The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
This is a collection of freebies I have from the author Carolyn Arnold which are police procedurals. I have as freebies the first in three different series.
Kindle freebie on March 19, 2021 (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 3.84 with 6,121 ratings and 480 reviews
Ties That Bind by Carolyn Arnold Series: Madison Knight #1
on May 1, 2011
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 306
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
When Laura Saunders is found strangled in her home with a man’s necktie, Detective Madison Knight is assigned the case. Her sergeant at the Stiles Police Department wants her to conclude it was an isolated incident and move on with the investigation, but Madison’s not the type to cave under pressure. She’s haunted by certain unexplainable clues at the crime scene, including the presence of a mysterious photograph. Madison believes the picture may somehow tie into the murder, but before she can dig into it, another woman’s body is discovered in a local park. Heather Nguyen was also murdered with the same brand of necktie that had been used on Laura.
On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be anything beyond the way they were killed that connects the women. But as Madison delves into the lives of the victims, she unravels a web of deceit and betrayal and lays bare decades of deadly family secrets. Edging closer to the truth, Madison’s quite sure at least one more woman is slated to die. But can Madison piece together all the clues in time to save her?
I don’t know if it is a trend or typical thing in the UK but some of the more indie books which have a strong female lead show her berating her lower level male partner. In Vera (Ann Cleeves), it wasn’t her partner but Kenny but it was a teasing, put down. It wasn’t as prominent as this series or in the DI Sam Cobbs series (MA Comley) . Madison Knight is whining about her boss and demanding personal information from partner, Terry and deriding his work.
The police procedures and investigations were ok. The interviews and evidence collections seemed reasonable. It just felt like too much everything got pushed into Madison’s current idea. She has some old (14 years ago) personal relationships she is still bothered by and affecting her work.
Her dedication did lead to a result which was a classic sort of twist. I haven’t decided yet if I will the next one which I own in the Madison Knight series or not.
Kindle freebie on October 13, 2020 (currently $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.02 with 1,606 ratings and 97 reviews
Justified by Carolyn Arnold Series: Madison Knight #2
on December 7, 2013
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 292
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Detective Madison Knight should have ignored her phone when it rang on Christmas Eve. Now she is spending the holiday dealing with her least favorite thing: a bloody murder scene.
The victim, Claire Reeves, was a successful entrepreneur and had it all—sex appeal, intelligence, and money—but it seems that one of those things may have caught up with her. Now, Madison and her partner are digging through the victim’s personal life, but the more they dig, the more people they find who had motive to kill her. It’s certainly a case of too many suspects, too little time, but Madison is determined to find Claire’s killer and make sure justice is served.
I did read onward into the Madison Knight series with the second book. The police procedural was interesting but her personal life was annoying.
The case revolved around a murdered business woman who was very wealthy by getting a stake in businesses for her consulting ideas which improved the business. But she tended to force the buyout of her shares before the improvements generated enough cash and thus ruined the businesses. She also had sex with a lot of the business owners. There are many, many suspects to research and eliminate.
On the personal side, she has been dating a criminal defense attorney for 4 months. They are happy, comfortable until he wants to be exclusive which is the next level and she freaks out. But Madison doesn’t want him with anyone else. Also her partner gives her a puppy, a chocolate lab named Hershey for Christmas. She complains about the puppy’s messes. She also seems to keep the dog in the crate most of the time. She takes him out before she goes to work, then he’s in the crate from say 8 am until 10pm. Then she lets him out again, then back in as she goes to bed. The poor thing got no attention and seemed to be in the crate 24/7 other than the 2 times a day she let him out! Ridiculous.
Kindle freebie on August 5, 2024 (currently $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.32 with 1,171 ratings and 105 reviews
In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold Series: Madison Knight #7
on May 24, 2021
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 292
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Joni Weir kissed her husband goodbye just that morning, but she never figured it would be the last time she’d see him alive.
When the news hits that Officer Barry Weir was shot and killed in the line of duty, Detective Madison Knight and every cop in Stiles is itching for revenge. With evidence pointing to a drive-by shooting, the investigation takes Madison into the seedy underbelly of the city in the search for justice. But as she digs, the evidence only becomes more puzzling.
With emotions running high, Madison’s relationships are tested to their breaking point. Troy Matthews, her boyfriend and colleague, also Weir’s childhood friend, is cut deeply, and his grief drives a wedge between them. But she’s not going to let her own pain stop her from getting to the truth. Madison will push through—for Troy, but also for Weir’s wife and three young daughters—and figure out if Weir was murdered as part of a gang initiation, a straight-up hate crime, or a targeted kill. But with members of the Stiles PD possibly under attack, she has to do it fast. Before more officers pay with their lives.
I had one more freebie in this series, but it is a jump from book 2 to book 7. Madison is no longer with the man she “loved” in book 2 and now “loves” Troy from the SWAT team. She apparently met him 5 months ago when he saved her life. This not knowing stuff is why I dislike jumping around in a series. Anyway, it is 9 months since Justified.
In the Line of Duty is a case where an officer is shot at the end of shift as he puts gas in his car. Barry is a beloved husband and father to three girls. He is also a close friend of Maddy and Troy. Troy has known him since childhood. They both take it hard as does the rest of the force. They all are working on the case but Madison and her partner, Terry are leads.
Madison seems to handle things a bit better personally. Troy shuts her out and she doubts him but is too busy with the case to make things much worse. She does connect with her sister. She also does works well with her boss, Winston who is also on the case to find the killer. She usually doesn’t keep contact with him during a case but this time she does. She also does much better with Hershey, her dog, boarding him at a nice kennel when she is tied up in a case.
The case is complex with looking at Barry’s cases and also a possible gang connection. The forensics is a big help to them. It seems incredible they solved it as quickly as they did.
Overall it’s not my favorite police series. I liked the books but won’t make an effort to read the entire series.
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.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Thrifty Thursday: Australia edition #FionaTarr #KerryGreenwood #AnnaWillett #ThriftyThursday #KindleUnlimited - April 17, 2025
- 🎧 The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social#JessicaWhittaker @penguinaudio.bsky.social @acebookspub.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @mark__lawrence @AceRocBooks @PRHAudio - April 15, 2025
- Sunday Post – 13 April 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - April 13, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
I haven’t read many UK indie books but interesting about the female leads. I haven’t read this author before but nice reviews.
Thank you Naida. It’s a genre I really enjoy but some obviously are better than others.
I don’t like any characters that berate or talk down to others, especially if they try to cover it with humor.
yes, I have to say I feel that way too. It makes this series less enjoyable. The partner is not quite 3D.
I am sorry the stories didn’t work for you.
I liked them; they were ok. But they weren’t my favorites.
Oooo nice finds.
Thanks these were ok. I liked them.
You made it further into the series than I would have with the star rating on that first one. Probably not one I’d read anyway though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these!
yes it’s a genre I really like and I kept hoping for improvement.