This is a 4.5 upgraded to a 5 star. This is my first contact with this author and this series. This is book 5 in the series, and while there is definitely some background information covered in the previous novels, I was able to grasp ahold of the storyline without issue. Set in the wintry wonderland on Northern Vancouver, Canada, this story splits early in with the tenacious JD Temple investigating the apparent homicide of Tasha Aziz, a night janitor. Her fellow compatriots, Dion and Leith, catch the bizarre case of a missing toddler from a high end neighborhood.
Neither case seems to have easy answers or obvious leads. It soon becomes clear that everyone involved with the disappearance of the toddler has secrets or hidden agendas. When information links the case of the missing toddler to the mysterious homicide of Tasha Aziz, this talented group of detectives must pool their efforts to solve these cryptic cases. This story is filled with many different twists, that are always fun because it keeps us guessing. It would be fun to read the previous novels in the series as it is clear the characters involved have complicated histories. Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy. ( )

B.C. Blues Crime # 5

Ms. Greenaway has created another excellent story in rain drenched Vancouver for our enjoyment. It is preferable to follow this series in sequence otherwise you will definitely feel something is missing. Although, do not hesitate if you did to start the series here, each book has its own excellent mystery that would captivated you.

The plot is a complicated one and is cleverly thought of to give us an irresistible puzzle filled with cunning twists and a gripping police procedural. Two excellent cases that had my full attention from start to finish: one of a young woman who was left to die in a school parking lot, the case was taken over by Constable JD Temple while the second had Constables Dave Leith and Cal Dion concentrating on the mysterious disappearance of a toddler during a dinner party. In their chases to get to the bottom the detectives found many links between a tragic drowning, a violent assault and an apparent suicide that crisscrossed their paths and helped them to reach a conclusion and close their investigations.

Ms. Greenaway pens a multilayered mystery that is interesting and captivating but you have to forget about car chases, gun fights and Kung-Fu action, this mystery keeps a steady tempo rather slow moving till the end. Things may not move fast but the words are so vividly said you have time to imagine what is going on and create a colourful scenario in your mind. At best is the strong narrative all through that gives strengths to the investigations and inevitably holds us captivated, glued to every word from start to finish. Great characterisation to boot.

I received this ARC from Dundum Press via NetGalleys for my thoughts. ( )