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Scene of the Crime

M.J. Williamz

3.12 · Rating details · 25 ratings · 9 reviews

Cullen Matthew is strong, steady, and dependable. She has the perfect life and a perfect woman to share it with. Her dreams come tumbling down when Cullen is blindsided by her girlfriend Sara’s arrest and she learns their whole relationship may have been a lie. Still, she loves Sara and believes she’s innocent. Cullen isn’t going to leave her when she’s down.

Julia Stansw ...more

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Kindle Edition, 258 pages

Published July 16th 2019 by Bold Strokes Books

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Average rating 3.12 ·

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· 25 ratings · 9 reviews

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Jul 19, 2019 Carolyn McBride rated it did not like it

I hardly know where to start this review. First off, with honesty I suppose.

Had my copy been a print copy, I would have tossed it across the room a quarter of the way in. I hate to give bad reviews because I know well the work, blood, sweat and tears that goes into writing a book. But I expect better, far better, from someone who is as prolific as this author, and a multiple award winner as well.

In the first twenty-five percent of the book, I was pulled out of the story no less than eight times. I hardly know where to start this review. First off, with honesty I suppose.

Had my copy been a print copy, I would have tossed it across the room a quarter of the way in. I hate to give bad reviews because I know well the work, blood, sweat and tears that goes into writing a book. But I expect better, far better, from someone who is as prolific as this author, and a multiple award winner as well.

In the first twenty-five percent of the book, I was pulled out of the story no less than eight times. If I'm propelled out the story that often, I'm not likely to stick with it. But I did. What really did it for me were the gross inaccuracies that showed a serious lack of research. Not everyone can be Patricia Cornwell and consult with the best in the crime-fighting business, I get that. But a little effort, a little research into forensic books and a couple of emails to someone in law enforcement willing to help an author will ensure the correct language is used, as well as the right procedures. What am I talking about? No crime scene tech in North America would assume the cause of death, let alone by looking at a gash on the victims head. No detective would tell a crime scene tech that she wants an autopsy done. In circumstances like that, it would automatically be done. And where was the Medical Examiner?! Again, this reveals a lack of research. But, wait, there's more!

When the detective gets called to the scene, she is told that a body has been found and that she is needed to come down and investigate it. A detective does not investigate a body, and I was hurled so fast out of the story I got whiplash. She also does not get to delegate work so she can avoid the rain. This is sloppy writing. So then she grabs a jacket and leaves. One page later, she is out in the rain, wishing she had brought a coat. Wait...what? She just grabbed a jacket! To make a confusing situation worse, she is shouting to the techs over the wind and rain. No one has bothered to put up a tent around the crime scene to try and preserve the evidence and they are standing in puddles. But she sees a couple of sets of footprints and directs the techs to make models. It's a good thing I was reading my tablet because if this had been in print, this is where the book would have gone sailing across the room. First off, in the driving rain and howling wind, which it must have been since the detective had to shout to be heard over the wind and rain, she would never have seen footprints. Further, they would not have been clear enough for the tech to comment on their size. This is another prime example of language and lack of research. The techs would have, had the conditions been ideal, made casts of the print, or lifted them with electrostatic methods, not plaster, out in the driving rain. But the scene hadn't been protected in any way, so there would have been nothing to make models of, or lift in any way! Still no Medical Examiner or mention thereof.

So far I've avoided talking about how shallow the characters were because other reviewers have touched on this elsewhere. But I could have ignored that had the story even tried to be accurate. The characters were cardboard cliches taken straight from television tropes. Anyone who pays for a book, no matter its content or length wants to get their money's worth. I hate to say it so bluntly, but they won't get it in this book.

I do not like leaving bad reviews, and anyone who has read a few of mine knows I have only ever given one other scathing review. But sometimes, the reader's interest has to be defended, as well as their money. This is one book I actually regret getting, and I don't think I've ever said that about any book.
Ever. ...more

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Jul 23, 2019 Kennedy rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-ng-romance-intrigue

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2019 Alu rated it did not like it

Shelves: lgbt

I came so close to not finishing this book. The only reason I did was so that I could have a completely informed opinion.

The biggest issue I had with this book was the pacing. I felt rushed through scenes so quickly I couldn't keep track. The story was weak and shallow. The characters were poorly written and barely had any real personality I could follow. I genuinely could not define any of the characters.

I don't claim to be an expert on crime dramas, far from it in fact. This book, however, fe ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Julie rated it it was ok

DNF

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May 06, 2020 Carol Hutchinson rated it really liked it

Not the crime I was expecting…

Cullen finds herself in the centre of an unfolding crime when her girlfriend, Sara is accused of murder and arrested in connection with the case for supply of drugs. Blindsided, Cullen finds all of this hard to process but as the investigating Detective of the case happens to be an old high school acquaintance it gives them a chance to catch up and realise then have feelings for each other. Detective Julia is determined to set Cullen free of her entanglement with Sa Not the crime I was expecting…

Cullen finds herself in the centre of an unfolding crime when her girlfriend, Sara is accused of murder and arrested in connection with the case for supply of drugs. Blindsided, Cullen finds all of this hard to process but as the investigating Detective of the case happens to be an old high school acquaintance it gives them a chance to catch up and realise then have feelings for each other. Detective Julia is determined to set Cullen free of her entanglement with Sara, and to catch the woman who has caused so much pain, with Cullen’s support she might just solve the case, prove Sara guilty and get the happy ending to go with it.

This story was so promising, the initial introduction and set up with highly intriguing and the plot held a lot of mystery. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it, but it became quite focused on the relationship between Cullen and Julia which detracted slightly from the main story about the crime being solved, and some parts felt a little rushed over or forgotten. It was a really good gripping story, with interesting plot and plenty to keep you wondering and because the language used was simple, it was easy to follow and read. It did have quite a heavy theme of drug use which some readers may find difficult but it wasn’t too detailed and was important to the story so was necessary and handled sensitively. The cute relationship moments made this more of a romance than a crime novel, and helped to lighten the mood even though it was quite conflicting, but that’s what made it all the more dramatic. You sort of got the feeling it might not end well, and therefore left you questioning how harmful it could all be to the bigger picture.

The main characters Cullen and Julia were cute together, although their relationship came with the complication of potentially getting in the way of what Julia was trying to achieve in getting Sara convicted. That added to the drama though, as it meant there were restraints and difficulties for both Cullen and Julia that added strains and trials to their feelings, actions and emotions.

It was a nice story if you want a romance with an underlying theme that isn’t too heavy or graphic. I really enjoyed the story and hope maybe there will be a future story for Cullen and Julia as there is more potential there for them now they have freedom to explore their relationship.
...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Laure rated it did not like it

Shelves: arc

🏳️‍🌈👩‍❤️‍👩📚⚢👮👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩📖👭🏳️‍🌈

That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received, via NetGalley an ARC of « Scene of the Crime » from BSB.
Please, note that I’m really, really saddened about this one, ‘cause I hate leaving bad reviews.
My rating : 1 ⭐️

The story sets in Portland – OR, USA and focuses on Detective Julia Stansworth & Cullen Matthews. Julia and Cullen knews each other in high school. Cullen has a GF, Sara, since 5 weeks. What Cullen ignores is that Sara is a cocain addict, a drug de ...more

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Nov 15, 2019 Ameliah Faith rated it it was amazing

WOW
This book was such a change from Ms WIlliamz usual offerings. This is a crime drama and a good one at that. This well written tale is about Cullen, an advertising genius, Julia, a tough detective and Sara, an entrepreneur assistant and Cullen’s lover who we later find out is a drug dealer and user and suspected of murder. This was a fast read for me as I couldn’t put it down and actually pouted when I had to so. I loved all of these characters and am unable to pick a favourite. You would thin ...more

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Oct 18, 2019 Pamla Messinger rated it did not like it

Not that great

I didn't even want to finish this book, but I did, it just seemed flat. Repetitious make out sequences, not much depth to the characters. Sara, drug dealer, Cullen pathetic, Detective not much better. I was hoping for more but didn't happen. Seemed superficial . I love to read and enjoy a good story, but this isn't one. If this had been a hard copy rather than an ebook, I would probably have tossed it in the recycling. No depth to it and I have to give it a star because it is requi ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 Jay Nay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

wow! This book was not what I expected at all. I love romance, I love watching the story unfold. This was a beautiful story, I can't wait to see what else this author has to give. ...more

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About M.J. Williamz

M.J. Williamz

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MJ Williamz was raised on California’s Central Coast which she still loves, but left at the age of seventeen in an attempt to further her education. She graduated from Chico State with a degree in Business Management. It was in Chico that MJ began to pursue her love of writing. Since 2002, she’s had over a dozen short stories accepted for publication, mostly erotica with a few romances thrown in f ...more