Tag Archives: Mystery

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher – a Review

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Battle Ground by Jim Butcher – a Review

 

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Description:
Harry has faced terrible odds before. He has a long history of fighting enemies above his weight class. The Red Court of vampires. The fallen angels of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. The Outsiders.

But this time it’s different. A being more powerful and dangerous on an order of magnitude beyond what the world has seen in a millennium is coming. And she’s bringing an army. The Last Titan has declared war on the city of Chicago, and has come to subjugate humanity, obliterating any who stand in her way.

Harry’s mission is simple but impossible: Save the city by killing a Titan. And the attempt will change Harry’s life, Chicago, and the mortal world forever.

 

 

Review:

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher is the 17th book in his excellent urban fantasy The Dresden Files series.  I have read a few of the books in this series, since most of Butcher’s books are huge, it is hard to catch up; especially since its been a number of years having passed without a new addition of The Dresden files, though in July Peace Talks was released giving fans two Dresden File book in one year.  Even though I did not read Peace Talks, I had no problem as I loved Battle Ground; which was an amazing nonstop action filled adventure from start to finish.

Harry Dresen, our Wizard hero, is star of this series.  Harry is the Winter Knight, beholden to Mab, who is the Queen of Air and Darkness. We knew something big was on horizon when Peace Talks ended, and Battle Ground begins immediately after, with a ultra-powerful Titan, Ethniu, is on her way to destroy Chicago and all humanity. Ethniu is filled with hatred of humans and Mab, and will stop at nothing to cause utter chaos and destruction to all of Chicago with her creatures and army of thousands. From the immediate start, Harry was attacked by some of those creatures, and manages to survive with the help of Lara, Molly and Murphy. But this is only the beginning, as the battle to come is epic, and constant, with death defying situations having us holding our breaths so often, we were exhausted by the time this book ended. 

I loved that in Battle Ground we get to see just so many of the regulars we have come to know, such as Murphy, Mab, Lara, Molly, Marcone, Butters, Sanya, Michael, Sarissa, River, Titiana, with a few surprises along the way. Mab was amazing in this story, as her faith in Harry excels, and she pulls her team together to help fight what is a desperate attempt to survive.  Poor Harry, each time he was able to stop one thing, so much more kept coming. Battle Ground was one of the most exciting books I have read this year, and I have read a few.  No surprise, as Jim Butcher is such a terrific writer.  There is so much action throughout the book, you don’t have a moment to blink.  Just when you think …whew, he got through that one, damned if you are not hit again, and again and again. 

This is a difficult review to write, as everything that happens is a spoiler.  Harry is phenomenal, and he suffers badly, but like the energizer battery, he keeps going.  I cannot say the last half of the book was wild, crazy, mind-boggling; since the entire book was nonstop action all the way to the end.  Amazing ride… If you have not read The Dresden Files, it is time to do so.  Harry Dresden is one of the best heroes, and it is hard pressed to find a writer such as Jim Butcher, who can keep this story fresh, and the hero still awesome.  Battle Ground is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Murder Ballad Blues by Lynda McDaniel-Review & Interview

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Murder Ballad Blues (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries #4) by Lynda McDaniel-Review & Interview

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2020

Laurel Falls, N.C. 2005 A mysterious death in the North Carolina mountains. Then a second. By the third, the FBI finally gets involved. Trouble is, they’re looking in all the wrong places.

Abit Bradshaw has a theory, but of course the FBI doesn’t take him seriously. When he teams up with musicologist Wallis Harding, bluegrass music becomes more than something to practice and perform. It’s key to finding the serial killer.

Della Kincaid, a former crime reporter in Washington, D.C., can’t seem to escape her past. Now living in the small town of Laurel Falls, she’s busy investigating a fraud case that gets darker at every turn. She’s about to give up when a secretive whistleblower pulls her in again—and back to D.C.

Abit and Della team up once again to convince the FBI to help them with both their crime investigations.

Will Abit and Wallis discover the killer’s pattern … before he strikes again?

Can Della make sense of the whistleblower’s clues before the fraud case is closed for good?

You’ll love this suspenseful mystery because everyone longs to find justice in this crazy world.

Get it now.

This is the fourth novel—a standalone novel—in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. All the favorite characters return, along with the debut of several colorful new ones.

••••••

REVIEW: I like a good murder/mystery and this one wasn’t too bad. In fact I could see it as a movie or tv series.

Della is a reporter digging around for the next big story, married/divorced/still seeing her ex/husband/now boyfriend (yeah I got confused too! She’s known Abit for years and counts him as a close and dear friend.

Vesper junior (Abit) or Rabbit as his wife calls him is happily married with kids and plays in a band with his wife and friends. Life might be dull, but Abit likes it that way thank you. I felt so sorry for Vesper, he got the nickname because his father always called him “a bit slow”, which got shortened over time. I don’t know if I could be called Abit and know it’s nasty and not a cute nickname!

So we have Wallis and Abit bonding over music and using it to track killers, rather ingenious if you ask me.
Della uses her contacts in the paper to dig deeper, hoping to get a story out of it. But wanting to help the FBI (who she shared a sizzling kiss with!)

Reading the cover I did think a ménage. Sadly no, but in a way I’m glad, I don’t think it would have worked out?

The killer was pretty smart, and catching up with him was good. And a couple of clues might have you guessing who it might be.

I liked how we came along for the ride, we saw all the thought processes and saw glimpses of their lives. But it all gets a little too close to home when Abit’s kids get kidnapped by the killer! Will he be able to raise the ransom money in time?

I think there we just a few too many characters in this book, not sure we needed all those extra’s. But other than that, they were all pretty solid.

This book worked backwards, we see Abit running away from the killer, we don’t see who it it, we just see him run…..

Told mainly in Della’s and Abit POV. It needed just a little polishing, I felt something was missing. The connection between Abit and Della was good, the connection between Abit and Wallis wasn’t as well felt.

But I’d happily read another book with these characters in. They did make me smile, and at one point I did get a “scooby doo” moment ?

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie ?

TRC: Hi Lynda and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of MURDER BALLAD BLUES.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Lynda: I’ve lived all over this country—from the Midwest to the Deep South to Appalachia to the Mid-Atlantic to the Pacific Northwest and finally California—and yet I find I often start stories and recollections with “When I lived in the mountains of North Carolina ….” My interests in so many things—writing, hiking, nature, mountain music, organic gardening, ecology—took root while I lived on a small farm there, an eager participant in the back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s. I made mistakes by the wheelbarrowful, but I learned just about everything that matters to me today.

I was lucky to live near the Campbell Folk School, an amazing center for art, craft, and music (and featured in my novels as The Hickson School of American Studies). That’s where I was introduced to the music of my heritage. The first time I walked into the school’s wood-paneled community room where fiddlers played, it was like finding a lost relative.

My writing career also started at the Campell Folk School. One day the director asked if I’d like to learn public relations. To be honest, I should have answered, “What’s that?” Instead, I said, “Sure,” and took to it like ink to newsprint. I haven’t stopped writing since. These days, I spend my time writing my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. I started them as a way to share some of the unforgettable stories from my years in the mountains.

Before my novel-writing days, I crafted 1,200 articles for arts and culture magazines such as Southern Living, Country Living, AmericanStyle, Southwest Art, Yoga Journal, American Cinematographer, Chile Pepper, and Restaurants USA. Newspaper articles about art, food, and business ran in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, washingtonpost.com, among others. I’ve also written 15 nonfiction books, including several on the art and craft of writing.

I moved to the mountains of North Carolina on a whim. Why not? Let’s see what it’s like, we thought during those adventurous times. But decades later, I believe I was drawn to that place, signing on to a graduate program in life I didn’t realize I needed. By comparison, my life today seems so tame, but that doesn’t worry me. In the mountains of North Carolina, I also learned there is a season for everything.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Lynda: In addition to my lucky break at the Campbell Folk School, I credit my mentor Dick Simms in Atlanta, Georgia for supporting my interest in writing. For writers, self-doubt is never far away, like a grumpy uncle who lives in the basement, poised to come upstairs at the most inopportune times. Dick gave me the encouragement I needed believe in myself. Later, Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird shared invaluable advice that I still draw from today.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story?

Lynda: I wanted to incorporate bluegrass and old-timey music into the story, and while I loved the sound, I didn’t know that much about the stories behind murder ballads. I did a lot of research and worked many hours to develop the logistics that Abit Bradshaw and Wallis Harding also work on in Murder Ballad Blues.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of MURDER BALLAD BLUES?

Lynda: Abit Bradshaw worries about the safety of his family when he hears about the first murder in the mountains of N.C. He struggled through his own childhood, thanks to unloving parents and a restrictive community that labeled him “slow.” But he’s found his rightful place in the world as an accomplished woodworker and mandolin musician in the bluegrass band The Rollin’ Ramblers. By the second murder, he has an inkling that music plays a role in the killer’s pattern. He can’t prove it, though, so he reaches out to Wallis Harding, a self-taught mountain music expert. Together they work to discover the killer’s pattern. Their hardest challenge, however, arises after the third murder when they go to the FBI with their theory.

Della Kincaid, Abit’s best friend, is still running Coburn’s General Store in Laurel Falls, N.C. She hasn’t been a crime reporter for years, ever since she left D.C., but she hasn’t lost the curiosity and bravado that made her such a success there. She gets involved in a real-estate fraud case in the N.C. mountains that takes her back to D.C. for help.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the APPALACHIAN MYSTERY series? Do the books have to be read in order?

Lynda: Murder Ballad Blues is the fourth book in the series, and I have two more books planned. Murder Ballad Blues is a standalone. I paid close attention to backstory that needed explaining, but in a way that wasn’t too repetitive for fans of the series. I’ve tried to make each of the books a standalone, but I have to say I think the experience is enhanced by reading the first three in order.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning MURDER BALLAD BLUES?

Lynda: I spent several months mulling over the plot of Murder Ballad Blues. It’s more complex than the first three books in the series. I found it particularly challenging to get the dates and circumstances of the contemporary crimes to jibe with those of the murder ballads.

Fortunately, I have a muse who comes sweeping in, anytime day or night, to offer ideas. The key for any writer is to listen and capture those gifts ASAP before they evaporate like a dream. For example, the character Wallis Harding came to me like that, and I think he’s one of the most successful characters I’ve ever developed. He’s funny, ornery, and kind, all wrapped in one.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Lynda: I do, especially with online sales and all the competition for readers’ time and money. I believe a cover’s appeal to a potential buyer is as much subconscious as conscious, which adds to the challenge of getting it right. The publishing gurus all say to test your covers, and I have done that with the first three books. I especially like the cover for Murder Ballad Blues; it’s got the misty-mountain-moonlit-river-thing going just right—straight out of one of the crime scenes in the book.

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

Lynda: We work together. Like I mentioned about the muse, while I’m writing about any of my characters, they come swooping in. Abit told me many times what he wanted to say, especially when he talks about his son, Conor, and his fears about his family’s safety. He’s the kind of father he longed to have when he was young. And Della, well, she’s sassy and says things I wish I could say!

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Lynda: I can only speak for myself, but I think we need to write more from our hearts, rather than our heads. When I do that, the scenes always work better. It’s hard, though, because these days there are so many so-called experts bandying about rules and restrictions. I find that draws us back into our heads, and the results are more wooden. Yes, we need to know the rules, but edicts like “don’t use ‘was’ or ‘ing words’” swirling in our heads can smother the creative spirit. I like to think of my readers and imagine that my words are like throwing my arms around them.

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

Lynda: I usually don’t listen to music when I’m writing fiction. When I wrote nonfiction magazine articles and books, I could listen to music—but not with fiction writing. I need to hear the muse and characters when they make the scene. That said, for Murder Ballad Blues I did listen to a lot of bluegrass and old-timey music so I knew what I was writing about (and I loved every minute of it).

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

Lynda: That they write beautiful first drafts. Anne Lamott was one of the first authors who helped me debunk that myth in her book Bird by Bird. That book was a godsend, as I mentioned earlier.

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

Lynda: I was a traveling artist/weaver for a number of years while living on the farm in N.C. I learned to weave at the Campbell Folk School, and for about five years I traveled the art-show circuit selling my wall hangings.

TRC: Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

Lynda: Graham Greene.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Lynda: I’m musing about Book Five in the series as I work on marketing Murder Ballad Blues. I plan to set it in a place a little different from Laurel Falls, N.C. More to be revealed later …

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lynda: I hope anyone who longs to write—whether that’s a memoir, book, article—will listen to his/her heart and do it. The world is full of naysayers, but you can do it. Humble yourself to learn more about your genre and the art of writing in general, but listen to that voice within.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Cheese, almost any kind

Favorite Dessert: Cookies, almost any kind

Favorite TV Show: “Rectify,” beautifully written by Ray McKinnon

Last Movie You Saw: I’m having trouble with this one, given the shelter-in-place order and the dearth of good movies. The last good movie I saw was “Barbara,” a German movie I re-watched because of its tragic but beautiful story of selfless love.

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk

Secret Celebrity Crush: Matthew Rhys

Last Vacation Destination: Mendocino, California

Do you have any pets? Late last year I lost my beloved dog, Mollie, at only 4 years old. Murder Ballad Blues is dedicated to her, and she’s memorialized in the book as Abit Bradshaw’s dog, who he describes as “precious like no other.”

Last book you read: Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant. Exquisite writing.

TRC: Thank you Lynda for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of MURDER BALLAD BLUES. We wish you all
the best. Thank you!

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

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

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Description:
Lt. Eve Dallas is about to walk into the shadows of her husband’s dangerous past.

As it often did since he’d married a cop, murder interrupted more pleasant activities. Then again, Roarke supposed, the woman lying in a pool of her own blood a few steps inside the arch in Washington Square Park had a heftier complaint.

When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But when Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd, Eve realises that this case is far from business as usual.

Eve has two complex cases on her hands – the shocking murder of this wealthy young mother and tracking down the shadow before he can strike again, this time much closer to home. Eve is well used to being the hunter, but how will she cope when the tables are turned? As Eve and the team follow leads to Roarke’s hometown in Ireland, the race is on to stop the shadow making his next move . . .

 

 

Review:

Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb is the 51st book in her fantastic Eve Dallas series.  As I have noted many times, I am a big fan of this series, having read every single book, including novellas.  Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke are the best couple in the literary world; they are so great together, not to mention their wonderful chemistry.  Even though this is the 51st book, I still cannot get enough of them and this series.

Shadows in Death is somewhat different than most of Robb’s stories, as Roarke becomes the center of an old grudge, putting Eve, his Irish family, and himself in danger. Eve is called to the scene of a violent murder of a woman, and as she is in the process of investigating with Peabody, Roarke, who is standing not far away, notices a face he has never forgotten from his Ireland days as a youth. Roarke later tells Eve that this man is the one who killed the woman, as it was his motto, using sharp knives to gut his victims.

Eve, Peabody and their fantastic team, manage to learn that the woman murdered, was a paid hit, and early on we discover who ordered the hit.  Once this person is arrested and offered a small deal to give all information on the hit man, who has committed more than 400 plus deaths worldwide, and has eluded police in all countries for 30 years.  Lorcan Cobbe, is the villain in this story, and his hatred of Roarke becomes his goal to kill Roarke, Eve, and their Ireland family. 

What follows is an intense, exciting, action-packed race to find Cobbe, as he continues to kill and threaten them along the way.  What I loved was how all the members of Eve’s police team, were determined to help find the killer, as well as to protect Roarke and Eve.  Over time, Eve has built such a fantastic team and their loyalty was awesome.  I also enjoyed seeing Summerset again, as he knew of this terrible villain back in their Ireland days, also knowing his own life was in jeopardy.  Eve and Summerset still have those fun zingers, loved seeing Galahad.  It was also great to see Nadine, as I miss her. 

The last 1/3 of the book was intense, and mindboggling, with the entire team, including the Commissioner, Feeny and Interpol inspector raced to stop the villain from hurting Roarke’s family in Ireland.

Shadows in Death was very exciting, tense, intriguing, nonstop action from start to finish, with never a dull moment.  J.D. Robb once again gives us a fantastic addition to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come.  I thought that Shadows in Death was one of the best ones yet, which proves that J.D. Robb will continue to give us many more Eve and Roarke books.   J.D. Robb created a masterpiece addition to this fantastic series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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One by One by Ruth Ware – a Review

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One by One by Ruth Ware – a Review

 

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Description:
Getting snowed in at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world, especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a cozy fire, and company to keep you warm. But what happens when that company is eight of your coworkers…and you can’t trust any of them?

When an off-site company retreat meant to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes utterly wrong when an avalanche hits, the corporate food chain becomes irrelevant and survival trumps togetherness. Come Monday morning, how many members short will the team be?

 

 

Review:

One by One by Ruth Ware is another of her exciting suspense thrillers.  One by One is told in two POV’s’, Erin and Liz.  We meet both Erin and Danny at the start, when they are preparing the Chalet (a French Ski Chalet) for the arrival of a group of developers and employees of Snoop.  The company is an app that allows anonymous people who listen to music that celebrities, family, social media are listening to at the same time. Erin handles and takes care of the Chalet, while Danny is the chef.  

When the 8 members of Snoop arrive, we learn quickly that Eva, one of the partners, wants to accept a buyout that will make them millions, but Topher, the other partner, wants to keep control of the company and instead sell public shares.  Liz is the only member of the group who no longer works for Snoop, but was asked by Topher to come on the trip, as Liz owns shares of the company. Liz is very quiet, and avoids too much contact with the others, as she knows that both Eva and Topher want her support. There is a division between the 8 people, but they also want to enjoy their stay, and head out to ski.

When everyone returns, they realize that Eva is missing, with a few people thinking they saw her last skiing down a very dangerous mountain.  Within a short time, an avalanche hits, as well as a snow storm, and they are snow bound inside the chalet, suspecting that Eva is dead, especially after the avalanche. From that moment on the story intensifies, as electricity is lost, no Wi-Fi and no telephone to contact the police for help.  

Later that evening, another member of the group is found dead, which looks like he was poisoned.  Now the group is down to 6, and everyone looks at one another suspecting each other of being a murderer. Then the following morning someone else is killed, and group is down to 5.  Who is the killer?  One of the assistants leaves in these terrible conditions to find a way to get to the police, before anyone else dies.  Will he survive?

This a classic whodunit, with the guessing game on as to who could be the killer.  This was a wild but fun story, even in this intense time. I did enjoy the whole chalet/ski location, and the desperate change in elements with the loss of power, phone, food, etc.  The last third of the book became a thrilling ride all the way to the climax.  I really liked Erin, as she did her best to keep everyone calm, even when she broke her ankle limiting herself.  Liz was a different POV, as she hated being in the middle. 

In a desperate attempt to get help, they divide into three groups; one to trek toward the police, the others to head to the another chalet, and Erin and Liz to stay at the chalet, as both were too injured to travel.

One by One was a terrific, exciting, tense and fantastic ride, as I held my breath so many times, unable to put the book down.  I will not tell too much more, as you really need to read this book to find out what happens and who is truly the real killer.  I suggest you read One by One, which was so very well written by Ruth Ware.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Hidden by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Hidden by Laura Griffin – a Review

 

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Description:
When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin’s lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. But this case is unlike any he’s ever seen, and nothing adds up.

Bailey has a hunch the victim wasn’t who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands.

As a ruthless hit man’s mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob must embark on a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down on this lethal game of hide and seek.

 

 

Review:

Hidden by Laura Griffin is the first book in her new The Texas Murder Files series.  I am a big fan of Griffin, as I have read most of her books, especially her fantastic Tracers series.   The story starts off with a bang, as a young woman is running in the park, her usual morning exercise, when she begins to suspect that someone is following her and runs for her life. 

Jacob Merrit, our hero, is an Austin Texas detective, who is on the scene trying find some information on a dead woman that was stabbed to death.  She has no identification on her, until he finds a phone belonging to the woman, and comes across the name, Dana Smith. Unfortunately, Dana Smith does not exist and in a short time, the FBI steps in to handle the case.  Jacob is determined to work on this alone, as he suspects there is something more than the FBI is telling them.

Bailey Rhoads is an investigative reporter, and quickly jumps in on the murder scene.  But no one will tell her anything, it is all secretive.  When Bailey tries to get information from Detective Merrit, he too refuses to tell a reporter anything.  Bailey refuses to stop, and uses her own contacts to get whatever information she can, and at some point, she offers Jacob some info she finds, if he will share his with her.  The two of them at first don’t trust each other, especially Jacob, who never trusts reporters.   But in a short time, they will both begin to feel the attraction to each other, as a slow build romance begins, though mostly in the background. 

Both Bailey and Jacob find their own evidence that this victim was in the witness protection system, and somehow someone who wants her out of the way discovered her and killed her.  There is a second person from the same case who is also in the witness protection and Bailey is willing to do all she can to find and save that woman.  Jacob starts worrying, as he knows Bailey’s investigations could put her in danger, but she refuses to back down.

I liked Jacob, as he was a strong hero, and a great detective, though in the romance department, it took him awhile to allow himself to have feelings for Bailey.  I loved Bailey, as she was determined to finish her story, even to the point of putting her own life in danger.   Jacob’s partner, Kendra was also a good detective who worked well with him. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept us on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, and secondary characters.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Hidden was an excellent mystery that was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Say No More by Karen Rose – a Review

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Say No More by Karen Rose – a Review

 

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Description:
Mercy Callahan thought she’d escaped the cult decades ago, but its long fingers are reaching out for her again in this electrifying novel in the Sacramento series…

Seventeen years ago. That was the last time Mercy Callahan saw Ephraim Burton, the leader of the twisted Eden cult where she was raised. But even though she escaped the abuse and terror, they continue to haunt her.

When her brother Gideon discovers new evidence of the cult’s—and their victims’—whereabouts, Mercy goes to Sacramento to reconnect with him. There, she meets Gideon’s closest friend—homicide detective Rafe Sokolov. From Rafe, she receives an offer she never knew she needed: to track down Ephraim and make him pay for everything.

But Ephraim, who had thought Mercy long dead, discovers she is in fact alive and that she is digging around for the cult’s secrets. And now he’ll do anything to take her back to Eden—dead or alive.

 

 

Review:

Say No More by Karen Rose is the 24th book in her Romance Suspense series, as well as the 2nd book in her Sacramento series arc.  I have become a big fan of Karen Rose, as her suspense thrillers are amazing, and unputdownable.  Be warned that this book is 640 pages, which is not the norm for romance suspense. Rose always creates fantastic heroes and secondary characters, as well as evil villains; and this does not change in this book, as she writes a masterpiece.  I did have to take a few breaks, especially since the villain, and his cult were very evil; the tense situations with our heroine or with the villains made me take a short break.  Not too long though.  ?

Say No More was a tense, exciting, action filled story that kept me on the edge of to my seat from start to finish.  The nice thing about the Sacramento arc is that many of the characters from the first book play major parts in this one, with Mercy and Rafe being in the forefront.   

Mercy Callahan, our heroine, escaped a cult 17 years ago, with everyone thinking she was dead.  Mercy built a new life in New Orleans, with family she discovered.  She returns to Sacramento with her best friend, Farrah, to talk to her brother, Gideon (last book hero) and apologize for thinking he abandoned her and her mother years before.  She also wants to spend more time with Rafe, as both of them are very much attracted to each other.  When Mercy arrives at the airport, she goes into shock, as the man, Ephraim (our evil villain), who tortured her as a young girl (abusive, and forced to marry at 12 years old) finds her and tries to kidnap her; luckily Rafe (who is still trying to recover from a serious leg injury in the last book), manages to use his cane and bring police attention to save Mercy.

Rafe, Gideon, Daisy, Tom, Erin, Farrah and the Sokolov family, and other police friends will work together to find Ephraim before he kidnaps or kills Mercy.  I loved the entire big family vibe, as they were all great. The investigation escalates, as Ephraim continues to follow Mercy and the group, killing many people along the way; he was most certainly the epitome of evil. Eden is the cult, with Ephraim and DJ being the villians in this story, and the leader of the cult, Pastor being partially in the background, as I suspect he will be featured more in future books.

What follows is an intriguing, tense, exciting, and edge of your seat suspense storyline that had me holding my breath so many times.  Important to note, that with the religious cult background as part of the story, we learn how Mercy, Gideon and others suffered sexual abuse, assault, murder, inability to leave, as well as give away all their money. As tense as this was through most of the book, it was sweet to watch the slow burn romance between Mercy and Rafe; as well as seeing Gideon with Daisy, Farrah and her boyfriend, and entire Sacramento family and friends.   Awesome.

Rafe was a great hero, determined to protect Mercy, despite his injuries.  They are determined to all work together to find Eden and bring them to justice, and freeing those unable to leave.  But the danger for all of them is intense, as Emprhaim is as evil as they come, killing anyone who stands in his way, putting all of them at risk.  Mercy was a fantastic heroine, who learned to take care of herself from her  abusive time at Eden, and her fears of her friends getting hurt because of her. 

Say No More is an intense thriller from start to finish, with non- stop action all the way.  As I have said before, Karen Rose never fails to give a fantastic well written thriller that is intense, always on the edge, with fantastic characters, evil villains and a wonderful couple you care for. If you love suspense, with a touch of romance and a thriller all the way, then look no further then Karen Rose.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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The Fair (Time Box #2) by John A Heldt-a review

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The Fair (Time Box #2) by John A Heldt-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 29, 2020

Months after stealing two time machines from a madman who wants them back, the Lanes, a family of six, seek safety and contentment in 1893, the latest stop on a journey through time. While parents Mark and Mary find relief at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, an extravaganza of science and splendor, children Jeremy, Laura, and Ashley find romance, friendship, and thrills.

Older son Jordan, meanwhile, heads west in search of answers. Grieving the loss of a lover from 1865, he travels to Virginia City, Nevada, where he integrates himself into a storied mining community and the heart of a pretty library clerk.

Billionaire Robert Devereux could not care less. Reeling from the theft of his million-dollar devices, he sends an assassin to the past to retrieve his property and rid the world of his former business partner and his troublesome clan.

Filled with humor, heartbreak, and suspense, THE FAIR follows a modern family on the adventure of a lifetime as they navigate their way through an unforgettable year in American history.

••••••••

REVIEW:THE FAIR is the second instalment in John A Heldt’s TIME BOX time travel series focusing on the Lane family. THE FAIR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history as there is a common theme and continuing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: Having created two time machines in 2021 known as the Time Box, patriarch Mark Lane discovers that his business partner, billionaire Robert Devereaux, wants to use the Time Boxes for questionable purposes. Having prepared for weeks, Mark Lane and his family pull up roots, and send themselves, along with the Time Boxes, back in time. Robert Devereaux desperate to retrieve the time boxes, and punish his one-time partner, hires a modern day assassin who goes on a time travel hunt for Mark Lane and his family.

Told from several third person perspectives THE FAIR follows the Lane family from 1865 to 1790 back to 1893 and a quick trip to 2022. Trying to stay one-step ahead of Devereaux’s assassin, the Lane family makes plans to travel to Chicago circa 1893 as the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition aka The Chicago World’s Fair celebrates the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World but all is not well in 1893 as a serial killer has set his sights on Chicago, and the Lane family is about to interfere in recorded history.

THE FAIR follows the Lane sons Jeremy and Jordan as each falls in love but only one will get his happily ever after. Jordan’s beloved accepts the idea of time travel and everything the Lane family has to offer but Jeremy struggles with the fact that his beloved is betrothed to someone else.

Meanwhile back in 2022, the Lane family’s co-conspirator Randy works desperately to foil all attempts at sending an assassin through time, Robert Devereaux has his people searching the historical archives to uncover the who and where of his time travelling targets.

THE FAIR and the Time Box series is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a series of science fiction, betrayal and power, history and revelations. From heart break to happiness, THE FAIR is a playful, energetic and transcendent story of one family’s travel through history and time.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE LANE BETRAYAL.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Convince Me by Nina Sadowsky – a Review

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Convince Me by Nina Sadowsky – a Review

 

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Description:
Justin Childs is handsome, likeable, smart. A devoted son to his mother, Carol; a loving husband to his wife, Annie; and a sure-footed, savvy business partner to his best friend from college, Will. To so many, the perfect man.
He’s also a liar. And now he’s dead.

When Justin’s body is retrieved from the wreckage of a car accident, his death leaves his loved ones with more questions than answers. In life, his charm and easygoing nature inspired trust, making him friends wherever he went. Now that he’s gone, the cracks begin to show: disturbing discrepancies in his company’s financials, unaccounted-for absences, a medical record that appears to be entirely fabricated.

As the secrets and betrayals pile up, Annie, Carol, and Will realize their beloved Justin was not the man they thought he was. And why was he found dead with Valium in his system when he notoriously detested drugs? Was the crash that killed him really an accident–or did Justin finally get caught in something he couldn’t lie his way out of?

 

 

 

Review:

Convince Me by Nina Sadowsky is a psychological thriller. I have read a few books by Sadowski, which were very good mysteries.  I am happy to note that Convince Me was a fantastic thriller, which had me glued to my kindle. 

Annie, our heroine, meets the man of her dreams after a car accident.  She met Justin, who ended up helping her at the accident scene and went to the hospital with her. But as fate would have it, they fell in love and became a perfect couple; Justin was successful and the life of the party and everyone envied Annie.  They are married for a short time, when Justin was killed as he lost control of his car over a cliff.

Convince Me is told with three POV’s;  Annie, his wife; Carol, his mother and Will, his best friend.  Each of the three are devasted by Justin’s death.  After the funeral, both Annie and Will begin to find discrepancies about Justin, such as his and Will’s company and their financials; business partners that are not as it seems, absences and medical issues that seem to be fabricated.  The early part of the story, we get to see the family and friends, and the good times, but about a 1/3 of the way in, especially after he died, things change drastically. The man who everyone admired, the husband who Annie loved, the perfect son, and a friend to die for. Slowly they discover the secrets and lies, that he is not who they thought he was. Was he a sociopath?  Did Justin die accidently or did someone kill him?

What follows is that Annie and Will begin to work together to find the truths that emerge about the real Justin, as the secrets and betrayals are revealed, escalating into a unique, exciting, game changing psychological thriller that will upend both of their lives. As the plot thickens, the body of a women Justin may have been cheating with is found dead.  Carol receives letters from Justin that was sent before his death that implicates Will.  At this point, the last 1/3 of the book is a wild, intense, exciting race to the finish, with one surprise and twist after another.  I was unable to put the book down, as it was an edge of your seat thriller.

With so much happening, effecting all three of them, I cannot tell too much more, since it would be spoilers.  You really do need to read this book.  A definite do not miss.  Bravo to Nina Sadowsky, who gives us a great psychological thriller that is totally different then most thrillers.  I also must say that the climax was an amazing ending.   Convince Me is so very well written by Sadowsky. If you enjoy thrillers with a few twists, you need to read Convince Me.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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