Review: White Throat by Sarah Thornton

Title: White Throat {Clementine Jones #2}

Published: 1st December 2020, Text Publishing

Status: Read December 2020 courtesy Text Publishing/Netgalley}

++++++

My Thoughts:

Sarah Thornton’s second crime novel featuring Clementine Jones, is as compulsive reading as her first, Lapse.

Having fled Katinga in the wake of her past being discovered, Clem is house sitting in the small coastal town of Piama, Queensland, while she considers her next move. As restless as ever, she involves herself in a local conservation effort to save the endangered White Throated Snapping Turtle at the urging of the leader, and old family friend, Helen Westley. When Helen’s body is discovered at the base of a cliff, Clem refuses to accept the police’s conclusion that her death was the result of suicide, and sets out to prove Helen was murdered because of her activities opposing the local Port development project.

In searching for whomever is responsible for Helen’s murder, Clem uses her legal skills to ferret out the most likely subjects, and then uses less than legal means to dig deeper. There is plenty of suspense and action as Clem confronts her potential suspects, and Thornton provides intriguing twists and turns as Clem uncovers a mess of deception, corruption, and betrayal.

Clementine is a complex character, irrevocably scarred from causing the death of a woman in a drink driving accident, she is intent on punishing herself and has a tendency to behave recklessly. In White Throat she is determined to avenge Helen’s murder, no matter the risk to herself, and refuses to acknowledge the concern of those who care for her, namely Torrens, and Rowan.

While Rowan attempts to stay in touch with Clem via the telephone, Torrens, one of the young footballers Clem coached while in Katinga, makes a physical appearance in White Throat. He needs a place to lay low after receiving an unorthodox inheritance, but trouble follows him, adding another layer of threat to the story. I really like the friendship between Clem and Torrens, though that’s at risk here when Clem finally admits she doesn’t plan to return to Katinga.

While White Throat could be read as a stand alone, I recommend you don’t miss out on the experience of also reading Lapse, as both are well crafted, exciting, and entertaining reads. I’m already looking forward to the next.

++++++

Available from Text Publishing

Or from your preferred retailer via Booko I Book Depository I Booktopia I Amazon