I was hesitant to start this new series. I loved the Java Jive and felt maybe the new book would not live up. I am pleased to say I was wrong and I really like this new sleuth. Ellie seems more serious than Juliet. The story is good with a nice twist at the end that I did not see coming. Baxter and Sterling are an interesting duo with Sterling being the complete "bad cop" and gave me someone to dislike. I think this series is off to a great start and I look forward to reading more of what Ellie is up to.

As someone who has read every one of Ms. Fardig's other works, I was very excited for this new series. "Bitter Past" is her darkest work yet, but is still a quick and casual read. The main character is a former criminologist who left her job under unknown circumstances and became a teacher in criminology at a local college. Circumstances involving one of her closest friends, the college, and a number of politicians and law enforcement officials take her back to the criminology world to assist law enforcement with two possibly related cases.

I enjoyed the main character, Ellie, for the most part, but found myself sometimes getting confused between "Ellie" and "Eli" as I was reading, and had to stop and force my brain to compartmentalize which was which. I did feel that some of the characters were left hanging a bit and just disappeared without much of a wrap up. Other characters seemed to pop up out of nowhere and drop a little crumb of evidence, then disappear again. It was definitely a little hard to keep track of everyone at times. I also felt at times that the technical descriptions were a bit too scientific and that the story lost its more casual feel when delving into the evidence specifics. I actually figured out VERY early on - in chapter two! - a large part of the "whodunit," though the "why" took a bit longer.

I will definitely read the next book in the series, as there is a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm anxious to see where it goes, as well as where Ellie's character arc takes her. I enjoyed Ms. Fardig's first attempt in this series, and look forward to seeing things a little more polished in the next book(s).

**As an aside, I struggled GREATLY with the extreme formatting issues in this download, and have reported those issues to the publisher so that they can hopefully be corrected prior to the live sale of this novel.**

I really enjoy Caroline Fardig's Java Jive mystery, so when I got an email about her new novel, Bitter Past, I had to request it.

Ellie was in the police force as a criminalist until one case became too many and she became a professor at the local collage. One day, she and another professor stumble upon a student's body at a facility that the university had just purchased. The police department hires Ellie as a consultant.

I liked how Ellie was a criminalist, since I don't read too many books that involve forensic sciences. However it seemed that Ellie did a few forensic tests, but mostly just was a ride along with the police detective.

Ellie is like Juliet in Fardig's Java Jiva series and I like the hot tempered female main character.

The mystery was so, so and did remind me of a cozy mystery. I saw the killer early on, but didn't know the reasons why until later.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed this mystery. I thought I had it figured out, but I was only partly correct. I like it when I can't guess the full mystery. Liked the characters and am looking forward to reading the next story. Ellie is a great criminalist and a good teacher. She left the Sheriff's department because of personal reasons, then went into teaching. When the Sheriff asks her for a special favor, how could she refuse? She had already stumbled on to a murder scene and now another of her students was dead. Are they connected? Her friend has been accused of the murders and she feels she needs to help. She doesn't want to go back into the world of forensics again, but she will help out this once. Will she get pulled back in?

Bitter Past is the first in the new Ellie Mathews series by Caroline Fardig. Ellie Mathews is a former criminalist that is brought back to consult on a case. She teams up with Detective Baxter to solve the mystery. I found myself quickly turning the pages to find out who did it. And was shocked when it was finally revealed. Ellie and Baxter have great chemistry and make perfect partners. We get a glimpse into Ellie's past toward the end - just enough to hook me! I'm looking forward to the rest!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I have read all of Caroline Fardig's books so when I saw that she had a new series I was very eager to read it. It is very different from her other books although it does have some similarities. Bitter Past is about solving a murder but gives you the police perspective on it with the main character, Ellie, being a criminalist consulting on the case. I enjoyed this perspective and also felt like I learned a lot about what a criminalist goes through to investigate a case/crime scene.
This book also explores Ellie's past and why she left the police a few years ago to teach. The reason she left makes you want to read another Ellie Matthew's book as you know the topic will be coming up again at some point. The book kept me guessing, although I suspected part of what happened, it did not all fully come together until the very end.
The copy of the book that I received definitely had some errors which I'm sure will be corrected when the book is officially published. Beyond that my only other criticism is that the book seemed to end somewhat abruptly. The murder is solved completely but Ellie has an exchange with someone on the police force and it didn't feel fully like a cliff hanger but also not fully like an ending. Of course there is going to be another book so I'm sure we will find out more then.
Overall I loved this book and can't wait to read more of this series!

Kindle Copy for Review

Three years ago Ellie Matthews world as a criminalist became too personal while working a homicide. She left her job and became a professor at a private university. Soon both worlds will collide as she will e to face her demons from the past.

When she finds the body of a dead student and the prime suspect is the president of the university and a friend of hers. She finds herself investigating for the sheriff and helping out her law enforcement officers despite her involvement.

An exciting new forensic mystery series.

Caroline Fardig is one of the most engaging mystery writers I have read in the past year. In this, her second series dealing with a headstrong protagonist, we are presented with a murder with multiple potential killers, some of whom meet an untimely demise themselves. While taking a break for the eclipse I found myself anxious to return to my reading to finish Bitter Past. I will make sure not miss any future writings.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Professor Ellie Matthews, a former forensic scientist, and her associate, Dr. Dudley Cooper find a dead body in the former park that is now to be Cooper’s outdoor forensic anthropology site – or body farm. Cooper reacts surprisingly distressed at the murder of one of the students, a Vasti Marais who was a student at Ashmore College, the same college where the two teach.

At the scene, she is interviewed by Detective Nick Baxter. He seems kind, intelligent and listens seriously to Ellie.

After a second murder is committed, Ellie receives a visit from Detective Baxter and Sheriff Jayne Walsh. They beg her to assist on the cases due to an inept forensics department at the sheriff’s office. Baxter and Ellie work the new crime scene. Juggling her home, school and helping Baxter with the case, Ellie is running out of gas. She barely has time to dwell on her new love interest, Rob.

The police bring someone in for questioning. Ellie simply can’t believe that they have an interest in the wrong person. With evidence constantly being discovered and processed, the case comes together slowly. Witnesses are disappearing, and fingers are pointing in several directions.

This is a very well written and plotted novel. I truly enjoyed it. The suspense starts out immediately and continues until the action-packed denouement. There was enough information given about the main characters’ backgrounds to make them interesting and real, but not so much that it intruded on the story. The one “romantic” scene was done with taste and is appropriate for all audiences. This is my first Caroline Fardig novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to check out her other books.

I want to thank NetGalley and Caroline Fardig for forwarding to me a copy of this very nicely written book to read and enjoy.