Catherine LeeDark Past (Detective Charlie Cooper Mysteries)

I quickly got into this story and could relate to many of its elements such as the relationships between characters and the modern touches such as computer, internet and mobile devices. Very well written indeed - As good if not better than Catherine Lee's first novel, Dark Heart. Many twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing until the end, but they were all plausible! I could not put this book down once on to the last few chapters! Can't wait for the next instalment of Cooker and Quinn mysteries.... Dark...???

Enjoyable way to spend your quiet time

Twists and turns aplenty in this second novel in the Cooper and Quinn series by Catherine Lee. I enjoyed Dark Heart but Dark Past is even better - faster-paced, authentic in its vivid portrayal of a puzzling murder investigation, and with more-rounded characters. Looking forward to the next in the series.

When Jill Fisher doesn’t turn up for work and breaks a lunch date with her sister Beth, Beth goes looking for her. To her horror, she finds Jill dead in her apartment. Detective Sergeant Charlie Cooper and his partner Detective Senior Constable Joe Quinn are called to the scene. While they don’t believe that Jill was killed by a random intruder, it isn’t immediately clear who would kill Jill, or why.In the meantime, Beth Fisher, a corporate lawyer in the Fisher family firm (where Jill had also worked) decides to finish the ancestry research Jill had been so passionate about. Jill was convinced that the family had a First Fleet connection and Beth looks for a researcher to help her.Cooper and Quinn’s investigations and Beth’s ancestry research raise a number of questions about the Fisher family and their business dealings.There’s a mysterious disappearance years earlier which just might be relevant. And the death of a researcher Beth has been talking to is hardly likely to be a coincidence.All of this digging around results is a warning for Beth: ‘Stop looking into your family’s past.’I picked this novel up, and couldn’t put it down. So many questions needed answers. Would Cooper and Quinn discover who murdered Jill before more lives were lost? What was the family secret that someone was so keen to protect? Just what is the genetic research being undertaken by the Research Foundation? And just who is the murderer? Ms Lee has written a novel with a number of different strands to analyse and consider.There’s plenty of tension too: for Beth as she tries to balance work and family while being overwhelmed by Jill’s murder, and for Charlie Cooper trying to balance his own family responsibilities while finding out the truth.I finished the novel, fairly satisfied with the outcomes, and immediately picked up the next in the series. I hope that Ms Lee can write fast!Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Dark Past was an excellent read! Intriguing and captures your attention!

Very interesting story lines. First book I've read in a long time that I haven't wanted to put down.

This is the second book in the Cooper and Quinn mystery series and once again Catherine Lee has come up with an intriguing novel.The author manages to combine a very smooth free-flowing writing style with a logical, structured, multi-faceted police investigation (murder, arson, abduction, theft, drug importation, illegal trade in human cells, missing persons).The interaction between the investigators from various agencies, investigators and the victims and their families, family dynamics combined with several unexpected twists and turns create a rich dialogue throughout and some very interesting characters.The extra dimension this time comes from genealogy, genetic research and family secrets. The genetic research and the way it is conducted put against the potential benefits pose some serious moral questions. And while the author poses the questions and partially touches both sides of the argument, as a reader it certainly gives you food for thought and allows you to form your own opinions.In all an uplifting novel full of tension, rich characters and plenty of scope for introspection.

This is a very good addition to the Cooper and Quinn Mystery series. It is fast paced and exciting with a great cast of characters. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star review, in my opinion, was Beth. She had her priorities all wrong for 99% of the book, which was quite aggravating. The mystery had many layers and the unraveling of them was well done. I received a copy from author for a honest review and this is it.

Another great read, the story twists and turns, and the lead detective Cooper and his partner Quinn uncover the truth. Very entertaining.

Again enjoyed this series of books,great intriguing story,would not have come to that conclusion. great characters getting it right.So on to the next book.

A catchy read with a dose of genealogy! I enjoyed the story as well as earning about the First Fleet.

thoroughly enjoyed it. Twists and turns keep guessing. Great to read a book with local settings. Thanks for the read.

A very enjoyable and enthralling story. The characters are believable and weĺ rounded. I just wanted to keep reading and found it difficult to put down. Now looking forward to reading book three.