Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Collection
Publication
Minotaur Books (2019), 372 pages
Description
"There's something wicked in Burning Lake... Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in Burning Lake, New York, an isolated town known for its dark past. Tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of nine missing transients who have disappeared over the years, Natalie wrestles with the town's troubled history - and the scars left by her sister's unsolved murder years ago. Then Daisy Buckner, a beloved schoolteacher, is found dead on her kitchen floor, and a suspect immediately comes to mind. But it's not that simple. The suspect is in a coma, collapsed only hours after the teacher's death, and it turns out Daisy had secrets of her own. Natalie knows there is more to the case, but as the investigation deepens, even she cannot predict the far-reaching consequences - for the victim, for the missing of Burning Lake, and for herself"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jfe16
Review of Advance Readers’ Edition
In the days of the Salem witch trials, sleepy little Burning Lake had its own witches-burned-at-the-stake moment. Only the three women actually died with ropes around their necks and no one ever proved any witchcraft. Nevertheless, each year the upstate New York
But it’s the present where Detective Natalie Lockhart tries to find answers for nine missing transients, cold cases with files passed around the department in hopes of someone discovering an overlooked clue that might lead to some answers. But Natalie must set those cases aside to investigate the murder of a popular teacher. Little does she know that the more she investigates this crime, the further she will be drawn into a dark and disturbing past where everything she believes will be changed forever.
Realistic characters populate this intriguing tale of murder, deception, and witchcraft. With a troubled teen tagged as the probable murderer, there’s a distinct focus on several of the town’s teen-agers. No one seems particularly concerned about the young people dabbling in witchcraft; as the story unfolds, this creepiness gives way to something far more sinister. But it’s the strong sense of place that anchors the tale and pulls the reader into the story.
Unexpected twists take the story in new directions even though some needless repetition tends to bog down the narrative; the witchcraft subplot seems to exist only to serve as a convenient scapegoat for culpability. However, a couple of questionable references regarding police procedures and the surprising resolution of the murder are far more likely to create frustration for readers.
Unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive mars the narrative and lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this book from BookishFirst
In the days of the Salem witch trials, sleepy little Burning Lake had its own witches-burned-at-the-stake moment. Only the three women actually died with ropes around their necks and no one ever proved any witchcraft. Nevertheless, each year the upstate New York
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town re-creates this burning-at-the-stake ritual as a sad sort of tribute to its past.But it’s the present where Detective Natalie Lockhart tries to find answers for nine missing transients, cold cases with files passed around the department in hopes of someone discovering an overlooked clue that might lead to some answers. But Natalie must set those cases aside to investigate the murder of a popular teacher. Little does she know that the more she investigates this crime, the further she will be drawn into a dark and disturbing past where everything she believes will be changed forever.
Realistic characters populate this intriguing tale of murder, deception, and witchcraft. With a troubled teen tagged as the probable murderer, there’s a distinct focus on several of the town’s teen-agers. No one seems particularly concerned about the young people dabbling in witchcraft; as the story unfolds, this creepiness gives way to something far more sinister. But it’s the strong sense of place that anchors the tale and pulls the reader into the story.
Unexpected twists take the story in new directions even though some needless repetition tends to bog down the narrative; the witchcraft subplot seems to exist only to serve as a convenient scapegoat for culpability. However, a couple of questionable references regarding police procedures and the surprising resolution of the murder are far more likely to create frustration for readers.
Unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive mars the narrative and lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this book from BookishFirst
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LibraryThing member Kathl33n
The book blurb for this says it's "a riveting mystery that introduces a bold and audacious rookie detective" and I would have to agree with that completely. What they don't mention, which I think made this a great book, is the very creepy vibe that came with the setting. It's set in New England
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with grim weather and tales of witchcraft past and present. The author does a very convincing undertaking at setting the backdrop of the story in a dark and foreboding setting. Given that's one of my favorite places for a good story, I knew that whatever the mystery was to bring, I was going to leave this book satisfied. I wasn't disappointed in any way. The mystery is great and the main character is very likable. Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. This opinion is my own. Show Less
LibraryThing member Darcia
Trace of Evil is atmospheric, slow-burn suspense with multiple layers and complexities.
Alice Blanchard perfectly captures the setting. I felt like I was there in rural upper state New York. The community intrigued me, as we pondered the question of how well we really know the people we've been
The plot is perhaps too broad-reaching for some readers. We have the possibility of a serial killer with "the missing 9," the murder of Natalie's sister decades ago, the current murder, and teenagers involved in witchcraft. While all these aspects eventually converge, the story can sometimes feel like it lacks focus. That being said, I had no problem following the threads, and I enjoyed putting the pieces together.
For the most part, the story has a strong sense of realism. Unfortunately, a detail in the prologue is blatantly false and I'm surprised the author and the editor didn't know better. Without giving any real spoilers, I'll just say that like most states in the US, New York has no statute of limitations on murder.
Trace of Evil is first book in a new series. I'm looking forward to spending more time in this community.
*I received this book from the publisher, via a BookishFirst giveaway.*
Alice Blanchard perfectly captures the setting. I felt like I was there in rural upper state New York. The community intrigued me, as we pondered the question of how well we really know the people we've been
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around all our lives.The plot is perhaps too broad-reaching for some readers. We have the possibility of a serial killer with "the missing 9," the murder of Natalie's sister decades ago, the current murder, and teenagers involved in witchcraft. While all these aspects eventually converge, the story can sometimes feel like it lacks focus. That being said, I had no problem following the threads, and I enjoyed putting the pieces together.
For the most part, the story has a strong sense of realism. Unfortunately, a detail in the prologue is blatantly false and I'm surprised the author and the editor didn't know better. Without giving any real spoilers, I'll just say that like most states in the US, New York has no statute of limitations on murder.
Trace of Evil is first book in a new series. I'm looking forward to spending more time in this community.
*I received this book from the publisher, via a BookishFirst giveaway.*
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LibraryThing member jnhk
Overall I really enjoyed Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard. The main character, Natalie Lockhart, is strong, brave, independent and overall very likable. The plot was interesting and fast paced. The twist at the end (because there's always a twist) was not predictable and really elevated the story.
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My only criticism was that there was a little too much witchcraft going on in the town of Burning Lake, New York. It seemed that every female character dabbled in the dark arts at some point during their teenage years. One could say that the plot was The Craft meets popular cop/detective show... which isn't necessarily a bad thing. With that said, I was very entertained while reading this novel, the story was solid, the cover is beautiful (love the colors and typography) and I would definitely recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
"Butterflies as symbols of evil. How could that be?"
Natalie Lockhart is conflicted. She has a list of hard things she'd faced in her life. Natalie's now back in her hometown of Burning Lake as a detective. Burning Lake a town where everyone knows everyone, but in the end, they didn't.
A town with a
"On the surface, it would appear that Burning Lake had a sparse Wiccan population, but that was due to the fact that many of them were still in the broom closet."
We have disappearances, we have secrets, we have dead bodies and we have concentric circles linking everything together.
"Death was like a secret. You could bury it deep underground, but it wouldn’t stay buried for long. Eventually, our secrets—like old bones—had a way of knuckling out of the earth and into the sunlight. You had to make your peace with fate."
Twenty years after their sister Willow's murder, Natalie, her sister Grace and her niece Ellie gathered at the cemetery as they did each year to celebrate Willow's deathiversary.
Later that same evening, Daisy Buckner is found "in a puddle of blood" on the kitchen floor by her husband Detective Brandon Buckner and Natalie. Daisy was a longtime friend of Grace's and a co-worker teaching at the same school. The hunt for Daisy's murderer leads to all sorts of possibilities, including Wiccan curses.
Always in the background, humming away, is the town's love-hate affair with its witchy history, the secret covens and the chant kids have grown up with, "By air and earth and fire and rain, we will remember you.”
But that's not all, there's also the "Missing Nine." "Nine transients [who] had gone missing from Burning Lake." "These pitiful victims were mostly unloved and forgotten."
As the newbie on the force one of Natalie's tasks is to review the files--just in case!
Then there's Natalie's recurring memory of a childhood trauma that occasionally overwhelm's her.
I am conflicted about this story. It was exhausting but I just had to kept reading, feeling that around another corner might lie the answer! Question! Do answers lie? Some do! Some lay in wait ready to trip us up. The truth revealed here will trip most of us up.
A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
Natalie Lockhart is conflicted. She has a list of hard things she'd faced in her life. Natalie's now back in her hometown of Burning Lake as a detective. Burning Lake a town where everyone knows everyone, but in the end, they didn't.
A town with a
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history of witchcraft that drew tourists and troubled the teenage population. The attraction of witchcraft for the teenagers of the town is like a rite of passage. All partake, not all relinquish it."On the surface, it would appear that Burning Lake had a sparse Wiccan population, but that was due to the fact that many of them were still in the broom closet."
We have disappearances, we have secrets, we have dead bodies and we have concentric circles linking everything together.
"Death was like a secret. You could bury it deep underground, but it wouldn’t stay buried for long. Eventually, our secrets—like old bones—had a way of knuckling out of the earth and into the sunlight. You had to make your peace with fate."
Twenty years after their sister Willow's murder, Natalie, her sister Grace and her niece Ellie gathered at the cemetery as they did each year to celebrate Willow's deathiversary.
Later that same evening, Daisy Buckner is found "in a puddle of blood" on the kitchen floor by her husband Detective Brandon Buckner and Natalie. Daisy was a longtime friend of Grace's and a co-worker teaching at the same school. The hunt for Daisy's murderer leads to all sorts of possibilities, including Wiccan curses.
Always in the background, humming away, is the town's love-hate affair with its witchy history, the secret covens and the chant kids have grown up with, "By air and earth and fire and rain, we will remember you.”
But that's not all, there's also the "Missing Nine." "Nine transients [who] had gone missing from Burning Lake." "These pitiful victims were mostly unloved and forgotten."
As the newbie on the force one of Natalie's tasks is to review the files--just in case!
Then there's Natalie's recurring memory of a childhood trauma that occasionally overwhelm's her.
I am conflicted about this story. It was exhausting but I just had to kept reading, feeling that around another corner might lie the answer! Question! Do answers lie? Some do! Some lay in wait ready to trip us up. The truth revealed here will trip most of us up.
A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
In this tale Natalie Wood is a detective in a small, upstate New York town, where she is close to her sister Grace and her niece Ellie. All three are still mourning the murder of their sister Willow who was stabbed to death as a teen by her boyfriend. Natalie was assigned a cold case file involving
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nine missing people but that is set aside when Grace's best friend and popular teacher Daisy is murdered. With lots of twists and turns, the true evil is finally exposed in this small town leading to a fascinating and unpredictable ending. It was an entertaining tale of love, secrets, witchcraft and life in a small town. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard has Natalie Lockhart along with her sister, Grace and niece, Ellie remembering her sister, Willow who was murdered twenty years ago. Though Willow’s killer is serving time, Natalie has her doubts that the right man is in prison. Natalie followed in her father’s
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footsteps becoming an officer with Burning Lake Police Department. She uses the wisdom she learned from him to help her solve cases. Natalie is now the newest detective on the force handling the cold case of the Missing Nine. For twenty five years transients have gone missing in the area and not one detective in all that time has been able to solve the crimes. Natalie takes Brand Buckner home one evening after he has had too much to drink, to find his pregnant wife, Daisy dead in the kitchen. As Natalie works the case, she uncovers startling information. Natalie finds clues regarding the Missing Nine along the way and her doubts about Willow’s killer may be justified. The results of Natalie’s investigation will change her life and others forever. Trace of Evil is the first book in a new series starring Natalie Lockhart. Trace of Evil has multiple storylines making it a complex novel. I was unable to get into Trace of Evil despite my best attempts. The descriptions were detailed which led to dry reading plus the dialogue was off putting. I soon found myself skimming through the book (this is not a good sign). I easily kept up with what was happening, and I kept reading to see if I had picked out the correct guilty party. I do want to let you know that there is foul language and detailed violence. I also thought Trace of Evil was a little long with 370 pages. Trace of Evil has all the aspects for a good mystery, but it did not quite come together. With the right writing, Trace of Evil could be the beginning of a good mystery series. The beauty of books is that we each view them differently. I suggest you obtain a sample of Trace of Evil to see if it appeals to you and if you can uncover the killer’s identity. Show Less
LibraryThing member marquis784
Bookish First Impressions Giveaway
This story begins well-organized and nicely describes some of the main characters with enough information to not feel confused. I enjoy reading mystery, suspense novels so this grabbed my attention. I was instantly drawn into the story and so sad when the First
August 9, 2019 Book received from Bookish First Giveaway in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is an amazing twisted story with a strong female protagonist in a small, quiet town. It begins with Detective Natalie Lockhart working on a cold case for the Burning Lake Police Department. The unsolved mystery of nine missing persons has haunted the town for years. While digging up new leads the team is unexpectedly drawn to the bloody scene of Daisy Buckner, a detective’s pregnant wife. The two mysteries unravel within the scope of the story revealing shocking secrets from the past and present. There is a strong storyline with historical background of the characters so that although the story had a satisfactory ending, one could see where Natalie could continue her story in following books.
This story begins well-organized and nicely describes some of the main characters with enough information to not feel confused. I enjoy reading mystery, suspense novels so this grabbed my attention. I was instantly drawn into the story and so sad when the First
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Impression ended. I need to know more! There’s the small town and cold cases and mystery of this new death. Of course, there seems to be a romantic component waiting to be unraveled.August 9, 2019 Book received from Bookish First Giveaway in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is an amazing twisted story with a strong female protagonist in a small, quiet town. It begins with Detective Natalie Lockhart working on a cold case for the Burning Lake Police Department. The unsolved mystery of nine missing persons has haunted the town for years. While digging up new leads the team is unexpectedly drawn to the bloody scene of Daisy Buckner, a detective’s pregnant wife. The two mysteries unravel within the scope of the story revealing shocking secrets from the past and present. There is a strong storyline with historical background of the characters so that although the story had a satisfactory ending, one could see where Natalie could continue her story in following books.
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LibraryThing member medwards429
I had seen this book on the BookishFirst website last year, and didn’t win it. I also didn’t have enough points to claim it either.
Last year I requested it through my local library and was FINALLY able to get it early last week.
After catching up on a few reviews, and while waiting for another
While I enjoy suspense and thrillers, this was definitely a WILD read.
This is apparently the first in a series of “Natalie Lockhart” (this book’s protagonist) books.
There will be some content/trigger warnings in this book:
** Alcohol/Drug Use
** Dead Pregnant Woman
** Animal Mutilation
** Serial Killing
** Witches/Covens/Wiccan References
** Vulgar Language Throughout
This is a deeply disturbing, dark, haunting novel from a new-to-me author, Alice Blanchard; distributed by Minotaur Books an imprint of St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan.
The main character is the youngest of three (3) girls (Willow, Grace, Natalie) the oldest was killed 20 years earlier when she was 18. Natalie and Grace are all that is left. Although the killer is locked up, there is some doubt as to the evidence. Grace believes his guilt 100%.
Natalie is a new detective.
It isn’t bad enough that her sister was murdered, the town has a troubled history, but there are nine cases of missing transients that remain unsolved. She’s now tasked with trying to solve them ...
That is until a high school teacher, and close personal friend, pregnant Daisy Bruckner is murdered. There is more to the case, and there are far-reaching consequences, even ones that meet home.
The book is written in short chapters with a quick pace that keeps the reader reading on. The pacing and chapters make this a fast read.
Yet, by 56% into this novel – there was seemingly no connection to the nine missing transients or Daisy’s murder.
Blanchard did an excellent job of keeping the “rumor” mill flying regarding Daisy’s death due to her secrets. And, there were theories flying all around. Although she was married to a cop and pregnant, she had her secrets that may have led to her death. Her husband is also a suspect as well.
One of those secrets intersects with the friends of Natalie’s niece, who is briefly a witch in a coven – thus the Wiccan connection. That’s not all – at one time Ellie’s mom Grace, Daisy, Lindsey, Bunny, and Natalie were in one.
This “coven” plot turns out to have a MAJOR connection in the novel with regard to Daisy’s death.
One interesting plot point was Natalie’s memory of a boy who’d attacked her and who had “poked” at a dead animal in the woods. It later connects to the missing nine, which doesn’t really get wrapped up until the final chapters. It was pretty much a low key conclusion. Slight spoiler – Daisy and Willow’s murders were not connected.
In comparison, the actual conclusion of both Daisy and Willow’s murder was more drawn-out and dramatic. The writer did craft it in a way that I didn’t see it coming. The suspect of those murders was someone I didn’t even expect.
I’m honestly wavering between three (3) and four (4) stars for this. I’m deciding on three (3).
The writing was solid, yet I felt there was something lack. The end was a bit too neatly drawn up.
It was a rather interesting read despite the coarse language.
I am glad that my library had a copy and I didn’t spend any of my points to get it though.
Last year I requested it through my local library and was FINALLY able to get it early last week.
After catching up on a few reviews, and while waiting for another
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batch to do – I decided to finally read this. While I enjoy suspense and thrillers, this was definitely a WILD read.
This is apparently the first in a series of “Natalie Lockhart” (this book’s protagonist) books.
There will be some content/trigger warnings in this book:
** Alcohol/Drug Use
** Dead Pregnant Woman
** Animal Mutilation
** Serial Killing
** Witches/Covens/Wiccan References
** Vulgar Language Throughout
This is a deeply disturbing, dark, haunting novel from a new-to-me author, Alice Blanchard; distributed by Minotaur Books an imprint of St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan.
The main character is the youngest of three (3) girls (Willow, Grace, Natalie) the oldest was killed 20 years earlier when she was 18. Natalie and Grace are all that is left. Although the killer is locked up, there is some doubt as to the evidence. Grace believes his guilt 100%.
Natalie is a new detective.
It isn’t bad enough that her sister was murdered, the town has a troubled history, but there are nine cases of missing transients that remain unsolved. She’s now tasked with trying to solve them ...
That is until a high school teacher, and close personal friend, pregnant Daisy Bruckner is murdered. There is more to the case, and there are far-reaching consequences, even ones that meet home.
The book is written in short chapters with a quick pace that keeps the reader reading on. The pacing and chapters make this a fast read.
Yet, by 56% into this novel – there was seemingly no connection to the nine missing transients or Daisy’s murder.
Blanchard did an excellent job of keeping the “rumor” mill flying regarding Daisy’s death due to her secrets. And, there were theories flying all around. Although she was married to a cop and pregnant, she had her secrets that may have led to her death. Her husband is also a suspect as well.
One of those secrets intersects with the friends of Natalie’s niece, who is briefly a witch in a coven – thus the Wiccan connection. That’s not all – at one time Ellie’s mom Grace, Daisy, Lindsey, Bunny, and Natalie were in one.
This “coven” plot turns out to have a MAJOR connection in the novel with regard to Daisy’s death.
One interesting plot point was Natalie’s memory of a boy who’d attacked her and who had “poked” at a dead animal in the woods. It later connects to the missing nine, which doesn’t really get wrapped up until the final chapters. It was pretty much a low key conclusion. Slight spoiler – Daisy and Willow’s murders were not connected.
In comparison, the actual conclusion of both Daisy and Willow’s murder was more drawn-out and dramatic. The writer did craft it in a way that I didn’t see it coming. The suspect of those murders was someone I didn’t even expect.
I’m honestly wavering between three (3) and four (4) stars for this. I’m deciding on three (3).
The writing was solid, yet I felt there was something lack. The end was a bit too neatly drawn up.
It was a rather interesting read despite the coarse language.
I am glad that my library had a copy and I didn’t spend any of my points to get it though.
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LibraryThing member kbranfield
Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard is an eerie, suspense-laden mystery.
Rookie Detective Natalie Lockhart's first murder case hits close to home. The victim is Daisy Buckner, wife of fellow detective Brandon and best friend to Natalie's sister Grace. Daisy is a popular, well-liked teacher so it is
Natalie is the daughter of a cop who taught her a lot about being a police officer. She has worked hard to move up through the ranks and she is currently working on a series of cold cases. She has found some very odd evidence that she believes is linked to her investigation. But after Daisy's murder, Natalie is laser-focused on finding her killer.
Natalie quickly learns Daisy and Brandon's marriage was not quite as perfect as everyone believes. Brandon's actions are not exactly helping him look innocent, but Natalie is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. While he is not able to shed much light on who might have wanted to kill Daisy, Natalie's sister Grace does offer some important information. But will this unexpected lead unmask a murderer?
Natalie's home town of Burning Lake is steeped in a history of witchcraft. Many of the teenagers dabble in Wicca, including Grace and Natalie. They both abandoned Wicca as teens but the tradition still continues in the present day. Natalie is dismayed to discover Ellie and her friends have formed a coven. Certain discoveries at Daisy's home point to Wicca, but none of the teenagers are eager to answer her questions. Is their reticence just normal teenager behavior? Or is there a more sinister reason for their continued silence?
Trace of Evil is an engrossing police procedural that is quite atmospheric. The small town is somewhat insular and everyone seems to know their friends' and neighbors' secrets. Is it possible one of the people in their midst is a murderer? With astonishing twists and startling turns, Natalie uncovers the shocking truth about who killed Daisy. I enjoyed this first installment in Alice Blanchard's Natalie Lockhart series and highly recommend the mystery to fans of the genre.
Rookie Detective Natalie Lockhart's first murder case hits close to home. The victim is Daisy Buckner, wife of fellow detective Brandon and best friend to Natalie's sister Grace. Daisy is a popular, well-liked teacher so it is
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unfathomable that she has been murdered. The main suspect in the case is one of her students, but Natalie is not completely convinced he is their murderer. Her investigation leads to her beloved niece Ellie and her circle of friends, India, Sadie and Berkley. With the whole town grieving, there is added urgency for Natalie and the rest of the detectives to close the case.Natalie is the daughter of a cop who taught her a lot about being a police officer. She has worked hard to move up through the ranks and she is currently working on a series of cold cases. She has found some very odd evidence that she believes is linked to her investigation. But after Daisy's murder, Natalie is laser-focused on finding her killer.
Natalie quickly learns Daisy and Brandon's marriage was not quite as perfect as everyone believes. Brandon's actions are not exactly helping him look innocent, but Natalie is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. While he is not able to shed much light on who might have wanted to kill Daisy, Natalie's sister Grace does offer some important information. But will this unexpected lead unmask a murderer?
Natalie's home town of Burning Lake is steeped in a history of witchcraft. Many of the teenagers dabble in Wicca, including Grace and Natalie. They both abandoned Wicca as teens but the tradition still continues in the present day. Natalie is dismayed to discover Ellie and her friends have formed a coven. Certain discoveries at Daisy's home point to Wicca, but none of the teenagers are eager to answer her questions. Is their reticence just normal teenager behavior? Or is there a more sinister reason for their continued silence?
Trace of Evil is an engrossing police procedural that is quite atmospheric. The small town is somewhat insular and everyone seems to know their friends' and neighbors' secrets. Is it possible one of the people in their midst is a murderer? With astonishing twists and startling turns, Natalie uncovers the shocking truth about who killed Daisy. I enjoyed this first installment in Alice Blanchard's Natalie Lockhart series and highly recommend the mystery to fans of the genre.
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LibraryThing member LynnMPK
Filled with inaccuracies galore. There's also fat shaming, skinny shaming, and offensive depictions/descriptions of Wicca. The only reason I finished it was because I'm a sucker for a dumb bitch MC in mystery/thriller books.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-12-03
Physical description
372 p.; 6.32 inches
ISBN
1250205719 / 9781250205711