A Penny for Her Heart by Alretha Thomas – a Review

A Penny for Her Heart by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

A Penny for her HeartAmazon

Description:
Vanessa Johnson Rossi’s dream is to work in the White House. Not as the leader of the free world, but as chief of staff, overseeing the executive office of the president. As an assistant working at Buderwood Hills City Hall, she finds herself getting closer to realizing her dream when a plum position becomes available that would put her a step closer working directly for the mayor who has personal connections to the White House. But Vanessa’s hopes are dashed when her best friend, Penelope Newhouse, lands the coveted job. However, when Vanessa discovers Penelope murdered less than a hundred feet from the office she dreamed of occupying, her disappointment turns into devastation. Detective Rachel Storme and her team are put on the case and she soon finds herself delving into the underbelly of politics in search of the killer. The clues point to a litany of suspects, including the mayor. As usual, Detective Storme is determined to solve this case—a case so chock-full of dark and sinister twists and turns, it has her questioning her own competence.

 

Review:

A Penny for Her Heart begins with Vanessa heading into work at the mayor’s office on what should have been her day off, but duty calls.  She arrives and heads to her best friend’s office.  She and Penelope (Penny) met in college and have been best friends ever since.  Once Vanessa enters Penny’s office, she notices almost immediately that things seem a bit off.  Penny is nowhere around, which leads Vanessa to check the bathroom.  Little did she know that once she set foot in that bathroom, her world would be changed forever.  She sees blood everywhere and someone in a stall, but is so distraught all she can do is run out screaming for the security guard on duty to summon the police. 

Rachel Storme is attending a cookout at Herb’s, who also happens to be her long-time partner at the police department.  When Herb gets the call that there’s been a murder at the mayor’s office, he and Rachel, along with co-workers Vincent and Carlos, who were also attending the get together, head out to the scene of the murder.  It doesn’t take Rachel long for that methodical mind of hers to start processing the scene and the people there.  She interviews Vanessa, who is understandably upset and ready to just go home.  Once finished, Vanessa heads out with the promise to call Rachel if anything of use comes to mind. 

As the investigation progresses, Vanessa soon realizes that Penny had a whole other side that she never knew about.  Lies are uncovered, hearts are broken and Vanessa finds herself questioning everything she thought she ever knew about her friendship with Penny.  While Rachel and her team dig up clues and try to tie together a motive, she knows that the longer it takes them, the chances of finding the killer get smaller.  Add to that the family issues Rachel has with her scattered and irresponsible aunt, along with her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease……….some days she just can’t catch a break.  The one thing that she excels doing?  Pulling together the pieces of evidence and listening to her gut.

A Penny for Her Heart is another wonderfully written book by Alretha Thomas.  As I’ve said before, all of the characters in Mrs. Thomas’s books are relatable, as well as believable.  While reading this particular one, more than any of the others, I found myself wrong so many times when I thought I’d figured out who the killer was.  The twists and turns kept me turning the pages, but Rachel Storme keeps me coming back to this series.  Her determination and drive, along with a big ol’ heart, is very endearing.  I’m starting to feel repetitive in my reviews of this series, but Rachel is truly one of the most believable and realistic characters I’ve read in a long time.  Anyone would feel lucky to have such a person in their lives.  If you’re a mystery fan, this one will not disappoint.  And, as always, I look forward to the next installment.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review

Save

Save

Share

Losing Lauren by Alretha Thomas – a Review

Losing Lauren by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

Losing LaurenAmazon

Description:
Alexandra Winifred has played a supporting role in her cousin’s life since they were children. When Lauren Water’s parents are killed in a plane crash, Alexandra becomes her protector, and together they navigate their way through childhood and college. They’re both overachievers, but it’s Lauren who steals the spotlight when she’s discovered by a notable agent and goes on to become an award-winning actress, leaving Alexandra in her shadow as her fledgling publicist. Now Hollywood royalty, Lauren starts to cut those people out of her life who were responsible for her success. Alexandra fears she will be next on the chopping block. But her trepidation about her failing relationship with her cousin becomes her least concern when she’s identified as a prime suspect in Lauren’s subsequent disappearance. Detective Rachel Storme, who has a full plate taking care of a parent with Alzheimer’s and supervising a meth-addicted aunt, is eager to get her hands on a challenging case, but nothing could prepare her for the dark secrets and lies that she uncovers while she does everything in her power to find out what happened to Lauren.

 

Review:

Losing Lauren begins with Lauren having just won a best actress award and attending a party afterwards.  Alexandra has felt Lauren pulling away and asks her about it.  They agree to meet later to talk about everything going on with Lauren and part ways.  Alex heads home, only to receive a frantic phone call from Lauren’s fiancé that something has happened to Lauren.  When Alex arrives at Lauren’s, the scene before her leaves her mind spinning and her stomach churning. 

The police are called and the world, as Alex knows it, changes forever.  Detective Rachel Storme and her partner, Herb, eventually make the scene and discover that there is no body, but there is evidence of a crime.  As Rachel and her team try to piece together what happened, the list of suspects grows.  Lauren’s fiancé is a likely candidate, as is her management team.  Rachel interviews Alex as well, and even though Alex is a suspect, Rachel isn’t buying that she had anything to do with Lauren’s disappearance.  What follows are so many twists and turns that one minute, you KNOW who did it, only to be proven wrong a little later.  All Alex knows is that her world will never be the same.

Losing Lauren is yet another nicely written story by Alretha Thomas.  The characters in all of Ms. Thomas’s books are so relatable and real that you feel that you know them.  This story was no exception.  The plot twists will grab your attention and when the big reveal is made, your heart will break for what Lauren endured as a child.  Your heart will also break for Alex who will always wonder if she could have done more to protect her cousin and best friend. You will also fall even more in love with Detective Rachel Storme.  She is probably one of the most believable and realistic characters I’ve read about in a long time.  She is the daughter every mother would love to have.  She is the co-worker everyone would want, but even more than that, she is the person everyone would hope to be.  She loving, loyal and steadfast in her beliefs that right is right and wrong is wrong.  If you’re looking for a good mystery with lots of twists and turns, as well as wonderfully written characters, this one is definitely for you.  I look forward to the next installment in this series.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!  Very well done!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review

Save

Share

Justice for Jessica by Alretha Thomas – a Review

Justice for Jessica by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

Justice for JessicaAmazon

Description:
Mousey, overweight Stacey Sullivan would love to trade places with her glamorous socialite BFF, Jessica James—that’s until she discovers Jessica murdered in her own home. Whip-smart detective Rachel Storme is ready to exchange her gun and badge for a gardener’s hat and hoe. But she reluctantly puts her plans on hold when she’s asked to help solve Jessica’s murder. These two strangers from different generations—Stacey a millennial and Rachel a baby boomer—become unlikely friends in their pursuit of JUSTICE FOR JESSICA. But their friendship is put to the test when Stacey insists that her husband, Matt, is innocent in spite of evidence that speaks to the contrary. Rachel, baffled by Stacey’s blind loyalty to Matt, doggedly fights to take Matt down, but with Stacey’s help, he eludes her at every turn. Is Matt the killer or could Grant, Jessica’s husband, be the culprit? Perhaps it was her jealous sister, Georgette or the maid, Rosa? No matter who the killer is, Rachel, by any means necessary, is determined to find her man or woman.

 

Review:

Stacey Sullivan met Jessica James in high school and they have been best friends ever since.  Stacey had stayed overnight with Jessica, which she did a lot when Jessica’s husband was out of town.  When Stacey woke that morning, she dreaded heading in to work, but knew she had to get a move on.  When she didn’t hear Jessica stirring, she went in search of her, and made a horrible discovery.  Jessica was in the guest room with her throat slit and lying in a pool of her own blood.  Stacey screams for help as Rosa, Jessica’s maid, arrives for work.  They call 911 and know things will never be the same.

As Rachel Storme is home pondering her life, she answers a call from her boss at the police department.  Although she’s on leave, her boss knows her all too well.  He fills her in on the Jessica James murder and pleads with her to help with the high profile investigation.  After a few minutes, she finally gives in and heads over to the James place to meet him.  Once they arrive and survey the scene, they set to work trying to figure out what in the world has happened.

Rachel is the one who interviews Stacey and almost immediately feels a connection with her.  She sees herself in Stacey twenty years ago.  As the interview progresses, she knows that Stacey isn’t the murderer and she promises Stacey that she will work hard to find who killed her best friend.  Rachel dives into the investigation with her boss and as they navigate all of the twists and turns and possible motives and suspects, they hit a few road blocks here and there.  But as they start to try and put things together, Rachel can’t help but wonder if they will truly find the murderer, and indeed, find justice for Jessica.

Justice for Jessica is another nice story from Alretha Thomas.  Told from several first person POVs, which is a trade mark of Thomas, we are privy to what’s going on with a lot of the main characters and their thought processes as everyone tries to do what they feel is the right thing.  Stacey Sullivan is a wonderfully written character.  In the beginning, she is a bit timid and a lot naïve, but is finally strong enough to do what needs to be done.  When she finds out that Jessica wasn’t quite as good a friend as she thought, she really did buck up and do what needed to be done.   Rachel Storme is an awesome character as well.  She’s smart, savvy and a hard worker, as well as a devoted daughter and friend.  The cast of supporting characters were well written and kept you guessing until the very end.  Justice for Jessica is, of course, a murder mystery, but it is also a story about facing up to life’s challenges and making your own dreams come true.  If you’re looking for a good mystery and a quick read, you cannot go wrong with Justice for Jessica.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author

Share