I read and liked the first two in this series quite a lot; as a duology they worked really well. This book could be considered the third of a trilogy, because it wraps up the series arc, but it was far less satisfying and a lot more 'meh'. The author dedicates the book to Victoria Holt, who has obviously had an impact on her, and it's clear that she's attempting to imbue this series with that same gothic atmosphere, but what works in 1970's romantic suspense struggles a lot in a modern setting. The result feels a bit melodramatic; not so much that I could convince myself it was a pastiche (it wasn't meant to be), but enough that the MC's character started to grate on my nerves here and there. I thought her calling a couple of other characters "outsiders" and claiming they shouldn't be trusted because they were outsiders a particularly bold authorial choice in today's climate. In the context of the story, I didn't disagree with her reasoning, but found the baldly stated phrasing jarring and odd.

The plot also harkens back to the 70's with a suave, charismatic villain and accomplice who do everything short of rubbing their hands and cackling. In a book I know is dated, this type of thing is fun. In a book that's contemporary, it just feels over the top and ... well, it just failed to sell it in any context.

Still, not a bad book, just ... meh. I think I'll probably leave this series here, at least for now. It's good enough that at some future point I might want to pick it up and see where the author takes the series. ( )

A Dark and Twisting Path is the 3rd book in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. I have to admit that I haven't read the other two books in this series yet. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first two books before this one. I was able to follow the story and enjoy it, but I would have understood past events that are very important to the plot and the characters a lot better. So, while it isn't completely necessary to read this series in order, it might be a good idea anyway.

There is a lot of serious stuff going on in this book -- a kidnapped child, murder, burglary, stalking -- it has a little bit of everything. Lena London is an engaging and capable main character. She's intelligent and loyal, standing by her new boyfriend despite his multiple run-ins with the law. She knows he isn't a killer, and she works hard to help him prove it. The supporting characters are well-developed and believable. This isn't a cutesie cozy mystery....it's got some pretty serious crime and complex things going on behind the scenes. The story is on-going through all of the books, which is something I enjoyed. There is enough background information given just in case a reader hasn't read the other books or has forgotten things over time. But, the story line isn't bogged down in back-tracking, either. The mystery moves along at a nice pace, with great suspense building and plenty of twists.

I'm definitely going to read the first two books in this series, then read this one again. Then I will be ready for the next book in this series! Very enjoyable book! I look forward to more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

This is the 3rd book in a series by Julia Buckley. I did not read the first 2 books and I don't feel like I missed out on anything I should have known from not reading the first 2. With that said I though this was a good book. If you are the kind of reader that likes books like Nancy Drew or the television series Murder She Wrote, you will like this series. This was a very lite mystery with no intense situations like I'm used to in other books. It was a good beach read. ( )

A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckley is a 2018 Berkley publication.

This is the third book in ‘The Writer’s Apprentice’ series and it pretty much picks right up where book two left off. The case with Sam’s ex-wife, and her missing daughter, continues, but meanwhile, Lena’s friend Allison discovers her mail carrier’s dead body in her backyard, and it looks as though he’s been stabbed with a letter opener- one that looks exactly like the one Lena gave Sam as a gift- putting Sam right back in the hot seat again…

So far, I’m really enjoying this cozy mystery series. I love the setup and premise, as well as the romantic elements, and of course, the recurring characters. The author did a good job with fleshing out and wrapping up the continuing story lines and threads, while expanding the cast with a few new faces. This story has a sweet side story involving Sam I really enjoyed and thought it was a nice touch.

While reading the first two books in the series is strongly recommended, it isn’t an absolute necessity, as the author does provide adequate background information for anyone new to the series.

For those who have been following along, this book feels a bit transitional- maybe moving away from the continuing plots we've followed up until now and solidifying a few relationship roles.

Because so much is happening, this installment is just a bit weaker than the previous two, but sill a solid addition to the series.

As always, light, easy and entertaining read, but also atmospheric and intelligent. I’m looking forward to the next chapter in the series!

4 stars ( )

The disappearance of a baby and the death of a postman propel this story right along. I like the connection between the books, although Sam's trials sometimes tend to overshadow the writer's apprentice part of things. I liked interactions with Lena's dad and can't wait to read the next one! ( )