Sandy M’s review of A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
Mystery/Thriller published by Berkley 3 Dec 19
I have thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Singh’s paranormal and contemporary series. The only series I haven’t started is her Archangels, and I know I’m missing out there. And now we have A Madness of Sunshine. A mystery. A thriller. No matter the genre, nothing can stop Nalini Singh from writing a first-rate story. She’s one of the very best in the business.
Though we know Ms. Singh mostly through her paranormal romance, I’m glad to see her stretch even further with this book. It’s not a romance, but there are elements of romance, which I’m happy to see on top of all the twists and turns and secretiveness the residents of Golden Cove, a small town on New Zealand’s west coast, harbor. You are kept guessing and guessing at every turn in this story.
Anahera is back in Golden Cove after a ten-year absence. She’s a local and a recent widow and has some of those aforementioned secrets, both from her past on the island and from her more recent past. Will is a cop who’s been sent to Golden Cove after a screw-up he’s not sorry for, and he’s willing to take his punishment. When a bright young girl disappears while out jogging, everyone is on edge but searches endlessly for days. Thus begins Will’s investigation and all that it will eventually reveal, keeping you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages faster and faster. I changed my mind several times during the story as to who I believe the culprit is.
That’s all I’m going to tell you. This book is a must read. Be prepared to ignore everyday things until you’ve finished!
Summary:
On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbors; the children, more than schoolmates.
That is until one fateful summer—and several vanished bodies—shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that’s left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement to not look back. But they can’t run from the past forever.
Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape.
It’s not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.
Read an excerpt.