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Crimson Lake: A Novel (Crimson Lake, 1) Paperback – January 14, 2020

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,566 ratings

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Candice Fox's thrilling Crimson Lake, the basis for the series Troppo starring Thomas Jane, now streaming on Prime Video!

How do you move on when the world won’t let you?

12:46: Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop
12:47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her
12:52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time―that’s all it took to ruin Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey’s life. Accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction, Ted is now a free man―and public enemy number one. Maintaining his innocence, he flees north to keep a low profile amidst the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

There, Ted’s lawyer introduces him to eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, herself a convicted murderer. Not entirely convinced Amanda is a cold-blooded killer, Ted agrees to help with her investigation, a case full of deception and obsession, while secretly digging into her troubled past. The residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair's every move . . . and the town offers no place to hide.

"Complex, human characters, and a dark, meaty story, and fine writing, and a great sense of place – this is one of the best crime thrillers of the year. Sign me up as a big-time Fox fan!" ―Lee Child

Crimson Lake by Sydney-based, Ned Kelly award-winning author Candice Fox is a thrilling contemporary crime novel set in Queensland, Australia, perfect for readers of authors like James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, and Tana French.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A bright new star of crime fiction – inventive, thrilling and totally addictive." ―James Patterson

"A masterful novel that teases right up to its final page. Definitely a writer to watch." ―Harlan Coben

"Complex, human characters, and a dark, meaty story, and fine writing, and a great sense of place – this is one of the best crime thrillers of the year. Sign me up as a big-time Fox fan!" ―Lee Child

“Compelling…boasts full-bodied characters, suspense with a quirky edge, and a strong sense of place.”―
Booklist (starred)

About the Author

CANDICE FOX is the award-winning author of Crimson Lake, Redemption Point, Gone By Midnight, and Gathering Dark. She is also co-writer, with James Patterson, of New York Times bestsellers Never Never, Fifty Fifty, Liar Liar, and The Inn. She lives in Sydney.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forge Books; Media tie-in edition (January 14, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250624398
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250624390
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.73 x 9.32 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,566 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,566 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the twisted plot and interesting characters. The writing quality is described as great and tight. Many enjoy the setting, describing it as rich and deftly interwoven. However, opinions differ on the pace - some find it fast-paced while others consider it slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

77 customers mention "Readability"72 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the setting, characters, and story interesting and fun to read. The book has a good premise, but the first part moves slowly. Readers appreciate the backstories that enrich the story, and consider it better than the TV series.

"...One of the best types of openings is one which intrigues the reader, draws one in and insists one follow without having any idea where the path will..." Read more

"...She was a creative concoction and kept the book interesting...." Read more

"...This book was good, but the writer ended it abruptly, unfortunately. So, average read." Read more

"...ends so very differently in many ways from the series making it fun to read as almost a whole new story...." Read more

64 customers mention "Plot twists"56 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the plot twists and find the book entertaining. They describe it as an engaging mystery thriller set in an area of Australia with quirky characters. The story has a well-written plot with multiple subplots that keep readers hooked throughout.

"...such a strong sense of place and character that one is immediately involved in the story. Fox achieves both goals...." Read more

"This is a well-done mystery. The author creates interesting characters...." Read more

"Interesting characters, good mystery, well written and crocodiles. What more could a person ask for?..." Read more

"Crimson Lake by Candice Fox is an incredibly fast-paced and riveting mystery which is set in a small town in Queensland, Australia...." Read more

44 customers mention "Character development"41 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters interesting, quirky, and well-written.

"...It's the characters which compel one to keep reading. Interesting, unusual, well-constructed characters are a reader's dream...." Read more

"This is a well-done mystery. The author creates interesting characters...." Read more

"Interesting characters, good mystery, well written and crocodiles. What more could a person ask for?..." Read more

"...Crimson Lake is a complex, layered mystery with interesting characters, a compelling storyline and a vibrant setting...." Read more

27 customers mention "Writing quality"27 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find the writing tight and skillfully weaving the stories together. The plot is good, though some feel the ending is overdone. The author and narrator are new to them, and they find the letters included interesting.

"...This author writes with flair. It didn't feel like a first book for her. I saw she co-writes books with James Patterson...." Read more

"Interesting characters, good mystery, well written and crocodiles. What more could a person ask for?..." Read more

"This is a new-to-me author and narrator and I am thrilled to say that I am hooked!..." Read more

"...She is a terrific young writer!" Read more

6 customers mention "Setting"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's setting. They appreciate the Queensland and Australia settings, which are well-integrated.

"...I saw she co-writes books with James Patterson. The Australia setting added to the fun mix...." Read more

"...The Queensland setting, flora and fauna, are deftly interwoven. You can feel. smell it. The Audible recording’s narrator is superb...." Read more

"Crimson Lake is a great read, the setting, the characters and the complexity of the mystery (s) was fascinating...." Read more

"...Loved the setting as described in the story." Read more

16 customers mention "Pace"7 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pace. Some find it fast-paced and can't wait to turn the pages, while others say the storyline moves slowly and is boring. They struggled to get interested at the beginning and struggled to get halfway through the book. The storyline is described as dark.

"Book is very different from the Amazon Troppo show. Also rather slow pace with many eccentric characters" Read more

"Crimson Lake by Candice Fox is an incredibly fast-paced and riveting mystery which is set in a small town in Queensland, Australia...." Read more

"...It may be slow-ish at times, (I prefer “methodical”), but definitely never boring. ...." Read more

"...I enjoy the plot, the development of the pace, all the way to the ends. Will highly recommend this book to any thriller fan." Read more

This is a MUST READ!!!
5 out of 5 stars
This is a MUST READ!!!
This is the first book in the series by Candice Fox. It is BRILLIANT! Her characters are so well developed that you immediately begin to feel empathy for them. Anger soon follows as you see them struggle with issues surrounding them . This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you desperate to get your hands on the second book of the series, Redemption Point. It is an excellent book. I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. You do not want to miss this author!!!!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019
    First Sentence: I was having some seriously dark thoughts when I found Woman.

    Ted Conkaffey was tried for the rape of a teenage girl but was released when enough evidence couldn't be found to convict him. Now he lives every day with the fear of being re-arrested. Amanda Pharrell served eight years for murder, was released and is now a PI in Crimson Lake, Australia. When a wealthy woman hires Amanda to determine whether the woman's missing husband, author Jake Scully, is dead, Amanda insists that Ted help her with the case. What did happen to the husband? Is Ted really innocent? Was Amanda really guilty?

    One of the best types of openings is one which intrigues the reader, draws one in and insists one follow without having any idea where the path will lead. It is also on which creates such a strong sense of place and character that one is immediately involved in the story. Fox achieves both goals.

    Fox creates excellent visual images—"Moss and vines grew on every surface they could manage. Along the rivers, broken-down houses with yawning doorways squatted in the brush, peering out, not a brick or patch of wood that composed them showing through their cloaks of lush leaves."

    It's the characters which compel one to keep reading. Interesting, unusual, well-constructed characters are a reader's dream. Fox makes that dream come true. Learning of Ted's former profession is a nicely-done twist. The more one gets to know about Amanda, with her set of rules, the more fascinating she becomes. Yet Fox doesn't ignore the secondary characters, especially forensic pathologist Valerie Gratteur. Although there are a lot of different characters, Fox segments them into the story so that one never becomes confused as to who each is.

    While the characters are a strength, Fox doesn't ignore the plot. Periodic inclusions of anonymous letters which had been sent to the victim are a bit of a cliché and not entirely unreminiscent of the story "Misery," but they do cause one to wonder down what path they will lead, and the more we learn about the victim, the more interesting even he becomes. With the addition of the second thread—questioning whether Amanda really did murder her friend—and the third thread—Amanda not believing that Ted raped the girl--one is given a lot to consider while never losing track of each plot line. Fox does a remarkable job of laying out the primary investigation step-by-step while making us understand the trauma Ted and Amanda suffered from their individual experiences.

    "Crimson Lake" has a very good escalation of suspense which may result in reading very late into the night. Ted and Amanda are a team of whom one wants to see more. This is a wonderful read with a perfect epilogue and ending.

    CRIMSON LAKE (LicInv- Ted Connor (Conkaffey)/Amanda Pharrell– Australia-Contemp) – VG+
    Fox, Candice – 1st in series
    Forge – Mar 2018
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
    This is a well-done mystery. The author creates interesting characters. I liked the cop who was suspected of a heinous crime, and his quirky partner. She was a creative concoction and kept the book interesting. Fun to have a best-selling author as a potential victim and learn about the life of authors.

    This author writes with flair. It didn't feel like a first book for her. I saw she co-writes books with James Patterson. The Australia setting added to the fun mix. I enjoyed this and will recommend it to our mystery book group.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
    Interesting characters, good mystery, well written and crocodiles. What more could a person ask for? This book was hard to put down and I value finding these type of books
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2024
    Read the book after watching Troppo, the show, which was good. This book was good, but the writer ended it abruptly, unfortunately. So, average read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2020
    Crimson Lake by Candice Fox is an incredibly fast-paced and riveting mystery which is set in a small town in Queensland, Australia.
    Former narcotics detective Ted Conkaffey leaves Sydney under a cloud of suspicion and heads for the small town of Crimson Lake near Cairns. Having lost everything after being accused of a heinous crime, prosecutors dropped his case mid-trial and he can be re-arrested at a later date. Lying low and wallowing in self-pity, his lawyer puts in him touch with convicted murderer turned private detective Amanda Pharrell. Despite his reservations, Ted teams up with Amanda to investigate the disappearance and suspected murder of local author Jake Scully.
    Ted was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it is shocking how quickly his colleagues and wife believed he was guilty of a monstrous act of violence. Struggling to regain his footing following his release from prison, Ted wants nothing more than fade into the background. But with local patrol cops Lou Damforth and Steven Hench and reporter Fabiana Grisham plaguing him, Ted fears it is only a matter of time before his past is exposed.
    Lacking purpose and a sense of self, Ted reluctantly decides to meet with Amanda. She is a bit eccentric with some rather quirky traits but there is no denying she definitely has a knack for unearthing credible leads to follow. Amanda’s past is well-known in the community, yet they seem willing and able to overlook her history. Although Amanda and Ted mostly focus on locating Jake, he cannot resist digging around in his new partner’s past.
    Their investigation into Jake’s disappearance soon turns up vital evidence that changes the direction of their inquiry. Amanda has discovered interesting information about Jake that is intriguing but does it have anything to with current events? Ted is a bit troubled by some of Amanda’s tactics but since she yields results, he keeps his concerns to himself. However, their investigation is soon overshadowed by intense media scrutiny after Ted becomes the leading news story.
    Crimson Lake is a complex, layered mystery with interesting characters, a compelling storyline and a vibrant setting. Amanda is a fantastic character who is flawed yet sympathetic. Ted is rightfully angry and resentful that no one believes in his innocence. Candice Fox brings this multifaceted mystery to an absolutely stunning and twist-filled conclusion. Very much looking forward to the next installment in the Crimson Lake series.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • GeordieCol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love Candice Fox Books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2024
    This book was superb and was up there along with her other standalone books and her collaboration with James Patterson. I'll be reading all her future books.
  • Carolyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars to 5 stars I was enthralled by this wonderfully descriptive, atmospheric story
    Reviewed in Canada on March 24, 2018
    4.5 stars to 5 stars
    I was enthralled by this wonderfully descriptive, atmospheric story. The characters were complex and fascinating. In fact, the only time I paused reading was to make an internet search for its sequel, Redemption Point. Apparently it is not yet released in Canada, but is available elsewhere.

    The setting was so well done: the rainforests, mangrove swamps, steamy heat, bushland and crocodile infested lakes.

    Ted Conkaffey was a respected police detective in Sydney with a wife and baby. He was accused of the abduction and rape of a young girl and spent some months in prison. Having been released due to insufficient evidence, he fears being re-arrested anytime. His family and fellow police officers turned against him. He cannot escape from the hatred and hostile stares of those who label him a pedophile.

    Ted relocated to Crimson Lake near Cairns, hoping to start life anew where he won’t be recognized. He is depressed and living alone. Rescuing a wounded goose and her goslings helps to elevate his spirits.

    He meets and joins forces with an eccentric female private investigator, Amanda Pharrell. She is a petit, tough, heavily tattooed, trash talking, limerick spouting woman. A world famous author, Jake Scully, has disappeared and may have been killed by a crocodile. His wife wants an investigation as his insurance will not be paid if he committed suicide and until the local police have closed the case. She believes the police are not doing enough.

    Amanda also has a troubled past. She spent 10 years in prison for the murder of a schoolmate. Neither of the two partners trust each other, and neither will discuss their pasts, but both are secretly trying to learn more about their partner’s criminal charges.

    Life in his new home is difficult. The townspeople despise Ted once his past history is discovered. He becomes the target of two brutal and corrupt policemen and a mob of vigilantes are targeting his house.

    This is an absorbing story and I can’t wait until the sequel is available as I want to follow the lives and careers of these two unique private investigators.
  • Inga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent crime novel
    Reviewed in Germany on August 21, 2017
    I really enjoyed reading this book- great characters and story. Also loved the setting - I usually read Norwegian, Danish, South African and British crime novels, this was a nice change. Hope there will be another one with the same protagonists.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Anti heroes done good
    Reviewed in Australia on July 24, 2021
    The two protagonists, Amanda and Ted are not your usual heroes. They are not great at fighting, they can be fearful and don't always say the right things. They carry weighty psychological scars yet you somehow still follow their stories and get invested in their outcomes. A good read and a good break from the usual action fare.
  • Linda
    4.0 out of 5 stars Crimson Lake
    Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2021
    This was a strange one, although enjoyable. There were many twists and turns. I liked the fact that there was more than one mystery going on.