Blood Land

Description
Kate Palmer is more than ready for the quiet life in Lower Tinworthy, Cornwall. But within weeks of her arrival, a woman is found dead in the village hall, stabbed to death with her own kitchen knife…

The victim is Fenella Barker Jones: chairwoman of the Women’s Institute, doyenne of the amateur dramatic society, and reigning champion of the WI cake-baking contest. But whilst she may have been at the centre of village life, there were plenty who had reason to dislike her – as Kate is about to find out.

As a practice nurse and one of the first on the scene, Kate can’t help but get drawn into the investigation. Her patients are only too eager to tell her about the victim’s extra-curricular activities and, the more Kate hears about Fenella, the more the list of suspects grows: it seems half the village wanted her dead.

Kate’s sister Angie tells her to leave it alone, but Kate can’t resist piecing together the clues. Especially not if brings her closer to the handsome Detective Inspector ‘Woody’ Forrest, who is near to retiring himself and determined to crack his last case.

But when someone breaks into Kate’s home and leaves a warning note on her pillow, it becomes clear the murderer is prepared to do anything to keep their identity hidden… Will Kate and Woody work out who’s responsible, before she becomes the next victim?

It's a small town .. not normally a place someone would associate with murder.

When the wife of the Sheriff of this Wyoming town is shot down in cold blood,  he knows he can grieve later.  The town is ready to implode ... his wife was killed by her brother.   Because this particular family is well known, neighbors turn against neighbor, friends against friend.

Land and money is the root of all evil with gas rights worth billions of dollars is at risk.  The sheriff is walking a fine line and must choose between justice, revenge, and duty.

Well written, this brings to mind of the old west .... the plot is enticing, the action is practically non-stop  once it gets going.  Sheriff Pruett is a well-drawn character.  He has issues stemming from the service, still suffers PTSD, doesn't seem to really like himself, and he questions his own decisions.  He's interesting to watch.

Many thanks to the author / ind river Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this hard boiled murder mystery.  Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.