Review: The Wrong Boy by Cathy Ace

Cathy Ace has a new atmospheric novel on bookshelves and Kerry Hammond is here with her review

The Wrong Boy by Cathy Ace was released on January 9, in Hardcover by Four Tails Publishing Ltd. Ace is the author of the Cait Morgan and the Wise Enquiries Agency mystery series. The Wrong Boy is a standalone novel featuring about to be retired DI Evan Glover; perhaps a soon to be third series is in the works.

In the book, DI Evan Glover is just days from retirement when remains are found in the remote Welsh town of Rhosddraig. Town may be stretching things a bit, Rhosddraig is a small community located on the cliffside in Wales. It’s a place where everyone knows everyone else, and many have a history they don’t want shared with outsiders.

The remains found on the clifftop are burned beyond recognition and the police are hard pressed to identify the victim. Glover knows he won’t be able to solve the case before he retires, and leaves it in the capable hands of DS Liz Stanley. But Glover’s assistance is needed to unravel the mystery and catch the killer.

What follows is a twisted tale of family secrets and lies, and the lives that they forever change. The story is told from the perspective of each of the key characters; at times it reads like a diary entry and the reader is able to see behind the scenes and into the minds of the characters. Ace creates a dark and atmospheric mystery whose harsh cliffside backdrop has shaped the lives of the people who have lived there for generations. The plot is a twisting tale and the end was a surprise that I found to be quite satisfying.

This book was provided to Mystery Playground by the publisher. The review was fair and completely independent.

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