One dark night artist Craig Saxton went missing from his village. His body was found thirty-two hours later in the river, floating like a bobber on a fishing line. Rumors swell like tidal waves: did his ex-wife or his fiancée’s father kill this likeable young man? Or was it simply a case of jealousy by the village’s other artist? Now, two years later, Craig’s fiancée hopes ex-police detective … detective Michael McLaren can find out.
From speaking to villagers, McLaren quickly realizes that what appears to be a straightforward investigation is fast becoming as tangled as fishing lines. Are the fish poaching incidents, the reappearance of the local ghost, and assaults on him merely to muddy the investigative waters, or are they connected to Craig’s death?
McLaren has his hands full. They become even fuller when a nemesis from his past appears one night, bent on revenge. And the inevitable struggle opens a new future for one man…and leaves the other empty handed.
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Another of the McLaren series, this book probably works better as a follow up read to the last book rather than as a standalone. The author has created a very heavy plotline that keeps the main character (and the reader) trying to catch up to all that is going on. The cold case murder was very well crafted and in hindsight, had more than enough angles to fill a book by itself. The co-plot of revenge seemed to almost be a book on its own.
The main character of McLaren is very readable and one a reader quickly grows fond of. He is the kind of leading man quasi-private detective that would be great on a BBC series.
The detail provided of the small-town setting was again impressive and shows a great amount of research on the part of the author.
The one issue I had with the book was the rushed nature of the ending. The book had so many aspects going on it seemed to need another 30 or 40 pages to properly show what happened rather than a quick explanation.
A fine mystery book with appeal to those who enjoy British mysteries.
My Rating: 4.25 stars
This book is such an interesting, intriguing, suspenseful, British mystery!
I enjoyed teaming back up again with one of my favorite English Investigators, McLaren!
This is the third book I’ve read from the accomplished author, Jo A. Hiestand. Last year, I had previously read and enjoyed Jo’s other book, “An Unwilling Suspect,” which is Book Seven in the McLaren Mysteries Book Series and then just a few months ago I read her other book, “Photo Shoot,” which is Book Nine in the same book series. So, I was thrilled to get the chance to read her latest work – which also happens to be part of the same series. “Empty Handed,” is Book Ten in the McLaren Mysteries Book Series.
Jo’s writing only continues to improve and grow with each book! I know she will be author I will continue to read over the years!
This book focuses mostly on the main character, Michael McLaren, an English investigator and the cold case of local village artist, Craig Saxton.
McLaren is still reeling from the loss of his fiancé and wants to just keep busy at home. But after he receives a plea from a woman, Victoria, begging for him to come and investigate her fiancé’s murder, he can’t help but grapple with the echoing resemblance and the feelings of losing the one you were about to spend the rest of your life with. McLaren agrees to take on Victoria’s fiancé, Craig Saxton’s case. Unfortunately, this supposedly small, sleepy village seems anything but when McLaren discovers poachers, a mysterious ghost story with similarities to the current case, lots of crazy drama, and he is physically attacked multiple times while on the hunt to find the killer! McLaren’s simple case just got complicated!
It was great catching back up with McLaren! He is kind, charming, intelligent, compassionate, and sincere. It is obvious he is still heartbroken and going through the five stages of grief over the recent loss of his fiancé, Dena. I think taking this case felt like he was reconnecting with Dena. When Victoria called and left a message on McLaren’s answering machine saying she loved her fiancé, McLaren couldn’t help but draw the parallel lines and reflect on the similarities of their two shared circumstances. It’s not hard to see why McLaren was so passionate about solving this case and wanting to bring justice and answers for Victoria.
Ms. Hiestand’s skilled knowledge of the mystery and crime solving discipline continues to shine through in her elegant and detailed scenes.
There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!
This book is book ten of the McLaren Mysteries Book Series. Regardless, of having some insight to this book series it can still easily be read on its own without any confusion. However, having read three books in this book series now, I am an even bigger fan of McLaren and would recommend checking out the entire series – not because you need to read them for the books to make sense, but because you’ll want to read them, because of how intriguing and entertaining they are!
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it! I think all mystery and crime thriller fans will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
This is Book 10 of Jo Hiestand’s McLaren Mysteries series. Even before I finished it, I could tell Hiestand had done it again. Created another excellent, well-written mystery; one with even more twists and turns than before. She’s made McLaren a little more melancholy, yet still the same understanding, sharp, and tough cop that always attracts me. He’s recovered just a bit from the death of his fiancé and may even be ready to let himself feel again. He’s still running as hard as he can to help someone in need, but this time he might have to help himself.
The author played with my mind a little or at least that’s how it felt; all in a good way. I was sure I knew the killer because of a few little tips I thought I had found, and then, well, suffice it to say I was wrong. I’ve read all of the books in this series, and I’ve learned that sometimes if you are really paying attention, Hiestand will stick in some tiny little hints. Sometimes it’s to help you maybe figure out the killer a page or two before the very end of the book or… they might just be red herrings.
The twists and turns in the story work out well here, and I think it’s because the author is so very good at descriptive writing. The little village becomes real as does the pub that McLaren and Jamie have a pint in while trying to work through the crime. The dialog between them is smooth reading, not always an easy thing to do. Hiestand is good at making us be each character, and just as good at painting a scene, so you feel as if you are there.
Being a part of the story and loving the main characters in them is what causes readers to watch for the next book as quickly as they’ve finished the current one. Now I feel sort of “empty-handed”. Any more coming Ms. Hiestand?
It’s always a pleasure to read the latest McLaren mystery – and this one doesn’t disappoint! This is book ten in a series but you don’t need to read the previous books in order to read this one. Ex-police detective Michael McLaren has his hands full in this fast-paced mystery as he tries to solve a case gone cold at the same time as it seems his own life is in danger. The characters are well developed, and red herrings abound so that I was completely fooled as to who the real murderer was! Try your onw detective skills to see if you can unravel this mystery before the book ends – I dare you! Another good mystery in this woinderful series.
Another winner
I have read all of Jo Hiestand’s McLaren series. And when she sent me a copy of this book for an honest review, I couldn’t wait to dive in. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s Michael McLaren at his best, solving the cold case of artist Craig Saxton. The plot is rife with Hiestand’s twists and turns. You’ll never predict where it’s going. So, jump right in and get this!