A young woman has been murdered on Ripton Beach.
DSS ‘Archie’ Baldrick and DC Ben Travers eventually identify the body as that of Lucy Martin, who has been renting a bach in the area. Her husband, Oliver, seems to know very little about his wife or her background.
What was Lucy hiding? Why has she no family or friends?
As the number of suspects mounts up, Archie begins to conclude that the real answer lies in Lucy’s dark and mysterious past, and that the murderer may be just a little too close for comfort …
My Thoughts
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have read Christina’s previous book and loved it, so when the opportunity to read her latest release Retribution came my way I felt incredibly excited. As soon as I read the description for this book I knew I was in for a treat, and I am pleased to report that this book went above and beyond all of my expectations!.
When the body of young woman is found, it is clear she has been the victim of a brutal murder. It is down to DSS Archie Baldrick and DC Ben Travers to investigate the crime and find the person responsible. When they finally manage to Identify the body as that of Lucy Martin, the story begins to take us through various twists and turns.
The first major hurdle they hit is when they approach Lucy’s husband – who appears to know very little about his beloved wife, and even less about her past and her family. This is strange enough on it’s own, but when they uncover that Lucy was also renting a bach in the area she lost her life, they realise there is a high possibility that this is far more than a random murder case.
As they begin trying to unravel the puzzle that is Lucy’s past, and why this woman appears to have no family, the number of suspects for her murder soon begin to mount up. Is the murder linked to something from her mysterious past?.
This book was so addictive from the off. The storyline is jam packed with drama, suspense and the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the very end. I love how Christina has put so much detail in to the characters, giving them in depth, well fleshed out personalities and characteristics that make them all the more realistic. This is one of those books that I found myself reaching for at any given opportunity as I found myself so invested in the story and the inevitable conclusion to the case. The ending was spectacular and unexpected, something that you don’t always find in this genre of books. An absolute page turner from beginning to end.
You can purchase a copy of this book by following the links below
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retribution-Christina-OReilly-ebook/dp/B08M5XX5V6/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Retribution-Christina-OReilly-ebook/dp/B08M5XX5V6/
About the Author
Christina is a writer and professional proofreader living in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Four of her short stories have been published, one in a magazine and the others in anthologies produced by Page and Blackmore, Rangitawa Publishing and most recently in Fresh Ink: Voices from Aotearoa, produced by Cloud Ink Press.
As well as being a finalist in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards,Christina’s first crime novel Into the Void was longlisted for the 2019 Michael Gifkins Memorial Prize for an unpublished novel.
Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/Christina-OReilly-Author-102419694721372/
Victoria Wilks 