Tag Archives: Carolyn Arnold

The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description: 
In Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know it.
 
Archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a global disaster.
 
So when a former colleague stumbles across an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a pharaoh’s tomb and the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.
 
The road ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting legends, they can’t trust anyone.

 

 

Review:

The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold is the 2nd book in her Matthew Connor series.  Matthew Connor, our hero, is a famed Archaeologist, whom we tend to look at like a modern day Indiana Jones.  I am happy to say, that I really enjoyed The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.  This is a fun series, as Arnold takes us on an adventure to Egypt, under the dig sites, allowing us a real feel of what archaeologist do, as well as giving us excitement, danger, murder, mystery.

Matthew is contacted by a former colleague Alex , an archaeologist, who had found a major discovery on a dig.  She calls Matthew to help her find the Emerald Tablets, which was considered a myth.  Matthew agrees to help, and brings with him his friends and partners, Robyn and Cal. Robyn is curator at a museum, and Cal is a photographer.  

When they meet Alex, she introduces them to her team.  As the adventure begins, things go wrong, with a group of them trapped underground, but also while trying to find a way out, they come across the tomb of a pharaoh, with all the riches.   They manage to be rescued, but the expedition is fraught with mishaps, curses, betrayal, distrust and murder.  

What follows is an exciting. action packed,  edge of your seat adventure that constantly has us in suspense.  Just when you think things are over and they are safe to go home; things will take a turn, with some twists along the way.  Matthew begins to be concerned that finding the Emerald Tablets may not be worth allowing this powerful tool to be put in the wrong hands.  What will Matthew do if he finds those tablets?  To tell too much more would be major spoilers.  You need to read this book to discover everything for yourself.

Carolyn Arnold has written an amazing story, describing everything in detail, giving us a complete picture of Egypt dig sties, heat, desert, underground tombs, mummies, tunnels, snakes, and all kinds of long lost treasures.  I loved Matthew, Alex, Robyn and Cal, and the villains in the story were very well done.  I look forward to more from the Matthew Connor Adventure series. Carolyn Arnold has created another winner.

Reviewed by Barb

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Power Struggle by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Power Struggle by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
One hit man who’s back for revenge.
One detective who’s not going down without a fight.

It’s been ten months since Detective Madison Knight almost died at the hands of Russian Mafia hit man Constantine Romanov. She hasn’t seen hide nor hair of him since he escaped police custody and fled to Russia soon after his arrest, except now her latest murder investigation gives her reason to believe he’s back in town. Seeing as the victim is the man who killed her grandfather, her perspective may be a little skewed, but with the MO smacking of Constantine and the victim’s connections to the mob, she finds it hard to be objective. Still, she’s doing her best to consider all the evidence.

When she receives a threatening letter from Constantine, however, her suspicions are confirmed. And he’s made it abundantly clear that not only does he plan to finish what he started but he has her family and loved ones in the crosshairs, too. Madison vows to do whatever it takes to save them, but as the hours race by, the body count rises. And the stakes only get higher when Madison’s sister, Chelsea, goes missing.

Now, Madison’s only play is to take Chelsea’s disappearance for what it really means: Constantine is calling Madison out for one final showdown. And they won’t both survive…

 

Review:

Power Struggle by Carolyn Arnold is the 8th book in her terrific Detective Madison Knight series.  I have been a fan of this series since the beginning, and Carolyn Arnold never fails to give us an intense exciting story, not to mention her expertise in police procedurals.  Power Struggle, is the best one yet, in this series, as it is an edge of your seat suspense thriller.  

Madison Knight, our series heroine, is a tough detective, who also has a vulnerable side when it comes to family and relationships.  When Madison arrives on a murder scene with her partner, Terry, she senses déjà vu, as the Russian hitman, who almost killed her seems to be back. Madison is still getting nightmares about Constantine, and her fears escalate; especially after she receives a note threatening to finish the job and hurt those she loves.   This changes the game for Madison, as she must maintain her composure, keep her fears secret from workers and family, and find Constantine before he can do anything.  

Madison works with her friends and team (Terry, Cynthia, Troy, etc), to work together to find the clues about the murder, which will have many twists and turns along the way.  Why is Constantine back and are the Russian mob involved? Who is behind these murders?

What follows is an exciting, tense, pulse pounding action thriller, which has Madison running against time to protect her family, as well as her life.  She must also fight her superior’s determination to take her off the case, in order to protect her.  Madison, as tough as she is, becomes emotionally a wreck, desperately trying to keep her objectivity and calm. She will let no one stop her from being involved in a wild dangerous race to save her family.

I noted in my last review that I loved the changes Arnold made in the last book, and I must say I loved it even more in Power Struggle.  Madison still has a vulnerability and lack of confidence in totally bonding with Troy, which will change closer to the end.  But what I did love was giving us a glimpse at seeing her with her friends/coworkers and the closeness between them.  Cynthia, her friend and the medical examiner was great.  Even Terry, whom I have said previously that I did not like, has changed a lot, that I actually like him now.  We got to see all of Madison’s family, which was nice.

Power Struggle was a great story, which not only was exciting and tense, it also pulled a lot of our emotions throughout the book.  I loved Power Struggle, which I could not put down until the very end.  It was a thrilling edge of your seat  ride.  I you enjoy murder mysteries, written so well by Carolyn Arnold, you should be reading the Detective Madison Knight series.

Reviewed by Barb

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Halloween is Murder by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Halloween is Murder by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
Beware of all that goes bump in the night…
 
Sean and Sara McKinley are excited about the haunted house they’ve set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser, but things take a ghoulish turn when the reporter covering their story is found dead. With the media keeping mum about how she died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she convinces Sean to take on the investigation through their PI firm.
 
But this case is not without its challenges. The police are actively investigating it, as well, and it’s not even clear that the woman was murdered. It will take a little cloak-and-dagger, dress-up, and finesse for the McKinleys to get to the bottom of it, but they aren’t the kind to give up.
 
As they troll for leads and work through the skeletons in the reporter’s closet, they unearth a few suspects, but they’ll need to carve out the whole truth if they’re going to find her killer. If they do so fast enough, there might even be time for a little trick-or-treating.

 

Review:

Halloween is Murder by Carolyn Arnold is the 11th book in her McKinley Mystery series.  Though this is the 11th book in this series , this was my first book and it read very well as a standalone. I have been reading Arnold’s other two series (Madison Knight and Brandon Fisher), which are both violent intense murder mysteries. When I decided to read this book, I did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, as this was a fun mystery with a great couple who lead this series.

Sean and Sara McKinley are our heroes, who are married private detectives. Halloween is Murder begins with Sean and Sara promoting their haunted house to a TV reporter, promoting that all the profits go to charity. When the television spot did not appear on the local channel that evening, they learned that the female reporter died. Though they should not get involved in an open police case, nothing keeps Sara and Sean from doing their own investigation.

What follows is a nice murder mystery with multiple possible suspects. What I really
liked about this story was that we did not have any stress, or intense moments, just a nice &  fun old fashion mystery. Sean and Sara were both fun to watch, as well as their team. Halloween is Murder was very well written, a fast read, great characters, and a fun mystery with a resolution that I did not see coming. Carolyn Arnold has given us a different type of murder mystery and I enjoyed it very much.. If you like mysteries that are light,  fun reads, you should give this one a try.

Reviewed by Barb

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Remnants by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Remnants by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
All that remains are whispers of the past…

When multiple body parts are recovered from the Little Ogeechee River in Savannah, Georgia, local law enforcement calls in FBI agent and profiler Brandon Fisher and his team to investigate. But with the remains pointing to three separate victims, this isn’t proving to be an open-and-shut case.

With no quick means of identifying the deceased, building a profile of this serial killer is more challenging than usual. How are these targets being selected? Why are their limbs being severed and their bodies mutilated? And what is it about them that is triggering this person to murder?

The questions compound as the body count continues to rise, and when a torso painted blue and missing its heart is found, the case takes an even darker turn. But this is only the beginning, and these new leads draw the FBI into a creepy psychological nightmare. One thing is clear, though: The killing isn’t going to stop until they figure it all out. And they are running out of time…

 

Review:

Remnants by Carolyn Arnold is the 6th book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series.  The FBI team of Jack, Brandon, Paige and Zach are sent to Savannah, Georgia on what will be a very difficult case of floating body parts found in the river by a plantation.  Jack is the leader of this team, and Brandon has now escalated to being full agent, having finished his probationary period.

As we have come to know about this series, the cases are usually violent, squeamish and at times difficult for the agents, especially Brandon.  I like the team, but I still do not like Brandon that much, as I look at Jack as the one who pulls them together.  I do like Paige and Zach.

When the story started, we saw someone drug  a man in the men’s room of a mall, and kidnap him.   The body parts discovered is from different people, some perhaps there for a long time.  During the investigation, Paige and Zach will question those who found the parts, while Jack and Brandon will question others.  Clues are difficult to come by, and the body parts continue to surface, which leads the team to believe that a serial killer is on the loose.  From various conditions of the body, such as blue paint, and heart extractions, it will lead them to suspect that the killer (s) is performing some kind of Mayan cult sacrifice.  Nadia, who is an analyst from Quantico, is able to use her special skills to generate a list of missing people within a radius from Savannah for them to work with.  Other clues are found that makes a local resident a suspect and the race is on to find the culprit, which begins to show that perhaps there is more than one person involved.  There are some twists and surprises and the suspense becomes very exciting and tense. 

This series is always intense, and exciting, as Arnold is an expert in police procedurals and writing amazing crime stories.  However, that being said, I found it difficult to read some parts where the killer was torturing the victim.  Remnants is an intense mystery, with an excellent FBI team, and if you enjoy murder, bad villains and exciting stories, you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

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In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

In The Line of Duty
Madison Knight series – Book #7
by Carolyn Arnold
Release Date: September 29, 2016

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Description:
He devoted his life to seeking justice. But would she get any for him?

It was an ordinary day for police officer Barry Weir. It was the end of shift, he was tired, and he just wanted to get home to his wife and kids. But someone had other plans for him, shooting him down and forcing him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

When news of Weir’s murder reaches the department, it leaves Detective Madison Knight and every cop in the Stiles PD itching for revenge. It cuts Madison’s boyfriend, colleague, and Weir’s childhood friend, Troy Matthews, deepest of all, driving him away from everyone he loves just when they need one another the most.

With evidence pointing to a gang-related drive-by, Madison and her team investigate the town’s seedy underbelly in search of justice for their fallen brother. But the deeper they dig, the more convoluted the case becomes. Now they need to figure out if this was a random shooting as part of a gang initiation, a straight-up hate crime, or a targeted kill. But with members of the Stiles PD under attack, they have to do it fast…before more officers pay with their lives.

 

 

Review:

In The Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold is the 7th book of her Madison Knight series.  One thing you can be certain when reading this series; Carolyn Arnold will give us an intense exciting murder mystery, as well as provide us with accurate details pertaining to police procedurals.   When it comes to police investigations & procedurals no one does it better than Arnold.  Madison Knight is a tough detective, who will let nothing stand in her way to find the guilty.

A policemen is murdered in what is suspected to be a gang killing, and the entire Stiles PD are working together to find the murderers.  There were a number of twists that continued to change the game, as to who was truly behind the killing; with some surprises all the way through. 

In the Line of Duty was also a complete turnaround for Madison; something I have been asking for quite some time.   Madison has finally found love in her boyfriend Troy, who is the leader of the Swat team.  Her friend Cynthia has also stepped up to be a good friend, not to mention a great medical examiner.  The Stiles PD Sergeant has finally opened his eyes as to the value of Madison as a top notch detective.  Things changed in this book that I absolutely loved, and Madison finally has a team surrounding her, and the respect she so deserves.   Thank you, Carolyn.

Rather than give spoilers, In the Line of Duty was a great story, with lots of action, precise investigations, many suspects, and a team atmosphere to solve the crime.   I loved seeing Madison falling in love with Troy, and finding time to care about and enjoy her friends.  I enjoyed this story so much; I could not put the book down; especially with new developments changing constantly.  This story was very exciting and well written.  If you enjoy mysteries, murder cops, police procedurals and a tough as nails cop, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

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Violated by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Violated by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Violated
Brandon Fisher FBI series – Book #5
by Carolyn Arnold
Release Date: April 28, 2016

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Description:
Sometimes the past should stay there…
 
The murder is one of the most heinous Brandon Fisher and his team have ever seen, but that’s not why it has their attention. The FBI is interested because the prime suspect is one of their own, Paige Dawson.
  
But Paige didn’t go to Valencia, California to kill anyone. She had set out on “vacation”–her new lover in tow–only to confront the man who raped her friend twenty-some years ago. While the hands of the law are tied, she wants him to face the fact that he destroyed a young woman’s life and know that, as an FBI agent, she’ll be watching his every move. But instead of accomplishing her goal, she wound up in the back of a police cruiser.
  
Now Paige must face off with a hard-nosed detective determined to stick a murder charge to a fed. But with the trained eyes of the FBI on the case, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the evidence lends itself to a serial killing, not an isolated incident. And as long as the local authorities are focused on Paige, the real murderer is still out there, possibly waiting to strike again…

 

 

Review:

Violated by Carolyn Arnold is the 5th book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series. Once again Carolyn Arnold gives us another exciting thriller. Violated was a bit different, as Paige Dawson, one of the main characters of this series, finds herself in jail, accused of murder.  Brandon, Jack and the rest of the team head to California to help Paige.  Jack, who is the leader of the team, is determined to get Paige released, but comes up against a hard-nosed mean detective, who is also bent on proving Paige committed this  heinous murder.  To give you a refresher;  we have known how Paige was determined to avenge her best friend, who 20 years ago, was raped, destroying her friend’s life in the process.  Paige has been privately investigating who the culprit is, and her trip to California, on the guise of a vacation was to come face to face with the rapist.

Unfortunately, the rapist is brutally murdered, and Paige was seen at his house trying to find evidence.  The detective puts her in jail, and it will take Jack to get her out by having the FBI take over this case, which is now designated as a serial killer on the loose.  Brandon, who still has feelings for Paige, which they both hide, works closely with Jack; while Paige works with Zach.  Rather than to give out spoilers, what follows is an exciting nail biting thriller that will prove Paige’s innocence, but after more violent murders,  the team will race against time to stop the killer before another murder takes place.  It will also place one of theirs in the eyes of the murderer.

Paige is also in the middle of a new relationship, and trying to come to terms with her failed romance with Brandon.  Somehow in future books, I sense they will find away to come together. However, the romance is truly just part of the background, as this series if fully about the violent crimes they must investigate.  I have said this before, not sure why, but I really do not care for Brandon.  Jack is a good leader, and all the members of the team, including Brandon make a great ensemble cast.  Violated is a great mystery that has us on the edge of our seat throughout the book.  Carolyn Arnold proves over and over that her knowledge of police procedurals and her writing makes for exciting flawless stories.  If you are a fan of murder mysteries, difficult tense crimes, and a great team, then this series is perfect for you.

Reviewed by Barb

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City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
Finding the Inca’s lost City of Gold would be the discovery of a lifetime. But failing could mean her death…

Archaeologist Matthew Connor and his friends Cal and Robyn are finally home after a dangerous retrieval expedition in Cambodia. While they succeeded in obtaining the priceless Pandu artifact they sought, it almost cost them their lives. Still, Matthew is ready for the next adventure. Yet when new intel surfaces indicating the possible location of the legendary City of Gold, Matthew is hesitant to embark on the quest.

Not only is the evidence questionable but it means looking for the lost city of Paititi far away from where other explorers have concentrated their efforts. As appealing as making the discovery would be, it’s just too risky. But when Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is abducted by Matthew’s old nemesis who is dead-set on acquiring the Pandu statue, Matthew may be forced into action. Saving Sophie’s life means either breaking into the Royal Ontario Museum to steal the relic or offering up something no one in his or her right mind can refuse—the City of Gold.

Now Matthew and his two closest friends have to find a city and a treasure that have been lost for centuries. And they only have seven days to do it. As they race against the clock, they quickly discover that the streets they seek aren’t actually paved with gold, but with blood.

 

 

Review:

City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold is the 1st book in her new Matthew Connor Adventure series. I have read two of Carolyn’s other series, which are Police/FBI themed stories. It was a surprise that she was going a different direction with this new series, which is more like an Indiana Jones mystery archaeology theme; especially since Arnold is one of the best at police stories, with her wonderful knowledge of police procedurals. I am happy to say, even to my own surprise, that I really enjoyed City of Gold.

Matthew Connor is our hero, and a well known Archaeologist. From the start, the story begins with Matthew and his friends Cal and Robyn having just found a priceless artifact, running for their lives, literally over the cliff. Now safely back home at a Gala celebrating the finding, Cal tells Matthew about his girlfriend’s worry that someone is following them. A short time later, they learn information that could possibly lead to finding the legendary myth, City of Gold. All three are interested, though doubtful that it was real, since many people have searched for this for centuries. They are also very tired and need time, maybe months to consider if this adventure is worth undertaking.

As best laid plans do not always work out, someone is watching them, and wants the Pandu artifact that is now securely locked in a museum; and they have kidnapped Sophie, Cal’s friend. Matthew knows he cannot get the artifact anymore, and uses the temptation of finding the City of Gold to bargain with the kidnapper to save Sophie.

What follows is an exciting action packed adventure that will take Matthew, Robyn and Cal, as well as two people from the kidnapper’s side to Bolivia to join two guides who will help them try to find the City of Gold. For every step they take, danger and death threaten from all sides. The adventure was pulsating, and Arnold does a fantastic job of taking us through the jungle, caves, underground with many traps along the way.

Is the City of Gold real? Will Matthew and his team find it? Will they survive, and save Sophie? You need to read this book to find all the answers. This was a fun and exciting book, which I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed so much. I look forward to more from the Matthew Connor Adventure series. Carolyn Arnold has another winner.

Reviewed by Barb

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Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Deadly Impulse

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Description:
Looks aren’t the only things that can be deceiving…

When a sixty-eight-year-old woman is found dead outside the hospital in a wheelchair with an anti-abortion sign strapped to its back, Detective Madison Knight expects it to be an open-and-shut case. On the surface, there are no signs of foul play, but the deeper she digs, the more convoluted the homicide becomes. And when two more bodies appear, including that of a girl just barely old enough to drink and a homeless man, the direct links between the three murders are anything but simple.

Without a consistent MO, Madison doesn’t buy that a serial killer is on the loose, despite the conviction with which her ex-fiancé and fellow detective tries to convince their superior. But Madison already has enough to juggle without having to defend her reputation. Debilitating flashbacks of being held hostage by the Russian Mafia mere months before haunt her on an almost daily basis, and the promises she made to herself while in captivity are becoming more and more difficult to keep. Learning to trust is hard enough without constant reminders of what destruction—fatal or otherwise—trusting the wrong person can cause.

Now, as both personal and professional friction within the department mounts, she and her partner, Terry, must figure out what motivation could span generations to cause someone to murder these people. But catching this killer is like grasping at straws, and grabbing the wrong one could mean losing not only her pride but also her boyfriend, her credibility, and her faith in humanity…

 

 

Review:

Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold is the 6th book in her Detective Madison Knight series. Once again Carolyn Arnold gives us another thriller, as Madison Knight is in the forefront of a mystifying murder mystery. What starts out as perhaps a simple case of the death of a 68 year old woman, who is found in a wheelchair in front of a hospital. But as we have come to learn, nothing is ever simple for Madison. The case will escalate into a couple more murders that somehow seem related. Do we have a serial killer on the loose?

When we left off in the previous book, Madison had survived being kidnapped by the Russian mob, and in Deadly Impulse, Madison tries to hide the fact that she has been having devastating flashbacks where her life hung by a thread. Trying to solve this complex mystery, with those obstacles makes it even more difficult for Madison. But nothing will ever stop Madison as she preservers despite all the twists and surprises that keep coming at her.

During the investigation, Madison works closely with her partner, Terry, who is anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child; her best friend, Cynthia; and her boyfriend, Troy. As I have mentioned before, for the most part Madison usually stands alone, with not a lot of support from management. Hopefully with the new female chief, this will begin to change, though I am still not a fan of her partner, Terry. In future books though, I do have a wish list. I would love to see Madison become more open, and trusting, with a loyal team behind her. I like what I see with her and Troy, as well as her friendship with Cynthia and hopefully the new chief.

This was an intense and exciting mystery from start to finish, which Arnold always gives us in each and every book in this series. As each new clue or finding is found, we become more stumped as to who is the killer. Very well done, Carolyn. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedural, a tough cop, then this series is a must for you.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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