Thrifty Thursday: MA Comley @ComleyMel #ThriftyThursday #Challenge #Giveaway #KindleUnlimited

The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).

This is a collection of freebies I have read which are in the romance genre .

Kindle freebie on June 6, 2022  (currently $3.99 and in Kindle Unlimited  as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.02 with 2,088 ratings and  93 reviews

Some secrets are worth dying for…

When a farmer is found murdered in his home, DI Sam Cobbs assumes she's dealing with a routine burglary gone wrong.

But as more bodies surface in the idyllic rural community, Sam is forced to enter a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Someone is digging up the past. Can Sam drag them into the light in time, or will she be buried with the deadly secret?

I’ve wanted to read To Die For for quite awhile. It’s a genre I particularly enjoy.  It’s a police procedural set in the UK. The Detective Inspector is a female, which I like to see strong, smart women.

I didn’t emotionally connect with this story. It felt like a bunch of details, characters without life or emotion.  The characters did and said things which seemed unrealistic to me.

I have the next 2 in the series and will try to read at least one more to see if it is just me who is off.  My rating means it’s okay.  Hopefully others will enjoy it more than I did.

Kindle freebie on February 12, 2024  (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.21 with 1,648 ratings and 58 reviews

For DI Sam Cobbs it was supposed to be another routine case, but not all is as it seems. When a menacing chain of disasters befalls the victim’s family, Sam is forced to view the case in a new light.

One terrible blow isn’t enough. Misfortune is stacking up for the bereft family, and Sam soon finds herself in a race against the clock. Can she prevent a young family from being silenced forever?

I liked To Silence Them a little more.   The dialogue from most characters still seemed unbelievable.   Sam is having an emotional affair with a man who walks his dog when she does.   Her husband Chris doesn’t love his work, doesn’t understand money and thinks she cares more for her job and dog than him.

The case began with an abusive husband going missing.  Then other family members are killed or kidnapped.  It wasn’t clear right away who was responsible.   With forensic tests and security cameras, the police still don’t have many leads.  Again, they don’t seem to have a lot of strategy or facts to help them solve the case.

I thought the case was a bit better.  They still seem more reactive than proactive on investigations.   I found this one easier to read, in spite of my issues.

Kindle freebie on May 16, 2024  (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.30 with 1,324 ratings and 38 reviews

When Brian Coltman is murdered after a night out with a friend, DI Sam Cobbs and her team need to find the motive behind the gruesome crime.

Intrigue and false starts threaten the investigation until a second body is found.

With her husband on the missing list, does Sam have what it takes to find the killer before they choose another victim, with one intention… to make them pay.

Well, I went on to book 3 in the DI Sam Cobb series.  The dialogue and actions of characters still seem a bit cliche and sometimes unrealistic.  I’m getting used to it.  The writing does seem better in To Make Them Pay.

The case was a sister – brother team of serial killers.  The men were apparently dated by the sister, who has some mental issues.   The team did good work in tracking CCTV and using forensics, so the police aspects were better handled.

On the personal front, Sam finally talked to her missing husband.  She has faced that situation.  Sam has a good relationship with her sister and brother-in-law, and spends some time with them.   The brother-in-law is a really nice guy.  She also continues her interest in the psychologist she met dog walking.

This won’t ever be my favorite series but I liked this one.  The earlier ones were okay, developing I think. I thought maybe this was her first series but the author has earlier series.  There are now 16 books in the series!

Kindle freebie on December 10, 2020  (currently $2.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited and Audible Plus as of writing this post)

Overall rating 3.91 with 4,599 ratings and 311 reviews

DI Sally Parker has a serial killer on her patch. One thing that sets this killer apart from the others she's hunted before: his willingness to leave DNA at each of the crime scenes. It's up to Sally and her partner DS Jack Blackman to find out why before the body count rises to double figures.

While Sally is engrossed in the investigation, her ex-husband, Darryl, pays a surprise visit to her new home. His actions not only threaten Sally's new-found confidence, but they also force the DCI to give Sally an ultimatum concerning the case.

So I have a lot of freebies I’ve collected from this author. I thought I would check out another one of her series DI Sally Parker.  The setup is very similar to the DI Sam Cobb series.  She has another series DI Sara Ramsey.  The main character is a female DI running her team in a smaller community, with a male partner, and problems with her marriage.  The DCI is not very involved.

The investigations and dialogue are not as smart as I would like, which is probably more realistic actually.  You only have the evidence you have and DNA takes time and not all witnesses are cooperative or truthful.  The other team members are barely characters.  The DI hassles the forensics team.

Her style with her partner is very jokey and in a negative personal way. I don’t know if this is the actual style in the UK or just all the DI from this author.  I haven’t seen it in other books in this way and I’m not really a fan of it.

Wrong Place is an investigation of a serial killer. I liked it better probably because I am getting more used to the style.

Kindle freebie on September 8, 2022  (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.09 with 1,900 ratings and 101 reviews

A family ripped apart by secrets. The discovery of Gemma Whiting's bludgeoned body within spitting distance of her family home, opens a new case for DI Sally Parker, one that quickly embroils her in Gemma's feud with male family members. The more Sally digs, the longer her suspect list grows.

Frustrated after months of investigation, yet another young woman is attacked close to where Gemma's body was found. Sally begins to wonder if she's been looking in the wrong direction for the killer.

I continue to like the style of the DI Sally Parker series better than the DI Sam Cobbs series.  Overall, the police investigations seem to be waiting for forensic evidence and if they don’t get any the case isn’t solved.  They don’t seem to get as many witness statements or CCTV or collection of information about wills or alibis, that type of thing which adds to the evidence.

The personal sides of the team are limited.  We do get more information on Sally and her family situations.  She has a great relationship with her parents and is lucky to have it. Anyone with great family relationships is lucky.

No Hiding Place had plenty of despicable suspects. Some red herrings were used, but I actually guessed the killer fairly early and I almost never do. The family of the victim were sort of cliched characters. Primarily, the main characters are somewhat developed.  It’s a rather shorter book and not a bad read.

Kindle freebie on December 25, 2023  (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.27 with 1,699 ratings and 85 reviews

DI Sally Parker has been handed a ten-year-old cold case. However, the victim, Aisha Thomas, isn't just a member of the public--she's a serving police officer's wife.

During the original investigation, the suspects disappeared before they could be questioned. Now fresh evidence has been uncovered, proving the two suspects to be innocent. Sally has to start over at the beginning. She uncovers a few surprises that were either overlooked. . . or purposefully ignored by the original investigator.

When the case threatens Sally's fledgling romantic relationship with pathologist Simon Bracknall, she begins to suspect someone is determined to hinder her chance at happiness--as well as solving Aisha's murder.

I am definitely enjoying the Sally Parker books more than the Sam Cobb books.  Cold Case is that; Sally and her team are given a 10 year old murder case.  It was assumed to be a burglary gone wrong and the burglars weren’t ever found. Until now.

The investigation is much better than some of the previous ones and relies some on witness testimonies rather than only forensics.  I appreciate this type of work, using more of the tools available.  They are surprisingly able to find a variety of family, neighbors and co-workers to question.  There are also a bunch of possible connections and motives.  I did not guess the culprit.

There is also the new relationship of Sally with Simon the pathologist.  I like them as a couple.  He is older than her and kind to her.  He does sort of push her but if she expresses needing time he gives her the time.  It is a good pairing but it seemed to develop immediately. It’s a background plot, however, as this is not a romance series.

Definition of Freebies for the challenge:

• Kindle or other platform freebies where you purchase it for $0
• Freebies through author newsletters that anyone can sign up and get for free
• Giveaways won or gifts received

These do NOT include Audible Plus, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Free Reading,  Prime First Reads, or library books.

FYI – My Thrifty Thursday post with my reviews and the linkups and giveaway will normally post on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Sometimes though, due to blog tours, mood reading, and other personal problems, it will be moved around. There WILL be one each month on some Thursday.  You can post your reviews any Thursday though on your own site.  The linkup will be open until the next month’s post is published. You can easily find all the Thrifty Thursday posts under the Features tab on my top menu.

(Reminder – If I get more than 10 linkups in a month, I will randomly pick one to select a prize from a list I send them which may include gift cards or giveaway books I have. (Open International))

Add your review link here: 

Giveaway:

The prize will be an $30 Amazon Gift card or $30 gift certificate at of Better World Books or $30 (2 months at Audible).  Open International.  Runs January 1, 2024 to January 6, 2025.

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You can sign up for the 2024 Thrifty Thursday Challenge HERE

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Anne - Books of My Heart

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I can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.

I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.

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