Filomena is welcomed warmly by her extended family and is pleased to see they are holding their own, though she finds it hard to believe she was ever once a part of this world.

Filomena is not especially surprised by the amount of violence she witnesses while in Ecuador, but she is greatly angered by the murder of the priest who was kind and helpful to her so many years ago. She now finds herself feeling the same outrage and fear she felt before she left, now increased with Antonia’s safety to worry about also. The PI in Filomena takes over and she once again enters the tangled web of politics, both legitimate and not, finally ready to face her past and come to terms with it

Blood Lake has a very strong sense of place. K.j.a. Wishnia has written a detailed description of the daily despair many Ecuadorians face, along with the hope and joy they find in everyday places. Many of the descriptions come from Filomena’s recollection of past events and are hard to follow at times, as her travels between the past and the present are not seamless.

There is a sense of immediacy that the atmosphere provides, so much so, that it is hard to distinguish between Filomena’s past and her now similar future. Filomena is a very complex character who has had many changes in her life and has had to deal with many tough situations, always coming out better for the effort. Now with a growing daughter to be concerned with, she is able to put her past demons to rest and should be able to face the future confidently.

There is much to learn about Filomena’s past and readers who missed her first mystery, Red House set in New York City, will not be at a disadvantage. After meeting her, they will more than likely seek out her first novel to learn more about Filomena and will look forward to their next meeting with this tough, resilient heroine.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry