I didn't realize that this was the 11th book of the series. I had to put it down so I could read the ones before it. However, the chapters that I did read were enjoyable.

I've never read a Hannah Green story and this was ok, but I don't think it's for me.

This book follows a new detective Hannah as she responds to a domestic disturbance that ends up being a murder investigation. I appreciate the research that was put into this novel around topics such as court proceedings, domestic abuse, and psychiatry in general. The first two thirds were interesting but the last third was a pain to get through.

I also could not stand Hannah's dad inserting himself at all times.

I

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

The Devil to Pay by Barbara Fradkin, is the eleventh novel in the Inspector Green series.

This is a gripping mystery that explores the dark side of human nature and the consequences of our actions.
Inspector Michael Green, a veteran Ottawa police officer, is sidelined to administrative duties after a traumatic incident. He becomes intrigued by a domestic disturbance call that his daughter Hannah, a rookie patrol officer, responds to in a wealthy suburban neighbourhood. Both husband and wife deny any problem, but Green senses something is wrong and encourages Hannah to investigate further. When the husband disappears and his car is found at the airport, the police assume he is fleeing his troubled marriage and mounting debts. But when a body is discovered, Green and his old friend Brian Sullivan are drawn into a complex web of secrets, lies, and betrayal.

Fradkin masterfully balances the personal and professional lives of her characters, showing how they are affected by the events unfolding around them. Green is a flawed but sympathetic protagonist, who struggles with his guilt, anger, and fear for his daughter. Hannah is a headstrong and ambitious young woman, who wants to prove herself as a cop and a daughter. Sullivan is a loyal and supportive friend, who has his own demons to face. The secondary characters are also well-developed and realistic, adding depth and diversity to the story.

The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. Fradkin skillfully weaves together multiple threads of the investigation, revealing the connections and motives of the suspects. The setting of Ottawa and its surroundings is vividly described, creating a contrast between the urban and rural landscapes. The theme of justice and accountability is explored throughout the novel, as the characters face the consequences of their choices and actions.

The Devil to Pay is a compelling and satisfying read that will appeal to fans of character-driven police procedurals. Fradkin has created a realistic and engaging world, populated by complex and relatable characters. The Inspector Green series is one of the best in Canadian crime fiction, and The Devil to Pay is a worthy addition.

This is already the 11th book in the series, and unfortunately I haven't read any of the previous ones. It does read nicely enough as a standalone though. It was a thrilling read, and I didn't expect the ending! Recommended.

Since this is book 11 in. A series, i put it to the side in hopes to one day read the first 10 books so i can make sure i can throughly enjoy this one

I loved this police procedural with an unexpected ending. The writing is fast paced and the main character is likeable. The Devil to Pay is part of a series and because I enjoyed the book so much, I do plan on reading the previous books in the series.

A slow burning, complex mystery. It's the 11th in this series but it can be read as a stand alone.
I didn't read the other books but I was able to throughly appreciate this one that kept me reading.
I appreciated the complex plot and the lfeshed out characters.
The solution was a surprise and I think that each reader will have a different opinion.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Devil to Pay, is the 11th book from the Inspector Green Mystery series by Barbara Fradkin.

The book revolves around cops investigating a homicide, but there is so much more to it. I liked the story, it was fast paced with excitement on every turn. There are a lot of characters in the book, and it is amazing how they're all developed with the story.

One of the important aspects of the book is the effects of domestic violence on kids. I think it added an extra dimension to the story which made it informative. I would highly recommend this to readers who are looking for a fast paced and interesting story.

I have only read a few books with the protagonist being a cop, but I'm intrigued. Also, it's my first book from the series and by Barbara Fradkin so I'm hoping to read more.

Thank you Netgalley, author and publishers for the ARC.

I enjoyed this police story. It is about Inspector Green who responds to a domestic disturbance as he is on administrative duties. It is a leisurely read that takes a while to pick up but the ending is worth it!

I really enjoyed this modern murder msyerty that really helped me engage and connect with the different characters. I thought the ending was really unexpected and the whole novel kept me fully guessing throughout

The central mystery seems intriguing enough: a domestic violence call leads to a murder investigation. Young police officer Hannah Pollack feels somewhat responsible, so she decides to investigate. Her father, Inspector Mike Green, is worried for his daughter's safety, and decides to keep an eye on her and make sure she's safe. Part of his involvement is also due to his boredom with administrative duties, and desire to return to active detective work.

This is the 11th book in Fradkin's series starring Inspector Green, so long-time readers will likely be excited to see this new development in the inspector's career and relationship with his daughter. As a newbie who hadn't yet built an emotional investment in the characters, I was left somewhat cold, and recommend starting with a different book. I also found myself annoyed at Inspector Green's meddling -- his daughter is an adult who's building her own career, so his overprotectiveness felt more smothering than sweet. Worse is his deeper agenda of wanting to relive his investigative glory days -- if I were his daughter, I would be super pissed that (1) he's not giving me agency over my own career, and (2) he's using me for some mid-life crisis.

(I admit I'm not a huge fan of this kind of father-daughter dynamic either, where the daughter hero-worships the father, and is struggling to live up to his legacy. In that trope, the father is usually remote and disapproving, so kudos to Fradkin for switching it up, but it's only made me realize how annoying this form of the dynamic is as well. In any case, point is that I admit my personal reaction to that dynamic may have coloured my enjoyment of the book, because the father-daughter relationship was so front and center to the story.)

Beyond the characters, the mystery felt slow. I'm usually a fan of mysteries that involve complex husband-wife dynamics, but in this case, the story failed to grip me. It took me two months to get to the 31% mark, and I've decided to tap out on this. DNF at 31%, and since I didn't finish the latter 2/3 of the book, I won't be posting a review on my blog.

Canadian author Barbara Fradkin’s, The Devil to Pay is the eleventh of the Inspector Michael Green Ottawa Police stories. This time he is desk bound on administrative duties, when his daughter, rookie patrol officer Hannah responds to a 911 call. It is a domestic disturbance in a wealthy suburb that requires no further action. So begins a classic police procedural with enjoyable characters and an interesting whodunnit. No prior knowledge of the series is necessary as the story introduces new characters and makes some interesting awareness of policework and family. A leisurely paced venture with a three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to Dundurn Press and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.

The Devil to Pay is the 11th book in a series that I have only read sporadically. However, it really wasn’t necessary to be caught up to enjoy this quick read of a police procedural. The characters are written with depth and emotion and returning to them is a bit like returning to a place you don’t go often but always enjoy.

Sidelined to administrative duties, Inspector Michael Green misses the thrill of the chase. So when his daughter Hannah, now a rookie patrol officer, responds to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance in a wealthy suburban neighbourhood, he is intrigued. Both husband and wife deny a problem and, despite Hannah’s doubts, no further police action is taken, but Green encourages her to dig deeper on her own. When the husband disappears and his car is found at the airport, the police conclude he is simply fleeing an unhappy home, a floundering law practice, and a mountain of debt. Until a body is discovered.
A fascinating read that kept me gripped enough to read from start to finish in one hit!

At the core of it, this book has a really solid plot. The mystery is fast-paced and aside from the two main characters, I enjoyed following along with the detectives as they solved their case. This would have been a 4-star read had it not been for Hannah and Mike. They both got on my nerves early and I couldn't shake the dislike I developed for them. Hannah is childish, annoying, and self-centred. Her father Mike may be a good cop but he came across as small-minded and a little racist. At one point his thought narrative states that immigrants move to Canada "to shed their immigrant roots and pass for white". That sentence is gross and I almost DNF'd the book. Looking back I wish I had, it would have saved me having to read on four separate occasions the author comparing the colour of a POC's skin to coffee. When will authors, especially white authors learn it's not cool to compare the colour of people's skin to food. Once is bad enough but it was a repeated comparison that served no purpose. I don't think the tone and style this author uses is for me and I can't see myself grabbing any of her books up in the future.

This is the 11th book in the Inspector Green Mystery series, and Mike Green does feature prominently. However, the main protagonist is actually his daughter, Hannah Pollack (her mother’s surname). She was a troubled child and troubled teen but has matured and now, in her twenties, she has become a rookie patrol officer in the Ottawa police department where her father still works. He had been the Head of the Major Crimes Unit, but for the last five years he has been in a paper-pushing role, which he resents. The tale begins with Hannah and her senior, and much more experienced, partner being sent to a reported domestic pursuit. She thinks there is a serious underlying problem with the family while he thinks it’s nothing of any consequence. The former wild child reverts, in a sense, to her former rebellious and contentious persona and starts investigating in a private capacity. When the husband disappears, and the family's precarious financial situation becomes evident things start to heat up and become incandescent when the first body turns up.
While the police slip into the smooth, methodical routine which characterises a typical police procedural novel, Hannah is barrelling around the state in her off-duty time, making waves, taking risks, following her instincts. This means that this not a typical procedural, because almost every scrap of information feeding into the investigation comes from Hannah doing something wrongly, apologising to her father, using his expertise and contacts and ensuring he passes the information on to the appropriate officers, being warned off, then doing the same thing again; and again. While this provides a lot of excitement for the reader it makes the whole story seem a bit farfetched. I’m not familiar with the rules in Ottawa, but this looks like a recipe for making much of the prosecution’s case inadmissible. All of that aside, this is a very good read. All of the characters are well drawn and believable and the writing is strong.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I've not read this series but that didn't matter- this is a fine standalone procedural with interesting characters in PC Hannah Pollack and her father Inspector Michael Green. Hannah is a rookie cop who thinks that Kristina McAuley might be the victim of abuse from her husband Edward but is told to let it go by her training officer Rick, And then Edward goes missing. Hannah goes beyond to find the truth with some help from Green. The mystery is well constructed and kept me guessing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read and now I'll be looking for more from this pair,

The Exhausting Inspector…
The eleventh in the Inspector Green Mystery series featuring the exhausting Michael Green of the Ottowa Police. Our impetuous inspector now finds himself with purely administrative duties with which to occupy himself. Obviously. this will never do and it’s not long before he begins to interfere. Enjoyable, entertaining and engaging mystery with a strong procedural aspect and a compelling plot populated with a colourful cast and a solid narrative. Wholly immersive and a worthy addition to this excellent series.

Working on administrative duties, Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green misses working on homicide cases. When Green's rookie police officer daughter Hannah responds to a domestic disturbance in a rich neighbourhood, he is intrigued when Hannah explains her doubts when lawyer husband Ted McAulay and his wife Kristina denies any problem. Green encourages Hannah to dig deeper on her own. When McAulay disappears from his house and his car is found at the airport, the police figure he has willingly fled town. But then a body is found near a riverside walking trail and it's McAulay.

This story was set in the present day so author Fradkin realistically includes the impacts of the pandemic on life in Ottawa and the police investigation. Green’s longtime friend Staff Sergeant Brian Sullivan works on the murder case. Hannah feels guilty that her actions precipitated McAulay's murder. Hannah cannot let go of this case and begins to ask questions on her own time. Her relentless search for the McAulay family's missing dog and the identity of a loner Ph.D. student researching ducks near the murder site leads her into the surrounding countryside and straight into another body and danger.

Green is both proud and irked by Hannah's stubborn persistence in asking questions about this case, and he does his best to help her unsanctioned investigations. But when Hannah goes missing, Green is forced to call in the rest of the homicide team and provincial police to conduct a frantic search to save her life.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Dundurn Press. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
#InspectorGreenMystery

This is the eleventh in the Inspector Green mystery series; it is the first I have read. I enjoyed the characters and felt this worked well as a standalone, although I’m sure I would enjoy reading some of the earlier books to learn more about them.

Hannah, a one time wayward young girl is now a probationary police officer. Although she is helpful in solving the case, one would hope that she would grow in future stories and her impulsive, insubordinate actions become more under control.

It takes a while for the case to evolve, but I did not find the story draggy. The ending was a bit open ended; the reader never finds out the final resolution. Having read so many American and British police procedurals, the change of setting to Canada and its law enforcement system was welcome.

One of the things I found most interesting was that the author deftly wove Covid protocols (masks, etc.) into the story very matter of factly. So much of it is a part of life now, that it just seems second nature.

Fans of police procedurals will enjoy The Devil to Pay.