Review: No One to Help Her (Detective Chris Bailey #3) by Kate Watterson

                 

Print Length: 310 pages

Publisher:  Joffee Books (August 10, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: One, two, buckle my shoe

Three, four . . . murder

It’s the middle of the night when Detective Chris Bailey is called to the crime scene. A body has been found dumped by the side of a remote country road. The victim has been shot five times. She isn’t wearing a coat, though it’s late February. Her empty purse is strewn a few feet away, she is missing a shoe.

Her brother, Mick, is devastated. He’s only just moved back to the area after working a high-powered job in Chicago, ready to start a new life. And now this.

Then the killer leaves Amanda’s ID and missing shoe at Mick’s house.

Then a second body is found. And a third. Both were left by the roadside, both shot five times, both missing a shoe — that later show up at Mick’s.

Mick is clearly at the center of everything, but it’s also clear that he’s a victim, not the killer. Who is trying to frame Mick and why?

Just as Bailey feels he’s making progress, he receives his own warning. Can he catch a killer, or will he be next? 

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Here is the thing. I don't mind a bit of romance in my thriller novels. 

When it makes sense. 

And for me, it was more than a little odd to have the brother of a woman who has just been murdered (who, in fact, had just come from identifying her body, for crying out loud) to then be sitting in the home of his dead sister's best friend (even if she was his former lover) thinking about how sexy she still was.  He should be grieving for crying out loud, not lusting after his former flame. 

Now, I could have probably overlooked that had to story been enough to keep my attention, but I found that wasn't the case here either. There were a lot of little things, the fact that the author consistently used fancy-sounding words that the average reader will probably have to look up to understand, and the fact that everything was spoon-fed to us in great detail. 

There were times that the dialog went on for so long that it became unclear who was speaking, and other times when the point of view changed entirely (something I am starting to realize is a trademark of this author). 

Seeing as how this is the third time I have read something from this author that hasn't left me completely entertained, I'm going to chalk it up to their writing style just isn't for me. However, I'm sure other people will enjoy their stories, so if you like a little more romance with your suspense, give this one a chance! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                          No one to Help Her is available on Amazon.com

                                             (for free if you subscribe to kindle unlimited)