.

.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Waiting For Wednesday by Nicci French

May I just say that 2015 has been a great year so far for discovering new-to-me mystery series?  I am loving the Dr. Frieda Klein books, written by the husband and wife team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French aka Nicci French.  Waiting For Wednesday is the 3rd book in the series and I loved it.  As I wrote in my review of the previous book, Tuesday's Gone, my intention was to listen to this one on audio.  It was narrated by Beth Chalmers and she did a wonderful job.

Ruth Lennox has been murdered in the living room of her own home.  She's a normal wife and mother of 3 teenagers and DCI Malcolm Karlsson and his team can't seem to find any reason why she was killed.  Ruth was efficient and well organized.  Her house ran like clockwork - or did it?  Frieda is still recovering from the injuries and trauma she suffered at the end of the previous book.  She hasn't gone back to her practice and the police have cut their ties with her.  However, Karlsson asks her to walk through the victim's home, as a favor to him, and give her impressions.  Frieda muses that it's like a stage set for a play - where are the secrets?

Meanwhile, the 'official' police psychologist, Dr. Hal Bradshaw, has offered his opinion of the case and made Karlsson despise him even more.  Bradshaw, who has a definite grudge against Frieda, spends quite a bit of the book trying to make Frieda look bad to not only the police 'brass' but to the world in general through various means.  He really crosses a line.

There is another storyline meandering it's way through the book that relates to a retired investigative journalist who follow some leads concerning several missing women.  No one is interested in the journalist's story, but he persists and Frieda, who finds herself pursuing the same cold case, meets the man and joins forces.  All of Frieda's friends, many of whom we've met in the first two books, are worried about her.  She's become obsessed with her hunches and secretive about them.  What's wrong with Frieda?

Waiting For Wednesday has a lot going on - many threads that seems unrelated at first.  Also, Frieda, who really hasn't had time to heal and recover sufficiently, is beset by friends and family who need her to help them over and over.  Her home, which is her shelter, is 'invaded' by bathroom renovations, a teenage niece and her friends, old colleagues who stop by way too often, and even members of Karlsson's team.  I will admit that everyone seemed really selfish to me and uncaring about how all of this was affecting Frieda's life.  She, as usual, was calm, undemanding, guilt-ridden at times for things that were out of her control, and then finally more than a little strange.  I was worried for her too.

By the end, the action was breathless and that's all I'll say.  Will I read the next book?  Yes, I will.  Right away.  I managed to get Thursday's Children at a used bookstore, as it has not been published in the US yet.  Dr. Frieda Klein is becoming one of my favorite protagonists.  I still don't feel we know much about why she has this compulsion to rescue everyone, while remaining unnaturally calm herself.  One day, that calm is going to crack.  And maybe then we'll know.  I'll leave you with a quote that spoke to me:
Human beings have an ability to survive by burying the past, making themselves forget...But Frieda couldn't make herself believe that.  You had to face the truth, however painful, and move on from there.  Burying it didn't make it die, and in the end it would claw its way out of the earth and come for you.

24 comments:

  1. It is a great series isn't it? I've just bought myself (don't tell anyone) a copy of Thursday's Children as I've fallen behind - Friday on my Mind is due out in July here - great review and love the quote you've chosen to finish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh good! I've finished Thursday's Children and look forward to hearing what you think about it. I've already ordered Friday On My Mind. Can't wait!

      Delete
  2. It's so hard for me to review mysteries without giving everything away. You did a fabulous job!

    Hope you are keeping your head above water!

    http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/05/armchair-bea.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for nice words, Deb! Yes, we are staying above water, but wow! It's raining again right now - hard. Our lakes are looking nice, but I'm so sad for the people who have lost life and property.

      Delete
  3. I've enjoyed many of the French's stand alones and was surprised when they began a series. Frieda is a great character, and I like having a connecting link between the books. I haven't read Thursday's Children yet so thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It won't be out for a while here I don't think, but when that time comes, be sure and read it. I've thought about reading some of their older books now.

      Delete
  4. This series has been on my wish list ever since Blue Monday was published, but I never knew the author is actually duo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, a duo writing team. Interesting, huh?

      Delete
  5. Eeeeeeeeek!!!

    I am going to have to stop reading here!!!!

    You are telling me of way toooooo many wonnnnnnderful books!!!!

    How will I ever get to read all of them????

    H-E-L-P!!!!!!!

    What am I to do???!!!????

    -giggggles-

    Hugs, hugs, hugs,
    Tessa (nearly done with 'The Ice Twins'!!!!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are a terrible terrible influence! Another one for my TBR. This sounds great and is a new to me author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is a good series, Katherine. It's been an interesting one to pair off and on with Susan Hill's Serrailer books. They are not alike, but in some respects, the characters compliment each other.

      Delete
  7. You're making me think I maybe gave up on this series too soon...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, not every series works for everyone. This one has just worked well for me right now. Who knows? It might not have at a different time. :-)

      Delete
  8. I haven't heard of this one, sounds so interesting!
    New follower :)
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

    ReplyDelete
  9. This looks like a series I should start from book one! I should see about getting the first book in audio - it's always so lovely to find a good mystery series in audio.

    Well, Google didn't "take" my comment, but while I was waiting I slipped over to my library's site and there's no audio copy of any of the Nicci French series :( So I guess I'll be reading the ebook versions!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having 'read' both ways, either is fine, depending on your mood. Hope you enjoy if you get around to it!

      Delete
  10. I've only read Blue Monday but I enjoyed it, just didn't see the next book in the library when I was looking for it. Good to know that it continues to be enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been for me. Tuesday's Gone was a little more of a problem for me in print, but I think that was my mood more than the book itself.

      Delete
  11. This sounds like a great series. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, as always, for the recommendations. I always know where to come when I need a new mystery to keep me entertained!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm always full of mystery recommendations. And I love doing that.

      Delete
  12. I didn't even know that Nicci French wasn't a woman! How great to discover a new series.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!