I loved this book, all the main characters were so easy to like, and I just didn't want the book to end. Gripping and a real page turner.

This sequel to Crimson Lake is an excellent second book, probably even better than the first. Amanda is a delightful quirky partner, I'd live to meet her!
The injustices from the first book continue (you really must read Crimson Lake first), and the descriptions of Far Northern Queensland bring the place alive, with its humidity and mangrove swamps.
Absolutely first class, I sincerely hope there's a third book on the way.

Great characters and strong story. Full of differing emotions and you almost live it with Ted. Sad twist at the end but full of new strength.

Redemption Point is a sequel to Crimson Lake. Whilst Crimson Lake was a story complete in itself, the ending strongly suggested that there would be another book. Now here we are again with ex-copper Ted Conkaffey, still holed up near Cairns, hiding out in the heat of Northern Australia with most people convinced that he raped and nearly murdered a young girl. When the story starts he's been tracked down by the girl's father who beats him half to death. Ted manages to convince him that there might be some evidence that he was not guilty and ex-police detective and grieving father forge an unlikely alliance in their attempts to find the real villain.
Meanwhile, his partner in the local detective business (how does such a small town support two detectives?) has been commissioned to find the killer of a local boy shot in a bar as he closed up for the night. Amanda Pharrell remains the enigmatic half child-half woman of the first book and her damaged charm accounts for a lot of this book's appeal.
The two unlikely crime fighters are joined by a minor character from the first book, Philippa Sweeney, who owes her rapid promotion from beat police officer to Detective Inspector in part to Ted and Amanda's previous venture. Sweeney is thus happy to have the two private investigators alongside as they struggle to solve this apparently random and motiveless murder.
Ted has been accused of a terrible crime that he did not commit; Amanda has served prison time for a murder which she definitely did commit, even if there were extenuating circumstances; and Pippa carries the guilt of standing by and watching her father die while quite deliberately doing nothing to save him. All three are deeply damaged people, but we are sympathetic not only to Ted (who really has done nothing wrong) but to the other two who have, at least, been over-intimately involved in the deaths of others. Even Dale Bingley, the raped girl’s father, although much less fully realised than the other characters, has been turned into, in many ways, a terrible person because of his exposure to a crime that he was just psychologically unable to cope with.
A fifth key character is Kevin, the man who really did rape Claire, who we see through the pages of his diary. He is, it should go without saying, an awful, awful man. But even in Kevin we see some glimpses of humanity. He knows what he is doing is wrong and at one level really wants to stop himself, but he is too sick and too weak not to give way to his urges. Watching him justifying himself is, to put it mildly, disturbing, but this is powerful writing that pulls the book well clear of your average detective thriller.
With all these fascinating characters, it would be easy for Candice Fox to skimp on the mechanics of the mystery story. Instead, though, the detective side of this story is as solid as the characterisation. It's hardly a police procedural, but the killing at Crimson Lake has a satisfying crop of clues and red herrings.
The investigation of Clare's rape has rather more in common with the way these things are usually looked at, Ted and Dale spending hours checking car registrations against lists of known sex offenders. The breakthrough, when it comes, relies on an unlikely plot twist, but by then we’re so invested in the characters that we don't care.
Redemption Point is a solid piece of crime fiction that is every bit as good as Crimson Lake. Whether the series can sustain a third book is, to my mind, doubtful, but on the strength of the first two I'll certainly be willing to give a third novel a go.
A slightly different version of this review (including more discussion of Crimson Lake) appeared on my blog on 27 Feb (http://tomwilliamsauthor.co.uk/two-books-candice-fox/)

This is the second book featuring Ted and Amanda, two private investigators who have become colleagues and friends because of events in their past. In Ted's case he has been accused of a crime he didn't commit, whereas Amanda did commit a crime (but you feel there's more to her story that's still to unravel). As characters they're both easy to like, Ted because he is so normal yet has found himself in an impossible situation that he's still trying to come to terms with in his own way and Amanda because she's quirky, cheeky, and at times very impulsive!
Candice Fox has very skillfully continued to progress the story of Ted's wrongful imprisonment whilst introducing another crime in their neighbourhood which the pair of them are tasked with solving. The crime in their neighbourhood does get solved, with tragic consequences, and the real perpetratator of Ted's supposed crime is found and dealt with. Although one of the story lines starts and ends in the book I can;t help but feel that there may be more to come with the other!
I found the book engrossing and am pleased to say I was kept guessing right to the end and didn't anticipate what was going to happen. Would I recommend it? Yes! Would I like to read the next in the series? (Hopefully there will be more) The answer again is Yes!

although this is a second book in a series this could be read as a stand alone.

Every bit as enjoyable as the first book, story was well thought out and the characters are just as interesting.

Although it seems like this maybe the end of the story for Ted it seems like it maybe a good start for hearing more of Amanda's story.

I loved it and will definitely be on the look out for more in the series.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to read Crimson Lake may have been hoping for a sequel. Well, Redemption Point is it and it doesn’t disappoint. Like Crimson Lake, we are faced with a number of story threads, some new and some continuing. Ex cop Ted Conkaffey still carries the weight of having been falsely accused of the abduction, rape and attempted murder of a minor. Often the recipient of beatings and abuse he lives with the hope that one day he will find the true offender and go back to the life he once had. In the meantime he lives with some geese who have adopted him and works as a PI with a business partner called Amanda who has her own demons to face down. Her character is really developed in Redemption Point when she is asked to assist in finding the culprit behind the grisly murder of two young people in a bar. She becomes entwined with Sweeney the detective investigating the murder as they come to the realisation they share uncomfortable pasts. Amanda has a sparkling wit and a mildly aspergic view on life. Throughout the gripping novel, Ted begins to realise his former life cannot be recreated even if he can bring to justice the perpetrator of the crimes of which he was falsely accused. I found this book very hard to put down, it had great pace and depth. I would recommend however that a prospective reader starts with Crimson Lake, having that inner satisfaction that they can continue seamlessly with Redemption Point.

I read the first novel in this series and really enjoyed it, however, I didn't like this one as much. There's a good story line and well thought out characters and it brings the story that started in Book 1 to a conclusion. (I think some of the problems I had with the book were to do with the poor formatting which is due to this being an ARC. If you read the first book then definitely give this one a chance.

Five stars isn’t enough to say how good I think this book is. I loved Crimson Lake and was almost afraid to read the next Candace Fox book in the series in case it failed to live up to its predecessor. Well I needn’t have worried as it was superb.
Ted and Amanda are the most unlikely pair of private detectives you could ever imagine but it just works so well. I do hope there are more books to come with at least some of these finely drawn characters because the author had hit on a fine seam of interest.
I do also just have to comment , without giving any storyline away I hope, on the scene where Ted goes to see Lillian. It was one of the most exquisitely written parts of a story I have read. It wrenched my heart and I defy anyone not to feel sympathy for Ted by the 3nd of it.
Well done Ms Fox.

Wow I am blown away! What a brilliant read full of action, twists and light and darkness. I read this in super quick time because iI literally couldnt put it down. It was like just one more chapter, one more chapter meaning i was reading late into the night. A really wellk written book that is really engaging and enjoyable.

Special thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series (Crimson Lake) I looked forward to the follow up with some anticipation. Suffice to say I was not disappointed.
I guess you could read this as stand alone, but I feel you would lose some of the background to the ongoing story. The book is a mixture of a current investigation and the ongoing issues from the books main character being falsely accused of being guilty of a child sex offence. I have no intention of spoiling the story by way of disclosure. Liked the way the author managed to integrate the past events into the current ongoing struggles of Ted. No hesitation in awarding five stars and recommending BUT do advise for maximum enjoyment that you read first book in the series first.

I didn't realise how much I would anticipate this story until I knew it was available! This is an excellent novel that completes the story we began in Crimson Lake and I was hooked from the first chapter.. Crimson Lake could well have been left as a one off story with it's ending suggestive of some hope for Ted but even better we get to read about that future with Redemption Point.

The book itself contains sufficient flashback information to introduce the characters and their histories that the story works just as well for readers that have missed the excellent Crimson Lake or choose to read this one first.

As with Crimson Lake we have two investigations interleaved. Ted and the quirky Amanda are once again investigating, this time a double murder in a local bar. There are hints early on as to the who and the why which are carefully fleshed out so the reader can "solve" the case alongside Ted and Amanda. The other investigation is to find the real culprit for the abduction and rape of the 13 year old Claire that Ted was wrongly accused of and that most people still consider him guilty of and bring Ted's story to conclusion.

Just as Ted is distracted from the murder investigation with thoughts of his own case, as a reader you too are drawn along his journey. The book wraps up Ted's story as we discover through a combination of investigation, diary entries and a final revealing meeting what really happened to Claire and who was responsible.

While both Amanda and Ted are interesting characters and could well go on to investigate other crimes together, having both their pasts now fully investigated and their crimes solved, it seems as though the series might end here. The hook of their personal lives was a huge part of both books in the series so if this is the last we see of Amanda and Ted, I bid a fond farewell to them happy to have heard both their stories.

This is a very good read. There is more than one story but all are cleverly woven together. The disgraced detective falsely accused of molesting a child is a completely convincing character. His attempts at a new life while trying to unravel his past is well done. The ending is good too. He does not go back to where he was before which is a much better conclusion than the more obvious 'happy ending'. All in all, a really worthwhile read from a very clever author.

"Maybe the tree was a symbol for me. Of defiance, resilience, regrowth. Of a twisted, flowerless, removed life - but a life nonetheless - possible with only the bare minimum needed to carry on."

Ted Conkaffey is an accused child kidnapper and rapist. Up until now he has felt defeated in proving his innocent, but when a stranger shows up on his property and violently attacks him Ted soon realises if he wants to remain alive he needs to find the true culprit. The one who has ruined not only his life but everyone's around him.

'Redemption Point' is the second novel in the 'Crimson Lake' series by Candice Fox. During the first an unlikely partnership is formed between Ted and convicted murderer Amanda Pharell. They run their own private investigation service which brings us to the story running throughout 'Redemption Point'. 2 teenage bartenders have been murdered whilst on shift at the Barking Frog Inn. One a local boy and the other a female backpacker. At first look it appears to be a burglary gone wrong but Ted and Amanda soon discover there is more to the story and the evidence is saying different.

Candice Fox has absolutely blown me away AGAIN. 'Crimson Lake' put her up there as one of my favourite authors and she has secured that spot with 'Redemption Point'. No other author draws me in the way that she can, no other author creates such beautifully developed yet unrefined characters, no other author makes me laugh and cry like she does and simply put, no other author tells such a good story.

I wish I could put into words how perfect Ted and Amanda's friendship is and just how perfect they are as individuals but I don't have any words other than perfection. I've never come across two characters in all my years of reading who I just "get" as much as I "get" these two.

I want to thank Penguin Random House Uk for an ARC in return for an honest review and to thank Candice Fox for completely blowing my mind for the second time. I cannot wait for the third in the series.

An enjoyable read. I feel that I got a lot more from his book having read Crimson Lake first so would definitely suggest that book first. It was nice to bring the story to a conclusion. Enjoyable but not earth shattering 💜

Utterly absorbing .. I read earlier in series too and Amanda, a murderer who has paid for her crime, and set up a PI agency, and her partner, wrongly accused paedophile, Ted, whose lives are ruined but who make their considerable skills available to local police.. work out another double murder. Meanwhile Ted is beginning to make headway finding the real perpetrator of crime he was accused of with Amanda's aid: but then an explosive interview might upset everything ..at least his wife is making moves toward reparation.. I could. not out it down, and look forward to more.

A brilliant sequel picking right up from the previous book. Great story, funny and serious all at once, I particularly love eccentric Amanda. I thoroughly enjoyed it this book just as much as the first. Hooked from the first page. Fantastic.

First things first - You will only gain maximum enjoyment from this book if you first read ‘Crimson Lake’, the book to which this is a sequel. At one point in my reading I wondered if Ms Fox was perhaps trying to wring too many books out of the plot that was so skilfully developed in Crimson Lake; happily, this concern had evaporated by the time I was about a third of the way through the book. The features that made Crimson Lake such an enjoyable read are present again in full measure in Redemption Point - strong characters, fluently written narrative, interesting plot surprises and quirky humour. Again, Ms Fox demonstrates the full suite of skills exhibited by the best crime fiction writers. Each time I picked the book up (OK, I lie, it was a Kindle!) I carried on reading for twice as long as I intended. This is a great read and I’m now a fully paid up fan of Candice Fox. A measure of her skill for me is that I normally steeer clear of crime thrillers involving abduction of children simply because the nature of that crime is so alien to common humanity. Without lessening the horror of the crime Ms Fox avoids any sense of exploitation of the emotions aroused by such awful crimes.
Highly recommended!
Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy to review, although this is a book I would happily pay good money to enjoy.

I gave Crimson Lake five stars and this worthy sequel also deserves five stars. Although it could probably be read as a stand-alone novel it would be much better to read 'Crimson Lake' first, get to know the two maligned and damaged characters of Ted and Amanda, and find out how they ended up where they were and why they became business partners.

In 'Redemption Point', Ted is very much concerned with a resolution to his own nationally-important case and makes several trips back to Sydney, leaving Amanda to cope with the 'Barking Frog' double murder case and all its tragic consequences. The book is interspersed with extracts from the diary and thoughts of the real paedophile, the one guilty of the crime of which Ted is accused. The author has done a brilliant job of getting inside his head and allowing us insight into his warped, disturbed thought processes. She portrays the media in a poor light - one particular tv reporter is vindictive to the point of cruelty in a bid for publicity, although this does backfire somewhat.

I loved reading this book and was sad to finish it. It has gritty realism, emotional insight, a good dose of humour (courtesy of Sharon and Linda, a pair of Lebanese henchmen) and plenty of action and drama. I can thoroughly recommend this book, but suggest reading 'Crimson Lake' first - you won't regret it!

Sometimes, being a book blogger can feel a little unrewarding – as though you’re sending your reviews out into the ether to be read by no-one – but on other occasions, the stars align and some real treats come your way. So it was when I was asked to preview an early copy of Redemption Point by Candice Fox. Not only was this a sequel to the excellent Crimson Lake, thus fulfilling part of my #40yrs40bks challenge, it was also something that I had been eagerly awaiting.

Disgraced police detective Ted Conkaffey and his quirky partner, Amanda Pharrell are back and investigating a double homicide at an outback dive bar while Ted is still dealing with the events in his own life that keep drawing him back to Sydney and threaten the life he’s built in Crimson Lake.

When picking up a sequel to a book you’ve loved, there is always a danger that it will not live up to expectations, but this sequel delivers as expected and then goes beyond, mixing moments of action, domestic drama and emotion seamlessly.

The central plot of the murdered bartenders runs side-by-side with Ted’s own case as he attempts to decipher any new evidence he can find that could prove his innocence and maybe reunite his broken family. These two cases are brilliantly interspersed with diary entries that may tell us some more about Ted’s case but – spoilers!

I really love Candice Fox’s writing – both of the Crimson Lake books are just so well put together – great plots, with twists that you would never see coming and her lead characters have such clear voices that you can almost picture them.

Candice has written with James Patterson, and also has a number of books that are currently being re-packaged for the UK, one of which I already have on my tbr (Hades), and it’s well worth seeking her out and starting Crimson Lake which, I hope, will turn into a much longer series.