Mini Review & Giveaway: A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: December 3rd 2019 by Berkley Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book: 

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh pivots in a new direction with her first mainstream thriller that will be sure to keep readers on their toes.

Anahera Rawiri left New Zealand at twenty-one, fleeing small-town poverty and the ghosts of her childhood with no plans to look back. But eight years later, she returns, seeking familiarity as respite from the shattered remains of her new life. And despite the changes brought on by a bump in tourism--the shiny new welcome sign at the town line and a decidedly less shiny new police presence--Golden Cove appears much as it ever was: a small settlement on the savage West Coast of the South Island, populated by all the remembered faces and set against a backdrop of lush greenery, jagged cliffs, and crashing waves.

Detective Will Gallagher knows all about ghosts; his own chased him out of a promising career in Christchurch, landing him as the sole cop in a quaint town where his most pressing concerns are petty theft and the occasional drunk. When Golden Cove resident Miri Hinewai goes out for a run and fails to return, Will finds himself heading up a missing person's search that rapidly escalates into an official investigation after this case is connected with similar ones from the past. As an outsider, Will begins to rely on Anahera's knowledge of the area and its residents to help him delve into Golden Cove's secrets, and to determine whether it shelters something far more dangerous than just an unforgiving landscape.

My Thoughts:

I love Nalini Singh’s paranormal stories, and so I was excited to experience her writing in a contemporary mystery/romantic suspense novel.  I feel like the story had a slow start, but was still engaging and atmospheric from the get-go. The rugged and remote New Zealand setting came to life with Ms. Singh’s beautiful descriptions, giving it an almost haunting quality.

I found the crime and mystery captivating and disturbing when all was revealed, yet I think I would’ve liked more of a glimpse into the history between Anahera and her friends, as well as more interactions in the present to give more feeling and depth when the truth came out.

Anahera and Will’s connection was quiet and intense at the same time, and I thoroughly enjoyed their romance.

3.5-4 Suns

The lovely people of Berkley Books provided a Hardcover Copy of A Madness of Sunshine and I'm giving it away to one reader. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Good luck!

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