Tag Archives: Police Procedural

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
The girl’s lifeless body lies next to a scattered bouquet of crimson roses, the petals around her head like tiny pools of blood. Gripped in her hand is the note that came with the flowers, sent by someone who wanted her dead.

When champion figure skater Michaela Glover returns to her hometown of Woodbridge for a special performance, Detective Amanda Steele is part of the cheering crowds. But when Michaela is discovered dead in her dressing room after the show, Amanda is the first to investigate the shocking scene.

There is no sign of foul play, and the room is overflowing with flowers from Michaela’s adoring fans. But Amanda’s heart stops at the sight of a few roses tied with black ribbon and a note that reads “You’ll be sorry”. And when forensic tests reveal the ribbon was laced in something Michaela was deathly allergic to, Amanda is certain this is cold-blooded murder.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda dives into Michaela’s life to find out who could possibly want this sweet girl dead. She soon discovers that despite having a glittering future ahead of her, Michaela had a troubled past, and was surrounded by people jealous of her success.

When someone close to Michaela is discovered brutally murdered, Amanda is terrified there could be yet more innocent victims to follow. Can she uncover the twisted killer’s identity before they strike again?

 

 

Review:

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold is the 12th book in her Detective Amanda Steele series. As I have noted previously, I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Prince William County, Virginia. Amanda is enjoying an ice-skating show with her daughter, Zoey, and her friend Patty; who is the aunt of local ice-skating celebrity Michaela Glover. After the show, they head to visit Michaela, and when no on opens the door, Amanda steps in to discover that she has been murdered.

There is no sign of foul play, but Amanda notices a bunch of roses, tied with a black ribbon and a note saying “You’ll Be Sorry”. Amanda calls her partner, Trent to come to the rink, and together they begin to dig into Michaela’s life, and who would murder her. Forensics discovers that Michaela was allergic to peanuts, which caused her death; someone added the nuts into her drink, and watched her die.

Amanda and Trent become buried in a complicated case with multiple suspects; as they learn more about Michaela’s trouble past. The further they investigate, there are themes of jealousy, manipulations, anger, grief, money and death. A short time after, Michaela’s agent was also found murdered.  Amanda and Trent find information on the agent’s phone about being blackmailed. The deeper they follow the suspects and clues; it becomes apparent that Michaela was not close to her family, other than her aunt Patty.  Amanda begins to put pressure on members of Michaela’s family to find the truths.

Amanda and Trent are a great team, and I like them together. Amanda is a great detective, very strong, independent, and always able to solve any case. Amanda worries about her daughter, Zoey, because she always busy on a case.  Her relationship with Logan, begins to cause problems, especially with her always busy solving crimes.  I also enjoy the various police team that we get to see in coming up with important clues.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. To say too much more would be spoilers.  Her Deadly Rose was a fantastic crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was a compelling, engrossing, intricate suspenseful plot. Another wonderful police procedural, with great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with some twists and surprises at the end.  Her Deadly Rose was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed  by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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

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

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Description:
On a hot August night, Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, speed through the streets of Manhattan to the Down and Dirty club, where a joyful, boisterous pre-wedding girls’ night out has turned into a murder scene. One of the brides lies in a pool of blood, garroted in a private room where she was preparing a surprise for her fiancée—two scrimped and saved-for tickets to Hawaii.

Despite the dozens of people present, useful witnesses are hard to come by. It all brings back some bad memories for Eve. In her uniform days, she’d suffered an assault in the very same room—but she’d been able to fight back and survive. She’d gotten justice. And now she needs to provide some for poor young Erin.

Eve knows that the level of violence and the apparent premeditation involved suggest a volatile mix of hidden, heated passion and ice-cold calculation. This is a crime that can be countered only by hard detective work and relentless dedication—and Eve will not stop until she finds the killer who destroyed this couple’s dreams before the honeymoon even began…

 

 

Review:

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb is the 59th book in her fantastic Eve Dallas series.  I have noted previously that I am a huge fan of this wonderful series, having read every book and novellas. I also love Eve and Roarke, who I still consider the best literary couple. Passions in Death was another fantastic addition to this series.  I will never have enough of this series, and marvel how Robb continues to give us fascinating stories at 59 books later.

The story begins at the Down & Dirty Club, where a pre-wedding bachelorette party are dancing and drinking the night away, celebrating two women’s upcoming nuptials. Shauna Hunnicut and Erin Albright are getting married in a few days. Erin slips away to a private room to fix up a special surprise for their honeymoon; where she ended up being murdered, lying in a pool of blood, having been garroted.

Eve is called, with Roarke accompanying her to the Down and Dirty club, as someone has been murdered.  This was also a memory from Eve’s past, as it was the same room when she was attacked the night before her wedding to Roarke. With Eve and Peabody on the case, the evidence looks like a premediated murder from someone possibly close to Erin and Shauna. Eve begins to investigate all of their close circle of friends. Who within the group is the killer?  In a short time, Eve will lean toward two suspects who are clear suspects, with both having unhappy and angry pasts.

It was great to see many of the wonderful secondary characters, besides Roarke; Peabody, McNabb, Mavis, Bella, Summerset, Feeney, and of course Galahad. As always, I love Roarke, as he was many times with Dallas during interviews.  They are an amazing couple.

What follows is an intense, exciting, non-stop action filled race to find out who the real killer was; with edge of your seat suspense. To say too much more would be spoilers, and this is too great of a story to ruin it for you. 

Passions in Death was a compelling, captivating, horrifying thriller from start to finish. J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come. Passions in Death is another masterpiece to this amazing series, which is always so very well written by J.D. Robb.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose – Review & Giveaway

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Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Employed as the nighttime security guard of Broussard Private Investigations, Phineas Bishop has been working through overwhelming PTSD episodes from his Army service while still utilizing his military skills. But when a violent break-in occurs at the office, the accusatory eyes of the NOPD glance to Phin, and he resolves to track down the intruder and clear his name.

Phin’s only lead and witness is Cora Winslow, a spirited librarian who also needs answers. Her father’s body has been discovered under a recently demolished building, murdered twenty-three years ago. So, who has been sending her the handwritten letters—written and signed by him—every year since she was five? Someone wants to keep Cora in the dark. And now, they’re coming for her.

As Cora’s bodyguard, Phin is surprised by his fondness for the woman’s fierce determination and research prowess. But New Orleans’s Garden District holds secrets as old as the streets themselves. With help from the entire Broussard P.I. team, Phin and Cora enter a labyrinth of fraud and homicide that threatens to bury them all.

 

 

Review:

Buried too Deep by Karen Rose is the 3rd book in her New Orleans series. As I have mentioned previously, I am a big fan of Karen Rose, as her suspense thrillers are amazing, and unputdownable.  Buried Too Deep is another fabulous book, as Rose always creates fantastic heroes and wonderful secondary characters, as well as evil villains. Buried Too Deep is a tense, violent, exciting, non-stop action filled story that kept me on the edge of to my seat from start to finish.

Broussard Private Investigations is an elite security firm, in New Orleans. Phin Bishop, suffers from PTSD, and the team always looks out for him.  Phin, now has a service dog, SodaPop, who follows him, and helps to make sure Phin is calm. Phin arrives at the office, only to discover their receptionist, Joy has been shot, and though the police suspect him, they realize that he was innocent, only arriving at the office after Joy was hurt.  Phin also saw a woman run out of the office, when he arrived, with someone chasing her.

Cora Winslow had contacted Broussard Agency to help to discover who was sending letters to her over the years, as her father had been missing for twenty-three years.  Cora is a librarian in the Garden District, and was talking to Joy, when she ran after someone shot Joy; she suspected that she may have been the target at the office.  She does go to the police to give further information about the shooting, which cleared her name, especially since a body was discovered buried under some foundations and it turned out to be her missing father. Cora also is determined to find out who has sent letters pretending to be her father.  The entire Broussard PI team will work together, which includes Burke, Molly, Val, Antoine and Phin to find the clues as to who is behind the attacks, as well as someone breaking into her home.  Molly and Val take turns protecting Cora, with Phin also fixing up things in her home. 

Phin will watch Cora, and soon the attraction between them escalates.  Cora has a lot of empathy and compassion, as she always is able to calm Phin, as well as SodaPop.  I really liked how both of them slowly found each other. Phin and Cora were great characters, but the entire Broussard team was equally fantastic.

We have another POV centered on the killer, as well as his grandson; with the grandson determined to discover the secrets of this grandfather.  The grandson, discovers many things about terrible things his grandfather has done, and ultimately must decide who to trust.

What follows is an intriguing, tense, exciting, and edge of your seat suspense story line that had me unable to put the book down; also, with plenty of twists and turns.  This was very tense from all the way through, especially with the evil villains constantly killing off many innocent people.  I do not want to give spoilers, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.

Buried too Deep is an intense thriller, with non- stop action all the way.  As I have said before, Karen Rose never fails to give a fantastic well written thriller that is intense, always on the edge, with fantastic characters, evil villains and a wonderful couple you care for. If you love suspense, with a touch of romance and a thriller all the way, then look no further then Karen Rose.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

                           Berkley Hardcover
                                  Excerpt

Phin Bishop stumbled to a stop, staring up at the building that was as close to a home as he’d known in a long time. It wasn’t the building itself, of course, although it was beautiful with its cast iron balconies and its shutters thrown wide in welcome.

Even to me. He hoped.

Because the magic of the building wasn’t in its bricks or balconies. It was in the people who worked within its walls. Burke Broussard and his people had become Phin’s family.

But I deserted them. I ran.

No. He could hear the voice of his therapist in his mind. You didn’t “run.” You have PTSD. You left to get better.

But was he better?

Am I ready to be back?

A hand closed over his shoulder, warm and reassuring. “Phin?” Stone O’Bannion murmured. “We can come back tomorrow. Or we can get SodaPop. This is exactly what she’s trained for. Helping you through situations just like this.”

Swallowing hard, Phin turned to meet his best friend’s eyes and saw understanding and compassion that Phin didn’t think he deserved. Stone was right. Phin should have brought his new service dog. But he hadn’t, wanting to stand on his own two feet.

Which had been wrong thinking. He knew that. Knew that there was no shame in needing a service dog. No shame in having PTSD. He’d accepted that. Accepted that he’d have episodes. That he’d sometimes relapse.

SodaPop made it easier to stave off his episodes. Helped him recover faster when he did relapse.

And you deserve that help. Those words were again in his therapist’s voice. Phin could accept that there was no shame in needing his dog. But he hadn’t been able to accept that he deserved the assistance. And that was the real reason he’d left SodaPop behind this morning.

“That we could come back tomorrow is what you said yesterday,” Phin said. And yesterday, he’d jumped at the chance to turn tail and run.

He’d been running most of his life.

“And I’ll say it tomorrow and the next day.” Stone gave his shoulder a squeeze. Anchoring him. “What are you afraid of? Be honest with me.”

Phin forced the words out. “That they won’t want me back.”

“If they don’t, it’ll hurt,” Stone acknowledged, and Phin was grateful that Stone hadn’t brushed his concerns away. “But I read their texts.” Phin had given Stone permission to read all the communication from his New Orleans friends. “These people care about you. They will want you back.”

“What if I flake again?” He hated losing control of his own mind, hated the spiral that tugged him under.

Stone shrugged. “Then you leave, you heal, and you try again.”

Phin’s chest hurt. “I’m so tired of leaving.”

“Then stay. Take a step. Right now. There you go. Now another. That’s the way.”

Phin forced his feet to move closer to the building that housed Broussard Investigations. “I should have stopped for beignets.”

Stone chuckled, clearly not fooled by the lame procrastination attempt. “I’ll get some for you. Once you’re inside and talking to your friends.”

The building grew closer and Phin’s chest grew tighter. “Why are you still here? Babysitting me?” He was grateful. He was. But he didn’t entirely understand why Stone put up with him. “You have better things to do.”

“No, I don’t. Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be, doing what I need to do. Because you need me. And because I’ve been where you are. Someone stuck by my side until I could walk alone.” Phin knew Stone’s story. His friend had been an addict, sober for years now. “So I’m paying it forward, doing it for you. Keep walking, Phin.”

They were nearly at the front door. Just another fifteen feet.

Then the door burst open, banging into the wall behind it. Startled at the sound, Phin lurched back, once again grateful for Stone’s steadying hand. When he’d righted himself, he got a glimpse of the woman who’d thrown the door open. She wore a gray hooded cloak that hid her face, but a wisp of black hair escaped the hood to whip in the wind. For a moment, Phin stood stock-still, staring as she rushed away, heading toward the center of the Quarter.

The only part of her body that was visible was her legs.

They were very nice legs. Her calves were perfectly defined, thanks to the three-inch heels she wore. How she was able to walk in heels that high-much less run-was a mystery.

She took an abrupt left at the next intersection and disappeared from view.

“Who was that?” Stone asked.

“I don’t know.” He’d never seen her before. He’d remember legs like that.

Importantly, her appearance had stopped the mental spiral of his anxiety. Sometimes a distraction was exactly what he needed to get his head on straight.

That’s what SodaPop’s supposed to do, you idiot.

Fine. Next time he’d bring her along.

“Did she come from your office?” Stone pressed. “From Broussard Investigations?”

Phin stilled. She hadn’t been a woman with nice legs. She’d been a fleeing woman with nice legs. “Shit.”

The sound of two gunshots, one right after the other, shoved his body into motion, and he started to run.

“Joy.” She’ll be alone. Because she was always the first in the office.

“Joy’s the office manager?” Stone asked, running beside him. “The lady who uses a wheelchair?”

“Yes.” Phin bypassed the ancient elevator and took the stairs. He’d told Stone about everyone in Burke’s office. He cared about them all, but Joy was special. She’d accepted him from the beginning. Taken him under her wing. Mothered him. Trusted him. “Ex-cop. Got shot on the job. Paralyzed from the waist down. Tougher than she looks.”

She’d be okay. Joy could take care of herself, he told himself, propelling himself up the last few stairs in a single leap.

They rushed from the stairwell into Burke’s lobby. It was an open space with large windows along one wall that faced the street below. Joy’s desk would be in the dead center of the room and she’d be sitting behind her computer, doing whatever it was she did every morning. She’d give him a look that was both chiding and welcoming.

Just like all the other times he’d returned from having run.

Except . . . she wasn’t behind her desk.

“Oh no.” Phin’s heart went from a gallop to a dead stop.

Because Joy lay on the floor next to her desk, her wheelchair on its side. Her white blouse was rapidly becoming red with blood and she wasn’t moving.

Excerpted from Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose Copyright © 2024 by Karen Rose. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

 


 

 

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The WildFire Girl by Carolyn Arnold – Review

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The Wildfire Girl by Carolyn Arnold – Review

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Description:
The woman panics as the thick smoke starts to curl under the locked door. She can’t breathe and desperately tries to open the window, but it’s been sealed shut. Falling to the floor, she finally accepts there’s no way out of this room alive. And as her vision starts to fade, she prays she dies before the flames find her.

When human remains are discovered behind a dumpster in Woodbridge, Virginia, Detective Amanda Steele rushes to the scene. Her heart drops when she arrives and is hit by the unmistakable stench of gasoline. Soon, her worst fear is the victim was burned alive.

With only an engraved gold wedding band surviving the blaze, Amanda knows it could be days before they have a confirmed ID. But when her partner Detective Trent Stenson arrives, he pales at the sight of the ring, recognizing it as belonging to his Aunt Gertrude’s husband, Don.

Trent is convinced his aunt isn’t involved, but as more is unearthed about her troubled relationship with her husband, and she fails to provide an alibi, Amanda isn’t so sure. Desperate to prove his aunt’s innocence, Trent soon discovers someone from Don’s past is back in Woodbridge—someone who wants revenge. But Amanda and Trent are shaken to their core when that person is discovered brutally murdered.

Convinced the cases are linked, Amanda knows she has to find the cold-blooded killer before they strike again. And as Trent becomes even more emotionally entangled in the case, she’s terrified he could become the next victim…

 

 

Review:

The Wildfire Girl by Carolyn Arnold is the 11th book in her wonderful Detective Amanda Steele series. I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. Amanda and her partner, Trent are called to the scene of a violet murder, as a man was burned to his death. Upon arrival, Amanda is hit with a terrible stench of gasoline, with the knowledge that the victim was burned alive.  Trent reveals to Amanda that he recognizes the victim’s wedding ring, which belongs to his Aunt Gertrudes abusive husband, Don.

Despite his believe that his aunt isn’t involved, more clues do point at the aunt being the possible perpetrator, especially with her not revealing a few lies, such as being in the vicinity at the time of her husband’s death. Amanda worries that Trent isn’t being objective.  Another woman is found murdered, and Amanda and Trent learn that the woman who was stabbed is someone from the husband’s past, whom he brutally abused, causing severe burns on the woman’s face years ago. Was this woman out for revenge, and did Don kill her before he was killed?

Amanda and Trent are a great team, and I like them together. Amanda is a great detective, very strong, independent, and always able to solve any case. Amanda has an adoptive daughter, who she worries about a lot, because of her always busy on a case.  She seems happy with Logan, who always watches over Zoe.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story, as Trent was determined to prove his aunt’s innocence, and Amanda doing her best to protect him from being too involved. The storyline was very interesting, especially the abuse by the victim against his wife, and former woman of the past. To say too much more would be spoilers.

The Wildfire Girl was a fantastic crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was a compelling intricate suspenseful plot, excellent police procedural, great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with some surprises at the end.  The Wildfire Girl was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

 

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Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Two homicide detectives must separate the puzzling truth from a growing web of lies while investigating a murder victim’s friends and lovers in Lost Beach, Texas.

Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and nonexistent love life. Her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and the medical examiner finds an array of strange clues. When the death is ruled a homicide, the news quickly reverberates through Nicole’s beachside hometown.

The Lost Beach police department swings into high gear. Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective who is Nicole’s fiercest rival at work and also the man she has secretly harbored feelings toward for years. With Emmet calling the shots, Nicole sets out to search for leads, starting with the enigmatic yoga instructor who first discovered the body. Nicole is certain the witness knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case.

When another person turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Nicole sees a bizarre pattern, but no one believes her theory. Under the gun to solve the case, Nicole must put aside her tumultuous feelings and work closely with Emmet to figure out who is targeting her beloved hometown . . . before she becomes a target herself.

 

 

Review:

Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin is the 5th book in her fantastic Texas Murder Files series; which was another exciting mystery thriller in this series. I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder, mystery, thrillers, and romance suspense. Detective Nicole Lawson, our heroine, is not too happy these days, as her boyfriend, a medical examiner, is always on the job; and she is always second fiddle to Emmett Davis, her rival on cases.  Her chief sends her to Lighthouse Point, where a body was discovered in a car, in their town of Lost Beach, Texas.  Nicole interviews the woman who discovered the car, who also knows who the victim is. Emmett is given the lead on this case, with Nicole working with him.

At first, they suspect it is suicide, but the medical examiner finds a few clues, and the case is changed to homicide. Nicole is very smart, independent and has no problem speaking her thoughts. She respects Emmet, and he also respects her, but there is a layer of tension between them, as Nicole feels because she is a woman, she is never the lead.  Both Nicole and Emmett know that they each have feelings for each other, but not really allowed on the force; though as the case escalates, Emmett is determined to protect Nicole from possible danger. 

The plot changes when another yoga instructor is found dead. Nicole is convinced that the instructor who found the body is a harboring secret, with a different pattern that the police team doesn’t think anything into her theory. When Nicole is hit by a car, that seemed to be aiming at her, Emmett decides to watch over her, as well as help solve the crime together.  In a short time, Nicole and Emmet succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry between them.   I also loved Nicole, who was doing an excellent job of getting clues, as she learns more during her investigations. I also loved Emmett, who knew he was falling hard for Nicole, and was determined to protect her.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down. 

Liar’s Point was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. The last half of the book was very exciting, as Nicole while unable to move around, discovers clues that will lead to the truths revealed by the yoga instructor, and the real murderer.

Laura Griffin once again, gives us a fantastic exciting suspenseful mystery, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                 LIAR’S POINT by Laura Griffin
            Berkley Paperback | On sale May 21, 2024
                                      Excerpt

Nicole Lawson felt naked.

It wasn’t the minidress or the strappy sandals. It wasn’t even the weird slit that left the entire side of her thigh on display.

It was the Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol-or absence of it-that was making her feel exposed. She was so accustomed to those twenty-nine ounces riding on her hip, and the lack of weight was making her antsy as hell.

She checked her phone, then flipped it over.

Nicole glanced around the restaurant, which was wall-to-wall couples, of course. She’d never been in here before, and the decorations grated on her nerves. They were going for elegant, she knew-this was the Nautilus, after all-and it wasn’t like the place was covered in pink balloons. The bloodred rosebuds on every table looked nice, actually. Ditto for the votive candles that emitted a soft glow. Really, it was the glitter that was giving her hives, all those tiny gold hearts sprinkled across her table like pixie dust. Just the sight was making her feel even stupider than she already did in this ridiculous dress.

She checked her phone again.

For the first time ever she had a date on Valentine’s, and not just any date. Tonight was the date. She and David had gone out three times already. The last time had ended with intense kissing in his car, which definitely would have continued if he hadn’t been called into work. Nothing like being summoned to an autopsy to kill the mood.

He wanted to make it up to her, though. Those were his exact words when he’d invited her to this expensive restaurant. And so Nicole had squeezed herself into a low-cut black dress that gave her the illusion of boobs, borrowed her sister’s stilettos, and come here to meet him for dinner.

“Are we still waiting?”

Her server was back again with that pitying look that was almost as annoying as the glitter.

She smiled up at him. “We are.”

“And would you like some wine, perhaps? Maybe a cocktail?”

“I’m good.” She nodded at her half-finished water. “Thanks.”

He walked off, leaving her to her silent phone. No text, no voice message. She’d even checked her email, but zip.

Nicole looked around, sure people were staring at her. God, the white-haired couple behind her was already paying their bill.

Her phone vibrated on the table, and she snatched it up.

“Hello?”

“Where the hell are you?”

Not David. She closed her eyes.

“I’m out. Why?”

“Didn’t you get the call?” Emmet asked her, and she pictured him at the police station surrounded by the typical Saturday-night chaos.

“I’m off tonight.”

“Not anymore.”

Her phone beeped with an incoming call, and she checked the screen.

“Listen, that’s Denise. I have to go.” Nicole got off with Emmet and took the call.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“The chief asked me to reach you. He needs you at a scene.”

Damn it.

Nicole pushed her chair back and grabbed her purse. “Does he know I’m off tonight?”

“Yep.”

She unzipped her little black clutch and left a ten on the table. They were going to have to bus it, even though she hadn’t ordered anything.

“Well, what’s going on?”

“One sec,” Denise said, and cut over to another call. When things were busy, the Lost Beach PD receptionist doubled as a dispatcher. She was also the chief’s right hand, doing everything from managing his calendar to deflecting reporters who called in from time to time.

The front of the restaurant was packed with waiting couples. Nicole scanned the bar and the area around the hostess stand but didn’t see any tall, handsome doctors looking around for their date. It was 7:32. She’d officially been stood up.

“Nicole?”

“I’m here.” She squeezed past the people and pushed open the door. A cold gust hit her, and she stepped back.

“He needs you at Lighthouse Point right away. And keep it off the radio.”

“What’s going on?” she asked again.

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, what did he say?”

“He said, ‘I need Lawson at Lighthouse Point ASAP. Keep it off the radio.’ That’s all I have.”

Nicole hunched her head down, wishing for her leather jacket as she strode across the parking lot. It had filled in since she’d arrived.

“What’s your ETA?” Denise asked.

“I’ll be there in five.”

“Roger that.”

Excerpted from Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2024 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.


 

 

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Murder at the Lake by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Murder at the Lake by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
The moonlight dances across her bare skin, and a shooting star flies across the sky. And while the young woman’s eyes are open and facing upward, they no longer see anything…

The beach party was to mark the end of high school and to celebrate going to college in the fall. But that summer, four young friends were torn apart when the body of Emily Kane was discovered—raped and strangled —and one of their own was sent to prison for twenty-four years.

He just got out yesterday.

Today, one of those friends, Troy Matthews, plans to marry Detective Madison Knight. As they are about to exchange vows, detectives from a neighboring city arrest Troy for murder.

Dylan Graham, one of Troy’s friends from that fateful night, was shot dead in his home, and the police believe Troy pulled the trigger. They claim to have proof that Dylan was about to expose Troy for keeping a dark secret all these years that, if revealed, could jeopardize his life and his freedom. Troy isn’t saying much about the accusations but does insist on his innocence.

Madison secures his bail, but while Troy is out, another of his childhood friends turns up murdered in a motel room. With the evidence mounting against Troy, he is arrested again, and Madison fears for their future. Though what scares her more is that all the friends from that night are being picked off one by one . And if Troy isn’t behind the string of murders, he might be the killer’s next target. She’s not fooled into thinking that just because he’s behind bars, he’s safe and untouchable either. If she’s to save the man she loves, she’ll need to find the real killer before it’s too late.

 

 

Review:

Murder at the Lake by Carolyn Arnold is the 13th book in her Detective Madison Knight Mystery series. As noted, Carolyn Arnold always gives us exciting suspenseful murder mysteries, led by Detective Madison Knight; and Arnold’s knowledge of police procedurals makes these investigations greaet. This story is a bit different, as Madison and her fiancée, Troy Matthews are in the middle of their wedding ceremony; only to have detectives crash the wedding, and arrest Troy for murder.

Prior to the crashing of the wedding, the story actually opens with a prologue that happened 24 years ago.  There was a party on the beach, where a high school senior, Emily Kane was raped and murdered. One of the male friends was arrested, and found guilty and sent to prison. Though the other 3 friends testified that they felt their friend was innocent, but he spent 24 years, and in present time he was just released.  Dylan Graham, one of those friends, was found dead in his home, with some evidence (journal entry, and gun) pointing to Troy to be the killer.

While out on bail, and second murder happens, with more evidence pointing again at Troy.  When Troy visited the ex-prisoner prior to his death, he actually admits telling Troy that he did kill the girl 24 years ago. Now with this new death, Troy has no idea who is framing him.

Madison is loyal and believes in Troy’s innocence, and races to clear his name, going against the orders of her superiors not to investigate the case. Excluded from the official investigation, Madison has to walk a fine line, interviewing the female friends from all those years ago, to try to unravel who could be the real killer. Who is someone in the past that is framing and targeting Troy?

What follows is an exciting, tense, riveting police procedural action filled thriller, as well as surprising developments. I am not a big fan of Madison Knight, but in this book, she was very good, especially determined to find a way to free Troy. Murder at the Lake was a constant guessing game, as there were a number of twists throughout, with lots of suspense and intrigue.  Murder on the Lake was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold.   If you enjoy mysteries, police procedurals, a tough as nails cop, then you need to be reading this series, as Carolyn Arnold is one of the best in police procedure stories.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Cheater by Karen Rose – Review and Excerpt

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Cheater by Karen Rose – Review and Excerpt

 

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Description:
Death is not an unfamiliar visitor to Shady Oaks Retirement Village, which provides San Diego with premier elderly support from independent retiree housing to full-time hospice care. But when a resident’s body is found brutally stabbed and his apartment ransacked, it’s clear there’s someone deadly in their community. Detective Katherine “Kit” McKittrick quickly discovers that Shady Oaks is full of skeleton-riddled closets, and most tenants prefer to keep their doors firmly closed to the SDPD.

A longtime volunteer at the retirement facility, Dr. Sam Reeves honors his late grandfather’s memory by playing the piano for the residents regularly. So it shouldn’t be such a surprise when Kit crosses paths with him during her investigation, after she’d avoided the criminal psychologist—and the emotions he evokes—for the last six months.

Sam’s rapport within the retirement village proves vital to the case, and the pair find themselves working together once again—much to Kit’s dismay. But she is determined to apprehend the shadow of death lurking around Shady Oaks…and equally determined to ignore the feelings she’s developing for a certain psychologist.

 

 

Review:

Cheater by Karen Rose is the 2nd book in her The San Diego Case Files series. The story takes place at Shady Oaks Retirement Village, which provides elderly support from independent housing to hospice care.  When a resident’s body is found stabbed to death, Detective Kit McKittrick is on the scene, with her partner, Connor; as they are both homicide detectives. In a short time, there are another two deaths, with three bodies all connected to the retirement home.  It is clear someone deadly is in the home.

Kit is surprised to see Dr. Sam Reeves at Shady Oaks (last book Kit walked away from a relationship with Sam).  Sam volunteers at the retirement home playing the piano, as well as offer help to the elderly.  Sam is a psychologist, knowing a lot about Shady Oaks, and will play a big part of the investigation, helping the SDPD.  Sam was close to some of the residents, especially Frankie (who was killed), a former cop; to his shock, Frankie’s best friend, Benny died the following day. 

Kit and Connor begin their interviews with staff and some residents, and when the Shady Oaks security officer is missing, they learn he too was murdered; as well as discovering that Benny did not die a normal death.  Shady Oaks is an expensive place to reside, and with a number of residents being wealthy.  Kit begins to suspect that some of the staff is stealing from residents; with Connor, her colleagues at SDPD, they will need unravel the case, which includes wealthy items stolen.  Besides the three deaths, other staff are part of the thefts; however, they need to discover who is behind the actual murders. 

I really liked Kit and Connor together as partners, as they made a great team.  Some of the residents were terrific, such as Georgia and Eloise, who were very close to Frank and Benny.  I also enjoyed Kit’s family, and how they opened their arms to help young teenagers who need to have homes.  Of course, I liked Sam, who was a great guy. He strongly cared about Kit, but he knew she needed to open her heart.

Cheater was an exciting, intense and fantastic thriller; with Kit being a fabulous detective. As we reached the last quarter of the book, there were a number twists and turns, with the murderer willing to kill anyone trying to stop them.  Cheater was so very well written by Karen Rose, who always writes fantastic mystery thrillers.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 


                CHEATER by Karen Rose
           Berkley Hardcover | On sale March 26, 2024
                                  Excerpt

                                 Chapter One

Shady Oaks Retirement Village
Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California
Monday, November 7, 11:20 a.m.

Kit McKittrick allowed herself a moment to feel pity as she stood over the body of the elderly man lying dead on his apartment floor in the Shady Oaks Retirement Village. Then she squared her shoulders and proceeded to do her job.

The mood in the dead man’s living room was subdued. The ME was examining the body while CSU took photos and Latent dusted for prints, but there was little of the normal scene-of-the-crime chatter to which Kit had become accustomed in the four and a half years she’d been in Homicide.

Everyone spoke in hushed whispers, like they were in church. Because it kind of felt like they were. Haunting melancholy music from a single piano was coming from the speaker mounted on the victim’s living room wall. The music wasn’t loud, but it was overwhelming nonetheless. Kit wanted to turn it off, because the music was so sad that it made her chest hurt and her eyes burn.

But neither the speaker nor its volume controls had been dusted for prints, so she couldn’t touch it yet. Until then, she could only square her shoulders, ignore the music, and focus on getting justice for Mr. Franklin Delano Flynn.

The cause of death of the eighty-five-year-old white male was most likely the butcher knife still embedded in his chest. But she’d learned long ago not to assume. Still, a butcher knife to the chest was never good. It was a long wound, the gash in the man’s white button-up shirt extending from his sternum to his navel. Whoever had killed him had to have had a lot of strength to create such a wound.

The victim had been dead long enough for his blood to dry, both the blood that had soaked the front of his shirt and the blood that had pooled on the floor around his torso.

His eyes, filmy in death, stared sightlessly up at the ceiling. His arms lay at his sides, his hands slightly curved. Not quite flat, but not quite fists, either. It wasn’t a natural pose for the victim of a homicide who’d fallen after being stabbed. She wondered if his killer had repositioned his arms.

Mr. Flynn had been a hardy man, broad-shouldered, tall, and still muscular. Not in bad shape for eighty-five, she thought. He wore dark trousers, the pockets turned out, as if he’d been searched.

His shoes were black oxfords, buffed to such a shine that she could nearly see her own reflection. She wondered if he’d come home, surprising his attacker, or if he’d welcomed his killer into his home.

His living room had been ransacked, books knocked off shelves, knickknacks strewn on the floor. The sofa cushions had been slashed open, foam stuffing on the floor as well. The man’s bedroom was in a similar state. The drawers in the kitchen had been opened and emptied, their contents dumped on the counters. Flour and sugar containers had been dumped on the kitchen’s tiled floor. Someone had been looking for something and had left a terrible mess.

Kit wondered if they’d found what they’d been looking for. She wondered if Mr. Flynn had fought back.

Kit crouched on the victim’s right side, leaning in so that she could better examine his hands. The knuckles of his right hand were scraped and bruised, but his fingernails were what caught her attention. They were mostly gone, clipped way past the quick, down into the nail bed.

That he’d fought back was a decent assumption, then. His killer hadn’t wanted any evidence to be found under the man’s nails.

Excerpted from Cheater by Karen Rose Copyright © 2024 by Karen Rose. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.


 

 

 

 

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Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

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Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

 

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Description:
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.

She has called herself “death,” but people called her the devil.

The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats. Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:

When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?

Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…

 

 

Review:

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner is the 3rd book in her Frankie Elkin series. I have read a number of books by Gardner, and I think she is one of the best authors who write suspense thrillers, as I have loved all her books. Frankie Elkin, our heroine, is the star of this series; she is a recovering alcoholic, who is an expert in find missing people that are cold cases. Over the years she has found 15 people, with the majority not found alive.

The prologue has Frankie visiting a prison, where a serial killer (The Beautiful Butcher) is on death row, having viciously killed eighteen men; with her execution scheduled in three weeks. Kaylee receives a letter from her long-lost sister, who disappeared many years ago.  She believes her sister (Lea) was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, and she wants Frankie to find her and help her escape.  She convinces Frankie to take the job, which is in a remote lodge on a Hawaiian Island owned by the ex-boyfriend. 

Frankie flies to the private island, and poses as a staff member, helping with cooking and cleaning rooms; she gets to know many of the staff, as she learns more about MacManus and his protégé, Lea. I really liked many of the staff members, especially the cooks Ann and Trudy; and slowly becomes closer to all of them (Vaughn, Ronin, Charlie, etc.). Frankie needs to know who she can trust, especially with MacManus arriving with his security team, and Lea.  She begins to suspect there is someone who is possibly sabotaging the resort.  

When Frankie meets Lea, she tries to question her, but finds her not fully cooperative, claiming she knows nothing about a letter to her sister, whom she has not seen in 12 years. Frankie then discovers that Kaylee has escaped from death row, which is why MacManus has added extra security.  They all suspect that Kaylee will be coming for them; and Frankie begins to suspect that Lea is also very much involved.

What follows is an amazing, action-packed and exciting thriller, where Frankie finds herself in a number of dangerous situations. The last half of the book was an extremely tense thriller that kept me glued to my kindle.  Especially in the last quarter of the book, with the tension escalating as everyone was fighting for survival. Still See You Everywhere is a gripping fast pace story that is filled with danger, drama, fear, and everyone’s lives on the line. As we get closer to the end, there are a number of surprises and twists.

Once again, Lisa Gardner gives us a fabulous intense exciting story, that was very well written. As noted previously, you can never go wrong reading Lisa Gardner, who always writes fantastic suspense psychological thrillers.  I suggest you read Still See You Everywhere, which was a fantastic story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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