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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

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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

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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

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

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

 

Amazon

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

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

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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