Roxanne Bouchard – The Coral Bride

‘The Coral Bride’ by Roxanne Bouchard is the second book in the Detective Joaquin Moralès series. This is a beautifully crafted book by any means and although it is about murder, the descriptive writing sent me on a journey that I never expected.

The book is set in Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula and Detective Moralès is investigating the disappearance of Angel Roberts. Angel is a fisherwoman in a predominantly male world, and some are not happy with this invasion. Her boat is found but she is nowhere to be seen. Angel is discovered and Moralès investigation suddenly becomes more important, he is sure someone somewhere is stopping the truth from coming out.

Moralès, is an immigrant from Mexico and he has his intrigues too. His son Sebastian, has found his way back to his father, needing his help. Although the father-son relationship is a bit fraught with tension, in the beginning, it can be clearly seen that Moralès wants to be there for his son and is torn with the investigation of Angel Roberts needing him also. I enjoyed the scenes with Sebastian and his dad, particularly one when Sebastian has shown up and Moralès has made himself food. Sebastian automatically presumes the food is for him and his dad just lets him have it. This is a classic example of a parents behaviour, it touched me how Moralès just let him eat it, without correcting him.

I really thought the ending was everything it should be as Moralès starts to work everything out. Roxanne Bouchard definitely knows how to write an excellent book with enough of an ending to leave the reader satisfied. I was immersed in Moralès world right to the end.

The world could have probably ended and I would not have cared until I finished my book! Highly recommended read for sure!

Massive thanks to Orenda Books and Roxanne Bouchard for my copy of the book to write my review today.