Tag Archives: Mystery

Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads – a Review

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Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads – a Review

 

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Description:
Cursed with a terrible gift…

Criminal investigator Xander Stone doesn’t have to question you—he can hear your thoughts. Scarred by lightning, burdened with a power that gives him no peace, Xander struggles to maintain his sanity against the voice that haunts him day and night—the voice of a woman begging him to save her.

A gift that threatens to engulf them…

Isleen Walker has long since given up hope of escape from the nightmare of captivity and torture that is draining her life, her mind, and her soul. Except…there is the man in her feverish dreams, the strangely beautiful man who beckons her to freedom and wholeness. And when he comes, if he comes, it will take all their combined fury and faith to overcome a madman bent on fulfilling a deadly prophecy.

 

Review:

Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads is a dark paranormal romance story in her new Fatal Dreams series.  Xander Stone, our hero, is an investigator that helps the police department solve crimes.  Xander is not your normal investigator, as he has the ability to hear people thoughts. He was struck by lightning years before, leaving scars on his face and body, and also suffers pains in his head with the constant hearing of voices.   For years, he has been ignoring a cry for help from a woman, who he has no idea who or where she is.

Isleen Walker, our heroine, waits to die, to be put out of her misery.  It has been 8 years since she was kidnapped with her grandmother and  tortured daily.  She is on the brink of death, when Xander accidently finds and rescues her.  He uses his healing powers to make her better, and brings her and the grandmother to the hospital, where they will be under police protection. Xander learns that Isleen has her own powers;  she sees visions of things that are about to happen in the future.

Together they will embark to find out who is responsible for her kidnapping.  A slow build romance will follow with two people that are each suffering badly from their disabling abilities. They both feel the magic that pulls them to each other.  Will they survive the madness surrounding them?

What follows is an interesting, somewhat exciting and very dark story line, filled with madness, religious sadistic fanatics, and death.  This was a well written story with a different theme, but it was too dark for me to really enjoy.  I have read dark stories, but in this case you need to be invested in the characters to be able to enjoy the story.  In Race the Darkness, I just did not feel the chemistry between Xander and Isleen, nor did I like any of the other characters.  If you are into dark paranormal romances, you may want to give this a try.

Reviewed by Barb

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Safe From Harm by Kate Serine -a Review

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Safe From Harm by Kate Serine -a Review

 

Safe From HarmAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

 

Description:
There’s something about prosecuting attorney Elle McCoy that Deputy Gabe Dawson just can’t get enough of. Even with Gabe’s family legacy in law enforcement and promising career, Elle’s smart, sassy rejection of all his charm makes Gabe want her even more.

But Gabe’s confidence is shaken when he’s shot on the steps of the courthouse, protecting Elle from a terrorist intent on revenge. Worse, Elle isn’t out of danger yet. But as they race to counter the terrorist’s next move, Gabe determines to prove to Elle—and himself—that he’s a man worthy of her.

 

Review:

Safe from Harm by Kate Serine is the 2nd book in her exciting Protect and Serve series.  I enjoyed the first book by Serine, and Safe from Harm is even better.  Gabe Dawson is our hero, and a sexy hunk who is known to be a love and leave them type.  Gabe comes from a law enforcement family, with members of the police force or the FBI.

 Elle McCoy is a prosecuting attorney, who has had a deep crush on Gabe when they were teenagers.  But Gabe felt Elle was too good for a bad boy like him, and pushed her off to his best friend.  Now that that they are both grown up, Elle hates Gabe, and he keeps trying to win her over not understanding why she hates him so.  One morning at the coffee shop, sitting with his best friend, he runs outside to get something and hears shots.  His friend is dead, and Gabe blames himself for not being there.  It will be Elle, who secretly does care about Gabe, to help snap him out of his drunken depression. The sparks fly, but Elle makes sure nothing happens.   After the murderer is found and convicted, there is another attempt on both Elle and Gabe’s lives, with the suspect shot dead. 

The villain in this story is the matriarch of a local family that hates law enforcement, and lives by his own rules, including forcing his family members to help him kill members of the Dawson family, including friends, as well as the prosecuting attorney, Elle.   This was one of the worst villains I have read.  What follows is an intense exciting story that will constantly bring our heroes in grave danger, with no evidence to prove who is behind the attempts, even if they know who.  What makes him even worse was what he made his children do, or he would hurt or kill them too.  This story had me a nervous wreck in some parts; as I began to read faster to see what happens. 

The romance between Gabe and Elle was a slow build, with them bonding in need to help each other against a vile enemy.  Gabe will work hard to convince Elle that he is not the womanizer she thinks he is, and he does indeed care about her.  I did love them together, and their chemistry was scorching hot, as they gave into their true feelings.

This was an exciting, tense, action filled story, with an evil villain.  It was also a nice sexy romance, with a great couple that kept us rooting hard for them to make it together.  Kate Serine does a fabulous job of writing this story that had us tense and desperate to find out what happens at the end.

Reviewed by Barb

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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

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Hostage Negotiation/Deep Cover Detective by Lena Diaz – Reviews

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Hostage Negotiation/Deep Cover Detective by Lena Diaz – Reviews

 

Hostage Negotiation

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Description:
Many women went missing outside Mystic Glades. She escaped. 

When he took the job, Zack Scott heard about the horrors waiting in the swamp. So when Kaylee Brighton dashed into the road like the devil was on her tail, the new police chief gave her a safe place to recover. Imprisoned for months, Kaylee could lead Zack to her captor. Though Zack swore to protect her, only Kaylee knew the darkness that awaited them if she returned. She couldn’t begin to understand what drove Zack, but she knew the importance of having him by her side. Because it wasn’t enough for Kaylee to have escaped. Now it was time to take back her life

Review:
Lena Diaz has remained consistent throughout her Marshland Justice series, genuine excitement and enthusiasm, so it’s a bittersweet feeling to have reached its conclusion.  Book 4, Hostage Negotiation, is a lovely tribute to the heart of the eccentric town of Mystic Glades.  Kaylee and Zach are the featured H/H in this book and their journey is one you won’t soon forget.  Leave it to Ms. Diaz to send us off with her most intense and action-packed story yet!  I knew the subject of abduction was going to make me anxious and Lena Diaz delivered.  Pulse-pounding and terror-infused descriptions gave me goosebumps, chilled me to the core.  That’s the kind of dynamic storytelling you’ll find in this swan song.

The synopsis reveals that Kaylee is recovering from being held against her will for several months, so this is not a spoiler.  What’s more vital and a testament to Kaylee’s character, is her commitment to justice.

     “And even though she desperately wanted to forget each of those sharp little pieces memory, instead she forced herself to think about them and try to put them together into a cohesive whole.”

It’s not easy for Kaylee to be under so much pressure during physical and mental recovery, and only newly appointed Chief of Police, Zach, seems to be sympathetic.  With his help and support and endless patience, Kaylee begins to trudge through the horrible memories of her captor and his twisted treatment.  It was a triumph of the spirit to say the least.  I was so proud of Kaylee’s strength and determination to hunt down “the devil”.  She showed perseverance and grace while facing her trauma.  And just as beautiful was Kaylee’s resolve to trust and love again.  It was a slow build-up of the relationship, in obvious deference to her attack, but it’s nigh impossible not to swoon for Zach.  He was her pillar of strength and partner.

When Kaylee no longer tolerates stall tactics, she vows to prevent her captor from ever endangering another person, search parties rally to retrace her steps and expand their investigation.  When tireless efforts produce new developments, could some volunteers be actually sabotaging the mission?  Hostage Negotiation introduces characters with nefarious plots who muddy up the waters of Mystic Glades.  Gators and other exotic animals native to the Everglades of Florida have nothing on the devil in this book!  Lena Diaz will show you very ugly souls.  Lena Diaz will always give you hope.  Hostage Negotiation endeavors to save the damage done.

Mystic Glades, the “land of the lost” is a fascinating location imbued with magic and unforgettable characters.  I will miss them all!

 

 

Deep Cover Detective

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Description:
A detective needed a mysterious woman’s help—even if she had secrets to spare… 

In the heart of everglade country, Detective Colton Graham lays his plans to catch a robbery kingpin. What he fails to plan for is Silver Westbrook. Proprietress of a local B and B, Silver is as sharp-witted as she is easy on the eyes. But Colton senses Silver is hiding something. Suspicious that she might be harboring the very criminals he’s tracking, Colton keeps a watchful eye on her. It doesn’t take long to learn her true motives and her involvement in the case. But unfortunately for both of them, attraction can be the deadliest distraction.

Review:

Catch the little fish in the pond to get to the bigger prize, or something to that effect, right?  What undercover detective, Colton Graham, doesn’t realize is that the waters of Mystic Glades run deep with interesting (suspicious) characters.  None more so than B&B proprietor, Silver Westbrook.  She has a way of diverting Colton’s attention, but is it all for good?  Lena Diaz will intrigue you, thrill you, and shake you up before the full reveal in Deep Cover Detective.  This is book 3 of her awesome Marshland Justice series.

While Colton is working hard to infiltrate young Eddie’s ring of thugs, Silver is sabotaging his efforts — a silent tug-of-war for Eddie’s “connections”?

       “If he ever suspected what she knew about him, and her ulterior motives for coming back to Mystic Glades, he’d disappear faster than a sandbar in high tide.  And then she’d have no way to protect him or help him out of the mess he was making of his life.”

When details unfold and turn deadly, Silver and Colton join forces.  Will Silver give Colton her full, honest support or lead him on with false hope to maintain some sort of advantage?  Secrets and truths too important eke out.  How bad is the burn when Colton is supposed to be experienced at keeping relationships professional while on a case?  Something tells me both of them knew better.

Ummm…sooo good, so enjoyable, so worthy a read!  Colton and Silver are bright and loyal individuals.  When they work together, there’s some real magic happening.  Mystic Glades won’t make life easy, being host to illegal activities, so innocence will be hard fought and lost.  Will Colton and Silver get to the head of the snake before another burglary…or worse?

Deep Cover Detective almost got away from me and I would have regretted it because this whole series is just that good.  I’m keeping this review brief to make room for the final book, Hostage Negotiation.  Oh, look at that:  It’s right above! 😉

Reviews by Carmen

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

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

 

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Description:
Nature versus nurture…
 
The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.

Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.

Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil…

 

 

Review:

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb is the 43rd full length novel in her fantastic In Death series.  I am sure you all know by now that J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts.  Also, you must know from my reviews that the In Death series is one of my top two all time favorite series.  You would also think that 43 books later, not to mention the many novellas, the stories would slow down.  Not so in Apprentice in Death.  This was an awesome story, one of the best ones that Robb has written, if not the best. I was so engrossed in the story, that I finished the book in one day.  It also helped as I basked in my glory reading about my favorite couple in the literary world, Eve and Roarke.   The In Death series also has the best recurring secondary characters I have ever read.  Apprentice in Death was a thriller a minute, and Eve Dallas was her usual magnificent, tough, dedicated, take charge murder cop.  Now for my review.  😉

In Apprentice in Death, Eve Dallas is once again in the middle of trying to find a serial killer, who is killing innocents at random.  The first murders took place at the ice rink at Central Park, which resulted in 3 deaths.  Eve pulls her team together, including Roarke to put the pieces together on someone who has knowledge of special laser weapons that can be used at far distances.  Using some of Roarke expertise in his programming abilities, they narrow down where the attack originated.  In a short time, the killers are identified and the race is on before they kill again.  Much to the teams chagrin, the evidence points to a former cop, who learned all about laser rifles.  Before they can find the culprits, another attack takes place with 4 deaths, one a police officer, and soon Eve is able to pinpoint a pattern of revenge, with one true target in all the killings.  We know early on that a father (former cop) and young daughter are the ones they are looking for.  What follows is an exciting, tense story the will have Eve, Roarke, Peabody and the entire police force working overtime to find the killers.  After one of the murderers is captured, the pulse pounding adventure is non stop, with the lone vicious evil killer on the loose.  When another murder takes place at Madison Square Garden after a concert that kills 25 people, Eve must escalate the game using her skills to get the prisoner to reveal where the other is.  She will dangle temptation to get what she wants, and then when the pieces are in place, it will be her gut that will lead her to the killer.

Rather than tell too much more, the final 1/3 was a heart racing finale that not only put Eve’s life in danger, but also Roarke and Peabody.  It was also a story that focuses on decisions to be made, to fight evil at any cost, especially when a murderer is beyond redeemable. 

Apprentice in Death was another intense, wildly exciting, gripping story that held our breath throughout the book.  I do not know how J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) continues to give us such magnificent stories, not to mention make us love Eve and Roarke even more.  The epilogue was somewhat different, and very well done.  If you have not read this series, you really are missing a gem.  If you like murder mysteries, a great cop, her equally fantastic husband, and team/friends who you can’t wait to see again; then you should go back and read this series.  Even if it means 43 books.  I love this series, and I never ever want this to end.

Reviewed by Barb

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With Love From the Inside by Angela Pisel – a Review

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With Love From the Inside  by Angela Pisel – a Review

 

With Love From the InsideAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Grace Bradshaw knows the exact minute she will die. On death row for murdering her infant son, her last breath will be taken on February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Eleven years, five months, and twenty-seven days separate her from the last time she heard her precious daughter’s voice and the final moment she’d heard anyone call her Mom. Out of appeals, she can focus on only one thing—reconnecting with her daughter and making sure she knows the truth.
            Secrets lurk behind Sophie Logan’s big house and even bigger bank account. Every day when she kisses her husband good-bye, she worries her fabricated life is about to come crumbling down. No one knows the unforgivable things her mother did to tear her family apart—not her husband, who is a prominent plastic surgeon, or her “synthetic” friends who live in her upscale neighborhood.
            Grace’s looming execution date forces Sophie to revisit the traumatic events that haunted her childhood. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers new evidence about her baby brother William’s death seventeen years ago—proof that might set her mother free but shatter her marriage forever.
            Sophie must quickly decide if her mother is the monster the prosecutor made her out to be or the loving mother she remembers—the one who painted her toenails glittery pink and plastered Post-it notes with inspiring quotes (“100 percent failure rate if you don’t try”) all over Sophie’s bathroom mirror—before their time runs out.

 

Review:

With Love From the Inside by Angela Pisel is a standalone emotional and at times heartbreaking story line.  Grace Bradshaw has been on death row for 17 years, having been convicted of killing her young son.  Grace writes notes to her daughter in a journal, telling her about her days in prison, things of the past, and how much she misses her.   Grace has not seen her daughter in over 11 years.  Her lawyer has been actively searching for the daughter, as well as trying to find evidence to help her.  With all appeals exhausted, time is of essence, as a political change pushes up the dates for those on death row, and Grace’s execution is coming fast.

Sophie Logan lives a good life, as the wife of a successful surgeon.  She is well known in the community, as she attends functions to support her husband, Thomas.  Sophie has kept a secret from her husband. Being ashamed of the truth, Sophie told him her mother was dead. When she receives a letter from an attorney, and hears an announcement about executions being moved up, and a female child killer is next; Sophie decides to visit the attorney.  She makes the decision to not get involved, since she feels the evidence against her mother is true, and she does not want to ruin her current life.

After fainting, Thomas tells her to get checked out, and in doing so, Sophie discovers she is pregnant.  While talking to the doctor about the fainting, she accidently learns about a condition that might be in her family.   What follows is an exciting heart wrenching story that will have Sophie desperately working with the lawyer to prove her mother’s innocence.  It is an emotional tale of truths being told between a couple that will stand together in love; of a mother and daughter reuniting to love and forgiveness; of a desperate attempt to save a life. 

There are other stories within that have Grace being supportive of some of her female inmates; and of Sophie caring about a young motherless boy with medical problems.  The characters in the book were great, and very likeable.  I will not say too much more, as the last half of the book held my breath. It was a race to the finish that took an emotional toll on the reader.  I understand this is the debut novel for Angela Pisel, and it was very well written.  I look forward to more from this author.

Reviewed by Barb

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Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh – a Review

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Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh – a Review

 

Seconds to liveAmazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Wildlife biologist Mac Barrett avoided his hometown of Scarlet Falls for years—too many bad memories. But when he receives the news that his father is dying, he rushes home only to discover he’s too late. Shaken, Mac retreats to his remote cabin seeking peace and solace. Instead, he crashes his jeep to narrowly avoid running over the naked body of a woman lying in the road. Even more disturbing, when he regains consciousness, the body is gone.

Police detective Stella Dane wants to believe Mac, even if his story about the vanishing body seems far-fetched. But when Mac’s description matches the missing woman she’s been searching for, it raises a disturbing question: How does a dead body disappear?

Mac and Stella will have to work together to find the answer and catch a psychotic kidnapper—and quickly. The killer has a deadly message to send, and the case is about to become personal…

 

Review:

What a spectacular read to finish a series!  Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh keeps you on edge as she examines the mind of a psychotic killer and soothes your soul, downright restores your faith in humanity, with Mac and Stella’s burgeoning love story.  I’ve enjoyed every installment of the Scarlet Falls series and I’m bummed to see it end.  The Barrett family dynamic is bittersweet due to unconventional upbringing, bless the Colonel’s heart, but the devotion to loved ones is unequivocal and truly memorable.

Mac and Stella are facing distinct crossroads that coincide in the town of Scarlet Falls.  The setting is immediately darkened, however, by the stealthy presence of a disgruntled, unhinged kidnapper with a twisted purpose:

How could he make his message clear?  Some people were unworthy of life.  There were consequences for bad decisions.  People should be punished for their sins.  What would it take for the world to understand?

When the killer decides to showcase his depravity, Mac reacts in the most primal of ways to protect Stella (he is a wildlife biologist).  You remember Stella Dane, the police detective?  Mac’s suddenly gone deaf to Stella’s protests of knowing her job and understanding its risks.  Caveman-ish.  I loved every bit of it!  If Mac is to earn his involvement in the case, and more importantly, Stella’s life, he has to come clean about himself. 

I sort of suspected Mac’s revelation, but it was a well-preserved one.  It felt like a breath of fresh air for Mac (and the readers) to get to those inner layers of Mac’s heart.  The erratic behavior that never quite flew under the family’s radar?  They noticed, as did Stella, and Mac was finally able to unburden himself.  Ms. Leigh left Mac open and vulnerable and positively precious to Stella.  Just so well written!

A nod to Ms. Leigh for maintaining the killer’s identity a mystery.  She detailed two deviants and their warped minds.  Unsettling clues and tips pointed guilty fingers to both suspects.  As a matter of fact, there was a third dangerous character capable of horrors who will also make you cringe.  The anger and damage displayed by these individuals leant credence to proper criminal profiling and research.  Better you than me, Ms. Leigh!

I really enjoyed Seconds to Live.  Just when critical time was running out on the case, another cog of the dastardly wheel jammed progress and had you cursing the monster responsible!  The hunt will make your heart pound and keep you guessing, but the developing relationship, the sense of trust and belonging building between Mac and Stella, will inspire you — will make it all worthwhile. Melinda Leigh wrote a strong, sentimental finale to a thrilling series.  It has been my pleasure to fall in love with Scarlet Falls.

Reviewed by Carmen

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Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt – a Review

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Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt  – a Review

 

LIttle Girl GoneAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
In the first Afton Tangler thriller, the unforgiving cold of a Minnesota winter hides the truth behind an even more chilling crime…

On a frozen night in an affluent neighborhood of Minneapolis, a baby is abducted from her home after her teenage babysitter is violently assaulted. The parents are frantic, the police are baffled, and, with the perpetrator already in the wind, the trail is getting colder by the second.

As family liaison officer with the Minneapolis P.D., it’s Afton Tangler’s job to deal with the emotional aftermath of terrible crimes—but she’s never faced a case quite as brutal as this. Each development is more heartbreaking than the last and the only lead is a collection of seemingly unrelated clues.

But, most disturbing of all, Afton begins to suspect that this case is not isolated.  Whoever did this has taken babies before—and if Afton doesn’t solve this crime soon, more children are sure to go missing . . .

 

 

Review:

Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt is the first book in her new Afton Tangler series.  This is a mystery thriller about a baby kidnapping, but it is not a whodunit.  We know from early on who the kidnapper is.  Little Girl Gone revolves around Afton Tangler, who is a family liaison for the Minneapolis police department.  While she is out mountain climbing with her friends, she gets the call to help on this kidnapping.  Afton will team with Max, the detective in charge of the case, as well as the FBI, who are also involved. 

Besides watching them look for clues, as they race to find the baby alive; we also get an up close look at the baby’s parents, Susan and Richard Darden.  All during the book we can see the Dardens life falling apart, as each blames the other.  As in any investigation, everyone is suspect, but Afton doing a lot of research keeps coming back to the lady at a doll show, whom Susan Darden had met the day before the kidnapping.  Afton will also discover similarities to other baby’s deaths.

What follows is an interesting and at times exciting and tense mystery thriller that will be a race against time.  I felt the writer did a good job in showing us the emotional turmoil in those involved, as well as making the villains totally evil.  I did think at times it was a bit slow early on, with some parts a bit unrealistic.  But overall, it was a very good story. If you like mystery thrillers, with a lot of police procedurals, I suggest you read Little Girl Gone.

Reviewed by Barb

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