"A Cruel Light" by Cyndi MacMillan is a captivating blend of suspense, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. The central concept of a hidden mural holding clues to a cold case was original and kept me intrigued throughout.

Following art conservator Annora Garde as she uncovers the secrets of the painting was fascinating. The details of the restoration process were well-balanced, offering a unique perspective into the investigation. The small-town atmosphere added another layer, with its hidden resentments and lingering trauma from the unsolved murder.

If you enjoyed works by Simone St. James, then "A Cruel Light" is definitely worth checking out. It's a perfect mix of art, suspense, and a haunting cold case with a touch of the unknown.

I did find the art aspect interesting. But not much else. I was engaged the beginning of the book, but the follow through was hard.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all the cover is gorgeous and the Narrator of this book did a great job.

I feel this book had so much potential but in the end, sort of fell flat for me.
This was a slightly confusing police procedural with so many events happening within a short time period and a bit stalling in the middle to the final revelation.

I got an audio copy of this one via NetGalley so thank you, and Dreamscape Media.

This was my first Cindy MacMillan's book, and won't be my last. Mac and Annora are both great characters. I liked the mystery, the suspense, and the romance. The storyline is original and engaging. This is a good mystery thriller. Nan McNamara did a great job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed it. #NetGalley

Sadly I did not finish this, it started off strong but I lost interest about 50% of the way. Very short so maybe gold for someone just getting started with audiobooks!

This was enjoyable. I loved the history aspect as well as the romance between Annora and Mac. I thought this was a creative thriller that kept me guessing throughout the entire novel. Overall, great work from debut author. I would rate it 3.8 stars.

"A Cruel Light," written by Cyndi MacMillan and read by Nan McNamara, is a fascinating and dramatic story that combines art, murder, and long-buried secrets in a way that flows smoothly. The story is all about a mysterious painting that has been hidden and falling apart for decades, hiding hints that could lead to death. As the story goes on, readers are drawn into a world of mystery and drama, similar to what Simone St. James did in her books.

MacMillan's writing is full of vivid details that draw the reader into a disturbing and compelling story. Each character has their own secrets and reasons for doing what they do. This keeps the listener thinking until the very end. Nan McNamara's narration adds another layer of depth to the story. She does a good job of capturing the stress and feelings of the characters.

"A Cruel Light" is a story that is written so well that fans are on the edge of their seats the whole time. This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of atmospheric and exciting stories. It has a mix of art, murder, and secret facts that will keep you spellbound. When you put together Cyndi MacMillan's gripping story and Nan McNamara's amazing reading, you get a delicious and unforgettable listening experience that will leave people wanting more.


***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Set in a quaint Canadian town, this gothic mystery revolves around a cold case involving the perplexing death of a young girl. The local Chief firmly believes that the key to solving the case lies within a recently discovered secret mural. Annora, a skilled art restorer, is summoned by her old college friend, who now serves as the town's mayor, to unveil the hidden secrets within the mural.

However, not everyone welcomes Annora's presence. Many townspeople were employed to renovate the very building where the mural was found, and every day she spends investigating is a day they remain unpaid. Moreover, there are locals who seem apprehensive about the potential revelations the mural may bring to light. As the town grapples with a string of arsons that serve as a distressing distraction, the death toll begins to rise.

The narration of this book by Nan McNamara was truly enjoyable.

Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Media for this ALC

Everyone is saying they enjoyed the art aspect of this book, but I didn’t. I was bored more than anything. The cover is simple, but beautiful- it’s really the only thing I liked about this story.

A very interesting way of trying to find a killer. I really liked the use of the painting to find clues that pointed to potential killers or people of interest. The small romance was nice and the setting was fun! I was not expecting the ending. I will hopefully read more by this author.

Great narration.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was an interesting read with some good twists. I enjoyed the art restoration aspect more than I expected, and the slight paranormal aspect was good. The narrator did a good job.

This was a bit slower than I was hoping for. I a lot of characters introduced all the same time which made things a little confusing. Overall it was an enjoyable book that I would recommend to others.

Colleen Chi-Girl
3-1/2 stars
Book Shelves: female protagonist, women centered, Canada, audiobook, 2023, thriller, paranormal, art, art restoration, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley

I enjoyed this thriller and I think it was a terrific debut novel. There were many, many parts to this interesting thematic story, such as a murder, art restoration, small town interests, a budding romance, and paranormal activities.

It begins with a small town Canadian village mayor calling her friend, a professional and well-known art restorer, Annora Garde. Her job is to clean up an old, decaying painting/mural that was recently discovered and now covered in mold to see what, if any, secrets it tells on a cold case murder.

The inspector, Scott MacGowan, called Mac, of the local police is sure that the painting will help solve the murder case of a young girl, and he becomes a good friend and bit of a romantic interest for Annora.

The story takes you on many interesting twists and turns, but almost to the point of there being too much of everything and stalling in the middle. I wish it would've stuck to fewer characters and I did enjoy the tension and threats that Annora and Mac faced by a probable and local killer. It is still a very good read and I look forward to more by this author.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author, Cynid MacMillan for the advanced ARC audiobook copy.

I love the art aspect of this one. I read a lot of mysteries so I knew who did it pretty early on but was still satisfied with the ending. It’s a good read for people who are in the mood for a different type of story than your typical mystery with forensics and detectives. This focuses more on the art restoration and clues left there. A fun read.

I want to start off by saying that I received audiobook. In return for my honest thoughts and review. I know my review a little late. I do apologize. Here are my thoughts. First and foremost I have never read or listen to anything from this author before. Definitely adding more of this authors books to my tbr. Also the narrator does amazing job. I didn’t feel bored. I enjoyed the fast paced of this audiobook. I really took my time listening to this book. This audiobook was very unpredictable. Damn I was trying to figure this murder as well. Right along with Annora our main character. Who I thought was the murder wasn’t. I highly recommend this book. For anyone who loves a fast paced mystery. Thank you to the author and netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to listen to amazing book.

This is one of the best audiobooks I've had the pleasure of listening to recently. The complex plot was thrilling and I loved following the investigation through the eyes of an art conservationist. The mystery was super unique and really grabbed my attention for the entirety of the book.

First off, the cover is stunning and it was the reason I wanted to review this book.
I love the narrator of this book! Her voice was so soothing.
Super-fast paced and so many things happening at once. I almost felt like I needed to take notes to keep track of everything. I do believe art lovers will love this. It was an interesting to solve the murders through the art. I don’t feel like this book was for me with my lack of art knowledge making it hard to follow at times.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"A Cruel Light" by Cyndi MacMillan follows Annora a art conservator who is hired by the police to clean a moral that is believed to be connected to a 8 year old murder.

I would give "A Cruel Light" by Cyndi MacMillan a 2-star review because, I didn't enjoy the narrator, everything felt rushed and confusing.

I really enjoyed this audiobook.

I loved the characters, the plot, the atmosphere. The twists and turns the plot took were both unexpected and well set-up.

I loved the focus on art and the symbolism in it. I love how it helped to solve, or at least assist, the mystery at the centre of the story, and that it helped the authorities to understand what happened all those years ago.

Would definitely recommend to those who enjoy art and cold cases!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the audiobook!

This novel was too reparative. It was dragging and it did not kept me interested. It has some paranormal activity, which I didn't appreciate since I don't read anything containing paranormal; I did appreciated to learn about Annora's line of work as an art conservator.


Thank you