Tag Archives: Mystery

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

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Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Leverage in Death
In-Death series – Book #47
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: September 4, 2018

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Description:
Lieutenant Eve Dallas puzzles over a bizarre suicide bombing in a Wall St. office building in the latest in the #1 New York Times bestselling series…

For the airline executives finalizing a merger that would make news in the business world, the nine a.m. meeting would be a major milestone. But after marketing VP Paul Rogan walked into the plush conference room, strapped with explosives, the headlines told of death and destruction instead. The NYPSD’s Eve Dallas confirms that Rogan was cruelly coerced by two masked men holding his family hostage. His motive was saving his wife and daughter―but what was the motive of the masked men?

Despite the chaos and bad publicity, blowing up one meeting isn’t going to put the brakes on the merger. All it’s accomplished is shattering a lot of innocent lives. Now, with the help of her billionaire husband Roarke, Eve must untangle the reason for an inexplicable act of terror, look at suspects inside and outside both corporations, and determine whether the root of this crime lies in simple sabotage, or something far more complex and twisted.

 

 

 

Review:

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb is the 47th book in her fantastic In-Death series. As most of you know, I am an In-Death fanatic, having now read 47 full length novels, and all the novellas of this series, and as always…I never want this series to end.  I love Eve Dallas and Roarke, as they continue to be the best literary couple. 

Once again, Eve is thrown into a horrific case, which involves a suicide bombing at a merger meeting in an office.  With 11 dead and others badly injured, Eve and her team discover that the bomber, Paul Rogan, was a VP of one of the companies planning their merger.  With the survivors noting that Rogan was acting strangely, apologizing before he set off the bomb.  Eve, Peabody and the team will go to Rogan’s house and discover the wife tied up and the young daughter locked in a room; both were severely traumatized.  They learn that two men came in the middle of the night and threatened their deaths, if Paul did not follow their instructions, which included fitting him with a lethal explosive vest.

With Roarke’s financial knowledge, Eve will discover the motive of the men behind the bombing.  With the merger put on hold, the stock as expected dramatically dropped, but later that day, announcements were made that the merger was still on, causing the stock to rise up again.  Those who bought the stock at the low price, made a lot of money.

What follows is an intense and suspenseful case, with the team desperate to find the murderers, before this happens again.  In a short time, there will be a murder of a person of interest, and then another suicide bombing will occur, with that family also terrorized.  Eve, Peabody, Baxter & Trueheart will desperately try to find a common bond linking the murders.  I will not give spoilers, as saying too much more would ruin it for you.

Leverage in Death was another wonderful intense, wildly exciting murder mystery in the wonderful world of Eve and Roarke, and the great supporting cast that surrounds them.  Believe me when I say there is no better group of recurring secondary characters then in this series.

Within the tense story, it was nice to see Eve take care of Peabody and McNab, allowing them to go to Hollywood to attend the Oscars for Nadine’s book turned into a movie.  The reactions of Peabody was a blast.  It was also sweet fun to see Mavis (who was going to sing at the Oscars) and Bella, who was all over Eve.  It is always precious to see this, especially since Eve is not really good with babies.  Of course, it goes without saying that the romance between Eve and Roarke is wonderful, as their love for each other shows so well.  I always adore Galahad, their cat.

Leverage in Death was so well written by Robb, and there were some hold your breath moments that kept us on the edge of our seats, especially in a major fight between Eve and one of the murderers.  Wow.   If you have not read this series, you are missing one of the best thrillers, with a super couple, and awesome secondary characters.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter – a Review

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Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter – a Review

 

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Description:
What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all . . . ?

Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother Laura. She’s knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Gullaway Island; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?

But all that changes when a Saturday afternoon trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one will ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Twenty-four hours later Laura is in the hospital, shot by an intruder who’s spent thirty years trying to track her down and discover what she knows. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumbs of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. . . .

 

Review:

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter is a standalone mystery thriller.  We meet Andrea (Andy) Cooper right from the start, as she is living at home with her mother, Laura.  Laura is a successful professor in Pathology, and a respected member of their small town, Belle Isle. Andy came home from her job in New York, to help take care of her mother recuperating from cancer, and has no intention of returning to her former job.  Andy is in a crossroads of her life, not knowing what she wants, and totally unsure of herself.  When she goes to the mall with her mother, everything is about to change forever, as there is a shooting when they were at lunch.  Andy is in shock, watching two women get killed, but her mother pushes her to safety. To her disbelief, her mother stands up to the shooter, and manages to stop him from further violence, but in doing so kills the attacker, which shocks Andy, who never saw her mother act this way, making her question who her mother really was. With a video of the attack all over the media, in a short time, Laura’s life and that of her daughter brings danger from the past, which will put their lives at risk.

What follows is Andy being forced to leave town at her mother’s insistence, with a key to open a storage unit.  Laura tells Andy to lay low until she can call her home, and talk to no one.  But this escalates Andy’s resolve to find out the truth about her mother’s past, which is coming back to haunt her.  The story follows two time periods: the past, with major characters that were part of an uprising that brought about secrets, danger, murder and betrayal.  The other is the present time, wheras Andy slowly begins to unravel the truth about her mother’s secret past, which puts her own life in danger.

I do not want to give spoilers, as it would ruin the story.  I did think that after the exciting start to the book, it was a little slow moving forward, and at first I wasn’t crazy about Andy, who was a very unsure and confused young lady. She was 31 years old, and did not seem to have any self-confidence.  But once she begins to find clues, as well as money, she becomes more assertive and likeable.  The last third of the book was great, especially as Andy began to learn the truth, and we learned everything about the past timeline, and how it led to the present.

Pieces of Her had a very exciting climax to a wonderfully written story by Karin Slaughter. The premise of the story was very well done, as you wondered how this would tie together, which proves that the past can very well come back to haunt you.  I do recommend that if you like mystery thrillers, you can never go wrong with a Karin Slaughter book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Swift Vengeance by T. Jefferson Parker – a Review

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Swift Vengeance by T. Jefferson Parker – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Returning hero and private investigator Roland Ford is on the trail of a mysterious killer who is beheading CIA drone operators and leaving puzzling clues at each crime scene. His troubled friend, Lindsay Rakes, is afraid for her own life and the life of her son after a fellow flight crew member is killed in brutal fashion. Even more terrifying is the odd note the killer left behind: “Welcome to Caliphornia. This is not the last.” Ford strikes an uneasy alliance with San Diego-based FBI agent Joan Taucher, who is tough as nails but haunted by what sees as the Bureau’s failure to catch the 9/11 terrorists, many of whom spent their last days in her city. As the killer strikes again, Ford and Taucher dash into the fray, each desperate for their own reasons–each ready to risk it all to stop the killer from doing far more damage.

 

 

 

Review:

Swift Vengeance by T. Jefferson Parker is an exciting pulse-pounding  thriller.  This is my first time reading Parker, who is a three times Edgar award winning author.

Roland Ford, our hero, is a private investigator and former marine.  Roland finds himself in the middle of helping a friend in danger.  His friend Lindsay, a former CIA drone operator, has received a note threatening to behead her.  When two former members of the drone team were brutally murdered and beheaded, Roland must try to discover who the culprit (Caliphornia) is, in order to save Lindsay from a sure death.

Roland will team up with FBI agent, Joan Taucher, a tough, no nonsense, high ranking agent based in San Diego, and together they will look for all the clues that will narrow down the search for a terrorist who is avenging the death of someone killed in one of those drone attacks that Lindsay’s team was involved in years before. 

This was a very exciting, fast paced, non-stop action packed adventure to find the person behind these terrorist attacks before he kills again.  As they get closer to finding the murderer, there a few surprise violent encounters that were brutal and escalated the search.

I will not say too much more, as I do not want to spoil it for those reading this book.  Swift Vengeance was a very well done edge of your seat suspenseful thriller, and Parker had us on the edge of our seat, especially in the last ¼ of the book.  As we raced to this exciting explosive climax, we had no idea who would survive.  I suggest you read Swift Vengeance, which was excellently written by T. Jefferson Parker.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

T. Jefferson Parker’s publisher is offering a paper copy  SWIFT VENGEANCE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Vox by Christina Dalcher – a Review

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Vox by Christina Dalcher – a Review

 

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Description:
Set in an America where half the population has been silenced, VOX is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter.

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words daily, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial–this can’t happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

This is just the beginning.

Soon women can no longer hold jobs. Girls are no longer taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words a day, but now women only have one hundred to make themselves heard.

But this is not the end.

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

 

 

Review:

Vox by Christina Dalcher is a standalone novel.  This story is set in future America, where women have lost the right to speak or hold jobs; all they could do was stay at home to take care of their husband and children.  They were forced (including children who were girls) a bracelet that limits them to 100 words a day, or they will get shocked, with each violation becoming stronger.  These women were also smart, successful women who could were forced into a world of silence; as only the men are able to talk, work, read, etc.  The above description says it all.

I had mixed feelings about this book, since the treatment of women was not only appalling, but downright depressing.  I know people compare this to Handmaiden’s Tale television show, which I have no plans to watch, and reading this confirms my decision. 

Jean McClellan, our heroine, is a former neurologist, one of the best in her field and now she is just a homemaker, with little opinions.  We get flashbacks to a few years past, when Jean saw signs from friends who warned them about this government, and an evil reverend.  Her husband was a member of the government, but he was sympathetic  to Jean and other women’s predicament, but was too afraid to do anything but follow the rules.  We get to meet her children, and her bleak life. 

When women or young girls are punished for continued violations, or promiscuity/adultery; they are sent away to a private institution where they can no longer speak, and are treated horribly.  Fortunately, when things are at the worst, Jean is called to help a brother of the leader of the government who has a brain injury.  She holds out until they give her what she wants, the bracelet off for her, her daughter, and a co-worker, that she requires to help.  Once given approval, Jean can speak and go to work again.  She works with her cohorts (one a sympathetic former lover)  to come up with a serum, and at the same time try to find a way to escape. 

What follows is an exciting last ¼ of the book, where others sympathetic to the women’s cause will form a resistance, which will help Jean and her lover release some other women.  The ending was decent, though a little fast.  Jean was a good heroine, and we did root hard for her.  I did think Dalcher’s writing was very well done, but it was hard to keep reading, as it caused anger many times; even to the point at times I wanted to throw the book away.  Vox was a very thought provoking story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Women on Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas – a Review

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The Women on Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

Amazon

 

Description:
Julia Pritchard, an aging sitcom star making a comeback, and her
stepdaughter, Blythe Pritchard, an aspiring attorney,
form a pact to start fresh and pursue their dreams. But their plans go
awry when Keith Pritchard, Julia’s soon-to-be ex-husband
and Blythe’s father, goes missing and is presumed dead, the day they
plan to move out of his mansion.

The women are filled with bittersweet emotions when they consider the idea
that Keith, a tycoon and functional alcoholic, could be
out of their lives for good. Moreover, they fear the police will name them
as persons of interest because of the abuse they suffered
at Keith’s hands. Julia believes Keith hasn’t met with foul play but
orchestrated his own disappearance, hoping the women will be blamed.
However, Blythe believes her father is dead. When the police reveal a
damning piece of evidence, which could result in one of them being
charged with Keith’s possible murder, they join forces to find out what
happened to him. Did one of the women go off script and kill Keith,
or is another agenda at play, unbeknownst to the women and the police,
that’s far more sinister?

 

Review:

The Women on Retford Drive begins with Julia Pritchard, and her stepdaughter, Blythe, finalizing their move into their own apartment, and leaving the home they’ve shared with Keith Pritchard for years.  They are both ready to move on with their lives, away from an abusive husband and father, until they receive a phone call from Keith’s assistant that he’s missed his flight and no one has heard from him.  Neither of them thinks much of it.  They talk to Martha, the housekeeper, who hasn’t seen Keith since yesterday evening, but things take a sinister turn when Martha discovers a bloody shirt of Keith’s between the washer and dryer.  As they all try to decipher what’s happened, things start to happen quickly.  The police are called and suspicions are raised.  What follows is a series of twists, turns and revelations that will leave you guessing until the very end………….

The Women on Retford Drive is a great start to Alretha Thomas’ new series, Dancing Hills Mysteries.  Told from several first person POVs, we are privy to the character’s thoughts and feelings.  Julia Pritchard was an interesting character.  She was a very protective step-mother, a very loyal friend and by all accounts, a loving and supportive wife.  She and Blythe were extremely close, but that didn’t stop either of them from suspecting (even just a little) each other.  Blythe was a nicely written character as well.  Thomas did a great job of writing about her insecurities, as well as her determination to see things through.

The secondary characters were well written as well.  We get to know just enough of them to make it interesting, and to also suspect them as you read along.  I would know, without a doubt, who the culprit was, until I read the next chapter.  Then, I knew again, and again……………  LOL!  I did end up figuring it out before the reveal, but not until I’d suspected basically everyone, which for me, is a good thing.  It means the author is doing her job.  I’m looking forward to getting more glimpses into the workings of Dancing Hills.  I’m guessing the detectives we meet in this installment will continue to appear, and I can’t wait to get to know more about them as well.  Talk about an odd couple!  But, I love them together.  The Women on Retford Drive is ultimately a story of self-discovery and proof that blood does not make you family.  I can’t wait for the next installment.  If you’re a fan of mysteries, with a little romance mixed in, you’ll definitely not go wrong with this one.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

 

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Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
He’s tall.
He’s dark.
He’s brutally handsome…
And he may be her only hope.

Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit—they’ve been through too much to welcome a stranger. So when a killer strikes, it’s a fight to convince her fellow officers to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.

She can’t do it on her own. What she needs most is a partner: local fire spotter Wesley March.

Wes knows in his heart that Kit is right, and he’s willing to leave his lonely tower to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the fire smolders…and the more danger they’re in. A member of the K9 unit’s inner circle is determined to have her revenge—no matter who gets burned in the process.

This time, it’s personal.

 

Review:

Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle is the 4th book in her Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. I have enjoyed the first three books in this series, and I thought this one was even more exciting.  The theme of this series are women who are in hiding to escape their terrible or dangerous life, and sent to a small town in the Colorado Mountains, to live in hiding. Each book brought in one women in hiding, and by this book all three women share a bond, as they keep secret the man who helped them escape and gave them a place to hide in Monroe.  Each of them fell in love with cops from the K-9 unit.   The men know the girls stories, they watch over them and help protect them, but they do not know the man who helped them. 

Through the Fire is a slight change, as we meet our heroine, Kit Jernigan, just arriving in Monroe to join the K-9 force.  Kit looks forward to working in a peaceful small town, as opposed to the big city. She brings her dog, Justice, who is a K-9 Tracker dog.   She meets Hugh, Theo and Otto, but before she can even settle down, she is already on a case with dead body found in a house fire.  Justice tracks the scent to Jules (previous book heroine) house, where a new woman has arrived to hide.  Kit suspects her, but the men tell her to lay off, since she is here for their protection. We learn early on that this new person is not like the others.

Wes, our hero, is the local fire spotter, who meets Kit the day she arrived, when she got stuck in the snow and he helped her.  Wes is a loner, who keeps to himself, and also creates all kinds of gadgets that he eventually can sell.  Wes is a hunk, very tall and is gun shy with woman, until he meets Kit.  A romance will slowly build, with Wes gaining more confidence, as he falls in love with Kit.  Kit is also falling for Wes, as she finds him endearing and sexy.  They are great together. However, Kit is in the middle of a number of things that have been happening, and becomes more and more suspicious of Elena (the newcomer).  She keeps an eye on her, despite the others telling her to lay off. 

What follows is an exciting and tense storyline, but the camaraderie between the cops and their woman, the kids, dogs with Kit, as well as her relationship with Wes, made this also a fun read. I loved Justice, who was such a lovable dog.  The last third of the book became very exciting, as the danger escalates for all of them, including Kit.  There were a number of surprises at the end, which I think puts the finishing touches on the overall storyline of this series.

Through the Fire is another suspenseful, action packed story.  With the resolution of this book, I suspect this could be the end of this series, unless Ruggle changes things to continue.  Katie Ruggle has written a great story, wonderful couple, and exciting action packed throughout.  I suggest you read this series and start with the first book, Run to Ground.

 

 

 

Her hair was just as beautiful down as he’d imagined it would be. Wes shifted his weight and fought the urge to fidget with the salt and pepper shakers. He didn’t know what to do with the excess energy that was coursing through him. He’d asked her on a date, and she’d agreed. Even though hours had passed and the date had begun, he still marveled at it. If it hadn’t been horribly early, he would’ve called Leila to let her know it had worked. His bravery had been rewarded.

Seeing her was worth enduring the heavy weight of the other diners’ stares and the buzz of their whispers. He normally did his best to avoid all the townspeople, but he’d ignore their avid interest for Kit’s sake. It was difficult, though. Even the sleepy waitress gave him a curious, wide-eyed look when she stopped at their table to fill their coffee cups and chat lightly with Kit. After she walked away, Kit said quietly, “That’s Jules. She and Theo are together.”

He nodded. “You’re good with people.” She reminded him of Leila that way. Both women always seemed to say the right thing, even when they didn’t know someone. “That must be useful when you’re working.”

She studied him with a slight smile that was kind, rather than mocking. “Thank you. I’m not always the most tactful, so I sometimes get myself into trouble that way. I do best with kids.”

“I can see why. You’re both very honest.” His interactions with children had been minimal as an adult, but he remembered the sometimes brutal honesty of his peers from when he was a kid.

She laughed a little, and the sound warmed his insides. “‘Honest’ is the nice way of saying that we don’t think before we speak sometimes.”

“That can be good, though.” He couldn’t look away from her. From the sheen of her black satin hair to the way her green sweater followed her slight curves, she was riveting. He felt like he could stare at her for days and not get bored. “My sister, Leila, always tells me the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s so much easier than trying to figure out how people really feel when their words don’t match their thoughts.”

“If everyone were that honest, my job would be a lot easier.”

“That’s true.” He watched as she picked up her coffee mug with both hands and took a sip. Her fingers were small and slender, with unpolished, short nails, and he marveled that she could use them to take down people twice her size. The mention of her job reminded him of something. “One of my neighbors stopped by the tower.”

“Rufus?” she asked, setting down her coffee. He saw a muscle twitch in her cheek and felt a remembered jolt of fear at the thought of how close she’d been to losing her life.

“No. Murphy.” She seemed to relax a little as she watched him, waiting patiently for him to continue talking. He loved how she wasn’t in a rush. Her manner calmed him and made conversation, which was usually a minefield of missed cues and uncertainty, so much easier. “He spends a lot of time in the woods south of town. Trapping, mostly.”

Wes paused, wondering if she would question him about Murphy’s activities. He’d never actually caught his neighbor in the act, but Wes had found a few illegal leg-hold traps that he was pretty sure belonged to Murphy. He was still trying to figure out the best plan to convince Murphy to stop, since the traps were dangerous, as well as cruel. Kit didn’t say anything, just kept her gaze on him, giving him her full attention.

“My neighbors don’t trust law enforcement…or any government agency, really. In the last year, they’ve started to come to me with a few things. They know I work for the forest service, so I believe they consider me an intermediary, someone halfway between them and the government, if that makes sense?”

“It does.” Her coffee forgotten, she stayed completely locked on him, and he felt the rush of that focused interest. “You’re their backwoods ambassador.”

His laugh was a surprise, even to him, more pleased than amused. It was such a pleasure to be understood. “Yes. Exactly. I pass on the information they give me to the right agency, and they can hold on to their anonymity.”

“Win-win.” Pushing her coffee mug aside, she laid her forearms on the table so she could lean even closer to him. “What did Murphy tell you?”

“Are you still working on the case of the house that burned down last Monday?” Even if she wasn’t, he still planned to tell her the information he’d gotten from Murphy. If he was the backwoods ambassador, then she was the Wes ambassador. He was acquainted with the other cops, and he didn’t have any problem with them since the crooked lieutenant had been arrested a few weeks ago, but he already trusted Kit. She might have been new to the area, but he had a gut-deep feeling that she wouldn’t betray him.

“Yes.”

Wes lowered his voice, even though the closest other diners were several tables away. “Murphy was checking his traps and saw someone leave that house minutes before it went up in flames.”

“How close was he?” Kit had softened her voice to match his.

“Approximately fifteen feet from the edge of the house’s backyard.”

“Could he describe the person? Does he know them?” Although the words were quiet, there was an urgency to them that made his blood run faster. It wasn’t a bad feeling. Ever since he’d met Kit, he’d felt so much more alive.

 


 

 

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The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – a Review

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The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – a Review

 

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Description:
Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she–or anyone–saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings–massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.

Yet it’s immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp’s twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.

And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

 

 

Review:

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager is a standalone psychological thriller.  I was not sure what to expect, as I have not read Sager before; and I am happy to say right from the start, I became engrossed in this suspenseful story.  The Last Time I Lied was an amazing story line that switched between two POV’s- the current time and 15 years previously.

15 years ago, we meet our heroine, Emma, who 13 years old and forced by her mother to attend a summer camp.  Emma shares a cabin with three girls, who are a few years older and already friends, but they quickly accept Emma.  Vivian, Alison and Natalie are the three girls, who come from rich families and who have attended Camp Nightingale during the summer months.  Vivian is the leader, and she makes Emma her protégé, showing her the ropes.  But strange things happen in Camp Nightingale. Before the summer is out, Emma will wake during the night to find the three girls missing, never to be found.

The story picks up 15 years later, when a grown up Emma is showcasing her paintings at a gallery.  She paints canvases of a forest, with her three missing friends hidden within the pictures.  Emma has created over 30 pictures, similar and with her secret hidden within.  At the gallery show, she is approached by the person who owns Camp Nightingale, and wants to reopen it.  She asks Emma to come for the summer and teach painting.  At first Emma, who has not gotten over what happened all those years ago, wasn’t sure she wanted to go back, but in order to get closure and go on with her life, she accepts.

The flashbacks go back 15 years where we learn everything about Emma, and the other girls, especially Vivian, who Emma became the closest to.  In current time, Emma ends up sharing the same cabin with three young girls, being their counselor.  Emma has her own secrets, which haunts her, and which are revealed in each flashback; she also begins to search to find clues about what really happened. 

What follows is an intriguing, exciting, at times creepy story that has us on the edge of our seats, especially with so many surprises and twists along the way.  Every time we thought we knew who the culprit was, something else comes along to change things.  Then things become intense when déjà vu strikes again.   I thought Sager created some wonderful characters, even if they were flawed.

The Last Time I Lied was a fantastic mystery thriller that was so well written, keeping us on our toes, with the suspense pulsating.  There were so many secrets, lies, revelations that borderline on the dark creep factor.  I will say this, without giving spoilers, that I was shocked at the ending, which was so superbly done.  Riley Sager has created an ultra-powerful phenomenal story, and has now been added to my list of authors I need to read.  If you enjoy thrillers, suspense, and mystery, look no further than The Last Time I Lied.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Heart of Fire by Lisa Edmonds – a Review

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Heart of Fire by Lisa Edmonds – a Review

 

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Description:
Join Alice. Private Investigator of the Supernatural.

It has been a rough month for mage private investigator Alice Worth.

Alice hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks, her relationship with werewolf Sean Maclin is on the rocks, a federal agent hounds her every step, and a powerful vampire whose ulterior motives have ulterior motives watches her every move. It’s enough to drive any woman to drink.

Just when Alice’s ghost sidekick Malcolm is about to stage an intervention, her former employer, Mark Dunlap, enlists her help to find out who’s been kidnapping women off the streets. As the list of the missing grows, the city’s anger turns against the vampires, and the Vampire Court hires Mark and Alice to find those responsible. After the case reunites her with Sean, Alice is forced to confront painful demons from her past, as well as the very real demon who wants her dead and the vampire determined to control her power.

When tragedy strikes close to home and a friend’s life hangs in the balance, Alice goes up against the most powerful adversary she’s ever faced in an explosive showdown that will leave Alice and her city forever changed.

 

Review:

Reading in chronological order is not something I take lightly, my friends.  But life was just so busy, I had to dive in to Heart of Fire sans introductory book *wipes upper lip*.  Not only was it a great read, but I may have found my new guilty pleasure! ?.  Kudos to the talented writing of Lisa Edmonds!

I’ve deciphered that Alice is a mage, the best around, but she’s hiding from a powerful, terrifying grandfather who used her abilities for self-aggrandizement.  She’s managed to fly under his radar, so she’s staying busy working her PI business and invariably making friends.  Friends who want to get close, want to, you know, be friendly.  Alice, being on this side of churlish, struggles to maintain said friendships and that alone is entertaining as well as endearing (think Marvel’s Jessica Jones).  Surviving her childhood is a cautionary tale for future relationships, but she hasn’t learned to be proactive just yet.

When Alice takes on a case of disappearing prostitutes and homeless people, “We’re in the middle of a drug-fueled, magic -enhanced crime wave”, while being stalked by a poltergeist (though this one is reserved solely for her eyes), her mage skills, and team player camaraderie, are stretched to the limit.  Alice extends her knowledge, experience and savvy to former bosses, former lovers, would-be lovers, to federal agents.  Will Alice be able to discover the menace and navigate the waters of her expanding magic, including several interested/opportunistic supernatural creatures who may seek to undermine or sabotage her investigation?  How can she ask for help when vested parties can’t seem to get along?

Alice is an independent, intriguing woman.  She’s keeping a low profile to remain undetected by her grandfather, but her skills have progressed and augmented to impressive levels; attracting lots of attention.  Not all welcome.  I’d be lying if I didn’t address similarities with other characters I’ve read.  My gut reactions to Alice, Charles and Sean’s relationship was reminiscent of another well known series involving Anita Blake, Jean Claude *pause, swoon* and Richard’s.  Malcolm the ghost reminded me of Angel, Charley Davidson’s cholo sidekick in that spellbinding series, buuuut they were only traces — I thoroughly enjoyed Alice Worth by her own merits.  This is due to the the energy and spirit of Lisa Edmonds.  She developed a good storyline layered with depth and intention to entice the reader.  I want to retrace Alice’s steps to her first encounter with Malcolm, are they bound?, to the men of varying species who find her so irresistible.  They’ve got good taste!

Lisa Edmonds has made an instant fan of me.  I look forward to reading the next case that requires Alice’s special set of skills.  Maybe a certain character returns to collaborate, or another character disappoints Alice, thus allowing for a change of heart?  A shakeup like she never imagined?  My bias is showing, but I’m here for it!  Until then, I’m making it a point to read book 1.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

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