I was not a fan of this book. I felt the writing was very unprofessional but not in an easy, fun way; more like a childish way. It was also a strange story and a bit difficult for me to follow; it was a slow read.

You can read this as a stand alone book but there were parts in the book where I knew I was missing some backstory that would have made more sense had I read the first four books, but I didn't miss so much that it impacted my ability to follow the plot.

The book starts with a crime occurring in a school parking lot and you start following the investigation only to have another crime occur and the storyline is completely taken over by this crime. It's only towards the end of the book that you really come back around to the first crime again.

This was a harder book for me to read as it seemed to jump around and had too much going on; with two crimes being openly investigated, a secret investigation and a lot of personal relationships that seemed overly dramatic. If you like RM Greenway and/or have read the other four books first, you might find this a more enjoyable read.

This is a 4.5 upgraded to a 5 star. This is my first contact with this author and this series. This is book 5 in the series, and while there is definitely some background information covered in the previous novels, I was able to grasp ahold of the storyline without issue. Set in the wintry wonderland on Northern Vancouver, Canada, this story splits early in with the tenacious JD Temple investigating the apparent homicide of Tasha Aziz, a night janitor. Her fellow compatriots, Dion and Leith, catch the bizarre case of a missing toddler from a high end neighborhood.
Neither case seems to have easy answers or obvious leads. It soon becomes clear that everyone involved with the disappearance of the toddler has secrets or hidden agendas. When information links the case of the missing toddler to the mysterious homicide of Tasha Aziz, this talented group of detectives must pool their efforts to solve these cryptic cases. This story is filled with many different twists, that are always fun because it keeps us guessing. It would be fun to read the previous novels in the series as it is clear the characters involved have complicated histories. Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy.

This was a rough one for me. It started off slow and I struggled to get going. To be honest I almost did not finish this guy.
I will say it did get better, it just took awhile for me to really get into it. The premise was interesting. I did get frustrated with detectives and felt like it could have been a quick solve if they listed to Dion to begin with.
I don’t think it helped that this was my first read of the series and it’s the 5th book in the series.
I think I’m also spoiled by my favorite crime writer: Tana French.
This was a good book but it was definitely not my favorite crime book I’ve ever read. To those who read the entire series however, this could be a good continuation.

First book in this series and won't surely be the last. It's a gripping and entertaining read with a solid mystery and a cast of interesting characters.
I liked the descriptions of Vancouver and the mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I picked this police procedural because of the location, Vancouver, a place I’ve always wanted to visit.
This is the fifth in the series and I felt the loss of not having read the prior books. There are a large cast of characters just in terms of the police. Leith and Dion are fairly new partners. Dion is being privately investigated by the department’s sargeant and Leith is the man’s eyes and ears.
I did like that this police force wasn’t one big happy family. There’s plenty of mistrust and dislike to go around, not just between Leith and Dion. And they also don’t agree on how to handle the investigation which I found very realistic and refreshing. And it seems like everyone has some secrets.
There are two crimes being investigated - the murder of a school janitor at the school parking lot and a missing baby. At times, some of the suspects overlap and we’re left to wonder if they could somehow be related.
The writing is fairly basic but there are some good turns of phrase. “She also believed he would be easy to crack, but it would take a firm hand. Lead him to the confessional and kick him inside.” It’s a fast paced book with lots of red herrings. I was definitely caught off base by the ending to the one case.
My thanks to netgalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of this book.

Ooo such a creepy and exciting read! I absolutely loved diving into this book and I think everyone else will too! Well written and the characters were top notch.

First, let me just say that I wasn't familiar with this series, and I had no idea that this was even part of a series until after I started it. That said, I didn't have any trouble following the storyline, or storylines, in this book. I was surprised that for a series that is five books in, I didn't find the characters particularly likable, not even the main characters who I assume are central to each book. Another surprising thing about this book was the almost lazy pacing. One of the cases is a missing toddler, and even with that one, I didn't really find a sense of urgency like I expected. The story was a bit scattered, and there were odd time jumps here and there, then the author would go back and explain. I don't know if there was a specific reason for the style, but it just didn't work for me. In the end, I think I liked the idea of this one better than the reality of it. It certainly sounded promising, but it didn't quite deliver.

4 stars for book 5 in the B.C. Blues Crime series. The book starts with the murder of Nashwa "Tasha" Aziz. She was a school janitor and found dead in a school parking lot. Then, while Cal Dion and David Leith are still investigating, they are called to the scene of a missing/possibly kidnapped baby.
There is third plot line in this book. Cal Dion is suspected of something in connection with the auto accident in which his partner "Looch" was killed and Cal was badly injured. Cal was in a coma and still suffers from memory loss. But he knows more than he has told his superiors. Cal knows that they suspect him of something. Each book in the series develops this plot line a little more. In this book we find out what Cal did. I can't say more without going into spoiler territory.
If you decide to read this series, start with book 1, to follow Cal's plot line.
The ending was a surprise to me. I think that the author has developed complex characters in Cal Dion and his boss, David Leith.
The murder of Tasha is actually solved by another officer, a constable who goes by JD, although her name is Jane Temple.
Thank You Dundurn Press and R.M. Greenaway for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#Bcblues #NetGalley

River of Lies is the 5th book In the B.C. Blues Crime series. It follows The troubled Cal Dion and his fellow detectives as they try and solve homicides. Cal Dion and his partners are a complicated bunch, but very good at their jobs. If only their personal lives were as cut and dry as the homicides they investigate. I have enjoyed all the books in this series and look forward to reading future ones! A great crime series!

I found this book a bit difficult to read, though I will always read a novel if it sounds interesting. I cannot say it's difficult to read, but I happen to have a bit of trouble getting into it.

A complex and twisty police procedural. A woman is found dead in a school parking lot and a toddler goes missing during a dinner party in an upper class neighbourhood, two crimes with a tenuous connection. While JD works to solve the murder, her coworkers Dave Leith and Cal Dion have their hands full with the divorced parents of the missing child. A well written novel with many flawed characters. Although this can be read as a stand alone, I think I would have enjoyed it more (and given it 4 stars) had I read the first four books to have a better understanding of the backgrounds and dynamics of the characters.
Thank you Netgalley and Dundurn Press for this ARC.

The dead bodies are dropping fast and furious in this latest novel in the B.C. Blues Crime series by the talented R.M. Greenaway. If you are looking for dull moments, pick up another book.
As with all R.M. Greenaway’s novels, the characters are a wonderful strongpoint. They are so authentically rendered and complex, and none of them get old for me, even after five books in the series. Dion has always been my favorite. I love a good messed-up everyman, but this time around I found myself drawn to the female cop, JD Temple. JD can at one moment be terribly self-conscious and the next thoroughly confident, like so many exceptional women..
River of Lies surges with a powerful and unpredictable flow of suspense, with writing and character development indicative of a calmly practiced and experienced hand. Don’t miss your chance to get caught up in the current.
Full review to be posted at https://www.shekillslit.com/blog/ in March 2020.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This is the fifth book of a series. I didn’t read the other books but think this works as a stand alone. I didn’t really like this book I like police procedurals but I didn’t like any of the characters in this story. I read the entire book but couldn’t relate to any of the characters. All of them had issues and they just weren’t nice people. I know I should write a longer review but I just didn’t like this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What the heck did I just read? I mean, I was expecting humor and profanity after reading the blurb, but this one is way too low on humor and at the other end of the spectrum on profanity. It seems the only adjectives the author has resorted to are abusive and profane to the extent that they become unbearable after a time. After all, one can just take only so much. Or maybe whatever the author tried to present as 'black humor' came out as outright abusive.

The story was alright. The end was unexpected. The narration style is different, and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: I read it so you don't have to.

This is a new author to me, and the first in this series that I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last, I need to read the previous 4 books after finishing this one. This can be read as a stand-alone novel, however I think some of the dynamics between the characters may be better understood, if the previous books have been read. But, that is just me, I like to start at the beginning of a series and get to know characters.

It’s February, and the North Shore RCMP have to brave the cold, wind and rain, when a young woman’s body is found in the car park of Riverside Secondary School, she had been working as a janitor, staying behind a bit late to finish cleaning. She had then left, looking forward to going to her boyfriends, for a Valentines meal he was cooking for her. Needless to say she never made it. Constable Judy Temple is assigned the investigation into her death.

Meanwhile, in a wealthier area, a thirteen month old baby girl Luna Mae, has gone missing from her home, whilst her mother and stepfather are hosting a dinner party. Constable Dave Leith and Cal Dion are tasked at looking into the toddlers disappearance. Has she been kidnapped? Could she have wandered off? Have the mother and step father hurt her? The whole home situation is complicated, before meeting her current husband, the mother was married to Luna’s father, they had adopted his older niece and nephew after their parents had died, but it seems the older children are keeping secrets.

There are a number of other things going on beside these two plot lines, Judy overhears something from Dion’s past, that could be a career breaker, if it comes out.

This is a clever, at times complicated gripping read, the characters are relatable, believable, some have flaws, but that makes them human and more believable and three dimensional. A great police procedural with a lot of plot twists and turns to keep the reader engaged, and guessing. There are a lot of themes explored, drug use, lies, murder, custody battles, relationships, which adds to the layers of the story. It’s not an easy story to solve, with a few unreliable suspects thrown in.

Whilst the murder and disappearing child case are cleared up, other loose ends are left open, presumably to be continued in the next book in the series. I am glad the author didn’t rush to tie up everything as sometimes this can seem rushed at the end to fit everything in.

If you like police procedurals this is a book I would recommend, I am going to look for the previous books in the series, so that I can get to know more about the characters dynamics better, great style of writing and good pace, with lots going on.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Dundurnpublishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I read this book as an ARC, and the publisher also publishes my books that are nonfiction.
I've read several of Greenaway's murder mysteries and, once again, found this one compelling and satisfying.
The story takes place in North Vancouver and the tension soars as a child kidnapped and one after another person is found dead. The detective duo of Leith and Dion are back to solve the case.
A real page-turner that kept me reading late into the night.
Recommended for all who love a good mystery.

DNF at 45% of the ebook version. I'm sorry but I just stopped being interested in the story and decided against forcing myself to finish it. While there is an interesting story here, the plot feels unfocused and the pacing is far from breakneck.

It's raining in Vancouver, almost constantly it seems, and so when a young woman is found dead in a rain soaked school parking lot the North Shore RCMP have the weather to fight as they search for clues. Then a young child disappears from her cot while her parents are hosting a dinner party and the detectives find clues very hard to come by until the same name crops up in both investigations prompting them to look at things from a different vantage point. With internal squabbles, rumours, and secrets also rocking the department the men and women trying to discover what happened in both cases have plenty of other things on their mind to distract them from two cases which have far more to them than initially met the eye.

I struggled with some aspects of this book because there seemed no urgency to it. A toddler is missing without trace but the all encompassing panic and desperation that would, in my opinion, be more than apparent through every part of both the investigation and the private lives of her parents just didn't seem to be there.

Although the back story centring around one of the detectives was well done and gradually explained throughout the book it was also an added complication which seemed to take away the focus from the other cases and became a definite distraction rather than an enhancement. There was also a sense of anticlimax with regard to the school killing which could have been so much more.

By the time a series reaches its fifth storyline the main protagonists are usually strong enough to be instantly recognisable and have their position in the story arc solidified. Hopefully this will be the case here as the characterisation was strong for the most part and their back stories interesting, entertaining and ongoing.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who read the first book or enjoys a murder mystery with a family theme running through it.

More of 3.5 stars actually.
The beginning sounded very promising but as I haven’t read the previous books in the series I found it a bit hard to make up who is who and especially to find out that one of the detectives was a woman as the name is more used for a male character.
I liked the story overall as I was intrigued to know what really happened with the child that disappeared and how everything will unfold but there are many points in the book that I had to stop because it was either too slow for my usual liking or there were too many things happening at the same time as well as too many characters/suspects to keep up with.
It’s still a good book and it won’t be my last read by the author.