Usually secrets are bad to keep. Nadia's body is found, is it suicide or a homicide? The ploice will find out about her dark past.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy. I will certainly read the rest from this series.

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of interesting characters and a twisted plot. I found this book compelling reading from the start and I would definitely like to read more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I wasn't aware when I requested for this book that it was part of a series, and feel as though maybe I needed to read the previous books to know a bit more about the characters. All in all it wasn't a terrible read, but it was more of a procedural thriller and I'm not a huge fan of that.

Brenda Chapman is a great writer that makes you want to continue reading to find out what is going to happen next. There were twists until the end but I will not give away any spoilers. This is the 6th book in the series. I have not read the previous books and I was able to connect with Kala Stonechild, Dawn, and Gundersund.

The boom has not swept me of my feet but also it was not the one that you put down after a page. I read it but I would not say I have enjoyed it. The plot was too slow and somehow unpredictable.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Firstly, I have not read any of the other books in this series, so maybe that is some of the explanation for the book not impressing me. From the description, the book seems to be very suspenseful while tackling a very relevant subject. However, I found it confusing and not gripping at all. The part of the story that caught me the most was following Dawn - and that is why I will give it 2 stars.

Turning Secrets is the most recent installment (Book Six) in the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series by author Brendan Chapman. It is nothing short of an incredible read, with a plausible plot, well-developed characters, and detailed settings that cleverly reflect the tone.

Those familiar with the series will most certainly recognize many of the characters. MC Officer Kala Stonechild and colleagues return to solve a crime, this time called upon to investigate the death of a young mother, Nadia Armstrong. At first blush, it appears Armstrong has taken her own life by leaping from the sixth floor of a construction site. Closer examination, however, reveals injuries inconsistent with a fall, and the entire Kingston Major Crimes team soon becomes convinced that what looks like a suicide is actually a murder. The closer the team gets to solving the case, the more dangerous it becomes, and the race to the finish is one that is full of suspense and unexpected revelations.

Chapman opens with alternating chapters written in third person, each initially focusing upon a different narrative. For those unfamiliar with the series, it can be a bit overwhelming, as nearly twenty characters are introduced in just the first twenty or so pages. As seemingly unrelated scenes play out, however, the characters settle in, and the reader is drawn into a variety of story lines that eventually collide. At the heart is the recurring theme of unscrupulous men who prey upon vulnerable women. Casualties of domestic abuse, human trafficking and prostitution are all painted with gentle and forgiving brush strokes that elicit both sympathy and empathy from the reader. Chapman brings to life these characters in a way that guides the reader to fully invest and be moved by the circumstances. One can’t help but feel the desperation of the single mother, the troubled teen or the wayward father, as they are brought together like interlocking puzzle pieces until finally the larger picture is revealed.

The final genius of the book is in Chapman’s ability to create settings that brilliantly reflect the tenor of each scene. The security of Stonechild’s home is supported by the soothing descriptions of the water and Canadian wilderness surrounding it. The stark nature of an apartment building adds to the tragedy of the victim who lived there. The chaos and filth of a house reinforces the brutality of the man who calls it home. This pattern is one that, once recognized, adds to a fuller appreciation of the novel.

Overall, this was a wonderful read that can be equally enjoyed by those who follow the series and those who are new to it. It stands alone, though background knowledge provided in previous installments will add depth and continuity to the experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC for review. I am already looking forward to the next book!

Another great mystery in this series from Brenda Chapman. I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series with Cold Mourning to be able to really enjoy all of the books as the background of the characters and there development really adds to the depth of the stories.

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

My first time reading Brenda Chapman. I haven't read the previous books in this series but it didn't keep me from enjoying this book.

A single mother named Nadia is found dead at a construction site and it looks like a suicide. Things aren't always what they seem. The police get involved and uncover Nadia's dark past...

4 stars. Well written, interesting, and close to reality. A good crime thriller you will enjoy for sure! I really liked it.

Full Disclosure, I have not read any other books in this series.

What I liked: That I didn't really need to all other books in the series to dive into this one. Yes, I'm sure I missed some character development and backstory, but the author did a great job of giving me just enough to give the story depth.
What I loved: Twists and turns!!
What I hated: Maybe a little to small-town inter-mingled-ness in the resolve, but not enough to ruin this for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I would definitely recommend this to mystery/thriller readers!

Another Fascinating Murder Mystery by Brenda Chapman

This is the second novel in this series by Brenda Chapman that I have read. These stories are based in Kingston, (Ontario, Canada) and surrounding areas. They are always well plotted and well written.

This novel revolves around young women who go missing. One is found dead near a construction site in a manner that poses the question: was her death a suicide or a homicide? As the plot unfolds it becomes clear that it was homicide. But why? It appears that she was selling sexual services to some unknown men. Police detective Stonechild's daughter Dawn has a school friend Vanessa who goes missing. She is mixed up with some questionable characters and Dawn herself may be at risk. Can the police crack the case before harm befalls her and others. Who is responsible?
It has a surprise ending when the "Who" is unveiled.

This story was interesting and worked as a stand alone but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had more of character’s backgrounds. It’s understandable that by this book (6) the groundwork had been laid.

I liked the plot. I liked the overall writing style but found the transitions between narrators was clunky at times. Also switching between the characters first and last names was confusing and frustrating.

The conclusion was satisfying and quite sad. I would recommend this one and maybe go back in the series to brush up before the next one comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Dundurn for a copy in exchange for a review.

Turning Secrets in the 6th installment of the Stonechild & Rouleau mystery series. Thank you #NetGalley for the e-ARC copy of the book. Even though this is the first book I’ve read of the series, I really enjoyed the read. It was a police protocol mystery book trying to figure out if there was a suicide or murder. It was a little difficult figuring out the characters until about half way through the book, but I wasn’t disappointed when I found out the ending. I definitely recommend #TurningSecrets to anyone who loves a murder mystery type book.

I received this book as an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brenda Chapman’s Turning Secrets is Book Six in the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series. Having never read any of the Chapman’s work, I was excited to dive in being that another one of her series is on my to be read shelf.
Turning Secrets follows the Major Crime Department as they investigate the life and death of Nadia Armstrong, a young, troubled, single mother.
I was concerned that I would have trouble following the characters, since this is book six in a series. However, I quickly found that I had no trouble getting a sense of the players. The characters are relatable and are challenged with issues that haunt many first line responders: alcoholism, fatigue due to long hours, divorce, poor diets, office relationships, and mental health issues. The author also does a good job in demonstrating supportive relationships among these professionals.
However, the story was slow with an anticlimactic ending. I found myself wondering why the author used character surnames in some of the storyline and then given names in other parts. Was she trying to make the characters more relatable? Not sure. This process made the read difficult at times, trying to keep the names straight.
There were also some issues with smooth transitions between paragraphs, which often made me wonder where I was or who she was talking about. Although I found her writing clean and simple, the lack of flow made the read less enjoyable.
The story was average with the typical good cop/bad cop plot. The story never grabbed me or rooted me, wanting to read more. I picked it up nightly, but it wasn’t my first choice. I never felt invested in the story or characters. However, one of the heroes in the story is a dog, and that always makes a story more enjoyable.

Although this is book 6 in a series it is the first one I have read. I found the storyline to be solid and easy to follow. A mystery which involves good old fashioned policing and grinding techniques. It involves underage prostitution and trafficking of young women. I think it will keep the readers interested until the final chapter.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

This was a great “who done it” novel.
When a case comes across det stonechild of a possible suicide of a young mother; stonechild has suspicions that this case may not be so open and shut. As the team delves deeper into the case it gets more complicated. Seedy motels, sex for money and the disappearance of stonechilds niece she is taking care of and her neices friend. I will definitely be reading more from this Canadian author!

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for honest review. This book was okay. You know how law and order, episodes are pretty much the same, but you like it anyways. That's how this book seemed. The only complaint I have is the flip flopping of officers names. Used first in 1 chapter, then only last in next. I think i understood who everyone was at 50% mark.

Turning Secrets is another suspenseful Stonechild & Rouleau mystery.

Is Nadia Armstrong's death suicide or murder? Who's leaking information about the case? Who is the older man high school student Vanessa is dating?

The suspicious death of young Nadia Armstrong is taking up much of Kala Stonechild's time, and she regrets not being home enough with her niece Dawn. In addition to complications of the current case, Kala is frustrated by the knowledge that someone on the Major Crime team is leaking information, and Kala suspects Woodhouse, who has been a thorn in her side in previous books.

While Kala is often late getting home, Dawn has more time alone, and when her father approaches her, she is able to keep their budding relationship a secret from Kala. Dawn knows that her mother has forbidden any contact with Dawn's father and that Kala agrees, so she feels guilty, but wants to help him.

Dawn's classmate sixteen-year-old Vanessa has been behaving strangely since developing a relationship with a man in his twenties. Vanessa tries to draw Dawn into a double date at the request of her boyfriend, but Dawn is decidedly wary as she is aware of Vanessa's unhappiness.

A lot of disturbing elements come to light as the case progresses. Chapman draws from social problems that are frequently in the news, making them more personal, less abstract. One of the pleasures in a good series is developing a relationship with characters, and Chapman's characters are interesting and well-developed. Sometimes they are in the background, sometimes they take center stage. Most surprising in Turning Secrets is that by the end of the book, one character behaves in an unanticipated way. Just when you believe you have the characters in a definite groove, someone jumps the track.

Read in November; blog review scheduled for May 14, 2019.

NetGalley/Dundurn
Detective/Crime. June 4, 2019. Print length: 408 pages.

A single mum is found dead on a construction site and at first looks to be a suicide.
The more officer Stonechild looks into the case the more she is convinced it's murder. Who would want to kill her and why?
Stonechild teenage neice Dawn is also living with her and is keeping secrets of her own.
Could it be that Dawn's friend Vanessa's new boyfriend Leo hold the secret surrounding this case.

"Turning Secrets" is the first Stonechild and Rouleau mystery that I have read- how have I not found this series before? I really enjoy episodic, procedural cop shows-- this felt like one of those in book form! In other words, an overarching storyline, but a series that is easy to jump into randomly and not feel too lost in.

I never read series out of order, and I was afraid that it would inhibit my understanding of the story. It's totally possible to pick this story up and have fun with it- I did! I would still recommend it from the beginning though, as I feel like some of the relationships between the characters would have been explained in previous books. I will definitely be going back and picking up the first one.

As someone jumping into the story for the first time, the characters were a bit difficult to follow. The author sometimes mentions the character's names by their first names, and sometimes by their last names. I couldn't figure out if she did last names within the detective's precinct, and first names outside of it-- but at times, it got a bit distracting. It took me a while to know which character was which, but once I did (about a third of the way through), it was a little easier to understand what was going on.

Aside from that minor issue, I really enjoyed this mystery! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dundurn for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I am so happy to have discovered this series and look forward to seeing more of it!