The Fallen: A Clara Montague Mystery by Laurel S. Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Fallen is book 2 in the Clara Montague Mystery series, and though I have not read book 1, that didn’t stand in the way of my enjoyment of this sequel. The author, Laurel Peterson, does a great job of filling in enough of the backstory for the new-to-the-series reader, without info dumping or becoming tedious.
Told from alternating POVs, Clara, a well-off business owner, and her love interest, police chief Kyle DuPont, a recent transfer from New Orleans to Connecticut, find themselves in the midst of solving a murder when Clara and Kyle survive a drive-by shooting, with a fellow officer of Kyle’s slain. Here again, Peterson does a commendable job, this time ensuring that the personalities of each character shine through.
There’s plenty here to like beyond those two things. The story is compelling, taking us from Connecticut to New Orleans, and it’s evident that the author is familiar with both settings. There are also the requisite twists and turns, and while there’s more than one twist at the end, everything is fair play. I especially appreciated that Peterson didn’t wrap up everything in one tidy bow.
One final note: Clara has dreams/visions and sees auras. While these are never used as a method of solving a problem (and are never overdone) they do act as a warning to Clara that something is amiss, though she’s not always sure what that something might be. If that’s not your thing, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’re a believer or willing to have an open mind, then I encourage you to add The Fallen to your TBR pile. Recommended.