Dark Paradise

A Cooper & Quinn Mystery #4.5

by Catherine Lee

Reality television just got deadly.

When a contestant on hit reality show Transformation in Paradise turns up dead, Detectives Cooper and Quinn find themselves out of their comfort zone on a remote holiday island. Amid growing pressure from the mainland to solve the high-profile case, Cooper struggles with the island’s lack of resources and the decision from up high that the show must go on.

With the million dollar winner-takes-all prize still up for grabs, the show’s five remaining contestants all seemingly have something to hide. Did one of them commit murder? Was a crew member involved? Or does the island have secrets of its own?

Dark Paradise is a fast-paced novella, a bonus story in Catherine Lee’s page-turning Dark Series. Join Cooper and Quinn as they take a break from the city and find out that island paradise isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Ebooks, Novella

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2017

About the author

Australian author of fast-paced, mostly clean, crime fiction.

The Detective Charlie Cooper Mysteries tackle some topical issues with crimes at their heart, set in Sydney, Australia.

The Getaway Bay Cozy Mysteries feature a charming collection of eccentric locals and visitors working their way through the alphabet of cozy crimes.

Missing, featuring Detective Bonnie Hunter, picks up where Charlie Cooper left off.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am waiting for the final book in this series to come out I decided to close a gap and read this interim novella.

Nicely set on Lord Howe Island, the story followed Cooper and Quinn as they sought the murderer of a reality show competitor. I enjoyed the police work, the Australian scenery and the characters as they worked towards a solution. I did guess the murderer but did not anticipate the way the story would end.

A short but very enjoyable read and I am sure Catherine is working really hard on that final book!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heading for Lord Howe Island from their usual crime scenes in Sydney, Detectives Cooper and Quinn were about to enter the lives of reality TV contestants – whether they wanted to or not. One of the contestants had been found dead in her bed; it was up to Cooper and Quinn to find answers.

Interviews led them to believe not all were telling the truth – but who knew more than they were letting on? Would the show go on or could the contestants go home? Cooper and Quinn were so far out of their comfort zones they felt the battle was uphill all the way…

Dark Paradise is #4.5 in the Cooper & Quinn series by Aussie author Catherine Lee, and although of novella length, it was great to catch up with the two detectives again. I thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining read and am looking forward to the next in the series – Dark Streets – hopefully soon. Highly recommended – but do read the series in order 😊

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a Catherine Lee book and at the moment I'm seriously chastising myself. Why, oh why, have I waited so long to get back to my favourite Aussie Detectives Quinn and Cooper? Reading their books is like coming home to visit an old friend, you just feel so comfy and can find out what's been going on with everyone!

This novella is centred around a death of a contestant on a reality TV show taking place on the beautiful but remote Lord Howe Island. I love that Catherine Lee uses real places as scenes for her crimes, it makes it all the more real for Australians reading the series. And who hasn't wondered why a murder has never taken place on a reality show? Producers deliberately pick people that are going to clash to heighten the tension and up the ratings!

As this is a short story the plot is fairly simple and not too taxing, just genuinely entertaining. With a very small pool of potential suspects and a victim that was roundly disliked you'd think Cooper and Quinn would have a slam dunk on this case, but apparently not. Was it cast or crew ... or possibly local? You'll have to read the story to find out! All I know is that I'm definitely not going to leave it as long as I have done to get my Cooper and Quinn fix.

I received an ebook of this novel directly from the author. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.

[Helga · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contestant on the reality show Transformation in Paradise is found dead on an isolated holiday island.
Is the twenty-eight year old woman's death an accident?
If it is murder, what could the motive be? The victim's nasty character or the one million dollar prize?

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/22/2017)! 💝

[Alex Cantone · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novella, author Catherine Lee takes the well-known whodunit trope – strangers in an isolated house, one of them is murdered – and gives it an updated twist. Set on Lord Howe Island out in the Pacific, the “guests” here are contestants in a TV reality show, each hoping to transform their life and win a $1M prize. The “staff” are the producer, and show host, the TV crew and sundry others such as a dietician and psychologist.

The show is receiving high ratings and with all but 6 contestants voted off by the TV audience, NSW Detectives Charlie Cooper and Joe Quinn are flown in – ahead of the media scrum – to investigate the suspicious death, finding the Sydney socialite was murdered, with each of the remaining contestants having a motive to finish her off.

Contact with the islanders is kept to a minimum, so nerves are certain to rub. With the results of the autopsy and aided by two CSI operatives, Cooper and Quinn carefully reconstruct the victim’s final hours (and days), with a surprising result.

I really enjoyed this one. Well recommended.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems believable that reality shows might become a murder scene. People who take part in such shows are a special kind of character, adventurous, attention seeking, troubled and competitive. Six such characters are still in the contest - one of them is dead now.
As always Catherine Lee creates real characters. She makes the reader guess along with Cooper and Quinn until the climax in the end.

It's a mystery to me why this is number 4.5 (and not #5). By no means it's only half a book. It's a novel that could easily be a stand-alone. I've grown fond of Cooper and Quinn. I've read the whole series and now I'm looking forward to #5 (or #6?).

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting little murder mystery. Although it was obvious who the suspect was, the reason wasn't. Overall, a nice little mystery.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. It was a fairly quickly read and would be perfect for a lazy afternoon. I thought Quinn and Cooper were very relatable and likable. It was well written and kept me guessing for most of the book. I was able to figure out who the killer was before the end but did not see the big twist coming. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review.*

[Will Decker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time with the amateurish writing style, the juvenile story, and the questionable editing. The characters all ran together until I was almost done with the book. Cooper and Quinn were interchangeable as were the forensic techs and uniformed cops. None of them stood out for me and they all seemed rather childish in both their actions and thoughts. The mystery might have worked in the 'YA' genre for young kids, but it didn't work for me. Too simple. Great cover though.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘It was barely lunch time and Detective Charlie Cooper was already exhausted.’

And he’s about to find that rest will become even more elusive! Cooper and Quinn find themselves on remote Lord Howe Island, after a contestant on a reality television show called ‘Transformation in Paradise’ turns up dead. Is it an accidental death, or is it murder? There’s plenty of pressure on Cooper and Quinn to find out what happened, and to solve the case quickly. The reality show producers want the show to continue, as to the remaining contestants. There’s a million-dollar prize on offer.

From the beginning, Cooper and Quinn find the case challenging. Lord Howe Island doesn’t have immediate access to the resources needed for their investigation, and almost everyone they encounter seems to have something to hide. No-one seems to have liked the dead contestant very much.

Ms Lee delivers another fast-paced story, providing just enough information to keep me guessing about what happened and why. A couple of possibilities become red herrings (naturally!) and the outcome is neatly satisfying. But don’t take my word for it, read the novella for yourself. If you’ve not previously read Ms Lee’s novels, this novella could be read as a standalone introduction to Cooper and Quinn. It could be, but I strongly recommend reading each book in the series. Ms Lee has developed two very likeable main characters and each of the novels explores crimes set amidst topical issues.

Note: I was fortunate enough to receive a free Advanced Reader Copy of this novella for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a contestant on a popular reality show is found dead on an isolated island off Australia’s coast, Detective Charlie Cooper and his partner, Joe Quinn, are sent to investigate. The victim, not popular with anyone associated with the show, was suffocated in her bed, and Cooper and Quinn learn that everyone is a suspect. The popularity of the show has drawn attention from their higher-ups and the media, and the pressure is on them to solve the case quickly.

Dark Paradise by Catherine Lee is a novella that follows their investigation as they painstakingly piece together clues and eliminate suspects, one-by-one, until they focus on the one most likely. The problem; they have no proof, and the clock is ticking.

While there is some focus on police procedure, the main focus in this entertaining little tale is the mental processes the two heroes follow as they zero in on the main suspect.

[Horacho · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the beginning chapter I was engulfed into the book as it started off exciting but has the story went on I think the Author didn’t create enough anticipation and suspense to take me through the book. The story line was not terrible but it was not developed with enough suspense. The ending was very slow and poor, lacking enthusiasm and tenaciousness Witt the detective not being depicted as the best detective and letting the story unfold by itself.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Paradise is 4.5 in the A Cooper & Quinn Mystery by Catherine Lee. When the death of a reality star on the beautiful island of Lord Howe. Detective Sergeant Cooper and Senior Constable Quinn caught the case. However, this case put Detective Sergeant Cooper and Senior Constable Quinn outside their comfort zone. Detective Sergeant Cooper and Senior Constable Quinn had to find the killer before the next person died with no mainland support or resources. The readers of Dark Paradise will continue to follow Detective Sergeant Cooper and Senior Constable Quinn investigation to find out what happens.

Dark Paradise is an excellent addition to A Cooper & Quinn Mystery series by Catherine Lee. I had no problem engaging with the plot or the characters of Dark Paradise. I like that Catherine Lee highlights social issues that affect the community. I love Catherine Lee portrayals of her characters and how they interacted with each other throughout this book. Dark Paradise is well written and researched by Catherine Lee. I like Catherine Lee's description of Dark Paradise's settings that allowed me to imagine living on Lord Howe.

The readers of Dark Paradise will understand the problems that organisers can encounter during a reality show. Also, the readers of Dark Paradise will learn about living on Lord Howe.

I recommend this book.

[Bruce McLennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but as one other reader said, it didn't keep me up turning pages. As an Australian author, I like reading what other Aussies are doing. The Lord Howe Island setting is a bit different but I'd suggest that Catherine Lee has most likely spent a holiday there, and it's a place I'd be interested in visiting. I was a little disappointed in the lack of local characterisation from Lord Howe apart from the copper and the plant lady. I'd have found some quirky locals more interesting potential murderers than a mob of self-centred reality TV types. The investigation was a little pedestrian but the story was readable in spite of it. A little personal danger for Cooper or Quinn or both of them may have spiced the story up.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one in Catherine Lee’s Dark series.
Cooper & Quinn are sent to Lord Howe Island where a contestant in a reality TV show has been found dead. Until the autopsy has been done they are unsure if it is a natural death or murder and yes – it is a murder.
The complexities of the personalities, and also the isolation & lack of resources make life more difficult for Cooper & Quinn. One million dollars is up for grabs so will the show go on?
Congratulations Catherine on another interesting twist. I highly recommend all to “do yourself a favour” & grab a copy.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea for this story isn't bad. A murder takes place on a tropical island during a reality tv show. Someone didn't grasp the concept of elimination by competition? Anyway, one of the contestants gets murdered and it's left for the detectives to sort through the remaining contestants and the crew of the show to figure out whodunnit. A basic tv show type plot that could have been elevated by good writing, but it wasn't. The ending made sense, but didn't sound nearly as exciting as it should have. No real surprises in this one. Just a nice diversion that wasn't awful enough to make me mad.

[Liette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novella. I realized belatedly that this book was set in the middle of a series but it was not hard to get into the story.
A contestant died on the set of a reality show set on an island and detectives Cooper and Quinn are sent over to investigate. The main suspects are obviously the other participants who all had a chip on their shoulders in regard to the dead one as well as the host and the behind the screen team. Unfortunately, I figured who the culprit was but not the entire why he did it nor how it would end for the guilty party.

[Luc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper and Quinn have fast become my favourite detectives. And once again they do not disappoint. In what is billed as a novella Catherine Lee still manages to pack a full story.

The whole story centres on a reality TV show and the murder of one of its contestants. Our detectives are dragged out of their comfort zone (literally) when put on a plane and flown to a remote island where the series is being filmed. Cooper feels even more as a fish out of water with this whole reality television concept and how the people involved seem very much to have lost touch with the reality of live (and death in this case).

This is where I feel so much sympathy for Cooper, having to wade through that cesspool of reality TV and not understanding any of it (as do I). But where I have the luxury of keeping well away from it, this time Cooper can’t do the same.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed my first Aussie detective mystery by Catherine Lee. The plot and the solving of the crime flowed very smoothly with the reader being given just little enough information about the suspects and the crime to keep them guessing whodunit, much the same way real life detectives receive theirs. Clue by clue. Question by question. I truly look forward to reading the next books in this series. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it had a great pace ad plenty of twists and surprises to keep you guessing. The characters were a great mix of people you liked and disliked so therefore couldn't help but get drawn into the story. I loved how I never would have guest the killer and can not wait to go back and read more books in this series by Catherine Lee!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jacki Beights · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

I have discovered a trend in mystery novels that I arrived at because I thought my handwriting was getting sloppy. Since I am an avid reader, I decided I could mend the first by recording the second, data base style. I keep tabs on multiple items of every book I read: title, author, characters especially, 1st sentence so I don't cheat. This story confirmed my unscientific conclusion. But this was still a fun read and I like the main characters.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine Lee has written a good story with Dark Paradise but it wasn't my cup of tea. To put it simply her style of writing, the plot, the dialogue, and the description reminds me very much of Dame Agatha Christie. I couldn't stand Agatha's style although my wife loved her and had me get her a copy of every book she ever wrote. If you like Christie you'll love this book.

[Marie_eve_78 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is reminding me of Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes stories, in that it is a closed setting (an isolated island), and several people could have commuted the crime. They each get interviewed and you get to wonder who did it. The end wasn't predictable and it was well written also. I will surely take a look at the first of the Dark series novel by that author.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read - novella - with Cooper and Quinn investigating a murder on an isolated island resort with a reality show filming. The victim is one of the survivors as the show comes to a conclusion...

Straightforward - the added interest is that Cooper and Quinn are also isolated with few of the usual resources and manpower to hand.

[KevinS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much detecting going on here. Plenty of getting coffee, getting snacks, listening to shallow people on a reality TV show tell lies. Very Australian, so the dialog, interactions, reactions, concerns, and setting were all a little different than a US reader would expect. Regardless, not much of a mystery, not much of a case, not much interest in the victim, the suspects, or the detectives.

[Diana L. Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing “who done it”. The main characters are likable and believable and the premise was likely as well. A Reality show with a million dollars on the line and the public decides who has been transformed the most during the duration of the show.
A good short story read, kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the authors style and will look more of these books.

[Judy Uckotter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a blah book. Almost stopped reading but it was such an easy read I decided to finish. Can't say I'm glad I did because it was no big deal. Didn't really get to know any of the characters and didn't even care who killed the victim. Don't waste your time unless you want to read a book that you can get through quickly.

[lynn snider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting novella

Easy to read whodunit set in tropical island which is the backdrop for a reality show with the premise of the contestants transforming themselves into being better people. The novella is well written with enough twists to hold one's attention and main characters who are likeable.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always been fascinated by Australian life, so I was really drawn to this book. Love a good reality show, and the social implications for what happens to participants and staff are certainly dynamic. A bit predictable, but I enjoyed the eenie meenie minie mo resolution...surprisingly not what I expected. Not super sleucey, (sp?) but an intriguing plot.