It’s been twelve years since ER nurse Frankie Stapleton fled the quiet banks of Stillwater, but with her sister’s pregnancy taking a dangerous turn and a string of failed relationships in Chicago hanging over her, Frankie is back-and hoping to put the past behind her. Within minutes of arriving at Stillwater General Hospital however, she ends up saving a man’s life, only to have him turn up dead … dead hours later—and the hospital blames Frankie.
Her instincts say Clem Jensen didn’t die of natural causes, but the more she digs, the more she discovers too many suspects, a few surprising allies, and some hard truths about the first man she ever loved-and left. Now the boy she once knew is a skeptical sheriff’s deputy, her family’s hardware store is in jeopardy, and the rift between Frankie and her loved ones is deeper than ever.
With her career-and future-on life support, Frankie must catch a killer, clear her name, and heal the wounds of the past in Lucy Kerr’s enthralling mystery debut, Time of Death.
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Why This Book
I’ve read several books published by Crooked Lane, which led to chatting with their marketing department a few times. I was offered an opportunity to read the second book in this series, but since I’m a bit too Type-A, I had to go back and read the first book. It’s a great publisher, I love book series and the plot sounded interesting. I am clearing ARCs by 12/31 so I have a blank reading slate in 2018. I jumped on this one over the weekend in preparation for reading the second book in another week.
Plot, Characters & Setting
ER nurse Frankie Stapleton, 32, ends her third engagement in Chicago, then rushes home to assist her sister who’s having her second baby. Though she only plans to stay the weekend, as the family hasn’t been very close since Frankie left town more than a decade ago, she stumbles into a few too many problems. First of which is finding a man about to have a heart attack in the hospital where her sister is giving birth six weeks early. Frankie steps in, helps get the doctors to save the man and goes off to see her sister. Unfortunately, someone else with an ax to grind, steps in and kills the heart attack victim. Frankie looks guilty of doing something wrong and must fight to prove her innocence. Along the path, she runs into ex-fiance number one, as well as a few old friends, and some financial issues with her family’s hardware store.
Approach & Style
The 323-page book is told in first-person POV (except the Prologue) and focuses on Frankie. There are 35 chapters, which makes each relatively short at nine pages. I read the paperback in 4 hours throughout 1 day when I had some free time. It’s clear, direct and focuses almost entirely on the main story, while building the world of Stillwater General and the town Frankie will undoubtedly move back to if the series continues.
Strengths
Frankie is a fantastic character. She has flaws, but you like her. She pushes your buttons just enough and then pulls back. She’s smart, but also has a lot to learn about herself and life. She is methodical and independent, yet she asks for help from others. The plot is also very intriguing. It’s clear from the Prologue that someone is going to kill the heart attack victim, but we have no idea when. The victim knows something’s wrong with him, but even he’s unsure who did it, at first.
You’ll be pulled in right away when this story takes off. It’s rare I have a strong emotional connection, but this one made me focus immediately. Once Frankie arrives in the ER at Stillwater, she is a dynamo and you can’t decide whether you’re hurting more for the heart attack victim, Frankie’s third failed engagement or her sister who may lose her baby. I very much enjoy the author’s style, which balances detail and dialogue quite well. A clear recommended read from me.
Concerns
Very little. For the most part, everything flowed quite nicely. There’s a few areas of suspended disbelief, but not anything big. I struggled with the victim’s daughter so willingly connecting to the nurse who is named in the lawsuit, but it is a small town. I couldn’t quite tell what the family drama was in the past, but something felt like it was a little too rushed. I suspect that’s due to it being a potential plot in a future book (which is OK with me!). I also thought too many people were willing to sneak information to Frankie as she worked on the case, but in a small town, perhaps that’s just how it is. Nothing that alarmed me nor should it worry you. It’s good to push readers sometimes, at least I like when that happens. Boundaries are limitless in books.
Final Thoughts
For a debut in a mystery somewhere between a cozy and a thriller, it’s intriguing. It’s not quite a medical drama, but it’s got enough sophistication to push readers beyond normal laymen’s terms (which is a good thing). I will definitely read book number two and am quite interested in how this story will evolve. Thanks to the publisher for keeping me in mind for this and future ones.