Can Zoe and Pete Target the Right Killer?
When I’m finding breaks in my reading schedule, I’m turning to series I’m trying to catch up on. While I don’t expect to get caught up on the Zoe Chambers Mysteries this year, I’m hoping to get a couple of books closer. Of course, with wonderful books like Under the Radar, that’s a complete pleasure.
This is book nine in the series. If you aren’t familiar with it, Zoe Chambers is a paramedic and deputy coroner in a rural community in Pennsylvania. She is engaged to Pete Adams, the local sheriff. Between the two of them, they managed to find some pretty compelling mysteries.
When Zoe is called to the scene of a shooting, she is surprised to find the shooter is Horace Pavelka, a friend from high school. Horace has confessed to shooting Dennis Culp, a man who has bullied and abused him since they were in school together. The evidence for self-defense is compelling, so Pete lets Horace go. However, Horace has only been out a couple of hours when another of his tormentors winds up dead and everyone on the case seems to go missing. Can Pete find any of his suspects? Will Zoe be able to prove her friend innocent?
If you haven’t read any of Annette’s books, you are in for a treat. She pulls you in right away and makes it impossible to put the book down. Between the main mystery and several other equally compelling subplots, I was hooked. There was never a good break in the story, which always made putting the book down hard. I did find one twist a little too coincidental, but it’s a minor point. There are plenty of other twists that worked, and the climax was wonderful.
Being book nine in the series, we’ve really grown to love Zoe and Pete and several other series regulars. That’s one reason why this book works – we deeply care about all the subplots, even the ones that are personal. Don’t worry, the book knows it is a mystery and that is the focus. You could jump in here if you wanted, but it will be much richer if you’ve been reading all along and already know the characters and their relationships.
The characters are just as strong here as always. I love spending time with Zoe and Pete, and watching their relationship continue to grow is always a delight. The rest of the returning characters charm, and the new characters are equally compelling.
Yes, this book is more traditional than a cozy. However, the language and violence are kept to a minimum. As long as you know this going in, you’ll be fine.
Zoe and Pete really are co-leads in this series, and we spend equal time in each of their heads. This is used to great effect since it allows us to see the story unfold while increasing the suspense. These switches are always obvious.
If, like me, you are behind on this wonderful series, you’ll be hooked when you do pick up Under the Radar. And if you haven’t met Zoe and Pete yet, you’ll want to fix that today.
Here are the rest of the Zoe Chambers Mysteries.
Thank you so much, Mark!
ReplyDeleteI read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to get to the second one soon - though newer shinier books do tend to get in the way.
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