This crime fiction book is gritty and compelling. I was hooked from the off. Ted Conkaffey, ex police officer, is suspected of a disturbing crime. Ted moves to Crimson Lake in the hope of putting the past behind him. He teams up with convicted murdered, Amanda Pharrell, who is the area private investigator. What follows is an interwoven tale of their purported crimes, and their investigation into a local missing person. With all of this going on in the plot I was initially worried that it would turn into a blurry mess. It didn't, Fox weaves the stories together with precision.

The characters in this book are fantastic. I truly rooted for Ted, feeling his fear, sorrow and anguish. Amanda is a strange and disturbed character and as her story is revealed we discover the reason for some of her peculiarities. I became totally invested in these characters as the book moved on, they are extremely well written and real. Even the minor characters in this book have clear personalities and a purpose.

The setting, a small town on the edge of the rain forest, is described perfectly. I felt the clammy heat, saw the vines, and spotted the crocodiles rippling under the waters surface. I had a clear sense of place throughout and Fox captured the tensions of the town perfectly.

I found this book engaging from beginning to end. This was a first Candice Fox book for me, it won't be the last.

You will never meet a more unlikely duo of detectives but they have one thing in common and this draws them together. The book was really engaging with a great story behind it. Hopefully we will see this duo again

I've read two of the author's books before ("Hades" and "Eden"), and was really excited for this one.

It's really three mysteries. We have disgraced former police detective, Ted, who was accused of the kidnapping and rape of a 13 yo girl. Charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, but he flees Sydney for Crimson Lake, a small town up north. There, his lawyer puts him in touch with a PI, Amanda, who is a convicted killer of her friend in high school. Amanda is investigating the disappearance of a well-known author from Crimson Lake. We go into this book believing Ted to be innocent, so who's the real kidnapper? And is Amanda really a killer, or is someone else responsible? And what happened to the missing writer?

The characters in this story were really interesting. Amanda is a real wacky one, and Ted is depressed and trying to find his way. I'm really curious to see where these characters go from here, if this is the start of a series.

This was a fascinating story of miscarriage of justice, corrupted police officers and human frailty. Non stop action with lots of twists and turns and a really surprising conclusion. Great read.

This is the first book I've read by Candice Fox. Crimson Lake started well and had an excellent ending but somewhere in between I started to lose interest. I've read lots of reviews about this book so the story was no secret. I just felt it was too drawn out. I'm glad I persevered with it
as it became good again.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

The story centers around an ex-policeman Ted Conkcaffey who served time in prison for a brutal beating and rape of child. Did he or didn't he do it? He has been relocated in a small township where his social worker finds him work with a private investigator Amanda Pharrell who is looking into the disappearance and alleged murder of an author. Amanda has also served time in prison accused of the murder of a school-friend.
Throughout the book you are drawn into did they are didn't they commit the dreadful crimes for which they were sentenced.
Although an interesting read I personally found it to be a bit long-winded. Amanda and Ted were interesting characters who built a good relationship and the reader does get the feeling of dis-trust between them but for me the book was a little flat.

Great crime thriller, really get a feel for the characters. Highly recommend

I enjoyed this book although I did feel that the background story of both main characters and how they worked together a bit daft. However they were both strong, quirky characters and I suspect that a sequel is in the offing.

This is an intricately plotted crime thriller which cleverly weaves together three separate crimes. Two people - one a former cop who was accused of child abduction and rape (but never convicted because the charges were dropped) and a female private investigator who had been convicted of a murder many years ago - brought together albeit unwillingly to use their complementary skills to investigate the disappearance of a local celebrity author. Two of the cases are eventually resolved, and the answers were mainly satisfactory although the motivation for one crime seemed a little contrived.

The book is extremely well written and atmospheric, with the North Australian wilderness and wildlife featuring prominently, mangrove swamps, big old wooden houses and crocodiles in particular. The background characters (mainly local townsfolk) are portrayed very effectively, as is Ted's increasing fear and paranoia as more people come to recognise and react to him, with all the unwelcome media intrusion and assumption of guilt until proven innocent.

Some reviewers have mentioned swearing but I didn't notice an excessive amount, and what there was occurred mostly in speech and was in character. I did enjoy seeing the bond develop between the two main characters (Ted and Amanda) and how they complemented each other in their skills and personalities, one unethical and unrestrained, the other cautious and methodical. It was amusing that they were both secretly researching each other's past as well as dealing with the case of the missing author.

In summary, this is an excellent crime thriller with interesting characters who have real depth, a fantastic setting and realistic portrayal of life in a narrow-minded small town. I will be buying the next in the series.

Where has Candice Fox been all my life?

"Crimson Lake" by Candice Fox is set in a croc infested town in northern Australia. It follows the life of accused peodophile and child snatcher Ted Conkaffey and his new partner, convicted murderer Amanda Pharell as they privately investigate the disappearance of famous author Jake Scully, but, everything is not as black and white as it seems.

This novel has everything I could ever want from a crime thriller. Suspense, mystery, damaged yet lovable characters and characters who left me questioning if I should seek anger management.

I laughed out loud at Amanda's awkwardly timed and totally inappropriate sense of humour, I cried when Ted was told for the first time "I believe you", I shouted at the kindle whenever the local police bullies made an appearance, I gave my puppy an extra long hug when Ted's goslings imprinted on him.

I would buy and recommend this book to everyone who enjoys crime thrillers and I have my fingers and toes crossed for a second instalment.

I really loved this book and the emotional rollercoaster it took me on and want to thank Netgalley and Random house UK for my free e-book copy in return for an honest review.

Quirky,troubled characters who manage to be likeable. Good story thoroughly enjoyed it.

This mystery is set, unusually, in Australia, where Ted Conkaffey, a former Sydney drugs squad detective is accused of the abduction and rape of a thirteen year old girl, and as last person to talk to the girl, and without an alibi, he is the only suspect.
However, despite his being remanded in custody for 8 months, the prosecution services decide they have insufficient evidence to prosecute the case. This leaves Ted in a dilemma, not convicted but unable to prove his innocence, his marriage in tatters, everyone assumes his guilt.
In desperation, he decides to start again and moves to Crimson Lake, a small town near Cairns, where he hopes no one will recognise him.
Whilst there he joins forces with a private investigator who is looking into the disappearance of a famous local author, Ted discovers that Amanda Pharrell, his new partner, is a convicted killer herself.
Are either of the two
guilty of their crime? What has happened to Jake, the celebrity author, and why are two local cops persecuting Ted and Amanda, do they have something to hide?
This book, which has the feel of the first in a series, has a good start, the story keeps you guessing, and there is a good atmosphere, the oppressiveness of small towns, the heat and the croc infested lake. Bad cops, who lord it over the locals and bully Ted and Amanda, and their unlikely partnership add to the overall enjoyment, of the book. I really liked the fact that it was set in Australia, and thought both of the main characters were intriguing, Amanda Pharrell is rather odd, but interesting and Ted despite protesting his innocence, is just looking for a quiet life.
Overall I think it well worth a read, and if there are more books to come with these two characters, I think it will build into a satisfying series.

This is an outstanding example of the crime genre. Three mysteries are woven together to form a truly compelling reading experience. The two central characters are beautifully drawn and the story builds to an intense, gripping finale. I couldn't put it down. Candice Fox's other two novels are promise enter on my 'to read' list and I can't wait to get to them.

Solid four stars here. It's an interesting story with relatable characters and I think it would make a great series.I really want to know how Teds situation pans out. I guess my only slight criticism would be that the actual case was boring, the two detectives stories being far more interesting. I frankly didn't give a damn what had happened to the author ;)

This book was a surprise discovery as the author was an unknown to me. The tale is set in humid, remote North Queensland and starts unfolding at a cracking pace, keeping you engaged through to the last breathtaking page. Images of the oppressive heat, the dense and dangerous rainforest, wild beasts lurking within and unfriendly police officers spring to mind. I liked the clever placing of the dubious, incriminating photos in the coffee jar. The 2 investigators Ted and Amanda are complex characters tangled in their own webs, obsessed, damaged and loners, unable to become part of the town's fabric. They share with each other as much as divides them. The end was almost wholly satisfying ending, readers are kept guessing though the villains for the most part get their comeuppance and the good people almost win in the end.

The blurb sets the scene so I won't add more about the plot other than parts that are relevant to the reasons for my review.

A new author to me and based on this book, I'd read more of her work. There may be a sequel which I'd seek out as I enjoyed the two main characters, their quirks, flaws and their chemistry. Several stories and investigations are running concurrently, although not all are brought to closure by the end of a book ... ideal for a sequel,

I did have a few problems with the characters' back stories. It appears that both leads, Ted and Amanda, were imprisoned despite the evidence in each of their cases being purely circumstantial. Amanda has already served time and is now building her own Private Investigations firm which Ted (reluctantly) joins. Set in Cairns, Australia, Ted is an ex police detective, ideal for the PI line, and is now on remand. Prior to his arrest, he served many years on the force, during which he presumably built up good working, trusting relationships with his colleagues, yet as soon as he was arrested, they turned against him. Not one of them seemed to support him. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate tool by the author to make us think there were as yet unrevealed characteristics that made them believe Ted capable of the heinous crime he is alleged to have committed. Even so, surely police officers, detectives, lawyers and judges have had sufficient experience of witnesses and evidence that they should question deeper and not just take things at face value? Or was this part just glossed over in order to quickly establish what an outcast Ted had become from a key part of his past?

Due to the notoriety of his crime, national news coverage and his uncommon surname, every member of the public recognises him and either shrinks back in horror or pointedly make their anti Ted feelings overwhelmingly clear. Vigilantes discover where he lives and continuously, actively and increasingly threateningly, try to drive him out of the area and they don't mind if he's maimed or killed in the process.
Add two corrupt policeman who target him and take pleasure in physically and mentally abusing him, you agree he doesn't have many positives in his life. So the author makes it very easy for the reader to understand his frame of mind, changing emotions, caution around people, fears and flaws. Amanda is quirkier but not as easily understandable (to me anyway). They're both misfits and two very different people but fit together very well. Both learn skills from as well as information about each other as they investigate the sudden and unexplained disappeared of a local celebrated author.

There’s definitely a did they/didn’t they about both of their individual crimes, although I felt that much more strongly in Amanda's case than Ted's. And, to a degree a certain amount, especially towards the end, of a will they/won’t they aspect.

The why and who about the author’s disappearance keeps you guessing till the end. Although I worked out the who and the why just a little before the reveal, there is still tension and a few twists during the reveal which I didn’t foresee.

In Amanda’s case, I was a bit disappointed by the conclusion and the who, not least because I’d already picked out my perpetrator and the why and I preferred my version!

I also enjoyed the setting which was described and used very well, being almost as intrusive, invasive and fear inducing in itself as some of the characters. Overall, I’d give it a 3.75 out of 5.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. As an Australian I appreciated the setting, the long distances to anywhere from anywhere, the crocodiles. It was a joy to immerse myself in a crime novel with this quirky set of characters and an amazing backdrop.
The plot twists were great. Kept me reading, tryig to imagine each screnario.
I liked Amanda. What secrets she held and for so long. I could understand where she got her motivation and energy. Good match with Ted. I liked reading about their relationship and how it unfolded.
Good writing.

In Crimson Lake, Candice Fox has given us a twist on the usual murder mystery. For a start, the inept police are pretty much the bad guys, whilst the crime busting PI duo are both ex crminals. Amanda is a wacky, social misfit. Having served her time for murdering a classmate, she's set up her own PI business in the town where her victim;s family still live, Meanwhile, ex policeman Ted is running from his past. Neither found innocemt nor guilty of child rape, his case is on hold. Australia may be a big country and Ted may have run far and fast, but a heinous crime like the one he;s accused of means that he is front page news all over the country. Before long he is the victim of vigilannte groups, seriously mixed up teens and the local nasty pieces of work police that seem to rule the small town he's made home. When Ted joins Amanda and they are hired to solve the mystery of a missing local author they have more than just the case on their hands. It's all in here - conspiracy theories, man eating crocs, bent coppers and a town filled with judgemental protesters. I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't predict whodunnit or the real story behind Amanda's murderous past. The characters are well developed and we really feel for the protagonists. I'd love to see another book carrying on the story of Ted and Amanda's PI agency. Recommended.

Took me a little while to get into this book but once I did I was totally hooked. Several puzzles rolling into one major puzzle.

Well written and I now know more about crocodiles than I expected to at the start of the book.

Well worth a read.

Read this - you won't be disappointed! Think a bit of Harlan Coben for right amount of incidental humour with some Michel Connelly thrown in for strong plot lines and characters, together with a good dose of novel characterisation and plot devices. The Australian setting, too, was a welcome change from the American cities in which so much modern crime fiction is set. The weaving together of three different crime scenarios, together with some clear indications of real or potential miscarriages of justice is well executed with a welcome absence of the crazy 'let's get the main character to ignore all common sense so that we can get her/him in a place of awful jeopardy' plot lines that feature in far too much modern crime fiction. This was my first encounter with Candice Fox - but it's not going to be my last!