From the author of A Living Grave comes a gripping police procedural featuring sheriff’s detective Katrina Williams as she exposes the dark underbelly of the Missouri Ozarks . . . DREDGING UP THE TRUTH Still recovering from tragedy and grieving a devastating loss, Iraq war veteran and sheriff’s detective Katrina Williams copes the only way she knows how—by immersing herself in work. A body’s … she knows how—by immersing herself in work. A body’s just been pulled from the lake with a fish haul, but what seems like a straightforward murder case over the poaching of paddlefish for domestic caviar quickly becomes murkier than the depths of the lake.
Soon a second body is found—an illegal Peruvian refugee woman linked to a charismatic tent revival preacher. But as Katrina tries to investigate the enigmatic evangelist, she is blocked by antagonistic FBI agents and Army CID personnel. When more young female refugees disappear, she must partner with deputy Billy Blevins, who stirs mixed feelings in her, to connect the lake murder to the refugees. Katrina is no stranger to darkness, but cold-blooded conspirators plan to make sure she’ll never again see the light of day . . .
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The second book in the Katrina Williams series is A Particular Darkness. This book takes place months after the first one ended. Katrina’s experienced another loss in her life and is starting back to work after having some personal time off work. She gets called out by her friend, and coworker Billy for a body found at the lake. And we’re back to following Katrina working through the twists and turns of a death that takes unexpected turns. This story was a lot more convoluted and multi-layered than the first one. There are more shady characters introduced that I was immediately suspicious of.
This book runs the gamut from poaching to refugee women to a tent revival preacher to more difficulties with military personnel. And, if Katrina’s loss at the beginning of the book isn’t enough, she suffers more loss. Loss that I really took exception with. Honestly, I was so mad about it, I had to take a break from the story.
Again, I felt like Katrina’s behavior was dangerous and reckless. She has a reputation in her town as the Hurricane who takes no sh*t or names. On one hand, I didn’t think that was a bad thing, but again, the other part of me is thinking, she’s a police officer. It’s unsafe for her to be on the force with the actions she takes. She’s given chance after chance, when the reality is she shouldn’t be allowed to be a police officer. Her job gives her protection to be the out of control, reckless, violent person and that’s horrible.
I thought for a little while that there was growth with Katrina and everything she has experienced, but that thought didn’t last long. Plus, how could we see growth when she can’t get more than a second of happiness. Which is why she gets so much leeway. Her life is crap, why shouldn’t she be an alcoholic?
Once again, the police procedural part of the story was really well done. Though I guessed part of what was happening, even my twisted mind couldn’t expect all the bad guys doing bad things that ended up happening in this book. I enjoyed being able to work along with Katrina as she discovered clues and tried to unravel a twisty tale to find the culprit or culprits. For me, as much as this storyline can twist and turn, it’s absolutely my favorite part. I like for my police procedurals to have characters with stable personal lives so the story can focus on the mystery/detective part.
Again, I enjoyed this book and thought the author did a great job building the case in this book. He also does a great job of crushing any happiness the main character may hope to achieve (hahahaha), if you enjoy that type of story! Not to worry, he leaves Katrina with a smidgen of a chance of some happiness in the romantic portions but I expect nothing at this point. Don’t go into this book expecting some HEA endings. Go into this book expecting a well-written crime drama with resolutions to the case Katrina is working.
Rating: 4 stars
I struggle so with my reviews on this book because I am once again on the fence. On the one hand you have a woman who enlisted and although women were not to see combat she did. She along with countless other women were assaulted and abused and not always by insurgents. This resulted in sever ptsd for her and continues to cause her problems. Yes it is a real issue and inexcusable. That being said we get a constant inner dialogue about how she is working to stay sober and the struggle with her inner demons and anger. She is called hurricane for a reason after all. The mystery is well done with a number of twist thrown in to keep you off the trail. The deaths are brutal and personal. Her side kick Billy draws her into the battle but he will have to depend on her to get him out of it.
This is my second book by this author, he shows he can truly spin a yarn and make the mystery aspect good and mysterious. His characters are the full gambit ranging from just butte ugly mean and rude to the other end of the spectrum. You will get pulled in and thrown about but oh what a ride.
Katrina is back and dealing with a new murder case. In the midst of an investigation, she’s still dealing with PTSD, a recent loss, and a drinking problem. This second book in the series is just as compelling as the first. Dunn has a talent for keeping a complex story moving with great characters and interesting dialogue.