Don't Look Close by Jaima Fixsen
Publication Date: August 18th 2026 by Recorded Books
Pages: 352
Audio Book Length: 11hrs 26min
Narrator: Libby McKnight
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Peter Simmons is finally being released from hospital
after contracting polio and enduring a long rehabilitation. Unsure of what the
future holds, he's looking forward to a fresh start in the quaint mining town
where his sister Edie lives and works as a nurse. However, instead of picking
him up, Edie calls to say she’s been taken in for questioning after her
ex-husband was found murdered.
Peter’s a likeable kind of underdog hero. Dealing with
mobility issues and adjusting to a new life, he finds himself trying to solve a
murder and clear his sister's name. As a newcomer to town, he has to tread
carefully while questioning Edie's friends and workmates. The police seem
convinced they already have their culprit. Peter's photography skills prove
surprisingly useful, helping both with the investigation and providing alibis
as the body count continues to rise.
I liked both Peter and Edie, although I did think some of
their decisions were a little haphazard at times. Edie is a strong character,
especially for the era, having the courage to leave an emotionally abusive husband.
Her nursing background also comes in handy throughout the story. Peter feels
somewhat adrift at the beginning, but the situation he's thrown into gives him
a renewed sense of purpose and something to work toward.
I really enjoyed Don't Look Close, a murder
mystery set in the 1950s. It has the feel of a classic whodunit, with no
shortage of suspects that kept me guessing. While this case is solved, the
ending makes me wonder if there are more mysteries ahead for Peter.
I listened to an audio version and thought Libby McKnight
did a good job bringing the characters to life.
4 Stars
Book Description:
From USA Today bestselling author Jaima Fixsen comes a gripping crime novel perfect for fans of William Kent Kruger, following one man who would do anything for his sister, even if it means catching a serial killer …
If you look closely, you just may catch a killer.
When Peter Simmons calls his sister Edie from the polio rehabilitation ward, he expects to hear that she's on her way to get him. Instead, he learns her ex-husband has been murdered—and whispers around town have turned her into a prime suspect.
Determined to set things right, Peter checks himself out of the hospital and heads to Clairbeck, the rugged mining community Edie calls home. He can't walk or drive unassisted, but armed with his camera and a stubborn streak, he's intent on proving her innocence.
Clairbeck, however, is far from welcoming. Old grudges between miners and the establishment simmer, and even Edie's clinic isn't the safe haven it appears to be. As Peter observes—and then investigates—he starts to wonder … Is someone watching, waiting, and eliminating anyone who steps out of line?
In a town shrouded in secrets, Peter's eye for truth might be the only thing that stops a killer, unless he draws the killer's eye first …
