Hindsight

Cass Lehman and Detective Ed Dyson #1

by Melanie Casey

Cass Lehman has a terrifying 'gift'...The youngest in a family of extraordinary women with supernatural talents, Cass is cursed with the not-so-sexy gift of seeing the past...but not just any past; she sees death. For years she's hidden herself away in her family home. Now, desperate for a better life, she ventures into sleepy Jewel Bay, only to stumble upon murder and mayhem and a killer at large who's long been lurking in their midst. Taking a chance, Cass volunteers to assist Detective Ed Dyson with the investigation. Will Cass be able to save the latest victim - and herself?

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Supernatural

358 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Melanie Casey was born and lives in South Australia with her two young children and her husband (who didn’t know he was marrying a writer when he walked down the aisle).

After studying English Literature and Classical Studies, Melanie shifted in to Law, and now works in government.

A chance meeting with a highschool English teacher in the supermarket made Melanie realize that she should be doing what she’d always loved, writing! Another period of study, this time at the Professional Writing School of Adelaide’s College of the Arts ensued, helping Melanie acquire the skills she needed to put her plan into action.

Hindsight is her debut novel, and is the first in a series of crime novels featuring Cass Lehman and Detective Ed Dyson.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Ed Dyson’s wife Susan had vanished two years ago – she had never been found and Ed wasn’t coping with not knowing what had happened to her. His forays into the bottle were becoming more frequent and he knew he should stop, but couldn’t work out how. It was the anonymous call to alert police to a murder in an alley way which gave him purpose once again.

When Natalia, Superintendent at the Fairfield Station, called the Lehman household and asked for Cass’ help, it was to be the beginning of a series of horrific events that terrified Cass. She had a gift, but the nature of it was terrifying. Since she was eight years old, Cass had been able to see violent death. For the past decade she’d been a recluse, living with her Gran and Mum, too scared to venture outside in case she experienced the death of someone who’d been killed in a traumatic fashion.

Ed was sceptical – and he wasn’t the only one. But they needed all the help they could get as they were running out of time, sure the killer would strike again soon. What would happen? Would Cass be able to identify the killer? Or was he too smart for them all? And was Cass putting herself in grave danger?

Hindsight by Aussie author Melanie Casey is the first in the Cass Lehman & Detective Ed Dyson series, and I was completely enthralled. Set in and around Adelaide in South Australia, it was intense, gritty and fast-paced, and I sped through the pages with my heart racing, wondering what would happen next. Thoroughly entertaining, Hindsight is a thriller I highly recommend. I’ll be picking up book 2 soon!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hindsight starts pretty well, with the abduction of a young woman from an alley gone awry leading to her death, witnessed by a homeless man. We are introduced to psychic Cass Lehman, in her late twenties, living in a house near a cliff south of Adelaide, South Australia, which she shares with her mother, who does psychic readings and grandmother who is an herbalist. The family are either accepted or rejected by the local community, with little in between. Cass’s specialty is visions of death, which hardy endears her, and she spends her life as a semi-recluse, with occasional trips to the library.

We switch to Detective Ed Dyson, a semi-wreck of a man whose pregnant wife disappeared a couple of years back, holding it together with help from his hard-hitting female partner, Phil. Dyson has been secretly compiling reports and images of women reported missing in the area over the past 10 years. When the homeless man turns up dead, the DCI puts Dyson and Cass together in an uncomfortable alliance, with the cynical Phil. It is Cass who comes up with a breakthrough, matching four missing victims by their eye colour, including Dyson’s wife.

Dyson asks Cass to use her “gift” on the site where the homeless man was killed and that of a dead Uni student, aware that the killer could strike again. In her vision of the student’s death, Cass uncovers a vital clue, only for the investigation to be hampered by a pair of knuckle-dragging detectives from Adelaide and the slimy Senior Constable Samuels from the local police station, setting off on false trails. The planning of the abductions, and their purpose is slowly revealed by the killer and reaches a climax when Cass is fooled into helping him in the belief he is a detective.

This had all the hallmarks of a very good thriller, but for me it was let down by the limp ending (I wanted to see Samuels barbecued) and the ‘frail female’ main character. Perhaps I read too many kick-ass female characters, but from what I have seen of women’s handbags there is a veritable arsenal of items that can be used in self-defence. A handbag itself is a mighty cosh in the hands of an angry and determined woman. So, a pretty good read but disappointing end.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting read!

My View:
What an excellent debut! I must admit that I am a big fan of the paranormal/crime fiction/mystery mash up- when it is done right – and this is done very nicely thank you. There was no need to suspend belief – this just felt like it could be.

This book had an exciting story line, endearing characters (aside from the serial killer), a rapid pace and an enticing ending that you don’t need to be psychic to predict what may be in store in the follow up books in this series.

This read is pure entertainment and enjoyment; intense, fast paced, satisfying. What more could you want in a book? I can’t wait to read the next offerings from this author. **Hint Hint Pantera Press :)

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cass Lehman has a blessing... or a curse. If she stands where someone has died, she experiences the death as though it is happening to her. Her mother can foretell the future. And her grandmother can heal.

Cass has been more or less house bound for quite a while. Whenever she leaves her house, she has to plot a course to get to wherever she is going so as not to walk or drive across an area where someone has died a violent death.

Detective Dyson is investigating some women who have gone missing. It takes Cass to see what all the victims have in common, including Dyson's pregnant wife, who disappeared 2 years earlier.

Now that the secret is out that the police are using a psychic, Cass is afraid the killer will be after her next ... and she's right.

This is an entertaining read with a very good story premise. I really enjoyed the interaction of Cass and her family.... especially when mama wants to 'read' Cass. Dyson is a flawed character. Still missing his pregnant wife and not knowing what happened to her, has turned him into a heavy drinker. He still functions well when suffering a hangover, but his boss and his partner are watching him closely. He can be surly at times, but at the core he's a very caring man.

The mystery and suspense start from the first page and endures to the last. This is the first book in a series and it looks to be a good one.

Many thanks to the author / Pantera Press / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cassandra lives with her grandmother and mother, three generations of women all having special gifts of "seeing". Cass, however has the ability to experience the actual trauma inflicted on another person. This has virtually made her a prisoner in her own home, fearful of treading the same ground of a dead person. After the death of a young woman in her town Cass feels compelled to offer assistance to the Police. Detectives Dyson and Steiner are ordered to accept any assistance from Cass by their Supervisor who has her own reasons for considering these three women in a positive manner. Ed Dyson is having a hard time coming to terms with the disappearance of his wife, the missing persons file still open. The first encounter with Cass is not all that successful as she is unable to give any information about the attacker. Cass attempts to rectify a misunderstanding by going to Ed's home where left alone in a room with a whiteboard of photos she makes a link to all the women. Slowly it's realised that a serial killer is at work, same time every year. Events unfold with more murders until finally a further link is made with the author revealing the bizarre and horrifying events.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading the second book in this series first and I was sure that was going to mean I didn't enjoy this book as much as I should. I was totally off based. This book was a great entry into this series. The writing is crisp and the action is quite tense at times.
The two main characters of Cas and Ed are compelling to read they each have a back story that is impacting on the here and now in so many different ways.

Cas's gift is unique and it is not something that I have ever read before. This is a unique series and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight is book one of new series by Melanie Casey called Cass Lehman and Detective Ed Dyson. One day Cass Lehman decided instead of isolating herself from her community due to her psychic ability chose to use it to help law enforcement solve cases. Cass Lehman contacted family friend DCI Sorenson who asked her to come to Fairfield Police Station. Detective Ed Dyson was having problems coping with life after his wife went missing was signed to look after Cass Lehman. The first meeting between Ed and Cass did not go off the way Cass thought it would go. The Readers of Hindsight will follow Detective Ed Dyson and Cass Lehman to see what happens to the investigation and their relationship.

Hindsight was the first book that Melanie Casey wrote and the first book I have read of Melanie Casey, and I enjoyed it. I loved Melanie Casey portrayal of her characters. I like Melanie Casey writing style it ensures that her readers engaged with the plot and her characters from the beginning of Hindsight.

The readers of Hindsight will learn about psychic ability called retrocognition and the consequences for the psychic and the people around them. Also, the readers will learn about the role psychic have in helping law enforcement. Hindsight also highlights the problems that people have when loved ones go missing.

I recommend this book.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cass Lehman is a psychic, her 'specialty' being able to tell where and how people have died. To her, this is a curse, and she's almost housebound because of it. She lives with her mother and grandmother, who also have talents of a different kind.

Cass has accidentally walked over a hot spot ... a place where someone was killed. She heard the killer, but who's going to believe her?

Deciding to do the right thing, Cass reports her vision to the lead investigator, Ed Dyson. Ed's wife is one of several women who have gone missing over the past several years. And he certainly does not believe in the "intangible, airy-fairy world of sixth sense mumbo jumbo".

But it's Cass who makes the initial connection between all the women, including Ed's wife. So who is taking these women and what is he doing with them?

This book is not a cozy, nor would I consider it romantic suspense although Cass likes the look of Ed. The mystery is solid, well-written. The bad guy is a real humdinger. Cass is finally learning to live with her 'gift' and her mom and grandma make terrific secondary characters, as does Ed's partner, Phil.

This is the 1st of a series. And now I'm on my way to reading CLAVEN, the 2nd book. I found it entertaining, light reading.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Cassandra Lehman walks over the spot of a violent death she experiences it as if its happening to her. That's her 'gift'. Her mother has esp and her grandmother can heal. Cass decides to help the police solve some serial murders by using her gift.
Cass and Ed as main characters were solid. I liked them both and really liked the Lehman women. The murders were predictable and somewhat boring. I knew what was gonna happen before it happened and that left thse story flat.
I received a copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Rosaline (Rosaline's Rolls & Scrolls)]

DNF @ 20%

Yes 20% and already I have a lot to say.

Usually I can get through a lot of shitty stuff and finish a book, but bad writing just gets me. I cannot read a book when I cannot stand its writing.



Rant coming in:

 

First of all the writing of this book is terrible! I'm not sure if the 4-5 star readers and I read the same book, because honestly, how can this writing be tolerated? Everything is told and nothing is shown. And everything, I mean everything, has to be repeated at least twice. Allow me to explain.

There's one instance where the detectives ask for camera footage of the crime scene and the narrator explains that it's probably unlikely for the business owner to own cameras because of how the town is small and such. Ok great, we have established that in such a small town people do not install cameras outside their places. Now, please tell me why a few chapters later this exact thing repeated by a character in the book? We already know it was unlikely, no need to explain in detail why there was no came ra footage yet again.

Another example of this is how we, as readers, have learned about some details of the murder, who the victim was, and what evidence have been discovered so far. Then not even a chapter later one of the characters explains all this in some never ending quotation marks as if we haven't been reading about it for the past half an hour. What the author could've done instead was to just say that the character filled the detective on what was happening. But nooooo, we gotta read about every detail all over again. Unacceptable! This keeps happening, and it has only been 20%, I don't know how much angrier I would've gotten had I read more of this shitty excuse of a mystery crime writing.

 

Another thing that annoyed me about this book was how juvenile the dialogue was! I felt like there was a rapid fire of quotation marks of people throwing information around that we obviously already know about because of the author's need to repeat everything a thousand times due to her lack of trust in our intelligence probably! Either way, I really could've done without that awful dialogue that added nothing to the story, and in no way helped me like or understand the characters and their personality.

 

Which then brings us to the characters. I did not stick around to learn much about them, and I do feel like it'd be unfair of me to complain about them at all. All I can say is that in my window of "make me interested in these people and their lives otherwise I'm gonna start cutting stars" I did not feel anything. Because honestly, the author was too concerned with her dialogue and repeating dumb facts that she did not have time to sell me her characters fast enough. And I was bored. Had I liked even one thing about any of these people I would have stuck around to find out what happens next.

 

Another thing that I'd like to point out is how convenient everything was so magically. Things somehow happened out of absolutely nowhere with no real explanation or reason other than to move the book along.
At one point the MC decides to use her gift to help the police find the killer. Obviously her gift is a bit hard to explain and how would she go about convincing hard ass detectives that she can be useful? Suddenly the chief or whatever comes out with an order for the detectives to work with this girl because she's the daughter of one of her close friends. Okay, you might think yeah, this could be a thing, why are you nitpicking?
Well, problem here is that this comes out of NOWHERE. There's no mention of this prior to the order. Neither the MC nor her mother ever talk about this. It's like it got dumped on us from the sky as a way to save the author from further work.
Another time the bad guy suddenly pulls a police badge out of his pocket to convince a dude to go with him. Again, out of nowhere. Maybe later on we'll learn something about how this guy has a police badge, it may actually be relevant to the plot. But the writing and the way the author goes about doing this does not help with anything. And for me at this point it is just ridiculous.

 

Overall, this was a huge disappointment. I was looking for some bloody horror crime book that would make me guess and think and be intrigued. What I didn't want was something that I would roll my eyes at and had to skip-read to be able to get through.
I do not recommend this to anyone who likes books!

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie Casey's debut novel, Hindsight, has been on my wishlist since its release. It is the first book in a series to feature Cass Lehman, a woman with the psychic gift of retrocognition, and South Australian police detective, Ed Dyson.

For almost a decade, Cass Lehman has lived more or less like a recluse in the home she shares with her mother and grandmother. Travel is difficult when her gift of retrocognition means that when she passes over a place where someone has died in a violent or traumatic manner, Cass experiences their final horrifying moments. Now twenty eight and tired of her self imposed exile, Cass decides it is time to confront her demons and takes a huge risk by offering her services to the local police department after a woman is found murdered in an alleyway. The lead detective on the case, Ed Dyson, is scornful until Cass makes the connection between a handful of missing person cases and murders that has eluded Dyson for years, and the pair find themselves on the trail of a serial killer.

Cass's ability is intriguing, and can be viewed as both a gift and a curse. She pays a high price for her 'gift', since she not only sees and hears what the victims experienced but also feels the physical pain and emotional trauma they suffered. I really like that Cass's talent isn't always useful, since Cass can only see what the victim saw in their last moments when the killer strikes from behind, for example, she isn't able to offer much to a investigation.

The initial partnership between Cass and Ed is not an easy one. Ed is still struggling with the unsolved disappearance of his pregnant wife two years previously and doesn't have the patience to humour Cass given his skepticism. Cass resents Ed's easy dismissal of her, both because she believes she can help and because she is attracted to the detective.

Casey alternates between the first person perspective of Cass and third person perspectives from Ed, and the killer the pair are hunting. It's an unusual narrative split but works well and I barely noticed the transitions. The plot is well crafted, and crucially Casey doesn't allow the paranormal element to overwhelm the structure of a good crime novel. The pacing of the story is good with a tense, and somewhat gruesome, climatic ending that threatens the lives of both the protagonists.

Combining crime fiction with an interesting paranormal element and a touch of romance, I really enjoyed reading Hindsight. I'd particularly recommend it those who find the genre mix appealing and who might have liked Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly series. I'm looking forward to following Hindsight up with Casey's second book, Craven.

[Helen McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have read a lot of crime fiction, I have never read a title in that genre that also included a paranormal element. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Melanie Casey's debut novel Hindsight, but it didn't take me long to realise it was a captivating story that kept me involved from start to finish.

Cass Lehman's terrifying gift which allows her to temporarily experience other people's deaths (if she is in the exact vicinity it happened) has kept her locked away at her family home for much of her adult life. Living in a small town she can negotiate her way to various safe areas but does not dare venture too far afield. Yet at the age of 28 she realises she wants to experience more of the world, no matter what the consequences.

Just as Cass is opening herself up to new possibilities a murder occurs in the local area and Cass takes a major leap by offering to help the lead detective Ed Dyson with the case. Naturally she is not well received to begin with, but when Ed views first hand just what Cass's gift will allow her to do, he comes around (much to the disgust of his partner Phil). It is not an easy association (as Ed himself has some major baggage), but it is one that gets results and soon even the sceptics must admit Cass's skills are valuable.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story - Cass is vulnerable and frustrating at times but ultimately very likeable. Her mother and grandmother are also warm, endearing characters. I also enjoyed the small town setting in an area (South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula) that is far from the usual big city crime hot spots.

While there was plenty of suspense and tension within the plot and the storytelling, I also really enjoyed Cass's journey of struggling with her gift and also the gradual softening of Ed's character.

Overall I thought this was an engaging and captivating book that gives a whole new spin on the crime/detective genre. I look forward to Melanie's next book.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cass Lehman is a young South Australian woman in her twenties living at home with her mother and Grandmother, and completely isolated from outside life. The reason? Cass comes from a line of gifted women: her Grandmother is a hands-on healer, her mother can see glimpses of the future and Cass experiences the death of a person when she occupies the spot where they died. In other words, she has retrocognition.

This paranormal gift is a curse for Cass and as a result she spends most of her time living and working from home. Cass and her family have charted all of the 'death spots' to avoid in her small home town, but she is growing increasingly frustrated with the limitations of her lifestyle.

When a woman in the town is murdered, Cass decides to offer local Police her help and is introduced to Ed Dyson. I'll say no more about what happens next except to say that it's the beginning of a thriller ride.

I just knew I'd love the novel as soon as I read the blurb and thankfully Hindsight lived up to my every expectation. I was instantly swallowed up by the story and immediately drawn in to Cass's world. Published by Pantera Press, this is an outstanding debut from Australian author Melanie Casey and it's exciting to see her burst onto our bookshelves in style.

Hindsight is the first in a series featuring Cass and Ed, with the sequel called Craven due out in June this year. I know it's only a few months away, but it's still not quick enough for this reader. Highly recommended!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

When an intensely private woman turns up dead in a back alley of the small Fleurieu Peninsula town of Jewel Bay, Detective Ed Dyson is on the case. His boss asks him to work with a local psychic - Cass Lehman - to try to get a jump on the case, and Ed is less than thrilled. Cass's particular psychic talent is that when she is in the exact location that a sudden or violent death has occurred, she experiences the event herself; she can see, hear and feel exactly what the victim went through.

This is Melanie Casey's debut novel and it moves along at a really good pace. The procedural and forensic elements of the story were deftly handled, and the paranormal bits were not too way-out-there. It was not quite a page-turner, but there was enough happening for me to want to keep reading. Right up until the end I was thinking that it was almost cosy-thriller, if there is such a thing, but the ending actually got a bit more gritty than I expected. Kudos to Casey for that.

Hindsight is the first book in a series (featuring Lehman and Dyson), so I will look forward to catching up on the later instalments pretty soon.

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many books out there that mix psychic powers with police investigations, but this novel stands out because of its originality and pace.

I thought the protagonist, Cass, was an excellently written character. Caught between the side effects of her unique abilities and wanting to use them to help solve a murder investigation, she goes through mental battles in her head and conflicts with those who think she's a fake and acting.

The pace of the story is maintained throughout and the book kept my interest. A really good and original supernatural thriller

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty much what I expected it to be. Like Beverly Barton but with less sauce.
I like the main characters though so I'll probably read another.

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good series can be my weakness. It doesn’t matter what genre it is half the time. I have this thing where I just love reconnecting with the same characters and being able to go back to them time and time again. Perhaps it’s a comfort thing? Although when the genre is crime and your heart is in your mouth, there’s probably not so much comfort in it!

This is the first novel in a series pairing a psychic and a cop together – probably not exactly a new combo, it’s an opposites attract sort of pairing that works well. Cass Lehman comes from a family with a long line of the females possessing different sorts of supernatural gifts. Cass has a gift that’s well, pretty gruesome. It’s a form of retrocognition where if she enters/encounters a place someone died violently, she experiences it as it happened to the victim. It makes going out hard because you’re never sure when you’re going to stumble on a place where someone died and it’s not something she has any control over. She can’t decide whether or not to open her mind and experience it, it will slam into her without warning. She’s lived her life almost as a recluse, rarely venturing into town and mapping ‘safe’ places, where no one has met a grisly end. Ed Dyson is a detective investigating a murder in a tiny town in South Australia when Cass volunteers her help. Ed is a bit of a mess, his wife Susan disappeared whilst pregnant several years ago and no trace of her has ever been found. Immediately upon meeting Cass and her family, Ed is confronted with more information about what has happened to Susan and it makes him angry and hostile, lashing out at Cass.

I’m a skeptic and I’ll freely admit it. I don’t really believe in psychic abilities….perhaps because I think there are too many fraudsters out there who may have masked those with any possible genuine ability. However I’m happy to read about it when it lends an interesting facet to a story and I think Cass’ particular…..gift? (saying that sounds a bit wrong when the poor girl has to experience violent deaths as if it were happening to her) adds quite an element of horror to the story as well as a unique way in which the detectives can acquire information. Cass and Ed don’t have an easy start to their working relationship, complicated by Ed’s unresolved issues and grief over the disappearance of his wife as well as his need to deal with Cass and her family’s abilities before they can settle forward. Cass is aware quite early on that she has some feelings for him that do stretch beyond the professional but she’s very inexperienced and would probably be content to never do anything about them.

The serial killer was suitably creepy and we got a little glimpse inside his mind throughout the story. I liked the way the narrative switched between Cass, Ed and the killer as I like getting more than one perspective in a crime novel. Cass provides the colour and a lot of internal thoughts, Ed is the police legwork and the pain of his wife’s disappearance and the killer is well, disturbing. The switches felt seamless though and helped tell the story in a more complete way so I think it definitely worked. The pacing was good and the ending was done pretty well. I found it refreshing that in a way, Cass was able to save herself inadvertently.

I really enjoyed this and I definitely want to see how things progress with Cass and Ed, especially now as he’s not really in limbo anymore. Hopefully I can get my hands on the next book soon.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book written by a newly published Australian author and all I have to again say is......

Completely Fantastic!!!!

Bring on the next one!!

I wouldn't have grabbed this one of the shelf but my boss came to me and said "I just read this one and thought of you." I'm like okay I'll give it a shot.... She couldn't have been more right!

Apart for the words gaol and colour (for all those who have read this one will know why this word is important) being spelt correctly, this book us a page turner and you just get more caught up in "what next" and "no don't do it! Get some more information!" as you go along!

The only thing I hate is that this is Melanie Casey's first book and now I have to wait for the next one!

[Jack Fricker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everybody else seemed to like this but I hated it. It was so predictable and twee. It was what I would call a cookie-cutter book. As though the author was given a set of instructions on novel writing and followed them to the letter.
There were some just plain stupid things too - as in, the main character often goes into a type of trance, but is still allowed to drive?
It felt like a waste of time and I only finished it because it was written by an Australian author and I thought I should give it a go to the end.
Honestly, my 13 year old daughter could have written a more imaginative book than this.

jackslookingat.com

[Keriann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via Netgally.

When I see a book of available for read now on Netgally I always think it’s going to be a bit naff but this wasn’t to bad at all. This is a police procedural with a supernatural element and is very much like the tv shoe Medium where we have a woman with a supernatural ability helping the police to uncover a killer. We meet Ed who is the leading police officer is the murder of a woman found in a dumpster, as Ed and his partner dig deeper it becomes clear that this murder may be one of many related to disappearance of a few woman over a few years, including his own wife and unborn child...when the police draw a blank the help of a physic is called in that’s when we meet Cass, a woman with supernatural abilities, Cass can witness someone’s death (in past tense) if she is the exact spot where it happened. Together Cass and Ed have to solve these crimes before the clock runs out.

I did enjoy this book but I had a few gripes, I think this book would definitely have been a four star if there was a little more plot and character development, the book was quite short and lacking in these things and it made the writing almost simplex. I didn’t like the ending that much I felt it was a rip of of a movie I won’t mention here because of spoilers but it was almost exactly the same.

Issues aside I think this author and series has a lot of potential and I will definitely read the next book in the series.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book. Cass can see and feel what a murder victim sees and feels during their final moments whenever she comes upon the spot where the murder had occurred. Cass does not see this as a gift and has made herself housebound rather than deal with with these seizures that can be very dangerous for her. When Cass stumbles across information about a probable serial killer she feels compelled to help the police and this is when she meets Detective Ed Dyson. I really liked Cass and her family and hoped that she and Ed would wind up together at the end. I look forward to reading the next book in this very engaging series.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was a wee gem I didn't see coming. A great fluffy psychic suspense. It was soo easy to read and before I knew it it was finished.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I just adored this from start to finish! I actually bought this ages ago and put it on a shelf, forgetting I'd even bought it. I spotted it the other day and checked here on Goodreads because I couldn't remember reading it, and the plot sounded unfamiliar. I kind of regret that this slipped through, because it was brilliant.

Basic premise; a young woman has spent years inside her family home, because if she leaves her house and happens across an area where someone died violently whether an accident or murder, she sees the death occur, and even feels it herself. Understandably, this makes her rather leery of unknown areas, until she decides to use her curse or talent to help the police solves crimes. Here she falls in with Ed Dyson, and finally makes a friend (Something more?)

A really excellent story, despite the fact that it was seriously a creepy murderer. I adored the Cass/Ed interactions, and can only imagine they will grow as the books progress. Can't wait to read the others!

[Gokce G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the premise of this book was very interesting. Book duos that deal with crime usually consist of detectives but this one brought together a psychic and a detective. I know it reminds people of tv shows like The Mentalist, or even Castle, but this one was different. For one, the psychic in question was not the know-it-all male character who, no matter what the procedure is, got what he wanted in the end. Not to mention they’re always right. I liked those shows but sometimes the smartass attitude got on my nerves. Here though, Cass was nervous and wary. Probably this was due to her psychic ability which was to experience the death of someone when she came across the exact spot they were killed. And the deaths have to be murders so you can imagine the kind of torture it is to live in a world full of violence. Her gift-or curse depending on from where you looked at it- makes her feel exactly what the victim did in those last minutes of their lives, so any innocent outing can be dangerous and traumatic. And so Cass has become a recluse for many years.

The detective in question, Ed Dyson, is a man who’s struggling with his own demons. Not as bad as experiencing death, sure, but his wife has gone missing and for years he’s been living in limbo, that destructive and painful path where you just don’t know what happened to a loved one. Together they made a not so cheerful crime solving duo you see. But that was actually the good part because no matter the different traumas they were still living through, they were trying to hold on. And the difficult situations that come from having to speak to someone with their problems were not so difficult for these two. I’d like to think they had a sort of understanding that came from terrible experiences.

While the characters were so interesting and challenging, and the plot quite intriguing, I think the book felt only slightly rushed. Circumstances brought them together, personal details were shared, a reluctant balance was achieved but all felt like they could’ve taken more time to do so. I realize this was a debut novel, and it was pretty good for a debut, but perhaps if more world building was done with the current case, it would’ve been better. This is going to be a series so there’s enough time to delve into Cass and Ed’s relationship in the coming books, so more could be detailed in this one. Especially considering too many psychological issues were present for both characters.

I’m hoping the second book and onwards will not have these issues, and more interesting criminal cases await because let me tell you, this book was satisfying in its crime aspect.

[Sarah Rife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with this book! I was not expecting much when i seen it was published in 2013 and it was a "read now" (on netgalley) with no reviews! But i actually REALLY liked it. It was exciting it kept you hooked and was a pretty fast paced read for me. I'm not sure if this was a rough draft of this book or the final copy or whatever but someofthewordsrantogetherlikethis, So i can see why some people would have became annoyed quickly, but i don't let things like that bother me. I liked the characters, I loved Cass and her family, I REALLY liked Ed, the others at the police station were tolerable. I didn't quite fall in love with Phil but i don't think anyone would have from this book, maybe she gets more appealing later? I found it a little difficult to keep thinking of her as a woman, I mean the name Phil alone threw me off but then she had a girlfriend or "partner" named Grace, Something wanted me to think she was a guy most of the book but other then that i had no problems with this book at all. I found myself intrigued with the killer, he seemed to be a little smarter than the average and a quick thinker. Oddly enough the "wife" thing only made him more interesting.. weird I know.. now that i think about it, was she his wife or just someone he was completely obsessed with ? Anyway! I will be looking out for the other books in this series, I can't believe i hadn't heard of this book before netgalley, It is really good!! Surprising someone on the many book pages i am on hasn't brought it up in discussion yet!! Maybe i will have to and let everyone know how good it was!

[Mary Picken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is crime with a paranormal bent, Australian style. Cass Lehman has a special gift; one she might well wish she had never experienced. 30 years old, she lives with her mother Anita and her grandmother and yes, you guessed it, a rather lazy and somewhat overweight black cat.
Cass’s mother can see the future. Her grandmother can help heal the injured, but Cass’s gift is altogether more painful. She has retro-cognition, which means that she can see, smell, hear and literally experience a violent death if she is in the spot where that death occurred.. As you might imagine, this means that she doesn’t get out much and thus her romantic life is a tad on the not happening side and driving anywhere is pretty much dicing with death.
When Janet Hodgson’s body is found in a crate after an anonymous tip off to the police, Ed Dyson and his partner Phil Steiner investigate. Leads are few are far between. This is a small town and it’s not long before everyone is gossiping about the death and who the police are looking for – a homeless man named Mick whom they believe was responsible for the tip off and may have seen something which could help them.
Learning that the victim was in the witness protection programme means that soon the state police are called in, but there is a clash between the two sets of cops who have trouble working together.
Then Mick is also found brutally murdered and when Cass volunteers to help she is met at first with hostility and suspicion.
What Cass does not know is that Ed’s wife hand their unborn child went missing some years ago. When she is by chance waiting for him in his house, she sees some photographs of missing persons on a whiteboard. These are cases that Ed has been investigating in his own time, hoping to get a lead on what may have happened to his wife, Susan. He’s been completely stymied – failing to spot anything they may have in common.
Cass however is quick to spot one common factor between a number of them and this leads a more substantial pattern being identified.
When, however, Cass’s involvement with the police is unwittingly revealed and splashed across the local papers, she is put in serious jeopardy and it will be a race to save her from the clutches of a psychopathic serial killer.
Now, I have a slight weakness for the occasional light and easy read, and to be fair, I did quite enjoy this one. It’s pretty predictable and doesn’t take long to get through, but if you like your crime with a touch of romance and a dash of paranormal, then this one will be for you.

[kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay, so i just finished hindsight by melanie casey, and i really enjoyed it. if you like crime, mystery, and a little bit of romance, this book is totally for you.

the story is about cass lehman, who has this strange power. whenever she stands in a place where someone died suddenly, she can see what happened, like she’s reliving their final moments. it’s pretty terrifying, so she’s spent most of her life staying home, trying to avoid these visions.

but cass decides she’s done hiding. she offers to help the police with her ability, and that’s when she meets detective ed dyson. at first, he doesn’t believe her, but when she helps him solve some old cases, he starts trusting her. they team up to find a serial killer, and things get super intense.

cass is a really brave character, even though her power is pretty scary. she just wants to live a normal life, and it’s easy to connect with her. ed is serious and kind of brooding, and even though this isn’t really a love story, you can still feel the connection between them. the mystery is the best part. there are so many twists, and just when you think you know what’s going on, something shocking happens.

the writing is easy to follow, and the whole story has this dark, thrilling vibe that kept me hooked. if you’re into crime books with strong female characters and a little bit of the supernatural, hindsight is definitely worth reading. i couldn’t put it down and i’m excited to see what happens next

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars that left me a bit torn on rounding up or down.

This is a solid debut, with an interesting premise. Cas Lehman is psychic; it runs in the female side of the family line. Living in a small Australian town, she's learned to map out the areas she can safely go - her gift is to experience deaths in the spot they happened - but it hasn't left her much of a chance to grow and develop her own life. When their small town is visited by a murder she sees an opportunity to help, and to change her circumstances.

The writing is serviceable, but suffers from some common debut issues; there's a lot of telling over showing, like the author isn't super confident that you'll get their intended meaning. The tone can be a bit variable, too, with a lot of the book consistent with most cosy mysteries, but moments that absolutely aren't, and their more gory nature did jar a bit.

But - there's also a lot of good here, which is why I eventually rounded up. Cas' abilities are a new one for me, and originality is always a plus. The characters are pretty well-drawn and appealing, and the family life Cas shares with her mother and grandmother was warm and inviting.

It's definitely a starter to a series I'll be interested to continue.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight by Melanie Casey
The Cass Lehman Series Book 1
Publisher: Pantera Press

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pantera Press for the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cass Lehman is a young woman who lives with her mother and grandmother in a small town; Jewel Bay, Australia.
The women in Cass's family are what people would call 'gifted'. Her mother can touch someone and see glimpses of the future. Her grandmother is a hands on healer. And Cass got her gift at the early age of 8 years old; she experiences the death of a person when she occupies the space where they died, and also feels what they felt as well. Also called retrocognition.
Cass considers her "gift" more of a curse as she spends most of her time living and working from home.
A woman, Janet Hodgens was found in a box on Stuart Lane, and Detective Dyson and partner, Phil are on the case.
Cass decides she wanted to help the police solve the case.
This book had me hooked from the beggining, it was well written. I had a hard time putting it down. I give it 5 stars and would highly recommend it. I cant wait to read the next book in the series and see how Ed and Cass's relationship develops.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of 3 books and I loved them all. (For some reason, I read them in backwards order.) This author's writing is so smooth and easy to read that the book just flies by. Not only that, the action is fast and the mystery keeps you turning pages (and skipping your real-life duties!) to get to the big reveal at the end of the book. Cas's story is really interesting too and the background story is just as fun to read as the big mystery. Oh, and this book is not for the squeamish. Women are being abducted and/or murdered and when you finally read what's really happening to them, it's the stuff of nightmares. This author does not back down from the gruesome details. The other books in the series are the same too. So, if you like a gory, psychopathic serial killer book with some interesting main characters, a little bit of psychic abilities thrown in, with a pinch of romance, this is a series for you. I couldn't recommend this book and series more.