Tag Archives: Thriller

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison – a Review

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Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison – a Review

 

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Description:
Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.

Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver–and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else–something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?

This darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability

 

 

Review:

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison is a standalone novel.  Rory Morris, our heroine, is not happy to return to her hometown, but her twin sister, Scarlett is pregnant and estranged from the baby’s father; and Rory needs to be there for her sister. She has bad memories, and has been distant with her mother, who is out of town.  When meeting friends at the local bar, she leaves early to drive back to the house, only to accidently hit an animal with her car; when she checks to see what she hit, Rory is attacked.

Rory survives, and is treated at the hospital, with scratches (why have her deep bruises disappeared?), not to mention she suddenly has extra strength, craves meat, angry and feels so very different.  After reading up, she begins to realize that she was bitten by a werewolf, and now she is changing into one. Rory tries to learn more about werewolves, and how to lock herself up during a full moon.

While Rory deals with her transformation, she meets an old flame, Ian, who still professes his love for Rory.  Rory must also deal with her mother, whom she resents, since she had a bad childhood experience with a former boyfriend of the mother.  Rory can’t forgive.

Most of the characters were flawed, which included Rory and Scarlett. Rory was a great heroine, doing everything she can to help her sister, and still deal with the change in her life being what she calls “a monster”. Despite that, Rory was cool, charismatic, sassy and quirky; Scarlett was even more unpredictable.  The relationship between Rory and Ian was nice, but what happens when Ian finds out about Rory?

Such Sharp Teeth was a wild ride of a book, that kept me entertained, as well as tense at times. I did like most of the secondary characters. The closer we got to the end, was very exciting, with a satisfying finale.  Such Sharp Teeth was very well written by Rachel Harrison.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

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Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

 

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Description:
Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon.

They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire – it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman–and a killer–of a certain age.

 

 

Review:

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn is a fun, exciting & and entertaining standalone novel.  I have not read Deanna Raybourn for many years, and was so pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Our heroines, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie, have worked for the secret Museum, an elite private network of assassins for 40 years. We get to see them in action during their first assignment (after much training, becoming the first all-female group), and now 40 years later, they have retired, with the company sending them on a bon voyage cruise trip.  The story line is split between two time periods, the present and many of their past escapades.  In the early days of their unique career, they were assigned to kill as many Nazi’s as they can, with after the war and more to the present, their assignments become dangerous murderers, drug dealers, dictators, etc.

The ladies came from different backgrounds, remained friends, though many of their assignments were not together. While enjoying their cruise, they recognize someone who one of them knew from years ago, who worked for the Museum, and they realize that because of their knowledge, they are in danger of being targeted for death. The ladies manage to escape the ship, and begin the process of trying to get more information, as they know they are in a race for their lives.  When an old friend makes an attempt on their life, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie, step up their game to eliminate the leaders who have targeted them.  These ladies were so much fun to watch, as they were not only smart, but tough and amazing.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read and enjoy this book.

Killers of a Certain Age was fast pace, at times tense, entertaining, and a fantastic thriller; and very well written by Deanna Raybourn.  The banter (lots of humor) between the ladies was great, as this was so much fun to watch them, with us praying they will survive.  Great concept that at their age (60’s), that they can still fight and prove that they will not go down quietly.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and bravo to Deanna Raybourn for a wonderful story. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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

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

 

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Description:
New York, 2061: The place called the Pleasure Academy is a living nightmare where abducted girls are trapped, trained for a life of abject service while their souls are slowly but surely destroyed. Dorian, a thirteen-year-old runaway who’d been imprisoned there, might never have made it out if not for her fellow inmate Mina, who’d hatched the escape plan. Mina was the more daring of the two—but they’d been equally desperate.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get away fast enough. Now Dorian is injured, terrified, and wandering the streets of New York, and Mina lies dead near the waterfront while Lt. Eve Dallas looks over the scene.

Mina’s expensive, elegant clothes and beauty products convince Dallas that she was being groomed, literally and figuratively, for sex trafficking—and that whoever is investing in this high-overhead operation expects windfall profits. Her billionaire husband, Roarke, may be able to help, considering his ties to the city’s ultra-rich. But Roarke is also worried about the effect this case is having on Dallas, as it brings a rage to the surface she can barely control. No matter what, she must keep her head clear–because above all, she is desperate for justice and to take down those who prey on and torment the innocent.

 

 

Review:

Desperation In Death by J.D. Robb is the 55th book in her magnificent In Death/Eve Dallas series. I have noted this many times that I love this series, as I have read every single book, as well as all the novellas of this series. I also love Eve and Roarke, who I still consider the best literary couple. Desperation in Death is another very good addition to this series.  I will never have enough of this series, and marvel how Robb continues to give us fascinating stories at 55 books later; though this book is one of the darker books in this series, with lots of twists and turns.

Eve is called to a scene where a dead teenager is found; as she notices the clothes/undergarments on the dead girl, she begins to suspect that the girl was a victim of a sex trafficking organization. Eve and Peabody begin a search of another missing teen, who was injured and ran away; they are determined to find the missing girl, before the villains find her.  As the case continues to get darker, it causes Eve to remember her own past, as she is mentally and emotionally distraught; with Roarke and Peabody trying to keep her calm.  We learn more about the missing girl, Dorian, and her now dead friend, Mina; as they escaped the “Pleasure Academy”, only to have Mina push Dorian to safety, bringing her own death.

It was sad and dark, as we see how the young girls are being kidnapped at a young age, and forcefully trained to be a sex slave. Eve pulls everyone together, including other departments to help find the so-called academy and Dorian.  Roarke, who we know, always helps Eve on her cases, and this is no different; but he is concerned how this case is affecting Eve.

I always love to see all the many recurring characters, such as Peabody, Nadine, McNab, Mira, Mavis, Feeney, Reo, Summerset, Galahad, and Eve’s entire police team. Closer to the end, Dorian will eventually open up to Eve, and help find the villains and the Academy; giving her own justice, as well as all the girls rescued.

What follows is an intense, exciting, non-stop action filled race to find the people running the awful sex trafficking Academy. The story is grim and tragic, with the last third of the book being very tense and exciting, with edge of your seat suspense. 

With 55 books and many novellas, Eve has changed drastically from being alone to having so many friends and teammates she cares about.  J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come. Desperation 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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Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 1-4 by Kate Gable-reviews

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Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 1-4 by Kate Gable-reviews

 

WHAT SHE DID aka LAST BREATH
(Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 1)
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery thriller

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2022

She walks through the strangely familiar house, hardwood floors creaking under her feet. They are in bed: peaceful, except for the pool of blood spreading across the white sheets.

A couple expecting their first child is brutally murdered in their home. The prime suspect? The scorned ex-wife who supposedly has no knowledge of why she’s there or what happened.

When Detective Charlotte Pierce arrives at the scene, it’s up to her to unravel the mystery of newlyweds’ murder. It looks like an open and shut case, but certain things are not adding up.

Despite pressures from her FBI director father, Charlotte came to Mesquite County to escape the burdens of a big city police department. She has been through a lot and a quiet suburban community where nothing really happens is exactly what she is looking for.

Little does she know that this quiet community is filled with secrets of its own, including those within the police department. She could easily go with the flow, but she refuses to ignore even the smallest inconsistencies.

Was it the ex-wife or is the murderer still out there? Can Charlotte get to the truth before he kills again?.

•••••••••

REVIEW: WHAT SHE DID aka LAST BREATH is the first instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult CHARLOTTE FINN PIERCE mystery, suspense, thriller series focusing on Detective Charlotte Pierce.

Told from three first person perspectives (Charlotte, Will, Erin) WHAT SHE DID / LAST BREATH follows in the aftermath of the murder of attorney Derek Bryson and his pregnant wife Susannah. The only suspect is Derek’s ex-wife and former attorney Erin Lowry Bryson, a woman who cannot recall anything in the hours prior to the murders, having been found in the house, covered in blood. As the police struggled to make a case against Derek’s ex-wife, Erin discovers that everything about her own life with Derek has been predicated upon a number of lies, and there is a distinct possibility that she is the pawn in a much bigger game than she could have ever imagined. What ensues is the search for the truth, as Erin begins to interfere in the investigation, and her TSTL (too stupid to live ) actions threaten any possibIlity of a not guilty outcome.

As the story line progresses, we are introduced to Derek’s law partner Christopher Flynn, attorney Sandra Pullman, private investigator Shawn Nieves, Detective Charlotte Pierce and Detective William Torch. The story line focused more so on, and was told mostly from Erin Lowry Bryson’s point of view, and therefore, some of the information and evidence comes from a suspect, and not the police investigation. I think the author should tell more of the story from Charlotte’s point of view, as this is a series focusing, first and foremost, on Detective Charlotte Pierce, and the cases to which she will be assigned. I was a little confused thinking the series was about Erin Lowry.

Kate Gable pulls the reader into a story of suspense and mystery, murder and vengeance, betrayal and discovery. The premise is intriguing; the characters are energetic, real and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

_________

NAMELESS GIRL aka WHEN SHE LEFT
Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 2
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 17, 2022

When a 13-year-old girl vanished, her friends have kept certain details of that night a secret. Even though she was only a teenager, this mistake continues to haunt Detective Charlotte Pierce.

Twenty years later, Charlotte attends her middle school reunion and begins to investigate what happened to her friend that night.

Meanwhile, back home in Mesquite County, CA, another teenager reports her sister missing and comes home to discover that both of her parents have been brutally murdered.

Will Charlotte be able to locate the missing girl and find out who killed her parents and why?

Will Charlotte ever find out that truth about what happened to her friend that night?

••••••••

REVIEW: NAMELESS GIRL aka WHEN SHE LEFT is the second instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE PIERCE LAST BREATH mystery suspense series focusing on Mesquite County Detective Charlotte Pierce.

NOTE: The series name has changed a couple of times; book two NAMELESS GIRL was original titled WHEN SHE LEFT, and continues to be so at several outlets- there may be some confusion for readers

Told from three first person perspectives (Charlotte, Franny, Madison) following several intersecting and separate paths NAMELESS GIRL focuses on the search for a missing nineteen year old young woman. Sixteen year old, Franny Dillard hasn’t seen her nineteen year old sister Madison in close to three weeks, and her parents appear unconcerned about their daughter’s whereabouts. In an effort to locate her sister, Franny speaks to Detective Charlotte Pierce, in the hopes the police will search for the truth but hours later, Franny arrives home to discover her parents have been murdered, and the mystery begins to spiral out of control.

Meanwhile, Charlotte has been invited to her grade eight reunion, a reunion that forces Charlotte and her friends to revisit the past when one of their own vanished without a trace.

Detective Charlotte Pierce and her partner Detective Will Torch had no idea a missing persons case would devolve so quickly but as the detectives begin a search for the truth, not all is well in Mesquite County, California as money laundering, fraud, murder for hire, extortion, arson and the Mob all coalesce into a mystery of who, what and why. As Charlotte and Will commiserate over dinner and drinks, Charlotte will be introduced to former police officer turned firefighter Dylan Ferreira.

NAMELESS GIRL is an intriguing story of suspense and mystery, murder and manipulation, secrets and lies. The premise is engaging, suspenseful and twisted; the characters are animated and passionate. If you are a fan of the author’s Detective Caitlyn Carr series, you will recognize many similarities and themes

Copy supplied for review

_______

LAKE OF LIES
Detectives Charlotte Pierce/ Kaitlyn Carr novella 2.5
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery thriller

FREE Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2022

When a young woman’s lifeless body is found with strangulation marks not far from her tent, Detective Charlotte Pierce heads to the small mountain town of Quail Lake to investigate.

Mesquite County Sheriff’s department is short staffed and the only other person working the case is an inexperienced deputy who has never investigated a murder.

Soon, Charlotte discovers that the twenty-year-old murder victim was living in a camper van with her boyfriend and documenting their life online as van life influencers.

But there’s more to it. Charlotte had actually met the couple while on a hike by a desert waterfall and intervened when their argument got intense.

Now, Charlotte is up against the clock to find the boyfriend, the person she suspects was the last one to see the woman alive.

The investigation leads her from the sleepy town of Quail Lake to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and the streets that she is all too familiar with having worked previously for the LAPD. It also brings her in contact with an old acquaintance, Detective Kaitlyn Carr who helps her with the mystery.

As Charlotte and Kaitlyn start to pieces of the puzzle together, they find out that appearances are deceiving. Quail Lake is a town where secrets don’t want to stay buried and the truth will put both of their lives in danger.

••••••••

REVIEW: LAKE OF LIES by Kate Gable is a cross over novella from the author’s DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE PIERCE and DETECTIVE KAITLYN CARR series.

Told from first person perspective (Charlotte Pierce) with a single chapter by Kaitlyn Carr LAKE OF LIES follows in the wake of a young woman, found dead at her campsite, a young woman whom Detective Charlotte Pierce had witnessed being abused by her boyfriend at another time. Days earlier Charlotte came across a young couple, Madison and Michael, who were filming and blogging their journey across the country when the young man became aggressive and abusive towards Madison. Offering to press charges, Charlotte is surprised when the young woman declines, contiuing on their journey together. Days later, a hiker stumbles across a body, the murder victim is none other than young woman Madison, the woman Charlotte met days before. With the boyfriend as the prime suspect, Charlotte begins an investigation but a staff shortage at the precinct forces Charlotte to call in help from Detective Kaitlyn Carr, who is tasked with interviewing the boyfriend’s parents. Suspecting all was not right with the parents, Kaitlyn quickly becomes suspicious when the young couple’s van is found parked outside, and the parents claim no idea as to the how and why. Brought in for questioning, Michael proclaims his innocence directing the detectives towards someone else. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the fall out when obsession leads to murder, prefaced by love.

LAKE OF LIES bares some but limited resemblance to a recent murder case that gained national attention when another couple filmed their trip across America, a trip that ended in the murder of the young woman. LAKE OF LIES is a novella length, fast paced, quick read that pulls together two tough but experienced Detectives as they search for a killer, to bring justice for a young woman who died long before her time. The premise is intriguing with a couple of twists and turns.

_________

MISSING LIVES aka HOW SHE DISAPPEARED
Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 3
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery thriller

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 26, 2022

When two young boys disappear while riding their bikes, Detective Charlotte Pierce must follow the clues to find their killer before he strikes again.

In the dusty outskirts of Mesquite County, California, two kids go missing, taken from outside their homes. The quiet desert community is devastated and it’s up to Charlotte to find out what happened.

The FBI is called in and a man who stalked and terrorized Charlotte comes back into her life. She kept his secret to protect her career, but is now being forced to work with him to solve the case.

What happens when she confronts him about what he has done? What happens when the killer start searching for another victim?

•••••••••

REVIEW: MISSING LIVES aka HOW SHE DISAPPEARED is the third instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary,adult DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE PIERCE MYSTERY (aka Detective Charlotte Pierce) mystery/suspense series focusing on Mesquite County, California Detective Charlotte Pierce. MISSING LIVES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

NOTE: Once again, the author has changed book titles, and the series name such that the confusion is making it difficult to keep track of the books and series order. MISSING LIVES/ HOW SHE DISAPPEARED is part 3 of the Charlotte Pierce Mystery, yet the author has the same series aka Detective Charlotte Pierce with the first two books (different) titles with the same characters and premise, and that book 3 is a different premise all together. Confused..yep, so am I.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Kelsey) MISSING LIVES follows several paths including the truth behind Charlotte’s missing childhood friend Kelsey, the disappearance and murder of two young boys, Charlotte’s boyfriend’s dangerous and deadly work assignment, and a ghost from the past that refuses to let go.

Detective Charlotte Pierce and her partner Detective Will Torch are assigned to investigate the disappearance of a young boy who would later be found dead. As the duo begin their investigation into the first of three missing boys, Charlotte will be forced to work alongside the man who almost destroyed her life, an FBI Agent who continues to harass our story line heroine. When Charlotte reveals the truth to her partner, about what happened years before, she must consider her options going forward, options that may threaten our heroine’s career.

Meanwhile, Detective Will Torch’s personal and professional life are about to collide; and Charlotte’s boyfriend is injured on the job.

MISSING LIVES is a fast paced, intriguing, suspense filled story of secrets and lies, power and betrayal, family and friendships, obsession and murder. The premise is captivating, dramatic and intense; the characters are charismatic and determined. Detective Kaitlyn Carr from the author’s Kaitlyn Carr series crosses over with a cameo appearance in preparation for an upcoming cross-over novella.

Here’s hoping the series, the books, the stories and the covers eventually merge and release in a non-confusing manner.

Copy supplied for review

____________

GIRL IN THE LAKE
Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery 4
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery thriller

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 6, 2022

Hidden secrets and deadly lies…

Following the incident that nearly killed her boyfriend, Detective Charlotte Pierce needs a weekend away with him in the quaint mountain town of Quail Lake, California.

However, their trip is interrupted when a sixteen-year-old camp counselor goes missing. The girl’s body is later found by the lake shore with strangulation marks around her neck and bruises all over.

The sleepy town of Quail Lake has only one inexperienced deputy on call and Charlotte can’t say no when the sheriff asks her to help with the investigation.

When she begins to speak to the girl’s roommates and crush as well as other camp counselors, Charlotte’s instincts tell her that this wasn’t a drifter who had committed this terrible murder. This was someone who was close to her. But who would want such a nice girl dead?

As Charlotte continues to investigate, she discovers that Camp Quail Lake is full of secrets and lies. Nothing is what it seems and everyone has a reason to keep their stories to themselves.

From the exciting beginning to its various twists and turns, the novel will keep you guessing all the way to the end. Girl in the Lake is a stark reminder that summers don’t last forever, secrets can’t stay buried and but murderers kill for a reason.

••••

REVIEW GIRL IN THE LAKE is the fourth instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE PIERCE MYSTERY THRILLER series focusing on former LAPD Detective Charlotte Pierce. GIRL IN THE LAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as their is an ongoing premise throughout.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise including talk of suicide and self harm, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person (Charlotte) and third person (Sarah) GIRL IN THE LAKE follows Detective Charlotte Pierce as she vacations with her boyfriend in Quail Lake, California. Charlotte’s boyfriend Dylan is recovering from an accident that nearly took his life, and our couple needed to spend some quiet time together in the mountains of Quail Lake but an early morning jog finds Charlotte at the scene where a young woman’s body has been located, a sixteen year old girl counsellor from Camp Quail Lake. Along with an overwhelmed local police officer Deputy Gavin Skeeter, Charlotte gets permission to lead an investigation where they begin to unravel the secrets and lies that lead to the person responsible for killing Sarah Dunn. From jealousy and rivalry of teenaged girls, Charlotte begins to piece together a possible motive for the killing of one of their own.

Meanwhile, Charlotte and Dylan’s relationship struggles with Charlotte’s need to see the investigation through to the end. Charlotte knows their time together is going to suffer but our heroine also knows that she is the only person with the ability to get the job done.

GIRL IN THE LAKE is a story of jealousy, first loves, friendships and heart break. The premise is intriguing and engaging; the characters are numerous, energetic, charismatic and young.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose – Review & Excerpt

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Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
There are good cops. And there are bad cops. The question is…who wins?

After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when her law enforcement agency in North Carolina turned against her, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn’t find justice elsewhere.

Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father’s death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.

Gabe goes to his father’s best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can’t believe she’s being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe’s dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.

 

 

Review:

Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose is the 1st book in her New Orleans series, which is also the 26th book in her Romance Suspense series. I am a big fan of Karen Rose, as her suspense thrillers are amazing, and unputdownable.  In this newest arc, Rose gives us another fabulous book that is once again over 600 pages. Rose always creates fantastic heroes and wonderful secondary characters, as well as evil villains; and this does not change in this book, as she writes another masterpiece. Quarter to Midnight is a tense, exciting, action filled story that kept me on the edge of to my seat from start to finish.

Quarter to Midnight starts with a bang, as a retired detective dies, with his son, Gabe Hebert, our hero, unable to accept that the police said he committed suicide. Gabe suspects some of the police are trying to hide things, and he pushes to have a private autopsy, which confirms his suspicion.  Gabe goes for help to his father’s best friend, Burke Broussard, who is a former cop, now running a private investigation firm.

Burke will assign, Molly Sutton, our heroine, to work with Gabe, which at first doesn’t sit well with him, since she is a woman.  But he will learn that Molly is a former marine, and is considered the toughest member of his team; and from the start, Gabe learns how smart and savvy Molly is.  In a short time, the sparks will fly between Gabe and Molly, with a slow burn romance.  However, the case is the main focus of this story, as both become involved in a dangerous web of police corruption, evil villains who will stop at nothing to kill and murder. Molly, Gabe, Burke set out to investigate and protect a wonderful group of secondary characters, which was a great addition to the story line.

What follows is an intriguing, tense, exciting, and edge of your seat suspense story line that had me holding my breath so many times.  This was very tense from all the way through, especially with the evil villains constantly killing off many innocent people.  As we raced to the wild climax, I prayed for the for the survival of all the good people, and the demise of the main villain. I do not want to give spoilers, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.

Quarter to Midnight 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

 

 

 

QUARTER TO MIDNIGHT by Karen Rose
Berkley Hardcover | On Sale August 2, 2022

Excerpt

Molly looked up to find her boss standing in his office doorway. Burke Broussard was in his midforties and, other than a few silver hairs at his temples, hadn’t changed a bit since he’d been her CO in the Marines a decade before. “Morning, Burke. I brought you coffee, too.” She held up the cup.

“Thank the good Lord for that,” he said fervently. “I’ve been here since six.”

Molly shuddered in mostly mock horror. “Why?” She’d left rising with the sun behind when she’d finished her final tour with the Marine Corps. Burke, however, had a love-hate relationship with mornings. He said he hated them, but he continued coming in earlier and earlier. The man was a fool.

He was also smart as hell, driven to succeed, compassionate, and generous to a fault. But a morning fool.

“Come into my office,” he said. “I have a new client you should meet.”

Joy’s eyes widened further, and she maneuvered her wheelchair so that she could unabashedly watch Molly walk into Burke’s office.

And Molly immediately understood why.

Sitting in the chair at Burke’s conference table was none other than Gabriel Hebert, Choux chef extraordinaire. He looked tired and tense and very unhappy.

She wondered if he’d been so unhappy the night before. He had looked tired, but not this unhappy. Of course, he might be one of those people who could put on the face they wished the world to see.

“Molly, this is Mr. Hebert. Gabe, this is Miss Sutton. I’m going to assign her to your case.”

Molly’s brows shot up. What?

Gabe’s brows shot up as well, then crunched together in a disgruntled frown. “What? You’re handing me off?” He came to his feet. “What the hell, Burke?”

The two men faced off, and they couldn’t have appeared more physically different. Burke’s skin was olive toned, his deep tan a testament to all the road biking he did in his spare time. Gabe was so lightly tanned that she might still call him pale. And, like a lot of redheads, he had a smattering of freckles across his nose.

She’d always wanted to trace those freckles with her fingertips. She’d wondered where else he had them.

Both men were tall, but Burke’s body was bulky where Gabe’s was lean. Molly loved to watch Gabe move. When he was cooking in his restaurant’s kitchen, it was like watching a choreographed dance.

Only their accents were similar-both speaking with that smooth New Orleans drawl that sounded like hot summer nights with jazz music thick in the air. Except that Gabe’s voice made her shiver, when Burke’s never had.

She probably shouldn’t have shivered at all, considering how angry he seemed, but her body couldn’t help how it reacted. Sue me.

Burke waved at him to be seated. “I’m too close, Gabe. Your father . . . he was important to me, too. He was my partner. I had his back, and he had mine. Whatever else went down when I was on the force, I knew your father would stand by me, and he did. I don’t know that I’d be able to keep an open mind.”

Gabe did not sit down, his frown deepening to something almost dangerous. “Open to what?” he asked, each word dripping with anger and warning.

“The truth,” Burke said simply. “Whatever it might be. Molly’s my right hand. She will not let you down. Now, please, have a seat. If, after you’ve talked with her, you want someone else, we’ll figure it out. Don’t worry. You can depend on her discretion, no matter who you choose to work your case.”

Gabe released a harsh breath. “Okay.” He sat, then shifted his gaze to Molly, who still stood in the doorway, having not moved a muscle. He did a double take. “Do I know . . .” He trailed off. “Right. Last night. Happy birthday, Miss Sutton.”

Burke looked between them, his expression suddenly unhappy. “You two know each other?”

“No,” Gabe said.

“No,” Molly said at the same time. “I’ve been to his restaurant a few times, that’s all. The girls took me there last night for my birthday. I brought you some cake,” she added lamely. “It’s in the fridge in the break room.”

“Thank you, Molly.” Clearly relieved, Burke gestured to one of the empty chairs at the table. “Join us. As I’m sure you’ve figured out, this case requires extreme discretion.”

Molly nodded. “I understand. Mr. Hebert, if you decide I’m not the best fit, there will be no hard feelings. But should you choose to work with me, I’ll do my very best.”

Gabe’s shoulders slumped, his exhaustion clear to see. “I appreciate that.” He swallowed hard. “I need to find out who killed my father.”

Molly glanced at Burke. “Are the police involved?”

Gabe’s laugh was bitter. “Most likely, yes.”

Burke sighed. “What he means is, someone in law enforcement might be complicit. Or responsible.”

Molly sat back, wishing she was surprised. “All right, then. Let me have it.”


 

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Reckoning by Catherine Coulter – a Review

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Reckoning by Catherine Coulter – a Review

 

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Description:
When she was twelve years old, Kirra Mandarian’s parents were murdered and she barely escaped with her life. Fourteen years later Kirra is a commonwealth attorney back home in Porte Franklin, Virginia, and her goal is to find out who killed her parents and why. She assumes the identity of E.N.–Eliot Ness–and gathers proof to bring down the man she believes was behind her parents’ deaths. She quickly learns that big-time criminals are very dangerous indeed and realizes she needs Dillon Savich’s help. Savich brings in Special Agent Griffin Hammersmith to work with Lieutenant Jeter Thorpe, the young detective who’d saved Kirra years before.

Emma Hunt, a piano prodigy and the granddaughter of powerful crime boss Mason Lord, was only six years old when she was abducted. Then, she was saved by her adoptive father, San Francisco federal judge Ramsey Hunt. Now a 12-year-old with a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, she narrowly saves herself from a would-be kidnapper at Davies Hall in San Francisco. Worried for her safety, Emma’s entire family joins her for her next performance, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. Sherlock and officers from METRO are assigned to protect her, but things don’t turn out as planned…

 

 

Review:

Reckoning by Catherine Coulter is the 26th book in her FBI Thriller series.  Agents Savich and Sherlock, who I always enjoy, are the leads in Reckoning; which has two mysteries, with each involved in, though as we get later into the story, Savich will play a big part in Sherlock’s story. 

Kirra Mandarian saw her mother and father murdered 14 years ago, managing to escape to safety. Kirra lived in Australia with her uncle, who brought her up, and now in present time, she returns to the scene of the crime in Porte Franklin, Virginia.  Kirra is smart, savvy and trained in self-defense; she is now an assistant prosecutor, and is determined to find out who killed her parents; taking on a secret identity (Eliot Ness), she sends information to the police and prosecuting lawyers with information that would convict the villain; she also sends the paperwork to Agent Dillon Savich, whom she knows will be able to help.

Emma Hunt, a piano prodigy, was only 6 years old when she was kidnapped, but her father and mother saved her. Now at 12 years old, Emma manages to save herself from another attempt to kidnap her. Agent Sherlock, who has been friends with Emma’s mother, decides to spend time watching and protecting Emma, especially, with a performance being scheduled at Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C. 

What follows is a non-stop exciting and intense adventure with two different cases. Both cases escalated, with many twists and surprises, which is another reason not to reveal these spoilers, so not to ruin the book.  I love Savich and Sherlock, even when they worked separately; they are a fabulous couple and super agents.  I really thought Kirra was a fantastic character, as she was fearless to find the truth about her parent’s death, as well as working closely with Savich, Agent Griffin Hammersmith and the local detective Jeter.  With Emma on close watch, the criminals decide to change the game, and manage to kidnap the mother and Sherlock; this will bring Savich into this mystery.

Reckoning was an exciting thriller from start to finish, and even if it was tense at times, as I was unable to put the book down from start to finish.  Catherine Coulter once again gives us a fabulous story, with wonderful characters, including evil villains.  Reckoning was a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing, suspenseful mystery.  If you like suspense, mysteries, espionage, especially in the world of FBI, I wholly suggest you read Catherine Coulter.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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THE LIFE SHE HAD by KL Armstrong -a review

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THE LIFE SHE HAD by KL Armstrong-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 19, 2022

If someone was threatening your home, how far would you go to protect it?

Celeste Turner has a woman living in her shed. A woman who is definitely not supposed to be there. The local police, however, are ill-inclined to help. Celeste is a newcomer to a region of rural Florida. It doesn’t matter that her family is originally from the area or that she returned to nurse her dying grandmother. All the locals see is a city girl who swooped in to secure her inheritance . . . a rundown house in need of extensive repairs. Celeste needs her new life to work, and this woman is a threat to that.

Then she meets her. To her surprise, she finds out that Daisy is polite and friendly; a backpacker who is just making her way through the area. Quickly, Celeste begins an unlikely and beneficial friendship with Daisy–she can’t help herself and, besides, Daisy will be moving on to her next stop soon. Why not take advantage of the extra help?

Both women have secrets they want to keep buried, and when a body is discovered in the glades near Celeste’s house, they must move quickly to prove their innocence and protect the lives they’ve built for themselves.

••••••

REVIEW: THE LIFE SHE HAD by KL Armstrong (aka Kelley Armstrong) is a contemporary, adult, suspense thriller focusing on four people in a swampy, rural area of Florida: Celeste Turner, Daisy, mechanic Tom Lowe and attorney Liam Garey.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Celeste and Daisy) THE LIFE SHE HAD is a story of secrets and lies, mystery and suspense in the wake of the death of Celeste’s beloved grandmother Maeve Turner. Living alone on Maeve’s property, Celeste will discover a young woman living on her grandmother’s property, a young woman who knows more than anyone could have imagined. As Daisy and Tom’s lives begin to implode, Celeste discovers Daisy and Tom’s secrets but not before Daisy and Tom reveal Celeste’s own secrets and lies. A local legend that crosses the line between myth and reality brings four people together but not everyone will survive when the truth is revealed. As the story line unfolds, the twisted truth and hidden clues reveal the true depth of greed, obsession, secrets and lies.

KL Armstrong pulls the reader into a slow building, intense, dramatic, and impassioned story of desperation and delusion, family and friendships, murder and suspense, preoccupation and love.

Copy supplied for Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham – a Review

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham – a Review

 

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Description:
True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.

All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.

FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

 

 

Review:

Aura of Night by Heather Graham is the 37th book in her Krewe of Hunters series.  I am a big fan of Heather Graham, as her romance suspense books are always exciting and action packed.  Aura of Night is the second book in this trilogy arc.  The last book (1st in trilogy arc) was centered on Colleen, who is an FBI agent (with the Krewe Hunters), and in this book, her sister Megan is the lead.  

Megan, our heroine, is a book editor, and her publisher wants her to write about her experience when she was kidnapped (mistaken identity, supposed to be Colleen), almost buried alive.  Though Megan is back at work, she still has nightmares, and not to mention psychic abilities, such as seeing the dead. When the FBI agent comes to NY, he convinces Megan that she is still in danger, and when she receives a horrific package, she knows that she needs to go to a safe house with the agent, whom she has a crush on.

Ragnar Johanson, our hero, interviews the two men (now in prison) who were responsible in killing multiple women, and he immediately suspects there are more people outside under the guise of The Embracer; and he knows he has to get to Megan. Together they arrive at a safe house, with some other agents, but Megan is determined to work closely with Ragnar to help find the clues, using her abilities; in order to help save other women.  Ragnar agrees and Megan joins his investigation.  Megan watches Ragnar interview the men in prison, and immediately senses danger for someone else; they race against time to save one woman from being buried alive, and discover another villain. Who truly is the Embracer and how is he puling in strange people to do his deeds? 

What follows is a tense exciting thriller that will have Ragnar, Megan, and other members of the Krewe team, working together to save the women. I loved Megan’s dog, Hugo, who was so important in finding those buried. To say too much more would be spoilers, and you need to read this from start to finish, as there are some twists and surprises. 

The wild tense ending as we raced to the climax, had me holding my breath to see who will survive.  Aura of Night was an exciting, intense, suspenseful, dark story of murder, with a sweet slow burn romance, great couple and lots of action throughout. Once again, Heather Graham gives us a wild, mindboggling thriller, that kept our attention from start to finish.  I did like that both Ragnar and Megan, as they made a great couple.  If you like intense supernatural thrillers, which is written so very well by Heather Graham, then I suggest you read Aura of Night.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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