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Two Nights
Meet Sunday Night, a woman with physical and psychological scars, and a killer instinct...
Sunnie has spent years running from her past, burying secrets and building a life in which she needs no one and feels nothing. But a girl has gone missing, lost in the chaos of a bomb explosion, and the family needs Sunnie's help.
Is the girl dead? Did someone take her? If she is out there, why doesn't she want to be found? It's time for Sunnie to face her own demons because they just might lead her to the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
Sunnie has spent years running from her past, burying secrets and building a life in which she needs no one and feels nothing. But a girl has gone missing, lost in the chaos of a bomb explosion, and the family needs Sunnie's help.
Is the girl dead? Did someone take her? If she is out there, why doesn't she want to be found? It's time for Sunnie to face her own demons because they just might lead her to the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2017
624 people are currently reading
8269 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Reichs
152 books17.4k followersKathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1998): Deja Dead
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1998): Deja Dead
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,514 reviews
April 8, 2017
I’ve been reading books by Kathy Reichs’ for years. I love her Temperance Brennan series. When I saw she had a stand-alone novel coming out I was very excited to get it. Unfortunately it just didn't work for me. (I may be in the minority on this one).
Sunday Night (the main Character's name-not the day of the week) was once a highly decorated police officer now a self-imposed recluse.
She retired from the police department following an altercation that left a man dead and Sunday with a permanent disability. Not wanting to spend her career sitting behind a desk, she opted out. Sharp witted sarcasm is her defense against the world around her.
Opaline Drucker's daughter and grandson are killed following a brutal attack. Her granddaughter Stella is missing. Sunday is hired to find the missing girl and those responsible for the murders.
Quick chapters with fast quipped verbiage. Flew through it very quickly which I normally like, but I found myself rushing through without absorbing the story-line. I had a hard time connecting to the main character. I didn't find Sunday very likable. But then maybe that was the point? By the time we were given insight into Sunday's true soul, well, it was just too late for me. I was disappointed as Kathy Reichs is one of my favorite authors and I had such high hopes for this book.
2.5*
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Kathy Reichs for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sunday Night (the main Character's name-not the day of the week) was once a highly decorated police officer now a self-imposed recluse.
She retired from the police department following an altercation that left a man dead and Sunday with a permanent disability. Not wanting to spend her career sitting behind a desk, she opted out. Sharp witted sarcasm is her defense against the world around her.
Opaline Drucker's daughter and grandson are killed following a brutal attack. Her granddaughter Stella is missing. Sunday is hired to find the missing girl and those responsible for the murders.
Quick chapters with fast quipped verbiage. Flew through it very quickly which I normally like, but I found myself rushing through without absorbing the story-line. I had a hard time connecting to the main character. I didn't find Sunday very likable. But then maybe that was the point? By the time we were given insight into Sunday's true soul, well, it was just too late for me. I was disappointed as Kathy Reichs is one of my favorite authors and I had such high hopes for this book.
2.5*
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Kathy Reichs for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2017
This is a standalone novel from Kathy Reichs and it could not be more different from her usual fare. Sunday 'Sunnie' Night PI has a chequered career and a traumatic past she is haunted by and low self esteem. She is ex-military serving in Afghanistan and an ex-cop who quit because she couldn't bear the idea of a desk job after an incident that left her with a disability - one eye and scarring. She is living the life of a reclusive hermit on Goat Island, just off the coast of South Carolina. In the expectation that it will do her good, her foster father, Beau, encourages her to take up a year old cold case. This is to take Sunnie to Chicago and numerous other cities.
Rich Charleston resident, Opaline Drucker, lost her daughter and grandson in the bombing of a Jewish school. Her teenage granddaughter, Stella, is missing assumed to be dead or kidnapped. She seeks justice and Stella found. With deep misgivings, Sunnie agrees to take on the case and heads to Chicago where the bombing occurred. This is an investigation with further deaths, the involvement of cults, and the slowly dawning realisation that further horrors are in the pipeline. Sunnie is aided by her brother, Gus, who is a significantly friendlier personality than Sunnie. In a fast paced read with twists, a determined Sunnie is not afraid to shoot first, ask questions later, in an action, fuelled race to prevent further tragedies taking place.
The character and personality of Sunnie is all jagged edges with a cutting wit. She has mental health issues and trauma that has to be relived as the case opens emotional wounds. I enjoyed the story well enough but felt it lacked the emotional heart to fully engage me. Deeper characterisation is sacrificed for greater emphasis on plot and action. This might appeal to other readers more in search for this more descriptive type of action novel. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
Rich Charleston resident, Opaline Drucker, lost her daughter and grandson in the bombing of a Jewish school. Her teenage granddaughter, Stella, is missing assumed to be dead or kidnapped. She seeks justice and Stella found. With deep misgivings, Sunnie agrees to take on the case and heads to Chicago where the bombing occurred. This is an investigation with further deaths, the involvement of cults, and the slowly dawning realisation that further horrors are in the pipeline. Sunnie is aided by her brother, Gus, who is a significantly friendlier personality than Sunnie. In a fast paced read with twists, a determined Sunnie is not afraid to shoot first, ask questions later, in an action, fuelled race to prevent further tragedies taking place.
The character and personality of Sunnie is all jagged edges with a cutting wit. She has mental health issues and trauma that has to be relived as the case opens emotional wounds. I enjoyed the story well enough but felt it lacked the emotional heart to fully engage me. Deeper characterisation is sacrificed for greater emphasis on plot and action. This might appeal to other readers more in search for this more descriptive type of action novel. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
July 23, 2017
Sunday Night, (and yes there are many bad puns I could make since I am writing this on Sunday morning) has had a horrific childhood, been in the military and was for a time a policewoman. Now she lives alone on Goat Island, one of her only contacts her somewhat adopted father, Beau. When he presents her with a case that includes a bombing and a missing teenage girl, despite herself Sunny is intrigued enough to investigate the case.
Takes her to Chicago, and as always when the story partly takes place in familiar locations, it is easier to identify with. Michigan avenue, and Foster Avenue beach a location I frequented often as a teen. Eventually to the Kentucky Derby, another place I love. The character of Sunday is intersting, she is scarred, tough, doesn't give up and has an inner core of rage. Her back story is the stuff of nightmares. The case has the requisite chills and thrills, wrong directions and surprises. Much action and a quickly flowing plot.
Stand alone or the start of a new series? I hope the latter, though at the rate I am picking up series I won't have time to read anything else.
Arc from Netgalley.
Takes her to Chicago, and as always when the story partly takes place in familiar locations, it is easier to identify with. Michigan avenue, and Foster Avenue beach a location I frequented often as a teen. Eventually to the Kentucky Derby, another place I love. The character of Sunday is intersting, she is scarred, tough, doesn't give up and has an inner core of rage. Her back story is the stuff of nightmares. The case has the requisite chills and thrills, wrong directions and surprises. Much action and a quickly flowing plot.
Stand alone or the start of a new series? I hope the latter, though at the rate I am picking up series I won't have time to read anything else.
Arc from Netgalley.
June 14, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Kathy Reichs is back with another thriller, though it is not of the forensic variety. Sunday "Sunnie" Night lives an isolated life after leaving the Charleston PD under a cloud of scrutiny. She is happy being off the grid and living alongside nature. When she is approached with a chance to get back in the game, Night remains somewhat skeptical, but takes a gamble and heads to the mainland. There, she meets with Opaline Drucker, a rich socialite who wants answers related to the murder of her daughter and grandson, as well as the disappearance of her granddaughter. The payout and the chance to call the shots are too alluring for Night and she agrees to explore this case, which takes her to Chicago. There, Night learns that the murders took place at a Jewish Girls' School when a bomb detonated. Setting out some feelers, Night must try to ascertain who is behind this and how she can trap them, where the local cops failed. After discovering a few digital breadcrumbs, Night becomes enmeshed in a game of cat and mouse, almost losing her life. However, she is able to trace some of the bombing events to a larger group, a collective who sport a double-J tattoo. Travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles and eventually into the Old South, Night will stop at nothing to get answers. Layered with in the narrative is a side story about how Night got her name and the personal struggles she faced at a formative time in her life. An interesting story that will have some readers on the edge of their seats while others might be praying that Tempe Brennan will soon reappear.
I am of two minds about this book. I applaud Reichs for venturing out of her comfort zone (Tempe Brennan and anything VIRALS), which has given her the chance to create a new and highly curious protagonist. However, I also have such a deep appreciation for Temperance Brennan that I find it hard to step away from that character or at least not to draw large comparisons. The premise of this story is strong and the development of Sunday Night is also done with considerable delicacy. As I mentioned before, it could be that she contrasts so much with Temperance that has left me leery to latch onto her. The story moves along effectively and flows with ease, though I did not find myself as ensconced as I would have liked. I sought something stronger and deeper, rather than bouncing from one side of the country to the other before landing in Kentucky for a terror-based standoff. The banter between characters was decent enough and the backstory that Reichs provides could bear some fruit, but it did not capture me as wholeheartedly as I would have liked. Overall, this is a decent book, but I regret to say, it pales in comparison to the forensic gems I am used to finding when Kathy Reichs is at the helm.
Kudos, Madam Reichs for stepping away and allowing your readers to see another of your layers. I know some authors like to be known not only for a single character, but you have done so well that perhaps Reichs and Brennan will forever be intertwined.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Kathy Reichs is back with another thriller, though it is not of the forensic variety. Sunday "Sunnie" Night lives an isolated life after leaving the Charleston PD under a cloud of scrutiny. She is happy being off the grid and living alongside nature. When she is approached with a chance to get back in the game, Night remains somewhat skeptical, but takes a gamble and heads to the mainland. There, she meets with Opaline Drucker, a rich socialite who wants answers related to the murder of her daughter and grandson, as well as the disappearance of her granddaughter. The payout and the chance to call the shots are too alluring for Night and she agrees to explore this case, which takes her to Chicago. There, Night learns that the murders took place at a Jewish Girls' School when a bomb detonated. Setting out some feelers, Night must try to ascertain who is behind this and how she can trap them, where the local cops failed. After discovering a few digital breadcrumbs, Night becomes enmeshed in a game of cat and mouse, almost losing her life. However, she is able to trace some of the bombing events to a larger group, a collective who sport a double-J tattoo. Travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles and eventually into the Old South, Night will stop at nothing to get answers. Layered with in the narrative is a side story about how Night got her name and the personal struggles she faced at a formative time in her life. An interesting story that will have some readers on the edge of their seats while others might be praying that Tempe Brennan will soon reappear.
I am of two minds about this book. I applaud Reichs for venturing out of her comfort zone (Tempe Brennan and anything VIRALS), which has given her the chance to create a new and highly curious protagonist. However, I also have such a deep appreciation for Temperance Brennan that I find it hard to step away from that character or at least not to draw large comparisons. The premise of this story is strong and the development of Sunday Night is also done with considerable delicacy. As I mentioned before, it could be that she contrasts so much with Temperance that has left me leery to latch onto her. The story moves along effectively and flows with ease, though I did not find myself as ensconced as I would have liked. I sought something stronger and deeper, rather than bouncing from one side of the country to the other before landing in Kentucky for a terror-based standoff. The banter between characters was decent enough and the backstory that Reichs provides could bear some fruit, but it did not capture me as wholeheartedly as I would have liked. Overall, this is a decent book, but I regret to say, it pales in comparison to the forensic gems I am used to finding when Kathy Reichs is at the helm.
Kudos, Madam Reichs for stepping away and allowing your readers to see another of your layers. I know some authors like to be known not only for a single character, but you have done so well that perhaps Reichs and Brennan will forever be intertwined.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 5, 2018
EXCERPT:
My right-hand neighbor thinks I’m crazy, so she brings me cheese.
I heard the one-two crunch of her boots on the path. A pause, then the oyster shells crunched again.
I lifted a corner of the towel covering my kitchen window. She was already five yards off, a shadow-laced smudge among the live oaks.
Six years, and I still didn’t know her name. Didn’t want to. Had no desire to exchange recipes or comments on the tides.
I cracked the door, snagged the plastic-wrapped package, and shoved it into the fridge.
Truth is, I don’t mind the cheese. What I hate are the sharp little eyes plumbing my soul. That and the pity.
And the goats. When the wind is right, the bleating bullies into my dreams and I’m back in Helmand with the blood and the dust.
Or maybe I’m reading the old gal wrong. Maybe the cheese is a bribe so I don’t murder Billie or Nanny.
My left-hand neighbor hanged himself from the end of his pier. His dog curled up and died by his head. Double suicide. Maggot jamboree by the time the bodies were found.
Arthur was a wood-carver, Prince a collie. I prefer their silent company. Fits my two-pronged plan for life. Need no one. Feel nothing.
THE BLURB: Meet Sunday Night, a woman with physical and psychological scars, and a killer instinct...
Sunnie has spent years running from her past, burying secrets and building a life in which she needs no one and feels nothing. But a girl has gone missing, lost in the chaos of a bomb explosion, and the family needs Sunnie's help.
Is the girl dead? Did someone take her? If she is out there, why doesn't she want to be found? It's time for Sunnie to face her own demons because they just might lead her to the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
MY THOUGHTS: I kind of went off Kathy Reichs when they corrupted her Tempe Brennan series into the TV show Bones. That was a seriously bad idea.
So I was kind of wary of reading Two Nights, but my reluctance was unnecessary. This is a seriously good read/ listen.
The story is over two timelines, now while Sunday and her brother Gus (August Night as in Neil Diamond's Hot.....) are trying to track down the bombers and the missing girl, with flashbacks to Sunday's own traumatic experience.
This is a fast paced and engaging read. There is plenty of action, plenty of twists. Strongly recommended ☆☆☆☆ read.
I listened to Two Nights by Kathy Reichs narrated by Colleen Marlo and Kim Mai Guest via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
My right-hand neighbor thinks I’m crazy, so she brings me cheese.
I heard the one-two crunch of her boots on the path. A pause, then the oyster shells crunched again.
I lifted a corner of the towel covering my kitchen window. She was already five yards off, a shadow-laced smudge among the live oaks.
Six years, and I still didn’t know her name. Didn’t want to. Had no desire to exchange recipes or comments on the tides.
I cracked the door, snagged the plastic-wrapped package, and shoved it into the fridge.
Truth is, I don’t mind the cheese. What I hate are the sharp little eyes plumbing my soul. That and the pity.
And the goats. When the wind is right, the bleating bullies into my dreams and I’m back in Helmand with the blood and the dust.
Or maybe I’m reading the old gal wrong. Maybe the cheese is a bribe so I don’t murder Billie or Nanny.
My left-hand neighbor hanged himself from the end of his pier. His dog curled up and died by his head. Double suicide. Maggot jamboree by the time the bodies were found.
Arthur was a wood-carver, Prince a collie. I prefer their silent company. Fits my two-pronged plan for life. Need no one. Feel nothing.
THE BLURB: Meet Sunday Night, a woman with physical and psychological scars, and a killer instinct...
Sunnie has spent years running from her past, burying secrets and building a life in which she needs no one and feels nothing. But a girl has gone missing, lost in the chaos of a bomb explosion, and the family needs Sunnie's help.
Is the girl dead? Did someone take her? If she is out there, why doesn't she want to be found? It's time for Sunnie to face her own demons because they just might lead her to the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
MY THOUGHTS: I kind of went off Kathy Reichs when they corrupted her Tempe Brennan series into the TV show Bones. That was a seriously bad idea.
So I was kind of wary of reading Two Nights, but my reluctance was unnecessary. This is a seriously good read/ listen.
The story is over two timelines, now while Sunday and her brother Gus (August Night as in Neil Diamond's Hot.....) are trying to track down the bombers and the missing girl, with flashbacks to Sunday's own traumatic experience.
This is a fast paced and engaging read. There is plenty of action, plenty of twists. Strongly recommended ☆☆☆☆ read.
I listened to Two Nights by Kathy Reichs narrated by Colleen Marlo and Kim Mai Guest via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 28, 2017
I have read nearly all of Kathy Reichs' previous books featuring Temperence Brennan. I knew going into Two Nightsthat it was going to very different and I was prepared for that. This is the story of Sunday Night, a hard hitting, wise cracking, smart ass southern woman who is both former military and former cop. She has had a hard life and she makes sure that everyone she meets knows it. Halfway through the book we also are introduced to her twin brother, Gus, a saving grace for the book.
Night is hired to find the perpetrators of a bombing at a Jewish school that killed a wealthy woman's family. Thankfully there is far more to the story than that because, left there, with only Sunday Night's character, I would have walked away from the book. Thankfully there IS more and it IS well researched in typical Reichs fashion and that made this book a tolerable read.
However, I had grown tired of Brennan and her wisecracks and formulaic solutions so I really wanted to like this new series. But Sunday Night is also full of the same wisecracks and often sour, crappy attitude. I wouldn't like her in reality and I don't like her character in writing. I loved her brother, Gus, and wish we could have a series about him but I've had my fill of surly, nasty, foul, women who can't get their lives together and take their issues out on the world. It's why I often read mysteries from other countries where women are intelligent and still able to solve crimes.
Bottom line, the storyline was great and well constructed. I won't read any more books featuring this character. I'm sure there are those who will. There are too many great crime writers out there for us to continue to settle for the not-so-great stuff.
Night is hired to find the perpetrators of a bombing at a Jewish school that killed a wealthy woman's family. Thankfully there is far more to the story than that because, left there, with only Sunday Night's character, I would have walked away from the book. Thankfully there IS more and it IS well researched in typical Reichs fashion and that made this book a tolerable read.
However, I had grown tired of Brennan and her wisecracks and formulaic solutions so I really wanted to like this new series. But Sunday Night is also full of the same wisecracks and often sour, crappy attitude. I wouldn't like her in reality and I don't like her character in writing. I loved her brother, Gus, and wish we could have a series about him but I've had my fill of surly, nasty, foul, women who can't get their lives together and take their issues out on the world. It's why I often read mysteries from other countries where women are intelligent and still able to solve crimes.
Bottom line, the storyline was great and well constructed. I won't read any more books featuring this character. I'm sure there are those who will. There are too many great crime writers out there for us to continue to settle for the not-so-great stuff.
June 27, 2017
Sunday Night has cut herself off from everyone hiding off by herself with her physical and psychological scars haunting her. But when she is contacted to help and offered quite a bit of money to find a girl that has gone missing after the chaos of a bomb she decides to take the case.
Sunnie finds herself traveling and following the clues to help her solve the questions still being asked of whether the girl was dead or was she taken? During her time Sunnie will need to face her own demons that have been haunting her for the past several years.
Two Nights is my first read by Kathy Reichs who I have been wanting to try reading for quite a while and thought with this being a standalone it would be the perfect time to try her work out. When seeing this book up for review I was quite thrilled to receive a copy and had looked forward to reading it. Unfortunately the book really ended up somewhat a disappointment for me as I really thought I would love it.
My main issue with this book was simply I never really liked the main character at all. I don't know why but as a flawed character is usually one to become quite attached to but instead I never could connect with Sunnie which just made connecting to everything else going on quite a chore. To be honest by halfway I knew this wasn't a book for me and began skimming here and there just to finish. The good news for me though now that I'm done is I'm reading how this is so different from the normal Kathy Reichs works that I'll still give her another shot sometime and chalk it up to just not connecting with this particular story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Sunnie finds herself traveling and following the clues to help her solve the questions still being asked of whether the girl was dead or was she taken? During her time Sunnie will need to face her own demons that have been haunting her for the past several years.
Two Nights is my first read by Kathy Reichs who I have been wanting to try reading for quite a while and thought with this being a standalone it would be the perfect time to try her work out. When seeing this book up for review I was quite thrilled to receive a copy and had looked forward to reading it. Unfortunately the book really ended up somewhat a disappointment for me as I really thought I would love it.
My main issue with this book was simply I never really liked the main character at all. I don't know why but as a flawed character is usually one to become quite attached to but instead I never could connect with Sunnie which just made connecting to everything else going on quite a chore. To be honest by halfway I knew this wasn't a book for me and began skimming here and there just to finish. The good news for me though now that I'm done is I'm reading how this is so different from the normal Kathy Reichs works that I'll still give her another shot sometime and chalk it up to just not connecting with this particular story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 11, 2017
3.5 Stars!
Fast-paced, mysterious, and entertaining!
This is a suspenseful thriller that reminds us that terrorism can often be homegrown and emphasizes just how dangerous anger, hatred, and religious fanaticism can truly be.
The writing is clear and precise. The main character, Sunday Night, is tough, intelligent, and determined, and the supporting characters are an intriguing mix of ruthless, persistent zealots, and a charming, dependable brother.
I have to say that die-hard fans of the Temperance Brennan series may be a little disappointed in this latest outing by Reichs which doesn't have the scientific jargon and forensic analysis we typically associate with her novels, but there's no question that Reichs is a great writer and if you read this new novel with an open mind you will recognize her trademark strong, flawed, female protagonist and straightforward style of writing that could definitely lead to another bestselling series for her.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Fast-paced, mysterious, and entertaining!
This is a suspenseful thriller that reminds us that terrorism can often be homegrown and emphasizes just how dangerous anger, hatred, and religious fanaticism can truly be.
The writing is clear and precise. The main character, Sunday Night, is tough, intelligent, and determined, and the supporting characters are an intriguing mix of ruthless, persistent zealots, and a charming, dependable brother.
I have to say that die-hard fans of the Temperance Brennan series may be a little disappointed in this latest outing by Reichs which doesn't have the scientific jargon and forensic analysis we typically associate with her novels, but there's no question that Reichs is a great writer and if you read this new novel with an open mind you will recognize her trademark strong, flawed, female protagonist and straightforward style of writing that could definitely lead to another bestselling series for her.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
August 8, 2017
Two Nights is a standalone from Kathy Reichs who is known for her Temperance Brennan forensic mysteries. Two Nights is faster paced than Reichs' series. Hopefully now I will quit with the comparisons. Especially since I got bored with Brennan and it might take me awhile to get bored with Sunday Night. Oops, I did it again.
Sunday is a recluse living on a thinly inhabited island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. She is making a life for herself dealing with her physical and psychological scars. Her only friends are her foster father and a squirrel.
Sunday is enticed from her island by her foster father and is tasked by a South of Broad Charleston dowager to hunt down the people who killed the dowager's daughter and grandson in a terrorist bombing in Chicago. Her grand-daughter, Stella, who was also there disappeared in the midst of the bombing. Sunday is drawn to the missing granddaughter feeling strongly that she is alive. Sunday only hopes she is fast enough to find her before Stella is killed.
During Sunday's pursuit of the terrorists there are alternate chilling chapters detailing the torture and mistreatment of a prisoner, giving the reader hope that Sunday is correct in her certainty about Stella's fate.
Two Nights is a thrilling ride in the hunt for these terrorists with many surprises along the way.
The story barrels across the country providing tense action in each city it stops.
Maybe I read this too fast in keeping with the pace set by the author, but there is still so much unexplained about Sunday and the origins of many of her deepest scars. Sunday is fascinating, I very much want to read about her again. Reich always writes such interesting characters.
I do hope this is a beginning of a series rather than a standalone. There is so much more I want to learn about the Two Nights.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
Sunday is a recluse living on a thinly inhabited island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. She is making a life for herself dealing with her physical and psychological scars. Her only friends are her foster father and a squirrel.
Sunday is enticed from her island by her foster father and is tasked by a South of Broad Charleston dowager to hunt down the people who killed the dowager's daughter and grandson in a terrorist bombing in Chicago. Her grand-daughter, Stella, who was also there disappeared in the midst of the bombing. Sunday is drawn to the missing granddaughter feeling strongly that she is alive. Sunday only hopes she is fast enough to find her before Stella is killed.
During Sunday's pursuit of the terrorists there are alternate chilling chapters detailing the torture and mistreatment of a prisoner, giving the reader hope that Sunday is correct in her certainty about Stella's fate.
Two Nights is a thrilling ride in the hunt for these terrorists with many surprises along the way.
The story barrels across the country providing tense action in each city it stops.
Maybe I read this too fast in keeping with the pace set by the author, but there is still so much unexplained about Sunday and the origins of many of her deepest scars. Sunday is fascinating, I very much want to read about her again. Reich always writes such interesting characters.
I do hope this is a beginning of a series rather than a standalone. There is so much more I want to learn about the Two Nights.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
April 14, 2017
“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.”
– Alfred Lord Tennyson
Sunday Night, known as Sunnie to her few friends, has garnered knowledge aplenty from her years of experience in the military and police force. Wisdom? Perhaps. All we really learn of Ms. Night early on in Kathy Reichs’ standalone PI thriller, Two Nights, is that she has a checkered past. She’s ex-military and an ex-cop with Charleston PD, having given up the latter job after shooting a suspect and suffering an injury herself. Rather than settling for a desk job, she’s taken disability and has settled in as something of a recluse on Goat Island, South Carolina. There she seems content to feed the visiting squirrel she calls Bob and avoid the mosquitoes as well as her neighbors.
Suddenly, she finds herself summoned by a wealthy woman, Opaline Drucker, whose daughter and grandson were killed in a bombing and whose teenage granddaughter went missing. Ms. Night’s task is to find those responsible, and if possible, locate Drucker’s granddaughter Stella. Why should she take on this challenge? The pay will be amazing, but she is tempted to refuse. Still, Sunday is drawn to the plight of the missing girl. What happened to her? Is she dead? Is she alive somewhere, being tortured and abused?
For readers who are used to Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series, this protagonist might come as a shock. She’s not Tempe, a forensic anthropologist. She’s Sunday Night, an ex-cop-turned PI. Sunnie does not have a warm, shiny personality. She uses sarcasm to keep others at a safe distance, and her wry wit is not for everyone. But she’s smart and resourceful. She’s diligent and persistent. She’s definitely not someone you’d want to cross. Like a lot of detective novels, the Night chapters are narrated in first person. We also get to meet her twin brother Gus. That’s one of the vague aspects of this book; there are others. Gus is a kinder, gentler soul than Sunnie.
Along with the appearance of Gus, most of the secondary chapters that impart snippets of a young female in an undisclosed location are much more cryptic. For most of the book, I was speculating about the timeframe and her identity and the setting, and I found it frustrating. I wanted more details – even when those questions were answered, I still didn’t feel satisfied that I really understood enough about what had happened, and that was my chief complaint about this story. I wish that the author had taken a different tact in showing us who the characters are while still maintaining the element of surprise. While I now understand the idea, I am not altogether sure that it was entirely successful in its execution.
There were also aspects of the plot that, while perhaps plausible, seemed rather a stretch. The bad guys came across as amateurs, yet the Chicago police hadn’t been able to solve the case in over a year (which was Sunnie’s point all along). I did like the twist on some present-day issues, however, and I am pleased that Ms. Reichs has taken a risk with a whole new direction and different types of characters. Sunday Night and Gus would be characters I would like to see more of in the future.
I thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for an ARC of Two Nights. My unbiased opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
Sunday Night, known as Sunnie to her few friends, has garnered knowledge aplenty from her years of experience in the military and police force. Wisdom? Perhaps. All we really learn of Ms. Night early on in Kathy Reichs’ standalone PI thriller, Two Nights, is that she has a checkered past. She’s ex-military and an ex-cop with Charleston PD, having given up the latter job after shooting a suspect and suffering an injury herself. Rather than settling for a desk job, she’s taken disability and has settled in as something of a recluse on Goat Island, South Carolina. There she seems content to feed the visiting squirrel she calls Bob and avoid the mosquitoes as well as her neighbors.
Suddenly, she finds herself summoned by a wealthy woman, Opaline Drucker, whose daughter and grandson were killed in a bombing and whose teenage granddaughter went missing. Ms. Night’s task is to find those responsible, and if possible, locate Drucker’s granddaughter Stella. Why should she take on this challenge? The pay will be amazing, but she is tempted to refuse. Still, Sunday is drawn to the plight of the missing girl. What happened to her? Is she dead? Is she alive somewhere, being tortured and abused?
For readers who are used to Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series, this protagonist might come as a shock. She’s not Tempe, a forensic anthropologist. She’s Sunday Night, an ex-cop-turned PI. Sunnie does not have a warm, shiny personality. She uses sarcasm to keep others at a safe distance, and her wry wit is not for everyone. But she’s smart and resourceful. She’s diligent and persistent. She’s definitely not someone you’d want to cross. Like a lot of detective novels, the Night chapters are narrated in first person. We also get to meet her twin brother Gus. That’s one of the vague aspects of this book; there are others. Gus is a kinder, gentler soul than Sunnie.
Along with the appearance of Gus, most of the secondary chapters that impart snippets of a young female in an undisclosed location are much more cryptic. For most of the book, I was speculating about the timeframe and her identity and the setting, and I found it frustrating. I wanted more details – even when those questions were answered, I still didn’t feel satisfied that I really understood enough about what had happened, and that was my chief complaint about this story. I wish that the author had taken a different tact in showing us who the characters are while still maintaining the element of surprise. While I now understand the idea, I am not altogether sure that it was entirely successful in its execution.
There were also aspects of the plot that, while perhaps plausible, seemed rather a stretch. The bad guys came across as amateurs, yet the Chicago police hadn’t been able to solve the case in over a year (which was Sunnie’s point all along). I did like the twist on some present-day issues, however, and I am pleased that Ms. Reichs has taken a risk with a whole new direction and different types of characters. Sunday Night and Gus would be characters I would like to see more of in the future.
I thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for an ARC of Two Nights. My unbiased opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
April 15, 2018
Sunday (Sunnie) Night is an ex marine, ex cop with a traumatic childhood who left the police after sustaining a major injury resulting in loss of vision in one eye. She's been licking her wounds on a small island off the coast of South Carolina until an old friend and father figure asks her to look into a cold case of a missing girl. Wealthy widow, Opaline Drucker lost her only daughter and grandson in a terrorist bombing but believes her granddaughter Stella escaped the blast but was abducted by the terrorist group. Knowing what it was like to grow up in a hostile group with strong beliefs, Sunnie agrees to take the case, calling in twin brother Gus (the second Night) to help when times get tough.
This novel is very different from Reich's Temperance Brennan novels, not only for the lack of forensics and also with a very different type of investigator. Sunnie's chip-on-the-shoulder personality is hardly endearing, although her brother Gus is very cool and likeable despite sharing the same childhood as Sunnie. Maybe I'm just a bit over the damaged, but fierce and feisty female investigator that is currently cast in so many contemporary crime series. The plot is strong, if a bit over the top at times, and there is plenty of action as Sunnie and Gus chase around the country tracking down the bombers and looking for Stella. A good read but I don't think I'll be reading any further books featuring Sunnie. 3.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of the book to read.
This novel is very different from Reich's Temperance Brennan novels, not only for the lack of forensics and also with a very different type of investigator. Sunnie's chip-on-the-shoulder personality is hardly endearing, although her brother Gus is very cool and likeable despite sharing the same childhood as Sunnie. Maybe I'm just a bit over the damaged, but fierce and feisty female investigator that is currently cast in so many contemporary crime series. The plot is strong, if a bit over the top at times, and there is plenty of action as Sunnie and Gus chase around the country tracking down the bombers and looking for Stella. A good read but I don't think I'll be reading any further books featuring Sunnie. 3.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of the book to read.
July 3, 2017
Sunday Night lived a quiet life with her demons on the isolated island which connected to the mainland only by boat. She had no TV; read no newspapers. When her foster father and long-time friend Beau told her of someone needing her help, Sunnie’s first instinct was to refuse. But part of the story stirred long buried feelings; her dark past made a connection when she heard of the young girl who had been missing for a year – she felt the pull to find her…
With her discovery that the missing girl’s mother and brother had both been killed in a terrorist blast, and she had vanished from that time on, Sunnie’s adrenalin had her following the trail. She enlisted help when she needed it, but mostly she was a loner – cautious to a fault, nevertheless she knew one person who would have her back. Together the two of them searched, their discovery of the truth as imperative as breathing.
But the plot they uncovered was far worse than Sunnie had dreamed – would they find the missing girl? Or was she already dead? And could Sunnie face her terrible, dark past?
Two Nights by Kathy Reichs is a long way removed from her Temperance Brennan novels – it’s filled with fast-paced, full-on action from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the kick-ass character of Sunnie, even with her multitude of hang-ups and demons that threatened to take her down on many occasions. I hope Reichs writes more of Sunnie’s story as I think it’d make a great series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
With her discovery that the missing girl’s mother and brother had both been killed in a terrorist blast, and she had vanished from that time on, Sunnie’s adrenalin had her following the trail. She enlisted help when she needed it, but mostly she was a loner – cautious to a fault, nevertheless she knew one person who would have her back. Together the two of them searched, their discovery of the truth as imperative as breathing.
But the plot they uncovered was far worse than Sunnie had dreamed – would they find the missing girl? Or was she already dead? And could Sunnie face her terrible, dark past?
Two Nights by Kathy Reichs is a long way removed from her Temperance Brennan novels – it’s filled with fast-paced, full-on action from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the kick-ass character of Sunnie, even with her multitude of hang-ups and demons that threatened to take her down on many occasions. I hope Reichs writes more of Sunnie’s story as I think it’d make a great series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
July 11, 2017
Sunday Night a.k.a. Sunnie has spent years building up the "walls" that surround her. She had a traumatic and troubled past -with psychical and mental scars to show for it. She is ex-Military and an ex-cop living a solitary life on an island off the coast of South Carolina until one day her foster father encourages her to take a cold case.
She is hired a woman to who lost her daughter and grandson in an explosion. Her grand-daughter is missing and she believes she has been kidnapped from the scene of the explosion. What seems like a simple kidnapping turns into much much more.
Her investigation takes her from South Caroline to Chicago, Los Angeles and a few other places. She comes into contact with various individuals who want to stop her investigation and she learns that there is more going on than a simple bombing and kidnapping.
Through the narrative, the reader learns more about Sunnie and her past. This was my favorite part of the book. I loved learning about Sunday's past and her cult like upbringing. This was the most interesting part of the book for me. I found myself wanting the other parts to go faster so I could get back to Sunday's backstory.
This is a stand alone book by Reichs. It is also my least favorite of her books. As I mentioned earlier, my favorite parts of the book were the italicized section detailing Sunday's past. The bombing/kidnapping/investigation section was okay at best for me. The backstory is what earned this book 3 stars from me. I didn't fell as if I knew enough about the other characters to really care about them or what happened to them.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
She is hired a woman to who lost her daughter and grandson in an explosion. Her grand-daughter is missing and she believes she has been kidnapped from the scene of the explosion. What seems like a simple kidnapping turns into much much more.
Her investigation takes her from South Caroline to Chicago, Los Angeles and a few other places. She comes into contact with various individuals who want to stop her investigation and she learns that there is more going on than a simple bombing and kidnapping.
Through the narrative, the reader learns more about Sunnie and her past. This was my favorite part of the book. I loved learning about Sunday's past and her cult like upbringing. This was the most interesting part of the book for me. I found myself wanting the other parts to go faster so I could get back to Sunday's backstory.
This is a stand alone book by Reichs. It is also my least favorite of her books. As I mentioned earlier, my favorite parts of the book were the italicized section detailing Sunday's past. The bombing/kidnapping/investigation section was okay at best for me. The backstory is what earned this book 3 stars from me. I didn't fell as if I knew enough about the other characters to really care about them or what happened to them.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
June 9, 2017
In this suspense novel, former cop Sunday Night is enlisted by a wealthy woman to see if her granddaughter is still alive. Sunnie is a likeable, tough woman who had an abusive childhood. Being adopted by a cop through her high school years couldn’t erase the damage that had been done, but Beau was the reason she enlisted in the Marines. After an unsuccessful stint in the military and then as a cop, she lives off the grid on a tiny island. Though she’s got a hard shell, she is funny in her way.
Sunnie’s adventures take her around the country as she attempts to find out who bombed the Jewish girl’s school where Opaline Drucker’s daughter and grandson were killed and where her granddaughter Stella disappeared a year ago. The pacing is mostly fast.
Reichs has a distinctive writing style—she uses a lot of sentence fragments and her analogies are unique.
The subject matter was timely—I can’t say more without giving up some of the clues that Sunnie discovers as she tries to hunt down the bad guys and save Stella if she’s still alive.
This is a fun book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Sunnie’s adventures take her around the country as she attempts to find out who bombed the Jewish girl’s school where Opaline Drucker’s daughter and grandson were killed and where her granddaughter Stella disappeared a year ago. The pacing is mostly fast.
Reichs has a distinctive writing style—she uses a lot of sentence fragments and her analogies are unique.
The subject matter was timely—I can’t say more without giving up some of the clues that Sunnie discovers as she tries to hunt down the bad guys and save Stella if she’s still alive.
This is a fun book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
July 18, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Well, this was disappointing. When I saw that Kathy Reichs had written a stand alone novel, I knew that I wanted to read it. I have really enjoyed her books in the past and was looking forward to this book. This book never clicked for me and I found myself constantly setting the book aside. There were some parts of the book that I did enjoy and I never really considered not finishing it but it wasn't a story that did much for me.
I think one of my main problems with this book is that I didn't care for the characters. The focus of this book is Sunday Night, or Sunnie. Sunnie is an ex-cop that carries a lot of scars both physical and emotional. She was paranoid but had a lot of skills that were put to the test as she tried to find out what happened to the girl she has been hired to find. There are sections of the book spread throughout the story that talk of Sunnie's past. I thought that learning her backstory was way too drawn out and by the time any real information was given I had lost interest.
The mystery never grabbed me. I just had a really hard time getting into the overall story. Of course, I wanted to know what had happened to the girl but the story seemed to move really slow. Everything was a waiting game wrapped up in Sunnie's paranoia. It just felt like it took really long time for things to get moving. So much so that this turned into a book that I kept checking how much more was left just because I wanted to be done with it.
The writing felt really choppy with lots of short sentences that never really flowed. There was a lot of really traumatic things happening in the story but I never felt like any of the characters had a single emotion. I did think that the book had a good start. I like the idea of Sunnie. I like that she was quirky and a little different but that feeling faded quickly.
I am not going to be recommending this one. I think that anyone interested in reading Kathy Reichs should start with the Temperance Brennan series which I loved. I haven't read the whole series but have read the first 13 books or so in that series and really enjoyed them and actually plan to re-read the series at some point. This book was a miss for me but I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I had a lot of hopes for this book. I have enjoyed all of the previous books that I have read by Kathy Reichs so I was excited to read her new stand alone novel. This was disappointing. I didn't care of any of the characters and found the story to be boring.
Well, this was disappointing. When I saw that Kathy Reichs had written a stand alone novel, I knew that I wanted to read it. I have really enjoyed her books in the past and was looking forward to this book. This book never clicked for me and I found myself constantly setting the book aside. There were some parts of the book that I did enjoy and I never really considered not finishing it but it wasn't a story that did much for me.
I think one of my main problems with this book is that I didn't care for the characters. The focus of this book is Sunday Night, or Sunnie. Sunnie is an ex-cop that carries a lot of scars both physical and emotional. She was paranoid but had a lot of skills that were put to the test as she tried to find out what happened to the girl she has been hired to find. There are sections of the book spread throughout the story that talk of Sunnie's past. I thought that learning her backstory was way too drawn out and by the time any real information was given I had lost interest.
The mystery never grabbed me. I just had a really hard time getting into the overall story. Of course, I wanted to know what had happened to the girl but the story seemed to move really slow. Everything was a waiting game wrapped up in Sunnie's paranoia. It just felt like it took really long time for things to get moving. So much so that this turned into a book that I kept checking how much more was left just because I wanted to be done with it.
The writing felt really choppy with lots of short sentences that never really flowed. There was a lot of really traumatic things happening in the story but I never felt like any of the characters had a single emotion. I did think that the book had a good start. I like the idea of Sunnie. I like that she was quirky and a little different but that feeling faded quickly.
I am not going to be recommending this one. I think that anyone interested in reading Kathy Reichs should start with the Temperance Brennan series which I loved. I haven't read the whole series but have read the first 13 books or so in that series and really enjoyed them and actually plan to re-read the series at some point. This book was a miss for me but I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I had a lot of hopes for this book. I have enjoyed all of the previous books that I have read by Kathy Reichs so I was excited to read her new stand alone novel. This was disappointing. I didn't care of any of the characters and found the story to be boring.
September 17, 2017
I love Kathy Reichs "Temperance Brennan" series. "Two Nights" is a standalone novel that I found to be completely different from her forensic mysteries.
Ex-Cop Sunday Night is an aggressive, rough around the edges, scarred heroine. A wealthy woman hires Sunday to look for her teenage granddaughter who she believes was kidnapped by a cult. As things progress quickly Sunday enlists the help of her twin brother, Gus.
I thoroughly enjoyed the quick witted dialogue and back and forth banter between the characters, notably Sunday and Gus.
A fast-paced, flowing mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs and Simon and Schuster for an arc of this novel in exchange for my review.
Ex-Cop Sunday Night is an aggressive, rough around the edges, scarred heroine. A wealthy woman hires Sunday to look for her teenage granddaughter who she believes was kidnapped by a cult. As things progress quickly Sunday enlists the help of her twin brother, Gus.
I thoroughly enjoyed the quick witted dialogue and back and forth banter between the characters, notably Sunday and Gus.
A fast-paced, flowing mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs and Simon and Schuster for an arc of this novel in exchange for my review.
June 11, 2017
Sunday 'Sunnie' Night is a new and immediate favourite. She's tough, damaged, angry, and has a serious attitude that makes her very dangerous to anyone who dares go against her. While i've enjoyed Reichs' characters before, this creation is much more my kind of thing. Clever and capable, she works the evidence and gets shit done. We only learn part of her past and it's far from good, but I'm hoping this is deepened in more books to follow (this can't be just a standalone, it just can't). In order to fit the main character, the story is more thriller than crime or forensic procedural, faster paced and a lot darker. Overall it came to a satisfying conclusion but it was Sunnie that kept me hooked over and above the plot. Tell me more Kathy Reichs.....
ARC via Netgalley
ARC via Netgalley
June 17, 2017
I enjoy Kathy Reich's novels and especially the Temperance Brennan series so was really looking forward to this stand alone novel but for some reason I just failed to connect with it. I couldn't get to grips with the fast dialogue and for me this change in writing style didn't work. I have since other reviews and there appears to be a fair few people like me with the same opinion, I suppose we are all entitled to off days but hats off for trying.
Fortunately I have enjoyed enough Kathy Reich's novels to know that she is worth another read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Fortunately I have enjoyed enough Kathy Reich's novels to know that she is worth another read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2017
Sunday (Sunnie) Night has a pretty big chip on her shoulder and a dark past. Ex-military and a former cop, Sunnie is hired by Opaline Drucker, a wealthy older woman, to look into the bombing that killed her daughter and grandson and left her granddaughter, Stella, missing. The case has some strong parallels to Sunnie's past and despite her better judgement, she agrees help Opaline. Sunnie quickly finds herself in a web of danger and deceit--with little chance of escaping unharmed.
I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 07/11/2017.
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I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 07/11/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
July 17, 2017
2.5 stars, rounded up
Sunday Night is a strange name for a protagonist but I liked her. She has a mysterious, traumatic past in her childhood and later took up a career in the military and law enforcement. When an incident that left one dead and Sunday physically scarred, she took disability instead of being forced to work behind a desk the rest of her career. She now lives off the grid as a recluse on an island off the coast of SC.
Sunday's foster father convinces her to take on a cold case. Wealthy socialite Opaline Drecker lost her daughter and grandson in a bombing and her teenage granddaughter is missing. Sunday is hired to find her. As Sunday works the case, parts of her personality and issues are revealed and the case churns up long-buried trauma. But the reader is kept in the dark about her childhood until near the end of the book.
The case takes Sunday to multiple cities across the country in a cat and mouse chase, which threatens Sunday’s life more than once. Sunday is a kick-ass heroine and she uses her wit, sarcasm, and instincts to great effect. There’s a lot of action, but once the perps are identified and the purpose behind their actions were revealed, I lost interest. I can’t say more without posting spoilers, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
I applaud Ms. Reichs stepping away from her Temperance Brennan series and trying something new. I didn’t care for the subject matter, but other readers may enjoy this more than I did. If you like your books full of action, and enjoy a strong kick-ass female lead, then this is the book for you.
**thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with a review copy
Sunday Night is a strange name for a protagonist but I liked her. She has a mysterious, traumatic past in her childhood and later took up a career in the military and law enforcement. When an incident that left one dead and Sunday physically scarred, she took disability instead of being forced to work behind a desk the rest of her career. She now lives off the grid as a recluse on an island off the coast of SC.
Sunday's foster father convinces her to take on a cold case. Wealthy socialite Opaline Drecker lost her daughter and grandson in a bombing and her teenage granddaughter is missing. Sunday is hired to find her. As Sunday works the case, parts of her personality and issues are revealed and the case churns up long-buried trauma. But the reader is kept in the dark about her childhood until near the end of the book.
The case takes Sunday to multiple cities across the country in a cat and mouse chase, which threatens Sunday’s life more than once. Sunday is a kick-ass heroine and she uses her wit, sarcasm, and instincts to great effect. There’s a lot of action, but once the perps are identified and the purpose behind their actions were revealed, I lost interest. I can’t say more without posting spoilers, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
I applaud Ms. Reichs stepping away from her Temperance Brennan series and trying something new. I didn’t care for the subject matter, but other readers may enjoy this more than I did. If you like your books full of action, and enjoy a strong kick-ass female lead, then this is the book for you.
**thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with a review copy
April 17, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Two Nights which introduces ex army and police officer, Sunday "Sunniest " Night.
Sunnie is a bit of a mess with a troubled childhood, service in Afghanistan and a debilitating eye injury that ended her police career. She has locked herself away on Goat Island, off the coast of South Carolina, where she leads a solitary, almost hermit-like existence. Worried about her, her foster father arranges for her to meet Opaline Drucker, a rich, eccentric Charleston lady who wants her to find the people who blew up her daughter and grandson and possibly kidnapped her daughter. It turns out to be a wild adventure.
I found Two Nights so enjoyable I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It is very much in the style of David Baldacci with its improbable plot and high octane action but leavened by Sunnie's caustic humour. As I said the plot is improbable but it's addictive and I found myself so immersed and desperate to find out what happens next that it didn't register until I'd finished. The novel starts in Charleston but quickly moves to Chicago where the bombing happened and on to various other locations where Sunnie always manages to kick ass and gain more information.
Sunnie is a real heroine as she overcomes various job related injuries to win through - she might get knocked down but she's soon up and running again. There are hints about her troubled childhood but nothing really concrete until the end of the novel so the reader is left wondering. She is ably assisted in her endeavours by her brother, Gus, but he, again, is a bit of a mystery. They have a good chemistry and work well together but are not particularly well developed as characters. I do not think that this matters as much as it might in another novel as this is a plot driven novel.
Two Nights is a good thriller so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Sunnie is a bit of a mess with a troubled childhood, service in Afghanistan and a debilitating eye injury that ended her police career. She has locked herself away on Goat Island, off the coast of South Carolina, where she leads a solitary, almost hermit-like existence. Worried about her, her foster father arranges for her to meet Opaline Drucker, a rich, eccentric Charleston lady who wants her to find the people who blew up her daughter and grandson and possibly kidnapped her daughter. It turns out to be a wild adventure.
I found Two Nights so enjoyable I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It is very much in the style of David Baldacci with its improbable plot and high octane action but leavened by Sunnie's caustic humour. As I said the plot is improbable but it's addictive and I found myself so immersed and desperate to find out what happens next that it didn't register until I'd finished. The novel starts in Charleston but quickly moves to Chicago where the bombing happened and on to various other locations where Sunnie always manages to kick ass and gain more information.
Sunnie is a real heroine as she overcomes various job related injuries to win through - she might get knocked down but she's soon up and running again. There are hints about her troubled childhood but nothing really concrete until the end of the novel so the reader is left wondering. She is ably assisted in her endeavours by her brother, Gus, but he, again, is a bit of a mystery. They have a good chemistry and work well together but are not particularly well developed as characters. I do not think that this matters as much as it might in another novel as this is a plot driven novel.
Two Nights is a good thriller so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
July 13, 2017
I love Kathy Reichs and she has never let me down when it comes to a great read. She continues to keep me enthralled in Two Nights. I am eager to meet a new character, Sunday Night.
We begin on Goat Island, which is like Mackinac Island, but more rustic, consisting of shacks with no power or septic…the mosquitoes run rampant. It made me think of a visit to Chappaquiddick, where I thought they would carry me away.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when Gus is hiding things before letting Bean, the cop into his home. Gus had been a cop too, but quit after a justified shooting could have cost him his life. Now, the only way to reach him is by boat or carrier pigeon.
Sunnie is now on the search for a missing teen that may have been taken by a cult. Sunday Night, what a name. I like her, her solitude and enjoyment of the thrill of the hunt. She has a sarcastic attitude, some would consider rude and I can relate to that.
I love a damaged heroine and we have one here. Headstrong, determined, dangerous, she can hold her own, but she knows when to call in help. She needs someone covering her back.
Stella was calling to her and she would find her.
Cults, some seriously creepy people and things happen. When I think of cults, the first thing that pops into my mind is Jim Jones and the horrifying deaths in Guyana. I can never understand giving up everything, putting your life entirely in someone else’s hands.
The clock is ticking…Time is running out. If she’s alive, what kind of shape will she be in? What have they done to her, both mentally and physically?
State by state, clue by clue, step by step, her and Gus search for Stella and the one that holds her.
I don’t want to spoil Stella’s story but how she endures, I do not know. STRONG is a weak word in describing how very determined she is to survive. The terror and torture would be the end of some of the strongest men and women.
Stella tells some of her story in short chapters that had my emotions and respect for her….one eyed, kickass, take no prisoners, been through hell and back but never quits fight to survive.
Cults, terrorism, damaged heroes, and characters that will tug at your heartstrings and scare the hell out of you. You think you know what’s going on and how the story will end, but think again.
Kathy Reichs had me shaking my head, picking my jaw up off the floor and congratulating her on one hell of a ride in the life and soul of Sunny Nights. This ain’t no BONES you’re reading about.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Two Nights by Kathy Reichs.
To see more visit fundinmental
We begin on Goat Island, which is like Mackinac Island, but more rustic, consisting of shacks with no power or septic…the mosquitoes run rampant. It made me think of a visit to Chappaquiddick, where I thought they would carry me away.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when Gus is hiding things before letting Bean, the cop into his home. Gus had been a cop too, but quit after a justified shooting could have cost him his life. Now, the only way to reach him is by boat or carrier pigeon.
Sunnie is now on the search for a missing teen that may have been taken by a cult. Sunday Night, what a name. I like her, her solitude and enjoyment of the thrill of the hunt. She has a sarcastic attitude, some would consider rude and I can relate to that.
I love a damaged heroine and we have one here. Headstrong, determined, dangerous, she can hold her own, but she knows when to call in help. She needs someone covering her back.
Stella was calling to her and she would find her.
Cults, some seriously creepy people and things happen. When I think of cults, the first thing that pops into my mind is Jim Jones and the horrifying deaths in Guyana. I can never understand giving up everything, putting your life entirely in someone else’s hands.
The clock is ticking…Time is running out. If she’s alive, what kind of shape will she be in? What have they done to her, both mentally and physically?
State by state, clue by clue, step by step, her and Gus search for Stella and the one that holds her.
I don’t want to spoil Stella’s story but how she endures, I do not know. STRONG is a weak word in describing how very determined she is to survive. The terror and torture would be the end of some of the strongest men and women.
Stella tells some of her story in short chapters that had my emotions and respect for her….one eyed, kickass, take no prisoners, been through hell and back but never quits fight to survive.
Cults, terrorism, damaged heroes, and characters that will tug at your heartstrings and scare the hell out of you. You think you know what’s going on and how the story will end, but think again.
Kathy Reichs had me shaking my head, picking my jaw up off the floor and congratulating her on one hell of a ride in the life and soul of Sunny Nights. This ain’t no BONES you’re reading about.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Two Nights by Kathy Reichs.
To see more visit fundinmental
May 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this new character by Kathy Reichs, Sunday Night. She is not a goody two-shoes at all, she is sarcastic and scarred, physically and mentally. She lived through a childhood at a Jones-town type camp, her mother among the ones who killed themselves after she and her brother escaped to go for help. She served in the army,was dis-honorably discharged, after which she was a cop, left that under bad circumstances and now lives on a small island by herself . I enjoy her quick wit,feel for her flash backs to early childhood, and like that she decides to help a rich woman locate those who killed her daughter,grandson and took her granddaughter. She is smart and has good sense when investigating, choosing the right people to talk to and to assist. A good plot with fast scenes, smart thinking by Sunday,and a frantic chase for people and bombs until the end. I hope we will see this character again!!I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley,the author Kathy Reichs and publisher Bantam Books, and I sincerely thank them.
July 9, 2017
Refreshing read. I am thrilled to see Kathy Reichs step away from Temperance Brennan and give us a character who is rough around the edges, one with loads of baggage living the life of a recluse on Goat Island.
Sunnie Night is pulled out of her self-imposed isolation when her friend and foster dad Beau asks her to hunt down the people responsible for the death of a local dowager’s daughter and grandson and investigate the abduction of the old woman’s granddaughter. It has been over a year since the girl went missing. Beau convinces Sunnie that her military training along with events in her past give her an edge that other law enforcement agencies lack. Sunnie begrudgingly accepts the challenge.
Sunnie is no Tempe Brennan. She is angry and bitter at all that life has thrown her way. She is also a trained ex-SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape). She will need all her training as she follows leads all over the country knowing in her gut the girl is still alive. I loved the fast pace of this novel. The bad guys are larger than life, taking on an almost cartoon-like persona but Sunnie, with some timely help is not frightened off by their actions. Bonus points go to Sunnie who unlike Temperance knew when to call in the authorities and keep them informed when the case became so much more than a simple child abduction.
If you enjoy solving mysteries with the biggest mystery being the protagonist herself this is a fun read. When the case is dusted and done we still don’t know all we’d like to know about her.
What I do know is that I would love the opportunity to spend more days with Sunnie Night. She’s got an edge that Dr. Brennan has been missing for a while. Kudos to the author for adding some grit and damaged psyche to her heroine.
4 stars
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
Sunnie Night is pulled out of her self-imposed isolation when her friend and foster dad Beau asks her to hunt down the people responsible for the death of a local dowager’s daughter and grandson and investigate the abduction of the old woman’s granddaughter. It has been over a year since the girl went missing. Beau convinces Sunnie that her military training along with events in her past give her an edge that other law enforcement agencies lack. Sunnie begrudgingly accepts the challenge.
Sunnie is no Tempe Brennan. She is angry and bitter at all that life has thrown her way. She is also a trained ex-SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape). She will need all her training as she follows leads all over the country knowing in her gut the girl is still alive. I loved the fast pace of this novel. The bad guys are larger than life, taking on an almost cartoon-like persona but Sunnie, with some timely help is not frightened off by their actions. Bonus points go to Sunnie who unlike Temperance knew when to call in the authorities and keep them informed when the case became so much more than a simple child abduction.
If you enjoy solving mysteries with the biggest mystery being the protagonist herself this is a fun read. When the case is dusted and done we still don’t know all we’d like to know about her.
What I do know is that I would love the opportunity to spend more days with Sunnie Night. She’s got an edge that Dr. Brennan has been missing for a while. Kudos to the author for adding some grit and damaged psyche to her heroine.
4 stars
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
May 29, 2017
Being a crime fiction fan, it is not easy to peruse any sort of crime shelf without seeing a book by Kathy Reichs. When I read the synopsis for Reichs’ newest standalone thriller, Two Nights, I knew that I would have to give this one a read. As soon as I started reading Two Nights, it became very clear why all of her books do well. Reichs can weave a serious story!
Two Nights opens with the introduction of Sunday Night. Sunday is a woman with a tumultuous past, a grudge on her shoulder and some serious killer instinct. After leaving the police force after some misconduct, she is drawn back to the scene privately after a wealthy woman approaches her to look into the disappearance of her teenaged granddaughter. As Sunnie begins her investigation, she comes into more danger than she ever believed and not only fights to save the missing girl, but also her own life as well.
From what I know about Kathy Reichs, her other novels have a lot of strong female characters. Similarly in this novel, we have Sunnie. She is one tough cookie and gives all males in her field a run for their money. But she also has a soft side, which I found to realistic. I find a lot of times in literature, the female protagonist sometimes comes off as cold in order to “hang with the big boys” but not Sunnie. I found her relationship with her twin brother August (Gus) to be quite endearing. Although I liked her in theory, I didn’t really find myself connecting to her as a character.
As for the plot of this one, so many things missed the mark for me. I found this one to be considerably slower paced and, although it was a easy read to get through (probably due to Reichs’ ability to write), I didn’t find like I absorbed a whole lot of what was going on. Nothing really affected me; I didn’t find myself too invested. The one thing I really did like, and what stood out for me, was the cult subplot to this storyline.
Like I mentioned, I did find that although this was a quick read but I did not find myself completely invested in the story or connected to the characters. I feel like this would be a good entry point to those new to the crime thriller genre, but to those who are seasoned, this one may miss the mark. I gave this one a 3/5 stars.
Two Nights opens with the introduction of Sunday Night. Sunday is a woman with a tumultuous past, a grudge on her shoulder and some serious killer instinct. After leaving the police force after some misconduct, she is drawn back to the scene privately after a wealthy woman approaches her to look into the disappearance of her teenaged granddaughter. As Sunnie begins her investigation, she comes into more danger than she ever believed and not only fights to save the missing girl, but also her own life as well.
From what I know about Kathy Reichs, her other novels have a lot of strong female characters. Similarly in this novel, we have Sunnie. She is one tough cookie and gives all males in her field a run for their money. But she also has a soft side, which I found to realistic. I find a lot of times in literature, the female protagonist sometimes comes off as cold in order to “hang with the big boys” but not Sunnie. I found her relationship with her twin brother August (Gus) to be quite endearing. Although I liked her in theory, I didn’t really find myself connecting to her as a character.
As for the plot of this one, so many things missed the mark for me. I found this one to be considerably slower paced and, although it was a easy read to get through (probably due to Reichs’ ability to write), I didn’t find like I absorbed a whole lot of what was going on. Nothing really affected me; I didn’t find myself too invested. The one thing I really did like, and what stood out for me, was the cult subplot to this storyline.
Like I mentioned, I did find that although this was a quick read but I did not find myself completely invested in the story or connected to the characters. I feel like this would be a good entry point to those new to the crime thriller genre, but to those who are seasoned, this one may miss the mark. I gave this one a 3/5 stars.
February 12, 2018
Sunday Night is a recluse, living on a small island. One of Sunnie's few friends convinces her to meet a Southern scion, who wants temple bombers brought to justice and her granddaughter (Stella Knight) returned. With a troubled past of her own, Sunday decides to take the job given her skills as a soldier and ex-cop. She travels to Chicago and stirs up a hornet's nest, requiring her to bring in a trusted back-up. After several deadly interactions with the JJ zealots, Sunnie is able to figure out what they're planning. The highlight of the book is less the ending itself than the reveal of identity of the bad guys.
March 30, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am a long-time fan of Bones (the TV series), and have found my own kindred spirit in Temperance Brennan (the character, anyway) yet I have never read anything by the show’s creator, Kathy Reichs. This is shocking to me but it has just been one of those things where I have every intention to investigate and explore one of her books, and then I get distracted by something else. (“Oh look! A book with a shiny new cover!”) For this reason I thought “Two Nights” would be the novel to start with, since it’s a standalone from Reich’s Temperance Brennan series.
In “Two Nights”, the main character is Sunday Night, a young woman from a broken background that has left her with physical and emotional scars, as well as a “very particular set of skills” (in Liam Neeson voice). For this reason, she is hired by a Southern socialite to investigate the disappearance of her granddaughter, assumed dead in an explosion that killed her entire family years ago. While Sunnie investigates, uncomfortable memories resurface and Sunnie develops a strong and unyielding desire to help the young girl that time has forgotten.
This novel barely made 3 stars, as I am heartbroken to report. The plot was all over the place, starting with an investigation into a young girls’ disappearance but turning into something entirely different. The disappearance quickly was placed on the back burner as Sunnie and her partner began to investigate an associated anti-Islamic terrorist group. The only reminders we had that in fact, a young girl was missing, was snippets in the novel told from a young girls’ perspective (which turned out not to be from the young girl at all) and the occasional visits Sunnie made to the grandmother who was footing her bill.
Beyond Sunnie, the grandmother and Sunnie’s partner, all of the other characters became a huge blur. There was such a huge cast of police and detectives that made it nearly impossible to follow, and the group of “kidnappers” kept increasing so much so that I could no longer keep track of who was good and who was not.
I really expected this book to play out differently. The ending provided the appropriate amount of satisfaction to the characters (although there are so many that I didn’t really have an attachment to any of them) and there were no unanswered questions. Also, there was no hint of a sequel and although I could see this character holding her own stand-alone series, it would likely get lost in the shuffle of current female-led police novels and would simply not keep the interest needed to generate its own series.
For fans of Reichs’, perhaps they will enjoy this novel. I will get familiar with her writing and re-read this one, perhaps I am missing something. Or better yet, I will go back and re-watch eleven seasons of Bones.
I am a long-time fan of Bones (the TV series), and have found my own kindred spirit in Temperance Brennan (the character, anyway) yet I have never read anything by the show’s creator, Kathy Reichs. This is shocking to me but it has just been one of those things where I have every intention to investigate and explore one of her books, and then I get distracted by something else. (“Oh look! A book with a shiny new cover!”) For this reason I thought “Two Nights” would be the novel to start with, since it’s a standalone from Reich’s Temperance Brennan series.
In “Two Nights”, the main character is Sunday Night, a young woman from a broken background that has left her with physical and emotional scars, as well as a “very particular set of skills” (in Liam Neeson voice). For this reason, she is hired by a Southern socialite to investigate the disappearance of her granddaughter, assumed dead in an explosion that killed her entire family years ago. While Sunnie investigates, uncomfortable memories resurface and Sunnie develops a strong and unyielding desire to help the young girl that time has forgotten.
This novel barely made 3 stars, as I am heartbroken to report. The plot was all over the place, starting with an investigation into a young girls’ disappearance but turning into something entirely different. The disappearance quickly was placed on the back burner as Sunnie and her partner began to investigate an associated anti-Islamic terrorist group. The only reminders we had that in fact, a young girl was missing, was snippets in the novel told from a young girls’ perspective (which turned out not to be from the young girl at all) and the occasional visits Sunnie made to the grandmother who was footing her bill.
Beyond Sunnie, the grandmother and Sunnie’s partner, all of the other characters became a huge blur. There was such a huge cast of police and detectives that made it nearly impossible to follow, and the group of “kidnappers” kept increasing so much so that I could no longer keep track of who was good and who was not.
I really expected this book to play out differently. The ending provided the appropriate amount of satisfaction to the characters (although there are so many that I didn’t really have an attachment to any of them) and there were no unanswered questions. Also, there was no hint of a sequel and although I could see this character holding her own stand-alone series, it would likely get lost in the shuffle of current female-led police novels and would simply not keep the interest needed to generate its own series.
For fans of Reichs’, perhaps they will enjoy this novel. I will get familiar with her writing and re-read this one, perhaps I am missing something. Or better yet, I will go back and re-watch eleven seasons of Bones.
August 7, 2017
Two Nights is a fast, furious and engaging read with some dark and currently relevant themes running through the narrative – I blasted my way through it in a few hours, totally gripping.
Very different from the norm for Ms Reichs, whose authentic forensic detail in her Temperance Brennan novels has held me in thrall for years – but the trademark quality writing is here, alongside her sharp and intelligent eye for building characters and making you care about them. Sunnie Night is divisive, intelligent and driven – as a reader you get on board with her incredibly fast, her background is highly intriguing and one can only hope that we’ll meet her again in future novels.
In this one however she’s on the trail of a missing girl, lost during the chaos of a bomb attack, the plot is taut and clever, with some crackling dialogue and a strong sense of reality. As a lover of thrillers this one hit the mark for me, its also true that I’m a fan of authors changing direction every now and again and giving us a peek into another area of their creativity, that has certainly been achieved here, with some beautifully unexpected forks in the road from A – B keeping things entertaining.
Whilst the plot was excellent it was the character that kept me reading and randomly growling at people who tried to get my attention – Sunday “Sunnie” Night is one to watch. Put expectations aside and dive right in. You’ll have a very good reading time.
Recommended.
Very different from the norm for Ms Reichs, whose authentic forensic detail in her Temperance Brennan novels has held me in thrall for years – but the trademark quality writing is here, alongside her sharp and intelligent eye for building characters and making you care about them. Sunnie Night is divisive, intelligent and driven – as a reader you get on board with her incredibly fast, her background is highly intriguing and one can only hope that we’ll meet her again in future novels.
In this one however she’s on the trail of a missing girl, lost during the chaos of a bomb attack, the plot is taut and clever, with some crackling dialogue and a strong sense of reality. As a lover of thrillers this one hit the mark for me, its also true that I’m a fan of authors changing direction every now and again and giving us a peek into another area of their creativity, that has certainly been achieved here, with some beautifully unexpected forks in the road from A – B keeping things entertaining.
Whilst the plot was excellent it was the character that kept me reading and randomly growling at people who tried to get my attention – Sunday “Sunnie” Night is one to watch. Put expectations aside and dive right in. You’ll have a very good reading time.
Recommended.
July 7, 2017
I have read and enjoyed all of the Temperance books and I was excited at the idea of a stand alone with a new character.
Sunnie was a tough character to like. She's had quite a rough life and it's made her hardened and bitter. Of course that's understandable, but it also made her hard to root for. Gus was delightful and the banter between them added a bit of much needed levity.
Plot wise, it was an interesting set up and wanting to know how it played out is the only thing that kept me going. The story was monotonous and boring: a lot of tailing people and moving hotels. Seriously, that's pretty much all that happens until the last 50 pages.
Overall, it was a clever idea with some things I didn't see coming, but the piecemeal reveals and long passages without dialogue had me skimming. If Sunnie becomes a series, I will not be reading.
**Huge thanks to Bantam Books for providing the arc free of charge**
Sunnie was a tough character to like. She's had quite a rough life and it's made her hardened and bitter. Of course that's understandable, but it also made her hard to root for. Gus was delightful and the banter between them added a bit of much needed levity.
Plot wise, it was an interesting set up and wanting to know how it played out is the only thing that kept me going. The story was monotonous and boring: a lot of tailing people and moving hotels. Seriously, that's pretty much all that happens until the last 50 pages.
Overall, it was a clever idea with some things I didn't see coming, but the piecemeal reveals and long passages without dialogue had me skimming. If Sunnie becomes a series, I will not be reading.
**Huge thanks to Bantam Books for providing the arc free of charge**
April 19, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this stand-alone novel by Kathy Reichs. Unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I was originally a great fan of her Temperance Brennan novels, until they became too formulaic for me and I lost interest. However, I had enjoyed Reichs' writing style and her knowledge of forensics, and thought that a stand-alone novel would introduce new concepts and characters. But although Sunday initially sounded like a potentially interesting character, she soon wore me down with the huge chip on her shoulder, her sarcastic quips and bad attitude, and I felt that I could not relate to her at all, let alone care about what happens to her. Most other characters also appeared one-dimensional to me, and the plot unoriginal and far-fetched. I persevered for a while, hoping that something would change, but had to concede that I am obviously not the right audience for this book.
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