Jacques Rouleau and his team have a new case to investigate when Adele Delaney and her daughter Violet go missing. Some of the team suspect the husband Ivo, but is the case that straightforward. Personal problems of Stonechild, and Rouleau make life more difficult
An entertaining well-written mystery, with in the main its likeable characters ( )

1213 ( )

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tumbled Graves is the third book in Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series. (And I hope it won’t be the last.)

In the first book Kala Stonechild was one of the most secretive persons in the world. She liked to work on her own without a partner covering her back; she used to move a lot and cared only about her dog Taiku. In the third book we can see how Kala has changed. She works with Paul Gundersund as her partner, she take’s care about Lily’s daughter Dawn, while her mother is in prison, and she begins showing emotions. She grew up as a person.
Sergeant Rouleau hasn’t changed much, he just became sadder. His ex-wife Frances has died of cancer and now he has only his father.
I’m glad that Rouleau and Stonechild have each other. They will survive through everything while they are there for each other.
Paul Gundersund. There’s something going on between him and Kala. I hope that in the next book we’ll some romantic moments between them.
Woodhouse.. That ignoble police officer Woodhouse.. I just knew that he is a jerk. He has broken so many lives. I just can’t understand why has he done what he has done? What were his motives?
Brenda Chapman did the excellent job and wrote one of the most interesting mystery series. It is full of unpredictable twists and turns. Until the very end you don’t have a clue where in fact is Violet.
I strongly recommend this book particularly and the series as a whole to those who enjoy mysteries. ( )

This is the first I've read in this series and it was pretty decent police suspense. The duo here are based in Kingston, ON, and I especially loved reading about some of haunts of the past, such as Brockville and Ottawa. The action is believable, the characters interesting, and the mystery intriguing.

The book does have a couple of drawbacks, however. As in many novels in the genre, the author couldn't resist adding a somewhat stupid and certainly out-shined cop who feels put-upon, jealous, and vindictive, self-righteously sabotaging colleagues to feel smart. In this case, he disrupts a very delicate balance in the lives of one of the cops and destroys a budding home life for a needy young person, an outcome I found unnecessary and which ruined the end of the book for me. ( )

4.5 stars
Fantastic addition to this series. Each book seems richer as these characters are developed further & we follow them through their personal & professional challenges. Big changes for Kala in this one & no perfect shiny ending with all loose ends ties up in pretty bows. There are a few side plots that I hope will be carried over into book #4 so I'll be waiting (im)patiently. ( )