There's little crime in the placid Dallas suburb of Plainfield. Detectives Jo Larsen and Hank Phelps were searching for a missing dog when they get word that the body of a young girl has been found at the foot of the water tower. It appears to be an open and shut suicide, but Jo believes there's more to the story. She digs into Kelly Amster's life, uncovering a sordid, twisted story of bullying, white privilege, and family dysfunction. Jo is an empathetic, highly-skilled detective whose own experiences helps her understand human nature. The other characters are well-rounded and believable. As always, Ms. McBride has created an entertaining and thought-provoking story

I am really liking the Jo Larsen series. I liked the first book a little more because the murder investigation was more interesting than the suicide investigation but the story telling was equally compelling. Jo reminds me of Olivia Benson from Law and Order SVU. Part of this story involves some pretty horrible animal cruelty which I found impossible to read so I skipped over the bonfire scene at the end. I think the story would have been better if the animal abuse had been left out altogether which is why I only gave this 3 stars. I hope there will be more books in the series because I really like the characters.

It has been a long while since a police procedural has rocked my boat, kept me on the edge of my seat and made me say, “Wow.” Walk A Crooked Line did all of those things a more!

Why I waited so long to read Walk a Crooked Line is a puzzle to me. If I had known how great it was going to be, I wouldn’t have waited! This is the second installment in the Jo Larsen series. Normally second books are not as good as the first and I’ve come to expect that. This one, however, is even better than the first!

Jo Larsen is an amazing detective who once had a very bright future ahead of her. She made some critical errors in judgement and had to pay the price for them. Now, she trying to rectify her mistakes and continue with a job she loves and is good at but in a much smaller town. Much. Smaller. When she is called out to the scene of what appears to be the suicide of a 15 year old girl, she cannot let things go until she knows “why” the girl would take her own life. Was it willingly, did someone push her or did someone bully her into doing so. These are the questions that Jo wants answers to and she will investigate until she finds that answer – unless someone stops her first.

McBride has created a very sympathetic protagonist in Jo Larsen. She is smart, capable but flawed with a gambling addiction and a sister who always has been a thorn in her side. As we explore the reasons why this girl might have killed herself, we also unravel more of Jo’s back story and the more we learn, the more wonderful and brave she becomes.

There are multiple story arcs throughout the book: the suicide, Jo’s sister who has returned to town, dog-nappings and subsequent abuse but never does the book get muddled or confusing. Each story line is handled deftly and thoroughly as the book roars toward its climactic conclusion. In the genre of police procedurals/suspense, Walk A Crooked Line stands out as a winner.

Thank you to #Netgalley, @SuzMcBrideBooks and #Thomas&Mercer for my copy of this well written tale.

The author did an amazing job of writing a book that details shattered youth and describes the underbelly of society This book was filled with suspense that kept me invested.

Really good thriller with two intertwined stories. A look at cyber abuse,peer pressures and jealousy with a surprising twist at the end.

Walk a Crooked Line is a terrific mystery. Well written plot and well developed characters. This book grabbed me from he very beginning. The author is new to me and I definitely will be reading Moët of her books.

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Debbie Krenzer
Debbie Krenzer's Reviews > Walk a Crooked Line
Walk a Crooked Line by Susan McBride
Walk a Crooked Line (Jo Larsen, #2)
by Susan McBride (Goodreads Author)
12691311
Debbie Krenzer's review Jul 16, 2018 · edit
really liked it
bookshelves: ebooks, net-galley-books

This was my first book by what is a new author to me and it definitely did not disappoint. I will definitely be looking for more of these Jo Larsen books in the future.

This one dealt with a girl, in chapter one, jumping from a water tower. Trying to determine if this girl jumped or was she pushed? And if she was pushed, how was she pushed?

I really liked the characters in this book (not the entitled teenagers, of course) and thought that the writing was done very well. There were numerous suspects in here with a jaw dropping result. About 65% of the way through this book, it took a turn that I definitely did not see coming or was even expecting.

Excellent read for me!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I featured Walk A Crooked Line on Momtrends.com as part of my interview series. I have included the link below. I absolutely loved the title. This series is truly Susan's best writing to date.

EXCERPT: She should have been on her way to her first period class, learning Spanish or Algebra or whatever it was that fifteen year old sophomores studied these days. She should have been complaining about the cafeteria food, deciding whether she wanted to try out for the fall musical, dishing on the latest boy band, and forgetting the combination to her locker.

Not waiting for the van to take her to the county Morgue.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: A young girl has taken her own life. But what—or who—drove her to it?

When a teenager’s body is found at the base of the old water tower, Detective Jo Larsen is one of the first on the scene. Tragically, it appears to be a clear case of suicide.

But the more Jo learns about Kelly Amster, the more she finds herself needing to understand why the high school sophomore would take that fatal plunge. As they interview family and friends, Jo and her partner, Hank Phelps, begin to fit together the pieces of a dark puzzle. Something happened to Kelly in their small town of Plainfield, Texas—and it sent the young girl straight over the edge.

Haunted by the memories of her own childhood, Jo digs deep into the shadowy corners of a seemingly tight-knit community—to uncover a devastating secret…

MY THOUGHTS: Reading Walk A Crooked Line by Susan McBride is a bit like eating Weetbix. You know what you are getting, and there's not much you can do to make it any tastier. There is really nothing remarkable or memorable about this read. It was a good middle of the road detective story, with perhaps a little too much introspection on the part of the (predictably damaged) lead female detective. Other than that, there is nothing wrong with the story but, it has all been done before and will, no doubt, be done again. So, Weetbix again tomorrow?

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Walk A Crooked Line by Susan McBride for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

A great second Detective Jo Larsen mystery! A young girl lies dead on the ground at the base of the town water tower. Jo and her partner, Detective Hank Phelps, are called to the scene and although they assume that this is a suicide, they begin their investigation. Kelly Amster is the young girl and as they delve in to her life there are many questions as to what could have happened to cause Kelly to take her own life. They interview Kelly’s friend, her mother and others and find out that Kelly had attended a party sometime before she committed suicide. Did something happen to her at that party? Why was there no one to help her? As Jo begins to realize that there is much more to Kelly’s story, there are those who do not want her to investigate…just leave it alone. A great in-depth mystery about a strong female detective who refuses to give in until she finds out what happened to Kelly. “Walk Into Silence”, the first book in the series, is another great mystery by Susan McBride. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

There’s no getting around it. Walk a Crooked line by Susan McBride deals with ugly subjects. It is the second book in the series featuring Jo Larsen, who has left the Dallas police force to work in a small town near the big city. Any hope that the crimes she encounters would be less horrific is dashed when she investigates the suicide of a fifteen year old girl and, simultaneously, the disappearance of several pet dogs. As the cases unravel it becomes increasingly apparent that things are much more sinister than she first imagined. The story deals with bullying, suicide, abuse and entitlement – subjects that are very much a part of today’s society. I found some of the story brutal.

While this was a difficult book to read, I have to admit that I like the characters, the premise of the story and the way the author put it all together. Jo has baggage of her own, but because of her own experiences with loneliness and abuse, she has become a stronger and more empathetic adult. Her relationship with a Dallas medical examiner is strong and Alex is a true partner in every sense of the word. It’s refreshing to see this kind of relationship. The same can be said for Jo’s partner, Hank. He’s a solid detective who works well with Jo and is truly her friend.

I have not read the first book in this series but the author deftly provides enough information in her latest book to bring the reader up to speed. McBride has also written the Debutante Dropout mystery series, which is a much lighter, cozy mystery. Because I have enjoyed those books, I was interested in reading her newest book. I applaud her ability to write two very different types of mysteries and both with interesting and strong characters and sharp story lines. I am looking forward to more from Susan McBride. Meanwhile, I’m going to back up and read the first book in this series!

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

It's no easier being a teen in a small town than it is in the city. This is a topical and sad, in many ways, novel, of the impact of social bullying, abuse, and other things on kids, especially those who desperately want to be liked. Luckily for Plainview, Texas, however, Jo and Hank are law enforcement officers who care. They go beyond to get real answers. I had not read the first book in this series but have read other novels by McBride. It's well plotted and the characters (especially Jo, of course) nicely done. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Ensnaring the reader on page one,Walk a Crooked Line begins with a teenager jumping from the local water tower . Detective Jo Larsen and her partner Hank Phelps receive the call as they are investigating a stolen dog. Jo begins investigating and cannot help but draw parallels between her own childhood and the teenager's. The case seems to center around affluent teenagers that appear to be up to no good. The secondary case of the missing dogs seems to tie in and big money is trying to put the case on hold. The story moves smoothly and quickly, drawing the reader in and leaving you emotionally invested in justice for Kelly who has been mistreated by everyone in her life. This book is a pure whodunit for mystery lovers. The mystery steals the show in the book not clogged up by excessive backstory or secondary plot lines; the story plays simply and engagingly for a great read that will leave you coming back for more of Ms. McBride's books. A great read to escape reality on a long day. To be noted, this book is the second in the series and I did not read the first (I plan to go back and read it now). I did not have any trouble keeping up and the book can be read as a standalone without any worries. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc.

I enjoyed most of this book.... but it was a little "draggy" in parts. Didn't quite understand the point of all the "navel gazing" from Jo Larsen herself, unless the author was just trying to bash me over the head with another "damaged" hero (ine). I did like how two very different "crimes" lead back to the same group of "bad guys" -- the full spectrum of pathological behavior.

2.5 stars rounded up

After reading book 1 I thought Jo Larsen had the potential to become a series I’d look forward to reading, but that wasn’t the case with this book.
The main storyline is about a teenage girl who appears to have committed suicide, and it’s up to Jo and her partner Hank to look into what might have made her take her own life.
While this plot point was sad enough to read about, there was a second storyline regarding missing dogs, which at the beginning of the book seemed harmless enough, but midway through it turned sinister. And that is where any nice feelings for this book I might have had ended. Animal abuse is not something I want to be confronted with in a book, especially with no warning of it either in the blurb or at the beginning of the book. It was harsh and distressing read, especially if you’re a dog owner like myself.
I ended up skimming the last third of the book because of this and the animal abuse storyline is why I’ve brought down my review to 2.5 stars.

Before I read this book, I made sure to read the first in the series, Walk into Silence. Jo, a detective, Hank, her detective partner, and Alex. her medical examiner boyfriend, return in this book and what keeps me wanting to read about them is that these are good people...not perfect people but good people, with good hearts. I hope that there will be more books in this series.

Walk a Crooked Line is about a 15 year old girl who commits suicide and the detective partners, Jo and Hank, trying to figure out what led her to do so or if she was really murdered. There is another case they are working on that involves dogs being beaten and killed. I avoid reading books about animal abuse but I'd already read the first book and it was so good, I wanted to read the second book. The abuse is tied into the plot line so a necessary part of the book and the detectives want justice for the animals and their owners just as much as they want justice for the 15 year old girl.

Hopefully more books about Jo and the other characters will be coming in the future because I'll be sure to read them. I really didn't want to put this book down. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book. It's a little awkward to use the work "enjoyed" considering the subject matter, but the book was well written and held my interest until the last page and beyond (I read the acknowledgments and the listing of the author's other works). I will be going back to read the first book of the series, as well as some of the author's other works.

Basic Plot: Detective Jo Larsen is trying to figure out what happened to a young girl (Kelly) who appears to have committed suicide. Everyone seems content to treat it as a suicide and move on, except Larsen. Detective Larsen and her partner start looking into what actually happened to Kelly. Was it a suicide and if so, why? What happened to this young girl that made her want to end her life?

The story is told through Larsen's pov through the investigation, so the reader does not really get to go inside Kelly's mind. However, this was handled well and the reader is still able to get an understanding of what was going on in Kelly's life. The basic plot of the story is a timely one with so much in the news about suicide. I think this is a good book for parents of teenagers to read. In addition to suicide, the book deals with cyber bullying, the struggle to fit in, and loneliness. The thing that stood out in this story, and that should be a lesson to everyone, is that this young girl felt very much alone. Pretty much everyone who was supposed to care about this girl failed her.

I know this topic may seem like a major downer, but the book is still an entertaining read, that isn't preachy. Even with the serious subject matter it still reads like an entertaining crime mystery. And, you can easily read it that way without focusing too deeply on the social issues.

Lastly, the remarkable thing about this book is that it is not an edge of your seat type book, yet it will hold your interest. About a third of the way into the book it dawned on me that the book was all pretty much an even pace without a lot of drama. Normally this type of pacing would get boring, but I was invested in finding out what happened to Kelly and Detective Larsen was a likable lead with her own interesting back story. Speaking of Larsen, I love stories with a female lead who is strong and in charge, but who isn't a B-word, and who is still human enough to be vulnerable.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I must admit, Susan McBride is not a crime writer I have come across before but I was drawn to read this due to the synopsis and the cover art which is rather unique. This is the sequel to "Walk Into Silence" which was the first in the Jo Larsen series. With the first in the series being a #1 Kindle Bestseller and having liked the sound of the blurb I was pleased I was able to grab an ARC copy to read.

Detective Jo Larsen is first on the scene when the body of a teenager is found at the bottom of an old water tower. It appears to be a clear cut case of suicide. However, as Jo learns more about Kelly Amster she feels she needs to find out why a teen with her full life ahead of her would take her own life in such a way. Jo and partner, Hank Phelps, begin to delve deeper into the youngsters private life. Haunted by the memories of her own childhood, Jo digs deep into the shadowy corners of a seemingly tight-knit community—to uncover a devastating secret.

The story is heartbreaking and features themes that some readers may wish to avoid - namely, abuse, neglect and bullying. I found "Walk a Crooked Line" to be a very emotional and tough read but one I enjoyed a lot.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

From the moment Jo learned of this tragedy, she was determined to find the “why” and once Jo and her partner started looking around, they discovered the taunting episodes that played a role in the young teenager’s death.

This is a complex tale that mirror’s present day societal woes. Powerfully written, this well-executed drama immediately grabbed my attention and had me engrossed in all aspect of the multi-arc story and I couldn’t let it go until justice was served. The author did a great job in staging this police procedure taking us step by step, uncovering misdeeds and nefarious doings. And when all was said and done, the author supplied the story with a few twists and turns, one of which I did not seeing coming and then all the pieces fell into place leading to retribution for the deceased. And that ending, I can’t wait for the author to explore that and I look forward to the next book in this terrific series.

In Walk a Crooked Line we meet detective Jo Larsen and detective Hank Phelps. They’ve been assigned Kelly’s case. Kelly was a fifteen year old sophomore who committed suicide. The detectives interview friends and family pinpointing the specific reason behind this tragic ending.

This case hits close to home for Jo. Jo herself has suffered from an abusive past and has personal experience and knowledge with the victims suffering.
Jo is going above and beyond the call of duty by finding the answers to the questions other characters want left unanswered. I liked how Jo wanted to become Kelly’s voice. She was her biggest advocate wanting answers to what led to her death. Having a victim assist another victim was admirable. At the same time, Jo was quick to judge other characters. She became defensive against some characters jumping to conclusions about their actions and non-actions. Like a true detective she looked for cracks in the other characters she spoke to being perceptive of the words spoken.

This is a different topic to read let alone experience but the delivery of information wasn’t as interesting as I had hoped. There’s a lot of unnecessary dialogue to filter through. The process for retrieving information was slow much like the process is for solving a case. The process was cut and dry with interviewing characters and interrogating them for the truth, but it lacked the mysterious edge I crave.


I have become familiar with this topic recently as it has been brought to my attention in social media so it’s no surprise this author chose to write about it. I didn’t have an issue with the topic or theme, but I struggled with the delivery.