When Alec Zavos asks Annalisse Drury to marry him for the third time, she again declines his proposal, this time for a very different and sensitive reason. To escape the uncomfortable situation and clear her head, she accepts an invitation from Ethan Fawdry—someone whom she suspects is with her estranged birth mother—to come visit him at his sheep farm in New Zealand. When she arrives there, she’s informed that her mother has moved on to another part of the country but that Annalisse is welcome to stay as long as she wants. The community in which the sheep farm is located proves to be a hotbed for corruption, intrigue, and mysteries. And Annalisse—who admits to being a control freak and has a knack for getting involved in bizarre situations wherever she goes—finds herself in the middle of it all.
The fourth book in Marlene M. Bell’s Annalisse series, COPPER WATERS is a compelling mystery with enough suspects and motives to keep readers challenged when trying to piece things together on their own. (NOTE: While the previous three books in the series (Stolen Obsession, Spent Identity and Scattered Legacy) aren’t required reading to follow the story line in COPPER WATERS, it helps to have read them to better understand some of the backstory.) Author Bell does a good job of intertwining people’s personal lives with the mystery, giving the story line a satisfying blend of character and plot. The cast is comprised of a distinctive array of personalities, with each playing a key role in the narrative. Bell’s writing style is well-structured and engaging, with a good balance of description, action, dialogue, and exposition. Her vocabulary and efficiency with words make this book an easy read. The characters are all interesting—even the secondary ones—but not all of them are deftly painted, especially the protagonist Annalisse. Perhaps the first two books provide more insight into the deeper aspects of her personality. The New Zealand sheep ranch setting provides the framework that brings other narrative elements into play and introduces most readers to an unfamiliar world. This unique, memorable backdrop to the story contributes significantly to the atmosphere in prominent scenes and enhances the emotional aspect of the story.
Marlene M. Bell’s COPPER WATERS is a well-written murder mystery with descriptive scenes, an intriguing setting, and enough push and pull between the characters and within the plot to keep readers engaged.
~Florence Osmund for IndieReader