A dark but entertaining paranormal mystery that launches a series for those who may be intimidated by the longevity of her romance series.

A completely addictive read. Knowing Singh's other books, I was surprised at how well her transition into this genre was. It was gripping, kept my interest, and I was thrilled by all the twists and turns the story took.

A compelling thriller set in a remote New Zealand coastal town. The characters are fresh and exciting but realistic. The tension builds with every change in the weather right up to the end. A perfect choice for a thriller on a stormy night.

I'd never read anything by Nalini Singh, but after A Madness of Sunshine, I must now read everything she has ever written.  A phenomenal work.  An excellent selection for book clubs.

I'm not usually a fan of mystery, but I enjoyed this book. A great plot and I highly enjoyed the setting in New Zealand. Looking forward to the next.

This one started out strong for me. Anahera fled her hometown as a teen, but years later finds herself in an unfortunate situation and has to return. While back, local Miriama goes missing. 

Unfortunately, this one fell super short for me. I lost interest almost as soon as soon as I gained it. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters, even the protagonist. Most of the book was centered around the search for Miriama, but to me it lacked suspense and any substantial reveals. My disinterest could be blamed (in part) on the fact that I recently read two really great thrillers (Invisible Girl and Little Secrets). 

On a positive note, I loved the setting— New Zealand. I also listed to part of the book on audible and I loved the narrator’s accent.

*4.5 stars*

I loved this author’s foray into something different…

Heavy on mystery with a low-key romance blended in, I loved this author’s foray into something different. Her shifters and paranormal reads are the bomb (the good kind!) so having even more to read, well, bring it on…

Anahera (I love that name) and Will’s story had past meeting the future as they both struggled to overcome what they’d already survived. Golden Cove had many bad memories for her yet she found herself back home, somewhere she’d sworn she’d never go back to. Will had his own struggles and found himself the law in a small town, with little to do. Until it all changed…

This story had character development and twists to spare as the mystery continually amped up. Surprises for sure as the story’s tension built to a stunning ending. The characters were everything and I found myself craving every new detail, each revelation. If the romance between the main characters was quiet, and I might have craved more, it really did fit exactly as it should have within the forceful, non-hearts and flowers plot.

If you’ve hesitated to try this new offering, I recommend you forge ahead. Loved it!

I quite enjoyed this book set in New Zealand. Some people said there were too many characters in the book which made it confusing. I didn't have any trouble following who's who. A Maori woman returns from London to the town she grew up in after her English husband dies of a heart attack. A few days after her return a local girl goes missing. The whole town gets together to try and find her. Everyone has secrets in this small town and the local policeman has to try and discover how everything is linked and possibly connected to the murders that happened in the town a few years ago. An enjoyable read set in the pretty NZ landscape.

I was already a fan of Singh’s romance (her Psy-Changeling series is arguably the one that blooded me as a romance reader), so I was really excited to get the chance to read this thriller and it ended up becoming a terrific and enthralling summer read. Atmospheric, tense, with an immersive sense of character and setting — plus a little romance which I was thoroughly grateful for. I hope this is only the first thriller of many to come; I was still questioning whodunnit until the very end reveal! 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was not ready! This isn't my usual book, but I became enamored with the characters and the setting.  IT was great learning more about New Zealand and the amazing scenery there. The characters were all flawed, but for the most part relatable.  I wasn't sure who the killer was until the very end, and it was a thrilling finish.

Author Nalini Singh (https://nalinisingh.com) published the novel “A Madness of Sunshine” in 2019. Ms. Singh has published nearly 60 novels.

I categorize this novel as “R” because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in Golden Cove on the rugged West Coast of New Zealand. The primary characters are Will and Anahera. Will is the local cop banished to Golden Cove. Anahera the young widow returned to Golden Cove after the recent death of her husband.

Golden Cove attracts tourists during the summer. Tourist season has passed when Anahera returns. She has only arrived when a beautiful and talented local girl, Miriam, disappears. As Will begins to investigate the skeletal remains of another woman are discovered. Speculation is that it is one of the three women who disappeared in the area years before.

Many think Miriama has run off, but those who know her think there has been foul play. Will has so many possible suspects and they are mostly his new friends and neighbors. The more he digs the more secrets he uncovers. Before long Will and Anahera develop an unexpected relationship. The investigation proceeds, but not without danger to them both. 

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 352-page mystery novel. I like this novel for its unusual setting. This isn't the most exciting mystery, but it was enjoyable and engaging. I am not a fan of the selected cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
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A Madness of Sunshine is not romance but a small town romantic suspense and I’m hooked. I highly recommend this one if you’re looking to read something non-romance. It releases on December 3rd so don’t forget to add this to your

Nalini Singh is one of my very favorite authors and I'll read anything she writes. I was very excited to read her first venture into mystery/suspense. 

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get into it. I will likely try reading the book again in the future but with everything going on in the world right now, the story is just not gelling with my current disposition. My review is neither positive or negative. I'll visit the story again.

Want to hear what a giant failure I've been at blogging lately? I read A Madness of Sunshine in September 2019 and I am only now, in May 2020, writing a review for it. 🤦‍♀️Anyways, better late than never, right? Prior to reading A Madness of Sunshine, I had only read Nalini Singh's contemporary romances (which, by the way, are excellent). I was keen on trying her latest mystery thriller particularly I'm a sucker for a well-written mystery, but also I was curious to see how she would handle the genre switch. There's a reason why Nalini Singh is renowned throughout the book community - she is incredibly talented and truly, this novel is proof that she is one of the most versatile authors of this generation.

Because this is a mystery novel, I'm going to try and keep this review short so that I don't inadvertently reveal all the details and spoil the story for you if you haven't read it yet. A Madness of Sunshine takes place in a small coastal town in New Zealand. This book has to be one of the most atmospheric stories I have read and reading it was a very immersive experience for me because of how wonderfully detailed Singh's description of the town was. It was interesting to see the dynamics of this tight-knit community that seemed to bear a lot of secrets. I was simultaneously nervous and fascinated by the townspeople, the harsh landscape, and all the stories surrounding this town. 

The mystery itself was well-presented. A popular and well-loved young woman goes missing and it's up to the main character, Will, to solve the case. This was one of those more slow-burn type mystery that slowly gets revealed throughout the book. I liked how I was never quite sure who to trust and I also wasn't sure if I could trust Will and Anahera, who is recently back in her hometown after years of being away. It added to this tense feeling to the story making it impossible to set it aside. Though it becomes clear who was behind the crime about three-quarters of the way into A Madness of Sunshine, the author did a terrific job at making me second guess myself and the final reveal itself was so nerve-wracking! It made for a terrific reading experience.

As far as the main characters go, they were both beautifully written as I've come to expect from Nalini Singh. Both Will and Anahera carry a lot of baggage and had layers upon layers to their characters. There is a touch of a budding romance between the two, but don't go in expecting this to be an intense romance. It's a slow-burn between two people that had been hurt deeply and who were in the middle of a fairly dark case. I also loved how Nalini Singh gave the victim a voice in this book through the stories that all the townspeople had about her. It made her ending all the more tragic for me.

A Madness of Sunshine was a brilliantly woven mystery for me. I tend to enjoy these intense small-town mysteries a lot and Nalini Singh delivered for me. I hear she is writing another mystery/thriller and I'm excited to read it too!

I enjoyed this romantic suspense novel, with its unique New Zealand setting and incorporation of Maori characters, language and tradition. My only complaint is that I figured out the villain fairly quickly and had to wait for the main characters to catch up.

Though I enjoyed the characters, the romance, and the setting, the pace wasn’t as propulsive as I would’ve liked, and the plot twists were underwhelming.

I really enjoyed this! It is a real departure from what I have previously read and enjoyed by Nalini Singh but engaging and enjoyable nonetheless. It reminded me of The Top of Lake which I also really enjoyed. I tend to like isolated, insular small town settings and Golden Cove is about as isolated and insular as they come. The mystery and character development kept me turning pages. I also enjoyed the romance (supernatural romance is what I have read and loved previously by Ms. Singh) and thought that it felt realistic.

This was an enjoyable, entertaining read with a solid mystery.  I liked the characters of Will and Anahera and their relationship with each other.  I think the story could have benefited a little more with focus on characters and development.  There were a lot of them and at one point, they all kind of blend together.

4 stars

Nalini Singh's A Madness of Sunshine is an about face of her usual fare; nary a shifter or  angel in here. However, there is an interestingly prickly heroine whose long journey home is interrupted by young woman's disappearance that forces her to reconnect with her past. New Zealand opens up under Singh's voice, giving readers an intimate look at the island, it's residents, and all the secrets it holds. The tense atmosphere blends perfectly with the investigative mystery with it's varied cast and wonderfully dark undertones.

Nalini Singh is a hit and miss author for me. I love the Guild Hunter series but don't find the Psy Changling series as compelling. And Rock Hard is not my cup of tea at all. I was really curious to see how a romantic suspense set in New Zealand would fare and I'm so glad I took the chance. I enjoyed every minute of A Madness of Sunshine. Interesting setting, likeable characters and a great mystery made for a very engaging read. I highly recommend.