Tag Archives: Thriller

Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh – Dual Review

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Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh – Dual Review

 

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Description:
My mother vanished ten years ago.
So did a quarter of a million dollars in cash.
Thief. Bitch. Criminal.
Now, she’s back.
Her bones clothed in scarlet silk.

When socialite Nina Rai disappeared without a trace, everyone wrote it off as another trophy wife tired of her wealthy husband.

But now her bones have turned up in the shadowed green of the forest that surrounds her elite neighborhood, a haven of privilege and secrets that’s housed the same influential families for decades.

The rich live here, along with those whose job it is to make their lives easier. And somebody knows what happened to Nina one rainy night ten years ago.

Her son Aarav heard a chilling scream that night, and he’s determined to uncover the ugly truth that lives beneath the moneyed elegance…but no one is ready for the murderous secrets about to crawl out of the dark.

Even the dead aren’t allowed to break the rules in this cul-de-sac.

 

 

Barb’s Review:
Quiet in her Bones by Nalini Singh is a standalone mystery thriller. Aarav Rai, our hero, is a well-known famous author who writes thrillers.  10 years ago, his mother disappeared, as well as a quarter of million in cash; and he has never gotten over his mother leaving him.   Aarav, who was 16 years old at the time of her disappearance, continues to have nightmares of that night; he goes to two doctors for his multiple issues with a broken foot, as well as a brain injury that causes him confusion. To his shock, a body was discovered in the nearby forest area of the elite area for the rich where he lives.  Turns out the body (totally in bones) was his mother, wearing the same clothes from that night; which means she never left the family, but was murdered.

The story revolves around Aarav, as he is determined to find the truth of what really happened.  Even though he is the hero in this story, he is very much fragmented, with his physical and mental issues (memory loss, delusions, forgetfulness, etc), causing confusion as to what is real.  Aarav loved his mother, though despite her love for him, she was a passionate, but hard women who drank and cheated; which is not surprise as the father was the worst of them, equally hated by wife, son, and all the cul de sac neighbors.  Who killed Nina and why, especially with many people being suspects?

Aarav becomes obsessed with solving the crime, questioning everything he remembered from that night years ago, and questioning all the neighbors who were possible suspects. There were so many twists and turns along the way, that at times was riveting and holding our breaths; but also confusing with all the mind games.  I will say for the most part, I did not care for most of the characters, as they were difficult, with only a select few being nice.  I did like Shanti, Par, Lily and Diana; the detectives on the case were good.  Aarav was a good hero, but his issues were really wacked out, making me question what was a dream or real.

What follows is an exciting, challenging mystery that was changing the game quite often.  I can’t say too much more, as it would be spoilers and that would ruin it for you.  Nalini Singh created a mindboggling mystery that held our attention throughout.  If you like mystery thrillers, I suggest you read, Quiet in her Bones.

 

 

Sandy’s Review:QUIET IN HER BONES by Nalini Singh is a stand alone, contemporary, adult thriller focusing on the potential murder of socialite Nina Rai.

Told from first person perspective Aarav Rai (Nina’s son) using present day and memories from the past, QUIET IN HER BONES follows ten years after the disappearance of Aarav’s mother, a disappearance under mysterious circumstances in the wake of his parents’ numerous affairs. Aarav was only sixteen years old when his mother went missing from their family home. A late night fight between his parents saw Aarav’s beloved mother leave, never to return until, ten year later, a search crew found her remains, along with her car, buried deep within a ravine now covered in branches and leaves. A now famous mystery author whose only book became a number one best seller turned movie, Aarav begins an investigation of his own only to realize that everyone was suspect including his father and himself.

Aarav Rai’s life is spiralling out of control. An accident that left our hero recovering at the family home finds Aarav suspicious of everyone and everything, bordering of paranoia, psychosis, heart break and pain but as Aarav’s search for the truth begins to reveal a disturbing possibility, there may have been more to his mother’s disappearance than anyone could have ever imagined.

QUIET IN HER BONES is a slow building, intricate and complex story line of mystery and suspense. The Rai family live in a well-to-do Cul-de-Sac where infidelity is rampant, and secret and lies are the order of the day. Similar in feel to Peyton Place, and former American prime time television series Knot’s Landing, and Desperate Housewives, QUIET IN HER BONES reveals the soap-operaesque lifestyle of the rich and famous whose scandalous lives are fodder for gossip and lies.

The back and forth between present day and memories is a little difficult to navigate at times as there is no delineation between the present and the past, often addressed within the context of the same paragraph. The slow build reveals a mosaic of possible suspects, their lives, their loves, their secrets and sins.

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

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

 

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Description:
The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wineglasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named Ariel Byrd with the back of her head bashed in. But when Dallas tracks down the wealthy Upper East Side woman who called 911, the details don’t add up. Gwen Huffman is wealthy, elegant, comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body–but why did it take an hour to report it? And why is she lying about little things?

As Eve and her team look into Gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder. As with sculpture, they need to chip away at the layers of deception to find the shape within–and soon they’re getting the FBI involved in a case that involves a sinister, fanatical group and a stunning criminal conspiracy.

 

 

 

Review:

Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb is the 52nd book in her wonderful In Death (Eve Dallas) series. I am a huge fan of this series, having read every single book, as well as all the novellas; not to mention how much I love Eve and Roarke, the best literary couple ever. I noted in the last In Death Book (Shadows in Death) that J.D. Robb created a masterpiece. Well, I am happy to say that Faithless in Death was different, but equally as great, as this is another masterpiece. I marvel at how Robb can continue to give us fascinating stories 52 books later. Bravo to J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts.

Eve is called to the scene of a murder of a woman, who was bashed on the head, in what looked like a possible crime of passion.  Eve and Peabody visit the person who discovered the victim and called 911. Immediately both Eve and Peabody question the woman, who not only found the victim murdered, but ran away and called the police a few hours later; she claims she had to get control of herself due to the trauma.  However, they know the woman is lying or trying to protect someone.

Upon further investigation, with Peabody and Roarke, they discover that the woman, Gwen belongs to a huge powerful fanatical cult, involving terrible criminal acts, such as kidnapping, possible murder, political and other contacts that do their bidding, prejudice against gays, and separation of races; not to mention all the money they gather along the way.  After interviewing members of the cult, as well as some victims, Eve knows this is not just a murder anymore, as it is becoming an all-out war to stop this horrific cult; she starts calling in the FBI and other agencies/departments.

What follows is an amazing, intense, exciting, non-stop, action-filled race to find the murderer, as well as stop and destroy the cult, especially with women and children all being held almost like slaves.    What I loved was how all the members of Eve’s police team, were determined to help bring down this cult.   Over time, Eve has built such a fantastic team and their loyalty was awesome. 

In between all the tense excitement, I loved certain parts that lighten things, such as Mavis, Leonardo and Bella showed off their new home (which needs a lot of work), and will also have an apartment addition being offered to Peabody and McNab.  I loved how all of these secondary characters we have come to love, are so close and loyal to Eve and to each other.  We also got some quality time with Nadine, and I loved that too.  This series started with Eve all alone (she did have Feeney), coming from a tragic childhood, meeting Roarke, and now years later (or shall I say 52 books later), she has an abundance of friends who play a large part of her life. Even her police team are great, and totally loyal to their queen. This is another plus that we get to see all these wonderful recurring characters.

The last 1/2 of the book was wild, intense, and mindboggling, with the entire team, Roarke, Reo, Mira, including the Commissioner, and the FBI and other agencies work together to bring down the Natural Order group.  Faithless in Death was so very well written by Robb, and to tell too much more would ruin things, and this is one book you do not want to miss a thing.  This was very exciting, tense, intriguing, nonstop action from start to finish, with never a dull moment.  J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come.  I thought that Faithless in Death was another great book, which certifies that J.D. Robb will continue to give us many more Eve and Roarke books.    

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
Detective Amanda Steele stops just inside the doorway, recognizing the victim’s face instantly. He seems so vulnerable in death; soft, human, even harmless. But she can never forget the evil he has inflicted. Her heart is hammering as she remembers her precious daughter, with her red curls and infectious laugh, and how she was lowered into that little grave…

It’s been five years since Detective Amanda Steele’s life was derailed in the path of an oncoming drunk driver. The small community of Dumfries, Virginia, may have moved on from the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, but Amanda cannot. When the driver who killed her family is found murdered in a motel room, she can’t keep away from the case.

Fighting her sergeant to be allowed to work an investigation with such a personal connection to her, Amanda is in a race to prove that she can uncover the truth. But the more she digs into the past of the man who destroyed her future, the more shocking discoveries she makes. And when Amanda finds the link between a silver bracelet in his possession and the brutal unsolved murder of a young exotic dancer, she realizes she’s caught up in something darker than she ever imagined and suspects that more girls could be in danger.

But as Amanda edges toward the truth, she gets closer to a secret as personal as it is deadly. Amanda has stumbled upon a dangerous killer, and she must face some terrible truths in order to catch this killer – and save his next victim as she couldn’t save her own daughter…

 

 

Review:

The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold is the 1st book in her new Detective Amanda Steele series. I have been a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her series.  After completing The Little Grave, I am thrilled to say this series could be the best one yet.  I loved this book and its wonderful heroine, Amanda Steele.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. Amanda tragically lost her daughter and husband to a horrific car accident over 5 years ago, and to this day, she cannot get past the nightmares and deep grief that still haunts her. Amanda is very good at her job, and hides the fact that she needs to get illegal Xanax pills to help get her through each day; she also is distanced from her family, unable to see them.

Amanda is called to the scene of a possible suicide, only to discover the dead man is the drunk driver who killed her family. Though she is told not to be on this case, which is personal, Amanda discovers some clues that make it look more like murder.  Amanda pleads with her boss to be part of this investigation, even accepting a rookie detective, who becomes her partner. Her boss does require her to have an alibi for the time period of the victim’s death, which means Amanda needs to find the one night stand she had the night before, something she has being doing for a while to block out her grief.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, pulse pounding mystery that had so many twists and turns, keeping me glued to my kindle.  Amanda begins to discover different clues, especially of a cold case that the victim may have been part of.  She finds a hidden clue as part of a bracelet worn by the victim, bringing in different departments to investigate a pedophile ring, which has been going on for years.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and this was a great story that needs to be read from start to finish.

The Little Grave was an excellent crime thriller that was suspenseful, intense, and kept us guessing to the end. The cold case brings out the people involved in the ring, but who killed the victim.   I really liked Amanda, as she made a great heroine, and also liked her new partner.  The Little Grave was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in future books of the The Detective Amanda Steele series.  If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner -a Review

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Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner -a Review

 

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Description:
Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will–searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.

A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim’s wary family tells Frankie she’s on her own–and she soon learns she’s asking questions someone doesn’t want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her.

 

 

 

Review:

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner is her first standalone novel in about 20 years.  I have read and loved a few of Gardner’s series, as she is a master at creating wonderful thriller series.  In Before She Disappeared, Frankie Elkin is our heroine, and a different kind of lead character, that actually turned into a fantastic one.

Frankie is a recovering alcoholic, who is a loner, having suffered some tragedies in the past; now she devotes all of her time to finding missing people that are no longer being looked for. Frankie moves around a lot, picking her cases, never staying anywhere for a long period; as over the years, Frankie has found 14 missing people, but none of them found alive.  After finishing up a case, she decides to go to Boston, as another missing case intrigued her. 

The missing girl, Angelique Badeau, a high school student, disappeared 11 months ago, and Frankie gets a job in a local bar, in the Haitian neighborhood of Mattapan.  She convinces the bar owner, that even though she is white, in this rough area, she will work 5 days a week, in exchange for renting the upstairs apartment. The fun part of her renting the room, is the other resident, who shares it; Piper the wild crazy cat. LOL In her off hours, she meets with resistance from the detective who was in charge of the case, as well the missing girl’s family, and others she meets along the way.  But in a short time, Frankie gains the respect from many of the local Haitian people; of course, there are dangerous people who do not want her to continue to investigate.

Frankie manages to convince Angelique’s aunt and brother to let her look around, and ask questions; which in time, the brother will be helpful.  She starts finding questionable clues that need answers, and Detective Lotham begins to trust her, and they made a great team. The chemistry between them became hot, though there was no future.   I really liked the bar owner, Stoney, the cook, Viv and some other people who befriended her; the brother was also a very good character. We also get to learn more about a tragedy from Frankie’s past, that gives her nightmares.

What follows is an exciting & intense mystery, where Frankie finds herself in some dangerous situations, with someone following her, even on occasion hearing gun shots. Another disappearance of a young student, changes the game, with Frankie and Lotham exploring why these girls have been kidnapped.  Will Frankie find Angelique?  Will she break the trend and find her alive?

Before She Disappeared was an amazing exciting, action-packed thriller, with many twists and turns that kept me unable to put the book down.  Once again, Lisa Gardner gives us a fabulous story, which though it is supposedly a standalone novel, can very well become a new series.  I suggest you read Before She Disappeared, which was so very well written by Lisa Gardner. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Aftershock by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell -a Review

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Aftershock by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell -a Review

 

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Description:
There’s a body crushed under a load of pipes on a San Francisco construction site, and medical examiner Dr. Jessie Teska is on call. So it’s her job to figure out who it is—and her headache when the autopsy reveals that the death is a homicide staged as an accident.

Jessie is hot on the murderer’s trail, then an earthquake sends her and her whole city reeling. When the dust clears, her case has fallen apart and an innocent man is being framed. Jessie knows she’s the only one who can prove it, and she races to piece together the truth—before it gets buried and brings her down in the rubble.

With Melinek and Mitchell’s trademark blend of propulsive prose, deft plotting and mordant humor, this rollicking new installment in the Jessie Teska Mystery series will shake you up and leave you rattled.

 

 

Review:

Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell is the 2nd book in their Jessie Teska series.  I did not read the first book in this series, but it did read well as a standalone.  Aftershock begins with Medical Examiner Jessie Teska, our heroine, called in the middle of the night to investigate a dead body at a construction site. The body lies under pipes that had dropped from a collapsed beam. Everyone assumes it was an accident, but Jessie notices signs of the body having been dragged, no blood on site, and other small things which dictated that this was staged. The police give her a hard time, as they prefer this being an accident, but Jessie is determined to prove this was murder.

There is also a romantic element to the story, as Jessie is in a relationship with someone, who resents all the time she spends trying to solve every case.  I really didn’t care too much for her boyfriend, especially since he refused her to meet his family.  This is part of the overall story, but in the background to the true storyline.

When an earthquake, hits Jessie suffers a head injury, but she pushes to get released, as she needs to examine the victim, as well as the other normal deaths that come in during the earthquake.  Jessie is a workaholic and when the detectives arrest one of men at the construction site, Jessie keeps investigating, as she feels this person is being framed.  Along the way, she does alienate some people, as per her discoveries that causes the police to be negative, as well as her boyfriend walking out.   But Jessie proves herself to be a great medical examiner, as well as her own detective work. 

What follows is an exciting story, though I will note that I thought Jessie’s continual determination to prove who was the real culprit put her life in danger a few times, especially with her injuries.  It did not feel realistic.  The ending was a wild climax, holding my breath if Jessie would survive. It was sort of a surprise as to who, how and why?

Aftershock was a good mystery, and Jessie Teska was very good as the heroine, though I thought some things she continued to do border lined on believability. The story had covered a lot of areas, earthquake, murder, dysfunctional family, police/DA issues and intense situations.  Overall, Aftershock was well written by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous – a Review

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The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous – a Review

 

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Description:
1988. Beth Soames is fourteen years old when her aunt takes her to stay at Raven Hall, a rambling manor in the isolated East Anglian fens. The Averells, the family who lives there, are warm and welcoming, and Beth becomes fast friends with their daughter, Nina. At times, Beth even feels like she’s truly part of the family…until they ask her to help them with a harmless game–and nothing is ever the same.

2019. Sadie Langton is an actress struggling to make ends meet when she lands a well-paying gig to pretend to be a guest at a weekend party. She is sent a suitcase of clothing, a dossier outlining the role she is to play, and instructions. It’s strange, but she needs the money, and when she sees the stunning manor she’ll be staying at, she figures she’s got nothing to lose.

In person, Raven Hall is even grander than she’d imagined–even with damage from a fire decades before–but the walls seem to have eyes. As day turns to night, Sadie starts to feel that there’s something off about the glamorous guests who arrive, and as the party begins, it becomes chillingly apparent their unseen host is playing games with everyone…including her.

 

 

Review:

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous is a mystery suspense thriller. The story line revolves around two POV’s (there is a third but only few without identification); and switches back and forth between two years; 1988 and 2019.  

In 1988, Beth Soames, who is 14 years old, arrives at Raven Hall as a companion to the Averell family’s daughter Nina, as her aunt makes an agreement for her to stay there.  Beth will become close friends with Nina, and the family (Lenora & Markus) treats her like one of their own. Beth also meets the local boy, Jonas, and with Nina the three of them spend a lot of time together.  After a bit, Beth is surprised when the family asks her to pretend to be Nina (who is under the weather), when the grandfather comes to visit. Beth does not understand when the same thing happens a few times when there are more visits over time.  Beth wonders why is Nina getting sick when company comes?  Is someone poisoning her?

In 2019, we meet Sadie Langton, a struggling actress, who out of the blue is offered to be a guest at a weekend party, with everyone playing different parts in a murder mystery.  Though it is a strange request, Sadie does need money, and accepts the invitation; for which she receives instructions and fancy clothes to play the part, as well as a chauffeured car to the mansion. She arrives at Raven Hall, which has been restored to its old glory, from a fire, decades ago, and slowly meet the other 7 guests who have been invited to Raven Hall and playing the expected part. 

After the first evening, Sadie begins to suspect that something is off, and when one person disappears, the story becomes more chilling, as someone is playing games with them. All the other guests start sensing something wrong, with the suspense escalating, especially with many of them beginning to feel ill.

The third POV was somewhat confusing, as it was a woman’s thoughts in present time, and until we get closer to the end, we begin to realize how the two main POV’s tied together.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and ruin the mystery.  

What follows is an intense, exciting mystery that has a guessing as we reach the wild conclusion.  The Perfect Guests was filled with twists throughout, tying all three POV’s together, as well as the guests, with many secrets, lies and revenge. I will say I was a bit confused at times nearer to the end, but this was a very intriguing story. The Perfect Guests was very well written by Emma Rous.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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New Jersey Noir: Cape May by William Baer-review & excerpt

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New Jersey Noir: Cape May (Jack Colt Murder Mystery 2) by William Baer-review & excerpt

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ABOUT THE BOOK: ReleAse Date January 15, 2021

After solving the assassination case of his beloved uncle, Colt finds himself truly alone, ditched by his girlfriend. However, there’s not much respite or time for introspection for him: he’s called on again to solve a new murder case, along with a suspiciously related cold case. What follows is another gripping tale in the backdrop of the Garden State’s sights and scenes, including its picturesque beaches, casinos, and the rural Pine Barrens. In New Jersey Noir: Cape May—Book Two of his Jack Colt Murder Mystery Novels series—William Baer continues to enchant and spellbind.

•••••••

REVIEW:NEW JERSEY NOIR: CAPE MAY is the second instalment in William Baer’s contemporary, adult JACK COLT MURDER MYSTERY series focusing on thirty-two year old, New Jersey private investigator and descendant of the inventor of the Colt revolver Jack Colt.

Told from several first person perspectives including Jack Colt, NEW JERSEY NOIR: CAPE MAY fast forwards the series but a few weeks wherein we find our hero Jack Colt approached by Cape May, New Jersey Judge Richard O’Brien, a fifty-something single father, regarding a cold case involving the murder of his seventeen year old, daughter Nikki, one half of twin sisters Nikki and Rikki, ten years earlier. Days earlier, the judge hired private investigator, Edward Colt (no relation), but the man was murdered the night before, leaving instructions and money (along with a list of suspects) to contact our story line hero. With the help of his late uncle’s receptionist, Mrs. Doris Solerno aka Nonna, aka best friend and Detective Luca Solerno’s grandmother, Jack Colt begins an investigation into both murders (present and past), only to discover that long buried secrets are not as buried or secret as once thought, and everyone is suspect until proven wrong.

William Baer pulls the reader into a captivating, thought provoking, and multi-layered story of jealousy and rivalry, resentment and hatred; adultery, friendship and love. Jack Colt traverses a world of murder and obsession, betrayal and vengeance in an effort to find a killer who has now targeted our story line hero, and the woman who has opted to go along for the ride.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review on book one NEW JERSEY NOIR

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

My daughter was murdered ten years ago. She was seventeen at the time.”
“Tell me about it.”
“She was out with some friends, vanished for a day, then someone saw her car driving across the beach into the ocean near the Cove Beach jetty. They found her dead in the trunk of the car.”
I remembered it. Some of it. It got a lot of press.
Naturally, the water and the trunk made me think of The Killing. That “Who Killed Rosie Larson?” television series that I’d watched when it first aired on AMC.
I wondered if one inspired the other.
“She had a twin, right?”
“Yes, but her sister wasn’t there that night.”
I was intrigued.
Definitely.

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William Baer, a recent Guggenheim fellow, is the award-winning author of twenty-two books, and his various plays have been produced at over thirty American theaters.  He grew up in the Bronx and Wayne, New Jersey, where his family was actively involved in “little theater.”  A graduate of Rutgers (B.A.) and New York University (M.A.), he completed his dissertation in creative writing at the University of South Carolina under the direction of James Dickey.  After attending the Johns Hopkins’ Writing Seminars (M.A.), he served as a Fulbright at the University of Coimbra in Portugal.  He then attended the University of Southern California’s Graduate School of Cinema (M.A.), where he received the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award.  The recipient of a Creative Writing Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, he currently lives in North Jersey.

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All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz – a Review

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All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz – a Review

 

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Description:
North Chastain possesses a paranormal talent that gives him the ability to track down the most dangerous psychic criminals. When his father suddenly falls into a coma, North is convinced it was caused by a deadly artifact traced back to the days of a secret government laboratory known only as the Bluestone Project. North knows his only hope of saving his father is to find the artifact. He is good when it comes to tracking down killers but to locate the relic, he’s going to need help from a psychic who knows the shadowy world of obsessive collectors, deceptive dealers, and ruthless raiders…

With her reputation in ruins after a false accusation, antique expert Sierra Raines is looking for a fresh start. She turns to the murky backwaters of the paranormal artifacts trade, finding and transporting valuable objects with a psychic provenance. When North Chastain approaches her for help, Sierra takes him on as a client, though not without reservations. North represents the mysterious Foundation, the secretive organization established to police the underworld populated by psychic criminals and those, like Sierra, who make a living in the shadows of that world.

North and Sierra soon find themselves at the scene of The Incident that occurred decades ago in Fogg Lake. The town and its residents were forever changed by the disaster in the nearby Bluestone Project labs. The pair unearth shocking truths about what happened that fateful night, but they are playing with fire—someone in town knows what they’ve discovered and will do anything to make sure the secrets stay buried.

 

 

Review:

All The Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz is the 2nd book in her Fogg Lake series. Refresher: 40 years ago in the small town of Fogg Lake, an explosion caused various paranormal effects on many of the residents; such as visions, auras and other unique abilities.  The community kept to itself, not revealing anything about those strange effects; leaving the town bare of updated mechanics, such as wifi, computers, cell phones, as the dense fog blocked those signals.  

We meet our heroine, Sierra Raines, at the start, when she finds herself in a dangerous situation, with a client threatening to kill her; but with some of her paranormal ability to use mirrors, she was able to escape.  Sierra is a psychic expert on artifacts, working for a firm that trades those artifacts, as she finds and delivers them, since she is one of the best in her field.

North Chastain, our hero, also has paranormal ability as a ‘cleaner’ for The Foundation, tracking down bad psychic criminals.  North has recently begun to worry that he is losing his powers, as his specialty for seeing psi lights has suddenly gone wacky.  When North’s father is attacked and in a psychic induced coma, he suspects that someone is determined to find a dangerous artifact in the secret Fogg Lake lab 40 years ago; in order to save his father, he asks and is given Sierra to help him find the artifact. At first, North isn’t sure Sierra can be trusted, but in a short time he realizes how good she is and together they make a great team.  Right from the start, Sierra discovers that those glasses North wears has some bad paranormal effects and tells him this is why his powers are going away. Over time, she does come through helping him often, and North begins to find himself falling for her, as Sierra is smart, brave and a bad ass, not to mention beautiful. 

They will learn that the man who attacked North’s father was part of a psychiatric institution, forcing experiments on people with little paranormal ability. As they get closer to finding the truth, the trail leads North and Sierra to Fogg Lake, where they discover the lab, where his grandfather worked leaving hidden clues and artifacts.  Who is behind the attacks and threats on their lives?

What follows is an exciting, intense, action filled adventure, with many twists and turns. North and Sierra were a wonderful couple and a great team.  It was nice to see their romance build; especially as they were able to save each other numerous times.  To tell too much more would be spoilers.  All The Colors of the Night is a fast-paced suspenseful mystery thriller, with supernatural elements that add to the storyline.   Jayne Ann Krentz once again gives us another wonderful story in this series; which I look forward to reading the next book.  If you enjoy suspense mysteries, great couple and a dose of supernatural, you need to read this new series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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