Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): Uneasy Prey by Annette Dashofy

Uneasy Prey
By Annette Dashofy
Zoe Chambers Series #6
Henery Press, 2018


Summary

On the way to the emergency room, an elderly woman regains consciousness long enough to inform paramedic Zoe Chambers that her fall down the basement steps was no accident. Before she can say more, she succumbs to her injuries, launching Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into the investigation of a burglary ring targeting the area’s vulnerable senior citizens.

Zoe—in spite of Pete’s objections—takes it upon herself to act as protection detail after the con men, disguised as water company employees, set their sights on Zoe’s beloved former landlady. It’s a decision that eventually puts Zoe in harm’s way.

With Zoe already recovering from one close call, Pete must race against time to stop the crime ring—and a dangerous killer—before they strike again.

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My thoughts

A poignant, complex story with lots of heart … I read a lot of good mysteries, but every now and then I come across a gem, and that describes Uneasy Prey by Annette Dashofy. This is a moving, touching story that not only entertains, but engages the emotions. Previous events are alluded to, but this book easily stands alone.

Pete, Chief of Police, and Zoe, a paramedic, are strong, appealing characters. They have grown closer and this story focuses on several senior adults in their lives and community. And in that vein, the storyline focuses on something that makes me see red – a scamming scheme targeting the elderly. Other relevant issues come into play, such as bullying, independence, and single parenting.

The tightly-woven mystery itself is exceptional, but it’s the character depth and relationships that make this story so rich. The people and situations are so real that it hardly felt like fiction at times. Dashofy writes in a conversational, effortless style with gentle humor, and there’s no rehashing of thoughts to slow the narrative down.

Uneasy Prey has a satisfying, surprising conclusion with storylines resolved, yet there are some ongoing threads to be developed in future stories – such as Kimberly and Zoe’s mother/daughter relationship, the rundown Engle farm that she deeded over to Zoe, and a certain reporter who grew on me. I look forward to many more stories in this series and plan to read the previous books as well.

Highly recommended.

Note: The only negative for me was the unnecessary use of profanity.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township.

CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2014 and BRIDGES BURNED was nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel. 

UNEASY PREY , the sixth in the series, is set for release on March 27.

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