Butterfly Kills

A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery

By: Brenda Chapman

Narrated by: Michelle St. John

Two separate crimes, two tragic outcomes.

Jacques Rouleau has moved to Kingston to look after his father and take up the position of head of the town's Criminal Investigations Division. One hot week in late September, university student Leah Sampson is murdered in her apartment. In another corner of the city, Della Munroe is raped by her husband. At first the crimes appear unrelated, but as Sergeant Rouleau and his new team of officers dig into the women's pasts, they discover unsettling coincidences.

When Kala Stonechild, one of Rouleau's former officers from Ottawa, suddenly appears in Kingston, Rouleau enlists her to help. Stonechild isn't sure if she wants to stay in Kingston, but agrees to help Rouleau in the short term. While she struggles with trying to decide if she can make a life in this new town, a ghost from her past starts to haunt her.

As the detectives delve deeper into the cases, it seems more questions pop up than answers. Who murdered Leah Sampson? And why does Della Monroe's name keep showing up in the murder investigation? Both women were hiding secrets that have unleashed a string of violence. Stonechild and Rouleau race to discover the truth before the violence rips more families apart.

©2015 Brenda Chapman (P)2017 Dundurn

Critic reviews

"This novel is well-paced and well-plotted…the book also smartly sets up some subplots that will no doubt carry the series forward." ( Edmonton Journal)

Definitely has good potential!

This is the first book in a police procedural series, featuring Jacques Rouleau, head of the Criminal Investigations Division, and Kala Stonechild, whom he recruits to come work with him. It takes place in Canada, and was a pretty enjoyable listen.

The basic story involves the murder of an employee from a college campus mental health phone service, and a couple of side stories that do not, at first, seem to be connected but will prove to be quite important. Rouleau and Stonechild have personal stories that are opened here, and I assume will be more fleshed out in future books.

The narration was pretty good, the story was not perfect but seemed as though this author is laying the groundwork for future books. I certainly recommend this one, and think the whole series will be well worth listening to. I already have gotten the next book and look forward to hearing it.

Just OK

This is a routine police procedural. It seems to be the first of a series of stories about the same characters. Perhaps the characters will become more interesting as they are developed. However, there was nothing that caught my interest enough to buy a second book.

Michelle St. John's voice has a pleasing tone and good diction. Howevert her narration didn't bring any of the characters to life.

This isn't a bad story, but there isn't anything very special about it.