Tag Archives: Thriller

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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The Left Hand Man by Carol T. Luna – a Review

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The Left Hand Man by Carol T. Luna – a Review

 

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Description:
Escaping a monster. Killing a king. Ao thought he was free.

Two months after the Spades’ raid, Ao and the Legionnaires discover a plot that could destroy the Legion: an alliance between Talus and Harena, two of the most powerful nations in the world. The accord is all but official. Regicide is their only option.

But when a betrayal frames Ao as the killer and turns Harena against the Legion, Ao must ally with the Spades once more. Together, they must wrest the capitol from Talus’ control. Fail, and not only will his friends fall, but an entire nation will too. Worse, a familiar horror has finally caught up to him.

Ao escaped nothing at all.

 

 

Review:

The Left-Hand Man by Carol T. Luna is the second book in her Project Blue series. Do you need to read book 1 before book 2? I did and it made a lot of sense, so it’s personal preference, but I’d say it’s probably better if you read the first book before grabbing book 2……

I loved all the info the author supplied at the front of the book including a quick rundown of book 1. The characters names and a quick description helped jog my memory from the first book. 

Ao is being framed again for a crime he hasn’t committed. Is this the act of the warring faction to spread disharmony? Is it keep everyone guessing as to their intentions? I don’t want to give anything away as I want you to experience the thrilling ride for yourself. 

There is a lot of fighting, and plenty of action. In fact I’d say there are some of the best fight scenes I’ve read in a while. There is also moments when I had to close the book and think about what I had just read…..

Great characters that will draw you in and keep you there until you’ve read the final page. The development from book one to two is a slow process, but they definitely grow and mature before your very eyes…..

You do have to concentrate on this book, it’s more apocalyptic than romantic, more adventure than romance, and it’s almost a YA or NA in its approach, but saying that it’s still a great read. The story itself keeps unfolding, keeps giving you snippets and moments of clarity, but can you solve who did it? Why did they do it? And will there be more deaths? 

And the ending? Well that’s just going to make you wonder what’s going on and probably pick the book up again to read what you probably missed the first time around!! (I did ?) 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

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The IT Girl by Ruth Ware – a Review

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The IT Girl by Ruth Ware – a Review

 

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Description:
April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford.

Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.

Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide…including a murder.

 

 

Review:

The IT Girl by Ruth Ware is another one of her terrific psychological thrillers.  We meet Hannah Jones, our heroine, at the start when she arrives at Oxford, where she is introduced to her roommate, April; who comes from a very wealthy family.  Where Hannah is quiet and smart, April is the complete opposite; being the leader, vivacious, flamboyant, as well at times being spoiled; and not everyone likes her constant cruel pranks. In a short time, a group is formed of friends, who will remain with them until they graduate.  Will (April’s boyfriend, whom Hannah has a secret crush), Ryan, Emily and Hugh.  The POV’s switch between the past and the present.

Hannah has complained about one the of college porters, John Neville, who seems to be stalking her, and she begins to fear him.  April convinces her friends to attend the last show of the theater group performance, which April stars in.  She runs to her room to change clothes, and when Hannah notices she hasn’t returned, she and Hugh go to her room to check on her; and they find her dead.  When coming up the stairs, Hannah notices from a distance that John Neville had left their room; her previous complaints, and other evidence send Neville to prison for April’s murder. 

In the present, 10 years later, Hannah, who is now married to Will and pregnant, gets a call from her mom, and learns that John Neville died in prison. She starts getting calls from reporters, especially one, who insists that Neville may have been the wrong man convicted for the crime.  Hannah decides she must investigate on her own, if she erroneously helped send the wrong man to prison.  Hannah and Will have a happy marriage, especially with a baby on the way; but despite Will’s pressure to not pursue the case, Hannah goes out of her way to question everything.  She reconnects with her friends, to dig deeper and begins to be concerned that one of them could be a murderer.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, which would ruin the book for you. 

The IT Girl was a fantastic psychological thriller, that was intriguing, captivating and gripping story.   There was so much going on that kept me glued to my kindle, with many surprises and suspects.  The IT Girl was so very well written by Ruth Ware.  If you love thrillers, you should be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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A Scandal in Brooklyn by Lauren Wilkinson-Review & Giveaway Tour

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A SCANDAL IN BROOKLYN by Lauren Wilkinson-Review , Excerpt & Giveaway tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2022.

A classic Holmesian detective untangles a locked-room mystery with a very modern twist in this venomously diverting short story by Lauren Wilkinson, the Washington Post bestselling author of American Spy.

A top-secret experiment at a restricted virtual-reality compound pulls attorney Tommy Diaz back into the orbit of Irene Adler, an old friend with an eidetic memory, a love of true-crime podcasts, and a knack for solving the unsolvable. But this? At a remote warehouse, a VR trial goes awry when a willing test subject, alone in the observation room, drops dead of anaphylaxis—from the sting of a virtual bee. Though the tech titan behind the research believes in the power of the outrageous, Irene relies on clues, hard facts, and a level head. However, in a case this peculiar, how elementary can it be?

••••••

REVIEW: A SCANDAL IN BROOKLYN by Lauren Wilkinson is a contemporary, adult, short story focusing on mystery, murder, and a top secret experiment.

Told from the first person perspective and account by attorney Tommy Diaz, A SCANDAL IN BROOKLYN follows Tommy Diaz as he is tasked, along with Irene Adler, to investigate the whereabouts of a missing man. Priya Stein’s husband had been acting erratically, and hadn’t returned home for several days. On the advise of her friend and amateur sleuth Irene Adler, Priya contacted attorney Tommy Diaz, to help uncover the truth about her missing husband but Tommy and his team never expected to encounter the virtual murder of a real-live person, the person being Priya’s husband Victor Stein. For a ten million dollar payout, Victor had enrolled in a questionable experiment sponsored by the Avisa Tech Company, an experiment that would eventually result in Victor’s death. A few hours, a few clues, and one true-crime enthusiast would result in a solved murder, and another questionable oligarch potentially getting away with murder.

A SCANDAL IN BROOKLYN is a quick read; a fast paced short story of murder and mystery with a little bit of science fiction thrown into the mix. The premise is intriguing but the world building is lacking for any true reader involvement. The discovery of, and the solving of the clues is done mostly behind the scenes, thus keeping the audience at a disadvantage. A little more detail and world building would be greatly appreciated.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

INTERVIEW provided by the promoter.

Your newest story, A Scandal in Brooklyn, is about a complex murder with a plethora of distrustful suspects — a clear homage to classic Holmesian tales. What elements of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original work most inspired you?

Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories and novels are a lot of fun! And it was important to me that this story was fun, so I’d say that was the element of Doyle’s work that most inspired me. We’ve all had a hard few years, so I didn’t want to write anything that was too heavy.

What made you decide to omit Sherlock from your story and instead focus entirely on Irene Adler?

Honestly, I just think that Irene Adler is the more interesting character. For one, in A Scandal in Bohemia, she outwits Holmes (and I’m glad she does because Sherlock Holmes is working for Irene’s toxic ex, who’s a huge hater that just won’t let be great). The other reason I think she’s the more interesting character is that there’s been far less written about her than there has been about Sherlock Holmes, so I felt like there was room to make up more stuff with her. And as a writer, that’s a more interesting place to hang out.

Irene has been interpreted many ways in the last hundred years, but you offer a brand-new take on The Woman by making her a person of color. How does her background and culture change the narrative of this iconic female?

Well, the fact that she’s a Black woman certainly informs her worldview. But for me, re-imagining Irene Adler as a modern character (and putting her in modern circumstances) was the choice that led to the most germane changes in the narrative.

Irene has an eidetic memory which she has learned to use to her advantage – for example, in solving crimes. But this skill can also be a curse. What do memories mean to your characters and what do they mean to you?

Memory is such an interesting thing to me! Our memories are so fallible, and yet a person’s collection of memories is the cornerstone of their identity. What a strange internal conflict that is, and stranger still that it’s built into our nature. The Mandela Effect is a good example of how this conflict plays: isn’t it interesting that — for some people anyway — it’s more agreeable to believe that objective reality is wrong than that they simply misremembered something?

Tommy Diaz, Irene’s old friend, recounts the story’s events including a murder as well as efforts to solve the crime. Why did you choose to show the story through his eyes?

The character of Tommy Diaz is based on one of my oldest friends, Tommy Pico (who is a poet, screenwriter and now an occasional actor)! Honestly, it was just more fun for me to try to write a story from “his perspective” than from my own. I’m starting to get a little bored with my own perspective, if I’m being totally honest.

How do you think modern technology is changing the mystery genre? What are some positive and negative aspects of these changes?

I think that modern technology has the potential to give the genre new plot devices and twists. But ironically that has always been the case—apparently A Study in Scarlet was the first story to use the magnifying glass in a crime investigation. So, I think the question of how modern technology changes the mystery genre is a good example of how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In 2019 you released your debut novel American Spy to an avalanche of critical acclaim which included being named on President Obama’s summer reading list. What effect did this experience have on your career?

I continue to be extremely grateful to President Obama for putting my novel on his summer reading list! The exposure had a profound effect on my career, in the sense that it allowed me to pursue television writing, which is what I spend most of my time on these days.

What’s next for you?

Well, in my personal life, I’ve recently gotten married and we’re renovating our house together, which is an exciting project (that’s also been pretty time-consuming). And professionally—well I’m not too sure! I’d really like to write another novel one day. I’d also like to keep writing for television, and maybe a movie one day too.

We went inside, and into what looked like a clearing in the woods. It took me a moment to realize that the floor, walls and ceiling were all covered in LED panels that were projecting a three-dimensional image. Victor lay in a patch of grass in one corner of the room beside a tree whose branches stretched outward into the simulated sky. A cloud of bees was buzzing around the hive dangling from one of the branches.”I . . . can’t breathe. Help me,” Victor said without turning to face us. His voice was ragged.

“Where did those bees come from?” The kid with the buzz cut sounded confused. He had a Russian accent, and couldn’t have been more than twenty-five.

“There are more over there,” Tyler said and pointed to the LED panels on the opposite wall.

“Victor must’ve been stung. But how—”

“He’s allergic to bees,” Priya shouted. “He’ll die!”

“He’s going into anaphylaxis,” Tyler said. “There’s epinephrine in the first aid kit.” He ran out into the hall to retrieve it, and when he returned, he shouted, “Someone call 911!”

I tried to but the call was rerouted. As an automated voice thanked me for contacting Avisa’s private emergency number, I watched Tyler poke a needle into a vial of epinephrine and draw the clear liquid up into it. He plunged the needle into Victor’s thigh.

A woman with a soothing voice came on the line, and after I explained what was going on, she told me she’d send emergency personnel to Avisa House. The alarm stopped suddenly, and I hung up and glanced over at Irene. She was observing everything, doing her best to commit the moment to memory.

I’d assumed that the shot would’ve immediately revived Victor, like in the movies. Instead, his eyes rolled up into his head and his body went limp.

“He passed out,” Priya said. “Do something, please!”

Tyler started CPR. A blonde woman with a magazine tucked underneath her arm came through the open door. My best guess was that this was the chef, Carol. “What the hell is going on? What was that alarm?”

Victor was still unconscious. He must’ve had a serious allergic reaction—his cheeks had ballooned to grotesque proportions, his eyes were swollen shut, and a bright-red rash had broken out on his neck and chin. Tyler stopped pumping his heart and put two fingers to Victor’s wrist to check his pulse. After a moment, he said, “He’s dead. I’m so sorry.”

Priya dropped to her knees beside him. She started to sob. I was too stunned to say anything. We all were. The room was so quiet that I could hear the distant sound of rain drumming on the roof. A couple of EMTs showed up a few minutes later—looking back, I wonder if they really were EMTs. They had both the air of authority and the equipment of medical professionals, but I can’t say for certain.

“I don’t understand this.” Priya had gotten up and was standing with Irene, Shinwell, and me. Her eyes darted back and forth between Irene’s face and Victor’s body as it was loaded onto a gurney. “He was fine just a few minutes ago.”

“Was he stung by digital bees?” I asked in a low voice.

“I think someone wanted it to look that way,” Irene said. “But I don’t buy it.”

 


 

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Lauren Wilkinson earned an MFA in fiction and literary translation from Columbia University, and has taught writing at Columbia and the Fashion Institute of Technology. She was a 2013 Center for Fiction Emerging Writer’s Fellow, and has also received support from the MacDowell Colony and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. Lauren grew up in New York and lives on the Lower East Side. American Spy is her first novel.

 

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Red on the River by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway

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Red on the River by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 28, 2022

Vienna Mortenson isn’t your typical gambler. She prefers to stay under the radar, using her poker winnings to support her family and her community, including the local search and rescue team, which she heads up. Out in the backcountry there’s no time for hesitation when lives are on the line. Vienna prides herself on being tough and decisive. She’s not the sort to make a fool of herself over a guy, especially one who left her high and dry without a backward glance.

Zale Vizzini’s job constantly puts him in harm’s way. Working undercover and disappearing for months at a time isn’t exactly a recipe for a stable relationship. Despite the challenges and the risks, Zale wants something real with Vienna. He just needed time to figure out how to be in her life without putting her in danger. Now, he’s determined to win her back, and he’s ready to lay all his cards on the table.

As their friends’ wedding approaches, Zale takes advantage of the festivities to make a play for Vienna’s heart. But there are more deadly forces waiting to strike in the rugged terrain of Nevada and the western Sierras. Soon both of their lives are threatened, and the odds are stacked against them.

•••••

Sandy’s Review: RED ON THE RIVER is a contemporary, adult, slightly paranormal, romantic thriller set in the author’s MURDER AT SUNRISE LAKE world. This is professional poker player/surgical nurse Vienna Mortenson, and undercover operative Zale Vizzini’s story line. RED ON THE RIVER can be read as a stand-alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Vienna Mortenson was first introduced in book one.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from third person perspective RED ON THE RIVER follows the second chance relationship between professional poker player/surgical nurse Vienna Mortenson, and undercover operative Zale Vizzini. Months earlier, a serial killer targeted Stella Harrison (Murder at Sunrise Lake), and in their wake threatened Stella and her close-knit friends including our heroine Vienna Mortenson. Taking some time for herself in the aftermath of the life-threatening events , Vienna would set out on an outdoor adventure where she would meet one of their rescuers, undercover operative Zale Vizzini. Six weeks together ended when Zale ghosted our story line heroine, leaving a heart broken Vienna in his wake. Fast forward to present day, wherein an invitation to a Las Vegas Poker Tournament brings Vienna up close and personal with the man who broke her heart, a man whose secrets may push Vienna out of his life.

All was not well in Las Vegas, Nevada; two undercover operatives were missing and presumed dead, and Zale and his partner Rainier claimed to have been hired to protect the hotel owner Daniel Wallin, but someone has targeted our story line heroine in the process, leaving Vienna exposed and unaware of what happened. Vienna Mortenson would find herself under the protection of Zale Vizzini, protection that would pull our couple together even though Vienna struggled with events from the past. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Zale and Vienna, and the potential fall-out as secrets are revealed, a contract needs to be fulfilled, placing a target on the back of our story line heroine.

The relationship between Zale and Vienna is a rekindling romance. Zale had previously ghosted Vienna following a six week whirlwind romance in which Vienna found herself falling for a man whose lifestyle was constantly on the move.Vienna’s past was mired in rejection and loss, and in this, our heroine struggled to trust the man who walked away without looking back. There are no $ex scenes.

We are re-introduced to a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including a few ‘Mafia’ members that may or may not have a future story line: Zale’s partner Rainier, operatives Rush, and Wilder; Stella and Sam (Murder at Sunrise Lake); nurse/photographer Harlow Frye; café owner Shabina Foster; computer IT expert and contracted government employee Raine O’Mallory; nurse Zahra Metcalf; Sam Rossi’s father Don Marco Rossi; and hotel owner Daniel Wallin. The requisite evil has many faces.

RED ON THE RIVER is another complex, detailed and informative story line often over-focusing on poker, poker play, and card combinations, as well as an exhaustive account of hiking, and mountain climbing. As per Christine Feehan’s style of writing, there is a slight paranormal aspect to the series but the author steers clear of any erotic $ex scenes or the use of strong language.

A side note- the author’s use of the paranormal aspect is virtually nil in the story, and in this, I believe the story line and series would benefit without the supernatural element.

________

Barb’s Review:
Red on the River by Christine Feehan is another one of her of suspense novels. We got to see some of the characters from her Sunrise Lake series.  We meet Vienna Mortenson, our heroine, who is in Vegas, participating in a live high stakes Poker tournament; she usually only plays online and rarely loses, but having received an invitation to this tournament, Vienna plans to win. She is one of the best in playing poker, but she also is a nurse, as well as helping in Search and Rescue. Vienna is helping prepare her best friend, Stella’s upcoming wedding, and this trip is also a bachelorette gathering with a wonderful group of ladies, who love hiking and bouldering. Vienna also wants to repair her relationship with her mother, while in Vegas. 

Zale Vizzini, our hero, works undercover on assignment to protect his boss; and is constantly in the middle of danger.  He met Vienna months ago, with both falling hard for each other, as they spend weeks together; but one morning he just quietly walked out of her life.  Now Zale is Vegas on assignment, and determined to win her back.  When Zale tries to explain that he left to keep her safe, as his job was dangerous, but he now wants to her back permanently.   Vienna feels her attraction to Zale awaken, but can she trust him?

The tournament was a huge success for Vienna, but threats are made on her life, and Zale knows he needs to protect her from an enemy.  At this point of the story, the focus is on Vienna, Stella, and the other magnificent ladies who are part of the bachelorette trip, which takes place in rugged territory in Nevada and the Sierras, as they hike and climb.  We get to meet all the ladies, and enjoy their friendship, and bantering. I loved how each of the ladies excel at many things, making them a wonderful group.  Not long after they continue on their trek, their lives are put in intense danger, with threats against them; Zale and his partner Rainer push to help the ladies. 

What follows an exciting suspenseful mystery romance, with both Vienna, Zale and her wonderful smart ladies working together to try to find who is truly behind the attempt to kill Vienna and why.   As I had already noted, what made this a fantastic story was the amazing fabulous group of friends who were all smart, strong and savvy, as their friendship was bonded together (Vienna, Stella, Raine, Zahra, Shabina, Harlow).  I did like Vienna and Zale and rooted for them to stay together, as they made a great couple.  I do see a possible relationship with Rainer and Shabina in future books.

Red on the River was an excellent, fun and exciting romance suspense thriller, that was filled with action, suspense, as well as the fun bantering with the ladies.  Overall, this was a great story, with a terrific couple, fantastic friends and other secondary characters. I look forward to the next book in this series, which is so very well written by Christine Feehan. 

 

Copies supplied by the publisher

 

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

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Christine’s Feehan’s publisher Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of RED ON THE RIVER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton – a Review

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Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton – a Review

 

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Description:
Elise King is a successful and ambitious detective–or she was before a medical leave left her unsure if she’d ever return to work. She now spends most days watching the growing tensions in her small seaside town of Ebbing–the weekenders renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes.

Elise can only guess what really happens behind closed doors. But Dee Eastwood, her house cleaner, often knows. She’s an invisible presence in many of the houses in town, but she sees and hears everything.

The conflicts boil over when a newcomer wants to put the town on the map with a giant music festival, and two teenagers overdose on drugs. When a man disappears the first night of the festival, Elise is drawn back into her detective work and starts digging for answers. Ebbing is a small town, but it’s full of secrets and hidden connections that run deeper and darker than Elise could have ever imagined.

 

 

Review:

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton is another one of her standalone suspense novels.  I have read a few books by this author, which were very good.  I did like Local Gone Missing, but thought it was very slow in the beginning with the last third of the book exciting. 

Elise King, our heroine, is currently on medical leave from her job as a police detective (inspector) in Ebbing; planning on returning to work soon. Elise learns about the disappearance of a local man from the music festival, as well as two teenagers overdosing on drugs.  Elise, being bored, decides to investigate on her own, with her neighbor friend, Ronnie; she was a hoot (who loved being an amateur detective).  Elise will uncover many secrets revolving around the missing man, Charlie Perry, who had made a number of enemies in town, that not only goes back many years, but also in the present. Charlie’s body is found a few days later, and Elise will discover that a number of people were after him, as he owed a lot of money from his investment schemes. Halfway through the book, Elise is called back to work taking over the police investigation

There was so much going on, with a lot of suspects, that made more than half the book a bit slow and somewhat confusing, as well as being hard to keep track of everything; especially with all the subplots.  The time line did go back and forth from the past and the present. I really liked Elise, she was a great detective, as we got to see the inner workings of police procedurals (interviews & investigations).  The last third of the book was very exciting, with Elise in the forefront, with her staff and the many suspects.

Local Gone Missing was a cozy busy mystery that was interesting, and a very exciting at the end. Local Gone Missing may have started a slow, but was well written by Fiona Barton.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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