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'I fool myself that Eden has a heart – that she would at least have trouble killing me...'
Most police duos run on trust, loyalty, and the desire to see killers in court. But Detective Frank Bennett's partner, the enigmatic Eden Archer, has nothing to offer him but darkness and danger. She doesn't mind catching killers – but it's not the courthouse where her justice is served. And now Eden is about to head undercover to find three missing girls. The only link between the victims is a remote farm where the desperate go to hide and blood falls more often than rain. For Frank, the priority is to keep his partner monitored 24/7 while she's there – but is it for Eden's protection, or to protect their suspects from her?
Across the city at the Utulla Tip, someone is watching Hades Archer, a man whose criminal reputation is the stuff of legend. Unmasking the stalker for him might be just what Frank needs to stay out of trouble while Eden's away. But it's going to take a trip into Hades's past to discover the answers - and what Frank uncovers may well put everyone in danger . . .
'I fool myself that Eden has a heart – that she would at least have trouble killing me...'
Most police duos run on trust, loyalty, and the desire to see killers in court. But Detective Frank Bennett's partner, the enigmatic Eden Archer, has nothing to offer him but darkness and danger. She doesn't mind catching killers – but it's not the courthouse where her justice is served. And now Eden is about to head undercover to find three missing girls. The only link between the victims is a remote farm where the desperate go to hide and blood falls more often than rain. For Frank, the priority is to keep his partner monitored 24/7 while she's there – but is it for Eden's protection, or to protect their suspects from her?
Across the city at the Utulla Tip, someone is watching Hades Archer, a man whose criminal reputation is the stuff of legend. Unmasking the stalker for him might be just what Frank needs to stay out of trouble while Eden's away. But it's going to take a trip into Hades's past to discover the answers - and what Frank uncovers may well put everyone in danger . . .
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
390 people are currently reading
2024 people want to read
About the author
Candice Fox
28 books2,078 followersCandice Fox is the middle child of a large, eccentric family from Sydney's western suburbs composed of half-, adopted and pseudo siblings. The daughter of a parole officer and an enthusiastic foster-carer, Candice spent her childhood listening around corners to tales of violence, madness and evil as her father relayed his work stories to her mother and older brothers.
As a cynical and trouble-making teenager, her crime and gothic fiction writing was an escape from the calamity of her home life. She was constantly in trouble for reading Anne Rice in church and scaring her friends with tales from Australia's wealth of true crime writers.
Bankstown born and bred, she failed to conform to military life in a brief stint as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy at age eighteen. At twenty, she turned her hand to academia, and taught high school through two undergraduate and two postgraduate degrees. Candice lectures in writing at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, while undertaking a PhD in literary censorship and terrorism.
Hades is her first novel, and she is currently working on its sequel.
As a cynical and trouble-making teenager, her crime and gothic fiction writing was an escape from the calamity of her home life. She was constantly in trouble for reading Anne Rice in church and scaring her friends with tales from Australia's wealth of true crime writers.
Bankstown born and bred, she failed to conform to military life in a brief stint as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy at age eighteen. At twenty, she turned her hand to academia, and taught high school through two undergraduate and two postgraduate degrees. Candice lectures in writing at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, while undertaking a PhD in literary censorship and terrorism.
Hades is her first novel, and she is currently working on its sequel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
March 27, 2017
An extremely satisfying continuance of this dark and riveting series. Candice Fox seems to be a wild child of Australian fiction, nothing is off limits. The subject matter is dark with reason, and in the second installment we see the back ground behind the gangster otherwise known as Hades. He is not the modern day type of lout – he has substance, and we learn the reasons for the harshness that is this dark underground figure. But I knew that was there in Hades, there was always going to be more to this character than simply being bad.
Eden comes back with a vengeance and we see her more in the line of duty, as we do Frank Bennett, her partner. Is he willingly in this? Would he choose a way out from her if he could? He is given the chance, and his actions were what I wanted them to be. Frank is messed up, and Eden may be caught out eventually. I really liked the cliff hanger in the finally, will love to see what is up with this chain of events. This is an excellent example of an edgy writer, I am glad she is an academic and teaching the up and coming writers how to hone their craft. They are in safe hands.
“The hotel was on a corner two streets back from the hip wonderland of King Street, a catwalk already being strutted by office workers on the way home to their damp Ikea furnished pads above the bookshops and online daters searching for each other in the light rain, phones out like guns.” Who writes like that? So spot on! My personal favourite.
This is a good current one: “The street was probably owned by some crooked Asian crime lord living on the harbour on the north side near the bridge” (the reference was spoken while in Narellan).
“Bogans will chuck one your way the moment you look at them crooked. The girls will text you death threats.”
I don’t mind the darkness and the gore in this context. It fits. The author is from Bankstown and knows how to tell a bleak but immensely strong grass roots tale. It is to the point and it probably has rubbed some readers up the wrong way, but to say it again - the harshness fits here. It is a smashing tale.
Eden comes back with a vengeance and we see her more in the line of duty, as we do Frank Bennett, her partner. Is he willingly in this? Would he choose a way out from her if he could? He is given the chance, and his actions were what I wanted them to be. Frank is messed up, and Eden may be caught out eventually. I really liked the cliff hanger in the finally, will love to see what is up with this chain of events. This is an excellent example of an edgy writer, I am glad she is an academic and teaching the up and coming writers how to hone their craft. They are in safe hands.
“The hotel was on a corner two streets back from the hip wonderland of King Street, a catwalk already being strutted by office workers on the way home to their damp Ikea furnished pads above the bookshops and online daters searching for each other in the light rain, phones out like guns.” Who writes like that? So spot on! My personal favourite.
This is a good current one: “The street was probably owned by some crooked Asian crime lord living on the harbour on the north side near the bridge” (the reference was spoken while in Narellan).
“Bogans will chuck one your way the moment you look at them crooked. The girls will text you death threats.”
I don’t mind the darkness and the gore in this context. It fits. The author is from Bankstown and knows how to tell a bleak but immensely strong grass roots tale. It is to the point and it probably has rubbed some readers up the wrong way, but to say it again - the harshness fits here. It is a smashing tale.
February 11, 2017
I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than I did Hades, maybe because we saw less of Eden doing her Dexter impressions and more of her doing police work. Though in the end it came out very much the same.
I liked the way the book told three separate stories. The back story on Hades was particularly interesting as it filled in some of the blanks from Book 1. I can't decide whether I like Frank or not and his story was all over the place as he is himself at this stage of his life. Eden's under cover work was interesting and ended with a bang.
The whole book was action packed and hard to put down. I particularly liked the little discovery we made at the end about Eden's identity and look forward to more of this in Book 3.
I liked the way the book told three separate stories. The back story on Hades was particularly interesting as it filled in some of the blanks from Book 1. I can't decide whether I like Frank or not and his story was all over the place as he is himself at this stage of his life. Eden's under cover work was interesting and ended with a bang.
The whole book was action packed and hard to put down. I particularly liked the little discovery we made at the end about Eden's identity and look forward to more of this in Book 3.
September 28, 2015
Eden is the second book by Candice Fox featuring Detective’s Eden and Frank and crime lord Hades (Eden’s surrogate father). I remember liking the first book in this series and was looking forward to continuing it with this one. Unfortunately, I struggled to get into this. There were three storylines; one featuring a case with missing girls and two others involving Hades and his past. The storyline featuring the missing girls was interesting, and had quite an exciting and surprising ending. The storylines revolving around Hades really bored me, and this made the book drag on for me. I think the book would’ve worked more for me if the story focused solely on the case, rather than having those two other side stories going at the same time. I do like Eden’s character. It’s nice to have a strong, independent female that doesn’t follow societal norms as the lead character. I also quite enjoy the banter and dynamic between Frank and Eden and can see this will develop further as the series progresses. Overall, I found this to be a bit of a slow read and felt that it could’ve been developed more. I’m not sure whether I will continue to read the series as I just really don’t care for Hades’ character.
January 27, 2015
After his last case, Detective Frank Bennett couldn't see any way out of his self destruction. He'd lost his girlfriend and had been badly injured and was now spending his days getting drunk and popping pills, but his partner, Eden Archer wanted him to pull himself together as she wanted his help with the latest case of missing girls. Convincing Frank it was time to get back into the swing of things was not going to be easy by any means. Firstly, he would have to attend his counselling sessions and quit drinking, but it seems Frank is in no hurry to do either of these things.
Working undercover to find the missing young women leads Eden to an old farmhouse that has runaways hiding out in it. In the meantime Eden's father, Hades requires Franks expertise in another matter, so between keeping a close eye on Eden and making certain she was safe and helping out Hades, things were beginning to get on top of Frank, but it was crucial that he kept it together.
As things begin to heat up, Hades finds himself having to deal with demons from the past that have come back to haunt him. Will Eden and Frank crack the case of the missing young women or will they find themselves in danger?
A compelling and gripping read and one in which I really enjoyed. If you love reading crime novels with violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat then this book is definitely for you. Highly recommended
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
Working undercover to find the missing young women leads Eden to an old farmhouse that has runaways hiding out in it. In the meantime Eden's father, Hades requires Franks expertise in another matter, so between keeping a close eye on Eden and making certain she was safe and helping out Hades, things were beginning to get on top of Frank, but it was crucial that he kept it together.
As things begin to heat up, Hades finds himself having to deal with demons from the past that have come back to haunt him. Will Eden and Frank crack the case of the missing young women or will they find themselves in danger?
A compelling and gripping read and one in which I really enjoyed. If you love reading crime novels with violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat then this book is definitely for you. Highly recommended
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
August 12, 2015
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Candice Fox, and Kensington Publishing Corp. for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Fox presents a powerful crime thriller, pitting two unlikely homicide detectives together to battle crime in Australia. Eden Archer is a young and ambitious woman, with a dark interpretation of justice while Frank Bennett has seen too much and chooses to hide himself in the haze of pills and booze. Sent to investigate three missing women presumed murdered, Eden and Frank follow a lead to a farm on the outskirts of Sydney, where the girls were last seen. While Frank lives in a haze, he can clearly see the danger in the case and tries to talk Eden out of going undercover, living amongst the others to extract information. Eden's stubborn side wins out, but she agrees to having surveillance in hopes of nabbing the killer before it's too late. While Eden develops her persona, Frank is approached by Eden's father, Hades, who has a private job for him, and is willing to pay for answers. As Frank suspends his apprehension of Hades, a known killer himself, Fox takes the reader through a series of chapter-long flashbacks to tell the story of young Hades and Sunday White. Agreeing to look for Sunday White, thought murdered decades earlier, Frank straddles his time keeping an eye on progress within the farm. Eden continues her ruse to uncover what really happened to those three girls and it is only when she befriends the owner's plaything that Eden discovers the explosive truths she did not think possible. Frank struggles to keep his life on the straight and narrow while discovering the truths behind Sunday's disappearance and the childhood Hades left behind. An interesting novel that forces the reader to leave their comfort at the door, before plunging deep into a world of death and despair.
Without reading the previous novel in the series, I wondered how much backstory Fox might provide readers. The novel was full of references to the previous adventure, which helps develop characters while also spoiling much for the new reader. Fox presents the sordid underbelly of crime in such a way that the reader cannot shy away, should they wish to forge ahead in the novel. Using two characters so different and yet so similar, Fox pushes the reader to choose one with whom to relate. While the split tasks Bennett undertook left me a little confused at times, I was able to push through and make better sense of the story, as well as the character development, while not entirely drawn to either protagonist. Told in blunt form, yet not on the verge of being disturbingly graphic, Fox engages readers but does not seek to lull them into complacency, which is key in a genre chock-full of novels in which the reader can remain a passive bystander.
Kudos, Madam Fox for this interesting novel and ever-evolving characters. I might have to check out HADES soon, though your filling in the gaps throughout the novel left many a spoiler in the open.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Fox presents a powerful crime thriller, pitting two unlikely homicide detectives together to battle crime in Australia. Eden Archer is a young and ambitious woman, with a dark interpretation of justice while Frank Bennett has seen too much and chooses to hide himself in the haze of pills and booze. Sent to investigate three missing women presumed murdered, Eden and Frank follow a lead to a farm on the outskirts of Sydney, where the girls were last seen. While Frank lives in a haze, he can clearly see the danger in the case and tries to talk Eden out of going undercover, living amongst the others to extract information. Eden's stubborn side wins out, but she agrees to having surveillance in hopes of nabbing the killer before it's too late. While Eden develops her persona, Frank is approached by Eden's father, Hades, who has a private job for him, and is willing to pay for answers. As Frank suspends his apprehension of Hades, a known killer himself, Fox takes the reader through a series of chapter-long flashbacks to tell the story of young Hades and Sunday White. Agreeing to look for Sunday White, thought murdered decades earlier, Frank straddles his time keeping an eye on progress within the farm. Eden continues her ruse to uncover what really happened to those three girls and it is only when she befriends the owner's plaything that Eden discovers the explosive truths she did not think possible. Frank struggles to keep his life on the straight and narrow while discovering the truths behind Sunday's disappearance and the childhood Hades left behind. An interesting novel that forces the reader to leave their comfort at the door, before plunging deep into a world of death and despair.
Without reading the previous novel in the series, I wondered how much backstory Fox might provide readers. The novel was full of references to the previous adventure, which helps develop characters while also spoiling much for the new reader. Fox presents the sordid underbelly of crime in such a way that the reader cannot shy away, should they wish to forge ahead in the novel. Using two characters so different and yet so similar, Fox pushes the reader to choose one with whom to relate. While the split tasks Bennett undertook left me a little confused at times, I was able to push through and make better sense of the story, as well as the character development, while not entirely drawn to either protagonist. Told in blunt form, yet not on the verge of being disturbingly graphic, Fox engages readers but does not seek to lull them into complacency, which is key in a genre chock-full of novels in which the reader can remain a passive bystander.
Kudos, Madam Fox for this interesting novel and ever-evolving characters. I might have to check out HADES soon, though your filling in the gaps throughout the novel left many a spoiler in the open.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 20, 2018
Love a book set in my local area.. even one as dark and messed up as this!! Lookimg forward to the next one now
February 24, 2015
In Candice Fox's first book Hades, we were introduced to Eden and her brother Eric and learned the story of how the man Hades came to raise them both from a very young age-- how he managed their upbringing and education, and how their characters were formed...how they learned their 'lust' for 'life'.
In this, her second book in this series, Eden's story continues with a dual background story, where we learn more about Hades himself and how his own upbringing played its part in his own character building and set the course of his destiny.
This background story, which is just as riveting and page turning as the main story, describes Hades' rise from a child urchin to the infamous Lord of the Underworld.
The two stories work together in tandem and give the reader insightful and informative doses of relevant history as the story progresses, so that the reader is constantly gaining an understanding of how things have evolved as they have.
This clever and artful way of presenting the facts often puts the reader in the position of feeling empathy for the, 'otherwise noted' bad guys, which puts an interesting twist on these stories, giving them a more curious and compelling edge.
Three things stand out for me, which I need to make mention of;
Firstly the artwork described within these stories, the pieces sound magnificent and I wonder if the author has a hand in that field or just a great appreciation, either way, her descriptions of the sculptures and other sundry artwork which form a part of these stories is so eloquent as to make them visible to the mind of the reader. I would love to know how they became such an integral part of these books.
Secondly; The intriguing addition of many and varied homegrown plants with their full botanical descriptions, for the explicit purpose of making homemade poisons...the needs and uses of which are further explained in the book. This was yet another fascinating inclusion to the his/story.
Thirdly; In spite of her obvious persona, Eden has a taste for the finer things in life, one of those being her penchant for fine wine. Not being averse to a good drop myself, I was compelled to chase information on a favourite red on Eden's shelf, who's name was mentioned with reverence as 'Armagh'. I was pleasantly surprised to find its real life history in the Clare Valley of South Australia, where it currently retails from between A$250 and $330 per bottle!
I would love to sit around a table with the author and a couple of bottles of Armagh talking about all of the above!
My point is, that Candice Fox's attention to detail shows her integrity for making her story real and credible. These are the things that score her stars in my book!
The personalities of her characters are greatly enriched by the addition of the details of their hobbies and occupations.
There is only one detail which I don't particularly care for, and that is the alcoholic cop with issues. He lacks the credibility his position implies, so I hope he can get his act together in future stories.
As with the first book, this one is set in and around Sydney (Australia) and all of the places mentioned are easily recognizable to me, which enhances my own experience of the story.
I was thoroughly absorbed in this book, as I was with its prequel, Hades. It is a real page turner with lots of action.
After reading both Eden and Hades books in succession, I am upgrading Candice Fox to favourite author status! I eagerly look forward to her next offering.
Highly recommended 4*s
FYI: http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-502...
November 25, 2014
Detective Frank Bennett had drunk himself into oblivion since their last case – the case where terrible things happened including losing his girlfriend and being badly injured. But his partner, cold, dark and dangerous Eden Archer needed him back in the fold – the latest case of missing girls was about to become their case, so Eden hustled Bennett to finalise his police counsellor visits, to ease off the booze; just to get his act together.
Many years prior there was a homeless young boy who had been on the streets for longer than he could remember – though the vague nightmares of the fire came to him now and then. When he was “rescued” by the big man Bear, he didn’t know his name, his age or anything about himself. But Bear, though big and tough, was gentle and kind in his fashion. Soon the young boy looked on Bear as a father figure…
As Eden ventured undercover into a remote farm where young women; prostitutes and homeless teens mostly, ran to escape the police and to have a place to stay until they moved on again, they realized the danger was immense. Three young women had gone missing and all were connected to this farm. Monitoring Eden continually while she was there, plus keeping up with another cold case was stressing Bennett – but as Eden’s only support his eyes were essential.
As the tension mounted and the darkness deepened, desperation heightened. It seemed impossible to penetrate the criminal minds – were there more victims? Would Frank and Eden solve this latest terrible case? And would there be a link somewhere, somehow between the current and the cold case?
I enjoyed the plot of this second novel by Aussie author Candice Fox; the pacing was fast and full of suspense. But the violence, the blood and gore, was full on. To my mind there was an unnecessary amount of it – it lowered my rating instead of raising it. I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the author’s first, Hades. But having said that, I’ll definitely look out for the author’s third book!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Many years prior there was a homeless young boy who had been on the streets for longer than he could remember – though the vague nightmares of the fire came to him now and then. When he was “rescued” by the big man Bear, he didn’t know his name, his age or anything about himself. But Bear, though big and tough, was gentle and kind in his fashion. Soon the young boy looked on Bear as a father figure…
As Eden ventured undercover into a remote farm where young women; prostitutes and homeless teens mostly, ran to escape the police and to have a place to stay until they moved on again, they realized the danger was immense. Three young women had gone missing and all were connected to this farm. Monitoring Eden continually while she was there, plus keeping up with another cold case was stressing Bennett – but as Eden’s only support his eyes were essential.
As the tension mounted and the darkness deepened, desperation heightened. It seemed impossible to penetrate the criminal minds – were there more victims? Would Frank and Eden solve this latest terrible case? And would there be a link somewhere, somehow between the current and the cold case?
I enjoyed the plot of this second novel by Aussie author Candice Fox; the pacing was fast and full of suspense. But the violence, the blood and gore, was full on. To my mind there was an unnecessary amount of it – it lowered my rating instead of raising it. I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the author’s first, Hades. But having said that, I’ll definitely look out for the author’s third book!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
November 17, 2017
Detectives Eden Archer and Frank Bennett are investigating three missing girls. Eden goes undercover at Rye's Farm to uncover facts related to the case. Frank is part of surveillance, monitoring his partner. Unfortunately, Eden's foster father, Hades, has a case for Frank. Splitting his time between the two cases will Frank be able to investigate both cases and to keep Eden safe? Has Eden walked into a viper's nest of killers and rapists?
This second book ties into the first book, Hades, neatly. References to the first novel make this book not a stand alone. The colorful character of Eden is similar to Dexter Morgan character by Jeff Lindsay -- both are with the police and both are serial killers. Frank is a worn-out police detective who exists on booze and pills. Both characters are opposites of each other, yet they share similarities. The plot runs down two timelines drawing the reader further into the story. The novel has an epilogue which leaves questions for the third book. There is adult language in this novel.
This second book ties into the first book, Hades, neatly. References to the first novel make this book not a stand alone. The colorful character of Eden is similar to Dexter Morgan character by Jeff Lindsay -- both are with the police and both are serial killers. Frank is a worn-out police detective who exists on booze and pills. Both characters are opposites of each other, yet they share similarities. The plot runs down two timelines drawing the reader further into the story. The novel has an epilogue which leaves questions for the third book. There is adult language in this novel.
August 6, 2019
This is the sequel to the first Archer and Bennett series, Hades
Where the first was terrifying and intense, Eden is dark and mysterious, fraught with suspense.
Detectives Eden Archer and Frank Bennett have to work together to try and find out what happened three girls who have gone missing. There is
a lot more detective work involved in this book, which I really enjoyed. Candice Fox writes very detailed descriptions of people and places and I could easily envision what was taking place.
I'm rating this 4 rather than 5 stars because
there are some very graphic parts that I found difficult to get through. I don't want to elaborate more than that so I won't give anything away to those who haven't read this yet.
Despite that, I found it compelling and hard to put down. A very good book!
Where the first was terrifying and intense, Eden is dark and mysterious, fraught with suspense.
Detectives Eden Archer and Frank Bennett have to work together to try and find out what happened three girls who have gone missing. There is
a lot more detective work involved in this book, which I really enjoyed. Candice Fox writes very detailed descriptions of people and places and I could easily envision what was taking place.
I'm rating this 4 rather than 5 stars because
there are some very graphic parts that I found difficult to get through. I don't want to elaborate more than that so I won't give anything away to those who haven't read this yet.
Despite that, I found it compelling and hard to put down. A very good book!
April 22, 2015
Eden is the second novel by Australian author, Candice Fox. It is the sequel to her first novel, Hades, and, perversely, it reveals the history of Heinrich “Hades” Archer in a narrative interspersed with an account of events since the deaths of Eric Archer, serial killer, Jason Beck and the woman who escaped his cage, Martina Ducote. It is, therefore, essential to read Hades first.
Detective Frank Bennett is barely existing since the death of his lover, but Eden Archer is determined he will resume his role as her partner. There are three case of young women gone missing, and they have thug Jackie Rye’s farm in common. If Eden is going to go undercover, she need’s Frank’s backup. But Hades is demanding Frank’s time too: it seems he has a stalker at Utillo tip, and he wants to know why. However, Frank has to complete his sessions with police psychologist, Imogen Stone, before he can join Eden on the case, and facing his demons is something he resists at every turn.
This sequel has two main plotlines: one involving a cold case disappearance, the other set in the present day. Both plots have clues and red herrings, and clever twists at the end. The narrative dealing with young Hades will answer some questions raised by the first novel. The action is non-stop, and Eden proves again that she can look after herself very well. This gripping novel is a very satisfying sequel, and readers will wonder if there is more to come of Archer and Bennett. At least as good as Hades, if not better, this is a real page-turner.
Detective Frank Bennett is barely existing since the death of his lover, but Eden Archer is determined he will resume his role as her partner. There are three case of young women gone missing, and they have thug Jackie Rye’s farm in common. If Eden is going to go undercover, she need’s Frank’s backup. But Hades is demanding Frank’s time too: it seems he has a stalker at Utillo tip, and he wants to know why. However, Frank has to complete his sessions with police psychologist, Imogen Stone, before he can join Eden on the case, and facing his demons is something he resists at every turn.
This sequel has two main plotlines: one involving a cold case disappearance, the other set in the present day. Both plots have clues and red herrings, and clever twists at the end. The narrative dealing with young Hades will answer some questions raised by the first novel. The action is non-stop, and Eden proves again that she can look after herself very well. This gripping novel is a very satisfying sequel, and readers will wonder if there is more to come of Archer and Bennett. At least as good as Hades, if not better, this is a real page-turner.
January 6, 2015
In Hades, we were introduced to the dark and dangerous crime lord Hades, his policewoman daughter Eden Archer and her partner Frank Bennett. This novel delves into Hades background to show us what made him into the tough and violent man that he became through a childhood of cruelty and deprivation.
Still coming to terms with his girlfriend's violent death in the previous novel, Frank is propping himself up with painkillers and alcohol and in an attempt to get him back on the job, Eden asks him to help her father with hunting down a stalker and finding a missing friend from his childhood.
Eden and her new partner are working on the disappearance of three young women and when all three cases are linked to an isolated farm, she volunteers to go undercover as a farmworker with Frank watching over her from remote cameras. What she finds is a community of young runaways and men evading the law, making a dangerous mix where rape and violence is condoned. But Eden is Hades daughter and has her own ways of dealing with dangerous men.
Definitely a hang on to the edge of your seat book, there is an undercurrent of violence about to errupt through much of the novel and the tension and suspense is maintained to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review.
Still coming to terms with his girlfriend's violent death in the previous novel, Frank is propping himself up with painkillers and alcohol and in an attempt to get him back on the job, Eden asks him to help her father with hunting down a stalker and finding a missing friend from his childhood.
Eden and her new partner are working on the disappearance of three young women and when all three cases are linked to an isolated farm, she volunteers to go undercover as a farmworker with Frank watching over her from remote cameras. What she finds is a community of young runaways and men evading the law, making a dangerous mix where rape and violence is condoned. But Eden is Hades daughter and has her own ways of dealing with dangerous men.
Definitely a hang on to the edge of your seat book, there is an undercurrent of violence about to errupt through much of the novel and the tension and suspense is maintained to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review.
August 12, 2017
I am very late coming to the table with this one, I haven't read book 1 either as I didn't realise this at the time when requesting from Net Galley.
Its a dark riveting read.
Hades.
He is a dark underground figure, he's curt, he's harsh. We get to know why though and what has made him this way.
He wasn't just bad, he was EVIL
There is an awful lot more to him though than what first meets the eye.
Eden.
Eden and her partner Frank Bennett.
Hades injured Frank and hes been recovering, but now hes back. Is he back willingly though? Is he ready to play the game.
Frank is a drinker, a real soaker of a drinker.
Eden goes undercover to find out what has been happening to the missing women surrounding this story. It turns out to be a semi cult environment.
But she is putting herself in severe danger.
I am giving this 3 stars because its good. The characters are well developed but at times I found the story lagging, confusing.
Maybe have been best if I had read book 1, but, not sure.
December 5, 2014
The sequel to Candice Fox's stunning debut, Hades, Eden is a story about monsters, not the type that hide under the bed or in your closet, but those that walk amongst us, wearing the face of humanity. Murderers, rapists, pedophiles and cannibals shrouded in the guise of well dressed gentlemen, respected police officers, and restless children.
The narrative is a bit of a surprise, I was expecting, given the novel's title, that the story would unfold more fully from Eden's perspective, instead it is the first person voice of Frank, and a series of flashbacks illuminating Hades' past that dominate.
Frank is still reeling from the events that occurred in Hades and is drowning in booze, pills and sorrow, resisting Eden's attempts to get him back to work. But Eden doesn't take no for an answer and she forces his hand, first when she asks him to do some work for her father, Hades, and then when she accepts an undercover assignment in pursuit of a serial killer.
While Eden searches for the murderer on an isolated farm housing runaways and petty criminals, Frank divides his time between watching over Eden and searching for clues to decipher the fate of a girl Hades once knew, in order to shake the attentions of her nephew who is convinced Hades killed her.
Flashbacks of Hades early years introduce the girl, Sunday, and provide insight into the formation of the man and underworld legend. Fox has developed a dark and twisted past for Hades, stained with violence and loss which is not always easy to stomach.
As dark and gritty as its predecessor, Eden is a riveting story, rippling with tension and barely leashed savagery. This is compelling reading.
August 29, 2015
Eden is the second in a series, the first being Hades and, on balance, I think you do need to have read Hades beforehand to get the “hook” of the series. Hades is a book that despite gripping me with its storyline, did leave me with mixed feelings although I was still really eager to read Eden. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one.
There are three storylines running through this book. The first is the story of Hades, Eden’s father, and I really enjoyed this part of the read, as I learned about Hades’ life ánd what shaped him into the man he is today.
The other two storylines are the main crimes that Eden and Frank Bennett are investigating - the disappearance of a number of local women and a “side” investigation that Hades charges Frank with carrying out on his behalf. I did think that was maybe a plotline too many in the book.
Whilst I enjoyed the other two storylines, I managed to narrow down what turned me off this read and that is Eden herself. She comes across as very cold and emotionless and for that reason I found I really didn’t care what happened to her very much. Hades is by far the most interesting character in the Archer family. I wasn’t investing anything in Eden. Having said that, the story did keep my interest and ended on such an “OMG” moment that I have to say that despite all my misgivings, I will probably read the next in the series.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy.
There are three storylines running through this book. The first is the story of Hades, Eden’s father, and I really enjoyed this part of the read, as I learned about Hades’ life ánd what shaped him into the man he is today.
The other two storylines are the main crimes that Eden and Frank Bennett are investigating - the disappearance of a number of local women and a “side” investigation that Hades charges Frank with carrying out on his behalf. I did think that was maybe a plotline too many in the book.
Whilst I enjoyed the other two storylines, I managed to narrow down what turned me off this read and that is Eden herself. She comes across as very cold and emotionless and for that reason I found I really didn’t care what happened to her very much. Hades is by far the most interesting character in the Archer family. I wasn’t investing anything in Eden. Having said that, the story did keep my interest and ended on such an “OMG” moment that I have to say that despite all my misgivings, I will probably read the next in the series.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy.
October 31, 2014
My View:
Fear is a powerful motivator.
This was always going to be a difficult read for me; I loved the first book in this series, Hades, I didn’t think a work of crime fiction could get much better and so it was with anticipation and a touch of apprehension that I embarked on the second book, Eden. And what a book it is, a book of two stories intricately woven together, one story slowly reveals the history of Hades, his childhood, his baptism into a life of crime and of the spilling of much blood and a the story based in the current times of three missing girls.
I favoured the missing girls’ story - I would love to read more of this sort of account; the snappy dialogue, the mystery, the building tension, and a glimpse into the personal lives of the major characters; this was adrenaline raising reading. Hades story – for me was a little too blood thirsty, in particular the scenes with dogs. This was stomach churning stuff. Enough said.
A book of two narratives, one of which I found unpalatable the other I devoured. Candice Fox you are force to be reckoned with and I look forward to reading the third book in this series.
Fear is a powerful motivator.
This was always going to be a difficult read for me; I loved the first book in this series, Hades, I didn’t think a work of crime fiction could get much better and so it was with anticipation and a touch of apprehension that I embarked on the second book, Eden. And what a book it is, a book of two stories intricately woven together, one story slowly reveals the history of Hades, his childhood, his baptism into a life of crime and of the spilling of much blood and a the story based in the current times of three missing girls.
I favoured the missing girls’ story - I would love to read more of this sort of account; the snappy dialogue, the mystery, the building tension, and a glimpse into the personal lives of the major characters; this was adrenaline raising reading. Hades story – for me was a little too blood thirsty, in particular the scenes with dogs. This was stomach churning stuff. Enough said.
A book of two narratives, one of which I found unpalatable the other I devoured. Candice Fox you are force to be reckoned with and I look forward to reading the third book in this series.
January 15, 2016
Of Hades, the first book in this series, I’d remarked that “this book fails to haunt my memory or raise the kind of moral & spiritual issues needed for five stars.” Such is true of Eden as well, but it has also brought back to me the distinctive pleasures of a series featuring very good fast-read four-stars with lots of thrills. You’ll probably never read the same one through again. (Martin Amis was horrified @ seeing the toll alcoholism had taken on his father when he’d found Kingsley re-reading a Dick Francis!) Instead, you’re eager to snap up the sequel as soon as it appears. Indeed, Fall has already been published in Australia & I am so jealous of the Aussies, as neither Amazon.com nor Amazon.co.uk has it yet. In the meantime, if you’ve not yet read Hades, drop everything now & read it, & then you’ll really be ready to enjoy Eden, which is even better. I found it hard to get into Hades Archer’s backstory, which alternates with the current adventures of detectives Eden Archer & Frank Bennett. But it was worth the effort. We find out that the young Hades was perviously known as the Dogboy of Darlington & how he acquired that sobriquet, as well as how he exchanged it for Hades. In the main plot, Eden goes undercover @ a farm run by real low-lifes to find out what happened to some girls who disappeared. Of course you’re expecting her to kick some serious arse & you’ll not be disappointed. I also liked Frank better this time. He’s still your generic middle-aged divorced male detective found in squad rooms from Oslo to Aberdeen to LA to Sydney & who deals with grief by opening another bottle. But he does a good job of being a cop in this one as he seeks out the mystery of Hades’ long-lost love. Like Frank, we feel every sense of the word ‘awe’ towards Eden: fear, fascination, admiration & attraction - the way you might feel if you shared your home with a leopard. Unlike my favourite fictional detectives such as Cassie Maddox or Lacey Flint, Eden’s not someone you wish you could have as a friend & fortunately for us, ‘What would Eden do?” isn’t applicable to most of our life-choices. But as a character in a story book she’s pure 190 proof bad-ass chick & huge fun to follow. Despite my resolutions to devote what leisure time I have exclusively to the pursuit of aesthetic & spiritual excellence, I’m salivating to lay hold the next in the series.
My thanks to Netgalley for an advance gratis review copy.
My thanks to Netgalley for an advance gratis review copy.
September 7, 2015
I was beyond thrilled when I saw there would be another novel in the Archer and Bennett series after reading the excellent debut, “Hades”. “Eden” did not disappoint. Candice Fox is at the top of the class when it comes to gritty crime thrillers. And when I say gritty, I do mean gritty. This is far from a cozy mystery.
As I had hoped, we get more backstory for Eden’s father, Hades, and it is so well-written that the flashbacks alone could make a complete and satisfying novel. The complexities of Eden are further explored, as well, and Frank grows much more as a character in this novel than in the previous one. There are a few secondary characters who are introduced who are also so well-developed that you keep wanting to know more. Also, the underworld of crime could be considered a character in and of itself. It’s described as if it is a living and breathing thing that looks out for itself and none of those actually involved. Characterization in “Eden” is nothing short of superb.
It’s difficult to say much about the plot without spoiling it because everything is connected, even if you don’t realize it. The pace is steady and makes it difficult to find a stopping point. Make sure you have a few uninterrupted hours before you begin. And the ending…. wow. It more than delivers. No plot failure here.
The only complaint I have is the jumping of points of view. There is first person, third person limited past, and third person limited present. All three of these are different characters. While it worked in the chapters that were dedicated to one character, some chapters combined all three, and that was a bit of a struggle to get my brain to switch gears.
If you like crime thrillers and don’t mind the blood and gore, I highly recommend “Eden”.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As I had hoped, we get more backstory for Eden’s father, Hades, and it is so well-written that the flashbacks alone could make a complete and satisfying novel. The complexities of Eden are further explored, as well, and Frank grows much more as a character in this novel than in the previous one. There are a few secondary characters who are introduced who are also so well-developed that you keep wanting to know more. Also, the underworld of crime could be considered a character in and of itself. It’s described as if it is a living and breathing thing that looks out for itself and none of those actually involved. Characterization in “Eden” is nothing short of superb.
It’s difficult to say much about the plot without spoiling it because everything is connected, even if you don’t realize it. The pace is steady and makes it difficult to find a stopping point. Make sure you have a few uninterrupted hours before you begin. And the ending…. wow. It more than delivers. No plot failure here.
The only complaint I have is the jumping of points of view. There is first person, third person limited past, and third person limited present. All three of these are different characters. While it worked in the chapters that were dedicated to one character, some chapters combined all three, and that was a bit of a struggle to get my brain to switch gears.
If you like crime thrillers and don’t mind the blood and gore, I highly recommend “Eden”.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2016
Maybe closer to 3.5★. A little slow to get going I thought & I really could have done without the very descriptive details about the dog fighting ring but still another really good crime thriller with Hades, Eden & Frank. Look forward to see where the next one in the series goes, with the information found at the very end by Dr Imogen Stone?!?!?!?!
July 15, 2015
Candace Fox is a new author to me & this started out okay but fell flat in the middle it really didnt grab me to pick it up each day read well but to me i was a bit let down just might be me i don't know having read so many books lately by good authors
February 27, 2019
I enjoyed this one more than the first! Really enjoyed Hades's back story and the search for Sunday!
May 12, 2019
Enjoyed this read, but not as much as book 1 or 3 in the series. Book 3 was my favorite of them all. This book has 3 stories in the story; first is the history of Hades (spotlighting Hades), second is the main storyline about missing girls (spotlighting Archer), and the last (spotlighting Bennett) finds Frank hired by Hades to find out what happened to the love of his life.
There are some graphic and violent scenes in this book, scenes that make you scratch your head and wonder at Candice Fox's childhood. (That's a joke, but you do wonder where she comes up with it and how she knows so much about it.)
There are some graphic and violent scenes in this book, scenes that make you scratch your head and wonder at Candice Fox's childhood. (That's a joke, but you do wonder where she comes up with it and how she knows so much about it.)
September 1, 2020
Really liked this one. Better than the first one, which I wasn't crazy about. In my opinion, Fox just doesn't write like this anymore. With so much skill and unique voice that borders on literary crime. I wish she would write more like she does in these Eden and Frank books. (And the first one of her Conkaffey novels). She's a really impressive writer when she lets herself loose.
I nearly loved the read, however, I'm not a fan of long flashback scenes (its the main reason why I don't like Jane Harper novels and why I stopped enjoying Fox's Ted Conkaffey trilogy). I felt that the flashbacks were far too long in the second half of this book. If it weren't for those long flashback scenes at a time when tension in the 'present' is supposed to be building, then this would have been a great crime read for me.
I nearly loved the read, however, I'm not a fan of long flashback scenes (its the main reason why I don't like Jane Harper novels and why I stopped enjoying Fox's Ted Conkaffey trilogy). I felt that the flashbacks were far too long in the second half of this book. If it weren't for those long flashback scenes at a time when tension in the 'present' is supposed to be building, then this would have been a great crime read for me.
September 8, 2015
The first in this series was HADES, which I highly recommend you read before reading EDEN.
This time around, Eden's partner, Frank Bennett, has been recouping from injuries he received in HADES. He's also drinking way too much and is being forced by the department to see the shrink before being allowed back to work.
Meanwhile, Eden sends Frank to her father .... he has an investigative job involving the disappearance of an old flame many years before. At the same time, Eden is going undercover at a semi-cult to find what happened to 3 missing women. putting her life in extreme danger.
The book follows both these case, plus it takes the reader to Hades' beginning, how he became what he is.
I found it interesting, but not as exceptional as HADES. At times I found it confusing over who was where doing what and when. The characters are still very intriguing but I can't see this series going any further than it has.
I did give it a 4 star rating ... I felt I had a vested interest in seeing where the author took the characters. And the last 10-12 pages were breath-taking!
My thanks to NetGalley / Kensington Books for supplying the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
This time around, Eden's partner, Frank Bennett, has been recouping from injuries he received in HADES. He's also drinking way too much and is being forced by the department to see the shrink before being allowed back to work.
Meanwhile, Eden sends Frank to her father .... he has an investigative job involving the disappearance of an old flame many years before. At the same time, Eden is going undercover at a semi-cult to find what happened to 3 missing women. putting her life in extreme danger.
The book follows both these case, plus it takes the reader to Hades' beginning, how he became what he is.
I found it interesting, but not as exceptional as HADES. At times I found it confusing over who was where doing what and when. The characters are still very intriguing but I can't see this series going any further than it has.
I did give it a 4 star rating ... I felt I had a vested interest in seeing where the author took the characters. And the last 10-12 pages were breath-taking!
My thanks to NetGalley / Kensington Books for supplying the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2015
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: M I N D-B L O W I N G !
Sydney’s sensational crime author, Candice Fox returns following her chilling and shocking debut, HADES, 5 Stars (Archer & Bennett #1), a landfill of horrors, with a continuation of dark and gritty intensity (on steroids) with multi-layered EDEN (Archer & Bennett #2) — an electrifying spine-chilling, suspense psycho-crime thriller page-turner!
Let me begin by saying, Candice Fox writes like no other. The queen of creative, complex, gruesome, harrowing, violence, and nerve-racking mystery crime suspense. Next, it is imperative you read HADES, prior to embarking on this journey to EDEN. You will need to be fully equipped with the dark background of Eden and her brother Eric--how Hades, came to be their father.
After reading HADES, a strong (unique) debut, with its twisted, dark, and evil narrative—was so intrigued, breathlessly awaiting the follow-up, EDEN. Again, Fox does not disappoint. Left with another cliffhanger, dying for Dec, 2015 for FALL (Archer & Bennett #3) . . most likely a longer wait for US; hoping to get my hands on an ARC!
Hades, the junkyard king in Sydney, “The Lord of the Underworld,” an intelligent, artistic man, a sculptor, known for disposing of bodies, for a mere price of twenty grand. A place for the evil ones, and never for the innocents.
With HADES, we received a glimpse into the world of Hades (Heinrich), one of Sydney’s most powerful criminal overlords back in the sixties and seventies – centered around the time when he found the two damaged babies (Eden and Eric )and raised them as his own--from childhood, teen years, to adulthood. Their background and how they came to the dump, left for dead.
Presently, Eden Archer, a highly intelligent cop, and a serial killer, is feared by many, including her own detective partner, Frank Bennett. Like her dad, Hades is known for “setting up games, creating shadows, observing, listening and testing you.”
In EDEN, we have two powerful storylines. Hades and his children were a superior breed of urban predator. Frank is afraid of Eden, and yet more so of Hades. The most intriguing is the chilling childhood of HADES, a man, feared by many, yet sometimes fascinating. Fans will love discovering how his past shaped his personality and the man he is today (so good). He hires Frank to help him solve some of the mysteries and demons of his past, as he senses someone is watching him.
As the book opens, Frank is a mess. Martina is dead. He has been in pain, with his shoulder from the nightmare they experienced; still on drugs (Oxy) and constant binge drinking to dull the pain and his mind. There is also the psychologist, Dr. Imogen Stone; he and Eden, are required to see. He has let himself go, and Eden is determined to get him back on track. She needs him clear headed in order to help with the new investigation. She is relentless, showing up around the clock pushing him.
After a day with Hades, at the Utulla, Frank feels he has purpose and agrees to help Hades, and assist Eden with an uncover case. Hades will pay him well. He has no clue what is in store for him with the two cases.
When Frank first met Eden, she was beautiful and dark, like an enchanting witch from a fairy tale – a wolf in the dark. He knows what she is capable of, and this has bound him to her like a magnet. He wants to get closer, but at the same time he is afraid of letting her get her claws deeper into him. Sometimes he wants to see how bad she really is, and at the same time fearful. “She is irresistible, like the carnage of a road accident.”
The new case is of three missing girls, all in their late teens or early twenties. Ashley, Keely, and Erin. One missing sixty-four days, thirty days, and four. They were all blonde. Ashley was a full time prostitute, Erin a recreational prostitute, and Keely, not a full time prostitute, but all the same into drugs and sex. They think Jackie Rye is involved. He has a sordid past, but has inherited a farm with a ton of people involved in the daily operations. He also makes a lot of cash from housing horses. He sells specialty organic meat and produce to major supermarkets. They have camps there where runaways go, from violet criminals, laborers looking for money on the side, and girls to share their beds. All the girls seemed to have stayed there. Captain James wants to send Eden in undercover and she needs Frank to protect her on the outside. Eden is about to walk in a dangerous world.
Eden will never forget that night (the fear, rage, and fragmented memories of the night their parents were murdered). From the night in the trunk, and maybe Eric had been chasing those memories though the years of killing as if he could do something to help them, or warn them. Where would she be if Hades had not saved her; she had not been reborn a killer. She enjoys toying with raw emotions. "She hungered for making art, the same way she hungered for the kill."
Flashing back and forth from the current investigation into a serial killer with Eden and Frank’s impending investigation, and Heinrich’s nightmares of his past - Bear, the French Man and Sunday.
Tensions mount, emotions are high, as everyone has to face demons from the past. Detective homicide Frank is the center of both storylines, as he has to protect Eden, and at the same time trying to protect her father, Hades. Fox pulls out all the stops and leaves no stone unturned. I felt my blood pressure rising as you are holding your breath with each page – do not think about putting it down.
Many of you inquire as which book I enjoyed, the best? Read them both. Hades was my favorite, possibly due to the enthralling background of these two children left in a dump to die. Their childhood and father was quite fascinating. However, with Eden, it is more complex, compelling, and intense as we learn more about Hades; the cold case, and the current case with an intimate look at Eden, Frank, and Hades.
Cleverly written, both stories pull you into these complicated, edgy, dark and twisted characters. They are like a dark, talented, and moody artist, weaving their feelings, rage, and evil thoughts on their canvas. Fox has a special way of describing her settings in vivid detail, drawing you in, making you sympathetic towards the evil guys, due to their horrific background.
Would love to see the author at her famous coffee spots in action – you can bet she is in a zone, shutting out the outer world. Candice is on her way to be associated with the best of crime writers in Australia in addition to Bernhard Aichner; as like Paul Cleave-New Zealand, Jennifer Hillier/ Linwood Barclay– Canada, and Karin Slaughter/Lisa Gardner/Michael Connelly -US. Top crime thriller authors, not to be missed.
With the cliffhanger ending, readers are in for a treat with the next installment with the psychologist’s discovery of the birthmark and the connection of the Tanner children case. What will she do with this information and how will this affect Frank, Eden, and Hades? I can hardly wait! Hope Christmas (Dec) comes early.
Note to self: Do not mess with Eden or Hades. One more thing: love the way Candice connects each book. We get just enough to pull you back in. The original case with the murdered family will now come front and center. Great writing -Awesome!
JDCMustReadBooks
Warning: M I N D-B L O W I N G !
Sydney’s sensational crime author, Candice Fox returns following her chilling and shocking debut, HADES, 5 Stars (Archer & Bennett #1), a landfill of horrors, with a continuation of dark and gritty intensity (on steroids) with multi-layered EDEN (Archer & Bennett #2) — an electrifying spine-chilling, suspense psycho-crime thriller page-turner!
Let me begin by saying, Candice Fox writes like no other. The queen of creative, complex, gruesome, harrowing, violence, and nerve-racking mystery crime suspense. Next, it is imperative you read HADES, prior to embarking on this journey to EDEN. You will need to be fully equipped with the dark background of Eden and her brother Eric--how Hades, came to be their father.
After reading HADES, a strong (unique) debut, with its twisted, dark, and evil narrative—was so intrigued, breathlessly awaiting the follow-up, EDEN. Again, Fox does not disappoint. Left with another cliffhanger, dying for Dec, 2015 for FALL (Archer & Bennett #3) . . most likely a longer wait for US; hoping to get my hands on an ARC!
Hades, the junkyard king in Sydney, “The Lord of the Underworld,” an intelligent, artistic man, a sculptor, known for disposing of bodies, for a mere price of twenty grand. A place for the evil ones, and never for the innocents.
With HADES, we received a glimpse into the world of Hades (Heinrich), one of Sydney’s most powerful criminal overlords back in the sixties and seventies – centered around the time when he found the two damaged babies (Eden and Eric )and raised them as his own--from childhood, teen years, to adulthood. Their background and how they came to the dump, left for dead.
Presently, Eden Archer, a highly intelligent cop, and a serial killer, is feared by many, including her own detective partner, Frank Bennett. Like her dad, Hades is known for “setting up games, creating shadows, observing, listening and testing you.”
In EDEN, we have two powerful storylines. Hades and his children were a superior breed of urban predator. Frank is afraid of Eden, and yet more so of Hades. The most intriguing is the chilling childhood of HADES, a man, feared by many, yet sometimes fascinating. Fans will love discovering how his past shaped his personality and the man he is today (so good). He hires Frank to help him solve some of the mysteries and demons of his past, as he senses someone is watching him.
As the book opens, Frank is a mess. Martina is dead. He has been in pain, with his shoulder from the nightmare they experienced; still on drugs (Oxy) and constant binge drinking to dull the pain and his mind. There is also the psychologist, Dr. Imogen Stone; he and Eden, are required to see. He has let himself go, and Eden is determined to get him back on track. She needs him clear headed in order to help with the new investigation. She is relentless, showing up around the clock pushing him.
After a day with Hades, at the Utulla, Frank feels he has purpose and agrees to help Hades, and assist Eden with an uncover case. Hades will pay him well. He has no clue what is in store for him with the two cases.
When Frank first met Eden, she was beautiful and dark, like an enchanting witch from a fairy tale – a wolf in the dark. He knows what she is capable of, and this has bound him to her like a magnet. He wants to get closer, but at the same time he is afraid of letting her get her claws deeper into him. Sometimes he wants to see how bad she really is, and at the same time fearful. “She is irresistible, like the carnage of a road accident.”
The new case is of three missing girls, all in their late teens or early twenties. Ashley, Keely, and Erin. One missing sixty-four days, thirty days, and four. They were all blonde. Ashley was a full time prostitute, Erin a recreational prostitute, and Keely, not a full time prostitute, but all the same into drugs and sex. They think Jackie Rye is involved. He has a sordid past, but has inherited a farm with a ton of people involved in the daily operations. He also makes a lot of cash from housing horses. He sells specialty organic meat and produce to major supermarkets. They have camps there where runaways go, from violet criminals, laborers looking for money on the side, and girls to share their beds. All the girls seemed to have stayed there. Captain James wants to send Eden in undercover and she needs Frank to protect her on the outside. Eden is about to walk in a dangerous world.
Eden will never forget that night (the fear, rage, and fragmented memories of the night their parents were murdered). From the night in the trunk, and maybe Eric had been chasing those memories though the years of killing as if he could do something to help them, or warn them. Where would she be if Hades had not saved her; she had not been reborn a killer. She enjoys toying with raw emotions. "She hungered for making art, the same way she hungered for the kill."
Flashing back and forth from the current investigation into a serial killer with Eden and Frank’s impending investigation, and Heinrich’s nightmares of his past - Bear, the French Man and Sunday.
Tensions mount, emotions are high, as everyone has to face demons from the past. Detective homicide Frank is the center of both storylines, as he has to protect Eden, and at the same time trying to protect her father, Hades. Fox pulls out all the stops and leaves no stone unturned. I felt my blood pressure rising as you are holding your breath with each page – do not think about putting it down.
Many of you inquire as which book I enjoyed, the best? Read them both. Hades was my favorite, possibly due to the enthralling background of these two children left in a dump to die. Their childhood and father was quite fascinating. However, with Eden, it is more complex, compelling, and intense as we learn more about Hades; the cold case, and the current case with an intimate look at Eden, Frank, and Hades.
Cleverly written, both stories pull you into these complicated, edgy, dark and twisted characters. They are like a dark, talented, and moody artist, weaving their feelings, rage, and evil thoughts on their canvas. Fox has a special way of describing her settings in vivid detail, drawing you in, making you sympathetic towards the evil guys, due to their horrific background.
Would love to see the author at her famous coffee spots in action – you can bet she is in a zone, shutting out the outer world. Candice is on her way to be associated with the best of crime writers in Australia in addition to Bernhard Aichner; as like Paul Cleave-New Zealand, Jennifer Hillier/ Linwood Barclay– Canada, and Karin Slaughter/Lisa Gardner/Michael Connelly -US. Top crime thriller authors, not to be missed.
With the cliffhanger ending, readers are in for a treat with the next installment with the psychologist’s discovery of the birthmark and the connection of the Tanner children case. What will she do with this information and how will this affect Frank, Eden, and Hades? I can hardly wait! Hope Christmas (Dec) comes early.
Note to self: Do not mess with Eden or Hades. One more thing: love the way Candice connects each book. We get just enough to pull you back in. The original case with the murdered family will now come front and center. Great writing -Awesome!
JDCMustReadBooks
February 8, 2024
I bought 'Eden' as soon as I finished 'Hades', the first book in this peculiar trilogy. It was an original and compelling read and I could see why it won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction (2014). The second book in a trilogy can often be the trickiest, the author has lost the novelty of the first book but can't give the closure of the final book but I knew that 'Eden' won the Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction (2015) so I plunged in. I was delighted to find that 'Eden' is a rare thing, a second book in a trilogy that is even better than the first.
Candice Fox avoids the second book doldrums by moving most of the action to new environments with new challenges and by focusing on deepening the reader's knowledge of each of the three main characters.
'Eden' is an outstanding novel in its own right. It has the tension, foreboding, mystery and vivid violence that I expect from a solid thriller and it has three unusual, engaging-without-being-likeable main characters who become more important than the details of the plot.
When I was reading the book, I quickly became absorbed in the story, needing to turn the pages and find out what would happen as each of the three main characters becomes more and more at risk. I didn't have any attention left for anything else.
Once the book was over and I had time to think, I was struck by the skill of storytelling and the quality of the writing. The story is told on two timelines and from three points of view.
The present-day timeline carries straight on from the events of 'Hades' but with Eden and Archer almost immediately separated when Eden is sent undercover with Archer watching from a distance. We see the present-day timeline partly through a first-person account from Archer that gives the reader access to Archer's doubts about and concerns for Eden and his internal struggles as well as the details of the case he and Eden are working. Candice Fox keeps the reader out of Eden's and Hades' heads by describing their present-day actions in the third-person limited. With Hades, this still feels personal, giving me an insight into his reactions. Eden remains an enigma. The reader sees what she sees but gets only a limited indication of her reactions and judgements and is left to guess at her emotional state. This combination adds to the tension of the story and enriches the reading experience by using different paths to disclose information and develop characters.
The historical timeline, which kicks off the book and folds into the present-day timeline at key moments is told from the point of view of a boy who cannot remember his name or his past and uses a version of the third-person-omniscient that gives the story the aspect of a fable or legend without robbing it of impact. It is a tale where the violence is frequent and vivid but where emotions are locked away tightly.
I love the way Candice Fox writes. Her range is broad and her control or tone and pace is complete.
Here is the first paragraph of the novel. It's set in the historical timeline.
The night of the boy’s murder he was working, wandering along Darlinghurst Road in the crowds of workers, picking pockets, begging, doing tricks for coins. Later the boy would think of his life in the city streets as the Winter Days, because even in the summer they seemed cold and damp, the daylight short. The skin of his feet was hard and black, but the midnight hours penetrated this husky exterior, brought a chill through the asphalt into his skinny legs. The mornings rang with wet silence and the afternoons were heavy with foreboding, the promise of darkness bringing with it yelling, laughter, running footsteps, sirens.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 1). Random House. Kindle Edition.
Starting the first sentence with "The night of the boy's murder" and the second with "Later, of his life in the city streets as the Winter Days" enticed me. It promised mystery and strangeness and a tale cleverly told.
The present-day timeline starts with Hades. The tone of prose announces his character like the notes of a leitmotiv in an opera:
HADES WOKE THINKING he’d been shot. The great weight that seemed to fall and then wrap around his chest, the noise, the pain. He’d taken a bullet before and this was how it felt. But the thump on his chest was only the cat. The pain was his old man’s bones snapping into action, the noise his perimeter alarm sounding, an old fire alarm screwed to the wall above the door. Someone had entered his property. Hades groaned and rolled onto his side, flopping out of the bed like a swollen fish. The cat weaved around his stubby ankles, suddenly full of affection after the terror of the alarm. It was usually a bitch of a thing. Hades kicked it away and slipped his thongs on.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 10). Random House. Kindle Edition.
I love the way we move from feral boy to aggressive but aching old man and how the memory of having been shot turns simile into character-building history inside a paragraph
Then we move on to Archer, the one we have the most intimate view of, the one least likely to be seen as a monster and yet the one who is often the hardest to like.
THE TELEVISION WAS on, but somehow the knocking broke through the chatter of morning programs, the laughter and music and cooking tutorials, to snap me awake. The first sensation was the wetness under my face. Cold drool. Camel mouth. The place smelled damp and reeked of kitty litter. But still bearable. I could leave it a couple more days. I sat up and felt a nudge in the small of my back. I fished around and retrieved an empty Jameson bottle. The pain – dull, heavy, everywhere.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 18). Random House. Kindle Edition.
I like that both scenes start with a man being woken to pain and yet show how different the men are.
In this book, Eden is sent undercover to a remote sheep station run by a man suspected of serial rape and murder. Going undercover requires Eden to reinvent herself as Eadie. Eden is always impeccably dressed and completely in control. Eadie is a homeless young woman on the run from an abusive husband and in control of very little. The transformation is fascinating. When Eden is Eden, we get small insights into what she likes and dislikes. Once she becomes Eadie we have almost as limited a view as that of the men monitoring the feed from her concealed body cam.
The scenes on the sheep station are intense, conveying a feral lifestyle that is always on the edge of violence. The denouement was explosive, graphic and credible both in terms of the action and the impact it had both on Eden and on Archer.
Eden as Eadie surprised me. Archer's contact with Eden and Hades is challenging him to make decisions about who he is going to be. The biggest development in the book, though, was in my understanding of Hades. He really is a complicated and very dangerous man. Even so, Eden is scarier than he is.
I'll be back for the final book, 'Fall' shortly.
Candice Fox avoids the second book doldrums by moving most of the action to new environments with new challenges and by focusing on deepening the reader's knowledge of each of the three main characters.
'Eden' is an outstanding novel in its own right. It has the tension, foreboding, mystery and vivid violence that I expect from a solid thriller and it has three unusual, engaging-without-being-likeable main characters who become more important than the details of the plot.
When I was reading the book, I quickly became absorbed in the story, needing to turn the pages and find out what would happen as each of the three main characters becomes more and more at risk. I didn't have any attention left for anything else.
Once the book was over and I had time to think, I was struck by the skill of storytelling and the quality of the writing. The story is told on two timelines and from three points of view.
The present-day timeline carries straight on from the events of 'Hades' but with Eden and Archer almost immediately separated when Eden is sent undercover with Archer watching from a distance. We see the present-day timeline partly through a first-person account from Archer that gives the reader access to Archer's doubts about and concerns for Eden and his internal struggles as well as the details of the case he and Eden are working. Candice Fox keeps the reader out of Eden's and Hades' heads by describing their present-day actions in the third-person limited. With Hades, this still feels personal, giving me an insight into his reactions. Eden remains an enigma. The reader sees what she sees but gets only a limited indication of her reactions and judgements and is left to guess at her emotional state. This combination adds to the tension of the story and enriches the reading experience by using different paths to disclose information and develop characters.
The historical timeline, which kicks off the book and folds into the present-day timeline at key moments is told from the point of view of a boy who cannot remember his name or his past and uses a version of the third-person-omniscient that gives the story the aspect of a fable or legend without robbing it of impact. It is a tale where the violence is frequent and vivid but where emotions are locked away tightly.
I love the way Candice Fox writes. Her range is broad and her control or tone and pace is complete.
Here is the first paragraph of the novel. It's set in the historical timeline.
The night of the boy’s murder he was working, wandering along Darlinghurst Road in the crowds of workers, picking pockets, begging, doing tricks for coins. Later the boy would think of his life in the city streets as the Winter Days, because even in the summer they seemed cold and damp, the daylight short. The skin of his feet was hard and black, but the midnight hours penetrated this husky exterior, brought a chill through the asphalt into his skinny legs. The mornings rang with wet silence and the afternoons were heavy with foreboding, the promise of darkness bringing with it yelling, laughter, running footsteps, sirens.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 1). Random House. Kindle Edition.
Starting the first sentence with "The night of the boy's murder" and the second with "Later, of his life in the city streets as the Winter Days" enticed me. It promised mystery and strangeness and a tale cleverly told.
The present-day timeline starts with Hades. The tone of prose announces his character like the notes of a leitmotiv in an opera:
HADES WOKE THINKING he’d been shot. The great weight that seemed to fall and then wrap around his chest, the noise, the pain. He’d taken a bullet before and this was how it felt. But the thump on his chest was only the cat. The pain was his old man’s bones snapping into action, the noise his perimeter alarm sounding, an old fire alarm screwed to the wall above the door. Someone had entered his property. Hades groaned and rolled onto his side, flopping out of the bed like a swollen fish. The cat weaved around his stubby ankles, suddenly full of affection after the terror of the alarm. It was usually a bitch of a thing. Hades kicked it away and slipped his thongs on.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 10). Random House. Kindle Edition.
I love the way we move from feral boy to aggressive but aching old man and how the memory of having been shot turns simile into character-building history inside a paragraph
Then we move on to Archer, the one we have the most intimate view of, the one least likely to be seen as a monster and yet the one who is often the hardest to like.
THE TELEVISION WAS on, but somehow the knocking broke through the chatter of morning programs, the laughter and music and cooking tutorials, to snap me awake. The first sensation was the wetness under my face. Cold drool. Camel mouth. The place smelled damp and reeked of kitty litter. But still bearable. I could leave it a couple more days. I sat up and felt a nudge in the small of my back. I fished around and retrieved an empty Jameson bottle. The pain – dull, heavy, everywhere.
Fox, Candice. Eden (Archer & Bennett Thriller Book 2) (p. 18). Random House. Kindle Edition.
I like that both scenes start with a man being woken to pain and yet show how different the men are.
In this book, Eden is sent undercover to a remote sheep station run by a man suspected of serial rape and murder. Going undercover requires Eden to reinvent herself as Eadie. Eden is always impeccably dressed and completely in control. Eadie is a homeless young woman on the run from an abusive husband and in control of very little. The transformation is fascinating. When Eden is Eden, we get small insights into what she likes and dislikes. Once she becomes Eadie we have almost as limited a view as that of the men monitoring the feed from her concealed body cam.
The scenes on the sheep station are intense, conveying a feral lifestyle that is always on the edge of violence. The denouement was explosive, graphic and credible both in terms of the action and the impact it had both on Eden and on Archer.
Eden as Eadie surprised me. Archer's contact with Eden and Hades is challenging him to make decisions about who he is going to be. The biggest development in the book, though, was in my understanding of Hades. He really is a complicated and very dangerous man. Even so, Eden is scarier than he is.
I'll be back for the final book, 'Fall' shortly.
June 6, 2025
Setting: Sydney, Australia; modern day.
In this second book of the series, Eden Archer and her fellow detective Frank Bennett try to discover the fate of three missing girls. Suspecting that a serial killer is on the loose, Eden goes undercover at a community farm run by a career criminal called Jackie Rye, who seems to have ties to the missing girls. Meanwhile, as well as supervising Eden's undercover operation, Frank is helping Hades Archer find out what happened to his former girlfriend when he was just a teenager...
This was another great Aussie crime drama - I especially love the main characters, with all their flaws and foibles, and can't wait to read more of the series - 9/10.
In this second book of the series, Eden Archer and her fellow detective Frank Bennett try to discover the fate of three missing girls. Suspecting that a serial killer is on the loose, Eden goes undercover at a community farm run by a career criminal called Jackie Rye, who seems to have ties to the missing girls. Meanwhile, as well as supervising Eden's undercover operation, Frank is helping Hades Archer find out what happened to his former girlfriend when he was just a teenager...
This was another great Aussie crime drama - I especially love the main characters, with all their flaws and foibles, and can't wait to read more of the series - 9/10.
May 15, 2017
Provides more background on Hades, Eden and in a way Frank. Still has the great crime scenes and multi POV style, with past and current time settings. I just found that it was more or less the same as the first. However didnt seem to engage me as well as Hades. Well written and developed story and characters. Not purely crime, has a psychological thriller element to it as well.
June 17, 2016
Interesting. A completely different take on a crime novel. The characters seem a bit more likeable in this second book of the series but still, for police officers, Eden and Frank do a lot of totally inappropriate things.
In this story, Eden goes undercover at an organic farm to try and find a lead on some missing girls that police suspect have been murdered. The answers are surprising and extremely dangerous for Eden. Meanwhile Frank, her partner, is trying to find out whatever happened to Sunday, an Indigenous waif, that was an old friend/love of Hades as a child/young man. Sunday disappeared years ago never to be heard from again.
The book also covers Hades background and explains how he came to be the brutal man that he turned into. I think it really helps if you have read the earlier book. Otherwise my comments won't make much sense either but hey, I'm not one for long reviews or trying to summarise a book in two paras. I enjoyed this story in the end although it took a while to get going.
In this story, Eden goes undercover at an organic farm to try and find a lead on some missing girls that police suspect have been murdered. The answers are surprising and extremely dangerous for Eden. Meanwhile Frank, her partner, is trying to find out whatever happened to Sunday, an Indigenous waif, that was an old friend/love of Hades as a child/young man. Sunday disappeared years ago never to be heard from again.
The book also covers Hades background and explains how he came to be the brutal man that he turned into. I think it really helps if you have read the earlier book. Otherwise my comments won't make much sense either but hey, I'm not one for long reviews or trying to summarise a book in two paras. I enjoyed this story in the end although it took a while to get going.
April 2, 2018
1.5 stars. Dark, disturbing and sordid. Plenty of blood, and dead bodies. Hades, the first book in the series was also twisted, dark and brutal, but I quite enjoyed the uneasy relationship between three police officers in Sydney ( Eden, Frank and Eden’s brother Eric) and also the surprising connection with criminal fixer and mastermind, Hades. I wanted to know more about the main characters, all quite disturbed and damaged from their past.
Unfortunately, although this book, Eden, went deeper into their personalities and background, there were too many storylines. As a result I didn’t have a problem in putting down the book down from time to time. I stuck with it until the bitter end although was tempted not to finish. Felt detached from the storyline.
That being said, Fox’s latest book Crimson Lake was a 5 star mystery for me, and loved the setting and the unique characters. Anxiously awaiting the second book in the Crimson Lake series.
Unfortunately, although this book, Eden, went deeper into their personalities and background, there were too many storylines. As a result I didn’t have a problem in putting down the book down from time to time. I stuck with it until the bitter end although was tempted not to finish. Felt detached from the storyline.
That being said, Fox’s latest book Crimson Lake was a 5 star mystery for me, and loved the setting and the unique characters. Anxiously awaiting the second book in the Crimson Lake series.
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