Copper Waters

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

I loved the idea of this book, I thought it was a great concept for using New Zealand as a mystery element. It worked so well with what I was hoping for when reading the description. The characters had everything that I was looking for and were written in a way that I cared about and enjoyed the use of New Zealand in the story. Marlene M. Bell has a great writing style and can’t wait for more.

A rural New Zealand vacation turns poisonous.

For third time, antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury has turned down a marriage proposal from handsome Alec Zavos - and, once again, it's not because Annalisse isn't desperate for them to spend the rest of their lives together.

3.5 rounded up. Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship. With a previous girlfriend showing up with a young son in a previous book, claiming her is Alec's, Annalisse wants him to take a paternity test to be sure. He keeps putting it off and Annalisse doesn't like what she has become. She receives an invitation to visit a sheep farm in New Zealand, as well as possibly find out where her mother has gone. She accepts and tells Alec to say home. Alec is worried and sends his friend Bill, who is also a private investigator. It is lucky for her that Bill is there as shortly after they arrive a man they drove from the airport with is killed and then a second man dies and they are last ones to see both of them alive. The local police don't seem to be too worried about either case, so Bill and Annalisse snoop a bit. When Annalisse is injured, Alex flies over to be with her. It seems a quiet sheep station doesn't give Annalisse the quiet or peace she is looking for, nor any information about her mother.

Copper Waters is the fourth book in the Annalisse series and it is the first one I have read. I enjoyed the story, but I know I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read the first three. There were a lot of things mentioned in the book that had happened in previous stories, and although the author gave some back information, there were many times that I wished I knew more. I enjoyed the relationship between Anna and Alec and it felt real. There were issues and problems, secrets and silences just like most couples. The plot for this one was one that I had not read before, and even with the clues, I was not even close to guessing the culprit. I learned a lot about sheep farming and showing which I found interesting. Of course, corrupt police and politicians play a part in this story, but were they also involved in the murder? This was an interesting mystery with plenty of suspects, great characters and a wonderful setting. If you enjoy a cozy mystery set in a different locale with an ongoing storyline, then you will probably enjoy this series very much.