I'm hopelessly hooked - there's nothing more to say!! I hate it took me so long to jump on the Joe Pickett bandwagon, but there's no stopping now! EndI'm hopelessly hooked - there's nothing more to say!! I hate it took me so long to jump on the Joe Pickett bandwagon, but there's no stopping now! Endangered is mesmerizing...page burning...couldn't put it down! I'm so in love with Box's work that I've also started working my way through his other series beginning with the Highway Quartet series. These are stunning reads. Highly recommended....more
As an avid reader, it's always exciting for me to discover books that stimulate and challenge me while also enlightening me on social issues. Extra poAs an avid reader, it's always exciting for me to discover books that stimulate and challenge me while also enlightening me on social issues. Extra points to an author who tackles a subject rooted in history and yet one that's still prevalent in today's world, rendering it in such a manner as to be highly entertaining at the same time as educational. Without Lillie's skill and mesmerizing prose, BLOOD SISTERS might have been one long sermon on the injustices suffered by Native Americans. However, with brilliant plotting, intriguing characterizations and a lot of heart, Lillie skillfully entices readers with a fantastic, heart stopping mystery while also highlighting the gross indignities and mistreatment suffered by a group of Indigenous people. Carve out enough time to read this one straight through as there's no way to put it down once you begin.
Vanessa Lillie's BLOOD SISTERS is an intense, eye opening, highly emotional suspense thriller delivered via the voice of Syd Walker, an archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Rhode Island. Her mission is to preserve Cherokee history, culture and land rights while identifying skeletal remains of victims of violence and returning them home to their people. Syd is disturbed when she receives a request to return to the town of Pincher, Oklahoma - a place she fled fifteen years prior following an attack that left her best friend dead and her sister Emma Lou damaged in a way that left her permanently scarred and floundering in a world of drugs and bad decisions. Syd’s haunted by her troubled past, but the discovery of a skull with Syd's old I.D. card lodged in its mouth makes it impossible for her to refuse the case. Leaving behind her wife who's just announced her pregnancy, Syd heads back to her small hometown with the ghost of her best friend Luna riding shotgun in her mind, stirring up old disturbing memories. A number of Indigenous women have gone missing in the area and upon arriving home, Syd learns her sister Emma is among them. As Syd starts investigating, it's soon clear she's rattling skeletons that are making people in power extremely nervous. Once again, decisions are forced upon her people without proper restitution, but this time Syd won't walk away until she gets justice for both the dead and the living. If they don't kill her first.
BLOOD SISTERS focuses on one native woman's efforts to find the missing and return them home - whether dead or alive. The plot line is intricately woven, unfolding at a steadily rising, tension ladened pace through vivid prose that transports readers to the dark, desolate countryside alongside Syd while charging all with solving the mysterious disappearances while exposing the secrets held within the raped land before time runs out. The author's utilization of a ghost's voice in Syd's head to deliver the story is genius, setting an eerie, spooky tone while leading readers to speculate if the person is a ghost or Syd is hallucinating. It's clear Syd is in a precarious state of mind and holding on by a thread as she battles both inner and outer demons determined to take her down, all of which adds to the dark, malevolent atmosphere of this riveting thriller. I love that just when you think you have it all figured out, the shocking climax knocks you off your feet.
Vanessa Lillie has rendered a story rich in the history of Native Americans, spotlighting their continued struggles with drug and environmental issues, forced abandonment of their homes and land without restitution and the suspicious disappearance of Indigenous women for whom no one seems to be searching. Indications are this is the first in a series of books to come featuring Syd - an Indigenous, lesbian woman - as the lead character which is exciting, albeit a rare occurrence in the book world. Through Lillie's brilliant, descriptive writing, Syd comes across as a spirited, yet vulnerable character with strong ethics battling her own demons - one who readers will have no problem respecting and/or feeling empathy for. BLOOD SISTERS is a dynamic, engrossing, heart touching suspense thriller that's highly addictive as well as eye-opening, and it's clear it comes straight from the heart of the author. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers as well as readers who enjoy beautifully written stories with a spotlight on critical issues and injustices rooted in history that have existed over the years. What a jewel of a book! If you only read one book for Native American Heritage Month, make it this one! Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an advanced readers copy and the tour invitation. My tour stop is on Nov. 21, 2023 at Cross My Heart Reviews. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. All opinions expressed are my own....more
In this great big reading world, I consider myself lucky to come across a book that holds me captive from start to finish. One that I quickly become tIn this great big reading world, I consider myself lucky to come across a book that holds me captive from start to finish. One that I quickly become totally immersed in to a point of becoming one with the characters and story. These elusive books are rarer than hen's teeth and yet, I finished Panther Gap satisfied in the knowledge I held one in my hands. Panther Gap is a larger than life story that defies genre and boundaries. One laden with a complex, multifaceted plot line and atypical characters refusing to be locked in a box. One that delivers a stunning message to humans residing on planet earth.
Panther Gap is a mesmerizing story featuring siblings Bowman and Summer whose early years are spent running wild and free on their father's secluded, off-the-map ranch, hidden away from public eyes in a remote location rich in the history of the "Others" with ancient hidden subterranean passages forming a honeycomb in the Colorado canyon walls. Since losing his wife, their radical environmentalist father appears to be slipping away in fits of paranoia, experiencing psychotic episodes in losing battles with ghosts from his past while guarding dark secrets with his life. His irrational warnings of unknown danger frighten his children, but even so both siblings absorb his lessons in survival skills and love for nature like a sponge as they grow into misfit teenagers.
Bowman is especially psychic when it comes to the wildlife living in the natural habitat surrounding their refuge, often venturing off for extended periods of time to live among the animals as one. At times, he becomes dangerously close to losing touch with reality as he often transcends space in a hallucinatory state during which time the fragile lines between his human form and animal counterpart merge. Much of the story, especially anything pertaining to Bowman, is engulfed in a surreal, phantasmal state. During these times, Summer fears she may lose her brother to the same apparent madness that drives her father.
Bowman and Summer eventually become estranged when he leaves the security of the ranch to pursue the elusive panthers in Central America, with hopes of discovering his own true identity and place in the universe, and she is left to take over the running of the family ranch which is bordering on financial disaster. It's only in later years when their father's warnings prove to be sound and the much maligned inheritance from their late grandfather comes into play that they reunite to battle the crime and mafia drug forces threatening them and their way of life. The story that ensues is a dark, gritty, raw, sometimes heartbreaking thriller that this reader could not put down.
Panther Gap is a beautifully written, action packed thriller that swept me away. I love a story that integrates the surrounding environment into the plot line as an extra character as McLaughlin does in this one. Add a cast of nonconformist characters pushed over their physical and mental limits, and I'm one happy reader. Top that with a family drama - estranged, eccentric family members forced back together in the battle of their lives against bad guys coming at them from every direction in a multifaceted plot line, and I'm in book heaven. Panther Gap is rendered through the points of view of Bowman and Summer in riveting past/presence chapters. This allows readers to understand the radical upbringing that shaped them into the adults they've become in this place and time with an appreciation for the environment as well as the source of the deep sorrow they bear in the knowledge that many of the earth's resources and species are being depleted and destroyed by climate change in the name of progress. When it's all said and done, will they be able to say they made a difference? Can you?
Panther Gap has all the best of an old timey, shoot 'em up western - rugged setting, conflicted family, dirty money and a slew of bad guys gunning to claim a legacy. The action is swift, the characters damaged and the outcome in question until the final page. I was hopelessly and totally captured by the brilliance of McLaughlin's writing as he wove this tale of a family in crisis, of a man and woman searching for their identities as individuals - one that "fit" . . . or at the very least, one they can live with. I like that the ending is a bit open, not all wrapped up in a box with a bow. Yes, there's much needed closure and yet one is left to wonder, what if?
In reality, I haven't come close to conveying the magnitude and magnificence of Panther Gap in this review so I'll just say I highly recommend this entertaining book to fans of suspense thrillers, crime fiction and anyone who loves to get lost in a fantastic story that doesn't let you go until the end. 5++++++Stars! Words can't express how much I loved this story and how grateful I am to the publisher for inviting me to join the book tour. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available at Cross My Heart Reviews. It releases on April 4, 2023 by Flatiron Books. ...more
If I ever harbored any delusions that monsters aren't real, reading Unmasked shattered them, opening my eyes to the fact that monsters are out there -If I ever harbored any delusions that monsters aren't real, reading Unmasked shattered them, opening my eyes to the fact that monsters are out there - watching, stalking their next victim, preparing to strike quick as a cobra before fleeing, leaving behind a trail of tears and fear. What do monsters look like? Like you and me and the guy in your neighborhood grocery store, a coach playing ball with kids, a co-worker sharing a cup of coffee, a member of your church. Monsters wear many ordinary disguises while destroying lives, leaving victims and families scarred for life.
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases is the career memoir of a man, a master criminologist, who's made it his life's mission to solve cold cases by unmasking the monsters that have eluded authorities for years. And he does so by following the scientific evidence piece by piece. It's the career story of Paul Holes - his early years working in a lab when he first discovered a cabinet of cold case files, including the Golden State Killer's file, and realized what he wanted to do - what he had to do - with his life, continuing through the middle years as he moved up the professional ranks honing his skills as a forensic scientist and pursuing cold cases, to the later years as he came to understand that his compulsive obsession for hunting monsters and solving cold cases was what he was born to do . . . no matter the cost to his personal life and well-being. Holes, an admitted introvert, opens the door to his inner soul, and allows readers the opportunity to ride along as he relives some of his highest profile cases. He speaks candidly of his panic attacks and nightmares of mutilated bodies, his deteriorating personal life, his ever burning need to solve cold cases and bring closure to victims and families.
Unmasked opens with Holes packing up his office, preparing for the end of his storied professional career. His thoughts turn to the one monster that has eluded him for over twenty years, the one who first lit a burning desire in his gut for working cold cases - the arrogant, notorious EAR Killer aka the Original Night Stalker aka the Golden Gate Killer. How can he retire without apprehending the most terrifying, illusive serial killer of the twenty-first century? In order for readers to understand his obsession with this particular criminal, Holes' memoir follows a chronological path through his storied career as a natural born criminal profiler solving both the famous and little known cold cases. From start to finish, he grips readers' hands and transports them behind the scenes of real investigations, demonstrating firsthand the manner in which forensic science is used to unmask criminals which I find fascinating. Throughout his career, he repeatedly returns to the GSK case applying the newest technology to the evidence, hoping for a breakthrough. This reader became so engrossed while reading Unmasked that I forgot that it's a memoir . . . that it's a true story. I was sucked into the story as surely as if I was reading a favorite suspense thriller. I repeatedly told myself, "This is real. This is r.e.a.l." I was consumed by the cases and while my heart hurt for the personal toll it took on Holes, I kept thanking God for men like him who aren't afraid to follow the science and track down the monsters.
Unmasked is a stunning, brutally honest memoir about a complex, highly gifted forensic scientist who sacrificed his own personal life, even his marriage and fatherhood, in his relentless pursuit of monsters. I highly recommend Unmasked to fans of Memoirs, True Crime, and Suspense Thrillers. This book entertains like fiction because it's brilliantly delivered in an all engrossing format and pace that makes it impossible to put down and because it's still so hard to comprehend the depravity of some sick humans. While I know he would not agree or want to hear it, Paul Holes is my Super Hero. I highly recommend his memoir to everyone. *Many thanks to Celadon Books for sending me an arc of a book I had no idea I wanted...needed...to read! **Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine ***Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews...more
At the heart of Loreth Anne White's newest thriller, The Patient's Secret, is a true crime that occurred several years ago. One that was so horrific, At the heart of Loreth Anne White's newest thriller, The Patient's Secret, is a true crime that occurred several years ago. One that was so horrific, so mind-boggling that it defies the wildest imagination. To this day, the crime continues to be debated in terms of the odds for or against lasting rehabilitation to the point a patient can return to society as a functioning, law-abiding citizen. Keep that in mind as you turn the pages of The Patient's Secret and get lost in a profoundly thought-provoking story that I believe is White's finest work to date. Just beware . . . once you learn the patient's secret, you'll never be the same again.
There are three key players in The Patient's Secret whose lives become hopelessly entwined during a murder investigation - Lily Bradley, a highly revered psychotherapist, beloved wife and mother of two, respected member of the coastal town of Story Cove . . . and woman with a dark secret; Detective Rue Duval, a respected member of the town's police force, skilled investigator, beloved wife and mother . . . and woman with a life-altering secret; and finally, new to the community is Arwen Harper, a flamboyant, gypsy-like bar waitress and artist, seductress, mother . . . and woman with a deeply buried secret. When the battered body of an early morning jogger is found lying on the beach at the base of the cliffs, these women's lives clash in ways they couldn't have imagined, and a blanket of unease settles over the idyllic town of Story Cove. The victim's face is beyond recognition. Who is it? Was it a terrible accident? Did they jump from the cliff top or were they pushed? Det. Duval is called to the death scene by Lily's husband, a distinguished professor, who discovers the body while on his morning run. Questions and suspicions escalate when critical evidence is recovered, and the body is officially identified. It appears several people have motive for wanting this person silenced . . . including Lily's husband. As the story unfolds, the past collides with the present, skeletons are rattled and despite their efforts to slap a Band-Aid over them, dark secrets begin oozing out. The stakes are high for several prominent people with everything they hold dear at risk so the question is: Which of these upstanding citizens would kill to keep their secret?
The Patient's Secret is an intensely moving reading experience. White's uncanny ability to continuously gift reader's thought-provoking stories like this is nothing short of amazing. As a reader, I'm loving her current trend of writing fiction based on true crimes with ramifications reaching far into the future. Her work not only entertains readers, it challenges them to think and consider what if? The Patient's Secret is highly atmospheric with a setting that enhances the story line, helping accelerate an escalating pace as the story progresses. White's brilliant manipulation of each character leaves readers frantically scrambling to discover which of these seemingly ordinary, everyday people would kill to protect loved ones from their dark secrets.
Loreth Anne White is a writer at the top of her game, and it's never been more evident than with this piece of work. As a reviewer, I struggle to find the right words to review her work without spoilers and as a reader, I'm just thankful for the opportunity to read it. Fans of mystery, suspense, thrillers and true crime fiction, mark your calendars for the release of The Patient's Secret on March 1, 2022. It's one you don't want to miss. Highly recommended! 500 Stars!
Once There Were Wolves. Think about the title. It alone stoked my imagination, shooting my anticipation of this book through the roof. And when I readOnce There Were Wolves. Think about the title. It alone stoked my imagination, shooting my anticipation of this book through the roof. And when I read the opening line in the prologue, I knew this book was going to be special. And special it is.
Once There Were Wolves is a story about a wildlife biologist's quest to reintroduce gray wolves to the natural habitat in the Scotland Highlands where they were eradicated hundreds of years before, essentially dooming the environment. Inti Flynn and her team of wildlife biologists set out to prove that reintroducing wolves to the area will renew the ecosystem and allow the natural habitat to flourish once again. However, Inti's efforts to rebirth the area are met by stiff opposition from local farmers and sheep herders who fear for their safety and livelihood.
When Inti Flynn left Alaska for the Wolf Trust project in Scotland, she brought her traumatized twin sister Aggie with her hoping to help her heal. Living with mirror touch synesthesia, Inti experiences others pain as it happens meaning she suffered the same horrific abuse that left her twin mostly mute and terrified of venturing out of the house. Life is settling in until a wolf is needlessly shot by a farmer, and Inti stumbles across a man's mutilated body. Knowing they will blame the wolves, she makes an ill-advised, spur of the moment decision that will prove disastrous. Did one of her wolves break pattern and kill the man? Or is a killer on the hunt in the Scottish Highlands? Inti works with the local sheriff with whom she's started a relationship to learn the truth.
Once There Were Wolves is a brilliantly rendered, gut-wrenching journey into the lives of these characters including the wolves. The concept of reintroducing the wolves to help balance the inequities in nature is intriguing. McConaghy's extensive research is obvious but presented in a way that enhances the intense, highly atmospheric, multifaceted plot line. While the author's writing is complex, it feels simple - a natural flow of energy driven by the fast pace and the visceral anguish and sense of urgency suffered by Inti as she struggles to make the right decisions for all involved. At times, her psyche is as fragile as the barren environment, at other times as strong and wild as her beloved wolves. Inti's interaction with the wolves is breathtaking to witness, and I feel like I was a participant in the highly visual scenes with these powerful and yet fragile animals.
This story touched my heart as much or maybe more than Migrations. Both books are priceless in terms of what the uniquely talented author delivers in a highly compassionate can't put the book down way. In Once There Were Wolves, McConaghy gifts readers with one of the best mysteries I've read in some time . . . one that stands out in a genre full of great books and writers. And she does so utilizing Inti's idiomatic voice, past/present chapters with flawed characters showcasing how the past affects the future - all the while pulling intertwining plot lines together in a shocking conclusion that left this reader stunned.
Once There Were Wolves is a study of human nature and the many complexities of maneuvering a flawed world. It's a study of toxic relationships that reverberate throughout our lives, of learning to persevere and thrive under dire circumstances, of rebirth of one's self and nature. It's a raw, intense, haunting self portrait of life. It's a warning. Highly recommended to fans of mystery, suspense and heartfelt readers of great stories! Like Migrations, this one will reside in my heart a long time to come.
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for an arc of the masterpiece!
Twenty-four years ago, a small community was horrified and sickened by the rape, brutal beating and drowning of fourteen year old Leena Rai. When a beTwenty-four years ago, a small community was horrified and sickened by the rape, brutal beating and drowning of fourteen year old Leena Rai. When a beloved school guidance counselor confessed to the crime, shock waves reverberated throughout the small, close-knit community and rumors ran rampant. After his detailed confession, Clayton Jay Pelley refused to speak of the crime again. He accepted his life sentence without benefit of a trial, leaving the police and community frustrated with unanswered questions and dangling case threads.
Now Pelley is talking to Trinity Scott, a young, ambitious true crime podcast reporter. Upon her arrival in Twin Falls, Scott relentlessly pursues everyone with ties to the old case including one of the original investigators, retired Detective Rachel Walczak, whose life course was tragically altered by the murder and subsequent investigation. Her refusal to be interviewed motivates Scott to dig deeper into the past, and she unknowingly sets off a series of events that quickly spiral out of control when episodes of her podcast begin to air. The release of Trinity's interviews with Pelley sends shock waves rumbling through the community as new questions are raised and the past and present collide. People are nervous. People are scared. People are lying. Why? Was Clay's confession twenty four years ago a truth? Or lie? If he didn't kill her, who did?
Inspired by a true crime, White has penned a thriller I promise will leave you dazed and searching for answers while trying to come to terms with a crime so cold-blooded, so heartless, so unimaginable that it begs the question "Why"? Dark, unsettling, disturbing on many levels, Beneath Devil's Bridge forces readers to acknowledge the dark side of human nature. Unfolding through multiple points of view and then/now chapters, the story moves forward like an avalanche - picking up momentum, rolling over you page by page, chapter by chapter, podcast after podcast until it buries you. As I burned through pages with heart pounding, the only thing I could hear was these character's voices in my head - their lies, deceit, accusations - brought to life through flawed characters, twisted plot lines and all five senses. All thanks to the expertise of an author who excels at manipulating and transporting readers into unsettling scenes alongside unreliable narrators hiding game-changing secrets. White's masterful rendering of this story shines a light on some ugly truths still prevalent in society today. The reading experience will be greatly enhanced if you go into it as I did - knowing little. However, I'll leave you with one quote to ponder: "If it takes a village to raise a child, does it also take a village to kill one?"
If I'm lucky, maybe once in a blue moon, I read a book that leaves my mind reeling, heart aching and soul searching. One that haunts me long after The End. Beneath Devil's Bridge is one of those books. Loreth Anne White has a gift for rendering thought-provoking stories that demand attention, respect and intimate soul searching. Stories that inspire, entertain and motivate. Stories that hurl you at warp speed toward electrifying endings you most likely won't see coming. Highly recommended for fans of true crime, suspense thrillers, mysteries and 5 star books in any genre.
BAM! The sound of a watermelon smashing as it's dropped on the floor . . . or a head shattering as it's beaten against a wall . . . or my mind explodiBAM! The sound of a watermelon smashing as it's dropped on the floor . . . or a head shattering as it's beaten against a wall . . . or my mind exploding after reading this dark, chilling, one-of-a-kind psychological suspense thriller. You'll get the analogy after you read Dear Child. Friends, what we have here is as rare as hen's teeth - a brilliantly written thriller that imprisons readers in an isolated, windowless shack deep in the woods in the middle of nowhere with a woman, 2 children, and their "protector". If you think you've read something like this before, think again. I promise you if you survive and find your way through all the smoke and mirrors to the astounding end, you'll realize how unique and special this story is.
I knew nothing about Dear Child when I accepted an arc other than what the synopsis told me. I was intrigued, but in no way prepared for the harrowing journey to come. Avoid spoiler reviews and this twisted tale of mind-games will spike your blood pressure and raise the hair on the back of your neck. Before I realized what was happening, I found myself incarcerated by the dark, gripping multi-layered plot, malicious undertones and unreliable, flawed characters. Shackled to my seat, I couldn't stop reading or break the chains binding me until the blindsiding end. I read a LOT of psychological thrillers and often figure things out well before the end. Not this time. I devoured Dear Child trying to figure out WHO to believe, WHO is deceiving who, WHO is the real villain, WHO is the monster - for that matter ... WHO is the victim?
Dear Child unfolds through three points of view - a woman captive, a child, and a father. Vague? Yes. As I said, go into this one blind. The water gets murky quickly in this horrifying, jaw-dropping tale. The story is told in present time with heartbreaking glimpses into the past raising several tough questions. I found the voice of the child Hannah especially disturbing yet compelling - an almost monotone delivery of knowledge, facts and insight way beyond her years in a near programmed-like state, and amazingly, this set the gripping tone that drives the gut-wrenching story forward at a brisk pace. I haven't read a book before that challenged me as a reader as thoroughly as this one did. I'll say it touches on the fragile psyche of victims held in captivity for long periods of time. It speaks to the many different perspectives on what is "normal" and the manner in which our perceptions are authenticated. It emphasizes the long, hard road to recovery for people trapped in their own mind by horrifying life experiences and the heavy burden laid on them by a world that can't understand. I applaud German Author Romy Hausmann for her first book to be translated in English as she has set the bar high. I dare say I don't expect to read another thriller like it for long time to come if ever. Dear Child is a raw, gritty, psychotic suspense thriller that blew me away on its way to earning every single one of my 5 stars along with a spot on my All-Time Favorites List. Fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers, you must read this book and help spread the word. There's a new sheriff/suspense author in town! Dear Child is a brilliantly delivered, one-of-a-kind stunner! *Many thanks to Flatiron Books & Macmillans Publ. for an arc of this book! #readinginsidersclub **Review posted at: Cross My Heart Reviews...more
Spoiler Free Review: Eight years ago, most Grant County authorities were confident they had locked a serial rapist and murderer away for life. Recent bSpoiler Free Review: Eight years ago, most Grant County authorities were confident they had locked a serial rapist and murderer away for life. Recent brutal cases of misogynistic attacks on women bearing the same horrifying MO suggest the serial killer is still out there preying on women. The convicted inmate's declaration of innocence and disturbing accusations of dirty cops add fuel to the flame indicating a deadly mistake and gross injustice may have occurred. In a race against time, GBI Agent Will Trent and team, including girlfriend Medical Examiner Sara Linton, begin the monumental task of sifting through disturbing past GC cases in search of an illusive missed detail that links past with present. As a result, ghosts from the past escape, old wounds flare, and painful memories surface straining the fragile relationship between Will and Sara. That is all I can say about this story without huge spoilers. Do yourself a favor by going into this story blind. It'll spear you straight through the heart if you do!
The Silent Wife is another raw, gutsy, graphic, glorious addition to the Will Trent series. The riveting story unfolds through alternating periods of past and present that served to keep me burning through pages to reach the end. I admire and appreciate Slaughter's gift for setting scenes that pull readers in via all five senses, but consider yourself forewarned that graphic crime scenes may be disturbing to read as they are brutally realistic leaving no doubt the author has once again done her homework right down to the most meticulous detail. This author's signature sharp prose and intimately woven plot lines propel characters and readers forward at a frantic life or death pace. Readers can count on being plummeted into the chaos of characters' minds while finding themselves charged with unmasking a deadly predator hiding in plain sight . . . before he kills again. Those familiar with the Grant County series will recognize past characters they love . . . or love to hate. There's not much more I can say about this author's characterizations without sounding like a broken record. They're amazingly accurate, detailed, dimensional, and alive with main characters who are deeply flawed, vulnerable and so unbelievably real that my heart aches for them whenever I'm back in their world.
The Silent Wife is everything I hoped it would be and more. I started it with anticipation, read with trepidation, and finished it with cautious optimism. It's gritty, graphic, emotional, heartbreaking, and what does it say about me that I can't wait for the next book? I applaud Slaughter for shining a light on assault survivors who struggle to escape the darkness and overwhelming sense of loss and grief to find their path forward again. Their strength and will to live are an amazing inspiration to all. Needless to say, The Silent Wife has a place of honor on my All-Time Favorites Shelf. I'll even venture to say it's the best of the series thus far! This story embodies everything I love about suspense thrillers . . . and complicated love stories. Highly Recommended! *Special thanks to publisher William Morrow for an arc of this book via edelweiss.plus **Review posted at: Cross My Heart Reviews...more
Wow! I'm speechless! It's not often a book leaves me that way, but after reading the final page (several times over!) of The Grace Year, I sat in a trWow! I'm speechless! It's not often a book leaves me that way, but after reading the final page (several times over!) of The Grace Year, I sat in a trance-like state with tears trickling down my cheeks, trying to wrap my head around this story and message. Hoping to sleep on it, I retired for the night only to toss and turn with scenes and characters from the story haunting my dreams. I arose this morning restless - still trying to find a voice for the raw emotion this book evoked in me, but tell me . . . how do you review a book that gutted you? How do I tell fellow readers that while this book may flay you wide open as it did me, read it anyway because a spark of hope will linger, catch flame, and spread like wildfire afterwards? Well, this is me telling you: Read this book! It delivers a powerful message that everyone, most especially girls/women, needs to heed. Together we rise, divided we fall...
I'm not going to spend a lot of time rehashing the plot line of The Grace Year. You'll get the drift from the blurb and other reviews. It's a highly atmospheric, visual read that crawled under my skin and transported me to the isolated camp alongside the grace girls. I felt their anguish, fear, despair, horror, and yes - even the impending madness that descended upon them, seeping into their minds, urging them to give into their primal instincts. In a desperate battle for survival, they hover within the stockade, fearing the horrors that threaten them from beyond - before turning their sights on each other.
Liggett's brilliant rendering of this story creates tension, suspense, and apprehension page by page, scene after scene, and it took root inside me, squeezing my heart and making it difficult to breathe. I had to step away from it briefly about halfway through, catch my breath, let my heart rate return to normal. And then, I picked it back up and burned through the rest of the story until, as I mentioned at the start of this review, I sat speechless.
The Grace Year is raw, graphic, violent, at times horrifying, and yet it's a highly entertaining, compulsive, page-turning story of survival and unity and eternal hope. It's a story that explores the many complex relationships between girls and women of all ages. It's a fantastic, beautifully crafted story that pushed, shoved, and clawed its way to the top of my Favorites List. Read this book! *With many thanks to Wednesday Books/MacMillan for an arc of this book! **Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews...more
The Last Widow is one of my most anticipated books of 2019. After reading it, I can say it's a powerful, relevant story that I won't soon forget. SlauThe Last Widow is one of my most anticipated books of 2019. After reading it, I can say it's a powerful, relevant story that I won't soon forget. Slaughter clearly spent a great deal of time researching social and political issues of our time as well as the radical, militia style groups that emerge, along with the idealistic views of people who tend to join them. The author captures the atmosphere and essence of a cult group practicing segregation as they believe it their duty and right to do whatever it takes to keep their bloodlines pure. This is the type group that is at the center of the story in The Last Widow.
First let me say, The Last Widow is part of a fantastic series, but this author includes everything you need to read and enjoy this book as a standalone. However, the character and character relationship development are huge in this series so I highly recommend you read them in order. The setup is clear from the blurb so I'll only touch briefly on it. A month after a scientist working for the Center of Disease Control is kidnapped, Sara and Will are spending an afternoon with her family. Some of these early "domestic" scenes play out through both Will and Sara's eyes which fascinated me as it clearly demonstrates how they still have different views and manners of coping with their developing relationship. Well done, KS! When their afternoon is interrupted by explosions in a nearby city, Sara and Will race toward the scene to assist, running straight into a situation that results in Will being badly injured and Sara being kidnapped by a group of radical domestic terrorists. In a race against time, Will works with his partner Faith Mitchell and other law enforcement led by Amanda Wagner to find and infiltrate the group to free Sara and save society.
The Last Widow is intense, graphic, and rich in detail as can be expected from this author. It emphasizes the practice and horrors of pedophilia, the superiority of males over females, senseless murder, and biological warfare as well as the dangerous atmosphere that breeds militia-style cults. The suspense builds at a frantic pace as the story unfolds from two narrators - Will and Sara. Through Will's eyes, the focus is on the efforts of law enforcement to find the cult, the dangers of going undercover, and his panicked frame of mind which includes major guilt over what he perceives as his failure to keep Sara safe. There are interactions with Will and Sara's mother/family during this time that are priceless gems for readers of the series. Fantastic, telling scenes! Through Sara's eyes, readers view life within the terrorist camp, and it's there that the depravity of their leader and horror of their plan become apparent.
Slaughter's ability to manipulate characters through a highly visual, atmospheric setting is key to the rising, menacing tone throughout. Her mastery of plot, character, and character relationship development is brilliant, as always, as she pulls every single thread together by the end. The Last Widow is a taut, fast-paced, graphic thriller with a timely message that people everywhere should heed. And by the way, I read the last page several times over before closing the book with a smile on my face. Great setup for the next book in one of my favorite series ever! May our wait be short! For suspense and thriller fans, this is one you don't want to miss.
*With special thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book! **Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
An All-Time Favorite for sure! I don't have the words to say how heart-touching and emotional this story is . . . it's a beautiful rendering of a specAn All-Time Favorite for sure! I don't have the words to say how heart-touching and emotional this story is . . . it's a beautiful rendering of a special, special story that touched me deeply. Skip all spoilers as I did, and just read this book. Better yet - listen to the fantastic audio as the narrator gives a perfect performance that brought this story to life. A fantastic, emotional book that I highly recommend! 5 Stars will never be enough!...more
Readers Beware! Riven is raw, seductive, and highly addictive! Once you partake, you'll be hopelessly hooked and craving more, more, more . . . more oReaders Beware! Riven is raw, seductive, and highly addictive! Once you partake, you'll be hopelessly hooked and craving more, more, more . . . more of Theo & Caleb, more of their sensual, passionate story & music, more of this author's rhythmic, unique voice. What struck me like a lightning bolt about this story is the "honesty" resonating throughout, growing stronger & more demanding beat by beat. Although denied by both men for a long time, it drives both main characters to finally face the haunting, debilitating truths holding them each back individually.
There's little doubt that Riven is character driven - the story of two men consumed heart and soul by music in its purest form. Caleb's career has waned as he succumbed to the rock lifestyle and is now paying his penance - left believing that the only hope for his sanity and survival is giving up the very thing that keeps his heart beating - music and everything & everyone associated with it. On the other hand, Theo is riding the monster crest of fame, but he's drowning under the never-ending adoration of fans and the relentless pursuit of paparazzi - a reluctant rock star in that he hates the fame, lifestyle, and all it entails. He, like Caleb, lives for the music and songs reverberating in his head.
As this story opens, the two men meet and their erotic, passionate, troubled journey begins. Their chemistry is electric, and readers are gifted with love scenes that are highly combustible. Parrish's characterizations are authentic - so real and powerful and explosive that my heart overflowed with their truths and turmoil. There's a song from Dan Hill (later recorded by other artists) from way back that portrays Theo & Caleb and their conflicted emotions and inner battles best for me (it is not used in this book). I began hearing it in my head as this story played out and will quote it here as it describes the way I saw and felt these two men better than my own words can. The chorus goes like this:
Sometimes when we touch, The honesty's too much, And I have to close my eyes & hide. I wanna hold you 'til I die, 'Til we both break down & cry, I wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides. (*by Dan Hill - Protected by copyright)
The honesty and love of these two men for music and each other is painful, all-consuming, & overwhelming at times as they work through their fears in an effort to move forward. And yet, through it all, they always feel genuine.
Riven is NOT your typical Rock Star story; in fact, there's nothing "typical" about this book. It's a gift, a rare treasure - one readers only dream of discovering once in a blue moon hidden among all the other books on the shelf. The sensuous yet mysterious siren of a cover seduced me into taking a closer look at this book, and the blurb sealed the deal. I decided to take a chance on it and am so glad I did. Roan Parrish has delivered a story and characters that will forever play in my head, heart, and soul. All I can ask is "More, please!" A Page Burning, Must Read!
Some books you enjoy. Some books you love. And some books OWN you. Iron House owns me heart and soul. It's one I won't soon forget. There are no wordsSome books you enjoy. Some books you love. And some books OWN you. Iron House owns me heart and soul. It's one I won't soon forget. There are no words to relay the emotional journey this book took me on. Stunning, heartbreaking, tenacious, a shot straight through the heart. All I can say is read it! John Hart has quickly become one of my favorite authors - I'll continue working my way through his catalog of works. 500 Stars!...more
Can I give it more than 5 stars? This is one of those books that resonates through my mind, heart, and soul and will for a long, long time. Wiping teaCan I give it more than 5 stars? This is one of those books that resonates through my mind, heart, and soul and will for a long, long time. Wiping tears, but smiling at the same time. A most definite Must Read! All time favorites. I'll return with a full review but meantime, this quote from the book says it all for me: “Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.” Mists of The Serengeti is one of those rainbow stories....more
"Shush...lest she awaken..." Four litReviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews *Many thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book via Netgally.
"Shush...lest she awaken..." Four little words and just like that I have goosebumps, the ominous tone for The Awakening firmly established. Cover to cover, the lyrical atmospheric magic I've come to expect from Amanda Stevens is prominent . . . haunting, chilling, ominous - whispering on the breeze, taking shape in the cemetery, following Amelia home. I literally could not put this book down, reading most of it in one setting as my heart raced and my eyes flickered over the shadows lurking around the corners of the room. Like a fine meal, it's an experience that is served best without prior knowledge of the ingredients - so please, do yourself a favor and don't let anyone tell you what happens before you read this book. There are no spoilers in my review as I only "set the scene" - you can take it from there.
Welcoming the opportunity to sleep in her own bed at night, Amelia accepts the job of restoring Woodbine Cemetery. Her first day there, she discovers an area of unmarked graves - a place where the powerful upper crust of Charleston society had buried their "mistakes" - illegitimate children buried without recognition or acknowledgement that their lives ever mattered to anyone...buried in graves with headstones having no names so the elite, rich families involved could remain untarnished. As Amelia stands over an infant's grave, the ghost of a small girl startles her by lashing out in a powerful, demonstrative display of anger demanding something of Amelia. Who was she? How did she die? Was one of the unmarked graves hers? What did she want from Amelia? One thing was crystal clear. . . A door from the dark side had been left opened allowing passage to those with evil intent, and Amelia knew she would have to find the answers to close it or risk being claimed back to the other side.
And so the story unfolds taking Amelia down a deadly road that would see her crossing paths with her ex-lover John Devlin and his aristocratic family as well as revealing long buried secrets about her own family. How are the two connected? Amelia faces the realization that all is not as it seems - and the only way out is to reveal the truth - no matter who it may hurt, no matter the personal cost - which for Amelia may be everything, including her own life.
Once again, Stevens has brilliantly manipulated characters & plot lines to peel back the layers and slice to the heart of this story thus giving readers a phenomenal ending to this epic series! Age old secrets and connections are revealed as loose threads are woven together in a twisted, shocking tapestry that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Readers finally get answers . . . Are they ones you're hoping for? Only one way to find out! The Awakening is a Page Burning Must Read! I will be anxiously awaiting to see if a spin-off series develops as mentioned. Fingers crossed!...more
Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews Once in a blue moon, I come across a book that pushes all the right buttons. It crosses genres and refuseReviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews Once in a blue moon, I come across a book that pushes all the right buttons. It crosses genres and refuses to be defined or contained in a small box. It defies definition and howls in a strong voice. It's beautifully written and sings to my heart & soul. Wolfsong is a Once in a Blue Moon Top 5 of the Year book for me. I heard your message loud & clear T.J. Klune. You sang me home with your epic love story. Yes, I said, "Epic Love Story" for without a shadow of doubt, this is one of the most beautiful, mind-sweeping, purest love stories I've ever read. Mere words are inadequate to relay the explosion of emotions and feelings that this book evoked in me.
I'm not going to touch on details of the story as I hope each reader can go on this journey with an open mind & blank slate. I didn't read any reviews before starting Wolfsong, and I'm so thankful I didn't. I knew that it was highly rated, that friends loved it, and that it was written by an author that writes a lot of "funny" books, though this was reported to be "serious". I heard rumblings it was about "wolves" and that it was m/m romance. Quite a combo for sure!
And so I opened the cover and started reading. In a matter of pages, I was totally, irrevocably enthralled with these characters. A young Ox - big, strong, different, lacking self-worth as his father told him he was "dumb as an ox" before disappearing from Ox's life. A young ten-year-old Joe - a tornado of arms & legs and non-stop chatter when he introduces Ox to his family - one of the cutest, funniest, most endearing characters I've ever read. Evil touched him in the past, leaving him damaged, and yet his essence explodes with purity & innocence in a way that will make you smile while ensnaring your heart. An awesome support cast lends depth, drama, laughter, and magic to this story as they blend their strong, individual voices into one unique familial unit defined not by blood, but by love.
Wolfsong is an epic love story that speaks of unbreakable bonds that grow stronger with each passing year. It's the story of family and all that encompasses - whether bound by blood or heart. It's the story of ultimate sacrifice, triumph over evil, and acceptance of fate. It's a story about believing, trusting, and daring to dream. It's the story of a love so strong, so pure, so magical that it stands the test of time. Wolfsong will stand the test of time as it resides on my All Time Favorites Shelf. All I can say is Read This Book! It's a Page Burner! ...more
The Graveyard Queen se*Many thanks to Mira Publishing for an arc of this book for review via Netgally. **Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews.
The Graveyard Queen series is one of the eeriest, spookiest, most ominous series I've ever read. It's also one of the best in this genre. Since finishing The Visitor, I've been on pins & needles, waiting, watching for the next book to become available. Can it possibly live up to the previous books? The answer is an astounding YES! With heart-pounding intensity from cover to cover, The Sinner just may be the best one yet.
It's been a year since Amelia Gray left Charleston, needing time and space to sort out her life and heal her broken heart. In smoldering heat, she toils long hours restoring Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension with her warrior dog always on guard nearby. She passes the nights in a rented house where she wanders aimlessly - always restless, always feeling another's presence, always trying to forget the man who left her broken. While working in the cemetery, she hears a faint, distant chanting and senses a sinister presence beckoning her to come. Amelia is compelled to follow the voices, helpless to resist the pull at her psyche, even as her mind screams at her to run. Lost deep in the woods, she makes a horrific discovery - one she will later wish she had never found. An evil presence lurks, slivering through shadows, taunting Amelia as she realizes she's been summoned to this place at this time for a reason - to unmask a monster.
The story that unfolds is one of impending doom, pages filled with malicious evil beings, dark secret societies, murder, mutilations, rituals, mystery. Amelia's search for a killer places her in imminent danger even as she struggles to maintain control of her own mind. At times, she doesn't know what's real and what's an hallucination. As a murder investigation begins, Amelia meets Detective Lucian Kendrick, a handsome man to whom she is attracted, but wary. Could this be the man to finally wipe John Devlin out of her mind and heart?
The Sinner is steeped in the rich, dark history of an old, small southern town and cemetery - one where secret, symbolic rituals, murder, and body possessions have occurred. To say it is ominous is a gross understatement. Only a gifted author could pull off such horror in such a beautifully lyrical manner. Through vivid descriptions and lyrical prose, Stevens delivers a shocking stunner - an emotional, heart-stopping book that will keep you hyperventilating as you read late into the night. Memento Mori, Remember to die!The Sinner is an absolutely, undeniable Page Burner! It will forever reside on my All Time Favorites shelf! A Must Read!...more
The Kept Woman - Very fitting title for this raw, gritty, emotional monster of a read! I've tried to writReviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews
The Kept Woman - Very fitting title for this raw, gritty, emotional monster of a read! I've tried to write this review several times since reading it and still can't seem to find the words to do this story justice. It ran me through a mine field of highs and lows - at times making both my head and heart feel like they would literally explode as I rode out the waves of intense emotional turmoil radiating through these characters. Some, like Agent Will Trent and Sara Linton, find themselves and their relationship strained and very nearly destroyed by the fiery hell storm brought about with the reappearance of Angela (Angie) Polaski. While it is no secret that she returns in a big way in this book, I won't discuss particulars of the story as to do so would reveal spoilers that need to be experienced first hand by each reader. I will say there are some questions answered and some shocking revelations as the story plays out.
Needless to say, Angie wreaks havoc on the lives of everyone she touches. Her brutally tragic backstory is revealed in "real-time" as the book's timeline swings between past and present. Her horrifying past molded a young girl into a cold-hearted, uncaring, dangerous, psychotic madwoman - one hellbent on destroying anyone and everyone who crosses her path. Angie uses dark secrets and half-truths like daggers, piercing the heart of her target over and over with her malicious lies as she stalks her prey and leaves a bloodbath in her wake. She hasn't a clue what love and happiness should feel like - and if she can't have it, she'll make d*mn sure that Will doesn't either. Every time I felt even an inkling of sympathy for Angie, she threw another of her poisonous daggers - intentionally destroying lives with her vicious manipulation. The depth of this character's derangement is truly frightening at times - as is her pain.
Will Trent is . . . Will. Fans of the series know what I'm talking about. It's impossible not to care about this damaged, haunted man-of-few-words as he struggles to accept the idea that he might actually deserve the love and support of a woman like Sara Linton. He knows their relationship is fragile and dependent upon him trusting her with the truth and upon breaking the powerful, destructive, magnetic pull that Angie holds over him. For the past 30 years, he's been there for Angie every time she returned, allowing her to manipulate him, to walk all over him, always helping her, no questions asked. Can he finally find the strength to tell Angie "No" or will he allow Angie to manipulate her way back into his life and destroy the happiness he's found with Sara? Sara learns Will hasn't shared all his secrets with her . . . will this be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back? Has she finally had enough of this whole nightmare to call it quits?
The Kept Woman is INTENSE - cover to cover can't stop reading intense, hyperventilating, heart stopping intense, sit up all night to finish reading intense. For me, it ranks up there with the last Grant County book, Beyond Reach, in intensity and emotional overload. The story is graphic & raw (rubbing chest) - it made me hurt and wish for "more" for these characters - all of them. The action is high, the case a mystery, the plot twisted and then twisted again, the story shocking & riveting, and the characters so d*mn real - dark, damaged, fallible - some evoke hate and contempt, others love and caring. Brilliant addition to the series, Karin Slaughter! Thank you for another Must Read! A burn the house down Page Turner! 5 Psychotic Stars and then some!!...more
Burdened by a dark past ripe with blood, death, & enough guilt and regrets to last several lifetimes, Cale Terriot is on a mission to make amends and Burdened by a dark past ripe with blood, death, & enough guilt and regrets to last several lifetimes, Cale Terriot is on a mission to make amends and atone for the sins of his father and so when Silas MacCreedy calls in a debt, Cale reluctantly agrees to help him. When he learns what is expected of him, Cale knows he should refuse but it's the only way to satisfy his debt and ease his guilt. The King of the Terriot clan of Shapeshifters goes underground to fight in an illegal fight ring in an effort to discover the names of the men at the top - the powers that be who pose a real threat to his people, family, & all of New Orleans. Cale knows he's walking on dangerous ground, flirting with the devil as he falls under the spell and into the hands of Casper Lee. He's walking a high wire without a safety net and dangerously close to falling off. I won't go into more details on the story to avoid spoilers, but Unleashed is a riveting read, one intimately woven to include a large cast of characters in a plot with more twists and turns than a curvy mountain road.
From King to the drug induced world of illegal fighters . . . what happens when a man risks everything in an effort to make amends for the past? When is the cost of redemption too high? If Cale survives the fight in the ring, will he be lost to the inner darkness threatening his soul? Cale is crumpling under the weight of a heavy secret - one that haunts him, one that is destroying him, one that may cost him the love of his life. In order to win the fight in the ring, the King of the Terriots will have to flirt with a dark mistress from his past . . . one that nearly destroyed him before his mate, Kendra, stepped in, refusing to let him go. Cale enters a battle for his life, his mate, his people, and his soul. They say the truth will set you free - but what if it costs him everything?
Cale Terriot is simply awesome in Unleashed By Shadows. There's no doubt he's King of the Terriots as he struts his stuff whether working undercover as a common dock worker, getting down & bloody in a fight ring to the roar of Gunslinger, or shaking his mighty fine ass on the dance floor. He is arrogant, cocky, and smokin' hot! He's also protective, devoted, & actually very vulnerable. He accepts the weight of the crown pressing heavily upon him as he fights to save all that is dear to him. There are two sides of Cale Terriot to be experienced in this book, and the cover reflects both of them beautifully.
Kendra Terriot surprised me in Unleashed. Gone is the shy, meek girl who married her Prince. Present & accounted for is a kickass woman who goes to bat for her man. She is spunky, sassy, and a force to be reckoned with - as Cale himself soon discovers. I loved the new, improved Kendra. She no longer stands behind her King, she stands beside him as his Queen.
And then, there's the Terriot Brothers - Colin, Rico, and Kip. Gorgeous, powerful, lethal and loyal to their brother and the crown he wears. Sensing the imminent danger surrounding their brother and king, they unite to cover his back. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with. One of the sexiest things I've ever seen is the Terriot brothers in action on the dance floor. Somebody pour me a cold one! Cale, Colin, & Rico take over a dance floor with moves that will leave you panting for more. I am hoping for much more of the Terriot brothers in future books.
How can I talk about Moonlight #10 without mentioning Max and CeeCee? They return from their honeymoon a little more than halfway through this book. Max is magnificent as always! It does my heart good to see this man/shifter happy with his mate, CeeCee, by his side. There are some great scenes between Max & Cale as Max shares some of his secret abilities and powers with Cale in an effort to help him prepare for the fight of his life.
Unleashed By Shadows is an intense, riveting, explosive read that had my heart racing, my libido firing, and my laughter ringing out. While Unleashed is intense, Nancy Gideon's snarky humor is always evident, and I'm happy to say that she rings the sex-o-meter bell more than once in this one! Cale's story will grab you by the heart strings as you share the journey of a guilt ridden man seeking redemption - one who is haunted by shadows of regret and a past that will bury him alive if he doesn't open up and let the light shine in. Unleashed By Shadows is a heart-touching, sexy, soul searching read. A Page Burner! A Must Read!
*It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to betaread Unleashed by Shadows.
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