This novel did not let me down and even the title met my expectations...I was entertained and truly flummoxed by this mystery! I am looking forward to more reads by #AnnetteDashofy as the character was intriguing enough to bring me back for another story.

I was delighted to get the opportunity to read this! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and want more! I really thought I had sussed it out early doors but I really didn’t! Really expected her sister to be involved and in trouble but the plot was fantastically written and caught me by surprise. Well done!

This book will grab you by the throat and won't let go. The visual descriptions are so well written that you can place yourself there. The question is who is the murderer?

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions. This is the first in the new Detective Matthias Honeywell series and I was so excited to start reading it. I was totally drawn in immediately and unable to put it down. There are lots of twists and turns that will leave you gasping! You will not be disappointed with this book. Start this series the first chance you get.

Well written with a cast of vivid characters.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

To say I wanted more would be an understatement. This was a delicious page turner right from the start. Everytime I had to put it down, it was all I could think about. I did end up finishing way past my bedtime, just so I would be able to sleep. If you love a quick, immersive thriller, than this is definitely for you!

An absolutely delightfully gripping story. You will not want to put it down. Emma is a great character!

With her short-cropped gray hair and dark skin, Cassie was
part mother hen, part Amazon warrior queen.
Annette Dashofy, Where the Guilty Hide, Kindle Loc. 78

On the shore of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, a body lays half hidden, the waves slowly moving it with the rising tide…

In the early morning mist, freelance photographer Emma Anderson takes pictures of the rocky coastline. She moved to Erie to escape a past that haunts her but the last thing she expects to capture is a dead body.

Erie City Police Detective Matthias Honeywell has been investigating a spate of home invasions but when one of the robbery victims turns up dead, his case evolves into homicide. Emma’s first encounter with Detective Honeywell leaves her shaken when he reminds her of her ex-fiancé-turned-stalker. Matthias misinterprets Emma’s anxiety and suspects she knows more than she’s letting on.

With the threat of another murder and no obvious leads, will Emma and Matthias overcome their mutual distrust and work together to capture a killer?
Amazon.com

I was glued to the pages of Annette Dashofy’s first book, Where the Guilty Hide, in her new series. Main characters photographer Emma Anderson and police detective Matthias Honeywell are equally compelling characters. However, Matthias’s boss/partner, Detective Cassie Malone, competes with them in popularity.

Emma’s on the run from an abusive relationship and trying to find her drug-addicted younger sister. Both women are damaged by their parents’ deaths. Matthias has family and women issues. Cassie is a grandmother, and she can’t seem to refrain from match-making single women and Matthias. It’s a triangle bound for trouble.

Please ask Annette questions using our comments area. E. B. Davis

About your new publisher, Annette—One More Chapter is a global division of HarperCollins. I downloaded my copy from a UK site, but I noticed that your punctuation is American. How did the deal come about? Is it digital only? How did you decide about that?

My amazing agent, Dawn Dowdle, negotiated the deal with One More Chapter, and yes, they’re one of HarperCollins’s UK imprints. I’m definitely learning as I go. Having previously been published by a small press, I can tell you this is a whole new ballgame. OMC publishes digital FIRST, meaning Where the Guilty Hide will be released on January 20 in eBook format with print coming later. I know the UK print release date is March 2, but I haven’t heard when it will be available here. Thankfully, I’m content to let it play out and see how it goes. As for the formatting, I wrote the manuscript the same as I always do, and I wasn’t sure if they would convert it to UK formatting or not. I’m glad they left it. The series is set here after all. But if they’d changed it, hey, as long as they send the royalties to me here in the US, I’m fine with whatever!

The series is named A Detective Honeywell mystery. Does that mean he is the main character? Since the book is written from Matthias and Emma’s POV, I thought they shared the title.

This is another one of those learning curves, from small press to big-five, items. They have a team who makes decisions. When I submitted to them, I called it the Lake Erie Mystery Series, and my title was Rule of Thirds, because Emma is a photographer. The OMC/HC marketing team made the changes to both, with my consent, of course. Yes, while I’d thought of Matthias and Emma having joint “ownership” of the series, it does seem that Matthias is now the lead.

Your story is set in Erie, PA. Are you familiar with the city and area? Have you experienced the lake-effect snows?

My husband and I have been going to Erie and Presque Isle to vacation for decades. Plus I teach at a writing conference in Erie every October. I’ve wanted to set a series there for quite a while because of the diversity of locations. There are lakeside mansions and there are areas of deep poverty. I can find a place that makes sense for any type of story and stay within the city. I admit, I’ve never experienced winter at the lake, but even here in southwestern Pennsylvania, we get some of the lake-effect snowstorms. But we’ll get a foot, and they’ll get six!

This book had no horses. Why? When will they show up? If Emma can ride a bike, surely she knows how to ride horses.

And no cats either!

Yet.

Emma grew up on a farm and had horses. Matthias grew up in Oklahoma and his mom was a champion barrel racer (backstory that we haven’t gotten to yet), so he also grew up riding horses. While neither have horses right now, I can see their mutual love of equines coming into play in a future book.

Describe the area of Presque Isle peninsula and its relationship to the city and lake for readers. I was at first confused by a bay within a lake. And that the peninsula, jutting out into the lake, was actually a state park.

As you say, Presque Isle is a peninsula jutting out into Lake Erie, but it also curves back toward the city, producing a bay. The northern side of the peninsula faces the lake. Canada is across the lake, but you can’t see it, so from the beach, Lake Erie looks a lot like the ocean. The city of Erie sits on the southern shores of the lake and bay. Presque Isle peninsula is indeed a state park and is gorgeous. Besides the beaches along the lakeside, there are hiking and biking trails, lagoons, and lots of wildlife. One time, while bike riding, we encountered a much-too-tame coyote that was eyeballing the wild geese at the shore’s edge. We immediately rode to the park office to report him to the rangers!

The scenario you describe of the home invasion can lead to confusing a victim with a perpetrator. I can understand why people could distrust the police in such a situation. How did the husband, Wesley, create police suspicion, at least Cassie’s, of his working with the home invaders?

Wesley’s escape from being tied up felt “too easy” to Cassie. She wanted to keep the possibility of him being an insider with the gang as an option to counter Matthias’s concerns about Wesley trying to be a hero. She knew Matthias’s history with a similar situation and feared he’d fixate on that one scenario.

Emma is on the run from an abusive boyfriend, Clay. Even though she was his victim, she’s trying to help her drug addicted little sister, Nell, who disappeared in Erie. Was Emma’s victim status temporary? How did Emma realize that she was a victim and get away?

Emma and her sister are both emotionally wounded. Nell turned to self-medicating to deal with her loss. Emma sought comfort in Clay’s charms. But like so many abusive men, while he started out charming, he soon revealed his true colors, cutting Emma off from her sister and her home. Ultimately, it took a while for Emma to see him as he truly was, at which point she planned her escape to Erie, a town she was familiar with and where she knew Nell had recently been. As for Emma’s victim status being temporary, I think she’s toughened up by the end of the book to some degree, but still has some work to do on herself.

Is it common that abuse victims “see” their tormentors everywhere?

I’m not a psychologist but I believe there’s an element of PTSD involved. Emma’s waiting for her nightmare to return. She wants to believe she’s safe but knows she’s not. So she expects Clay to jump out of the bushes at her at any moment.

What is the “rule of thirds composition?”

If you imagine a camera viewfinder (or a canvas in art) and draw imaginary lines in the form of a large hashtag (#) over the viewfinder or canvas, points of interest need to fall along the lines or where the lines intersect. For example, in a portrait, the subject’s eyes should align with the top horizontal line. In a landscape, the horizon should fall on one of those horizontal lines rather than in the middle. If a landscape has one tall tree, it should be placed on one of the vertical lines. That’s oversimplifying it, but it gives you an idea. In this book, “thirds” also seem to apply to the crime spree. The burglaries are happening three to a city.

When Emma first meets Matthias, she thinks that he is Clay, her abusive boyfriend. But even when she knows he’s a police detective, Matthias scares her with his intensity. Why is Matthias so intense?

Matthias has a very dark past, going back to his teen years, that hasn’t yet been revealed. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface with this guy. He doesn’t trust easily, partly because of his career, but largely because of what he’s lived through.

When Emma accidentally takes a picture of a murder victim hidden under floating junk at the water’s edge, she doesn’t realize that the murder victim is her neighbor Joe Platt’s son-in-law. Why don’t Joe and his daughter get along?

Joe’s son-in-law has some of the same traits as Emma’s ex-boyfriend in that he’s controlling. He has done his best to drive a wedge between Joe and his daughter. Joe sees the son-in-law for what he truly is, but his daughter is the dutiful wife who only sees Joe as critical of the man she married.

Matthias doesn’t have a great history with women. Hasn’t he sought counseling? He must consider himself an abuse victim, or can’t he see that?

Funny that you mention Matthias being a victim of abuse. He absolutely does not see himself that way. As I mentioned, he has a dark past that I hope to explore in book #3 when all his demons come calling. The only counseling he’s had was with the department’s therapist following his earlier partner’s death. Matthias tends to take out his frustration on the heavy bag in the gym. As for women, he’s been deeply hurt twice when he’s made bad choices.

The county has a coroner and a forensic pathologist? Where does one job end and the other begin?

The coroner is an elected official and may have medical training, but often does not. The forensic pathologist is a specially trained physician who is qualified to perform clinical autopsies. If the elected coroner doesn’t have these medical qualifications, a forensic pathologist is called in as needed and they work together. Some counties use a Medical Examiner system instead of a coroner system. In those cases, the ME, who is hired rather than elected, is also a forensic pathologist.

What’s next for Matthias, Emma, and Cassie?

As I write this, I’m working on the second Detective Honeywell mystery, which is due to my editor on February 1. In it, Matthias is working multiple cases when a man turns up shot to death in a residential alley after leaving his favorite bar with a mysterious blonde. Additionally, a young woman has vanished while walking home from work, although there’s some question as to whether her disappearance is a matter for law enforcement, or whether she simply ran off with a rich boyfriend. Emma’s drug-addicted sister Nell, however, remains missing and in danger. Emma continues to search for her, but it’s Matthias who finds more than Emma wants to know.

This is an amazing book. I love thrillers but lately it’s been a struggle to find a good one. This book delivered exactly what I needed. It kept me hooked. I literally couldn’t put it down the entire time. Would definitely recommend to anyone who would like a page turner thriller.

A gripping, fast paced and well written story. I literally couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

this was such an incredible read!! i absolutely adored this and i am so grateful to netgalley for letting me read this book early!! it was fun and lovely and sweet and precious. pick it up!!

This is a well written, fast paced and gripping read. I had to stay up late and finish reading it as I needed to know how it all came together. This was full of great characters and now I need to read more by this author.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from netgalley.com and Harper Collins UK in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

I like puzzles. Some people like word puzzles, cross words, wordle, anagrams, like that. Not for me, I ponder too long over misspelled words -no wonder the anagram never works out. I like mysteries.
Puzzles yes! People behaving badly, oh yes! A new setting to explore, and a plot that offers the puzzle. Best of all, most often good will triumph over evil.

With her latest offering, Dashofy demonstrates again why she is an award winning author. 'Where the Guilty Hide' sets the stage for her Detective Matthias Honeywell Mysteries. The book opens with Emma, a free lance photographer walking through a graveyard. Assigned to photograph images from gravestones, she is drawn to the sound of pained laughter. A hooded figure glares at her. For Emma, this is enough for fear to almost overwhelm her. She pushes against the fear, after the individual leaves she captures a striking image; the gravestone complete with 2 empty beer cans.

I am completely hooked. The setting, Erie Pennsylvania, is a departure for Dashofy. The Zoe Caldwell series, for example was set in a fictitious Pennsylvania County that closely resembled Monongalia County PA. I admire the amount of research that Dashofy has done to bring Erie to the reader. Along with setting, Dashofy creates such believable characters, one could expect to meet Emma, or Matthias walking down the street. Even the villains, and yes they are despicable, are ones that we would hope to not meet on the street.

This is a procedural. Matthias and his partner Cassie are part of the Major Crimes unit. Emma serves as both a witness, and maybe the romantic interest. I am a long time reader of mysteries, so I would be thinking ahead.. why don't they? or why didn't they do thus and so.. Dashofy's clean, clear plotting would answer my questions.

Why 5 stars? Dashofy gave me a wonderful read. I stand and say, please write fast. I want to know what Matthias will be doing next.

For mystery readers, and for readers YA and above. The violence mentioned is not too graphic.

Erie City Police Detective Matthias Honeywell has been called to the site of a second home invasion robbery in a matter of days. The difference here is that the husband managed to escape and go after the thieves. Unfortunately, the next morning, photographer Emma Anderson finds the man’s body in some debris that washed on shore from Lake Erie. The more Honeywell investigates, the more he finds that revolves around Emma. Can he solve the case? Will she be the key to unraveling it?

This is a strong start to a new series. Both Honeywell and Emma come alive quickly for us, partially thanks to their backstories which are slowly given to us without over teasing. The rest of the cast is just as strong. We get the story from both Honeywell’s and Emma’s third person points of view in alternating chapters, so it is always easy to tell when we are switching. And the story is strong. I struggled when I had the put the book down, especially when I hit the page turning climax. (Stupid real life!) Since this is a police procedural, it is darker than the cozies I often read, so know that going in. Those already a fan of the author will be delighted with the new series. If you haven’t started reading her books yet, this is a great place to jump in.

3,5 stars

A gang of home invaders are targeting families with expensive art on the walls, but during the last one a dad went in full hero mode and got killed. During this investigation, detectives Honeywell and Cassie Malone interview a potential witness, Emma Anderson, who is running away from her stalker while also searching for her missing sister in the lake Erie area. Both stories intertwine nicely and draw the reader into a fast paced police investigation.

The book is very well written in a fluid style and chapters of a perfect length and I was going to grant a full 4 stars, but alas the end let me down. I really didn't like the "I'm going to kill you, but before I do, I'll take a lot of time to explain how it all fits together while having the barrel of a gun against your temple"-trope, and that is what we get here. And there is also a budding romance between Emma and dect. Honeywell. I think a lot of readers will like this, but it is just not my thing either.

So all in all, a very agreeable read, but the end was a bit over the top for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

A great mystery/ thriller built in layers through the voices of the 3 main characters. Annette Dashofy has taken the time to build both a great back story and the perfect characters. I had not read any of her books before but Ive already ordered the first 3 of her Zoe Chambers series to see if the excellent writing in WHERE THE GUILITY HIDE is her norm.

A woman just trying to get her life back together after hiding for too long manages to become the #1 suspect in a murder case when her anxiety makes the wrong impression. Add in a detective who is a little dark and alot suspicious and you have the basic back story. Then Ms Dashofy throws in small town drama and some definitely creepy vibes and you have the making of an excellent trip to Erie. I'll be happy to find that the Zoe Chambers series is this good too.

Emma Anderson is on the run. She’s living in a dilapidated trailer park, working as a freelance photographer, searching for her estranged sister and trying desperately to avoid being found by her abusive former boyfriend. So when a random photograph she takes on the shores of Lake Erie shows a dead body, both the police and the press are suddenly interested in her.

Detective Matthias Honeywell and his partner Cassie Malone are investigating a series of home invasions. The robbers wear ski masks, the homeowners are tied up and valuable art is stolen. However, in the last robbery a man managed to free himself and chase the invaders. He is now missing and Matthias and Cassie think he is linked to Emma’s photo.

Where the Guilty Hide is the first in a new series by talented author Annette Dashofy and I can’t wait to see what comes next! A fast paced, complex plot, characters that you want to learn more about, and a gritty location on a Great Lake make this thriller hard to put down! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Annette Dashofy for this ARC.

Where the Guilty Hide is the first book in Annette Dashofy’s new series called The Detective Matthias Honeywell Mysteries. Ms. Dashofy gives us a well written, fast paced story that will keep the pages turning quickly. The characters are strong and well developed. This is a true nail-bitter filled with suspense, secrets, mystery, a lot of tension and many twist and turns. There are two storylines in one with lots of suspects and danger. I love that this is the beginning to a series because I love these characters and cannot wait to see where there they go.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK , One More Chapter and Annette’s Dashofy for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. The opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #harpercollinsuk #onemorechapter
#annettedashofy #wheretheguiltyhide #arc

3.5 stars

Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy is the first in the new Detective Matthias Honeywell series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins - One More Chapter (and in particular Chloe Cummngs),  and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information:
Detective Matthias Honeywell and his partner Detective Cassie Malone work the Major Crimes Unit in Lake Erie, Pennsylvania.  Matthias is single, has been burned, and although he dates, is shying away from commitment.  Cassie and her veterinarian husband are looking after their grand-daughter while her mother is deployed.



My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A series of home invasions has Matthias and Cassie on high alert.  During the second robbery, one of the victims dies, so now it's a homicide investigation.

Emma Anderson is a freelance photographer who moved to Erie in search of her sister.  She is also on the run from her abusive boyfriend Clay Bauer.  Although she should feel safe, and knows she is being paranoid, she sees Clay everywhere.  During a walk on the beach, Emma starts photographing seagulls.   She unexpectedly captures the image of a dead body.  The same body that Matthias is looking for.

Matthias starts to wonder if Emma knows more about these home invasions than she is letting on.  He knows she's hiding something.

They will have to learn to trust each other.



My Opinions:
Although I thought it started a little slow, the book still ended up being a fast read.

The plot was quite good, and eventually moved at a good pace.  The characters were entertaining, and although it was somewhat predictable,  there were enough red herrings in it to make it interesting.  I liked how the two story-lines came together.

Okay, we all know I'm not a romance fan, but I did like the budding relationship between Emma and Matthias.  Go figure!

Anyway, I will be watching for the next in line!

This was an entertaining read and the characters were likeable. There is a murder mystery to solve and the reader was taken through the various steps in the police procedure. I did like that I read about some of the home-life of the police character, Matthias. The other main character, Emma, is also looking for her sister as well as escaping something. I did guess part of the story but not all. This was the first in the series, so although the main story is resolved not everything comes to a conclusion. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.