Tag Archives: Mystery

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

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

 

Brotherhood in Death
In Death series – Book #42
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: February 2, 2016

Brotherhood in DeathAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Dennis Mira just had two unpleasant surprises. First he learned that his cousin Edward was secretly meeting with a real estate agent about their late grandfather’s magnificent West Village brownstone, despite the promise they both made to keep it in the family. Then, when he went to the house to confront Edward about it, he got a blunt object to the back of the head.

Luckily Dennis is married to Charlotte Mira, the NYPSD’s top profiler and a good friend of Lieutenant Eve Dallas. When the two arrive on the scene, he explains that the last thing he saw was Edward in a chair, bruised and bloody. When he came to, his cousin was gone. With the mess cleaned up and the security disks removed, there’s nothing left behind but a few traces for forensics to analyze.

As a former lawyer, judge, and senator, Edward Mira mingled with the elite and crossed paths with criminals, making enemies on a regular basis. Like so many politicians, he also made some very close friends behind closed—and locked—doors. But a badge and a billionaire husband can get you into places others can’t go, and Eve intends to shine some light on the dirty deals and dark motives behind the disappearance of a powerful man, the family discord over a multimillion-dollar piece of real estate . . . and a new case that no one saw coming.

 

Review:

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb is the 42nd book in her fantastic In Death series. Most of you already know that I am a diehard fan of this series, and absolutely love my favorite couple, Eve and Roarke. As I have said before, besides this fabulous couple, are some of the best characters in any series that we always get to spend time with; Peabody (the banter is such fun), Mira, Nadine, Summerset, Galahad, and Eve’s great team, including McNab, Baxter, Feeney, & Truheart. In Brotherhood in Death, we get to spend more time with Mira’s husband, Dennis, who is such a sweetheart.

A quick refresher for those who have not read this series (really you need to start on this).   Eve Dallas is our heroine throughout the series, and she is a tough bad ass cop; this series is all about murder, violence, terrible villains, mystery and top notch exciting police work to find the killer before they kill any more victims. The wonderful hot sexy wealthy Roarke, who is the love of her life, also helps her solve these crimes.

Brotherhood In Death begins with Eve ready to leave the office and head home for a nice early evening with Roarke. A call comes in from a very upset Mira, telling her that Dennis has been hurt.   When Eve arrives, she learns that Dennis was trying to meet with his cousin Edward, to interfere with him trying to sell their grandparents old home. When Dennis enters the room, he sees Edward bleeding and then is bashed on the head unconscious; when he comes to, Edward is missing.   Eve takes on the case, even though there is no body. Since Eve is close to the Miras, she is determined to help them in what will become a dark adventure that will bring back horrific memories of her past. With Peabody at the scene, they do discover blood and missing tapes. But it will be at night, when she and Roarke will discover Edward’s violently abused dead body. When another victim is found in the same manner a few days later, Eve begins to suspect that the murders are revenge sex crimes by a woman or women,

What follows is an ultra exciting, very intense and emotional storyline that becomes darker as more victims are found. Eve, Roarke and her team are in a race against time to find out the women with ties to these men, before another murder happens. Eve begins to have her nightmares again from her childhood, which makes this case too close to home. This is a terrible case that will make us think if justice was indeed served.

It was an amazing story, one of the best by Robb, that had us on the edge of our seat, unable to put the book down.   The investigation that will open our eyes to politics, power, horrible crimes going back many years, and the emotions that are pulled as we feel Eve’s pain, and even sympathy. But she is cop, who follows rules, and will do what it takes to bring in the murderers.

J.D. Robb has done it again, with another sensational story with our favorite couple. I also loved the sweet and sexy scenes between Eve and Roarke. I adore the characters that have slowly been added to Eve’s life over time, and how she begins to care more and more about her friends. I can’t wait for the next book, and pray Robb will never stop writing this series.

Reviewed by Barb

 

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Death in A Major by Sarah Fox – Review, Spotlight and Giveaway

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Death in A Major by Sarah Fox –  Review, Spotlight & Giveaway

 

Death in A Major
A Music Lover’s Mystery
by Sarah Fox
Release Date: January 5, 2016

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
When Archibald Major, local big wig and nasty tyrant, drops dead at a post-concert reception, violinist Midori Bishop soon suspects foul play. Although Midori has no intention of getting involved in another murder investigation, that all changes when Jordan—her violin student and the victim’s grandson—seeks her help convincing the police that the real killer is his uncle, a low-level criminal. As Midori digs into the victim’s life, she discovers that he was a man who created discord at every turn, even within his own family, and there is no shortage of potential suspects. When someone close to Midori unexpectedly confesses to the crime, Midori must race to discover the identity of the true killer before an innocent person goes to jail for a crime they didn’t commit…and before Midori herself becomes a victim in the killer’s deadly encore.

 

 

Review:

Death in A Major by Sarah Fox is the 2nd book in her Music Lover’s Mystery series. Midori Bishop, our heroine, is a violinist with the local Philharmonic Orchestra. In the first book of this series, Midori helped solve the murder, and now in Death in a Major she becomes in involved yet again with another murder mystery, which once again puts her own life in danger.

This was nice low key mystery, that has a bit of everything; murder, romance, multiple suspects, danger, tense excitement, and is well written by Fox. Though this was a quick and entertaining read, I found myself shaking my head on some things. Midori is very good at asking questions, and finding clues.
Every time she turns around another clue changes things as to who the murderer is. There are also villains in this book, who are not the murderer.

What I found a bit unrealistic was how she would go to the police, tell them the things she found, and expect them to tell her what they know. I also thought it was unrealistic how she would go to different people to ask questions. She wasn’t police or a detective, and she more or less was butting into people’s lives. I know that this is fiction, and Miss Marple did something similar, though the old lady did it with class. Not so with Midori. As nice as she was, there were times she acted so rashly, and I found myself becoming annoyed with her.

The mystery was good, played out well, and as I said, well written. If you like a good sweet mystery, you should give this a try.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

About The Author


Sarah Fox was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.

 


Connect with Sarah Fox
Website – http://www.authorsarahfox.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/thewritefox
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahfox
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4027516.Sarah_Fox

 

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

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Razor Sharp (Raney and Levine #6) by J.A.Schneider-a review

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Razor Sharp (Raney And Levine #6) by J.A.Schneider-a review

Razor Sharp

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

About the book: Release Date October 25, 2015

A young woman is found brutally attacked with a straight razor, her cruel facial mutilation the only link to three other horrific murders: a transgender woman, a transvestite, and a 17-year-old hustler. So nasty are those three born-male kills that the psychopath seems to be saying, they’re all males…

FROM HELL he scrawls, taunting the NYPD with the original Jack the Ripper’s 1888 letter to the police. This killer is cunning: wears gloves, disguises, and leaves no physical evidence. At a loss, the police ask “one small favor” from physicians Jill Raney and David Levine, friends and – until now, detectives on their own. “No warrant? No problem!” had been their mantra…until their relationship with the cops led to exhaustion and conflict.

But they share the horror that grips the country and agree to help, thus plunging into an unimaginable and terrifying maze of psycho-sexual obsession and madness.

Review:

Razor Sharp begins with the horrific murder of a young woman by an unknown assailant. The attack was as brutal as it was horrific. When the cops needed help, they once again called Drs. Jill Raney and David Levine. The couple has become friends with the cops and have a knack for getting unattainable information out of certain individuals. Even though Jill and David were taking a week off, they agreed to help once they saw the crime scene. Things happen pretty quickly from that point on.

Jill and David talk to a therapist who had treated the young woman and were able to obtain some crucial information about the victim as well as a couple of others who were associated with her. Even though the therapist was leery of giving names, he knew he had to help out to keep others safe. Unfortunately for everyone, the killings escalated and everyone was doing their best to track down the murder, who was touting himself as another Jack the Ripper.

Eventually, persons of interest are brought in to be questioned which almost leaves more questions than answers. But, as the cops, and namely Jill and David, delve into the secret lives of people connected to the victims, what they find will shock them to their very core.

Razor Sharp is another well written story by J.A. Schneider that grabs your attention from the very beginning. There was a surprise in this one that has to do with their miracle baby, Jesse, which has left me wondering just what direction this series is going. And, if I’m being honest, I can’t wait to find out. Jill and David, as well as the cast of supporting characters, are very relatable and I enjoy the banter. Once again, if you’re looking for a fast paced and suspenseful medical mystery, this is the series for you. Well done, J.A. Schneider!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Vickie M

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Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Giveaway

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Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Giveaway

 

 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother’s hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn’t be bothering them anymore…ever. Still their lives would never be the same. 

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother’s mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts…and wants. 

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack’s brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth….

 

 

Review:

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz is a wonderful romance suspense story. I have not read a Jayne Ann Krentz book in a very long time, and after reading Secret Sisters, I know I have missed some great books.

Madeline Chase is our heroine, who is still grieving the recent death of her grandmother. Now, having inherited all the hotels she runs, is summoned by the caretaker of their abandoned hotel in Cooper Island, where she has not been back since she was young girl 18 years earlier. When Madeline arrives at the old broken down hotel, she finds the caretaker dying, after being attacked. She summons her security chief, Jack Rayner, to help her solve his murder, and find the truth that made Madeline and her grandmother leave Cooper Island all those years ago.

As Madeline explains to Jack, she was attacked by a hotel guest, but thanks to her best friend, Daphne, she was rescued before she was raped. All the secrets from that night was hidden; what happened to the attacker; a briefcase was found with damaging information about a powerful person? Now 18 years later the caretaker and her grandmother are dead, which Madeline suspects were suspicious. The hidden briefcase, which both of them looked for was missing, bringing both of them to the conclusion that past has come back to haunt all of them.

Daphne, who has not seen Madeline in those 18 years, is told to quickly leave her home and come to Cooper Island, since her life was also in danger. It was really nice to see old friends, who were secret sisters, reunite and help each other with Jack and his brother Abe work to solve the murders and the mystery of what was in that briefcase.

What follows is an exciting story with so many twists and turns that it kept us on the edge of our seat, unable to look away in fear of missing anything. Madeline was a very strong heroine, and had her own issues of not being touched, from her bad experience. I really liked her. Jack had his own issues from his experiences as a profiler, which still haunts him. Together, Madeline and Jack bonded and helped each other,   as a slow built romance began.  However, as sweet as their romance was, the brunt of the story was the mystery and suspense.   The four of them made a great team, as Daphne and Abe were also great.

Without giving up any spoilers, from the beginning, we knew the powerful Webster family controlled Cooper Island. As the mystery begins to unravel, the sins of the father will involve the entire family, some with political aspirations. As I said before, just when you think you know who the murderer is, something happens to change it, with so many surprises.

Secret Sisters was a wonderful suspenseful story, with fantastic characters, including the villains. The pace of the story was so well done, allowing us to learn more about the characters and the mystery. Jayne Ann Krentz wrote a great story that was exciting, intense, action packed, great characters, with a little bit of romance and friendship to lighten the story. I suggest you not miss this book, as it was a great read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

about the author

The author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

You can learn more about Jayne Ann Krentz at the following links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

giveaway

Jayne Ann and her Publisher are offering a hardcover copy of SECRET SISTERS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from December 4-7, 2015

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Missing in the Glades by Lena Diaz – a Review

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Missing in the Glades by Lena Diaz – a Review

 

Missing in the gladesAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
He was looking for a missing person. What he found was a beautiful stranger. 

Looking for a fresh start, detective Jake Young headed south on a case that could help launch his PI business. He knew no amount of work would make him forget his tortured past, but maybe Faye Star could help. Caught up in Jake’s missing persons case, the distracting Faye was hiding a secret he was begging to find out. Expertly guiding him through the swamps, Jake’s job grew more complicated when someone started taking shots at the free-spirited beauty. As much as she protested she could take care of herself, Jake stepped in, refusing to admit how desperately he needed someone to save. Especially since he’d never be able to save himself…

Review:

I saw an episode of Burn Notice once where someone was lost in the Everglades and they were worried about panthers mauling the person. Panthers, as in, that’s not outside the norm of animals found in that area. Wowzers. Lena Diaz allots a huge amount of respect to this “unpredictable, dangerous, land-that-time-forgot section” of Florida. That’s almost incomprehensible to this city girl, but it lends itself perfectly to a missing persons case and a unique love story befitting the town of Mystic Glades. Please welcome back the wonderful Lena Diaz and her first book in the Marshland Justice series, Missing in the Glades.

Jake Young is trying his hand at PI work. Police work wasn’t boring per se, but he partnered up with his friend to expand his horizons. What a first case! Just when Jake catches a break and finds the abandoned vehicle of the victim, a shot rings out too close for comfort. Gorgeous or not, Jake’s going after the gypsy-looking woman with the amazing aim!

Faye Star is a free spirit with a degree in biology and killer survival skills to rival any local’s. When she sees Jake lurking through the ‘Glades, we quickly deduce that she’s worried about being associated with the case.

All she knew for sure was that a private investigator was trying to find Calvin. But he hadn’t mentioned anything about finding her. If someone from Tuscaloosa had hired him, they’d have wanted both her and Calvin, wouldn’t they? But Jake hadn’t tried to grab her…or kill her. Which meant he didn’t know about her connection with Calvin…”

Not only is Jake not trying to kill Faye, he’s killing himself trying to keep his hands, especially his heart, away from her! The attraction is a distraction, of the best kind. Faye may say she’s willing to collaborate on the investigation, but it’s, HE’s, too tempting to ignore. Jake can lose himself in Faye if he’d let his heart dictate, but his gut is telling him not to indulge…and his reasons aren’t entirely noble, either.

He looked down at her fingers working his belt loose, and that brief moment of lost contact between them was just enough for the haze of lust to allow his brain to switch back on. What was he doing? This was crazy, wrong on so many levels. She trusted him, and he was betraying her with every breath he took. He couldn’t cross this one last line. Once she found out the truth about him, she’d hate him forever.

Can withholding information, delivering bold-faced lies, and general deceit (with a healthy helping of subterfuge) be forgiven…all in the name of love? Neither Faye nor Jake can point fingers here. The plot deepens as thick as the marshland when new characters are introduced and seem beyond eager to find (silence?) Calvin. Is Calvin “an idiot tourist with no common sense and a lousy sense of direction” or is he a man with valuable information? Any just why does Faye care so much about what happens to him?!

Oh, this was good! Lena Diaz deftly threads a needle of intrigue throughout the story and subplots. We gain necessary insight, but delight in the unexpected outcomes! Jake and Faye surprised themselves by how quickly they clicked; their chemistry both compatible and steamy. Separating romantic emotions from duty was challenging Jake and Faye gravitated so naturally towards each other, but Ms. Diaz writes it with a fine tension; just with that bit of edge to keep you engaged.

In less than 250 pages, Missing in the Glades is fast-paced and meant to be concise. Do not confuse those features as a sign of mediocrity. I read a complete, fleshed out story unearthing secrets amidst an exotic backdrop. The wow factor is all Lena Diaz.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

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Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Deadly Impulse

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Looks aren’t the only things that can be deceiving…

When a sixty-eight-year-old woman is found dead outside the hospital in a wheelchair with an anti-abortion sign strapped to its back, Detective Madison Knight expects it to be an open-and-shut case. On the surface, there are no signs of foul play, but the deeper she digs, the more convoluted the homicide becomes. And when two more bodies appear, including that of a girl just barely old enough to drink and a homeless man, the direct links between the three murders are anything but simple.

Without a consistent MO, Madison doesn’t buy that a serial killer is on the loose, despite the conviction with which her ex-fiancé and fellow detective tries to convince their superior. But Madison already has enough to juggle without having to defend her reputation. Debilitating flashbacks of being held hostage by the Russian Mafia mere months before haunt her on an almost daily basis, and the promises she made to herself while in captivity are becoming more and more difficult to keep. Learning to trust is hard enough without constant reminders of what destruction—fatal or otherwise—trusting the wrong person can cause.

Now, as both personal and professional friction within the department mounts, she and her partner, Terry, must figure out what motivation could span generations to cause someone to murder these people. But catching this killer is like grasping at straws, and grabbing the wrong one could mean losing not only her pride but also her boyfriend, her credibility, and her faith in humanity…

 

 

Review:

Deadly Impulse by Carolyn Arnold is the 6th book in her Detective Madison Knight series. Once again Carolyn Arnold gives us another thriller, as Madison Knight is in the forefront of a mystifying murder mystery. What starts out as perhaps a simple case of the death of a 68 year old woman, who is found in a wheelchair in front of a hospital. But as we have come to learn, nothing is ever simple for Madison. The case will escalate into a couple more murders that somehow seem related. Do we have a serial killer on the loose?

When we left off in the previous book, Madison had survived being kidnapped by the Russian mob, and in Deadly Impulse, Madison tries to hide the fact that she has been having devastating flashbacks where her life hung by a thread. Trying to solve this complex mystery, with those obstacles makes it even more difficult for Madison. But nothing will ever stop Madison as she preservers despite all the twists and surprises that keep coming at her.

During the investigation, Madison works closely with her partner, Terry, who is anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child; her best friend, Cynthia; and her boyfriend, Troy. As I have mentioned before, for the most part Madison usually stands alone, with not a lot of support from management. Hopefully with the new female chief, this will begin to change, though I am still not a fan of her partner, Terry. In future books though, I do have a wish list. I would love to see Madison become more open, and trusting, with a loyal team behind her. I like what I see with her and Troy, as well as her friendship with Cynthia and hopefully the new chief.

This was an intense and exciting mystery from start to finish, which Arnold always gives us in each and every book in this series. As each new clue or finding is found, we become more stumped as to who is the killer. Very well done, Carolyn. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedural, a tough cop, then this series is a must for you.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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Geronimo Hotshot (The Ben Blackshaw Series #4) by Robert Blake Whitehill-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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GERONIMO HOTSHOT (The Ben Blackshaw Series #4) by Robert Blake Whitehill-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

Geronimo Hotshot Banner

Geronimo Hotshot
The Ben Blackshaw Series #4
by Robert Blake Whitehill
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense

Geronimo Hotshot

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: October 1, 2015

Ben Blackshaw’s wife, LuAnna, has been shot and lies in a permanent coma on Smith Island. Blackshaw has a disastrous falling out with his best friend, Knocker Ellis. Licking his wounds alone on Lethe Island, Blackshaw resolves to quit the Chesapeake. To his disgust, he soon uncovers evidence of the brutal lynching of a young black boy. Police fail to capture the murderers despite the evidence Blackshaw turns over; Blackshaw himself becomes a suspect. He deploys west to Arizona in search of the killers, and discovers an encampment of armed ranchers, along with a one-percenter biker gang, and a cult of white supremacist vigilantes who have all sworn to stop the flood of undocumented immigrants crossing the Mexico line.

But everyone hides deadly secrets, including a biologic Weapon of Mass Destruction, the bizarre shoot-down of a Customs and Border Protection helicopter, and the disappearance of its crew. The vigilante camp itself is surrounded by a raging wildfire. Blackshaw teams with Del, an Apache member of the Geronimo Interagency Hotshot Crew, who was detailed to battle the blaze. Together they patrol in on the gathering of monsters. Part of their treacherous journey takes Blackshaw and Del through a cavern system of strange, wondrous, and lethal beauty. In the end, fire and hate threaten to consume everyone; the light of the inferno reveals that Blackshaw might be no better than the quarry he hunts.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: GERONIMO HOTSHOT is the fourth installment in Robert Blake Whitehill’s adult, contemporary Ben Blackshaw suspense series focusing on retired Navy SEAL Ben Blackshaw. Although this is the fourth book in the series, GERONIMO HOTSHOT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any previous information will be revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives the storyline advances the series one month. Ben’s wife had been injured in the previous storyline (TAP RACK BANG) and currently remains in a coma; our hero is unable to consider the future without his wife and embarks on another solo adventure to Bisbee, Arizona where racist bigots and white supremacists find themselves involved in a high tech drug war with the FBI, Customs and Border Patrol, a former sheriff, a murderous motorcycle gang, and the possibility of a biological weapon of mass destruction. Raging wildfires add another dangerous dimension to the equation wherein Ben Bradshaw finds himself trapped between the fires and his imminent death.

The lynching and murder of a young African American boy finds Ben on a mission to locate the people responsible and the connection to a religious cult known as the Pure Nation Comitatus wherein the leader presents himself as The Messiah. On a cross country journey from Smith Island on the Chesapeake Bay to the drought riddled forests of Arizona, Ben will come in contact with several people whose connections to and information about the PNC sparks a new sense of dread and urgency in our hero. A local Native American will follow Ben on his journey in the hopes of retribution and revenge.

GERONIMO HOTSHOT is a storyline with several intersecting paths, graphic violence, murder, action and adventure. From racism, prejudice, drug trafficking and murderous vendettas GERONIMO HOTSHOT looks at cult and culture; society, social inequality and community; race relations and ‘new age religion’ wherein people are seeking direction from a charismatic leader who demands obedience and proof of loyalty.

The numerous colorful and dynamic characters drive a good portion of the storyline as the build up follows several plotlines that will intersect and merge throughout the course of the novel. One thing is for sure: Ben Blackshaw is not your stereotypical hero-more of an anti hero-but a man who will command your respect and interest. There is intrapersonal conflict for Ben; and intergroup conflict between the PNC, biker gangs and the former local sheriff. The backdrop of the Arizona forests is a major player throughout the story.

GERONIMO HOTSHOT is an intriguing, enthralling and intense topical storyline. Robert Blake Whitehill will seduce your mind into a world of retribution and revenge. The destructive nature and powerful control of cults, drug trafficking and gangs are central to the storyline premise wherein the ill-fated machinations of the Messiah, the sheriff, and the drug lord will see reprisal and retaliation in the form of Ben Blackshaw and the FBI. Prepare to be pulled into a dark and destructive storyline.

Reading Order
1. Deadrise
2. Nitro Express
3. Tap Rack Bang
4. Geronimo Hotshot

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

guest post

Amateur Editors and Rewrites: From Hard Lessons to High Praise
By Robert Blake Whitehill

In film making, the editor assembles the movie from the raw footage gathered during production. In the newspaper business, an editor has the overall shape of the day’s edition in mind when recommending changes to the articles, and laying out their positions. In writing novels, there are different sorts of editors, and they can all make your book better, or make you crazy, depending on your point of view.

Every reader with an advance copy of your latest manuscript is also an editor. Every moment of the story, every word choice gets a subconscious yay or nay of judgment from the reader about the work. The reader might not realize this process is going on if you know your business, tell an interesting, well-structured story, and have done a few passes over the work by yourself before handing it off.

What happens if the reader finds a typo, or doesn’t like something in the story? The reader is pulled out of the story. Something got a nay. A professional editor will tell you exactly what the problem is with fine strokes of a red pen, or clever notes in an annotated .pdf file. An amateur reader/editor will identify trouble, or perhaps a specific issue. As writer, you might not agree that the noted point is a problem. That is always your choice.

Don’t overlook your readers’ concerns. They might not be able to articulate issues with the specific clarity of a professional editor, but their inner story-tellers are wired to flag problem areas. It is up to you to determine if the reader’s note relates to the exact place they mention, or if it is referred pain from a structural issue elsewhere in the manuscript. The reader is not at fault for missing your genius. Trust the reader’s judgment. Examine the area of concern closely. Nothing seems amiss? Next, examine what has come before that problem area in the manuscript. Still all good? Examine what comes after the place your reader planted that red flag. Yes, not providing certain information soon enough in the story might leave your reader confused. You cannot afford that.

The amateur editor will help you make your manuscript better. As an author, you must learn to interpret an amateur editor’s remarks to fully exploit their great value. Remember, amateur means doing a thing for the love of it. Quite possibly it is not for the love of reading that your editor has taken on your work. It is likely the reader has accepted your manuscript out of love for you. Respect that this affection can lead you to the truth of your best work.

~~Robert Blake Whitehill~~

About The Author

Follow Robert: Facebook / Website / Twitter /

Robert Blake WhitehillRobert Blake Whitehill was born into a Quaker family in Mardela Springs, just outside Salisbury on Maryland’s Eastern Shore peninsula. The family home lay next to the pond that powered a colonial-era relic, the Barren Creek Mill. He grew up sailing the Chesapeake Bay, and one of her most beautiful tributaries, the Chester River.

After graduating from Westtown School Whitehill stayed in Pennsylvania to earn his B.A. in creative writing at Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges. Later he trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. As with David Mamet, exhaustive studies of the best English language drama for the stage and screen transformed an aspiring actor into a passionate writer.

An early focus on feature screenwriting earned Whitehill film festival wins at the Hudson Valley Film Festival, and the Hamptons International Film Festival where he also received an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship for his script U.X.O. (Unexploded Ordnance). His feature script Blue Rinse, co-written with Andrea Shane is currently under option with producer Bill Jarblum (Charley Bartlett, The Little Traitor, Cloudburst), with Olympia Dukakis to star, and Thom Fitzgerald slated to direct.

While writing many highly rated episodes of Discovery/Times Channel’s The New Detectives, Daring Capers, and The Bureau, he served as the Vice President of Independent Film Acquisitions for the groundbreaking Centerseat.com, developing and managing their Independent Film Channel.

His first thriller in the Ben Blackshaw series, Deadrise, was named by Cyrus Webb to the Conversations Book Club Top 100 Books of 2012. His second book in the series, Nitro Express, was named to the Conversations Book Club Top 50 Books of Fiction of 2013.

Movie studio HatLine Productions is optioning the first two books, as well as the third title in the series, Tap Rack Bang, for development into feature films.

Whitehill lives in New Jersey with his wife and son. For a number of years, he has worked with the Montclair Ambulance Unit as an emergency medical technician.

When not sailing, or knocking around the sky in a Cessna 152, Whitehill is a contributing writer to Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

giveaway

Robert Blake Whitehill is graciously offering a signed paper copy of GERONIMO HOTSHOT to FIVE (5) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from October 1-6, 2015

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Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Blue Baby
Brandon Fisher FBI series – Book #4
by Carolyn Arnold
Release Date: September 25, 2015

Blue BabyAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description
Happiness is elusive for many, but from the killer’s standpoint, it’s something he creates. And he’s determined to get it right…at least one more time.

The murders were one year apart, but the similarities have the interest of the FBI. Both victims were found in their tubs, dressed in their wedding gowns. But that’s not the worst of it. When a third body is found, Brandon Fisher and his team make the chilling discovery that more than the killer’s method of operation connects the women


Review:

Blue Baby by Carolyn Arnold is the 4th book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series. This is an excellent mystery thriller written so well by Arnold, which covers violent crimes, usually serial killers. I thought Blue Baby was the best book in this series.

Though Brandon Fisher is the series name, and he is more or less the narrator of this series, to me this is an ensemble storyline.   Jack is the leader of the investigative team that handles these violent crimes. Paige and Zach are part of the team, and we get to spend time with all of them.

This was an exciting story about a serial killer who leaves his female victims in a wedding dress, with full makeup and in the tub. We learn early on that the murderer envisions himself to be an angel who gives unhappy woman what they want…happiness in a better world.

The time frame between the two murders that were similar was a year apart, but when another murder happens quickly, the team must race against time before the murderer decides to act again. Jack, Brandon and the rest of the team split themselves to check with each victim to find any clues, and just when they think they are on the right track, they become stymied again.

To say too much more would be spoilers, but this was a tense, exciting adventure from start to finish, with a few twists along the way. I am not sure why, but frankly I am not a big fan of Brandon, though I do like the overall team. I actually like Paige better then Brandon. With that being said, this to me reads as an ensemble group of characters that work together to solve these difficult cases. If you like murder mysteries, serial killers, and a team that finds each of them with their own issues; then you will enjoy this series. Again, I must praise Carolyn Arnold for her knowledge of police procedures and her flawless writing.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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