Tag Archives: Thriller

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

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Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner – a Review

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Murder Road by Simone St. James – a Review

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Murder Road by Simone St. James – a Review

 

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Description:
July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

 

 

Review:

Murder Road by Simone St. James is another one of her excellent psychological thrillers.  Murder Road takes place in the summer of 1995, centered between newlyweds April and Eddie. They are embarking on road trip to for their honeymoon destination, only to discover they had taken a wrong turn to Coldlake Falls; as they end up on a deserted highway called Atticus Line. On the dark road, a flash of lightning shows a woman slowly walking; they stop and offer her a ride, which she hesitates, but then accepts.  April notices blood on the girl, and they rush to find a hospital, to help the her; who in a short period dies. 

 Detectives Quentin and Beam show up at the hospital, and after being interrogated, they warn April and Eddie, not to leave town.  Instead of being good Samaritans, they now are considered suspects. Unexplained murders have been happening along the Atticus line for many years, and legend has it that a vengeful spirit roams the road, hunting for hitchhikers.  Rumors say twenty years ago, someone was murdered, unable to identify her, they name her Jane Doe, but legend calls her The Lost Girl.

Unable to leave, April and Eddie manage to have the owner of a B&B allow them to stay. At first Rose, was very weird, but in a short time, Rose opens up, and beings to help them, explaining the stories from the past. They learn more about the ghostly legends of The Lost Girl.  They also meet Beatrice and Gracie Snell, two teenage sisters, who are wannabe detectives, with lots of information about the missing people.  Truly, they were better then the detectives.  Both Eddie and April have their own secrets, which neither knew about; they both suffered from domestic abuse, adoptions, and personal drama.  As we reach closer to the end, there is a surprise that will reveal some things from the past.  Besides that, I really liked April and Eddie.

What follows is an exciting, dark, suspenseful and creepy mystery in both time periods, which kept me hooked to find out what happened.  Murder Road was an exciting and awesome mystery, with a slight paranormal element, as well as being chilling and captivating.  The mystery has so many surprises, which were gripping and horrifying at times; a page turner all the way. Simone St. James did an amazing job writing this captivating thriller. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with a ghostly background, you should be reading Murder Road.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

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Dark Angel/The Investigator by John Sandford – Reviews

 

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Description:
Letty Davenport, the tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers.

Letty Davenport’s days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas—and her incredible skills with firearms—draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group’s California headquarters.

While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission—and their lives—in grave danger.

 

Review:
Dark Angel by John Sandford is the second book in his exciting Letty Davenport series. Letty is an investigator for Department of Homeland Security, but her real boss is with Senator Christopher Colles. She has garnered a lot attention from her last case, with other government leaders interested; but she is asked to help with a joint operation between Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.  Letty will partner up with Rod Baxter, an NSA security computer programmer; as they will need to go undercover to infiltrate an organized cell of hackers known as “Ordinary People”.  Both Letty and Rod agree that they suspect NSA leaders are not telling them all the facts. 

Letty is smart, calm, fantastic ability with guns, and determined to find the information that they need; Baxter is the programmer/hacker guru, who is not a fan of any violence.  They are both opposites, but they each have a sense of humor and focus on what needs to be done. They make contact with some hackers, showing them, they can break down Ordinary People. After they complete the work, things turn violent, as the breakdown brings in a dangerous adversary; a Russian crew is murdering people from the Ordinary People hacker group. Letty and Baxter realize the real danger is with the Russians who are bent on revenge against the OP group, as well as fighting a battle with Ukraine.

What follows is an exciting and intense thriller in the last half of the book.  Letty asks for help bringing in her CIA friend Barbara, who also is great with guns, and Kaiser (her previous partner), as well as other help from NSA.  The hackers, who they worked with earlier, and Baxter are trying to bring down the Russian attack on Ukraine; while Letty and her team prepare for the Russian invasion.

The final attack was wild, haunting and riveting, with violence, murder, and a fantastic ending.   Dark Angel was suspenseful, fast paced, and action packed throughout, with a lots of violence, murder, espionage and hackers.  I loved Letty, who was a sensational leader, and happy to see Kaiser join closer to the end, as well as Barbara.  I also like the rest of the team and hackers who were very good characters. Dark Angel was very well written by John Sandford.

 

 

 

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Description:
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.  Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her.  He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumor has it that a fairly ugly militia group might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.  Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas.  When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger.  The militia group has set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.

 

Review:

The Investigator by John Sandford is the 1st book in his new Letty Davenport series. This is a spin off of Sandford’s US Marshall Lucas Davenport series, with his adopted daughter, Letty taking center stage. At the age of 24, Letty is working for US Senator Colles, but she is bored and ready to quit, but Colles is impressed with her skills and offers her a job doing investigative work along side of the Department of Homeland Security. Letty learned at a young age from her father, on handling firearms, knowledge of police procedures, handling tense situations as well understanding all kinds of investigative reports.

Letty is pared with Homeland Security investigator John Kaiser; at first John wasn’t sure that Letty would make a good partner. But she quickly proved that she knew what she was doing, not to mention her sharp abilities using guns. In a short time, they began to trust each other, making them have a great working relationship.  

Their mission involves checking out recent oil thefts in small Texas towns, as a number of oil companies have reported thefts. Rumors are reported that a militia group may be involved, and what are they doing with the profits from the stolen oil?  While doing their investigations, they discover an oil company employee, and wife is murdered in their home; with some other people also being murdered. Letty and John begin to suspect that this militia group is planning a possible anti-immigration explosive attack at the Tex-Mex border. With time running out, Letty and Kaiser alert Homeland Security and local police to help stop the attack. Who will survive?

The Investigator was an exciting, intense story line, with the last third of the book had me unable to put the book down.  I really liked Letty, who was a compelling heroine, with her overall intelligence, amazing ability with guns, and so very confident and independent. The Investigator was very well written by John Sandford. I look forward to more of Letty Davenport.

Reviewed by Barb

Copies provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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FOREST OF SHADOWS (Alexis Forrest FBI 2) by Kate Gable-review

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FOREST OF SHADOWS (Alexis Forrest FBI Mystery Thriller 2) by Kate Gable-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 28, 2024

When she finds out that the man convicted of killing her sister may be innocent, FBI agent and forensic psychologist Alexis Forrest goes on the search for the real culprit. Evidence of her sister’s murder was found in a remote cabin, along with traces of dozens more young women. A serial killer has been stalking these woods for decades and he’s still out there.

Alexis had returned to Broken Hill, the snowy New England town where she grew up, to investigate another case. But after finding the serial killer’s cabin with evidence of other victims, she will do anything to track him down.

Meanwhile, a family is torn apart when their son goes missing while they’re on a family vacation nearby. He disappears while sledding right outside of his Airbnb. The sled is found but the boy is gone. With a huge blizzard blowing in, Alexis must fight against nature and man to find the boy before all of the evidence of who took him and what happened to him is buried.

Will Alexis be able to find the boy in time? Can she find out who killed her sister before the serial killer claims another victim?

••••••

REVIEW: FOREST OF SHADOWS is the second instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult ALEXIS FORREST mystery, thriller series focusing on thirty year old, FBI Agent/ forensic psychologist Alexis Forrest.

SOME BACKGROUND: Twenty years earlier, Alexis’ older sister Maddie was abducted and murdered, destroying the Forrest family in the process. With her return to Broken Hill to investigate a series of similar abductions, Alexis will reconnect with family, and the man who once held her heart.

Told from first person perspective (Alexis Forest) FOREST OF SHADOWS follows dual pathways including the search for a missing child, and the ongoing investigation into a decades old serial killer case. Assigned to Broken Hill, the small New England town where Alexis grew up, our heroine finds herself enmeshed into an investigation with eerily similar hallmarks to her sister’s kidnapping and murder but a missing child places Alexis’ focus somewhere else, revealing secrets hidden within the walls of a quiet, vacation rental.

FOREST OF SHADOWS reveals the horrendous crimes of a twisted mind; an obsession with notoriety and death but more so the possibility that all is not as it appears to be. With several clues and outlying suspects interconnected to the ongoing investigation, Agent Forest discovers there is more work to do on a case that is larger than she could have ever imagined.

FOREST OF SHADOWS is a story of love and loss, murder and madness, obsession and intrigue. The premise is dark and dramatic; the characters are determined and desperate.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one FOREST OF SILENCE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

 

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Description:
She wakes surrounded by an inky black darkness and can barely breathe. A sack is covering her head, and her hands are tied behind her back. She desperately tries to struggle free as she hears footsteps walking toward her. She silently starts to cry as a chilling voice whispers “It’s time to pay for what you did…”

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the murder scene of a young gas station clerk just before dawn, she assumes it must be a robbery gone tragically wrong. But when she discovers nothing has been stolen, she knows the motive must be far more personal.

Watching the security footage, Amanda is shocked to witness the cold-blooded killer not only shoot the clerk dead but abduct a customer. And her heart stops when she recognizes the customer as her former colleague, Katherine Graves. As Amanda breaks the news to Katherine’s heartbroken Aunt May , she vows to do whatever it takes to bring her niece home alive.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda and her partner, Trent, search Katherine’s home. Soon, they discover that despite no longer being with the police department, Katherine has a long list of very dangerous enemies. Enemies who have been sending her anonymous letters promising revenge.

The more Amanda digs into Katherine’s past, the longer her list of suspects becomes. But when May is sent a ransom demand and a picture of Katherine close to death, Amanda knows time is running out. With only hours left to find Katherine alive, Amanda is prepared to risk everything to keep her promise to May, even her own life…

 

 

 

Review:

Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold is the 10th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. As I have noted previously, I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department.

In the predawn hours, a young girl working in a convenience store, is shot dead, and a former colleague of Amanda is kidnapped.  When Amanda and Trent are called to the scene of the murder, they thought at first that it was a robbery, but watching the security footage, she recognizes the person who was abducted, was Katherine Graves, a former cop and colleague. Now it’s a race against time to find Katherine before she is killed.

Katherine, no longer a cop, had a tough reputation, handling a number of high-profile cases, and Amanda and Trent have to look into old cases and people who may have wanted revenge.  Katherine did have a long list of dangerous enemies, which makes it even harder to find the culprit. This is told in two POV’s, for both Amanda and Katherine.  In one of her Pov’s, the perpetrator tells Katherine “it’s time to pay for what you did.”

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story. As Amanda continues to dig into Katherines past cases, the longer her list of suspects becomes.  To say too much more would be spoilers.

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

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

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The Wedding Party by LR Jones-a review

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The Wedding Party by LR Jones-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date February 20,2024

For a bride-to-be and her fiancé, secrets and lies make this a killer celebration in this psychological suspense.

Carrie and Oliver. A couple completely in love and the hosts of a wedding to remember at Colorado’s legendary Stanley Hotel. This is Carrie’s fairy tale come true. Her fiancé, Oliver, is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome; successful; and utterly devoted to her. Now family and friends have gathered to celebrate. It’s sure to be a wild night as the drinks flow freely and the fun begins.

But the morning after is murder.

FBI agent Andi Castle was just supposed to be a plus-one. This should have been a calming weekend getaway from what she does best: catch killers. Instead, Andi’s on the hunt again. The hotel is on lockdown. Secrets are being unearthed. And no one is above Andi’s suspicions. But which secrets are worth killing for? Andi’s forced to find the answers fast…before someone else dies.

••••

REVIEW:THE WEDDING PARTY by LR Jones (Lisa Renee Jones) is the second instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult, mystery-thriller, suspense series.

Told from several first person perspectives including Carrie Reynolds, and FBI profiler Andrea ‘Andi’ Castle, THE WEDDING PARTY follows in the aftermath of the murder of the intended groom. FBI profiler Andi Castle has been invited to a destination bachelor/bachelorette party by a friend but Andi doesn’t know the bride and groom, and discovers not everyone is happy with the unexpected guest list. A weekend to rest and relax ends with the groom-to-be’s murder, and Agent Andi Castle finds herself deep into an investigation with secrets and surprises she never saw coming. With everyone a suspect, attorneys begin to shut down the interviews, as Andi and her team dig deeper into the possibilities and back stories of everyone involved.

The world building follows several paths including the mindset of both Agent Andi Castle, and and the victim’s fiancee Carrie Reynolds. We are up close and personal as Andi struggles to remain open minded, while everyone else points the finger at the only potential suspect. As the story begins to unravel, Andi begins to focus on someone else.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters most of whom have their own story to tell. From the groomsmen to the bridesmaids, there is a history of secrets and possible betrayal leading to any number of scenarios for murderous revenge.

THE WEDDING PARTY is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, madness and murder. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and captivating but there was some redundancy and repetition; the characters are dynamic and desperate.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

L.R. Jones is a pseudonym for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, whose dark, edgy fiction includes the highly acclaimed novels The Poet, A Perfect Lie, and the Lilah Love series. Prior to publishing, Lisa owned a multistate staffing agency recognized by the Austin Business Journal. Lisa was listed as #7 in Entrepreneur magazine’s list of growing women-owned businesses. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat who always has something to say, and a golden retriever who’s afraid of her own bark. 

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The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock 2)by Kelley Armstrong-review

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The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock 2) by Kelley Armstrong-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 20, 2024

Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren’t allowed to wander off alone.

When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

••••••

REVIEW:THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is the second instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s contemporary adult HAVEN’S ROCK mystery, thriller series set in the fictional town of Haven’s Rock, Yukon a spin off from the author’s ROCKTON series focusing on Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton.

SOME BACKGROUND: Rockton Yukon did not exist on any map, and the residents all had a questionable past, fake names and false histories. Most were once considered to be white collar crimes but with increasing regularity, hardened criminals have somehow paid their way into Rockton, seeking sanctuary against future prosecution, a safe place for two years before seeking asylum somewhere else. A serial killer destroyed the people and ultimately the town of Rockton Yukon, and with the help of some of their former friends and a big influx of cash, Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton, begin the task of building a new town, known as Haven’s Rock, a town that will expose our couple to more murders and questionable inhabitants.

Told from first person perspective (Casey Duncan) and several omniscient third person perspectives including Max, THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR follows in the wake of the possible abduction of a ten year old boy. Out for a walk in the Yukon wilderness, ten year old Max claims he saw a man-bear, a possible wild man but no one believes his story. Desperate to prove everyone wrong, Max goes into the forest alone, and doesn’t return, leading the people of Haven’s Rock to believe one of their own may have taken the ten year old boy. A search ensues under the direction of Detective Casey Duncan and her husband Sheriff Eric Dalton but a missing boy is the least of their worries. A dead man from a neighboring mining camp is just the beginning, and now there is a possibility of a killer on the loose.

THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR is a slow building story of mystery and suspense. Like most of the townsfolk, we no very little about the individuals who have sought refuge in Haven’s Rock, but the possibility of a another killer in their midst means someone else may have lied about the who, how and why. The members of an all-male mining camp are suspect but when lines are drawn, Casey and Eric begin to suspect a much bigger issue at play.

Kelley Armstrong pulls the reader into a story of power and control, madness and obsession, family and friendships. The premise is dramatic and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, determined, and desperate characters, not all of whom will survive.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one MURDER AT HAVEN’S ROCK

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Goodreads / Website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Amazon Author Page/

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make her produce “normal” stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the NYT-bestselling “Women of the Otherworld” paranormal suspense series and “Darkest Powers” young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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The Murder Club (Pike, Wisonsin 5) by Alexandra Ivy -review

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The Murder Club (Pike, Wisonsin 5) by Alexandra Ivy -review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 20, 2024

Over the years, small-town Pike, Wisconsin, has seen its share of shady characters, murderers, and serial killers—and not all of them have landed behind bars. For some folks, solving cold cases from the safety of the virtual world is a harmless diversion—but the stakes can be deadly . . .

An online crime-solving group is just the kind of adventure Bailey Evans needs. She loves her nursing career and small-town life, but her days are predictable. Her confidence bolstered by having her sheriff cousin Zac nearby, Bailey’s up for some innocent fun and intrigue. . . . Until she starts receiving unnerving Once the game begins, there’s no backing out of The Murder Club. Then the game gets real . . .

First, Bailey is shut out at work after an elderly patient dies and leaves her a shocking inheritance. Then a priceless necklace from an anonymous source arrives in her mail—along with a bone-chilling threat. Determined not to involve expectant father Zac, Bailey contacts an expert the charming Las Vegas businessman who’s never left her mind . . .

Dom Lucier knows real gems—and Bailey is the most precious thing he’s seen since they met at her best friend’s wedding. Returning to Pike to trace the jewelry’s bloody history, Dom helps Bailey kick open a murderous cold case. But as death and disaster escalate, they’ll need a new strategy to escape a killer who won’t be satisfied until the streets of Pike are soaked in blood . .

•••

REVIEW:THE MURDER CLUB is the fifth instalment in Alexandra Ivy’s contemporary, adult PIKE, WISCONSIN mystery, suspense series . This is pawn shop owner/ television personality Dom Lucier, and registered nurse Bailey Evans’ story line. THE MURDER CLUB can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty . Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary . Bailey is Sheriff Zac Evans’ (UNSTABLE #3) cousin.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Dom and Bailey) following several intersecting paths, THE MURDER CLUB follows in the wake of the death of a local nursing home resident, a death blamed on our story line heroine. Months earlier Bailey Evans met television personality Dom Lucier at the wedding of mutual friends (Kaden and Lia: Desperate Acts #4), and his arrival in Pike, Wisconsin coincides with Bailey’s life spiralling out of control. Dom Lucier is temporarily living at Kaden’s place in Pike where he will seek out the woman who stole his heart but Pike’s reputation as the murder capital of America is about to push our couple together in more ways than one. Enter Bailey Evans. Bailey is a nurse who loves her clients but the death of a resident, and her subsequent inheritance of several thousand dollars places our heroine at the top of the list when several other items go missing, and the nursing home owner refuses to listen to reason. With the help of Dom, Bailey goes in search of the truth, a search that has more twists and turns the deeper our couple dig into the investigation. With everyone having a motive, and a potential stalker targeting our story line heroine, Dom and Bailey begin an investigation of their own only to discover there are more players and suspects than they could have ever imagined.

The world building is detailed and complex as the number of potential suspects, clues and possible red herrings enter into the investigation. As a former member of an online Murder Club, a group that re-investigates murders and deaths that were never solved, Bailey finds herself in a threatening situation when she refuses to ‘play the game’, a game playing out in Pike, Wisconsin. As the number of victims begin to amass, Bailey and Dom’s search reveals a web of vengeance for sins of the past.

The relationship between Bailey and Dom is one of friendship that will quickly turn into something more. Bailey is in need of protection, and Dom volunteers to guard the woman with whom he is falling in love. There are no $ex scenes , everything is implied.

THE MURDER CLUB is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, jealousy, obsession and murder, friendships and love. The premise is intriguing but not believable on so many levels-in this I struggled to accept the concept of our couple as the principle investigators. The characters are energetic; the romance is limited, but I felt no palpable sexual attraction.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Don’t Look
Faceless
Unstable
Desperate Acts
Redemption 4.5 (Peril Anthology)

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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