The Deep, Deep Snow

Ten years ago, a young boy went missing. The only thing left behind was his bike. Everyone was under suspicion.. the father, the mother, the ex-husband, the step-father, known trouble makers in the area, etc. Deputy Shelby Lake investigates and finds that everyone has something to hide, secrets to keep, even Shelby herself. Shelby has quite an interesting back story. Her father is the much beloved sheriff ... but his Alzheimer's is getting worse and it's evident he will need to be retiring soon. She is torn between her job and being able to take care of him. The secondary characters are credible, solidly drawn. This was an excellent police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. Suspense starts on the very first page and rises steadily throughout until the final totally unexpected conclusion. It's intense and at times very emotional as this small town must come to terms with hidden secrets coming to the light of day. Many thanks to the author / Blackstone Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Having read ALL this author's books, I have never been disappointed. Highly recommend this to anyone who likes crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

rural, small-town, suspense, superstitions, abduction, law-enforcement, family-dynamics, friendship, secrets***** Sadness. For a young boy who disappeared, for a war vet convicted of his wife's murder, for a vital middle aged sheriff who develops early onset dementia, and for his adopted daughter who was abandoned shortly after her birth but came to be an exceptional deputy in a remote part of the country. The story of the characters and the convoluted mystery they are wrapped in is incredibly well done. No spoilers. I requested and received a free ebook copy from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!