Bloodtree River in Aussie Readers

Apr 12, 2018 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, aussie-authors, romantic-suspense, 5000-books, read-on-kindle, suspense, thriller, 2018-release, arc, own-read

When Detective Indiana O’Meara’s boss approached her about going undercover on a remote property in Tasmania, Indy was at first reluctant. But learning of the missing girls who had all worked at a cattle station called Calico Mountain Lodge before disappearing, Indy agreed while at the same time confirming she would be pulled out at the first sign of danger.

The cattledraft was her first introduction to life in the rugged Tasmanian bush – Indy hadn’t had much to do with horses but was fascinated ...more

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Apr 24, 2018 Bree T rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, australian, suspense, netgalley, kindle-version, romance, thriller

I’m a huge fan of Sarah Barrie’s romantic suspense novels. Her Hunter’s Ridge trilogy are probably three of my favourites in the genre. Although readers of that book will pick this one up and find a couple of familiar faces, it’s not strictly necessary to have read those before beginning this. It helps a bit for some basic background and it’s good to see Indy get her story but if you haven’t read any of the others (which I suggest you do!) you won’t be left behind.

Detective Indy O’Meara is gathe I’m a huge fan of Sarah Barrie’s romantic suspense novels. Her Hunter’s Ridge trilogy are probably three of my favourites in the genre. Although readers of that book will pick this one up and find a couple of familiar faces, it’s not strictly necessary to have read those before beginning this. It helps a bit for some basic background and it’s good to see Indy get her story but if you haven’t read any of the others (which I suggest you do!) you won’t be left behind.

Detective Indy O’Meara is gathering information to bring down a drug kingpin in Sydney when an undercover opportunity in Tasmania comes her way. Girls keep going missing, all seemingly having worked at the same cattle property although only one body has been found. Grave fears are held for the wellbeing of several others and Indy is to go in looking for a job, hoping to gather information and perhaps even tempt the suspect. Most eyes seem to be on Logan Atherton but despite extensive questioning and searches, nothing concrete has been found.

It’s decided that as a part of Indy’s cover she should appear meek, submissive, give off the impression of being alone. But Indy is anything but meek and submissive and she immediately draws attention to herself the moment she arrives looking for a job. Some of that attention comes from Logan Atherton himself and Indy is immediately conflicted. She definitely needs to be wary of him – in most cases he’s the last person to see these women alive and he’s the chief suspect. But even though he can be decidedly difficult, there’s something about him. He’s hiding things and he can be bluntly rude but she’s not convinced he’s some kind of violent murderer. She knows that she can uncover what is going on but if Indy’s wrong….the price could be her life.

This was such a rollercoaster of a ride! I absolutely loved the setting – good to see Indy heading out of the city of Sydney and to Tasmania. I don’t read a lot of books set in Tassie and the landscape is just perfect for this type of story. Thick bushland, remote properties, it lends itself well to the sort of undercover type of work that Indy was doing. Armed with a good resume, she gets herself a job where she needs to and sets about observing the goings on and trying to figure out whether or not someone really is either kidnapping these women and keeping them somewhere, possibly torturing them, or murdering them. In such terrain, bodies could go unfound for decades.

Indy has seen and experienced a lot in her life and she brings that with her, in some ways. She’s supposed to be a bit pliable, perhaps easily charmed or persuaded but instead she finds herself unable check her nature, engaging in arguments, standing up for herself and not exactly blending in. The place is so desperate for help though (unsurprising, considering most of them keep vanishing) and although they are also suspicious about newcomers, especially with the rumours swirling around since the discovery of a woman’s body, Indy is capable enough that she is able to slot in quite easily, working in the stables with Logan.

Ah, Logan. Look, I’m going to be honest, I spent an awful lot of this book not really liking Logan. He seems deliberately antagonistic just for the sheer pleasure of it, he’s a bit too much of a smart-arse who seems unconcerned about the women that have disappeared and the fact that he’s in the gun for it. And also he manhandles Indy in a scene that really annoyed me. It’s not a particularly great picture to paint and although it was meant in kind of tongue in cheek play or comeuppance for Indy, I didn’t really feel as though she warranted it. Actually, no one really warrants that. Indy is for all intents and purposes, an employee and should be treated respectfully. Not tossed around like a child’s toy.

Logan did grow on me, the further into the book I got but the strength was the suspense portion of this book and the way in which Sarah Barrie wove that together. The more Indy uncovered, the more complicated everything became and the more intrigued I got. There were so many things that I didn’t suspect – and people that I didn’t suspect of being involved. When things were revealed though, I could see how there had been a throwaway line here or there or something that made sense in hindsight. I had no idea things were going to escalate to such a degree and it was so clever. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story and how Indy managed to put things together. She was figuring things out on the fly, including some pretty insane plans once things hit the fan and there was just so much she managed to cover. Her and Ben are a great team and even though he’s managing from Sydney, you get to see them as a cohesive unit who back each other. An awesome example of a platonic partnership.

This is a really well paced, clever story that had me unable to put it down. Already I cannot wait for Sarah Barrie’s next book.

***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purposes of an honest review***
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Jul 10, 2023 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023, aww

Not realising this was a romantic suspense, I read it as a crime novel, & it worked. There were a few stupid moments that you might get in any novel but, until I came to do this review, I was none the wiser - it does explain a couple of the more unrealistic moments, however. I'm a bit disappointed to find that the next 2 books move on to Connor & Tess Atherton's lives because I wanted to know what Detective Indiana O'Meara was going to get up to next.

I love the setting in the Tasmania bush, & wa ...more

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May 26, 2018 Helen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

MS Barrie never fails to disappoint me with one of her stories and if you are looking for a fast paced romantic suspense with danger strong characters and an emotional pull well this is a book that I highly recommend, I was on the edge of my seat, cheering the good guys on, as they went after some very bad guys, the setting is fabulous the Tasmanian mountains, all in all this one is a story not to be missed.

Indiana O’Meara has been through so much in her life and became a cop to help people, to MS Barrie never fails to disappoint me with one of her stories and if you are looking for a fast paced romantic suspense with danger strong characters and an emotional pull well this is a book that I highly recommend, I was on the edge of my seat, cheering the good guys on, as they went after some very bad guys, the setting is fabulous the Tasmanian mountains, all in all this one is a story not to be missed.

Indiana O’Meara has been through so much in her life and became a cop to help people, to make a difference and she is undercover in Tasmania to investigate woman that have gone missing, never realizing that the main suspect would pull at her heart strings the way he did, his caring way with the animals on his cattle station Calico Mountain had her re-thinking a lot, but with a twist to this case that connects to something even more dangerous Indy is in for some big changes in her life and she needs to keep her head on the case.

Logan Atherton comes a cross to most people as a hard man intent on his job of running Calico Mountain but with young woman going missing he is suspicious of many who arrive to work there and with the rumours that are being spread they are short staffed but when Indy arrives and is hired he feels a pull towards her like never before you see Logan doesn’t trust easy there is something about Indy that he cannot put aside. This family run station is doing its best to prove they are not involved in the missing woman but there are many twists that will be uncovered.

This one had me turning the pages honestly it is a fabulous story twists and turns and danger as Indy digs deeper but there are threats coming from all directions and it had me guessing right to the very end so many fabulous characters that all add to the story and wow so much happens in the explosive end. This one is moving and emotional as well as all of the danger involved in catching the bad guys. I loved Logan what a hero he really is the best and he and Indy so deserve to be together. This is one that I highly recommend truly it should not be missed and I do hope that Connor and Tess get their own stories I would love to revisit Calico Mountain. Thank you MS Barrie for another keeper wow I loved it.
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Jul 06, 2018 Tanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

So here's the thing. I love romantic suspense novels. I love rural romance novels. So how is it possible before now I didn't know of the two being mixed together in one awesome book? This was seriously the perfect book for me, and I'm thrilled to discover there are more books by this author that I can check out.

Indy is a detective, sent undercover to work on the Atherton property in Tasmania. Women have been going missing, and her mission is to get close to the prime suspect, Logan Atherton. Whe ...more

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Apr 08, 2019 Nicola Marsh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, romantic-suspense, rural-romance, read-in-2019

This was a cracking good read.
I loved Indy's feistiness and strength of character, a perfect match for the mysterious Logan.

The crime angle had loads of twists so the suspense kept me turning pages as much as the romance.

Loved it. ...more

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Jul 11, 2019 Chip rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fluff, a-b-listened, audible-own, listened

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I thought.
I normally find crime novels with a female protagonist to be irritating and irrational, but this was not the case. She was a capable woman who is slightly wise beyond her years, but I suppose her past accounts for that.
I listened to this book on audible and thought that narrator did a brilliant job.
The romance was unexpected, but I don't feel as though it detracted from the story. Nor did it feel forced or silly.
All in all, I was ple ...more

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