Tag Archives: Carolyn Arnold

Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Blue Baby
Brandon Fisher FBI series – Book #4
by Carolyn Arnold
Release Date: September 25, 2015

Blue BabyAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description
Happiness is elusive for many, but from the killer’s standpoint, it’s something he creates. And he’s determined to get it right…at least one more time.

The murders were one year apart, but the similarities have the interest of the FBI. Both victims were found in their tubs, dressed in their wedding gowns. But that’s not the worst of it. When a third body is found, Brandon Fisher and his team make the chilling discovery that more than the killer’s method of operation connects the women


Review:

Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold is the 4th book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series. This is an excellent mystery thriller written so well by Arnold, which covers violent crimes, usually serial killers. I thought Blue Baby was the best book in this series.

Though Brandon Fisher is the series name, and he is more or less the narrator of this series, to me this is an ensemble storyline.   Jack is the leader of the investigative team that handles these violent crimes. Paige and Zach are part of the team, and we get to spend time with all of them.

This was an exciting story about a serial killer who leaves his female victims in a wedding dress, with full makeup and in the tub. We learn early on that the murderer envisions himself to be an angel who gives unhappy woman what they want…happiness in a better world.

The time frame between the two murders that were similar was a year apart, but when another murder happens quickly, the team must race against time before the murderer decides to act again. Jack, Brandon and the rest of the team split themselves to check with each victim to find any clues, and just when they think they are on the right track, they become stymied again.

To say too much more would be spoilers, but this was a tense, exciting adventure from start to finish, with a few twists along the way. I am not sure why, but frankly I am not a big fan of Brandon, though I do like the overall team. I actually like Paige better then Brandon. With that being said, this to me reads as an ensemble group of characters that work together to solve these difficult cases. If you like murder mysteries, serial killers, and a team that finds each of them with their own issues; then you will enjoy this series. Again, I must praise Carolyn Arnold for her knowledge of police procedures and her flawless writing.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Just Cause by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Just Cause by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Just Cause
Madison Knight series – Book #5
by Carolyn Arnold
Release Date: October 16, 2014

Just Cause

Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
The past threatens the future and puts Detective Madison Knight’s life in danger.

A cold case pits Madison against the Russian Mafia, but things take a swift turn when the unthinkable happens—a new threat arises and has Madison hunting down an unknown killer.

While trying to make sense of the clues, bodies are piling up, and the brass is hungry for explanations. In addition, Madison must balance all of this while nursing an injury, talking out her emotions with a therapist—a bureaucratic necessity—answering to an eager journalist, and facing an internal affairs investigation.

As the answers come together, Madison narrows in on a possible link between the Russian Mafia and someone within the Stiles PD.

Will she have the courage to confront the person she believes is playing both sides, even though they hold a position of great power?

Things are about to be shaken up, and, for Madison, that means she just might have to let go of the past to embrace her future.

 

Review:

Just Cause by Carolyn Arnold is the 5th book in her exciting Madison Knight series. In case you are not familiar with this series, here is a brief synopsis: Madison Knight is a tough, say it like it is detective in the major crimes division. Madison fights and solves crimes, despite the minimal support she gets from her co-workers.   In Just Cause, Madison secretly works on a cold case of the Russian Mob that has haunted her since the beginning of this series. She is breaking the rules, because she knows her superiors will forbid her to be working on the case, which has become very personal to Madison.

Just Cause starts off with a bang, and Madison is literally moments away from her own death. The mob has taken her hostage at the start of the book, and they play their own torture game, Russian Roulette, with her. Since she never told anyone where she was going, she fears the end is near. Terry, her partner is at his desk, wondering where Madison is, as she is never ever late. Fortunately, Terry gets others involved and just when the next bullet is to be triggered, he comes to Madison’s rescue. Exciting? You bet. And this was just the first few pages of the book.

What follows is an exciting story of Madison trying to investigate and get the goods on the Russian mob, before all the possible witnesses to help her are eliminated one by one. This is an action packed story, and with each twist or death, I would be giving away spoilers, which I do not want to do. This is a page burner that you cannot put down, which you need to read.

In previous reviews of this series, I have mentioned that this series has some similarities to the In-Death series, with the exception of the secondary characters and the fabulous team In-Death has.   Madison Knight stands alone for most of the time, which I have mentioned before, and is somewhat of a stickler for me. She does have a good friend, who is even better in this book. Terry her partner is a little better, but still somewhat annoying to me, but some is Madison’s own fault. I love Hershey, her dog, and at times it seems Hershey is the only happiness for her. Her immediate supervisor has made improvements in how he acts with her, and we do learn more about the chief, who is always nasty. Overall, there is hope for Madison to find some happiness with someone, and build a loyal team. She is a tough nut to crack.

With that being said, Just Cause was a great addition to this series. Carolyn Arnold outdoes herself with putting together the pieces of this mystery, and holding our attention all the way through. If you enjoy crime dramas, mysteries, thrillers, a tough hard-nosed cop and non-stop action storylines, look no further than the Madison Knight series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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Silent Graves by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Silent Graves by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Silent Graves

Links to order Silent Graves: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

 

Description:
Thirty missing women in the period of six years. Now another has been abducted.

One officer was right all along. Prince William County, Virginia has a serial killer preying on women.

With the recent abduction, the FBI is called in and Brandon Fisher’s team gets the assignment. There is more to it than just one missing woman—this dates back decades. They delve into the past cases, hoping it will shed light on the investigation, but with the discovery of a body and the report of another missing woman, their efforts are further intensified. They begin narrowing in on the cases from the last six years.

What they find are heinous acts that rival what they witnessed in Salt Lick, Kentucky. They must stop a killer who plays out his twisted game of rape and torture—and they need to do so fast if there’s going to be anyone left to save

 

Review:

Silent Graves by Carolyn Arnold is the 2nd book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series.  This series revolves around Brandon Fisher, who is a young FBI agent still on probation in the Special Cases division, BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit.  Their cases are usually dark violent cases, such as serial killers.  In Silent Graves, the team (Brandon, Jack (his boss), Paige, & Zachary) are called into a case of a missing women, and when they are notified about a body being found in a small town in Virgina, they travel there to investigate.

Soon they begin to suspect that the missing woman, & the body just found are the result of a serial killer, which upon further investigation begins to add up to 30 missing women, most within the past years.  When another woman is kidnapped, the case is escalated to try and find the killer before he kills them.  What follows is a terrifying story of a mentally disturbed killer, whom Arnold also gives a POV that allows us into his dark maniacal mind, and to those he tortures. 

We do get mostly Brandon’s POV, as he tries to prove to his boss Jack that he belongs on the team and should be off probation.  However, Brandon has his own private issues dealing with these horrific type of cases, which haunt him.  But he is a very good agent, as he helps put together the complex clues with the rest of the team.

Carolyn Arnold does a fantastic job of putting this story together, with the complexity of the clues, findings, twists and surprises, which she excels in.  Carolyn’s knowledge of police procedural is amazing, and she does this so flawlessly to precise perfection.  There isn’t a moment that is used with fluff.  It is all tense and terrifying, as the story slowly unravels.  I do not want to give any spoilers, other then to say this was a race to the finish exciting climax.  Carolyn Arnold is a wonderful writer, who has the ability to put you right in the middle of a tense violent storyline.  It is important to note, that this is a graphic violent storyline, that had me at times tense and depressed; it is very realistic and if you do not like this type of book it might not be for you.  But if you enjoy these types of stories, then you must read Silent Graves.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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Found Innocent by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Found Innocent by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Found InnocentLinks to order Found Innocent: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / ITunes

Description:
There’s one code when it comes to the wall of blue…and Madison Knight may have to cross it.

Any good cop knows you never report a brother for mishandling a case or accuse him of misconduct, but in order to find justice, Madison may not have a choice.

Lacy Rose had one goal for her twentieth birthday—to be found innocent of past sins—but her life is cut short.

When Lacy’s remains are found in a garden and the investigation becomes connected to a closed case, Madison must face her past. The lead detective on that case was Madison’s ex-fiancé. At the risk of jeopardizing departmental relationships, and churning up the attention of an old flame at the same time, Madison must push hard before the guilty are found innocent.




Review:
Found Innocent by Carolyn Arnold is the 4th book in her Madison Knight series. For those who have not read this series, Madison is a great heroine, and this series is a wonderful suspenseful crime thriller.

Madison is a detective in the major crimes division; she is an extremely tough no nonsense cop, who usually solves her cases.  Madison doesn’t care if she comes across as rude or abrupt; her main focus is finding the killer, even if she has so many obstacles along the way, including her own boss. Madison also has very little support, with a select few that she considers friends.  Beneath her tough exterior, Madison is lonely, having had two recent ruined relationships, but she does have her dog, Hershey to keep her company at nights.  🙂

Madison becomes embroiled in a strange case, that involves the apparent suicide of a young hooker, who supposedly shot herself.   When Madison investigates, she knows that not all is what it looks like.  This case has so many plots and twists, with Madison discovering another suicide case that is similar and she suspects is another related murder.  Her main suspects are a pimp, a druggie, a good Samaritan, and the list keeps getting bigger.   As is Arnold’s trademark, there are many suspects, intense action, and you truly cannot blink or you will miss another twist. 

Complicating Madison’s life is her ex comes back on the scene, as he is also a detective, and he wants her back.  Will Madison give in to her heart?

I have said this before in other reviews for this series, but Arnold does a masterful job putting the pieces together in a complex murder case. Her knowledge of how the criminal procedurals work is fantastic.  She has us unsuccessfully trying to solve this crime; as we follow Madison through every step, looking at all the clues, forensic reports, twists, suspects; but Madison is great and she will solve it.  Good thing I am not a detective. Lol

The only thing I would like to see in future books is a better support team for Madison. I’m not a Terry fan (her partner),  and the sergeant, who is her boss, is not supportive for a great cop like Madison. What makes the In Death series so great, is the support team that surrounds Eve, to help her solve the cases.  Madison Knight stands alone, which doesn’t sit well with me.  She does have a friend, who is ok, but could be even more supportive.   

Found Innocent is another gripping thriller by Arnold, with non stop action throughout.  If you love crime dramas, mysteries, and a tough female cop, this series is not to be missed

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Life Sentence by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Life Sentence by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

life sentence

Links to order Life Sentence: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / ITunes

Description:
“If I pay with my life, you will pay with yours.”

Defense Attorney Bryan Lexan may have just taken on the case which will cost him his life. When his client, a Russian Drug Boss, is convicted of first-degree murder, he vows to make Bryan pay.

Meanwhile, Jessica Pratt has always prided herself on being a modern woman–you know, the kind who doesn’t need a man to make her feel complete. So when she finds herself torn between two, she realizes that not all decisions are based on facts. If they were, her boyfriend, Bryan, would be the logical choice. He has the family name, wealth, and a stake in a successful law firm. Only thing is, when she meets Mason Freeman, the chemistry between them is irrefutable and he won’t take no for an answer.

With both of them caught up in a struggle for survival, and a powerful enemy on their heels, they’ll need to decide where their loyalties lie.

 

Review:

Life Sentence by Carolyn Arnold is a romance suspense thriller, which Arnold is known for.  I have read almost all of her books, and this continues the trend of writing exciting stories that keep your attention throughout. 

Life Sentence has an appearance by Madison Knight, our heroine from Arnold’s Madison Knight series.  The appearance was long before we get to know Madison, and this is totally separate from that series.  Life Sentence is a stand alone read.

The story starts with Bryan Lexan, a wealthy and well known lawyer, who takes the murder case of a mob boss.  Once Bryan accepts, the mob boss, Dimitri, tells him if he loses this case, he will pay with his life. Bryan knows Dimitri means business, but he is confident he will win this case, and it’s good for his practice. 

Early on we meet Jessica Pratt, who is in love with Bryan, and patiently awaits him to ask her to marry him.  What follows is a suspenseful storyline, that has unexpected twists.  When Bryan loses the case, he worries about Jessica, and at that time he does ask her to marry him, and for her to live with him in his house.  When her house is ransacked, Jessica does move in with Bryan and accepts his proposal. 

Jessica, is also in the middle of winning a contract for the company she works for, and meets Mason, one of the owners.  She is immediately attracted to him, but keeps her distance, as she is betrothed to Bryan.  When Bryan’s co-partner leaves the company quickly, Jessica worries about Bryan and danger he is facing.  Then one day he never comes home. 

What follows is an exciting last third of the book, with Jessica’s life falling apart, and Mason trying to help her recover.  There were so many surprises and twists, which changed the game often.  Was Bryan killed by the mob?  Will Jessica allow herself to become involved with Mason?  Is Jessica’s life in danger?  You will have to read this book to find the answers. 

If I had to be picky, there is one thing I found a little unbelievable.  Bryan was wealthy, running an excellent law firm.  What person in there right mind would accept a case from the mob, with a threat of win or lose your life.  Aside from that, the storyline was great.

Life Sentence is a thriller all the way, which I read non-stop.  Carolyn Arnold is known for writing wonderful suspense thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, with lots of excitement, as well as many twists along the way that continually surprise you. Having read all of Arnold’s books, she never disappoints us. I wholly recommend Life Sentence for those who want an exciting thriller to read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Assassination of a Dignitary by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Assassination of a Dignitary by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Assassination of a Dignitary

Link to buy Assassination of a Dignitary: Amazon

Description:
Raymond Hunter’s dark past has returned and demands one final favor. Now fifteen years later, settled as an accountant and family man, he assumed life would be calm. He thought wrong. The Italian Mafia wants him back.

The directions were simple: Kill Governor Behler and be out for good.

Despite the odd request since the Mafia typically respects dignitaries, in order to protect his family, Raymond has no choice but to accept the job. He picks the date and location—Niagara Falls, New York—two hundred and forty miles away. But by the time he returns home, he finds out the assassination attempt failed, his family has been kidnapped, and he has twenty-four hours to set things right if he wants to see them again.

With time running out, Raymond discovers the real reason they wanted Behler dead and finds out he’s placed himself and his family right in the middle of a mafia power struggle. What he doesn’t realize is that law enforcement is also closing in.

Review:

Assassination of a Dignitary by Carolyn Arnold is a suspense thriller.  The story revolves around the mafia, and a man who got away, only to be pulled back in years later.  Raymond Hunter is a family man, married with a wife and children that he loves .  He used to be a hit man for the Russo family, and when he saved the Don’s son, he was allowed to leave the family, as he wished to live a normal life.

Fifteen years later, he is forced to by the Don’s son, Christian to perform a final job.  Raymond must kill a Governor, under the order from the Don.  Raymond finds that hard to believe, since the mafia usually will never touch dignitaries.  But Christian Russo threatens Raymond, and promises to pay him an exorbitant amount to do the job, and then he will leave him and his family alone.  Raymond has no choice, he must do the job, and is shocked to find out that the target is someone he knows. 

What follows is an exciting adventure of Raymond trying to perform his task, saving his family from the mob, and trying to be one step ahead of the law, as well as Christian’s men.  There were many twists and turns, and Raymond has no one to trust, and he is faced with a deadline to finish the job, or those he loves will suffer the consequences.

The story is done mostly in two pov’s, following Raymond each step of the way, and the Detective on the case, Clinton.  Carolyn Arnold weaves an exciting thriller, with so many different elements and twists, as well as key players who have ties with the mob.  Much of the book is tense, as the Mafia cares nothing about who they hurt.  The key points…Did Raymond perform his final job?  Is his family safe? Will Raymond survive, and will he ever be free?

I found this to be an exciting and interesting story, with not a dull moment, as there was action the entire way.  There were some moments during the course of the book I did not enjoy, mainly some deaths or torture, but in this type of story, it did fit. Carolyn Arnold is an excellent writer, and knows how to tell a story that flows so perfectly.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Catching Up with Carolyn Arnold

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Catching Up with Carolyn Arnold

The Reading Cafe is happy to have Carolyn Arnold with us today.  Carolyn has just released Sacrifice, which is her third book in her Madison Knight series.

Let’s talk to Carolyn now.

 

TRC: Hi  Carolyn.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “Sacrifice”, as well as to give us an update as to what you have in store for us for the remainder of the year and in 2013.

 

TRC: Sacrifice was released on August 1st.  This is the third novel in your Madison Knight series.  For those people who may not have read this series, would you please give us a brief description?

Carolyn: The Madison Knight series is designed as a stand-alone, which means you can read these books out of order and still pick up on the series’ characters and the storyline.

Major Crimes Detective Madison Knight, fueled by determination to find justice for the victims, is a strong, independent female amidst a career dominated by men.  If you love a female lead, I invite you to meet Madison for yourself.

Madison Knight series in order:

TIES THAT BIND, 1st in the series, available now
Meet Madison Knight as she and partner must pull together to stop a potential serial killer.

JUSTIFIED, 2nd in the series, available now
See the softer side of Madison Knight in Justified as she’s assigned to a case on Christmas Eve. 

SACRIFICE, 3rd in the series, available now
Madison must risk all, including her career, to bring a killer to justice.

TRC: Would you please tell us about Madison, how you came up with the idea of a murder detective as your heroine?  Can you please also tell us the storyline in Sacrifice?

Carolyn: I enjoy reading and watching programs in the crime genre.  So, when I realized how much I loved writing, it seemed apt I would follow in line with what I chose for entertainment. 

Madison Knight was born because a lot of detective novels, television shows, or movies regularly depict a male detective as the lead and pair him with a submissive, female partner.  I didn’t want that.  Female cops have to be tough; they’re expected to compete at the same standards as men.  And, let’s face it, primarily it’s still a male-dominated career.  So not only do they have the rigors of the job, they are faced with a prejudice from “the boy’s club”.  They have to prove themselves strong and tough on a regular basis, despite being genetically pre-disposed with a more emotional make-up.  The great thing about female cops is they can use their emotion and intuition to pick up on small things their male counterpart may miss.

Here’s a copy of the jacket cover for SACRIFICE:

When the son of business tycoon Marcus Randall washes up on the shore of the Bradshaw River, Detective Madison Knight must sacrifice everything–including her career–to find justice for the “perfect murder”.

With Randall already on the radar of the Secret Service for fraud and counterfeiting, the investigation sheds new light and they require the full cooperation of the Stiles PD. But with power and money to back him, Marcus has a reach that extends right inside the police department.

If Madison’s going to find out the truth, she’ll have to sort through the lies and balance diplomacy with politics.

TRC: How many books do you plan for this series?

Carolyn: I don’t have a set number of books in mind but will keep writing Madison Knight as long as my readers want her, or her personal growth has been exhausted.  At this point, I have 3 released and a 4th written as a first draft.

TRC: What were your challenges in writing about Madison, who is a detective in major crimes division?

Carolyn: Research.  For one, I don’t have a background as a cop, nor do I have family who are.  So in order to make sure that my facts are accurate, this involves a lot of research on police department hierarchy and forensics.  And I never take one source and go from there.  I am careful to cross-reference material on a subject to make sure I have a solid understanding.

As for the politics among the ranks and the relationships, I immersed a part of myself in there.  What did I think it would be like to be a cop?  I built this on facts I had learned but humanized it.

According to a friend I’ve made, who had 30 years experience on the job, he swears I must have been a cop at one time.  As he described TIES THAT BIND, the first in the Madison Knight series:  “Police procedural at its best…. After 30 years as a cop I thought I would be bored with this book in less than a chapter, I was wrong. I just finished “Ties That bind” by Carolyn Arnold. It is amazing. If you like cop stories that are “technically correct”, read “Ties”. The attention to detail is incredible. From a cops perspective the technical details of the story are definitely legit. Arnold really did her homework in “Ties” researching interview techniques, evidence procedures, medical terminology, and legal issues that usually are painfully absent in most police procedural novels. Not in “Ties”, seriously the most technically correct police procedural novel I have ever read. The fictional side was even more entertaining than the facts! The relationships of the characters in the novel are as interesting and thought provoking, as the facts of the police and legal tactics described. I highly recommend “Ties That Bind”. If you want an entertaining, yet realistic read check it out.” 

TRC: Your website says you have another book coming this year… Assassination of a Dignitary.  Would you care to tell us the premise of this book and when are you expecting to release this book?

Carolyn: Assassination of a Dignitary is a thriller and is not part of the Madison Knight series.   It is set to release late fall/early winter 2012.

The following is the book blurb (it may be revised):
Raymond Hunter’s murderous past has returned and demands one final favor. Now, eighteen years later, settled as an accountant and family man, he assumed life would be calm. He thought wrong.  The Italian mafia wants him back.

The directions are simple:  Kill Governor Behler and be out for good.

An odd request since the mafia typically respects dignitaries, but in order to protect his family he has no choice but to accept the job.  He picks the date and location—Niagara Falls, New York—two hundred and forty miles away.  But when things go wrong, his family is kidnapped and he’s given twenty-four hours to set things right if he ever wants to see them again.  With time running out, Raymond discovers the real reason for the hit, and with law enforcement closing in, he fears he may not be able to save them.

TRC: You write a few different genres, such as Mystery/Suspense, Thrillers, Romance.  Do you have a preference?  Is there any other genre that interests you for the future?

Carolyn: My passion is between the mysteries and thrillers.

It’s ironic that you ask about other genres, because lately I’ve been dabbling in women’s fiction.  What started out as a short story may become a novelette or novella.  It’s probably a little soon to promote it, but I’m excited to say when it’s complete all proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Society in memoriam of my father-in-law.

TRC: Would you like to share with us what else you may have upcoming in 2012, as well as what you are projecting for 2013?

Carolyn: This year should see the release of ASSASSINATION OF A DIGNITARY, as discussed earlier.  It may possibly see the release of the women’s fiction piece I’m working on as well, but no promises there.

Next year should see the release of the 4th Madison Knight novel, FOUND INNOCENT, and possibly another novel.

TRC: Do you have a specific writing process?  Does it change when you are writing different genres? 

Carolyn: For the most part, I write as if I was watching a movie.  With my mysteries and thrillers, I have a basic premise as to the outcome but that doesn’t mean that by the time I get there that’s how things are.  I’ve been known to get to the end, and say, wait a minute this person’s not the killer, this one is.  It’s fun when that happens.  As it turned out, when it happened to me the clues were in the story all along.  This is the fun part about being a writer—going on unexpected journeys with your characters.

While I’m writing a first draft, I’ll have ideas for scenes or dialogue hit me, and I’ll note this at the end of where I’m at to pick up later.  There are times, however, I sit down to write and have no idea where I’m going next.  But, somehow, the scene(s) flow and before I know it I’ve written a lot of words.  It’s ironic, because those moments when I’m not sure exactly where the plot’s going can turn out to be some of the best writing sessions.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Carolyn: Just that I want to thank my readers.  If it wasn’t for them, my words would fall on a page and grow stale.  My readers keep me going and add further purpose and direction to my life.

Also, I invite everyone to connect with me online, as follows:

Amazon Author Page• Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook 

TRC:Thank you, Carolyn for giving us an update on what we can look forward to for the rest of this year and next.  Good luck on Sacrifice.   

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Sacrifice by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Sacrifice by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Sacrifice is Carolyn Arnold’s third book in her Madison Knight series.  Carolyn Arnold continues to make Madison Knight a great crime series, and each book just gets better and better.  Arnold once again shows her knowledge of police procedures, as Sacrifice is a terrific suspenseful detective crime thriller, somewhat similar to JD Robb’s In Death series. 

Madison Knight, our tough wonderful fearless detective, becomes embroiled in a case that will pit her against some major obstacles along the way. A rich scion’s son is found drowned, in what looks like a possible drug related murder. Working with her steady partner, Terry, Madison immediately suspects that her Chief is hiding some important information, as he is friends with the father of the dead man.  In almost every move she tries to take, she knows if she makes one bad move, the Chief will have her fired.  With all that pressure, Madison never falters, as she refuses to compromise her standards.  This does get her into trouble all the time, even with her partner Terry.  But make no mistake, Madison is a terrific detective, hardnosed, and determined;  you know somehow, someway, she will unravel all the complicating clues to find the murderer.

But complicated it is, as Arnold weaves a mystery that has turns and twists almost all the way through to the end.  This is a fast paced story, and you can’t put the book down, as you want to know what happens next.

Madison also has her own personal issues, with her mother, and with her boyfriend, Blake.  I liked Blake, a top lawyer, who seemed to be the one for Madison.  But he is also on the other side, a lawyer representing those who Madison tries to bring to justice.  Is this relationship doomed??  Madison can still rely on her dog Hershey for comfort.  🙂

One of the wonderful things about Arnold’s storytelling, is we continue throughout the book to see how the criminal procedurals work, whether it be multiple suspects, various clues, forensics/dna, other crooked cops, lawyers protecting their clients, etc.  Arnold pulls out all the stops, and Madison is a wonderful heroine.  She isn’t always nice, but she is a murder cop, so what would we expect.  But even with her tough & brash disposition, she is very vulnerable and lonely.  Madison doesn’t really have a great support team; as Terry is ok, a bit better then the previous two books, her police superiors are usually unsupportive, which stinks, as she is a great detective, her love life is a mess, but she has one good friend, and does have Hershey.  🙂 

This was a fantastic story all the way to the end.  I stayed up late to finish this book, as I needed to find out how it would end.  With all the twists and turns, you kept finding yourself going back and forth as to who the murderer was, which was so well done by Arnold.  If you love crime dramas, mysteries, and a tough female cop, this series is not to be missed.  I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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