Home › review › #BookReview: Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 @NetGalley

#BookReview: Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 @NetGalley

Posted on Posted in review Tagged with ,

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for a crime read from an author whose book I picked up via NetGalley, Melinda Leigh >>>

Book cover for Dead Against Her by Melinda LeighAbout the Book:

Sheriff Bree Taggert’s downfall is part of a killer’s cunning design in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, lies, and revenge.

Called to an isolated farm to check on an elderly widow, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds a brutal double homicide. One of the victims is Eugene Oscar, the bitter and corrupt former deputy she recently fired.

Working with criminal investigator Matt Flynn, Bree discovers that she isn’t the only one who had a troubling history with Eugene. But someone doesn’t want Bree digging up the past. She becomes the target of a stranger’s sick and devious campaign calculated to destroy her reputation, career, family, and new relationship with Matt. To make matters worse, she’s the prime suspect in Eugene’s murder.

When her chief deputy goes missing while investigating the case, Bree refuses to back down. She won’t let him become the next victim. His life and her future depend on finding a killer nursing a vengeful rage.

Romantic Suspense. Mystery Suspense. Crime Suspense 

 

My Review:

🌟🌟🌟

An Okay Read

With the book cover, the description, and all the four and five star reviews, I was excited to get to read this book. The narrative opened strongly with … “Hate is a living thing, a seed to be planted and watered.” … and a little further on … “Regret is a funny emotion. By definition, you can’t experience it until after the fact.”

Unfortunately, I soon got bogged down in passive writing, split infinitives galore, crutch words and repetition. After just the first few chapters, I lost count of how many times the reader was informed Oscar had been fired by Bree, and all the whys and wherefores around that.

I liked that the main protagonist is such a strong character, and here are some more lines I loved … 

”Weedy pastures and run-down structures painted a desolate landscape.”  

And … “The foyer was like its owner, dated but well kept.” 

All in all, an okay read that starts slow and is heavy on description at times, but has likeable characters and a good plot. A solid three stars from me.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

 

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

 

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

18 Comments on “#BookReview: Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 @NetGalley”

  1. Harmony, thanks so much for sharing your honest opinion. Helps one make up their mind.

  2. Its a good cover and I like the opening. Thanks for sharing your insight, Harmony.

  3. Sorry this one fell flat for you, Harmony. Thanks for sharing your honest opinion!

  5. Although three star reads aren’t top of the scale, they often make nice companions while passing time. I just finished a three star a little while ago. I think these reviews are the hardest to write, as the books generally have good points and weak points. I know my three star read did.

    I think I will pass on this one after getting your take on it.

    • They really are tough. Trying to find the right balance. Thanks, Mae 💕🙂

  6. Interesting. I see her books often, and they always have great reviews, but for some reason, I’ve never read one. Now I’m less inclined to. Thanks, Harmony.

  7. I was tempted to request this book, but I saw mixed reviews and decided against it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  8. An interesting review, Harmony.
    Writing is a steep learning curve, and this author is evidently still on the nursery slopes.

    • Yes, a good one to leaf through in the sun. Thanks, Priscilla 💕🙂