Tag Archives: Crime

Bring Them Home (Detective Amanda Steele 16) by Carolyn Arnold

Posted on by
12

Bring Them Home (Detective Amanda Steele 16) by Carolyn Arnold-review tour

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 27, 2026

She’d never been this terrified but she refused to let it show, to give her captors more power. As she was led out of the van with her parents, she stifled a cry. Ahead of her was an old farm, surrounded by fields. There was no one for miles around. No one to hear the screams that would inevitably come.

When a seemingly ordinary family goes missing in plain sight, Detective Amanda Steele is called in to find them before it’s too late. The only evidence left behind is the mother’s abandoned car in a mall parking lot—her phone and purse on the front seat. But why would anyone target a loving mother, a dedicated father and elementary schoolteacher, and a teenage girl?

Amanda and Trent speak with friends and family but can’t unearth any reason the family would disappear on their own. Their darker suspicion is confirmed when they find CCTV footage of the mother and daughter being bundled into an unmarked black van, driven away at speed. They are looking at an abduction.

Soon human remains are discovered in a field outside of town, and Amanda uncovers a lead that could blow the investigation wide open. If she’s right, this case is linked to a woman who went missing ten years ago—and closer still, to someone within the police department. But can Amanda and Trent put all the pieces together in time to stop a twisted killer before more lives are lost?

••••••

REVIEW:I picked up Bring Them Home expecting another solid entry in Carolyn Arnold’s Detective Amanda Steele series, and it delivered exactly the kind of tense crime thriller I’ve come to like from her.

From the opening pages the sense of dread is immediate and personal…. an ordinary family vanishes in broad daylight, leaving behind little more than a mother’s abandoned car in a mall parking lot with her phone and purse still inside….. That simple, chilling image sets the tone for everything that follows.

Amanda and her partner Trent dig into the lives of the missing parents and their teenage daughter, only to confirm what their instincts already suggested, this was no voluntary disappearance!

CCTV catches the mother and daughter being forced into a black van, and the investigation shifts into higher gear.

When human remains turn up in a remote field, the case deepens and darkens, connecting to a decade old disappearance and, most unsettling of all, pointing toward someone inside the police department itself.

What I liked most was how the author keeps the focus tight on the procedural work without sacrificing the emotional weight of the family’s situation.

Amanda’s determination feels genuine, you sense the pressure she and Trent are under as the clock ticks and the possibility of more victims looms.

The farmhouse setting, isolated and surrounded by empty fields, becomes a recurring image that heightens the isolation and helplessness of the captives. The twists land with satisfying force, especially the way the older case folds into the present one, and the internal threat within the department adds a layer of paranoia that keeps the tension high right through the final pages.

This is the sixteenth book in the series, yet it stands comfortably on its own. (I’ve only read a couple of this series, and at some point I’m definitely going back.)

The pacing is relentless in the best way, once the abduction is confirmed I found myself reading far later than I intended, 😜 unwilling to put the book down until the pieces clicked into place.

If you enjoy police procedurals that balance solid investigative detail with genuine emotional stakes and the occasional gut punch twist, Bring Them Home is a great addition to the Amanda Steele series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B

 

Carolyn Arnold was born in a small Canadian town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. As an international bestselling and award-winning author, she has several continuing fiction series, including her popular Detective Madison Knight series. She offers readers nearly three dozen published books in genres ranging from crime thrillers and hard-boiled mysteries to cozy mysteries and action adventures. She currently lives north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles.

Share

The Confessor (Logan Hollister 1) by Noah Christopher-review

Posted on by
12

The Confessor (Logan Hollister 1) by Noah Christopher-review & interview

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 4, 2026

A killer is making Los Angeles confess.

The Confessor is never wrong. He has built his whole life around being sure of it.

He chooses people who got away with it — never charged, never even suspected. The charity director who gutted his own foundation. The smiling influencer who built an empire on a lie.

He sits them down alone with a pen and a yellow legal pad, and waits as long as it takes for the truth in their own hand.

Then he balances the account.

The confessions are real. But on paper, nothing connects the victims — separate lives, separate crimes, no thread that should tie one death to the next.

Detective Logan Hollister has every reason to stay out of it. The money came a long time ago; the house is an hour down the coast, the kind of quiet other men spend their whole lives chasing. Logan can only tolerate it in small batches before he wants back in. He keeps the badge, works the cases that still mean something, and this is the one he can’t walk away from.

On the surface, he and the man he’s hunting are opposites. One has everything a life can hold. The other spent years making himself into no one at all.

But the bodies keep coming, and the difference between them keeps thinning — until Logan can’t always tell whether he’s hunting the man or recognizing him.

••••••

REVIEW: THE CONFESSOR is the first instalment in Noah Christopher’s contemporary, adult LOGAN HOLLISTER crime thriller focusing on LA Detective Logan Hollister.

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

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Logan and The Confessor) THE CONFESSOR follows the search for a killer. Three murders with no comparable connections except the manor of death finds LA Detective Logan Hollister following the clues that lead to nowhere. The Confessor, who forces his victims to write down their sins and questionable activities, made a mistake, and Logan is determined to understand the who and why. Logan, along with officer Curt Alton, and Rachel Voss, forensic accountant begin to ferret out the possibilities, and it is the killer’s ‘mistake’ that will lead Logan Hollister in the right direction.

The world building follows two pathways, both focusing on police investigations. From stolen goods to a serial killer, the reader is up close and personal with Logan Hollister and the break down of the W5-who, what, where, when and why. Employing real-world locales, the story line looks at the ultimate betrayal by and against the victims, as one man declares himself judge, jury and executioner.

The secondary and supporting characters aid the hero as he endeavors to uncover the truth. Without the help of ‘his people’ behind the scenes, Logan Hollister may be like every other detective but a detective who has the ability to take down a killer.

THE CONFESSOR is a slow building story line of obsession and madness, perceived betrayal and vengeance, power and control, righteousness and judgement. The premise is detailed and intriguing; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Hi Noah, and welcome to The Reading Cafe. Congratulations on the release of The Confessor.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media: Goodreads/Website/ Amazon Author Page/

I’ve been a writer by trade for many years, just in a variety of different mediums. Writing a novel was always one of those things I thought I might do someday, until I finally decided that someday had to become today and jumped in.

The Confessor is my first novel, so the entire process was a new world for me. I learned as I went, and I’m still learning, but I found my rhythm along the way and discovered that I loved it enough to keep building the Logan Hollister series. I’m already at work on Book 2, and it’s a blast!

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

John Sandford has probably been the biggest influence on my fiction. I still remember reading Rules of Prey for the first time and being pulled into the alternating perspectives of the hero and villain. I loved that book immediately and have read every other Sandford book ever since. His style, tone, dialogue, and fast pacing were all things I wanted to emulate in these books. I’m also a fan of Michael Crichton, John Grisham, and classics like The Catcher in the Rye, Catch-22, 1984, and Animal Farm.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter while writing and publishing your first novel?

The first challenge was simply learning how to write a full novel. I had plenty of writing experience, but a book requires a different kind of endurance and structure. I had to learn pacing, continuity, when to slow down, when to accelerate, and when a scene was doing too much. Even despite my best efforts to storyboard a master outline for the book upfront, I learned that the book becomes a living thing as you go and even the best-laid plans change once you start writing. I kept the general direction, but it surprised me how many times I had to reroute and pivot once I started getting the chapters onto the page.

Publishing brought a second education. I chose to self-publish through Amazon KDP, which meant learning every part of the process rather than handing the manuscript to a traditional publisher. It was a massive learning curve, but it also gave me control over the book and taught me not to wait for someone else’s permission before starting.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of The Confessor?

The book begins with a killer who has become disgusted by the injustice he sees around him. He targets people he believes have escaped accountability, forces them to confess to their crimes, and then kills them anyway.

Logan Hollister is the detective trying to stop him, but the story becomes more complicated as the line between justice and vengeance starts to blur. The two men increasingly feel like opposing sides of the same coin. My goal was to write a fast, entertaining crime thriller that also leaves readers wrestling with some uncomfortable questions about morality, justice, and who gets to make those decisions.

TRC:  Do you believe any of your characters in The Confessor have a fundamental flaw that readers may question?

Definitely. Logan is the hero, but I didn’t want him to be morally spotless or an untouchable ‘Superman’ character, even though he does have a lot going for him. He has a strong sense of justice and a willingness to trust his own judgment, and both qualities can become dangerous when pushed too far. He also cannot rest, relax, or enjoy the moment; he has to be in pursuit or he gets restless.

The Confessor takes those questions of justice and moral certainty to their darkest extreme. Part of the tension comes from seeing how differently the two men act on impulses that may not be as far apart as either of them would like to believe. I expect readers to question some of their choices. That moral friction is central to the book.

TRC:  What kind of research and plotting did you do, and how long did you spend on it before beginning The Confessor?

I started with the core idea, built Logan and The Confessor in parallel, and mapped the major turns of the plot. But I didn’t complete a fixed block of research and then begin writing. The research continued throughout the draft and the editing process, so there isn’t one clean number of weeks I could give you.  I just jumped in!

Los Angeles geography was especially important to me. I wanted the streets, landmarks, travel, police procedure, legal details, and other small pieces to feel true to life. I used modern research tools to move faster, including AI as a researcher and sounding board, while making the book as accurate to reality as possible. The result is a book you can practically drive through Los Angeles and recognize.

TRC:  How many books do you have planned for the Logan Hollister series?

At least two! And hopefully a lot more than that. I already have the core idea for my third or perhaps fourth book in the series. I haven’t announced this anywhere else, but it’s called The Ghost. As long as it continues to be a fun process and people continue to enjoy the books, I hope to do at least one a year going forward.

TRC:  Do you consider The Confessor a psychological thriller as well as a crime thriller?

Yes. It has the structure and momentum of a crime thriller, but the psychological side is a major part of what drives it. The alternating perspectives let readers spend time inside both the investigation and the killer’s moral reasoning.

The deeper question isn’t only whether Logan can catch him. It is what happens when a man convinces himself that violence is justice, and how close a good person can move toward that same line while pursuing him.

TRC:  How do you use the physical environment or setting to heighten tension and psychological intimacy in your storylines?

Los Angeles gave me a great contrast to work with. It is bright, sunny, familiar, and full of life, which makes the darkness of the crimes feel even more unsettling. The city isn’t just a backdrop; its streets, neighborhoods, distances, and landmarks shape how the characters move and how the investigation unfolds.

I also like narrowing the lens when a scene becomes psychologically intense. A huge city can suddenly feel very small when two characters are locked into the same room, car, or conversation. That contrast between the scale of Los Angeles and the intimacy of the confrontation helps build tension. Early on, with multiple murders and almost zero evidence, the size of Los Angeles – with a killer hiding among millions of people – feels almost impossible to overcome.

TRC:  Believability is important in both writing and reading. How do you keep a storyline believable without sacrificing content?

I try to earn every major turn. That means doing the research, making sure the geography and procedure work, and asking whether the characters are behaving like real people rather than simply doing what the plot needs them to do.

Restraint helps too. Sometimes the more believable choice is to imply something, move part of a scene off-page, or let the reader complete it in their head. I don’t see that as sacrificing content. If anything, the content lands harder when the reader believes it.

Ultimately, even the best entertainment requires some suspension of disbelief, but I try to limit the need for that whenever I can. If the tension or turns don’t feel real, the book won’t work.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image is a deciding factor for many readers selecting a book or a new series?

Absolutely. A cover can’t rescue a book readers don’t enjoy, but it is the first promise the book makes. Before someone knows the characters or reads a line of the story, the cover tells them what kind of experience they are being invited into.

I had a very specific vision for The Confessor, and I probably went through more than a hundred variations before it felt exactly right. That process reinforced how much a strong cover matters, especially for a new author asking readers to take a chance on an unfamiliar name.

TRC:   When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing, or do you direct the characters?

It is a mix of both. I begin with the core idea and the major turns I need the story to hit, so I am directing the overall journey. Logan came first, then I developed The Confessor alongside the central plot, and many of the supporting characters formed as the story needed them.

Once the characters become real, though, they earn some influence. If a planned action no longer feels honest for that person, I have to listen and adjust the route. I know the destination, but the characters sometimes find a more believable road to get there.

TRC:  A good writer pulls readers into the story so they experience the emotions alongside the characters. What must a writer do to make that happen, and where do writers fail?

The emotion has to be earned rather than announced. Specific details, believable choices, pacing, body language, and what a character does not say can pull a reader in more effectively than explaining exactly what everyone is supposed to feel.

I think writers can lose that connection when they over-explain, force a reaction before the story has earned it, or confuse intensity with constant volume. A thriller can’t run at its highest pitch on every page. The quieter moments create the contrast that makes the big moments hit. One rule I had governing the writing of this book was to trust the reader. Readers are smart. They can connect dots in their heads. Whenever possible, I wanted to allow readers to understand a joke or make a connection on their own without needing to tag it with explanatory narration. That’s a hard urge to fight, but I think it makes for a much better finished product.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline or characters?

No. I need almost complete silence when I write. I’m definitely not someone who can settle into a busy coffee shop with background music and produce a chapter. I work best alone in my quiet office, where I can disappear into the scene.

Music can help me think about the tone of the book outside the actual writing session, but once I sit down to put words on the page, silence wins every time.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Probably that authors begin with some complete understanding of how to write a book, or that they wait for inspiration and the story simply arrives. I can’t speak to other authors’ processes, but that was not my experience at all. I learned by doing it, making mistakes, solving problems, and becoming more confident one chapter at a time.

You do not need to feel completely ready, and you do not need someone else to declare that you are allowed to begin. You need an idea you care about, a willingness to learn, and the discipline to keep going when the work stops feeling magical.

TRC:  What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

That I build a big chunk of myself into the Logan character. Obviously not everything, but I had a lot of fun sprinkling in small Easter eggs involving Logan that only people who know me well would pick up on. There’s no mass-market payoff to those details, but they were great fun for me while I was writing the book. One of the core premises of the book – Logan’s ownership of WLTLH – is one such Easter egg.

TRC:   What are you currently working on?

I’m working on Book 2 in the Logan Hollister series. I already have the first ten chapters drafted, and I may be biased, but I think it is even better than the first book.

The challenge now is to keep the continuity straight, move the characters forward, raise the stakes, and still make the next book satisfying on its own. Another challenge is successfully landing the plane with a payoff that leaves the reader satisfied. I’m learning again as I go, which is half the fun.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Only that I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has read, reviewed, or shared The Confessor. The response has been more encouraging than I could have hoped. We launched recently, and based on the current stats Amazon provides, I can estimate that readers are moving through roughly 2,000-plus pages of the book each day across all formats. It’s both humbling and incredibly encouraging to know that, at any given moment, people are reading a book I wrote. And they really seem to be liking it!

If you enjoy a fast-moving crime thriller that also leaves you with a few uncomfortable questions about justice and morality, I hope you’ll give it a try. And thank you for having me at The Reading Cafe.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite food: That might change based on the day, but it’s hard to top a medium- are filet.

Favorite dessert: Ice cream.

Favorite TV show: I’ll go with the first three seasons of Arrested Development.
Runners-up: Frasier, Seinfeld, Severance, Succession, Star Trek: The
Next Generation, The Orville, Battlestar Galactica, and so many
others!

Last movie you saw: He-Man remake with my son!

Dark or milk chocolate: Milk chocolate.

Secret celebrity crush: Oh boy, I don’t think I need this one on the record in print!

Favorite sport: Basketball.

Last vacation destination: Lake of the Ozarks.

Do you have any pets ? No. I told the kids we can get a dog as soon as I can buy an Optimus robot from Tesla to clean up after it. No Optimus release yet, so no dog yet.

Last book you read :John Sandford’s Dark Angel.

Thank you, Noah, for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of The Confessor. We wish you all the best.

Share

Every Last One by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Posted on by
16

Every Last One by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Amazon / B&N / BAM / Bookouture

 

Description:
Tucking her daughter into her hospital bed, Gail sent up a silent prayer. Her daughter’s heart is failing and without this life-saving operation she will die. But soon her peace is shattered when a nurse races into the “Lock the doors, close the blinds. The hospital’s in lockdown. We have a shooter.”

When four attackers storm Founders Hospital, plunging it into an immediate lockdown, countless lives are at stake. As one of the FBI’s top negotiators, Special Agent Sandra Vos, is called in to bring the situation to a peaceful surrender.

Soon she discovers that the hostage takers have blocked the cell network and hospital phones are down. Every detail of the attack was meticulously planned. But why target a hospital?

Sandra’s strongest lead comes when they discover that one of the armed assailants forced themselves into a board meeting, taking their demands straight to the top. But with the attackers refusing to make contact and a little girl’s life hanging in the balance, Sandra needs to find the motive, fast.

When a shot rings out, it’s clear the hostage takers are prepared to kill to get what they want. But just when Sandra thinks all is lost, she discovers a link between them that reveals a very personal motive.

Sandra will need to use everything in her power to convince the hostage takers that this can end safely for everyone. But can she really meet their demands? And if not, how many lives will be lost?

 

 

 

Review:

Every Last One by Carolyn Arnold is the 2nd book in her Sandra Vos series.  Special agent Sandra Vos is a negotiator with the FBI, and she is sent with her partner, Brice Sutton to a hospital that has gone into a lockdown. A tense hostage situation at a Washington D.C. area hospital, and they realize there is no communication in or out of the hospital.  The hostage takers have blocked the network, and the internet and hospital phones are down as well. The tension ramps up as the hours tick by without resolution, the danger involving some of the antagonists.

Sandra is capable and strong, always calm in stressful situations, and has a fantastic memory. With four gunmen have the building in lockdown, Sandra faces her most harrowing challenge. She must determine to find a way to get communications back and try to talk to the main leader as the antagonists are hostile and angry.  Sandra also is concerned with a young child that will need a heart transplant in the later part of the day, and she fears the child will not be able to get help.

Every Last One was a suspenseful, tense, emotional, gripping, compelling thriller. The story points out so many situations, including anger, frustration, desperation, family, hostages, and danger. I love Sandra Vos, as she was a fantastic FBI agent. Every Last One was very well written by Carolyn Arnold.  Great story, which I suggest you read this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Publisher

 

 

Share

Moonlight Justice by Nala Nicole-review & guest post

Posted on by
14

Moonlight Justice by Nala Nicole-review & guest post

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 31, 2025

Will Bella Hayes deliver justice or succumb to the darkness within?

Bella, a woman born on the moon, possesses extraordinary strength tied to the lunar cycle. By day, she is Detective Bella Hayes, a quiet observer of the law’s failures. By night, under the moon’s glow, she becomes something more—something not of this world. As her power surges, so does her thirst for justice.

When Radcliff escapes yet another trial unscathed, Bella and her partner Detective Mark Calloway, teams up with Lucas, her only friend at the Roguehaven Police unit, and tech genius, to pursue him into The Deep, the city’s haunting underground ruins. As she battles Radcliff’s henchmen, navigates a web of betrayal, and confronts her own inner demons.

••••••

REVIEW: This book is a mix of paranormal and crime drama.

We follow Detective Bella Hayes, a woman born under the mesmerizing glow of the moon, whose strength/speed and stamina is intertwined with its phases.

Nala Nicole crafts a really good story that delves into justice/inner darkness, and the quest for truth.

Bella is a captivating character, showing both the strength and vulnerability that comes with her supernatural abilities. As a daytime detective, she observes the failures of the law, but by night, (the lunar light) awakens a fierceness within her, which makes her into a relentless avenger. This duality makes Bella a richly layered character, whose journey reflects not only her battles against external enemies like Radcliff a slippery and manipulative antagonist but also her internal struggles.

The supporting characters add to the story, particularly Detective Mark Calloway and Lucas, the tech savvy ally. Their banter and teamwork against Radcliff’s henchmen provide an engaging dynamic that balances action with emotional moments. The author weaves themes of friendship and loyalty, really well, I had moments where I did laugh (not the best place when your on a packed train 😝)

The Deep, an underground paradise turned nightmarish ruin. Is the setting for not only the final battle (which was awesome by the way) but for Radcliff to build his empire….

The pace of the novel is set at a constant pace.

The writing is vivid and thought provoking, and at times I could see myself in, the urban landscape and the eerie ambiance of The Deep. The pull of the moon and its changing phases mirrored Bella’s evolving psyche and we watch as she grapples with the darker aspects of her nature.

While the plot builds toward an electrifying climax, it also raised a question about justice and the implications of vengeance. Bella’s journey of self discovery and her confrontation with personal demons make the story really come to life. The definitions of right and wrong, and what cost to you if you take justice into your own hands.

In conclusion, *Moonlight Justice* is a captivating read that successfully mixes fantasy elements with a crime storyline.

Nala Nicole has created a compelling world where the line between justice and vengeance becomes increasingly blurred, and where Bella’s strength is tested against both external threats and internal conflicts.

Fans of urban fantasy and thrilling detective tales will find themselves enthralled by Bella’s journey, eager to uncover the next twist in her pursuit of justice.

This is absolute must read.

Copy supplied for review

🦋 Reviewed by Julie B

Believability in Paranormal and Fantasy Storylines: Anchoring the Unreal in the Real

By Nala Nicole

Fantasy and paranormal fiction stretch the limits of imagination—but even in a world of supernatural strength, a city’s propensity for crime, and moon-born heroines, one thing remains essential: believability. Without it, readers disconnect. They might enjoy the spectacle, but they won’t feel it. And feeling, ultimately, is what drives a story home.

Take my novel, Moonlight Justice, as a prime example. The protagonist, Bella Hayes, was born on the moon and draws her strength from the lunar cycle. That premise alone pushes genre boundaries—but what makes it work is how grounded the rest of the narrative is, in my opinion, of course. Bella isn’t just a super-powered woman chasing justice; she’s a detective who sees the system fail time and again. Her frustration is human. Her thirst for justice is relatable. And her transformation under the moonlight? It becomes symbolic, not just fantastical.

Believability in paranormal/fantasy fiction hinges on a few key elements:

1. Emotional Realism

No matter how far-fetched a power or setting may be, the character’s emotions must ring true. Bella’s internal struggle—between justice and vengeance, law and instinct—is deeply human. Readers don’t need to have lunar-powered strength to understand the pain of watching someone like Radcliff escape justice again and again. Her desire to become something more is believable because it taps into a common yearning: to reclaim power in a broken world.

2. Consistent Worldbuilding

In Moonlight Justice, Roguehaven isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a breathing, crumbling city with layers, secrets, and a haunting underbelly known as The Deep. The setting supports the supernatural without overwhelming it. The city’s darkness mirrors Bella’s own, giving context to her powers. When readers see Bella and her team—Detective Mark Calloway and tech genius Lucas—descend into the underworld to hunt Radcliff, they’re not just watching an action scene. They’re immersed in a fully-realized world with rules, danger, and stakes.

3. Flawed, Layered Characters

No fantasy hero should be invincible. Bella Hayes is powerful, yes, but she’s also emotionally bruised, morally conflicted, and haunted by the lines she’s willing to cross. Her flaws make her relatable. Readers believe in her journey because they see the cost of her choices. That tension—justice versus darkness—is what drives the plot and keeps readers invested.

4. Purposeful Supernatural Elements

Powers should mean something. Bella’s connection to the moon isn’t just a gimmick—it’s a metaphor for cycles, control, and change. Her strength surges under moonlight, but so does her rage. The paranormal element adds stakes to the emotional arc. It elevates the story without replacing the character’s humanity.

In the end, Moonlight Justice succeeds not because it has powers and underground lairs, but because it respects the core of storytelling: truth. In fantasy and paranormal fiction, believability doesn’t come from realism—it comes from resonance. When readers see themselves in the struggle, the magic becomes real.

Social Media: Facebook / Amazon Author/ Goodreads/

Share

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts – a Review

Posted on by
13

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.

 

 

Review:

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is a fantastic standalone novel. We meet our heroine, Sloan Cooper, who is a respected police officer in the Maryland Natural Resources.  She has just finished an operation with her partner, capturing dangerous hikers in the mountains.  She stops in a convenience store, and is gunned down by an armed robber; almost dying before being shocked back on the operating table multiple times. Sloan moves back home to Heron’s Rest, staying with her family’s resort, to recuperate for her long recovery ahead.

While she becomes bored during recovery, Sloan hears about a case of a missing women, and is drawn to this intriguing case, as the women was abducted from a grocery store parking lot. She begins to research on her own and soon discovers that other missing people from other areas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virgina that have disappeared.  Sloane discovers a chilling pattern, with multiple people of different genders having disappeared abandoning their cars; suggesting a serial killer. The deeper she investigates, she suspects that maybe she would be on the killers list.

I really loved how Sloan’s family and friends were so great, including her parents and sister, Drea.  We meet both Nash and Theo Littlefield, who moved from New York, with both leaving behind their careers, and forming a handyman business, The Fix-It Brothers. In a short time, their business begins to escalate, and Sloan having bought a house, hires them to fix her place. Sparks spark between Theo and Drea, as they both find themselves falling in love.  Nash finds himself intrigued with Sloan, especially helping her on some of the cases; with Nash realizing that he is also falling in love with Sloane, as she also has strong feelings.

The antagonists were chilling, as well as evil. Especially killing the victims who all had survived near death.   Sloan and Nash find themselves working together to uncover the truth about the killers.

Hidden Nature was a fantastic intriguing thriller, that was a blend of suspense, romance, mystery and action-packed.  Sloan was a terrific heroine, who was dedicated, tenacious, decisive and gripping. Hidden Nature was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  I suggest you read Hidden Nature, which was an exciting thriller.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Hidden Angels by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Posted on by
15

Hidden Angels by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
As the wall is peeled back, everyone falls silent. Then they see her. The near-perfect remains of a young female, two jelly bangles and a neon necklace being the only clues to how long she had been hidden there. But who was she? And who could have possibly wanted to take such an innocent life?

When the body of girl is discovered in the walls of a Woodbridge church, Detective Amanda Steele is immediately called to the scene. On arrival she meets FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos who explains that while negotiating a hostage incident moments before, a gun was fired. The bullet missed its target but exposed human remains.

The victim has been perfectly preserved, her jewellery and summer dress taking Amanda back to her own teenage years. DNA quickly confirms that the victim was taken over thirty years ago. Thinking about her own daughter, Amanda cannot imagine the devastation for the young girl’s family and vows to find the killer.

Amanda and her partner Trent determine the suspect behind the attempted shooting, Cameron Cofell, had a very clear reason for exacting revenge on the church’s priest. As they question the wider community, a neighbour reveals her long-held suspicions too. But when she is found murdered, Amanda knows this killer is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep their dark secret from ever coming to light.

Soon the investigation takes Amanda and Trent to an abandoned farmhouse—a place that haunts Cameron’s nightmares—where they find a faded photograph that holds the mystery of another chilling cold case. But just how far back does this evil go, and how much will Amanda and Trent need to sacrifice to find the killer?

 

 

Review:

Hidden Angels by Carolyn Arnold is the 13th book in her wonderful 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 fantastic addition.  Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Prince William County, Virginia

When a local priest is held captive in his church, a shot is fired, hitting a wall in the Woodbridge church, which exposed a body entombed. Detective Amanda Steel and her partner, Trent are called to the scene. Amanda meets FBI agent Sandra Vos, who was negotiating a hostage situation in the church. Sandra was willing to help Amanda and Trent, getting more information for their needs.

The DNA quickly confirms that the victim was kidnapped from an amusement park over thirty years ago, with the child being 8 years old.  Her body was entombed within the wall at the age of sixteen. Cameron Cofell was the one who threatened the priest, as he thought the church was abusive, but his parents were the ones who abused him. Cameron’s parents were killed in an accident a few years ago, and it was suspected that the parents were the ones who kidnapped the girl, and killed her 8 years later.

Amanda and Trent are deep in investigating the past and the present, as they will work long into the night to find the truths. Amanda and Trent go to an abandoned farmhouse, finding faded photos that that holds the mystery of who helped the parents kill the girl.

Amanda and Trent are a great team, and I like them together. Amanda is a great detective, very strong, independent, and always able to solve any case. She also worries about her daughter, Zoey, because she always busy on a case, and feeling guilty about those long days that her job entails.   

What follows is an exciting, fast paced, suspenseful, compelling, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was another fantastic thriller. Hidden Angels was a fabulous crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. Another wonderful police procedural, with great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with some twists and surprises at the end. Hidden Angels was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

Share

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Posted on by
14

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N

Description:
The girl’s lifeless body lies next to a scattered bouquet of crimson roses, the petals around her head like tiny pools of blood. Gripped in her hand is the note that came with the flowers, sent by someone who wanted her dead.

When champion figure skater Michaela Glover returns to her hometown of Woodbridge for a special performance, Detective Amanda Steele is part of the cheering crowds. But when Michaela is discovered dead in her dressing room after the show, Amanda is the first to investigate the shocking scene.

There is no sign of foul play, and the room is overflowing with flowers from Michaela’s adoring fans. But Amanda’s heart stops at the sight of a few roses tied with black ribbon and a note that reads “You’ll be sorry”. And when forensic tests reveal the ribbon was laced in something Michaela was deathly allergic to, Amanda is certain this is cold-blooded murder.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda dives into Michaela’s life to find out who could possibly want this sweet girl dead. She soon discovers that despite having a glittering future ahead of her, Michaela had a troubled past, and was surrounded by people jealous of her success.

When someone close to Michaela is discovered brutally murdered, Amanda is terrified there could be yet more innocent victims to follow. Can she uncover the twisted killer’s identity before they strike again?

 

 

Review:

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold is the 12th book in her 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 Prince William County, Virginia. Amanda is enjoying an ice-skating show with her daughter, Zoey, and her friend Patty; who is the aunt of local ice-skating celebrity Michaela Glover. After the show, they head to visit Michaela, and when no on opens the door, Amanda steps in to discover that she has been murdered.

There is no sign of foul play, but Amanda notices a bunch of roses, tied with a black ribbon and a note saying “You’ll Be Sorry”. Amanda calls her partner, Trent to come to the rink, and together they begin to dig into Michaela’s life, and who would murder her. Forensics discovers that Michaela was allergic to peanuts, which caused her death; someone added the nuts into her drink, and watched her die.

Amanda and Trent become buried in a complicated case with multiple suspects; as they learn more about Michaela’s trouble past. The further they investigate, there are themes of jealousy, manipulations, anger, grief, money and death. A short time after, Michaela’s agent was also found murdered.  Amanda and Trent find information on the agent’s phone about being blackmailed. The deeper they follow the suspects and clues; it becomes apparent that Michaela was not close to her family, other than her aunt Patty.  Amanda begins to put pressure on members of Michaela’s family to find the truths.

Amanda and Trent are a great team, and I like them together. Amanda is a great detective, very strong, independent, and always able to solve any case. Amanda worries about her daughter, Zoey, because she always busy on a case.  Her relationship with Logan, begins to cause problems, especially with her always busy solving crimes.  I also enjoy the various police team that we get to see in coming up with important clues.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. To say too much more would be spoilers.  Her Deadly Rose was a fantastic crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was a compelling, engrossing, intricate suspenseful plot. Another wonderful police procedural, with great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with some twists and surprises at the end.  Her Deadly Rose 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 provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton – a Review

Posted on by
14

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.

A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.

 

 

Review:

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton is the 2nd book in her Elise King series.  This is another one of Barton’s exciting suspense novels, with Detective Elise King, once again the lead. We also get to see two other POV’s, one from Kiki Nunn, a journalist who is investigating the recent murder, and one from Annie, who lost her son 13 years ago in the same woods that Karen Simmons was recently found murdered.  

Detective Elise King is assigned to the case, even though she still has her own issues getting over her treatment of cancer. Karen’s body was found in Ebbing Woods, propped up against a tree and suffocated. Elise wonders if someone from the dating community met her murderer from there, as Karen has a reputation of having interactions with various men. Was one of them a stalker?  Most of the town knew about Karen’s reputation, and believed she reaped what she sowed.

Kiki Nunn is a reporter, and had recently interviewed Karen on the pros and cons of online dating. After Karen’s murder, Kiki is determined to jump on the case, to get her on the top of her field. She is upset about the murder, and is willing do everything to help find who killed Karen; Kiki constantly calls Elise to give her some clues, which does drive Elise crazy; since it’s too dangerous for Kiki to be involved with trying to discover clues.

Though 13 years ago, Annie lost her son, but with the murder taking place in the same woods, she is determined to look further into what has happened.  Annie and her husband have problems, and she suspected him of having affairs; which led him to tell Annie that years ago, he did have an affair with Karen.  Annie now decides she needs to get more information about her son’s death, and find the truths.

I did think that for almost half the book, it was a bit slow, especially going back and forth with all three narrators; but the last half picked up a lot, and became very exciting. I really did like Elise, who really was a great detective, especially so focused on the finding the killer. Kiki was another good character, as she was brave, but she took too many chances that endangered her life.   Annie was very good, and will learn more information about her son’s death, that would change everything. From the start to finish, there was so much going on, with many suspects, which did cause the beginning to be slow.

Talking to Strangers was a very good exciting mystery thriller, that was challenging and kept our attention throughout.  Talking to Strangers was very well written by Fiona Barton.  If you like mystery thrillers, a great detective, I suggest you read Talking to Strangers.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share