A Deadly Thaw: A Mystery (Inspector Francis Sadler) - Sarah Ward

See my full review at Mystereity Reviews

If you read only one book this year, A Deadly Thaw should be it.  A tense thrill ride through twisted justice and family secrets, it will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you breathless.

Lena Grey was convicted 14 years ago of killing her husband, Andrew. Not long after she is released from prison, a man is found shot to death in an abandoned morgue and is positively identified as Andrew. If he wasn't killed 14 years ago, who did Lena kill and why?

I loved this from the first page; I don't think I've ever read a more delightfully labyrinthine plot. I think the most compelling aspect of the book was that you're just as in the dark about Lena as are the police and Lena's sister, Kat. You're not given any clues, so every revelation is just as shocking to you as it is to the characters. I admit, I had an inkling what was behind Lena's behavior change as a teen, but had no idea how it played into the later events. The book was in no way confusing, it unraveled layer by layer, amping up the tension with each page. The shocking conclusion was heart-stopping and wholly satisfying and left me wanting more.

Overall, A Deadly Thaw is a riveting and compelling book that will thrill lovers of action-packed mysteries. This is the second book in the Inspector Francis Sadler series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in return for my honest review.