“Real-world, intense, deeply flawed characters. Hard story to tell; even harder to read, but worth every minute. A real page turner.” ~Terry P., Verified Reviewer Portland, Maine, homicide detective Joe Burgess needs a vacation. But there’s a dead child in Knowlton Park. Rolling up on the scene with a canoe on the roof and fishing poles flapping, Burgess finds little Timmy Watts, viciously … little Timmy Watts, viciously stabbed, and carefully wrapped in a new blue blanket.
Timmy’s parents are life-long crooks, his brothers deal drugs and his sister turns tricks. The only one who seems to care is Timmy’s hearing-impaired sister, Iris. But she’s keeping her secrets.
Then Iris disappears, and Burgess is battling against time to keep more children from dying.
“The story ramps up on the first page and does not let down until the short post climax.” ~Verified Reviewer
“This is another amazing book from a skilled author of police procedurals with much more human understanding than the genre usually offers.” ~Verified Reviewer
THE JOE BURGESS MYSTERIES
Playing God
The Angel of Knowlton Park
Redemption
And Grant You Peace
Led Astray
A Child Shall Lead Them
A World of Deceit
more
This was one of the best, most gut-wrenching books I’ve ever read … and I read tons of police procedurals / murder mysteries. I found myself holding my breath, with a pit of anxiety in my stomach, waiting for the bad guy to be caught. I felt like I was one of the detectives on the team and I felt all the emotions they were going through right along with them! Kate Flora has become one of my all time favourite authors and I can’t wait to read my next book from her!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
Who You Gonna Call?
The world needs more like Joe Burgess in Kate Flora’s THE ANGEL OF KNOWLTON PARK, conscientious, principled, and determined to bring justice, no matter what. He’s an amazing, strong, real character, and if I needed someone to watch my back or save me from a monster, he’d be my first choice. I’d even order pizza for him afterward, or rather, for them. Burgess said it was the team, good people acting together.
Vacation plans dropped, girl friend has to understand, injured knee iced and wrapped, wounds stitched . . . and he just keeps going. Clues are found, confusions interfere, but justice promised must be delivered. This is not an easy book, well-written but not easy. There are dark places, but good people bring some light. I have already requested the next book in the series. I wish Burgess could clean up the world.
A few favorite quotes:
“Crime scenes spoke volumes . . . It was his job to figure out what they were saying.”
“hard winter and spring . . . visions of that peaceful lake . .. It was hard to let those visions go. But Timmy Watts was dead and for now his attention needed to be here.”
“A diamond in the rough . . . full of wonder and curiosity. He was so needy it broke your heart . . . natural generosity.”
“Not hoping for pain free days, but simply for less painful ones.”
Hope is made of small things.”
I received a review copy from eBook Discovery and this is my honest opinion. This is one more amazing, but not pretty read. The subject matter is dark and depressing but the main characters bring light and can lift the story out of the mire. They are resolute, dedicated, determined, stubborn, caring individuals who will not stop until they find justice for their victims. Are they realistic in all of their actions? Not by a long-shot. Most police departments, especially in the current “politically correct” society, wouldn’t tolerate their actions for a minute. But if I or a family member needed justice would I want them on the case? You bet your life I would. As with the previous Joe Burgess book, there is plenty of action, intense investigation and interactions, and curveballs that tend to come out of left field.
My only continuing issue with Ms. Flora’s books is her overuse (in my opinion) of profanity. I can deal with the f-bomb, even though I’d rather not, and all the other forms of profanity except the religious ones. I so wish she would drop those from her vocabulary. It is so bad I really want to ask if she kisses her mother with that filthy mouth! Obviously, I haven’t reached the point that I’m willing to give up on her writing, but it is getting close. Maybe the next one will be better (in terms of profanity because I’m not sure she can get better in terms of writing) but I’m not going to hold my breath. I guess I’ll just have to read it to find out.