My reason for requesting this book is a personal one, but not one I'm ashamed of. I am a recovering addict. Drugs crept into every crevice and cranny of my family, and almost completely destroyed us. My mother died from a fatal overdose, my sister went to prison for trafficking, I lost my children and my mind. It may seem that I'm over-sharing, but I'm getting to the point. I understand what its like to have your life, and the lives of those you love, utterly demolished by what some people consider a "victimless crime". The Death of Vultures is not afraid to go all the way in to the very dark heart of the beast. It's not an easy book to read. I had to take breaks to cry and catch my breath. Susan Wingate has captured the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking with a startling clarity. While certain plot elements are outlandish, the visceral emotions are all too real. I hadn't read anything by the author before this, but I'd be willing to read her grocery list now.
4.25 stars

This novel is a hard, deep read. It explores a mother's loss and sadness of her daughter in a way that really got me into the story. Each twist and turns and the mystery just kept me dreading what will happen next. At times, I would need to put this book down for a while before I continue to the next page. The story just turns out to be a bit <i>darker</i> to my liking. Readers who like mystery/thriller will surely love this book.

I voluntarily read and review a free copy of this book provided via NetGalley.

Thank you so much to both Netgalley & Roberts Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of The Death of Vultures in exchange for an honest review.

Oh mannnnn I feel bad for those of you who have to wait until September to read this....try to Preorder asap and get your hands on a copy if you can, you won't regret it! I just barely snagged this arc by the skin of my teeth because my iPad decided to crash the week that this book got archived 😳😭

Its funny...i always get this silly; giddy feeling when I really enjoyed a book and I am about to review it! What part do I mention first? What details can I talk about without giving too much away? I always wonder if the parts that really resonated with me will also be just as relatable to others. All I know is that this book sure does pack a punch.

This is my first Susan Wingate novel and I can assure you that it will NOT be my last. The way that the author writes is so blunt and in your face it would be nearly impossible for her not to gain your respect as a reader right away, She commands your attention with her words. She's not afraid to speak the truth. With bold statements like " Its funny how time runs out on people. You only get so many tries," And " Their slow response [ is inexcusable] to a problem that has been brewing for years...this crap is killing our children!" Opioids are becoming an epidemic and it seems that it is only getting worse and worse everyday no matter what the government tries to do about it.

It's sickening that people who have cancer, patients who have surgery and those in severe pain who really need these medications are prescribed low strength anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen or Naproxen because so many others are abusing these pills. But, if you open up your eyes this stuff is available everywhere on the street!!!!

I must say that I did approach this book with extreme caution as I just recently lost someone who has been like a brother to me due to an accidental overdose. He had been clean for months and all it takes is just that one time and there is no going back. 36 years old, I still can't believe it.

Susan's book explores just one of the many reasons why someone can get hooked on drugs in one of the main characters , Lily, and how it escalates, how it becomes seemingly impossible to live without it, She also navigates through Jay & Meg how a family grieves after a loss that may or may not have been able to be prevented. There is guilt, there is the blame game, there are people bringing over tons and tons of food when you have no appetite, and the questioning in the back in your head if it really was suicide. Jay & Meg simply want revenge to all parties involved in Lily's death: the suppliers, the users, the abuser, and even themselves for letting in knowingly go on for far too long--

There are many points of view in this book, from Lily and her family, to police officers and priests, to drug dealers and other addicts. Make sure you keep up, because you'll be on the edge of your seat. There will be betrayals, corruption, and noone can be trusted.

This entire story is told in short; fast-paced chapters and you'll feel like it's coming to an end when youve only just begun --fans of James Patterson novels will love this easy breezy read. I read it in one sitting straight through!

Without giving too much away I will say that when I met the " old lady" my jaw simply dropped to the floor--what a twist! Definitely couldn't have seen that coming!

The only question that I'm left with is who exactly are these " vultures", is it the person that preyed on an innocent little girl, a priest who isn't who he seems, the officers and FBI that turn a blind eye, the suppliers that create this worldwide disaster, the memories and feelings of euphoria that keep you feeling the need to use-- or even those that you love who weren't there for you at a time of need? I guess that all depends on your point of view.

Well done!

This was a hard book to read. I lost two brothers to drugs. I think it’s a great book, sad beyond words, but great in that it goes into detail about what is going on in this country. It’s a story of a mother’s love, a wife’s determination and the hurt and anger she has. A must read for everyone especially if you have lost someone to drugs.