The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on August 9, 2021 (currently $2.99 and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.00 with 8,283 ratings and 678 reviews

Series: CSI Reilly Steel #1
on September 22, 2019
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 322
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon




Forensic investigator Reilly Steel, Quantico-trained and California-born and bred, imagined Dublin to be a far cry from bustling San Francisco, a sleepy backwater where she can lay past ghosts to rest and start anew.
She's arrived in Ireland to drag the Garda forensics team into the 21st-century plus keep tabs on her Irish-born father who's increasingly seeking solace in the bottle after a past tragedy.But a brutal serial killer soon puts paid to that. A young man and woman are found dead in a hotel room, the gunshot wounds on their naked bodies suggesting a suicide pact. But as Reilly and the team dig deeper, and more bodies are discovered, they soon realise that a twisted murderer is at work, one who seeks to upset society's norms in the most sickening way imaginable…
I’m a fan of mystery thrillers and police procedurals. Serial, formally titled Taboo, is in this genre but has some interesting additional treats. The setting is Dublin, Ireland. The main character is an American from California, but her father was born here. Reilly is also a criminal forensic specialist. I love the CSI science and technology.
The case is confusing with almost daily kills. Reilly notices that each crime scene has a Freud connection but that doesn’t connect the victims or point to the killer very well. At first, they don’t even know the deaths are connected. But the forensics show that after the first few.
Reilly is a good person, very competent, and getting used to a new job in a new police. She followed her father here. The department, particularly the men, aren’t so excited about new technology. Even without the technology aspects, Reilly is a smart investigator and figures out some key points. She gets along with Detective Chris Delaney and they become friends.
Things get suspenseful and more dangerous as the case continues. I really enjoyed the start of the CSI Reilly Steel series and definitely plan to continue.
These are only Kindle freebies I get, or ones through author newsletters which anyone can sign up and get for free. I don’t include things like Kindle Unlimited or Prime Free Reading (I do have it). Both Tantor and Audible have occasional free audios (to anyone) and I do include those. Since I one-click on 1-2 freebies a day or probably at least 5 a week, I came up with this feature to make sure I start reading them.
So I have thought about doing a Thrifty Thursday Challenge someday. For now, what I think would be fun is if you have read and reviewed a freebie, link up to your review (Goodreads, blog, facebook or wherever) below.
Add your review link here:
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Sounds like a good mystery.
I thought it was one of the better freebie ones I’ve read.
How wonderful that you got a police procedural freebie that you enjoyed is the start of a series you want to continue! Excellent review, Anne💜 I’m going to check it out. The Dublin setting is also a plus.
Yes! It’s pretty good. Better than many other freebie series.
Looks like you found a good one. I like the forensics aspect of police investigation in a mystery too.
Yes all the science stuff is a favorite aspect.
I like that this is the start of a series!
In picking freebies, I have been choosing the first books in series but maybe I should pick standalones. There are so many series I want to read.
This sounds like something that I would probably enjoy. It is always nice to find a great freebie!
And I have so many to choose from! lol