Tag Archives: Crime

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline-Review & Giveaway

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The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline-Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
TJ Devlin is the charming disappointment in the prominent Devlin family, all of whom are lawyers at their highly successful firm—except him. After a stint in prison and rehab for alcoholism, TJ can’t get hired anywhere except at the firm, in a make-work job with the title of investigator.

But one night, TJ’s world turns upside down after his older brother John confesses that he just murdered one of the clients, an accountant he’d confronted with proof of embezzlement. It seems impossible coming from John, the firstborn son and Most Valuable Devlin.

TJ plunges into the investigation, seizing the chance to prove his worth and save his brother. But in no time, TJ and John find themselves entangled in a lethal web of deception and murder. TJ will fight to save his family, but what he learns might break them first.

 

 

Review:

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline is a standalone crime mystery thriller that grips you from the start. The story is set in Philadelphia, centered around the Devlins, who are a family of successful lawyers, in their own law firm. The story revolves around TJ Devlin, who is the black sheep in the family, as he is a recovering alchoholic, as well as having spent time in prison.  TJ works at his family’s law firm as investigator, working hard to redeem himself to his family.

It is his father’s birthday party, when his older brother needs help, and asks TJ to come with him.  Seems John (the older successful brother) met with a client, who pulled a gun on him, and John threw a rock at the client, hitting him in the head.  John fears he killed the man, but when they get to where John left him, there is no body. When they get back to the party, the family immediately thinks that TJ was in trouble.  John tries to conceal where they went, making up a lie that TJ had a relapse, even though he has been sober for a while.  TJ is angry with John, for lying, and when he tries to explain to the family, they brush him off as he is not telling the truth.

The next day TJ learns that John’s client was dead, supposedly by suicide, due to embezzlement, at a different site. This relieves John, and he no longer worries; but TJ is suspicious because he sees he is being followed.  TJ continues his investigation, putting himself into dangerous situations.   TJ is also helping out his sister, Gabby on a pro bono case, related to illegal drugs conducted on inmates in prison by pharmaceutical companies. TJ begins to suspect that John has some issues, causing his downward spiral endangering his family.   Were both of these cases related?

I really liked TJ, who was dedicated to proving himself to his family, despite them treating him like a lost cause; which was heartbreaking at times.  Only his sister, Gabby was always believing in him; as his mother usually did.  His father was harsh to him, always believing the worst; especially with John’s lies to defend himself.  TJ also closer to the end will find the perfect woman for him, as they made a great couple.

The Truth about the Devlins is an exciting, fast-paced story in the last third of the book, with a dangerous lethal web of deception and murder. I was unable to put the book down, as it was a heart-pounding, captivating page-turner.  The Truth About the Devlins was very well written by Lisa Scottoline.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

The Reading Cafe is offering a paper copy of THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from March 25th – March 29th, 2024

 

 

 

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Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

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Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

 

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Description:
Letty Davenport, the tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers.

Letty Davenport’s days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas—and her incredible skills with firearms—draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group’s California headquarters.

While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission—and their lives—in grave danger.

 

Review:
Dark Angel by John Sandford is the second book in his exciting Letty Davenport series. Letty is an investigator for Department of Homeland Security, but her real boss is with Senator Christopher Colles. She has garnered a lot attention from her last case, with other government leaders interested; but she is asked to help with a joint operation between Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.  Letty will partner up with Rod Baxter, an NSA security computer programmer; as they will need to go undercover to infiltrate an organized cell of hackers known as “Ordinary People”.  Both Letty and Rod agree that they suspect NSA leaders are not telling them all the facts. 

Letty is smart, calm, fantastic ability with guns, and determined to find the information that they need; Baxter is the programmer/hacker guru, who is not a fan of any violence.  They are both opposites, but they each have a sense of humor and focus on what needs to be done. They make contact with some hackers, showing them, they can break down Ordinary People. After they complete the work, things turn violent, as the breakdown brings in a dangerous adversary; a Russian crew is murdering people from the Ordinary People hacker group. Letty and Baxter realize the real danger is with the Russians who are bent on revenge against the OP group, as well as fighting a battle with Ukraine.

What follows is an exciting and intense thriller in the last half of the book.  Letty asks for help bringing in her CIA friend Barbara, who also is great with guns, and Kaiser (her previous partner), as well as other help from NSA.  The hackers, who they worked with earlier, and Baxter are trying to bring down the Russian attack on Ukraine; while Letty and her team prepare for the Russian invasion.

The final attack was wild, haunting and riveting, with violence, murder, and a fantastic ending.   Dark Angel was suspenseful, fast paced, and action packed throughout, with a lots of violence, murder, espionage and hackers.  I loved Letty, who was a sensational leader, and happy to see Kaiser join closer to the end, as well as Barbara.  I also like the rest of the team and hackers who were very good characters. Dark Angel was very well written by John Sandford.

 

 

 

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Description:
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.  Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her.  He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumor has it that a fairly ugly militia group might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.  Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas.  When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger.  The militia group has set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.

 

Review:

The Investigator by John Sandford is the 1st book in his new Letty Davenport series. This is a spin off of Sandford’s US Marshall Lucas Davenport series, with his adopted daughter, Letty taking center stage. At the age of 24, Letty is working for US Senator Colles, but she is bored and ready to quit, but Colles is impressed with her skills and offers her a job doing investigative work along side of the Department of Homeland Security. Letty learned at a young age from her father, on handling firearms, knowledge of police procedures, handling tense situations as well understanding all kinds of investigative reports.

Letty is pared with Homeland Security investigator John Kaiser; at first John wasn’t sure that Letty would make a good partner. But she quickly proved that she knew what she was doing, not to mention her sharp abilities using guns. In a short time, they began to trust each other, making them have a great working relationship.  

Their mission involves checking out recent oil thefts in small Texas towns, as a number of oil companies have reported thefts. Rumors are reported that a militia group may be involved, and what are they doing with the profits from the stolen oil?  While doing their investigations, they discover an oil company employee, and wife is murdered in their home; with some other people also being murdered. Letty and John begin to suspect that this militia group is planning a possible anti-immigration explosive attack at the Tex-Mex border. With time running out, Letty and Kaiser alert Homeland Security and local police to help stop the attack. Who will survive?

The Investigator was an exciting, intense story line, with the last third of the book had me unable to put the book down.  I really liked Letty, who was a compelling heroine, with her overall intelligence, amazing ability with guns, and so very confident and independent. The Investigator was very well written by John Sandford. I look forward to more of Letty Davenport.

Reviewed by Barb

Copies provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

 

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Description:
She wakes surrounded by an inky black darkness and can barely breathe. A sack is covering her head, and her hands are tied behind her back. She desperately tries to struggle free as she hears footsteps walking toward her. She silently starts to cry as a chilling voice whispers “It’s time to pay for what you did…”

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the murder scene of a young gas station clerk just before dawn, she assumes it must be a robbery gone tragically wrong. But when she discovers nothing has been stolen, she knows the motive must be far more personal.

Watching the security footage, Amanda is shocked to witness the cold-blooded killer not only shoot the clerk dead but abduct a customer. And her heart stops when she recognizes the customer as her former colleague, Katherine Graves. As Amanda breaks the news to Katherine’s heartbroken Aunt May , she vows to do whatever it takes to bring her niece home alive.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda and her partner, Trent, search Katherine’s home. Soon, they discover that despite no longer being with the police department, Katherine has a long list of very dangerous enemies. Enemies who have been sending her anonymous letters promising revenge.

The more Amanda digs into Katherine’s past, the longer her list of suspects becomes. But when May is sent a ransom demand and a picture of Katherine close to death, Amanda knows time is running out. With only hours left to find Katherine alive, Amanda is prepared to risk everything to keep her promise to May, even her own life…

 

 

 

Review:

Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold is the 10th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. As I have noted previously, I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department.

In the predawn hours, a young girl working in a convenience store, is shot dead, and a former colleague of Amanda is kidnapped.  When Amanda and Trent are called to the scene of the murder, they thought at first that it was a robbery, but watching the security footage, she recognizes the person who was abducted, was Katherine Graves, a former cop and colleague. Now it’s a race against time to find Katherine before she is killed.

Katherine, no longer a cop, had a tough reputation, handling a number of high-profile cases, and Amanda and Trent have to look into old cases and people who may have wanted revenge.  Katherine did have a long list of dangerous enemies, which makes it even harder to find the culprit. This is told in two POV’s, for both Amanda and Katherine.  In one of her Pov’s, the perpetrator tells Katherine “it’s time to pay for what you did.”

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story. As Amanda continues to dig into Katherines past cases, the longer her list of suspects becomes.  To say too much more would be spoilers.

Missing Before Daylight was another fantastic crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was a compelling intricate suspenseful plot, excellent police procedural, great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with a surprise reveal near the end.  Missing Before Daylight was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

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FROM THE ASHES (Baton Rouge Bachelors 2) by KE Osborn-review tour

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FROM THE ASHES (Baton Rouge Bachelors Duet 2) by KE Osborn -review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 28, 2023

From the ashes.
That was my plan from the very beginning.
To rise from the inferno and build something new with Makaylie. She’s everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I thought I didn’t need.

So when her safety is in question because of my very existence, I must protect her. Even if it’s from the men who look up to me as their leader. If they found out about her, the cost would be devastating.
She’s a good girl—I’m nothing but a wounded man with a black heart, keeping my identity from her.

When our different worlds collide, the outcome will be catastrophic—not only for her but for the people we love. The chaos I’ve unleashed will wreak havoc on the streets of Baton Rouge, and no one will be safe.

Not even the sanctity of the Baton Rouge Bachelors can outrun the storm that’s coming.

•••••••••

REVIEW: FROM THE ASHES is the second and final instalment in KE Osborn’s contemporary, adult BATON ROUGE BACHELORS dark, erotic, romance duet. This is the continuing story of Baton Rouge Bachelors second in command, Cain Barrington, and twenty-six year old author, Makaylie Rayne’s story line. FROM THE ASHES and the Baton Rouge Bachelors is a spin off from the author’s NOLA Defiance MC series-several characters cross over for continuity. FROM THE ASHES should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one UP IN FLAMES.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Makaylie and Cain) FROM THE ASHES picks up immediately after the events of book one in which, desperate to protect the woman he loves, Cain pushes Makaylie out of his life but Makaylie refuses to walk away, and in doing so, places herself in the direct line of fire. As the second in command of the Louisiana crime syndicate The Baton Rouge Bachelors, Cain is quickly losing control of his men, and the people under his command including the woman he loves. Makaylie refuses to ‘obey’ our story line hero, and finds herself the target of some powerful men. Often dismissed and rebuffed by the man that she loves, Makaylie walks away but struggle in the wake of the knowledge that all is not as it appears to be. What ensues is the building relationship between Makaylie and Cain, and the fall-out as death and destruction follow in their wake.

The world building continues to focus on the strained relationship between our story line couple, and the secret life of Cain Barrington. Hoping his criminal connections and lifestyle would never touch the woman he loved, Cain would quickly discover betrayal comes at a cost, the lives of the people he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and aggressive.

The colorful, energetic and often questionable secondary and supporting characters include Makaylie’s best friend Joey, several members of the Baton Rouge Bachelors crime syndicate, as well as the NOLA Defiance MC, and Cain’s right hand man Rodberg. The requisite evil has many faces, yet not everyone will survive.

FROM THE ASHES is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, loss and grief, forgiveness and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the romance struggles in the face perceived betrayal; the characters are driven, purposeful and dynamic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one UP IN FLAMES

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

KE OSBORN

With a flair for all things creative, International Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She’s entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts.

K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn’t love a good binge?

Turn lust into love at www.keosbornauthor.com

AUTHOR LINKS

Website / Instagram / Twitter/Facebook / Goodreads / Bookbub / Amazon Author Page/ Newsletter /

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Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley, her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.

Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.

But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…

 

 

 

Review:

Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold is the 9th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Her Last Words was a fantastic read, with me unable to put the book down.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. Amanda returns home from a vacation with her boyfriend Logan and adopted daughter, Zoe: when she sees a voice message from a famous writer, Felicity Kelley. The following morning, Amanda receives word that Felicity Kelley was found murdered.  Since she and Trent were on an old case revolving Felicity’ sister, they both headed to the crime scene, and were given control of finding the case. Felicity was stabbed with a knife in her heart, as well as a Queen of Hearts playing card in her throat, which turns out to be a clue from Felicity’s newest bestselling crime novel.

In a short time, Amanda begins to connect the murders from a cold case 15 years ago, which Felicity was researching for her next novel. Amanda and Trent interview all the people involved with a publishing house, as well as investigating the dead woman from 15 years ago, to tie in the missing pieces. When another woman is murdered, with the same Queen of Hearts playing card, her and Trent suspect that someone is trying to throw them off the case.

I loved how Amanda is able to allow herself to take a weekend off to be with her daughter and Logan, to spend some quiet fun peaceful time away from the case. This was a very good change.  Her and Trent make great partners, always helping each other.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story. The last third of the book was fast-paced, intense, exciting thriller, with many twists along the way. To say too much more would be spoilers.

Her Last Words was another fantastic crime thriller that held my breath throughout.  This once again is an excellent police procedural, great characters, gripping storyline, and surprise twists along the way.  Her Last Words was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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The Hike by Lucy Clarke – a Review

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The Hike by Lucy Clarke – a Review

 

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Description:
No help.
No cell coverage.
No one to hear them scream.

Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need.

But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . . . not all of them will return.

 

 

Review:

The Hike by Lucy Clarke is an excellent stand-alone thriller, set in the wilderness of Norway. Four best friends (Liz, Helena, Maggie, Jodi) get-together annually for a long weekend getaway, which usually is beach oriented.  But, since this is Liz’s choice to pick, she decides on going hiking in the mountains of Norway.  Both Maggie and Helena were not thrilled with the idea of hiking in the Norway wilderness, but they will embark on their trip.  Jodi, a famous singer, decides in the last minute, she needed to get away from her band, and arrives in Norway surprising her friends that night.

They do receive some warnings from various villagers, about the bad weather coming, a missing girl, and the dangerous mountain climbing; as well as someone possibly following them. Once they get past the first day, things slowly change, especially when the weather changes, and they have to find safety in a cave. What they find in the cave will open the doors to someone who is determined to stop them. The tensions between them rises, with arguments, secrets revealed, some injuries, and not knowing which of the men they run into is the bad man.  The danger escalates threatening their lives.  Who will survive?

The Hike was an exciting, tense, suspenseful, edge of your seat thriller.  In the last half, I could not put the book down. I do not want to give spoilers, as the rest of the way was a mind-bogging thriller. I like all four of the ladies, their friendship, despite some of the trauma and anger between them.  The Hike was very well written by Lucy Clarke.  If you like psychological thrillers, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jessie Q. Sutanto – a Review

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I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jessie Q. Sutanto – a Review

 

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Description:
Jane is unhappy.

A struggling midlist writer whose novels barely command four figures, she feels trapped in an underwhelming marriage, just scraping by to pay a crippling Bay Area mortgage for a house–a life–she’s never really wanted.

There’s only ever been one person she cared about, one person who truly understood her: Thalia. Jane’s best and only friend nearly a decade ago during their Creative Writing days at Oxford. It was the only good year of Jane’s life–cobblestones and books and damp English air, heady wine and sweet cider and Thalia, endless Thalia. But then one night ruined everything. The blood-soaked night that should have bound Thalia to Jane forever but instead made her lose her completely. Thalia disappeared without a trace, and Jane has been unable to find her since.

Until now.

Because there she is, her name at the top of the New York Times bestseller list: A Most Pleasant Death by Thalia Ashcroft. When she discovers a post from Thalia on her website about attending a book convention in New York City in a week–“Can’t wait to see you there!”–Jane can’t wait either.

She’ll go to New York City, too, credit card bill be damned. And this time, she will do things right. Jane won’t lose Thalia again.

 

 

Review:

I’m Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a stand-alone suspense thriller.  I have read and enjoyed all of Jessie Q. Sutanto’s books. I did read this new book, with some mixed feelings, which I will detail later in this review. The story revolves around Jane Morgan, who has always considered herself as a sociopath, even in her early years as a child, with a mother who treated her badly.  The story switches back and forth in the current time, where she is a struggling novelist and married; and in the past (9 years earlier) when she attended Creative Writing classes at Oxford. 

It is at Oxford, where Jane meets Thalia, who in a very short time, finds herself totally obsessed with her. Thalia befriends the quiet dark Jane, as well as everyone at the school who adored Thalia. Thalia was everything Jane admired, beautiful, charismatic and self-confident; something Jane lacked, always always angry at others. We also meet Ani, who also becomes close friends with Thalia, most to Jane’s annoyance. Jane loved her time at Oxford, with Thalia; until one night when Jane helped Thalia out of a terrible incident, and she has never seen Thalia again until the present time, nine years later.

Jane’s marriage to her husband, Ted, she is not happy, as he is irritating, and she feels trapped;  as well as struggling. with the budget. Jane has written two novels, which were not very successful. She sees an advertisement of a New York convention, showcasing the author, Thalia Ashcroft, with a new bestseller.   Jane is determined to reconnect at convention in NYC, and will stop at nothing to attend, the SusPensCon event. When Jane was at the University at Oxford, she had the magic touch to write stories, and she wanted to get those vibes back when she met Thalia again.

When Jane manages to push her way into seeing Thalia again, everything changes; as Thalia welcomes her; including Thalia’s sister-in-law, Ani.  But things are not what it seems. I’m Not Done with You Yet turns into a twisty cat/mouse plot, with dark twists, shenanigans, that keep you guessing until the end. My mixed feelings revolve around the lead characters, especially Jane, who for most of the book, I frankly did not like; and I also felt the first half did drag a bit.

I’m Not Done with You Yet was an interesting story line, that picked up in the last third of the book, being fast paced and exciting, with some major twists. I am a fan of Jesse Q. Sutanto, but where her other books were fun & entertaining, this one was more of a thriller. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan – a Review

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North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan – a Review

 

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Description:
After five years in hiding from their murderous father, the day Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been dreading has arrived: Boyd McIntyre, head of a Los Angeles crime family, has at last tracked his kids to a small Montana town and is minutes away from kidnapping them. They barely escape in a small plane, but gunfire hits the fuel line. The pilot, a man who has been raising them as his own, manages to crash land in the middle of the Montana wilderness. The siblings hike deep into the woods, searching desperately for safety—unaware of the severity of the approaching storm.

Boyd’s sister Ruby left Los Angeles for the Army years ago, cutting off contact in order to help keep her niece and nephew safe and free from the horrors of the McIntyre clan. So when she gets an emergency call that the plane has gone down with the kids inside, she drops everything to try save them.

As the storm builds, Ruby isn’t the only person looking for them. Boyd has hired an expert tracker to find and bring them home. And rancher Nick Lorenzo, who knows these mountains better than anyone and doesn’t understand why the kids are running, is on their trail too.

But there is a greater threat to Kristen and Ryan out there. More volatile than the incoming blizzard, more dangerous than the family they ran from or the natural predators they could encounter. Who finds them first could determine if they live or die.

 

 

Review:

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is another one of her fantastic thriller novels. North of Nowhere is a story revolving around an evil mafia family, that has been looking for their kidnapped children. It has been 5 years, since Kristin and Ryan McIntyre were saved by Tony, who was a former member of the mafia family; both Kristin (16 years old) and Ryan (10 years old, also deaf) love Tony and call him Dad.  They live in a small Montana town, close to the wilderness, with Tony working for rancher Nick Lorenzo.

Now, as the McIntyre family is closing in, they need to run, and Tony takes Lorenzo’s plane to escape, but he is shot by a member of the McIntyre family and he is forced to crash land the plane. An injured Tony forces Kristin and Ryan to run, especially with a major snow storm approaching, before Boyd McIntyre (the kid’s father) finds him. Tony calls Ruby, the kids aunt, who had also run away all those years ago, and asked her to help save the kids.

Ruby, a former marine, immediately goes to Montana to save the kids.  Nick Lorenzo, is determined to find them faster, as he needed to understand why they were running.  Kristen was strong and did all she could to take care of Ryan. Boyd McIntyre had a number of men, including a tracker, to struggle through the storm to find his kids, even though they never wanted to be found.  This was a nonstop wild action thriller, with a race against time to find Kristin and Ryan; with Boyd and his group willing to kill those in the way.  To say too much more would ruin the book, as you need to read this fantastic thriller.

“North of Nowhere” is a heart pounding gripping thriller that kept me unable to put the book down. I really liked Kristin, who was strong and determined.  I also liked both Ruby and Lorenzo, who would do anything to save the children. North of Nowhere was so very well written by Allison Brennan. This was a great psychological thriller that had so much going on from start to finish; filled with blizzard, hostile conditions, family, escape, betrayal, murder, organized crime, and an evil grandmother.   I wholly suggest you read North of Nowhere.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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