is not guilty of the rape and murder of a young girl, Amanda will not talk about the killing of her friend she was found guilty of,when Ted moves to Crimson Lake hoping to get away from the vigilantes. his lawyer suggests he is introduced to Amanda and she is investigating the disappearance of a local man. This takes them to places they would really rather not be and Ted can't help himself wondering about Amanda's crime but this only seems to stir up trouble for him and with the harassment outside his house and the crocodiles living at the back of his house he feels even more trapped. I did find the introduction of so many characters a little overwhelming but when it all came together I understood the reasons . What with the criminals, crocodiles and I must not forget the geese it was a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of the book.

This book is about Ted Conkaffey. He his a police officer with a wife a baby daughter. But then he is accused of the abduction and rape of a 13 year old girl. No one believe him and after spending some time in jail he moves north to Crimson Lake.

This is where is meets Amanda Pharrell, she herself spent a few year in jail for the murder of a 17 year old girl. She now runs her on private investigations and Ted joins her. Ted and Amanda's first case together is the disappearance of Jake Scully, a local well known author. When the police find a part of Jakes Scully's hip inside a crocodile stomach they now turn their attention to who could have killed him. Was it one of his obsessed fans?

Will Amanda and Ted try and figure out who the murdered could be and why, Ted also is digging deeper into Amanda's past. Did she really kill the most popular kill in town? Or is someone hiding something. As all this goes on, Ted is also revealed to the locals of Crismon Lake that he is a paedophile and he has vigilantes trowing things at his house in the night and 2 local coppers trying to get rid of him.

I really enjoyed this book, and with the 3 crimes unravelling at the same time it was hard to put the book down. And even though their were three things going of at once it never got confusing. This is a book I would highly recommend and will be looking out for more from this author. 4/5 stars.

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox


Between the vigilantes out the front and the crocs out the back, Ted Conkaffey feels like he's in prison again. He's been running away from the crime he was accused of, but never acquitted of. It had been only a month since it was all over the national news and there were about 21 million people in Australia who believed he was guilty of the crime. On that fateful day, within minutes of Ted having parked his car by a bus stop, a 13 year old girl was abducted, beaten, brutally raped and strangled until she lost consciousness. Ted was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Seeking refuge and anonymity he'd headed to Crimson Lake, the croc-infested Cairns marshlands, to lick his wounds. Having officially checked out of society, he'd sought solace in the bottom of a Wild Turkey whisky bottle and bleakly stared down the barrel of his own gun. Before all this he'd been in the police force, but now he was no longer a cop and none of his old friends and colleagues had spoken to him since. His wife wanted a divorce and was blocking access to their baby daughter.

The only person who still believes in his innocence is Sean, his solicitor. Sean tries to drag him up from the depths by sourcing a job for him with Amanda Pharrell, who's opened a Private Investigations agency. The irrepressible and charismatic Amanda acquired her private detective's licence after serving 10 years in prison for stabbing a teenager to death. What they find they have in common is that they're both ex-inmates and both have trouble going about life as a pariah.

They start working on the Jake Scully case, a local celebrity and renowned author, who's gone missing - his wedding ring found inside a saltwater croc the size of a mini-van. Jake's wife, Stella, has hired them, as she says quite bluntly, to find her husband dead or alive so she can file claims on their substantial assets. Their first interview reveals a loveless marriage and a dysfunctional and troubled son, Harrison, who even is mother can't stand.

As Ted and Amanda work up the investigation, they discover that Jake had quite a few skeletons in the closet. Delving further, another lead reveals that his books had attracted dozens of weirdo fans. All the while Ted is being harassed by two intimidating local cops, who like to take the law into their own hands and teach him a lesson or two for being a paedophile, as they see it, on their turf. Them and the vigilantes who camp outside his home. Ted can't help himself researching Amanda's crime, as too much doesn't add up and unknown to him, Amanda is secretly fascinated by his alleged crime.

One thing Ted does know - that these backwaters don't provide any sanctuary for him after all, but finally he has more than enough going on to distract him from his own abyss of despair.

This crime drama has an original and cunning plot with three stories unfolding and two empathetic main characters. Candice Fox conjures up a vivid and creepy rainforest setting. A thoroughly engaging book from beginning to end.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK Cornerstone and Candice Fox for a copy of the ARC in return for an honest review.

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox

5 stars

Gritty tale of murder and intrigue

I do so love an underdog and this novel has two flawed characters who are drawn together by their violent pasts. One is an ex police officer who has been wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of a young girl and the other is a woman who has a very violent incident in her past. Both characters deal with their issues in different ways but each struggle to trust. Society has marginalised them both and yet they join forces in order to solve a murder.

The murder is set in Cairns, Australia and the vivid descriptions of the humid weather, lush vegetation and deadly predators lurking in the rivers serve as the background to the murder of a famous writer. His grisly remains have been found in the belly of a huge saltwater crocodile and Ted and Amanda are tasked by his wife with finding out what happened.

There are many twists and turns as Ted struggles to get his life back on track whilst trying to get to the bottom of the crime. The book gives great insight into the horror of being accused of a crime one did not commit and the far-reaching impact on a person’s life. The worst part is that the real killer remains at large, free to kill again. The writer creates a huge amount of empathy for Ted and although he is flawed, he is essentially an honourable man. Amanda is more complex as the writer keeps us guessing as to the real truth about the crime she is accused of and her brash nature serves as a cover for a sensitive person whose life is also ruined by a horrific incident in her past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will add Candice Fox to my list of favourite writers.

Gillian

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review