#severn river

[caedmonofwhitby]

If England, her spirit lives anywhere

It is by Severn, by hawthorns and grand willows.

Earth heaves up twice a hundred feet in air

And ruddy clay falls scooped out to the weedy shallows.

There in the brakes of May Spring has her chambers,

Robing-rooms of hawthorn, cowslip, cuckoo flower

from By Severn by Ivor Gurney

[dogteefh]

[turn-down-for-starboard-boats]

reaches are the best

[sailing-love]

severn river summers || aug. 15, 2016

[turn-down-for-starboard-boats]

The new SSA squad, now with significantly more male sailors than last year

[turn-down-for-starboard-boats]

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Foul Play by Carolyn Ridder-Aspenson

Rachel Ryder #10

Excellent from beginning to end ~ Couldn’t put it down ~ Can’t wait for book 11

What I liked: * Rachel: widow, detective, team player, determined, dedicated, intelligent, does what it takes, in a relationship with DEA agent Kyle, has a pet fish named Louie, someone I would like to know * Bishop: Detective, Rachel’s work partner, mature, professional, a good balance for Rachel’s personality, in a relationship with Cathy, makes a big decision in this book * The team: Bubba (tech), Nikki (CSI), Michels & Levy (detectives), Jimmy (police chief), Dr. Barron (coroner), and new media liaison Liz Sanders  – all do their jobs professionally and work together well – loved catching up with them

* Kyle: DEA agent, Rachel’s significant other, understanding, bright, supportive, good for and with Rachel, sometimes consults when requested to do so * The letter left on Rachel’s door and all that followed * The plot, pacing, writing, twists and turns, and red herrings with all their complexity

* The police procedural aspects of the story and trying to guess what would happen next * That the threads of the case were tied together by the end of the story * Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Knowing that though this is fiction, it could and probably does happen more often that we realize

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to Severn River Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

Find my killer. Rachel Ryder's world is catapulted into chaos with the discovery of a dire note on her front door begging her to solve the murder of former MLB star, Ryan Hicks. Ryan Hicks, who is very much alive. Initially written off as a dark twist on a promotional campaign for his new charter school, the grim reality hits home when Rachel and partner, Rob Bishop, find Hicks's lifeless body in his lavish home, turning a dismissed warning into a desperate plea for justice. As Rachel and Rob dive into the investigation, they quickly realize their understanding of the former MLB star turned public figure was merely surface-level. Their initial suspicions point to Hicks's ex-wife, leading them down a dark path marked by financial instability, clandestine opioid connections, and the remnants of a bitter divorce. With each complexity unearthed, the duo inches closer to a truth that is as unsettling as it is dangerous, uncovering a network of deceit that binds the town's most celebrated figures to its most criminal. As the investigation deepens and the body count escalates, Rachel and Rob must race against time to unearth a betrayal so profound it threatens to unravel everything they hold dear. With stakes higher than ever, they must sift through lies and danger to bring a killer to justice before another victim falls. Foul Play, the tenth gripping thriller in the Rachel Ryder series by USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson, delivers a riveting tale of suspense and deception that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Dark Intent by Carolyn Ridder-Aspenson

Rachel Ryder #9

Excellent ~ Couldn’t put it down ~ Can’t wait for the next book!

What I liked:

* That I was engaged from first page till last

* Rachel: widow, detective, team player, determined, dedicated, intelligent, does what it takes, has a bit of a temper, in a relationship with DEA agent Kyle

* Bishop: Detective, Rachel’s work partner, mature, professional, a good balance for Rachel’s personality, in a relationship with Cathy, this case turned personal for him before the end

* The team: Bubba (tech), Nikki (CSI), Michels & Levy (detectives), Jimmy (police chief), Dr. Barron (coroner) – all do their jobs professionally and work together well – loved catching up with them

* The police procedural aspects of the story * The plot, pacing, writing, twists and turns, and red herrings with all their complexity

* That the present murder case was linked to a serial killer that was prolific * That the threads of case were tied together by the end of the story and the bad guys caught * Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about how twisted the killer was and that the person may have gotten off too easily in the end

* Having to wait for the next book in the series.

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

The past comes back to haunt a small town when one murder leads to the discovery of another.

When a troubled young woman, Jenn Berman, goes missing at the summer fair in Hamby, her uncaring family fails to notice. That is, until a loose dog returns home with a bloodied hand. Investigators are led to a developing subdivision where they find the unthinkable: Jenn’s body in a shallow grave.

The town is shocked by the murder, and Detectives Rachel Ryder and Rob Bishop are assigned the case to deliver justice for Jenn. But upon further inspection of the crime scene, a jaw-dropping discovery is made: another body is found buried deeper in the same grave. The remains belong to Caroline Turner, a young woman who also went missing from the summer fair…almost four decades ago.

The connection between the murders is undeniable. As Rachel and Rob race to narrow down their suspect list and inch closer to the truth, a dangerous threat emerges, putting those they love at risk. Can they expose the killer and uncover the secrets of the past before it's too late?

Prepare to be captivated by USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Apenson's newest gripping crime thriller.