Tag Archives: Madison Knight

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

In the Line of DutyAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

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

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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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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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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