This book dealt with a lot of sensitive subject matters and I appreciated that it opened me up to some new culture! A good read, 3 stars from me!

This wasn’t really for me, I haven’t read the first in the series so that may be why, as I felt a bit confused in some parts, I will maybe try and go back to the first one then give this another go

I picked this up because I found the combination of people in the first book different from the usual couples in such police procedural/thriller types.
We have a definitely odd couple who met and have been going steady since the first instalment. Of the two, the male is softer and more regimented as well as environmentally conscious in his actions. There are two parallel cases that do not necessarily get the same amount of focus. On the one hand, we have the actual crime occurring and then the subsequent repercussions on all parties involved. There is not as much of a 'mystery' here, more of the police catching on to an ongoing crime. The second is a cold case (of a sort) and connections to Romeo. We see more than the participants in the book, and the foundation has been laid for the next unravelling in the personal saga.
Marie has her own dilemmas, and she plays a large role in the first of the stories that I mentioned. Her issues are not limited to her personal relationships but also extends to her professional life and the kind of drive that she brings to it.
Overall, it was slower than I hoped but still a solid addition to the series and kept the narrative's dark overtones. The climate always feels oppressive and interfering, which suits the tone of the book as a whole. I would not recommend picking this up without having read the first.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Set in a frigid and snow laden Montreal January, this novel evokes the place and season very well. The diversity of the city, both in ethnicity and socioeconomic status is well described.

The novel incorporates many social observations and cultural references within its pages. It incorporates themes of homelessness, crimes against Inuit women, global warming, the ‘me too‘ movement, racial profiling by police, and the inherent racial prejudice again indigenous peoples.

The two protagonists are personable and intelligent. It is fascinating to follow their personal relationship as well as their working life.

Though most people plan ahead for tomorrow, finding that their hopes and aspirations keep them going, it is not so with the homeless. They live entirely in the present, getting through each day is enough of a challenge without worrying about what tomorrow might bring.

After reading the first two novels, I can highly recommend this novel and this series to readers who enjoy socially relevant crime fiction. In my opinion, this author and this series are deserving of a much wider readership.

4.5 stars rounded up

I'm happy I read this book because I discovered a new to me interesting series.
It's a gripping and entertaining story, the characters are interesting and I liked the setting.
The mystery is solid, full of twists an turns, and kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first in this series, so I’m not sure why I gave the second book a try. Unfortunately this still wasn’t for me.

The novel’s robust cast of characters, multiple POVs and short chapters made it a quick read. Although in the end, there were a few too many loose ends for me and some of the subplots fell flat. Hopefully these will be picked up in a future volume?

What I liked most was the Canadiana. From the descriptions of neighbourhoods in and around Montreal, Canada’s tumultuous Indigenous relations, to our characteristic winter weather and the realities of battling the cold (winter snot), The Dogs of Winter conveys the nuance of winter in Quebec.

Recommended for fans of Louise Penny and those who enjoy mysteries with a strong sense of place.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
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That was sooooo boring!! I didn't like the book one bit, there were a lot of characters and a lot of stories that it was so hard to follow up with each story.
The plot wasn't that interesting and the author kept pushing random information just to look educated which was so forced!!
The characters were all bland, no one made me interested in his side of the story or what would happen to him.
Overall, a really bad read.

This sequel to The Birds That Stay does not disappoint, I hope this series continues.
In the midst of a massive blizzard in Montreal, a young homeless woman is found in the snow, the victim of a hit and run.
There are also disturbing signs on the body that she may have been murdered after she was hit.
In her pocket is a photo with the phone number of Detective Inspector Romeo Leduc on it.
Romeo and his older girlfriend Marie, a retired marine biologist who now teaches, are learning about each other as their relationship moves forward and becomes more serious.
When several more homeless people are found dead, it appears someone is targeting the most defenseless.
Romeo's investigation is hindered at every turn by the community's indifferent and unenlightened attitudes.
An intelligently written atmospheric mystery/thriller that includes relevant issues of indigenous women and the homeless, how vulnerable they are and the hardships they endure.
It also has a mature love story that I appreciated.
The plot was complex and featured many diverse characters.
A thoughtul and gripping story.
Thank you Second Story Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
4,5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.

The Dogs of Winter is the second book of a series featuring Professor Marie Russell and police officer Romeo LeDuc, whose personal relationship develops in the background while the investigation proceeds into the murder of a young Inuit woman whose body was discovered after a terrible blizzard. The prose is vivid, dramatically evoking the atmosphere of Montreal, with its bitter cold and blinding snowstorms, its Francophone/Anglophone duality, and its social justice issues. The obstacles faced by the city's the homeless, and in particular the Inuit, are strongly featured throughout the novel. Some of the book jumps around in a way that slows the action: there’s a me-too subplot that feels like a distraction, and some of the scenes in Marie’s classroom drag a bit—do we really need that much information about whales to follow this mystery? A secondary angle featuring a minor celebrity is expertly developed but ultimately abandoned. When the focus returns to the murder investigation, the scenes are suspenseful and well-paced, and the conclusion is dramatic. I look forward to going back and reading the first book in this series while I wait for the next installment.

Thanks to Second Story Press and Netgalley for a digital advance review copy.

Thanks so mich for early access this was a tremendous read. An author that beings so much of history and living into the most compelling of stories. Highly recommend this book and will be watching for more thanks

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. This review is based completely on my honest opinion.

This is the first time I have read the book from this author and is the sequel to The Birds That Stay but it was OK to read as a standalone book.

The story begins with a woman named Rosie braving through the winter storm with a dog in her arms when she got hit by a car driven by a wealthy and popular woman named Danielle, who ignored the accident and fled the scene. Then there is a serial killer on loose who seemed to be murdering the homeless indigenous people and then a girl who got raped by a well known man. The story is based in Canada.

I like the pace of the story--the story is somewhat realistic in a sad way at how the indigenous people, named Inuit in Canada are often vulnerable to attacks in Montreal which is actually sad, coupled with the #MeToo movement, when a girl named Michaela, a student of Marie gets raped by a man who is well known to the society. There is some sort of thrill in the book, fast paced, page turner and is well written, as the author did a good job making the reader into the story. Learned some French words while reading the book! The only bad thing is too many characters so I kind of had a hard time keeping up with the characters.

Overall, this is a good thriller that will make you enjoy reading the book--worth four stars!

I am from Montreal (and I live in Westmount, minutes away from where most of The Dogs of Winter takes place).

I have read Ann Lambert's first book in The Russel and Leduc series, The Birds That Stay.

I was so happy to receive a copy of The Dogs of Winter from #netgalley to review.

After finishing the book, I have the following comments:

I really ENJOYED all of Lambert's characters, "AGAIN"; Romeo (SQ officer) & his entourage, Marie (Dawson Professor) & her entourage, Ti-Coune and Helene Cousineau, Officer Nicole Laframboise, Steve Pouliot (SPVM). I believe this covers most of the cast.

I LOVED reading this book set in #Montreal, as well as in the #Laurentians, (St. Jerome, Sainte Lucie, Saint Agathe) . Lambert has thrown everything I love about Montreal into this book, up to and including #bagels, hockey and life in a city with #snow to deal with (actually, that last thing I do NOT "LOVE").

The only small issue, that was "mildly" troublesome (for me), was that (IMO), there was a little too much background information provided in a couple of instances, But it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

This is a great book, and I will continue to read more in the Russel and Leduc series, as quickly as Ann Lambert can write them.

Thank you #nergalley, @secondstorypress, and Ann Lambert for gifting me #thedogsofwinter in return for my review.

The Dogs of Winter
Ann Lambert
October 20, 2020

This is Ann Lambert’s 2nd in her Russell and Leduc Mystery series. It begins in Montreal with a storm that began early in the day. It progressed to a torrencial level in the afternoon with temperatures below zero. Rosie Nuklik knew better than going out in the weather. She didn’t have warm enough clothes and only one mitten as she lost one of her prized gloves her grandmother had made from seal skin. She buried her bare hand in her coat letting the miniature dog she held within, lick her hand. She knew the man would not meet her as he requested but she needed to see him. Standing next to the cement wall on the tunnel she prayed the cars would avoid hitting her. She was just trying to avoid the icy wind and blowing snow. Hiding, waiting, the big car came through the tunnel zipping way too fast. It spun on the ice, she tried to run the opposite direction but it thunked into her hip throwing her forward into the snow. The woman driver slowed but didn’t stop to help her. Rosie lay on the snow covered bank in pain hoping that aid would come. When she was sure she would freeze, a man came off the road and onto the embankment. Hoping he would send for an ambulance she relaxed; instead he reached in, stole her pup and beat her until she took her last breath.
Marie Russell instructed her students about whales from the small college in Montreal. She lived in a cottage on the outskirts of town. Detective Inspector Romeo Leduc lived in Quebec City. He was the boss and much of the time he was busy but of late he and his partner, Nicole were working cold cases trying to solve the murders of the past. Montreal however was in the throngs of a savage perpetrator attacking homeless Inuit people and leaving them to freeze in the night. Marie was beside herself. On their Saturday night date she would ask Romeo to lend a hand in solving the trouble. The Inuit small towns were located north of Quebec. Students were given scholarships to study in Montreal. People were traveling down with family for medical care as it was limited within the native settlements. It was too high a percentage that was being affected by this terrifying stranger.
The first book in this series was The Birds That Stay. I had not read this title so I was a bit discomforted by the French in the dialogue as well as the lack of information I had about the characters. That is to be expected when one book starts as the other concludes. It took me awhile but being an avid mystery buff, I adapted.
The Dogs of Winter by Ann Lambert was published today, October 20, 2020 by Second Story Press of Toronto, Ontario. Lambert’s readers should be sure to pick up this latest thriller. If you enjoy international mysteries you may want to read the first in the Russell/Leduc series first to catch you up on the storyline. Regardless, do enjoy.

The Dogs of Winter is a complex, carefully plotted thriller, the best kind of mystery. While there are many characters, they are all so well described that you feel you know them. This satisfying story reads like a novel but a novel in which a crime takes place.

The reader is quickly introduced to the many diverse, seemingly unrelated characters. There are mature couple Professor Marie Russell and Romeo Leduc, district head of homicide for the Surete du Quebec. They are making tentative plans to take their relationship to the next level. Rosie Nukilik is an Inuit, now homeless in Quebec. Danielle Champagne is an Oprah like entrepreneur. Nia and Christian are a devoted couple, now homeless and Michaela Cruz is a brilliant student, about to attend a glamorous cocktail party. For nearly half of The Dogs of Winter, the characters orbit around their own compelling stories. Then Ann Lambert begins to skillfully weave them together towards exciting, if totally unexpected, conclusions.

The last character in this novel, although a silent one, is Quebec, both Province and City. Her problems are the same as many cities: the homeless, problems with the police, treatment of minorities, crime and sexual harassment. Lambert adds a Quebec background to all of these. This makes The Dogs of Winter a more compelling read. I can’t wait for the third in this series that reminds me so much of Louise Penny’s Three Pines/Gamache mysteries. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Story Press and Ann Lambert for this ARC.

To preface, I have not read book #1 of this series. I liked that I could pick this up anyways, and it didn't seem like I needed info from the first book to follow along. I wonder if I would have been able to follow the many characters and storylines better if some were familiar to me from the first book, but I'm not sure. I will say that the abundance of characters and stories is fun and adds a lot of layers but it did make it a bit tough to follow and tough to get into at the start.

I love Montreal and loved reading a story set there. The references to places in Montreal and neighbouring cities like Toronto (where I live) are always fun to read because you can picture everything more vividly. I loved the way the author describes the different scenes in the city, it made me want to go back ASAP! As well, as someone who speaks French, I loved the bits of French throughout the book - it was fun to get that bit of practice in while reading.

Another highlight for me was the way the excitement and intrigue of a thriller/suspense was able to be coupled with serious topics such as poverty, sexual assault and Indigenous issues. I appreciate the way the author drew attention to these issues while not rambling on with academic and statistical information and keeping the reader interested. I think many people could read this book and enjoy the fiction of the story but also come away with more knowledge on pressing issues in Canada.

Thank you for the chance to read this! :)

While this book tackled many important topics, it seemed to jump around so much that I often felt lost and confused. I enjoyed the bits of French that brought me back to my high school foreign language days. The ending left me feeling incomplete and missing some answers. Overall, this book wasn’t for me but the last 1/3 of the book held my attention and kept me reading more than the first 2/3.

Thank you to the author, Second Story Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller/police procedural is told from multiple POVs, and at the beginning it is a bit difficult to sort out all the varied characters. However, the story is so well-written, with each character having such a distinct voice and presence, that the initial hump is soon overcome. The story is very atmospheric, set in a deep Canadian winter, very on-the-nose for current topics such as #metoo and racial profiling, and very personable with the developing relationship between Romeo Ludlec and Marie Russel. Supporting character Montreal is done so well that I yearn to visit. I didn't read the first book in this series, but must do that, and follow up with any further books by this author. Highly recommend!

The Dogs of Winter is the second offering in the Russell and LeDuc mystery series. Once again our two protagonists work together to solve the case of a young First Nations girl, the victim of a hit and run during a blinding Montreal blizzard. I really love this series. It’s smart and timely, addressing societal questions concerning #MeToo, homelessness, and the raging indifference to the disappearance of First Nation women.
Highly recommend for all mystery readers, especially those who have finished all of Louise Penny.

"Dogs of Winter' is the sequel to the author's previous work 'Birds That Stay' and let me say right off the bat that I haven't read the first book, yet I don't think it leads to any difficulty in understanding the scenes in the book. I jumped in to this book and really enjoyed the experience it offered. While touted as a mystery thriller, I feel this book has more to it than a mere mystery.
This book tackled multiple issues as the story progressed, like the #MeToo Movement and the systemic racial profiling done by the officers, something that has become much more relevant in the recent times. The author showcases the stark difference between the life of an Inuit and an average citizen in Montreal. While I found all these a great addition to the story giving it more context and detail, it could have been done in a better manner; in some places it came off as slightly preachy. The story shows multiple P.O.Vs (point of views) and it becomes a bit difficult to keep track of the plethora of characters introduced at the beginning. I loved the leads Romeo Ludlec and Marie Russel; the book takes some time to focus on their inter-personal relationship (considering it is a part of a series, it is natural) and I loved the portrayal of the ups and downs of their relationship.
Coming to the actual mystery, it was a bit of a letdown. It starts with promise but as it progresses, it becomes a bit predictable. The reveal and the reason at the end didn't sound that plausible to me.
This book is set in Montreal and the author beautifully captures the essence of the city in her vivid description of the scenery and the life of the people. The events in the book happens during winter and to me, it adds to the charm of the book.
This book also shows the effects of a victim of sexual abuse and I feel it should probably come with a trigger warning. The author deals with this theme with the due sensitivity.
Overall, a pretty good read, if you aren't looking for a hardcore mystery. All said, this book makes me want to read the previous book and look out for future works from the author.
Thanks NetGalley and Second Story Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.