Skies of Ash

A Detective Elouise Norton Novel, Book 2

By: Rachel Howzell Hall

Narrated by: Je Nie Fleming

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Los Angeles Homicide Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton and her partner, Colin Taggert, arrive at the scene of a tragic house fire. Juliet Chatman perished in the blaze, along with her two children. Left behind is grieving husband and father Christopher Chatman, hospitalized after trying to rescue his family. Chatman is devastated that he couldn't save them.   

Unless, of course, he's the one who killed them.  

Neighbors and family friends insist the Chatmans were living the dream. But Lou quickly discovers the reality was very different. The flames of adultery, jealousy, scandal, fraud, and disease had all but consumed the Chatmans' marriage before it went up in smoke.  

Lou's own marriage hangs by a thread. Soured by the men in her life, Lou is convinced that Chatman started the fire. Her colleagues worry that her personal issues are obscuring her judgment. With very little evidence regarding the fire - and rising doubts about her husband's commitment to monogamy - Lou feels played by all sides.   

Was the fire sparked by a serial arsonist known as the Burning Man? Or by the Chatmans' son, who regularly burned his father's property?   

Searching for justice through the ashes of a picture-perfect family, Lou doesn't know if she will catch an arsonist or be burned in the process.

©2015 Rachel Howzell Hall (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Saw it coming a mile away

This is definitely not as good as the first. I am a little disappointed in Lou this time around. She makes some REALLY stupid decisions and it takes them forever to get to things they should have gotten to from the get go. This book wouldn’t have been as long if Lou had her act together so a good chunk of this is just listening to the cops circle around the solution till they FINALLY catch up to you.
If you like solving the mystery before the detective, maybe you will like this a little more than I did.

Hooked on Elouise & Taggart!

Dang shame it took a whole movement for books w/black detectives to start populating w/out one having to have a degree in Audiobook Science or Data...Anywho. I am loving this series!!! I am laughing out loud at the old school references & digging where she coming from when dealing with her job & that slick as goose grease Greg.

Detective Norton is smart, funny, self assured and a leader. She is still a female at the end of the day when she goes home & leaves the job at work.

If you enjoy well written witty books then give these a try you will not be disappointed.

Disappointing sequel

I loved the first book, but this fell flat for me. There was too much focus on her interest for men (it almost read like a romance novel) and I thought her behavior was really unprofessional. The writing was a lot more sloppy as well. The ending felt weird and forced. I wasn’t impressed and don’t think I’ll be reading anymore in this series. I liked the character in book 1, but now I got sick of her crappy relationship, her constant flirting and jumping to conclusions. I also didn’t like that all the side characters kept complimenting how smart and sexy she was. The narrator really mispronounced a lot of words. It got on my nerves too

Just ok for me

The characters are engaging for the most part, but I am struggling to finish this one and I'm not sure I will continue on to #3. It's long and drawn out and I am kind of losing interest. The narrator does a fantastic job with dialogue, just terrific, but the prose parts are annoying. The narrator often has an odd cadence and word emphasis. Pauses where they don't seem natural; it sounds like the reader is out of breath.

"As my mind. SLIPPED. Through IMAGES. Of our EVENING." The more I tried not to notice this, the more I fixated on it.

I like the main character, but it seems like she spends a lot of time focusing on her high-end clothing and possessions.

I love this series!!

When I started the first book I wasn’t sure about the narrator but now I can’t imagine anyone else doing it. I’ve listened to the first two in less than a week and I’m about to buy the third. I love it.

An easy read Detective Novel

Enjoyed reading it; however, I struggled to finish after it was dragged out on who actually did it. I know, that's what happens in real life.
I truly enjoyed listening to Je Nie Fleming. I would read the next book that introduce the Detectives father back in her life.

OH HECK YEAH

I'm not sure why I'm just finding this author but I'm glad I did!! She has a way of writing that keeps your attention from start to finish. Who is this woman?? I'm in awe...

Disappointed. Great Author, terrible follow-up.

I've listened all of Howell Hall now and she has a unique voice. I love her style. This one however, failed to meet the mark. Maybe if I hadn't already read her other books and knew the style and greatness to expect. This has no real direction or twist or development in the existing characters.

Great Book

Can't wait to listen to the next one in the series I'll be downloading that 1 as soon as possible

Love this series!

I love Rachel Howzell Hall's writing! The characters are well developed. Once you start on this series, you won't be able to stop until you've read them all!