Charlie Donlea has crafted a complex novel of crime and sleuthing with plenty of suspense in his latest standalone novel, Those Empty Eyes. It feaCharlie Donlea has crafted a complex novel of crime and sleuthing with plenty of suspense in his latest standalone novel, Those Empty Eyes. It features Alex Armstrong who has legally changed her name in addition to changing her appearance and backstory. Ten years ago, she was the traumatized teenager, Alexandra Quinlan. Alexandra was accused of killing her family and was led from the family home in handcuffs. The media nicknamed her “Empty Eyes”. With the help of lawyers, she fought to clear her name and won a defamation lawsuit.
Despite ten years passing, Alex continues to search for answers about her family’s murders. She’s now a legal investigator for the law firm that helped her clear her name. She works to investigate potential clients and to secure justice for clients. Her next case is Matthew Claymore, a college student, who’s being questioned by the police in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Laura McAllister. As Alex investigates, she finds connections to her family’s murder.
Readers can easily root for Alex and hope she can succeed in life and in solving the murders of her family. She tirelessly seeks evidence to identify that killer and to support the legal firm’s clients’ claims of innocence. She’s organized and hard-working, but struggles for normalcy and balance in her life. There are numerous supporting characters that provide support, conflict, interest, and stability.
What a beginning! Donlea captured my interest with the first couple of paragraphs. The complicated and multi-layered plot moves back and forth in time and shifts focus to incidents that feel very disconnected. This affected the pacing and distracted me at times, but the author managed to weave the threads and connect the dots into a suspenseful and shocking tale as the story progressed.
The author is a superb storyteller and manages to surprise readers as the reveal occurs. I felt for Alex throughout the novel and wanted her to succeed. But what really happens? I had suspected part of the ending, but other parts were a bolt out of the blue. Themes include murder, friendship, family, survivor’s guilt, values, integrity, ill treatment of minors, and much more.
Overall, this compelling story grabbed my attention with likeable characters, a harrowing escape, and multiple mysteries. Great characterization, plenty of investigations, some suspenseful moments, and an action-packed ending make this a recommended book. I could easily see this book being the first in a series featuring Alex. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ----------------------------------------- My 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
Fern Michaels has woven two stories into a fascinating tale of three generations of a family in her standalone novel On the Line. The author mixesFern Michaels has woven two stories into a fascinating tale of three generations of a family in her standalone novel On the Line. The author mixes suspense, mystery, family, friendship, and romance into a heartfelt novel that pulls readers in and keeps them hooked from beginning to end.
Rising star chef Mateo Castillo will soon be featured on a major television cooking competition when he collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room. The cause of his illness is unknown and worrying. But Doctor Adrian Ardell is determined to find the cause. She works relentlessly in the laboratory running blood and genetic tests on Mateo and his family. Mateo’s parents and grandparents fled their home in Columbia many years ago, seeking refuge from drug cartels. The test results uncover a family secret that could threaten them all.
Grandparents Gabriel and Sylvia Espinosa, parents Dante and Elena Castillo, and Mateo and Adrian are characters with depth. Readers understand their strengths and weaknesses through complex traits that develop and change during the story. Their backstories add layers to their personalities. While the book starts with Mateo in current times in New York City, the second part of the book goes back in time to the escape from Columbia by his grandparents and parents before coming back to current times in part three. This story realistically depicts the devastating impacts of drug cartels and how they can impact others. It transported this reader into Espinosa’s and Castillo’s desperate need for a new life and demonstrated their strength of character.
The author is a superb storyteller. She did a great job of keeping me hooked as the story progressed. I felt for the characters during their struggles. There are some unexpected twists as the story unfolds. Along the way, readers get also get information on Adrian’s background. The ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. Themes include violence, friendship, love, helping others, values, integrity, compassion, and much more.
Overall, this storyline grabbed my attention with likeable characters, light banter, a harrowing escape, and a medical mystery. Don’t go into this one expecting an action-packed novel. Instead, expect a powerful story of family and love with a mystery to be solved and great characterization and some suspenseful moments. There are a couple of recipes included at the end of the book that sound great. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Kensington Books and Fern Michaels provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. --------------------------------------- My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
Ren DeStefano has crafted a disquieting psychological thriller featuring identical triplets Sissy, Moody, and Iris. In this story, Sissy also uses theRen DeStefano has crafted a disquieting psychological thriller featuring identical triplets Sissy, Moody, and Iris. In this story, Sissy also uses the fake name of Jade. Moody and Iris have the habit of killing their boyfriends and Sissy handles the clean-up to ensure they don’t get caught. However, now it’s Sissy’s turn. She needs to make him want her and then fall in love with her. After that, she needs to kill him.
Arriving in Rainwood, Arizona, the sisters rent an apartment, but only one of them can be seen at a time. Since they’re identical, either Moody or Iris be a visible alibi (pretending to be Sissy) when the end comes. Sissy goes to a local diner to find her mark. He’s Edison, a widower living alone. They are attracted to each other quickly, but take things somewhat slowly. However, her sisters are getting impatient. Can Sissy make him fall in love with her? Can she kill him? If not, how can she protect him? Can the triplets move on to their next victim without getting caught?
The characterization in this novel is fantastic. Moody is confident, seemingly sweet, sharp, and deadly. Iris is confident, regal, and can transform into anything that attracts her victims. Sissy is the voice of reason that understands how to clean up crime scenes. Edison is gentle and trying to stay sober while harboring a deep anger at the person who killed his wife. Told from Sissy’s point of view, readers get insights into her thoughts and feelings about her sisters and about Edison as well as the conflicts she experiences.
The author is a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as I wondered what would happen next. There are some unexpected twists as this dark story unfolds. Along the way, readers get more information on the lives of the triplets leading up to this story without it being an information dump. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. However, there were times when the pacing felt uneven and the ending was somewhat predictable. Themes include violence, murder, anger, friendship, love, sisterhood, and much more. The novel also highlights the complexity of foster care and the impact of separation on siblings.
Overall, this was suspenseful and disconcerting for me with memorable characters that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. The unique premise for this book is disturbing and readers who enjoy romance with their dark psychological thrillers will likely enjoy this novel.
Berkley Publishing Group and Ren DeStefano provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 21, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ---------------------------------------- My 3.48 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon....more
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