Dark Vows

INTENSE MYSTERY

Inspector Deiniol “Danny” Quirke, has gotten his position back on the RNC (Royal Newfoundland Constabulary), in Kildevil Cove. He’s been married now to Tadhg Heaney for six months, and has gained a family in Tadhg, Lilly and Easter. Life has seemed to calmed some for Danny, but as time has gone on his knees have plagued him too long for Taghg’s liking. Danny is meeting with his doctor, Roman St Croix and the news is not good. With advanced osteoarthritis, both knees need to be replaced and soon. Surgery and rehabilitation are hard for Danny to face and it will take a year for him to be back on his feet. Danny has also struggled with his own personal issue, he’s been lied too, about his parents and now he’s painfully searching for the truth.

Now Danny finds himself in the midst of a house explosion. At the scene, Danny finds Inspector Cillian Riley, now left with a limp, after recovering from a horrid accident from last winter. He reports to Danny that, the Caron’s are new to the small town and had relocated from Quebec. Gerard Caron can be located but his wife, Amalie and six year old son Joseph are missing.

With enough information into the Caron’s, Danny decides to contact the Surete (French police department) and before he know it he’s face to face with, Inspecteur Blaise Pascal, Surete du Quebec. Pascal is a man that is dominate, rude, pompous and uses his charms when it benefits him. Danny pleads his case that the RNC can handle the crime but Chief Inspector Adrian Molloy feels its needed to show they will work with other regional police forces. The RNC really has to build up their reputation from the last situation that almost destroyed them.

Danny doesn’t trust the smart mouth Pascal and believes he’s keeping secrets from him. But Danny is determined to solve the case with or without Pascal. The Caron’s aren’t the only mystery, there’s murder, bodies and a message.

J.S. Cook creates another dark, suspenseful, gory and twisted murder mystery in “Dark Vows.” J.S. Cook never stops amazing me with the complexity of each murder case. From the very first page I was immersed in the story and couldn’t put it down. “Dark Vows” is not only a dark theme with the terrifying killers and murders but with a very twisted relationship that the story builds around. Each crime is vivid and meticulously described to it’s clarity.

Besides Danny and his own issue of hopefully finding his true family, there’s Blaise Pascual. Pascual is a man that feels like he doesn’t belong. He carries some very dark and painful secrets, right up until the end. The odd connection Pascual has with Prud’Homme makes him even more of a mystery.

There’s also others of the RNC that bring their own personal situations to the story: It seems the relationship between Cillian Riley and Kevin Carbage is a little shaky. June Carbage and girlfriend Amy’s relationship will take a most unusual turn. Of course, there are the other colorful characters of Danny’s team: Bobbi Lambert, forensic chief; Dr. Reagan Lampe of the Carbonear morgue; Constable Sarah Avery; Constable Dougie Hughes and Alan English volunteer fire chief, that bring their expertise to the investigation.

I especially like how J.S. Cook brings those private moments at home between Danny and Tadhg. The dialogue and dialect of their country really adds to that special, long lasting relationship. The author also does amazing with Blaise Pascual with the addition of his French language to make this novel even more outstanding.

If you love intense murder mysteries, I highly recommend “Dark Vow” and the entire “Kildevil Cove Murder Mysteries.” I have never passed up a J.S. Cook novel. For me, Cook is one of the most talented and entertaining authors that I have ever read. I will continue to follow her and watch for the next book.