A Cruel Light
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
Hidden away and decaying for decades, a cryptic mural holds deadly clues in this intoxicating mix of art, murder, and buried secrets, perfect for fans of Simone St. James. It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it. Inspector Scott ‘Mac’ MacGowan is convinced the mural is a cryptic confession that will solve the cold case—but it’s looking more and more like someone will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past. Together, Mac and Annora struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, in order to provide closure to surviving family members. Toxic mold obscures blood-chilling clues, and the painting has an eerie life of its own. Annora is haunted by what she reveals, by the dirt she digs up, by her own tragic losses, and perhaps even by the young victim herself. As she closes in on the killer, the killer inches ever closer to her, and she will come face to face with a brutal truth: some murderers never come clean.
Reviews with the most likes.
⭐⭐⭐.5
A Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan is an intriguing mix of art, murder, and buried secrets that will captivate readers...
Hidden away for decades, a cryptic mural resurfaces during the renovation of an old parsonage, revealing deadly clues related to a brutal crime that shook the town to its core. Annora Garde, a conservator hired by the local police, is tasked with cleaning the painting and unearthing its hidden secrets.
Inspector Scott ‘Mac' MacGowan believes that the mural holds the key to solving the cold case, but someone is desperate to keep the past buried. As Annora and Mac work together to piece together the puzzle and provide closure for the victim's family, they find themselves haunted by both the toxic mold obscuring vital clues and by their own tragic losses. As they get closer to revealing the killer's identity, danger lurks around every corner.
The book's premise is highly original, centered around an art conservator using her skills to aid in catching a murderer. The cover of A Cruel Light is also visually stunning. However, there are areas where improvement is needed. The plot feels somewhat scattered and could benefit from better organization. Additionally, while there is a romantic subplot, it lacks depth and fails to leave a lasting impression. Furthermore, more development could be given to the characters to make them more engaging.
Despite these drawbacks, I found A Cruel Light to be an entertaining read overall. Its unique concept and suspenseful storyline kept me engaged throughout.
ARC Via NetGalley
