Water Grave

Detective Abbey Rhodes Mysteries, #1

by

Mitchell S. Karnes

Great debut for this new police detective mystery series!

Water Grave is the first book in author Mitchell S. Karnes's new mystery series featuring Detective Abbey Rhodes of the Nashville, Tennessee, Homicide Division. When the body of a dynamic young pastor is discovered in the church's baptistery, rookie Detective Abbey Rhodes and her senior partner, Detective Sam Tidwell, are assigned to determine the killer. However, their early disagreement over the direction the case should take makes for an uneasy pairing and heated conflict. Abbey must decide between disobeying orders, following her instincts, and pursuing additional leads, or going along with what she feels is a hastily identified perpetrator who she believes is innocent. 

I really liked Abbey, the main character with a complicated past and conflicted conscience. The child of missionary parents, a tragic childhood has pushed her away from her family and her faith, in fact, all vestiges of organized religion. However, it is the events of the past that have shaped her future and initiated her deep need to seek out the truth and justice for others. As the fresh, green detective, she shares the attitude of others new to their careers, believing that their more recent training outstrips the knowledge of their older coworkers. Still, she quickly recognized that she had more to learn from her older partner. Her relationship with her mentor/partner, Sam, is complicated; she thinks he's coasting and taking the easiest way to case closure, and he thinks she's too young and inexperienced. But the truth of what's coloring Sam's attitude toward Abbey is a surprising twist. 

The plot progresses quickly, with the murder occurring right away and a suspect identified, arrested, and charged soon after – all on circumstantial evidence. The investigation is a steady police procedural even after Abbey is ordered off further inquiry into the case. The story's perspective alternates between Abbey's first-person narrative and third-person viewpoints, giving the reader a more complete picture of what is happening. Abbey's past is slowly revealed in bits and pieces, and it kept me wondering for quite a while. There are a number of suspects in the murder to start with, but alibis and subsequent plot twists help eliminate some and put forward others, which kept me guessing until almost the final resolution. 

I recommend WATER GRAVE to mystery readers who enjoy police procedural-style stories and strong female protagonists. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.