Susan Rowland

I love a good mystery book. The whole concept of this book intrigued me. A 60-year-old woman is let go but with the promise of getting another job. Especially since she did such a great job as an archivist. This new job involves solving the 'murder' of one of the Falconers and the 'idea' that somebody is killing them off, one by one.

The book captivated me from the start. The author has a fantastic way of drawing the reader in and, at the same time, the author does not mention tedious details that are unnecessary to the story. The focus is on the story and the story alone. I love the idea of the detective being somebody who is older, more mature, and more experienced. We get glimpses of Mary's life throughout the book, as well as the connections to the other characters.

Now, there isn't much to say about a Murder Mystery book without spoiling bits of it. However, I must say, this was a fantastic read and a breath of fresh air. I love mystery books, but I even love them more when they keep me on the edge of my seat. This book is one of them.… (mais)

Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland is another captivating story in the Mary Wandwalker Mystery universe. Being forced to retire from her beloved job as Chief Archivist, the place that made her feel safe, Mary Wandwalker finds herself at a crossroads as her present seems to crumble and the past returns when members of the Falconer’s family start getting killed and her son that she gave for adoption wants to meet her, as his life is in danger being blood-related with the Falconers. What will the future bring for Mary? Will she be able to face her past, find the killer, and save her son's life and that of the other Falconers members?

One of the aspects that I liked about Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland is how the author tangles and untangles the story, sprinkling little clues as we read the story, eventually not even realizing that we had “fallen down the rabbit hole” in the universe of this book. For example, finding Mary’s words on Perdita Falconer’s suicide note, from the letter that she has written to the Falcon family in the past, or how, in all this mess, the author gives Mary the chance to reconnect with her son, creating a menu of feelings that will eventually satisfy our appetite.… (mais)

Murder on Family Grounds: A Mary Wandwalker Mystery by Susan Rowland is a compelling mystery novel that delves into the complexities of past secrets and present dangers, its the third book in the series and its a gripping read.

I am a fan of Susan Rowland, and having read the first two books in this series, I knew i was going to enjoy this Novel.

The story revolves around the protagonist, Mary Wandwalker, a highly skilled and intuitive character. She finds herself involved in a complicated case that actually ties back to her own past. As a young student, Mary fell pregnant, and the tragic loss of her fiancé, David Falconer, in a car crash. The Falconer family, who are central to the mystery, refused to help her during that devastating time, and she decides to give the child up for adoption. Decades later, the child, now a policeman, seeks to meet her, triggering a series of events that lead Mary to confront long-buried secrets.

The plot thickens when Mary discovers that phrases from a letter she wrote forty years ago have resurfaced in a faked suicide note of Perdita Falconer.

Murder on Family Grounds is a thrilling addition to the mystery genre. It is psychological, and full of suspense and intrigue, whilst diving into the past and present lives of its rich and complex characters at the same time.

I love reading novels by Rowland as she doesn't just present a crime solving read but a real mystery, involving real human relationships that I can sink my teeth into. I’ve been waiting for the release of this for a while and let me say, it was well worth the wait.… (mais)