Sheena Kamal

After finishing this novel, I have to really think about my feelings about it. I really liked Nora Watts, although she is an alcoholic, a loner, a rough girl. Yet something about Nora has you rooting for her. She is a survivor with a BS meter and a love for a stray dog, Whisper. She is loyal and hates abusing a trust.
15 years ago, Nora was drugged, raped, beaten, and left for dead. The consequences of that night have haunted her for years. When Nora receives a desperate call, the nightmare show more of that event returns full force.
Nora takes on a search for a missing teenager, and her world is turned upside down. People aren't to be trusted, and her faith in them is shaken. The trail to find the girl uncovers corruption, greed, and danger in Vancouver, Canada. Some of the details and the characters became confusing as it uncovered a web of corruption. Nora is a force- and her character will stay with me. If there is another Nora Watts book, I will try it.
#TheLostOnes #SheenaKamal show less

In this, Sheena Kamal's fourth novel and first foray into Young Adult (YA) fiction, the author drags the reader around the mat in Trisha's Muay Thai gym run by her coach, Kru. As she preps for an all-girls tournament, she is joined by other trainees and friends, Amanda and Noor, as well as by erstwhile love-interest, Jason.

The sport is very violent, but it gives Trisha respite from the combat she faces at home with her dad, who visits infrequently from Trinidad only to beat her Ma regularly show more while in town and from her Ma's hella fierce looks and, at one point, actions, which land Trisha in the hospital with an acromioclavicular joint separation.

Trisha begins to suspect that her mother is a soucouyant, a folklore near-ghost who comes out of a Caribbean tradition and is said to suck the blood of its victims. Whether true of not, Trisha's Ma may be a murderer, not once but twice, all with the full knowledge of her white neighbour, Pammy, and her sister Kavita, both of whom cover for Ma with a tearful story swallowed hook, line, and sinker by the police.

Trini food plays a large part in this novel as does Obeah magic and opioids while men, not so much. In fact, according to Trisha, "they don't matter."

I loved this book. It took me back to when I first read Catcher in the Rye as a young teenager and was thrilled to read the word f**k in print for the first time and to realize that Holden's worries were some of my worries and his determination much like mine. Not only is Fight Like a Girl fast-paced with interesting, vivid characters, I was woke to life in Scarborough's multiethnic community, although Trisha would dis me for using "multiethnic," for sure.

I highly recommend this book. show less

Nora Watts isn't your typical friend, sister, or even PI-in-training. She's antisocial, a bit abrupt in her speech and manners, but she can be loyal to those she cares about. Nora is no longer working as a private investigator-in-training as her previous bosses have separated. She's now working with one of them, a retired journalist, who's trying to finish writing his memoirs before the cancer that's decimating his body kills him off. She's moved into his home along with her dog Whisper. show more She's maintaining contact with her biological daughter through brief text messages at her daughter's request. She's even tried to mend her relationship with her sister and brother-in-law, as much as they can be mended. She knows that Seb is going downhill fast and she knows there's nothing that she can do but be there for him when someone approaches her about her father and his past. All Nora knows about her father is that he was indigenous Canadian, adopted by an American family, and he killed himself when she was young. Shortly before he killed himself, her mother walked out on the family. Both she and her sister were raised in the foster care system and she's made her peace with that part of her past, or she thought she had until this man arrives and opens old wounds. The only way Nora can deal is to confront her father's past and that means a trip to his adopted hometown of Detroit. Shortly after arriving there, Nora is attacked by two thugs, stalked, and more. What secrets did her parents have over 30 years ago that people would still want to protect today? Will Nora be able to find these secrets before it's too late?

If you read my review of The Lost Ones last year, you'll know that I loved that story and the character of Nora Watts. Well, it's been a year and now that I've read In The Grip of It and It All Falls Down, I have even more respect for this character. Nora is gritty, impulsive, tough, and above all, a survivor. She's also loyal and can be sensitive when you least expect it. It All Falls Down gives us more of Nora's backstory and with that comes an understanding of what she had to go through as a child. We also learn more about her parents and their influence on her worldview. In addition to Nora's story from Vancouver to Detroit, the reader learns that there are ties between the Triad, Nora's daughter's abduction from the past year, and Nora. There's a lot of action in this story. I could tell you all about it, but then you wouldn't need to read the book at all. What I can say is that I enjoyed the pace of this story, the characters, the action, and the settings. Ms. Kamal has crafted two stories that appear to function separately but are seamlessly intertwined. The characters and action are wholly believable and I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. If you've read The Lost Ones, then you'll definitely want to grab a copy of It All Falls Down. If you enjoy mysteries or thrillers and you haven't read either book, what are you waiting for? Go, grab a copy of The Lost Ones to read before It All Falls Down is released. Trust me, you'll want to read this series. You can thank me later.

I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review originally published on 07/01/2018 at http://www.thebookdivasreads.com/2018/07/2018-book-245-it-all-falls-down-by.html. show less

4.5 stars.
The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal is a rather gritty but surprisingly humorous mystery about recovering alcoholic and somewhat troubled Nora Watts' efforts to locate missing Vancouver teenager Bonnie Walsh.

With an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying, Nora's job as a research assistant and receptionist for a journalist and private investigator is the perfect fit for her. She initially believes Everett Walsh is reaching out to her for assistance in locating fifteen year old show more Bonnie due to her employer. Needless to say, she is shocked when Lynn Walsh blurts out the truth-Bonnie is the daughter Nora gave up for adoption immediately after giving birth. Her first instinct is to refuse their request, but given her firsthand experience as someone who has been easily overlooked due to her heritage and bad decisions, she knows all too well that the police will not take the Walsh's concern seriously. The discovery that someone has the Walsh home under surveillance is Nora's first inkling that Bonnie's disappearance might be more than just a troubled teenager running away from an unhappy home. She is also very concerned when someone from her own dark past starts immediately tries to make contact with her. Not knowing whom to trust, Nora continues investigating Bonnie's disappearance but it soon becomes quite clear that someone is willing to go to any lengths to ensure that she does not locate the missing teenager.

Nora survived an incredibly violent and horrific ordeal and her scars run deep. A rough around the edges loner with trust issues, she does not like being in the limelight and she is most comfortable in the underbelly of society. She is long estranged from her sister Lorelei who does not temper her contempt for Nora or the mistakes she has made. Nora's sobriety is hard won but the temptation to blunt her emotions is a daily battle that she wins only because of her beloved canine companion, Whisper. When Nora hits a brick wall in her investigation, she turns to her former AA sponsor and police detective Jon Brazura for assistance but she has plenty of misgivings about trusting him.

The Lost Ones is a dark mystery with an engaging and unpredictable storyline that is quite compelling. Despite her gruff exterior and dubious choices, Nora is a surprisingly sympathetic protagonist that is very easy to root for. Her investigation into Bonnie's disappearance takes some very unexpected twists and turns and Sheena Kamal brings the novel to an adrenaline filled, nail biting conclusion. A stunning debut fans of the genre are going to thoroughly enjoy. show less