Margaret Thatcher has just been elected (imagine a woman as Prime Minister!!) and the Yorkshire Ripper is terrorizing Northern England. Yorkshire 1979
Margaret Thatcher has just been elected (imagine a woman as Prime Minister!!) and the Yorkshire Ripper is terrorizing Northern England.
And, now Miv’s father feels like a move away from Yorkshire might be what’s BEST for his family, threatening to move them all “Down South”.
12 year old Miv has already lost her mother (for all intents and purposes) and she doesn’t feel like she could survive losing her best friend, Sharon too. Inspired by her favorite adventure books, “The Famous Five” by Enid Blyton, she comes up with a plan…
If she and Sharon can solve “The Ripper” case, maybe she won’t have to move away.
They make a “list of all the suspicious people” and begin investigating.
What they discover is that many of the neighborhood boys and men are up to “no good” but could they also be responsible for bludgeoning prostitutes with hammers and stabbing them to death?
This book progresses “suspect by suspect” and is filled with late 70’s/early 80’s NOSTALGIA which I both remember and love. (especially the songs!!)
The denouement is both shocking and unexpected.
It’s part “coming of age” story, part Historical Fiction, and part mystery and it brought back my own memories of reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew mysteries. Even the hardback book with its striking blue dust cover feels reminiscent of those times, and will become a cherished addition to my book shelf.
The heart of the story is the friendship between the two girls! This book was a gift from my good friend Susan- whom I met late in life-but we share so many interests that I bet we would have also been “thick as thieves” if we had met as young girls!
We all know that the TRUTH lies somewhere between HIS version, and HER version.
So what about when we have SEVEN versions of the truth?
WHO DO WE BELIEV We all know that the TRUTH lies somewhere between HIS version, and HER version.
So what about when we have SEVEN versions of the truth?
WHO DO WE BELIEVE?!
Laurel Thibodeau was found brutally murdered in her own home-asphyxiated with a plastic bag.
Foul Play is suspected so naturally the suspicion falls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix.
But there are other rumors too . . .
The group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, all have theories-and something to hide.
And before this party draws to a close, one of these six will also be dead as motives of jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed are all revealed.
The question becomes not who in this group might be capable of murder, but, rather, WHO ISN'T?
The Shrink, the Patient, The Cop, The Boyfriend, The Daughter, the Minister and even the DOG, will all share their version of the truth, one POV at a time.
I enjoyed listening for the subtle (and not so subtle) differences as we hear their recollections, but of course that does lead to some repetition, which some readers or listeners may not enjoy, especially when this Audible clocks in at 13 hours and 45 minutes at regular speed!
But, the FULL CAST of narrators kept me intrigued and I found my first book by Edwin Hill, quite entertaining!
“Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” might sound like it’s a COZY mystery-but it isn’t.
And, if you read the taglines- you might be expecting a thriller“Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” might sound like it’s a COZY mystery-but it isn’t.
And, if you read the taglines- you might be expecting a thriller-but those taglines are misleading as well.
Lenny Marks is your latest neurodivergent character in search of acceptance after a traumatic childhood, which she doesn’t quite remember, and this is HER story.
Expect a well written DEBUT by Australian author Kerrin Mayne, more in line with “Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine”.
It builds a bit SLOWLY as we get to know Lenny and her World, but has more “action” in the second half.
Routines help Lenny to stay CALM.
She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, eats the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). She loves “FRIENDS” reruns, and a favorite pastime is playing Scrabble against an imaginary “Monica Gellar”.
She may NOT be good at reading people, or making friends, but she is VERY good with words.
Lenny is thriving as a 5th grade teacher at Selby South Primary School until a letter arrives in the mail from the Parole Board. She tucks it away in an attempt to ignore it but when that fails-Lenny starts to UNRAVEL.
Her BEST coping mechanism- rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as she can come up with isn’t working this time…(Maybe a bit overused but I was impressed at all the words she could scramble!) ...more
Told in three parts, this story read more like a FAMILY DRAMA than a thriller for the first two parts, and a POLICE PROCEDURAL for part three.
1990: PaTold in three parts, this story read more like a FAMILY DRAMA than a thriller for the first two parts, and a POLICE PROCEDURAL for part three.
1990: Part One
Two families will never be the same when on the day of Alec Salter’s fiftieth birthday party, just before Christmas 1990, his wife Charlotte (Charlie) vanishes. Fifteen year old, Etty Salter is the only one who seems concerned that her mother has failed to show up at the party. Then, while searching for her-Etty and her neighbor Morgan, find another body floating in the river-that of Morgan’s father- Duncan Ackerley.
Not wanting their Christmas plans to be ruined, the police quickly “conclude” that Duncan and Charlotte must have been having an affair before he killed her and committed suicide.
Case Closed despite having no body for Charlotte.
2022: Part Two
Thirty years later, Morgan Ackerley, a successful documentarian, has returned to Glensted with his older brother Greg to make podcast based on their shared tragedy with the Salters. Alec, stricken with dementia, is entering an elder care facility and Etty is back to help clear the house and put her father’s affairs in order.
When secrets get exposed-tragedy will strike again-and it seems to be related to the past.
Part Three:
With the podcast making national news, London sends Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor to Glensted to take over the investigation. Even with a messy personal life, she is clearly more competent than anyone who has worked the cases before. And, she has zero tolerance for her colleagues incompetence-or their sexism.
Needing an ally, she enlists the help Carrie Kessler, a friend and colleague who is currently on maternity leave in London.
Up until part three, this story has been a SLOW BURN, but the pace definitely picks up with these two on the case. Unfortunately, part three doesn’t begin until the 60% mark. I might have enjoyed this book more if these two women had made an earlier appearance.
Nicci French is a husband/wife writing duo (Nicci Gerard and Sean French) who has published many books and has countless fans, BUT this is my second time trying their work, and again they will earn only a three star rating. (average)
I failed to become emotionally invested at any point in the story, and found myself wanting to skim to get to the end-their work just doesn’t resonate with me.
Be sure to read a sample of reviews to determine if this might be a better fit for you.
If you are a fan, you can pick this up today.
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for a candid review....more
Lisa Scottoline is back with another highly entertaining, stand-alone thriller that has a “catchy” title, and a snarky, likable lead character who youLisa Scottoline is back with another highly entertaining, stand-alone thriller that has a “catchy” title, and a snarky, likable lead character who you can’t help but root for!
TJ Devlin is the only child who is not a lawyer at Devlin and Devlin, the highly successful family law firm which employs not only both parents but also both of his siblings.
Instead he holds the title of “Investigator” given to him by his family after time in jail for an alcohol related crime.
His sister Gabby is whip smart, but prefers her pro bono work- making his older brother John the family MVD (most valuable Devlin)
So TJ is pretty shocked when at their father’s birthday party, John confesses that he needs TJ’s help. It appears that he accidentally killed one of their clients, an accountant he’d confronted with proof of embezzlement.
TJ may have to OBSTRUCT justice to save John, but he wants to make amends with his family and prove his worth. At the same time, Gabby needs TJ’s help to GET justice for her dying plaintiffs-prisoners who were experimented on by a large pharmaceutical company,
This would be a lot for anyone but TJ will have to balance both cases while also dealing with his own personal demons-AA meetings-the loss of love-and a newly adopted, diabetic cat named Mango, who tolerates him at best.
Don’t let the 400 pages scare you away! The chapters are short and this is compulsive “just one more chapter” reading! I was engaged from the first page through the last.
And, this story COULD be the prequel for the next chapter in TJ’s life…...more
After her younger sister is brutally raped, Millie Masters sets up a hotline for women who need help shaking off a man a“So Many Men, So Little Time…”
After her younger sister is brutally raped, Millie Masters sets up a hotline for women who need help shaking off a man at a bar, or who feel unsafe walking home alone late at night: “Message M”
Even on Mondays, there is always a call for help…
And, Millie is “on call” to rescue you.
But as her sister continues to become a shell of her former self, Millie becomes more and more OBSESSED with vengeance! She may be called a quitter when it comes to work, hobbies, relationships and diets, but not when it comes to MURDER.
She has decided that she needs to find and punish the man, that the police have failed to locate-her sister’s attacker.
Not since “Jane Doe” (Victoria Helen Stone) have I had as much fun reading about (and rooting for) a diabolical female serial killer.
Though obviously what women endure far too frequently is not at all funny, the story is filled with witty and sarcastic observations and fierce and loyal female relationships. The OVER THE TOP story shouldn’t be taken too seriously and just enjoyed for what it is-a deliciously DARK, and entertaining revenge ...more
Four people who find each other when they join an online support group for Victims of Stalking. They dub themselves “FYSAlex, Lucy, River and Bridget.
Four people who find each other when they join an online support group for Victims of Stalking. They dub themselves “FYST” which stands for F*** You Stalker Tw*ts”-a name that immediately clued me in that I might struggle with this book.
They keep in touch on WhatsApp-often making sure that one another makes it home safely-as this group of four used to be five until Natalie was followed home by her stalker for the LAST time.
At Nat’s funeral, they are handed a wreath whose attached card reads “ RIP” and promises that another one of them will be killed in ten days.
With the Police doing little to ensure their safety, they devise a plan of their own-the only way to STOP a stalker is to become one yourself-trading stalkers in order to keep each under surveillance.
The story unfolds through their four alternating POV’s and their WhatsApp group texts as we count down the days until someone dies….
Unfortunately, although I was able to keep track of who our four group members were, I often found myself confused about the back stories of each and about “WHO was WHO” in our supporting cast of characters.
In addition it’s a book which became extremely OTT, even for a stalker story with AT LEAST one twist too many.
DO read the author’s note at the conclusion of the book. She was unfortunately a Victim of Stalking fifteen years ago, and I applaud her for sharing her experience and the sobering statistics of Stalking in the UK. and for providing tips and resources for those who may be experiencing stalking now.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to watch for her review for additional thoughts on this polarizing book!
Available Now
Thank You to Avon Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley....more
#What Happened To Nina sucked me in from the first page-it was “unputdownable”! And, it’s NOW AVAILABLE!!
Dervla McTiernan originally made her name as a#What Happened To Nina sucked me in from the first page-it was “unputdownable”! And, it’s NOW AVAILABLE!!
Dervla McTiernan originally made her name as a bestselling author in Australia and New Zealand, but you can’t help but wonder if this book was inspired by the 2021 Gabby Petito/Brian Laundrie case in the U.S..
Nina Fraser and her long time boyfriend, Simon Jordan depart for a romantic weekend away at his parent’s lakefront second property in Vermont which is surrounded by gorgeous trails which the young couple planned to hike-
BUT ONLY ONE WILL RETURN
Simon will claim that Nina broke up with him, and he left her there, per her request but we know from the opening prologue from NINA- that what happened is probably not the tale he is telling…
WE WON’T HEAR FROM HER AGAIN (not a spoiler)
The two families will be pitted against each other—one seeking justice in the disappearance of their daughter, and the other desperate enough to clear their son’s name that they hire the best lawyers and a PR firm that doesn’t care if Nina’s parents are suffering as they start a media campaign that slanders the Frasers by planting wild accusations and conspiracies online to divert attention from Simon.
You will be a fly on the wall…and privy to all of the SCANDALOUS conversations and it feels very REAL.
This FAST PACED story unfolds from the alternating first person POV’s of Nina’s parents-LeeAnne and Andy, and from Simon’s parents, Jamie and Rory, but not from Simon.
An additional POV is that of Detective Matthew Wright as he tries to solve the case.
How far would you go for your child?
This is my second read from the author after being introduced to her work when I read another of her standalone books-“The Murder Rule”, and it DOES NOT disappoint !
Definitely recommended! A buddy read with DeAnn…does she recommend this one too?
Thank You to Scene of the Crime/William Morrow for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
Originally an Amazon Original Audible, released in December 2021, this story is now available in print for the first time!
Lettuce Tomatoes Pickles OnOriginally an Amazon Original Audible, released in December 2021, this story is now available in print for the first time!
Lettuce Tomatoes Pickles Onions
Charlie Hudson, an autistic 17-year-old, is determined to escape Sawyer, PA and attend MIT as soon as she graduates high school — but in the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at “The Sawyer Sandwich Shop” (known as The Triple S to locals) to save money for college.
When shop owner Clay Cooper is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case-But, only one knows what really happened-Charlie-and she isn’t telling.
Charlie will have to figure out who to trust and what to do-using the rules of life she has learned from her mother and from TV- if she wants to protect the co-workers who are like family to her-and attain her dream of attending college.
What ensues is a story that was original, engaging and most of all SURPRISING!
Wendy Walker never disappoints!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title! ...more
IT IS BETTER TO LET NINE GUILTY PEOPLE GO FREE-THAN CONVICT ONE INNOCENT PERSON OF A CRIME THAT HE OR SHE DID NOT COMMIT- That is the standard of the IT IS BETTER TO LET NINE GUILTY PEOPLE GO FREE-THAN CONVICT ONE INNOCENT PERSON OF A CRIME THAT HE OR SHE DID NOT COMMIT- That is the standard of the criminal justice system in the UK.
Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the U.S.
I knew from the opening pages that this would be a story to savor….
One day, seventeen year old Sophie left home angry-and never returned home.
Six weeks later, her parents, Harry and Zara have grown frustrated with the lack of progress made by the Detectives and each has taken matters into their own hands in an attempt to find her.
They have interviewed everyone in the neighborhood except the tenant at #210-a man who refuses to speak with them or answer the questionnaire that they have left at his door.
Convinced that he is hiding something-they become OBSESSED with getting him to open up.
Harry cannot even bear to utter his daughter’s name and despite not believing, he turns to a tarot card reader that Sophie would often visit. Zara has turned to prayer although she hasn’t visited a mosque in years.
As the two parents try to save themselves and each other, they end up pushing the other away in their grief.
This is NOT your typical “best selling” crime mystery. It is part character study and part legal thriller, the pace steady but not fast, the writing often POETIC and INTROSPECTIVE.
It unfolds in the alternating first person perspectives of Harry and Zara, and in a dual timeline between the weeks after Sophie’s disappearance and a year later in the middle of a MURDER trial, until we reach its UNEXPECTED and surprising conclusion.
If I hadn’t been invited by the Publisher to read this-I probably would’ve missed out, but I will be watching for the author’s books now.
If you have read books by Kia Abdullah, you will probably enjoy this author as well.
Imran Mahmood has worked on the Criminal bar in London for over 20 years and regularly appears in the jury trials of complex criminal cases, bringing an authenticity to the story, which I appreciated.
A buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her amazing review for additional thoughts.
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank you to Bantam for the gifted copy, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review....more
For some reason, I initially had a hard time getting into this one. Maybe, I should have waited for the Audible, because that format real3.5 stars ⭐️
For some reason, I initially had a hard time getting into this one. Maybe, I should have waited for the Audible, because that format really worked for me, with the first book in the series.
Ernest Cunningham survived a serial killer in book one, and lived to write about it-penning his novel, “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone”.
The book earned him an invitation from the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society to join them aboard the Ghan, the famous train that runs between Darwin and Adelaide. He was hoping for some inspiration for his second book-Fiction this time-as he needed a break from real people killing each other.
Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
Still playing by Ronald Knox’s Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction, written in 1929, this will also be a “fair play” mystery, where the narrator will be RELIABLE, and if you follow the clues, you may solve the crime.
Here is your first clue: the killer’s name will be used 106 times.
There will be six writers on the Ghan- 5 will become “detectives” and one will be the murder victim.
Can you figure out who is who? I didn’t.
Here is one more clue to help you out-with both the first case, and now this one, the case is solved by a piece of punctuation. Last book, it was a full stop. This time, a comma saves the day.
Tate Kinsella, an actress with just one television commercial on her resume, is now a temp at a French bank. Nobody reallyGood Samaritan or Good Liar?
Tate Kinsella, an actress with just one television commercial on her resume, is now a temp at a French bank. Nobody really bothers to get to know the “temps”, so with no one to talk to at the company Christmas party, she decides to step out onto the 25th floor roof top terrace for a smoke.
It’s there that she meets “Helen” who is sitting on the ledge, apparently contemplating suicide. Tate succeeds at talking her down, and the two leave together to have a drink and talk about all that is wrong in their respective lives.
But, the next day, Tate learns that a woman has fallen from that same 25th story terrace the night prior-when she is arrested for the woman’s murder.
What really happened?!
The book opens with a prologue where Tate is speaking to her lawyer, Sarah, and the story moves forward and backward in time over six parts.
The TRUTH MAY BE BENT in one part, and what ACTUALLY happened is then revealed later on.
NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING is what is seems.
It’s been awhile since I have read a good PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, and even longer since I read a great one-but this ORIGINAL gem is pretty great!
4.5 ⭐️
Did DeAnn agree? Be sure to check out her amazing review for additional insights as this was another fun buddy read for us!
My first read from Ruth Mancini who will now be a new auto request author for me! And, excited to add her backlist to my overflowing TBR stack! ...more
Let me introduce you to the “Nosy Neighbors” seen peeking through the mail slot of this ADORABLE book cover!!
Flat #2 is the home of the cantankerous sLet me introduce you to the “Nosy Neighbors” seen peeking through the mail slot of this ADORABLE book cover!!
Flat #2 is the home of the cantankerous seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling -Shelley House’s longest resident. Always armed with a cup of tea, and her diary, she notes all of the coming and goings of the residence in her trusty notebook. She is seen on the left. (And, by the way that is MS. Darling to you!)
Beside her in that mail slot, on the right, is pink haired Kat Bennett. She has recently moved into Flat #1 as Joseph Chambers illegal subtenant, and she and Dorothy were not always accomplices-having gotten off on the wrong foot. Also in flat #1 is Reggie-an adorable Jack Russell terrier and scene stealer! (Or Reginald, according to Ms. Darling)
Rounding out the building is : Flat #3 Omar Siddiq and his daughter, Ayesha Flat #4 The anti-social tenant who frequently disturbs their peace Flat#5 Tomas’s Wojcik and his pit bull, Princess and Flat#6 Gloria Brown and her “latest no good”boyfriend.
This unlikely assortment of neighbors will have to band together if they have any hope of saving the historic Shelley House from demolition from an unscrupulous developer, Ferguson Alexander.
As eviction day nears, and things become dangerous, Dorothy and Kat must do something that neither one is comfortable doing-trust another person-each other-if they are to outwit and outlast Ferguson.
Once again, Freya Sampson has penned a delightful, COZY story of a community coming together, and written characters who will feel like friends by the end of the book!
There are reasons that Dorothy and Kat are both so closed off-and those secrets aren’t the only surprise revelations!
A new book from Freya Sampson is now something I am always watching for-she is three for three for me!!
She is home alone in a blizzard with her eight year old daughter and her five year old son, when she hears a noise. It’s the sound oFrom the synopsis:
She is home alone in a blizzard with her eight year old daughter and her five year old son, when she hears a noise. It’s the sound of footsteps, heavy and slow, coming up the stairs.
Shrouded in the shadows, she sees the figure of a man who appears down the hallway.
Terrified, she quietly wakes her children and hustles them into the oldest part of the house, a tiny, secret room concealed behind a wall.
“Hold still-he”ll see you!!” She whispers.
They hide there as the man searches for them-“Come out, Come Out, Wherever you are!”
“Mama, you said monsters don’t exist” her son whispers again, suppressing tears.
Yes, all of this is paraphrased from the first 3% of the book!! And, as you can see, you can cut the tension with a knife!!
BUT-that tension isn’t maintained as much of the middle of the book isn’t the action packed survival story that I expected.
There is a lot of ruminating about, shall we say, demons from the past, much of which is a bit WEIRD, and reads more like horror and those passages will take you out of the action and away from the present danger. That created an uneven pace as you question what is real, and what may be imagined before returning to the action.
Mislabeled?
With those subtle vibes of horror (which I don’t really care for) and written in the third person limited POV, (which is a style that I really don’t care for) I felt distant from the characters and couldn’t connect with them emotionally. For these two reasons, I cannot say that I really ENJOYED this story.
BUT-if you don’t mind that viewpoint or genre, you may want to give this one a try!
Tracy Sierra NAILED the ending (extra .5 ⭐️) and I can certainly appreciate the writing AND the many FIVE star reviews, but for me it’s a 3.5 ⭐️rating rounded down-not a great fit for me.
Available Now!!
Thank You to Pamela Dorman books for extending an invitation to read this book early, and providing a copy through NetGalley. It was a pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of miss3.5 stars
When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of missing teen Annalise Jansen.
But for a group of Annalise’s old friends, once dubbed the Shoreview Six by the media, it threatens to expose a terrible pledge made on an autumn night forty-seven years ago. Despite the intense police and media scrutiny, the group stuck to their story, their lies. (Yes, this tired trope again!)
Nearly fifty years later, three women are now digging for the truth.
Homicide Detective Jane Munro’s fiancé, Matt Rossi failed to return from a Solo hiking trip six months ago, and she is carrying his baby-a baby that he never even learned about. It’s been an emotional few months since the disappearance and Jane has since been assigned to the Cold Case unit, so when the bones are discovered-the case falls to her.
Angela Sheldrick, a reporter known for reporting breaking news first, and for often “sensationalizing” stories, gets wind of the news and doesn’t mind putting it out there, before fact checking what she has learned. Her goal is to get approval to host a reality crime series calls “Someone Always Knows” and this could be the case that sells her idea to her bosses.
And, forensic anthropologist, Dr. Ella Quinn, will allow the “unquiet bones” to speak the truth.
Although this plot has been used much too frequently this year, what elevates this story a bit above the rest is the Science shared by Dr. Quinn about forensic genealogy and familial DNA testing.
It is being used to solve many decades old murders such as the high profile Golden State Killer case, and most recently the case in Idaho involving a criminology student charged with killing 4 fellow university students.
Who knew that bones can will reveal if a person was healthy or ill, muscled or frail, vegetarian, or carnivore, and even if the person had been breastfed and for how long?
I enjoyed this aspect of the story much more than the story itself.
But despite that, the women are great characters and there is unfinished business so I get the feeling we just might meet them again for another case in a second installment.
And, I would be okay with that!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Montlake for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
For me, there is nothing more terrifying than “monsters” in human form, and Michelle Prak was relentlWOW!! This author’s first THRILLER is…
Terrifying!
For me, there is nothing more terrifying than “monsters” in human form, and Michelle Prak was relentless at preying on the many things that women fear most, in this FAST PACED adrenaline thriller set in the remote Australian Outback.
The story takes place over a 48 hours span, alternating back and forth in time, and between three narratives which eventually merge.
A rare February storm is coming and nobody knows better than Quinn how overpowering and deadly rain can be, because as a child, she witnessed a similar storm take down her father’s livestock and wash away everything in its path.
The first drops start to fall when Quinn spies a body in the road. She has already lost reception so she cannot call for help, and she feels obligated to stop.
Back at the Pindarry, the remote country pub where Quinn works, Andrea and Matt have begun sandbagging the place in preparation for heavy rains, when Matt is called to help a neighbor with flooding.
Alone with her sleeping three year old son in the back room, Andea reluctantly lets a biker in to wait out the storm, feeling obligated to do so, despite having reservations about him.
And, out on the wet roads, tensions are rising between four backpackers on their way to Darwin. Hayley and her boyfriend Scott, are on break from University and they have invited two others to join them on a road trip to share expenses. But, what do they really know about Joost and Livia?
They never expected to hit bad weather, but if they can just make it to the Pindarry, they will have a place to shelter in until the worst of the storm has passed.
The storm provides a menacing atmosphere, and the tension is PALPABLE! My heart was in my throat and if this were a movie on the big screen I would have been on the edge of my seat!
Worrying about Quinn’s loyal dog Bronte, added to my anxiety (thankfully she escapes unscathed!)
Don’t pick this up late at night if you plan on getting any sleep-the quick chapters had me saying “just one more” and before I knew it, it was way past my bedtime!
AVAILABLE NOW
This is an adrenaline thriller you won’t want to miss!! 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
Thank You to Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
One of the important rules of being a detective: ABC Assume nothing, Believe nothing, Challenge everything
That is-if you are a detective actually TRYIOne of the important rules of being a detective: ABC Assume nothing, Believe nothing, Challenge everything
That is-if you are a detective actually TRYING to solve a case.
But, what about if you are a detective faced with an impossible moral choice?
22-year-old Olivia has been missing for one day…and counting. She was last seen on CCTV, entering a dead-end alley and not coming back out again.
How could she have disappeared into thin air?
Julia, is the detective heading up the search for Olivia-but the criminal behind the disappearance has very persuasive weapon-he knows Julia’s biggest secret and her family's safety depends on one thing…
Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia -instead she must frame somebody else for Olivia’s murder.
Although NEVER bored, this began as a slower paced police procedural with excellent character development and an intricate, believable plot. It is mostly told from Julia’s POV, with a few others filling in some pieces of the puzzle as the story unfolds.
Just when you think you know where the story is heading-you will find out that you DON’T!
I loved all of the surprises and they don’t stop until the very LAST paragraph!
My only minor critique-the characters inner thoughts were often repeated three times in a row. It would make more sense if that were a personality quirk of one character-but they definitely would not all share that trait!
I am now looking forward to reading some of the author’s earlier titles that I missed!
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth! Be sure to watch for her terrific review to see if this was also a four ⭐️ read for her!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title!...more
Jack was 9 years old when his father said goodbye to him as he left for the government’s Witness Protection Program.
Excerpt :
He reached around into Jack was 9 years old when his father said goodbye to him as he left for the government’s Witness Protection Program.
Excerpt :
He reached around into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. A simple billfold made of brown leather. He opened it up briefly, exposing a couple of bills. A ten and a five. “There’s a few bucks in there,” he said. “Enough for some comics or ice cream or something.” He took his son’s hand and placed the wallet in it. The boy studied it, like it was some strange, unidentifiable artifact. “What about your driver’s license?” the boy asked. “They’ll get me a new one of those. New Social Security card, too, probably even a library card. Along with my new name, whatever it turns out to be.” “You won’t be Dad anymore?” The man looked as though he might crumble. He took a moment. “I’ll always be Dad,” he said. He folded the child’s fingers around the wallet. “You hold on tight to it, just in case. You never know, maybe one day I’ll come back for it.”
Now:
Jack is a struggling author and his third book has been rejected. So when the U.S Marshalls approach him with a lucrative job offer-writing the back stories for people who are about to go off grid in the Witness Protection Program, he sees it as not only an opportunity to earn some money, but also as a way to possibly get information about his Dad, and maybe reconnect with him.
But, how can he find a man he’s never truly known?
Jack and his investigative reporter girlfriend, Lana, are likable and believable characters who you can root for, and unlike the last two thrillers that I read, this one delivered an ORIGINAL PREMISE, which was ENTERTAINING from the very first page through the last one.
Full of suspense, it managed to SURPRISE me more than once, and it had an adrenaline finish like one you might find in the movie theater! ...more
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