Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

When Detective Nick Fourcade enters the home of Genevieve Gauthier outside Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, the crime scene that is both the most brutal and the most confusing he's ever seen. Genevieve's seven-year-old son, KJ, has been murdered by an alleged intruder, yet Genevieve is alive and well.Nick’s and his wife, Annie Broussard have a lot to contend with not least the steamy hot Louisiana weather. This is an incredible read with complex characters that keep you guessing throughout the novel. Cannot wait to read more Fourcade and Broussard novels.

This was a real edge of your seat thriller, with so many twists and turns, you wont know which way is up! Fantastic and gripping read!

This book deals with a few difficult topics, that might not be to everyone's taste. I didn't really like the topics, but the book was a written and thrilling read. Recommended.

I've read a Tami Hoag book before and really enjoyed it, so I picked up this one about married Detectives Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard. I didn't realise it was the second book about them until I'd started it, but that didn't impact on my being about to get into the book. It flows nicely, but the reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because the subject matter really wasn't for me and spoilt my enjoyment of the book.

It’s a while since I’ve read a thriller by this author, who has always been a favourite of mine. Coincidentally, this story is set in the Louisiana Bayou area, where her earlier novels that I enjoyed so much were set.

The story concerns the murder of a young boy, which is not easy to read, but the descriptions are not overly graphic, concentrating more on the emotions of the detectives and the suspects.

The plot is cleverly written, nothing is as it appears on the surface. With each twist, the suspects’ increase, the suspense builds, and the detective’s skills are pushed to their limits.

The characters are distinctive and depict the Cajun population of the area well. The politics of police work and the public relations angle of a high profile murder case is integral to this thriller, Nick Fourcade is a powerful character, driven, but maverick. The person you’d want investigating if you’d lost someone. Annie Broussard, his wife is equally dedicated, but she provides her husband with the grounding he needs to work in such a politically correct setting.

Their relationship inevitably reflects their work, and since their son is a similar age to the victim, they are both personally, as well as professionally affected by the tragedy, and its outcome.

A fast-paced, intense thriller, with relentless suspense building, a cast of close-knit believable characters, and clever detectives with human flaws, who are easy to empathise. Addictive, reading with a unique setting and characters that keep you reading.

I received a copy of this book from Orion Books - Trapeze via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have read and enjoyed many of Tami Hoag's books but I found this one really heavy going. There was just too much about the detectives and their relationships with each other and with their superiors. The murders seemed to come very low down in the author's priorities. I wouldn't recommend this.

A dark, depressing and deadly thriller!

“The Boy’’ is the second in the series of married Detectives Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard. Both are dedicated in their respective job roles, and they certainly have enough to deal with in this dark, depressing, and deadly thriller!

There are so many simultaneous cases for Nick and Annie to solve, starting with the horrendous murder of a seven-year-old boy. Who would commit such a heinous crime? Does his mother have her hidden secrets?

Nick has to deal with an extremely difficult boss, Kelvin Dutrow, both of whom detest each other. Suffice it to say there are numerous confrontations with so many of the characters.

The reason I felt that “The Boy” should have three-stars, was because the plot dragged on for quite a while, which was a shame because it was very nearly a four stars award. If only the plot were tighter. Also I think that people in the USA would have more in common with the area, set in the Deep South. Amazingly it seems that there is so much crime in sleepy Bayou Breaux, Louisiana!

Once the plot picked up, I enjoyed the twists and turns, leading to an unexpected conclusion.

Galadriel.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

Wow! My first read from this author and it will certainly not be the last. What a fantastic read. I could tell that this wasn't a debut novel, the writing was expertly paced, the characters were well developed and interacted with each other smoothly. The plot was developed well; started off introducing the characters without giving too much information and becoming a dump, and progressed by adding just the right amount of intrigue and pace so as to not make me loose interest of be over whelmed

Great story,love the characters who are well portrayed. Very intense thriller which moves quickly along.

I enjoyed book two in the Broussard and Fourcade series, it was an easy read. The plot centres on the murder of a child and there are some very unlikeable characters. The husband and wife team are drawn into bullying, abuse and power struggle as they investigate the murder of a seven year old. A very good read by Tami Hoag and I did not work out who the killer was. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I used to read everything by Tami Hoag but I’ve fallen victim to an insane to be read pile, The Boy seemed like the perfect novel to get back on track a bit. Best decision ever – within a few pages I remembered why I loved the writing entirely and the intensely absorbing plotting.

Nick Fourcade is my new bookish hero, along with partner both professional and personal Annie Broussard- these characters absolutely light up this twisty, disturbing and very emotional tale of murder and what a tale it was.

Completely unpredictable and stunningly emotive, The Boy is an intelligent thriller, the investigative strands are beautifully handled, the sense of place is pitch perfect and it is excellent and completely riveting first page to last.

Tami Hoag has a way of embedding the characters and the action into your consciousness, this is a book I talked at as I went, often clutching my head in dismay both for and at the people I was reading about. I genuinely didn’t see the solution coming and when it did I was floored by it and it’s one of those endings that will resonate with me for a long time.

Truly excellent crime fiction.

Highly Recommended.

The murder of little KJ is just the beginning for a story holding so much pain and heartbreak, that it was not an easy read. There was a lot of things going wrong in this small town, with someone questionable in charge. Emotions running high, there are a few people looking good for the murder. When the killer is revealed and all questions are answered, it's hard not to feel some sympathy.

This is my first Tami Hoag novel and it won't be my last. The Boy is an excellent read. I didn't know it was the second book in the Broussard series but it worked for me as a standalone book. I couldn't read this book quickly enough, it's a horrible story involving a child's murder, not an easy read! But it's definitely unputdownable.

Classic Tami she never fails to impress. This book grips you from the first page and doesn’t let you go,full of suspense and twists you don’t see coming. A dark and intense thriller, a great read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is the first of Tami Hoag books that I have read although I have heard a lot of good things about this write she seems to have slipped through my purchases until now. This being the second book in the series the first one being A thin Dark Line which I now have to read.

This book despite being book two in the Broussard and Fourcade series you can read it as a stand-alone novel. Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard are married and are detectives that work in Louisiana. Nick is called in to a scene where a seven year old boy has been murdered and the single mother narrowly missed the same fate as her son. The mother seems to have made some questionable choices regarding her parenting decisions she also seems to have had a sordid past. Having a son himself Nick takes this case more personally determined to catch the person who committed this crime.

In the meantime Annie Broussard discovers that the teenage girl babysitting the young boy is missing. The normally quiet town people are now afraid that their children are under threat.

Throughout the book you get to know more about Broussard and Fourcade I love how their characters are developing Nick with his anger and Annie being more gentle making them a perfect match. Despite there relationship is experiencing some tension there interaction with each other is enjoyable . But learning about them doesn’t detract from the story it just helps you to be more involved and relate to the characters I love it when authors do this letting you know little bits at a time about main characters. The fact that this case feels more close to home to them both adds to the tension and makes them even more determined to catch the person responsible.

There are a number of characters that could be the murderer as Hoag cleverly weaves her story. Giving you glimpses of each character’s way of thinking, including the murderer.

This is a tense, atmospheric thriller, with some complex characters at times the story is very dark and can be disturbing. But it is so well written and will have you gripped to the end. Can’t wait for book three in the series.

With some complex issues brought into the story. I loved this read and will be looking for more of Tami Hoag books.

It's the first book I read by Tami Hoag and won't be the last.
This author can surely write a book that will keep you hooked and this book is gripping and entertaining.
I loved the well crafted plot full of twists and turns, the character development and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is the second in the series featuring Detectives Nick Fourcade and Anne Broussard.
A young mum and her son are attacked in their home and Genevieve escapes and staggers to a neighbour’s house to get help.
When he arrives at the scene, Nick discovers the body of a young boy, viciously stabbed to death. The hunt is then on to find the boy’s killer.
This is a fast paced story that takes place over a short period of time and builds up to a great final few chapters, that had me on the edge of my seat.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Once again I would like to thank the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
The majority of books I get to review are normally from Authors new to me, that is not the case here I have read and thoroughly enjoyed several of her books, though Tami Hoag is a somewhat forgotten one, for some reason I have not read one of her books since early 2000.
So I applied for this without reading the blurb when I did I was pleased to see if featured Annie Broussard, who made her debut in the last book I had read by this Author, so imagine my surprise when I found this was only the second book in the series. Set in sweltering Louisiana this is an entertaining enjoyable murder mystery, a clever compelling well written Police procedural with the emphasis on characterization, the Author fully develops the characters throughout the book and you cannot help but become involved. Annie is brave caring feisty and smart i don't know why the Author took so long between books but hopefully we won't have to wait so long for the next one. Descriptive and imaginative the tension builds up to a tense finale.
Highly recommended.

My thanks to Orion Publishing/Trapeze for an eARC via NetGalley of Tami Hoag’s ‘The Boy’ in exchange for an honest review. It was published in hardback in December 2018 and its paperback edition is being published on 22 August 2019.

This is the second in her series featuring Detectives Nick Fourcade and Anne Broussard set in Bayou Breaux, Louisiana. Actually the first book in this series, ‘A Thin Dark Line’, was the first book I had read by Tami Hoag back in 2009. I have gone on to read a number of her other crime thrillers and found them excellent.

So I began reading ‘The Boy’ with great confidence in her skills in storytelling and characterisation. Plus, as I enjoy the combination of reading and listening, I obtained its Kindle/Audible editions.

In this troubling case a young single mother, Genevieve Gauthier, is attacked in her home. She escapes and flees to a neighbour’s house. Called to the scene Detective Nick Fourcade discovers the body of a young boy, viciously stabbed to death. This turns out to be Genevieve's seven-year old son, KJ.

In addition, Nick is still investigating a brutal assault against a 13-year old girl with non-verbal autism and is finding himself increasingly in conflict with the new Sheriff, Kelvin Dutrow, who considers Nick a rouge detective that he would love to fire.

Once started this book was almost impossible to put down. It is very fast paced and takes place over a very short period of time. It builds up to a shattering climax that had me on the edge of my seat.

As well as being a dark, intense crime thriller, Hoag powerfully evokes the atmosphere of the Louisiana bayou with its unique flora and fauna. I could so easily visualise the cypress trees heavily draped with Spanish moss.

She concludes with a short glossary of Cajun French.

A well deserved five stars.