Hilary Davidson (1)

"I only know what the newspapers said. But I also know that blood always tells. Your mother was a murderer. You're capable of killing a man just like she did."

I am a big fan of Hilary Davidson's Lily Moore mystery series so when I heard that she had a stand-alone novel out I knew that I had to read it. Blood Always Tells had everything that I love about the Lily Moore mystery series, interesting characters, rich plots that hook you in, and great twists and turns that leave you guessing show more throughout. I kept thinking that I had things all figured out but really I had no idea.

This book is split up in three parts, one that follows Dominique (a model turned stylist who just wants to get revenge on her married ex-boyfriend), one that follows Desmond (Dominique's brother), and the other one I won't say who it follows as I don't want to give any spoilers.

I really loved reading about Dominique and Desmond. They both have dealt with some hardships in their past and I was really interested in reading about what had happened with their mother and father. In the beginning you always sense there is more to the story about their parents that you are first told. Quite frankly you get that feeling all the time while reading this book, there is always more to the story.

With Hilary Davidson's novels there always so many twists and turns that I am left on the edge of my seat constantly trying to guess at what really happened. That is one thing that I really love about this book and her other novels, it isn't easy to guess what happened everything is really messy.

I have one tiny bone to pick with this novel. Desmond mentions that he lives in Hammond, Indiana but he calls it "the Chicago suburb of Hammond, Indiana." I live in the suburbs of Chicago and I do not consider Hammond, Indiana to be a Chicago suburb. It is northwest Indiana to me and not the Chicago suburbs. I guess it probably differs depending on who you ask but it really irks me when people lump northwest Indiana into the suburbs of Chicago. Clearly this is an issue that I get irrationally annoyed at.

As with all of Hilary Davidson's novels I would recommend this if you are looking for a mystery with some great twists and turns. show less

I had the most delightful day yesterday. Sure, I was home, coughing and wheezing, all cuddled up in an afghan, drinking lots of tea, and feeling like the proverbial pile of crud. Sure, I felt physically miserable. But thanks to Hilary Davidson, my mind was totally caught up in The Next One to Fall. If you're going to be sick and miserable, the only thing that makes it at all redeemable is to have a good book to read. And I did.

Ms. Davidson's first novel, The Damage Done was a well-crafted, show more detail rich novel, which recounted the story of travel writer Lily Moore, returning to New York City after the death of her drug-addicted sister. This book picks up the story three months later, when Lily and her friend Jesse have journeyed to Peru in an attempt to help Lily break the cycle of depression, regret, and all the other emotions cranked up by her sister's death. There, on the slopes of Machu Picchu, they overhear a couple arguing, and then find the woman, broken and dying at the bottom of stairs. Lily was the only one to hear the dead woman's last words, which imply the fall down the steps to be a murder attempt rather than an accident. Add a disbelieving policeman investigating the incident, an wealthy, psychologically damaged, drug addicted ex, and his Machiavellian family with employees who will kill for or die for it, and you get a read with more twists than a road in the Andes mountains.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of place. I'll probably not be able to get to Peru this lifetime, but once again, Ms. Davidson has given me a detail rich picture. I know that today, I'll spend some delightful time online researching some of the elements she described so vividly. I also loved that one of my favorite characters from the previous book managed to make an appearance in this book, even if it was by phone. Even better, those brief phone conversations managed to help develop an interesting relationship that was there in the first book. I also enjoy the film and song references from what has now become the golden days of Hollywood.

I received this copy from Paul Stevens at Tor, who knew how much I enjoyed the first book. I'm already hoping that Lily will travel somewhere else, and that I can come along as an armchair traveller. show less

Jo Greaver would appear to have it all. A growing company, a loving partner, supportive friends, and up and coming success. She is also being blackmailed. When she comes to the payoff with a bag of money and a gun, the blackmailer is killed and she is injured. This seems an open and shut murder case for detectives Sterling and Mendoza and yet as the investigation goes on it just doesn’t add up somehow for Sterling.

I read this whole book in a couple of hours, which should say something show more about how good it is. The entire mystery is a hall of mirrors with circular clues, obvious, certainly guilty of something suspects, and a huge array of technicolor characters that should not have anything in common with each other. The author expertly juggles varied plot points using Sheryn Sterling and her partner as wonderful fixed points to keep the various threads of the story pulled tight, keeping the reading on the edge until the reveal shows how it all falls together. I have not read the first book in this series. It wasn’t needed as this stands alone nicely, however, I will make catching up a priority because these characters deserve to be read. show less

One Small Sacrifice by Hilary Davidson *

Alex Traynor had been a war photojournalist and worked in the world’s most dangerous environments. After being shot during one of his battlefield forays, he came home with a damaged leg, a case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a drug addiction, and a fiancé, Dr. Emily Teare, Emily operated on his wound in the field and gave him his single purpose he has to go on living.

It wasn’t always so cut and dried, though. A year earlier, at a low show more point in his life, a close friend, Cori Stanton, had fallen off the roof of Alex’s building and the circumstances were never clear. Alex blamed himself for not preventing it. Cori’s father and Sheryn Sterling, the investigating detective on the case, believed Alex had a more direct role in Cori’s death.

Now, a year later, Emily has disappeared, leaving behind a type-written note and many questions. Detective Sterling believes that once again Alex is the prime suspect in a woman’s disappearance, and she’s determined not to let him slip through her hands this time.

In One Small Sacrifice, Hilary Davidson has combined the best aspects of a police procedural with a suspense novel. As the reader we follow both Alex and Detective Sterling as they try to solve the puzzle of what’s happened to Emily and who is responsible. We see things that each of them sees that the other doesn’t, but never everything, and that helps ramp up the narrative tension.

Davidson’s plot is tightly written, but nuanced, the story seeded with enough alternatives to keep the reader guessing throughout. Characters are complex and interesting, with each of the main characters being given a suitable backstory that drives their actions. Davidson writes with a confidence and assuredness that will convince you that every line was written with extreme care. One Small Sacrifice is a novel written by a writer at the top of her game.

* I received a complimentary copy of this novel to provide a review. show less