Nothing But Trouble (DI Jessica Daniel #11) by Kerry Wilkinson

DI Jessica Daniel of the Longsight Police Station for the Greater Manchester Police is BUSY. There are multiple investigations going on simultaneously leaving Jessica without sleep and ratcheting up her trademark snark. Top brass has her running all over interviewing crime bosses about a couple of murders while she's also trying to figure out who is sneaking into an old man's home as well as finding a con woman who poses as a cleaner to clean out valuables of pensioners. Jessica is also having some personal issues with occasional lover and fellow police, Archie Davey, and there's trouble brewing with her live-in sort of ward, 18-year-old Bex. WHEW! NO SPOILERS but this book starts off with a shocker and you'll have a hard time forgetting about that beginning as you race through the novel trying to figure out what's happened.

I almost made a big mistake and was about to start book #12 in the series, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, as I have it from NetGalley to review -- then, I realized I had not yet read #11 so had to scramble to find it and read it first. I apparently missed out on the ARC!!  This is definitely one of those series that you have to read from the beginning, in order, as each book builds upon known facts, people, issues, and relationships from the past.

I love this character and the rest of the team at the station. Their interplay and their strengths and weaknesses make each member of them memorable and pertinent to the action and the crime solving. Their interactions can make me tear up as well as laugh out loud. I'm still hopeful that Jessica will get some HAPPY resolution with the most critical personal issue that she's been dealing with over the last couple of books. I keep wondering how long this series can go on, but the author has a great way of telling a good story and he's still keeping it fresh. Now, I'm off to start #12 to see what trouble -- I mean, case -- Jessica will get involved with next.

If you like crime and detective thrillers with a strong female protagonist, you'll not want to miss Jessica Daniel.

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

Atmospheric and haunting, this is not a typical suspense novel nor a crime thriller. It's a mystery of sorts, but also a study of witchcraft and the dark arts. I could not put it down after I read the note to the reader."The Craftsman is the story of women, and witches. Of the children we love and must protect. And of the men who fear us."

WPC Florence Lovelady is 22 years old and the only woman on the police when the town of Sabden tries to solve the case of 3 missing teenagers in 1969. Being new and being a woman, she faces discrimination and frustration as she attempts to get involved with the investigation. When it's discovered that one of the victims was buried alive in a casket in a local cemetery, the clues lead to a local undertaker, Larry Glassbrook. He's remanded to prison and the book opens with his funeral and burial in his native Lancashire home 30 years later. Florence has returned to town for the occasion and has brought along her teenaged son, Ben. Events transpire that make Florence question if they actually arrested the right man...NO SPOILERS

The book is divided into two distinct time periods -- 1969 during the investigation of the case and then 1999 when Florence returns. There is so much interesting material within that it's hard to sum up in a synopsis. Whether or not you believe in witchcraft, you will be privy to information that indicates that it is not a lost art and that witches still practice and exist today despite historical evidence that society has tried to get rid of them by foul means for centuries. I was riveted.

The plot is complicated but very tightly woven and will likely leave you with more questions than answers. I understand that this is the first book of a planned trilogy (I hope that's accurate) and I promise I'm going to be first in line clamoring for #2 as I can't wait to learn more about the complex character that is Florence as I feel we've only been given a small glimpse into her psyche.

Different, yes! And I'm always enamored with a unique perspective on the familiar crime and punishment genre. I think this novel will give readers a lot to think about and much to discuss with others who read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Malice by Jennifer Jaynes

"This industry (big Pharma) was a machine...and a very powerful one at that."

Dr. Daniel Winters is a pediatrician and newlywed. Married to Mia and living on a beachfront property in Malibu, he's finally achieving all his dreams in the new practice at Healing Hands in Los Angeles, California. Trouble starts soon after the honeymoon when Daniel returns to work and is told about a new immunoceutical -- Respira -- that the doctors are expected to push on their young patients to prevent the common cold. It seems that there are undocumented adverse effects from this new vaccine and the powers that be do NOT want their patients to know. Things go from bad to worse for Daniel quite quickly and, not only does he suspect his new wife is lying to him, there's major trouble at work when one of his patients experiences a severe reaction to the drug. His new boss threatens him, other doctors who've gone public about Respira are killed, and Mia is sending private texts and sneaking off when she's supposed to be at work. NO SPOILERS but Daniel's life is about to spiral completely out of control.

This was a great thriller, very fast-paced and a bit unpredictable with the twists and turns. I read it over a matter of hours as I simply couldn't put it down. I love reading about anything "medical" and the whole topic of vaccinations was quite interesting from that standpoint. I've always been pro-immunization and can't always relate to or understand the hordes of anti-vaxers when I read stuff on social media, etc. because I do believe they are safe, effective and necessary. The new, FICTIONAL, vaccine in this book doesn't exist but I can understand the fears of parents who are told and nearly forced to get a new, untested vaccine for their child. All I can say is what I always say, do your research, consult with professionals and make an informed decision. I won't judge you for trying to do the best possible thing for your child as long as you are fully aware of all the consequences for whatever action you take.

Anyway, great read and I've never read anything else written by this author but I intend to rectify that in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review. I had a lovely couple of hours completely absorbed in the characters and the story. Absolutely riveting and timely medical thriller.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

The Dream Daughter by Diana Chamberlain

A Trip Through Time...

Well now. This book and its topics are so far out of my usual reading zone that I'm a bit taken aback by how much I enjoyed it. Perhaps I was secretly in need of a "feel good" story instead of crime and thrills! I don't want to say too much because I think readers would enjoy the drama more if they open and dive right in without any preconceived notions.

Most of what I can say about the plot without spoilers is this -- a young woman receives the news that her husband, Joe, has been killed in Pleiku during the Vietnam War. The year is 1970. Caroline (Carly) Sears lives with her sister, brother-in-law and nephew in Nag's Head on The Outer Banks and soon discovers that she is pregnant. Unfortunately, the fetus has a heart defect that will result in death once the baby is born. The grief is unbearable for Carly, until her brother-in-law, Hunter, tells her a fantastical tale that may provide a way for this baby to survive. Does Carly have the courage to make a leap of faith in order to save her unborn child? You'll just have to read it to find out.

Note -- this will require a lot of suspension of disbelief and reads more like a fairy tale than contemporary fiction. Despite that, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane with all the details of time and setting. The writing made the characters come to life on the page and sure wrung out every emotion from tears (yes, I felt some prickling) to laughter. I would categorize it all as "uplifting".
I hope you enjoy this break as much as I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've read most all of the books by this author, and will definitely be looking out for her next one.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.

Silent Victim by Caaroline Mitchell

"You can't walk away from your demons...They'll catch up with you in the end."

Emma is married to Alex and they have a son, Jamie. They live in her childhood home on Mersea Island -- remote, foggy, and cut off from the mainland by tides at certain times of the day. Everything is going well for the little family until Alex gets a promotion and wants to move them away to Leeds. Emma knows that there's something she must do -- she must dig up the body of the man she killed and buried there on the property many years ago. Unfortunately, her lies and her secrets may have finally been exposed. NO SPOILERS

As Emma's life spirals out of control, the narrative takes the reader on a ride that will leave your head swiveling! Told in alternating points of view and going back and forth in time, we hear the man, Luke, her previous high school teacher, tell his version -- and wonder if he's a psychopath. We read about Emma's mental health issues and question her reliability as a storyteller. Alex is trying hard to sustain his feelings for Emma and sort through what he's told but is having trouble figuring out the truth. And then there's Emma's sister who is keeping some secrets of her own. You may be able to figure out where this is all going, but won't be able to put the book down until you've reached the end of this dramatic thriller.

I enjoyed the wild ride and hope you do as well.

Amazon.com purchase
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

The Proposal by SE Lynes

"...momentous events, be they good or bad, catapult us from our core, leave us floating, weightless, lost."

Pippa Gates has no idea what is going to happen to her after she opens the door to a wandering salesperson hawking cleaning supplies and invites him into her house. Pippa is a teacher and struggling wanna-be author with a less than stellar published book to her name and a synopsis of her next one due to the editor -- tomorrow! Instead of actually working to meet the contract, she is procrastinating and drinking heavily. Seeking some kind of inspiration, she makes an unusual proposal to the shabby, down-on-his luck man -- tell her the story of his life for 200 pounds. He agrees and sits down at her kitchen table and she hits gold. How could she know that this evening will lead to an insane obsession that will leave her...NO SPOILERS.

This psychological thriller is, without a doubt, the most bizarre, messed-up story I have ever read, and believe me, I've read some humdingers. But I mean that in a good way! The characters of Pippa and the man at the door, Ryan Marks, are two deeply disturbed individuals that defy explanation. The narrative is told in an unusual format -- part being the private journal written by Pippa and the other main segments are blog posts by the author Pippa that are on social media. In addition are a few italicized ramblings recorded by Ryan. Trust me, it all makes sense when you read it.

I'm not sure when a book has hooked me so completely while all the time I'm wondering what the heck it is that I'm reading! Pippa shares a very twisty tale that could only be told by someone who is or must be totally warped. The things she thinks and says and does surely defy the concept of normal! I think you'll enjoy the crazy ride as much as I did. Don't miss it if only to be able to talk about it with a fellow reader after you finish reading it!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review. This is not the first book that I've read by this author and after this, I just have to see what she comes up with next!

This is a standalone, not part of a series.

Death on the River (Tara Thorpe #2) by Clare Chase

Misadventure or murder?

In this second mystery featuring DC Tara Thorpe, she and Blake deal with "a group of self-serving and in some cases amoral individuals." The "Alcolytes" have lost their leader and mentor; Ralph Cairncross's body was found inside his classic Alfa Romeo submerged in the Forty Foot Drain. He was a controversial author who spent his time pushing his theories about the importantance of youth and the glory of dying young. At first written off as an accident -- Ralph was drunk driving -- Tara soon becomes convinced that there is more to it when the victim's sister insists that it was foul play. Since Tara is new to the team and because her boss, DS Wilkins is basically a jerk who doesn't really want the former journalist working under him, she starts looking into the situation on her own time at first. When another member of the Alcolytes dies under the guise of  "misadventure", Tara convinces DI Blake that this is more than coincidence. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this book as Tara uses her talents as a former investigative journalist in her new role as DC. Working under a difficult boss who doesn't want her to succeed and bashes her theories, she turns to Blake for support. The case becomes more complex as the author gives so many red herrings within the group of Alcolytes. Could one of them be committing murder, and why? Talk about a bunch of devious characters who admired Ralph Cairncross! His wife and daughter were not treated so well as he spent so much time with his little group of hero-worshippers. Could they be responsible for any of this? The team has its work cut out for them chasing down the Alcolytes and even as they firm up their theories, yet another of the members dies. Meanwhile, Wilkins stands firmly in his opinions frustrating Tara at every turn especially after an article appears in NOT NOW -- the old magazine that Tara used to write for before she quit and decided to become police.

There is so much going on within this very interesting and well-written book that kept me guessing about the entire case. I love the atmosphere created by the location, especially the snowy fens, as it gives the novel a bit of a gothic feel. The coldness of the winter, the isolation, the knowledge that someone sinister is lurking and watching combine to keep the reader enthralled. The devious characters and the ways in which they manage to avoid being totally truthful cause Tara and Blake some frustration and very late hours. The story builds to a great climax and gives a satisfying conclusion.

I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait for #3. It's a bit different to the gritty thrillers I typically read and a refreshing change up. Please continue to keep Blake an honorable man and avoid the romance trap! If you're thinking about picking this one up, be sure to read the first in the series before doing so as it provides so much about how Tara got to this point and who she is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Murder on the Marshes by Clare Chase (Tara Thorpe #1)

Revenge or evening up the balance? A twisty tale with many red herrings...

"Death comes equally to us all, and makes us all equal when it comes." John Donne

Tara Thorpe is a journalist working for NOT NOW magazine when she is asked to investigate and write a feature about the murder of a charismatic and popular professor, Samantha Seabrook, a fellow of St. Francis's College at Cambridge. Professor Seabrook, young and athletic, somewhat impetuous and adventurous, had apparently been killed in a walled garden fountain. Several interesting clues come to light immediately and Tara's first problem is that she can't seem to get honest answers when she interviews Seabrook's colleagues at the institute. Her second problem is that the police, namely DI Blake and his team, don't feel that information should go both ways. They want access to her notes and recordings, but they aren't sharing everything with her. In addition, Tara, who has a history of being stalked, receives a message along with a handmade doll -- "It was a warning. This is a warning." And does this mean that her stalker has returned to terrorize her OR is the note an indication that the story Tara is working on has personal implications? NO SPOILERS.

This was a great first novel in a new series. I loved meeting the characters and enjoyed their interaction as their relationships deepen and develop. It was a bit of a class clash as those from Cambridge stall and hinder the police trying to solve the case. The bond between Tara and Blake is just developing and is not romantic...yet. Tara makes some big decisions by the end of this book and I'm thrilled that I can immediately pick up the second in this mystery series. Great storytelling with the added bonus of the setting at Cambridge add to the compelling nature of the tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'm off to start DEATH ON THE RIVER...

Fatal Promise (DI Kim Stone #9) by Angela Marsons

Who lives, who dies? There's really no choice...Grief is a monster.

"You were not only building a team, you were building a family."

DI Kim Stone is back at West Midlands after a break and those left of her previous team are returning to work as well as coming to grips with what happened in the previous book #8 so if you have not read the series from the beginning, please do not go further in this book. I don't really feel that this can be read as a standalone. The rest of this review may give away details from previous installments.

The theme of this book is grief. People handle their emotional pain and loss in different ways, and Kim, Stacey and Bryant are no exception. In addition, they are faced with having to deal with a new officer in Dawson's place -- Penn "NotKev" who is there as replacement. Met with anger and resentment, Penn is not welcome. But they still have to work together and get the job done.

The murder case builds slowly. A doctor is found dead and shortly thereafter his son is in a fatal automobile accident. Then an elderly woman. The victims keep coming. How are they all connected and why are they being killed? As the evidence seems to magically appear leading them in the direction of a viable suspect, Bryant helps Kim Stone see that things are falling into place a bit too conveniently. Meanwhile, Stacey is looking into the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl.

Although the investigation is certainly a big part of this book, the main focus is on the psychological aspects that the characters are dealing with and we learn more about the type of person that Kim is and how she has learned to deal with her personal issues from her past. We see how strong the bond is between the team members and how they support and care for each other. Once the killer is identified and the confession explains the "why" of it all, the point is again driven home that the things that happen to you or to those you love affect you deeply and differently. 

I love this series and with every book I feel as if I'm going to a family reunion when I start reading. I miss the characters while waiting for the next one in the series and can't wait to "see" them again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

The Crying Season (Alton and Kane #4) by DK Hood

 Black Rock Falls, Montana -- "Beautiful one day, crazy as hell the next."

A merciless predator is stalking the trails and woods of Black Rock Falls during peak hunting and hiking season. The killer seems to focus on couples who are going off to secluded areas and trails to spend some quality time alone. But they don't come back and bodies have been found -- murdered in very gruesome fashion. Sheriff Jenna Alton and her partner, Deputy David Kane begin the painstaking process of investigation with hopes of finding this madman before there are more deaths. When they suspect that there have been cameras placed along certain trails, it comes to their attention that the killer may be linked to the Dark Web and pay per view. NO SPOILERS.

This is simply a very entertaining series with characters that have grown on me since book #1. Both Jenna and Dave have a previous life history of being covert operators and are now in Black Rock Falls staying hidden from those who knew them before. The pair has a great relationship that I wish would finally be taken in a more romantic direction, but I do appreciate that there isn't any "romance" in the books. They work well together and have set up a great support team to help with solving the crimes. The descriptions of the area are very compelling and set the tone for the dark investigations that seem to be cropping up in their little remote town.

I do love the series and can't wait for #5. Be sure to start with book #1 and read in order. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Truth and Lies (DI Amy Winter #1) by Caroline Mitchell

DI Amy Winter, the adopted daughter of a police officer, is also the biological child of parents known as a murdering du0 -- the Beasts of Brentwood. The couple abducted and killed young girls back in the 1980s. Amy's real mom, Lillian Grimes, is in prison and her bio dad is dead. DI Winter's past is shrouded in vague memories that are brought to the forefront when Lillian contacts her from jail and promises to reveal the location of 3 bodies if Winter will help get her appeal going, "because she was framed."

This detective crime drama forces Amy Winter to accept that the circumstances of her birth do not add up to the person she is now. Although her adoptive father is dead, Amy is a dedicated police officer who agrees to see Lillian so as to give the closure necessary to the families of the dead girls by finding the bodies and taking them home. Lillian is living up to her part, taking Amy to the bodies, when another young girl is kidnapped. NO SPOILERS.

The narrative shifts in time and point of view as the various aspects of the case come together. The characters are fairly typical of this genre and not fully developed in this first of what I expect is a new series. This was more mystery than pulse-pounding suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Marked for Revenge (Jana Berzelius #2) By Emelie Schepp

"You shouldn't hold on to the past...everything changes."

This is the second in a trilogy featuring public prosecutor Jana Berzelius. Set in Norrkoping, Sweden, this fast-paced police procedural focuses on the rampant drug trade and child trafficking. When a young Thai girl dies on a train and is found stuffed with capsules of heroin, the team of detectives that Jana works with tries to find out what happened to the friend who was traveling with the dead girl. In addition, Jana finds that this case has ties to her horrific past, and a man known as Danilo -- he knows all about her and she can't have him reveal her secrets. But there is worse to come when Jana's investigation reveals that someone close to her has ties to the network of crime. NO SPOILERS.

I love this series and have now read all three -- though, unfortunately, out of order as I read #3 first before I realized it. The books are very well-written and grab hold quickly with complex plots and interesting characters that have developed more with each book. The police team members are unique individuals and there is an occasional foray into their personal lives but most of the narrative is focused on the development of the case and the facets of investigation. Jana Berzelius herself is quite a complex woman with amazing fighting skills learned when she was a child. She's rather cold as a person and definitely keeps her private life, thoughts and feelings to herself so she has difficulty in creating or sustaining any relationships. Her tough exterior completely masks her inner turmoil but she is intent on succeeding at any cost. Destroy or be destroyed.

I'd like to thank Amazon Vine for a paperback ARC of this book to read and review. When I finished book #3, I thought there might be another book to follow because it seemed to leave many dangling questions and the story seemed unfinished. I'll definitely want to read more about Jana Berzelius in the future.

Marked for Life (Jana Berzelius #2) By Emelie Schepp

Edgy police procedural set in Sweden and featuring public prosecutor Jana Berzelius.

Although this is the first in the trilogy, it was the second one I read after falling hard for Jana Berzelius in book #3 (SLOWLY WE DIE). I just had to go back to the beginning because she is such an enigma as a character and I wanted to find out more about her back story. This book is where it all begins and the reader is introduced to the main characters as well as to the author's style of writing and the complexity that makes a great plot.

An official with the migration bureau is killed in his home and the only clue seems to be a handprint -- but forensic testing suggests that the print was made by a young child. How can that be as Hans Juhlen and his wife have no children. The case is becomes even more complicated when a young boy is found shot dead at the shoreline and can't be identified. Jana Berzelius begins to realize that this case may have a personal connection to her own past as she has a terrible history and the scars to prove it. Upon further investigation, the team finds evidence of child abuse and human trafficking.

I love this series. The excellent writing and the very unique characters combine with a compelling story line that just drag you in and will have you reading until you turn to the last page -- and want MORE. NO SPOILERS.

I love Scandinavian crime drama. The setting is always quite interesting to me especially when the author provides such significant detail about it. I can feel the cold temperature and imagine the city of Norrkoping though I've never been. I'm about to start book #2, MARKED FOR REVENGE, and then will just have to wait to see if Schepp continues with this very entertaining series and tells us more about Jana Berzelius.

Perfect Prey (DI Luc Callanach #2) by Helen Fields

"Four victims currently in limbo at the city mortuary. Death by strangulation, facial skinning, stabbing and crushing."  And there's more to come...

If you haven't yet picked up this series and moved it to the top of your TBR pile, I think you're missing some of the best crime fiction available. This series is awesome for many reasons: the plots, the action, the drama, and the characters. All of it, and more, bundled up to give you an evening or two of suspense and enough chills to keep you awake after you've finished the final page.

DI Luc Callanach, operating out of Police Scotland in Edinburgh, has been there less than a year. He'd left France under a bit of a cloud, and is still adjusting to his new position and his team. In this second book of the series, he's facing a set of gruesome murders with no leads or clues. His friend and colleague, DI Ava Turner, is working with him and the others but is somewhat distant lately due to personal matters. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard has sent detectives to Edinburgh in the hunt for a master cybercriminal. The man at the head of that force just happens to be an old acquaintance of Ava's and he, DCI Joe Edgar, does not like Luc at all! Can they all work together to bring their cases to a conclusion? NO SPOILERS.

Again, this is a very well-written police procedural and crime thriller with a very complicated plot and enough red herrings to keep even those most savvy reader enthralled and guessing. I love the characters and their interactions as they race against the clock and attempt to unravel the connections and apprehend those behind the murders. I am desperate for book #3 (PERFECT DEATH) which is not due out in the US until later this year! I've been looking for an ARC but have had no luck and patience is not one of my virtues!

The grisly nature of the crimes and the descriptions/detail may be off putting to some readers, so beware. Part of the story also involves the dark web so there's a fair amount of technical jargon as well. I enjoyed (?) every aspect of this book and highly recommend it. I suppose it could be read as a standalone, but you'd be missing out on some great backstory about the characters.

If you're into this genre, be sure to put this book and the whole series on your list. Although I have the ARC of the 4th one in the series queued up to read, thanks to NetGalley UK, I don't know if I can read it without reading #3 first! Oh, the dilemma of a fan!

Perfect Remains (DI Luc Callanach #1) by Helen Fields

This police procedural, the first in a series featuring Detective Inspector Luc Callanach, is truly the definition of a gripping suspense crime thriller.

"How is life as a French-Scottish former Interpol agent in the wilds of Scotland?"

Life for DI Callanach is busy. He's not even unpacked his new office when he's called to attend the discovery of a completely burnt body found in the Cairngorm Mountains. Forensics indicate that the remains are those of Elaine Buxton, a lawyer from Edinburgh who had been reported missing a few weeks prior. As Callanach and his team take on the investigation, they shortly realize that they are dealing with a master criminal. And soon, another prominent woman goes missing. Racing against the clock, Callanach meticulously chases every clue despite the confounding evidence and the lack of critical information. Can he pull himself together and let go of his personal past to focus on the case? NO SPOILERS.

Excellent writing, fabulous well-drawn characters, incredible description and enough grisly detail to satisfy even the most dedicated of hardcore genre readers. This book was a "stumbled upon" for me and I can't believe I missed hearing about this series! I cannot wait to read the second, third, and fourth and look forward to seeing Luc Callanach's personal and professional growth as it continues. I could barely put this down, and had to force myself to go at a slower pace just so I could absorb everything. This is one story that will leave you chilled and never ever again will you be immune to the smell of mothballs...Sorta kidding. Anyway -- I highly recommend it to fans of this genre.

Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'm off to start #2 -- PERFECT PREY.

First in a series.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

"We are all drowning slowly in the tide of our opinions, oblivious that we are taking on water every time we open our mouths."

A Mississippi morning. Gunfire erupts in a health center that performs abortions. The women inside, along with a male doctor, are held hostage by a gunman who is seeking retribution because his daughter had been to the clinic and was counseled, he believes, to obtain an abortion. But the situation is more complicated than that. The hostage negotiator, Hugh McElroy, has a real crisis on his hands as he arrives at the center -- he's just found out that his daughter, Wren, and his sister, Bex, are inside. NO SPOILERS.

I must admit that I had some reservations about reading this book but, immediately after I downloaded it today, I started reading and just finished it a little while ago. I was totally glued to the pages of this story. Not only was it extremely even handed regarding its highly inflammatory subject matter of abortion, it was written in an unusual time structure going from present to past, in reverse order to the way I usually prefer my books to flow. So it ends with the beginning and follows with an epilogue that answers all the questions. At no time did I feel that I was being persuaded to take a side, nor were there subtle hints as to any author bias. It was obvious from the author's end note that she had done a tremendous amount of research, even to the point of spending time in a clinic and observing the termination procedures. The characters -- both those that were pro-choice and those who were anti-abortion (or pro-life) were all in the scenario and represented the various beliefs, wishes and desires with their reasons for doing and feeling as they did.

Jodi Picoult is not afraid of writing about controversial subjects and I believe that her purpose must surely be to open up dialogue about issues that tend to polarize people. In today's society, we seem to be bombarded by so many differences of opinion that result in responses that range from arguments to violence. What was once personal and private has become center stage. Activists on both sides of the abortion issue have various methods of rallying people to action or agreement. Lawmakers weigh in, deciding what is legal and what is not. Unfortunately, it's hard to remain objective in the face of it all as most of us no doubt feel pressures from different factions. At the end of the day, each person will have to come to their own perspective knowing, however, that it all boils down to the question of relevancy. And the fact that the way you feel one day may change depending on circumstances.

I am quite glad I was given an opportunity to read this and I'll be thinking of it for a long time. It would make an excellent choice for a book club, but I'm not sure everyone feels comfortable in this climate to share honest opinions without fear of judgement.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I look forward to reading and hearing what others think of it.

This book is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Perfect Girls (DI Rachel Prince #3) by Alison James

"Pretty. Spoilt. Popular. Self-absorbed. Entitled." DEAD

DI Rachel Prince, an international liaison investigator for the UK National Crime Agency, is off to the USA in what will prove to be one of the most challenging cases of her career. Alone and without support from her partner, DS Mark Brickall, she is sent to find details about a murdered UK woman whose body was found rotting in a dumpster at the back of a Macy's store in LA. Phoebe Stiles, 25-years-old, had been dead for quite some time -- all the while, however, she had appeared to still be in contact with her parents via phone and had also filmed a commercial even though forensics found that Phoebe was already dead then. If that's true -- who went to the filming in her stead? Rachel Prince will crisscross the United States while doggedly pursuing the killer. This particular sociopath is quite busy as other bodies begin to appear. What emerges is a very chilling and complicated story of deceit and revenge. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this third in the series featuring Rachel Prince. She's fairly stereotypical as a character in this genre as she's a bit aloof and easily obsessed by her cases. She has difficulty in personal relationships but her determination to close her cases forces her to try to play nice with others. The series is very well-written and demonstrates great attention to detail as the complex case keeps the reader entertained. Equal parts police procedural, crime drama, and suspense thriller, PERFECT GIRLS kept me glued to the pages and I would have finished it in one sitting had it not been a holiday weekend! I can't wait for #4 and highly recommend the series to any fans of this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

#3 in the Detective Rachel Prince series.

Keep You Safe by Rona Halsall

Note -- original title GUILTY LITTLE SECRETS

Natalie is put in prison for embezzlement, though she claims that she is innocent. She's also found to be a drug addict, hooked on OxyContin. Through various means, she comes to realize that she's been framed and the only thing in her mind is getting out and back to her infant son, Harry. Finally, she gets out of prison and heads to the Isle of Man because she has found that is where her ex husband, Tom, has taken her son. No spoilers, but she meets a guy on the ferry across to the island. In addition, there is a Polish bad guy after her because of something that happened to his sister while they were both at the same prison.

If you really loved this book -- stop here and don't read any further.

OK. I don't really like to write reviews about books I didn't enjoy. This one didn't do it for me and I almost did the unthinkable (for me, anyway) and nearly marked as DNF. I really don't care for books full of angst and with a constant stream of consciousness where the main character goes on and on ad nauseum about the same old thing. Constantly about Harry. Her lame brained ideas to go get him from his father and "rescue" him. Her actions and the many coincidences that defied my ability to suspend disbelief. I just couldn't get into the story and it was so predictable that I really could have read the first and last chapter and called it done. The narrative is told in a "then" and "NOW" fashion and although I'm not that fond of the style, it worked OK though it took forever for the gist of the whole story to be teased out. I didn't even like the main character, Natalie. The ending was contrived, and let's just leave it now.

I understand this is a debut, and though I like psychological thrillers, this whole plot line has been done to death. I would consider trying a second novel by this author in hopes to see a more original story. I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book to read and review. My apologies to all for my opinions and I'm sure that others will find something different to mine to write about! If you're really picky and you like suspenseful thrillers with twists that leave you guessing and tension that makes you race through the pages, you may want to look for another book.

This is a standalone, not part of any series.

Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone

"I'll find out firsthand what Steven Hepsworth holds dear. Then I'll figure out how to take it all away from him."

Jane leaves her life and job in Kuala Lumpur and travels to Minnesota to put her plans into motion. She's determined to find and destroy the man whom she holds responsible for her best friend's death. Meg was the only person that Jane has ever really deeply cared about. You see, Jane is a sociopath. And she's very very good at acting. She's spent years perfecting the art of imitating people who truly have emotions and she's now going to play her biggest role yet. NO SPOILERS

What a deliciously nuanced revenge thriller! The narrative sucks you in quickly and it's a very hard book to put down as you are eager to see how Jane makes out in her mission. She's sure a different type of protagonist as we're not used to rooting for sociopaths in this genre as they're usually the bad guys, but I definitely wanted her to succeed and thought the way she handled the family was masterful. Jane is not the typical heroine, and it's likely that you might not even like her very much if you knew her as a relationship would be a lot of work due to her lack of empathy and authentic feeling. But I did like her and I hope she can enjoy her future life in the "fake it till you make it" mode!

I've not read other books by this author, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for any future titles. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Standalone, not part of a series.

The Wife Before Me by Laura Elliot

PSA -- Ladies, if you meet a man at your mother's funeral and you find out that he has a wife who died under suspicious circumstances and her body was never recovered -- don't hook up with him!

Unfortunately, Elena Langdon did not heed that warning and got together with Nicholas Madison anyway. His wife, Amelia, looms as the third person in their relationship from the very beginning. But Nicholas is so charming and just insinuates himself into Elena's life, finally getting her to agree to a commitment ceremony because he is not yet able to marry her as Madison has not been legally declared dead. Despite his ardent declarations, Elena is vulnerable to his manipulations and is convinced to move into the house Nicholas shared with his former wife. That's when the real problems surface. NO SPOILERS.

I'm sure that all women have thought at one time or another when we hear about a case of spousal abuse -- why doesn't she leave him? There are as many reasons (or excuses) as there are the women who endure the beatings, the treachery, the isolation, the controlling and the lies. Elena is distraught and can't escape Nicholas even after he confesses that he's lost all her inheritance. Now, she's really dependent on him. Much of the book describes how the worm turned and how Nicholas torments Elena, especially as she is convinced that he still loves the dead Amelia -- why else would he lock the door to the couple's previous bedroom and what other secrets is he keeping.

I've read other reviews and I must say that I enjoyed this domestic drama and psychological thriller. I didn't read the "romance" aspect as being too much as I realize this is the way that the abuser draws in his victim. I could see the downward spiral of Elena's life and sympathized with her even as I kept telling myself that I would never be in her position. Ah hubris, right? Anyway, there is suspense and the author creates a nice bit of tension. You know there is something of course -- that there will be a twist, and it's pretty easy to anticipate though you're not sure when it is coming.

The book is told in alternating viewpoints with some flips in time and this strange bit in italics that was a bit disconcerting until you identify the owner of the voice. That aspect of the narrative fell a little flat and I definitely had to suspend some disbelief about some of the things that happened as the story builds to a dramatic climax and a satisfying conclusion. You may or may not identify or relate to the characters, but it won't be hard to despise Nicholas as he's definitely a psychopath!

It was easy to read this book in one sitting as I found it hard to put down so stayed up way late finishing. I hope you enjoy it as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Standalone, not part of any series.

The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson

Domestic suspense thriller. What if the woman you've married turns out to be someone you didn't know at all?

The Willis family seems to be followed by a curse of tragedy. Parents Annie and Paul, "Everyone's mum and dad" are famous for their books and television presence. When they are murdered one night, their 13-year-old daughter, Charley, is found by her sister Martha hiding in the wardrobe upstairs. The killer was never found. Fifteen years later, Charley marries vet Seth Chambers -- and goes missing from the wedding reception. As Seth tries to figure out where Charley has gone, with the police and the press coming and going, he's in a right state of exhaustion and worry.

The narrative goes back and forth in time and point of view as the story unravels layer by layer with surprising twists and bitter truth. The Willis family wasn't who they represented themselves to be, which isn't the most surprising revelation, but it's true that you can't always believe everything you hear, that you read, or that you see. Many secrets are hidden behind the front door of a family home and the Willis family has a lot to hide. Money may not be everything to everyone, but it sure can provide a lot of negative or positive motivation.

Enjoyed this standalone by one of my favorite authors. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Not part of a series.

The Body on the Shore (DCI Craig Gillard #2) by Nick Louth

Simply put -- this is a great police procedural, the second in a new series by Nick Louth. Set in Surrey and featuring DCI Craig Gillard, the crime thriller is complex and absorbing and very hard to put down!

A young architect is murdered in his office one morning and Gillard gets the nod to lead the investigation. The few leads soon dry up and, though it looks like a professional assassination, the detectives can't figure out why anyone would want to kill the husband and father. Until they discover that he came to the UK as an orphan seeking asylum... In what comes to be a related case, a body is found on the shore of a remote beach. And, to complicate an already complicated situation, the two adopted children of a local woman are kidnapped leading Gillard deep into the not-so-hidden blood wars of the Albanian Mafia. NO SPOILERS.

The narrative is fast-paced with action as well as a focus on the various methods used by the police and Gillard's team to track down the suspects, recover the children, and figure out the motivations for the murders. The descriptions and detail are meticulous and is focused mainly on police activity with only a little about their personal lives. I can see a lot of potential for this great series and can't wait for #3. I was riveted by the backstory of the Albanians and their vendettas between families -- all interesting and new information for me. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing this e-book ARC for me to read and review. I highly recommend this series and am eager to see what case Gillard is tasked with next. 

The Body in the Marsh (DCI Craig Gillard #1) by Nick Louth

Excellent and well-written police procedural, the first in a new series featuring DCI Craig Gillard out of Surrey Police in Guildford. With intricately constructed complex plotting, full of twists and red herrings, this crime thriller will appeal to any fan of this genre.

The case -- Elizabeth Knight, the wife of respected criminologist Martin Knight, is reported missing by one her oldest best friends. After the police contact her husband with questions, he also disappears. Gillard's team opens an investigation but he harbors a secret: he once dated Liz Knight and has never really gotten over her. Gillard's search for answers will take him to the continent and back again as he attempts to find out what happened and why. NO SPOILERS.

This is fast-paced and kept me glued to the pages as I tried to guess what would happen with all the clues and questions. Though I did figure out where it was going fairly early on, I was intrigued as events unfolded and the conclusion was completely satisfying. I can't wait to start the second book, THE BODY ON THE SHORE!

Thank you to the publisher (Canelo) for this e-book to read and review.

Series book #1

The Last Hours (Black Death #1) by Minette Walters

Summer 1348 heralds the arrival of the Black Death to Dorseteshire and seriously impacts the relatively small demesne of Develish. Shortly before the apocalypse of disease appears, Sir Richard leaves his land to journey to Bradmayne in an effort to marry off his 14-year-old daughter, Lady Eleanor. Instead of returning with news of a betrothal, Sir Richard brings the plague. When he's denied access across the moat to the manor and dies, his widow, Lady Anne takes over and creates an entirely new society inside the walls. Trained in a nunnery before she was wed, Lady Anne knows how to use practical hygiene and isolation methods to keep her serfs free from disease. She and two of her trusted serfs -- the bastard Thaddeus Thurkell and an older man named Gyles Startout -- encourage the people of the demesne to bond together to save themselves. Be forewarned, this ends on a cliffhanger as there is meant to be a book #2!

If you're in the mood for compelling and fascinating historical fiction focusing on how the Black Death affected a relatively small community and its impact on their way of life then this is the book for you. I found myself absorbed completely in the details and descriptions of the life and times of the characters in this extremely well-written novel. Because of the strength and leadership of Lady Anne, the loyalty of the people of the demesne, and the resilience of the human spirit, this incredible saga of the event that decimated much of the population of Europe is hard to put down. I have long been fascinated by stories surrounding how the plague destroyed centuries of social order, how it affected the religious beliefs held by the majority of the populace, and how it increased the awareness of how disease was spread including the emphasis on learning about sanitation and the importance of extermination. So few had any degree of understanding of epidemiology or even cleanliness and little was known of science as most people thought that it was sin that brought death and disease. It's hard for us now to imagine such degree of ignorance living as we do, but the author describes the setting and living conditions so well in this novel that you can see, hear, smell, feel and taste what it must have been like. I love books that send me into research mode, and I definitely made use of the Internet while reading.

I encourage you to read this if you like historical fiction and a great story with well-drawn characters that you learn to love and/or hate! I cannot wait for the sequel to this and am so grateful to NetGalley & Edelweiss and MIRA/Harper Collins for this e-book ARC to read and review. Hurry up, Ms Walters, and finish this masterpiece!

Her Final Hour (Gina Harte #2) by Carla Kovach

 DI Gina Harte has just returned home to Cleevesford from a short holiday spent with her daughter and granddaughter when she gets called to work. A murder. A 35-year-old wife and mother, Melissa Sanderson, was beaten and strangled to death in her own kitchen. Harte is made Senior Investifating Officer (which thrills her as it will be her first time and a huge step in her career) and she and her team begin to gather and follow the few clues and leads that will soon spiral into quite the case. There's no shortage of motives and suspects -- could it be Melissa's own husband who found her body and called police when he came home after a night out at the pub? Or is it Melissa's secret lover? Then there's the personal attack on Gina Harte herself. And yet another victim. In all 3 cases, there are some links and similarities. Gina and her fellow detectives are frustrated and stalled at every turn in this complex crime investigation. Painstaking attention to detail and chasing down people who may or may not be involved is going to take some doing.

I enjoyed this fast-paced police procedural, the second in the series. I like Gina Harte's character and she is working on achieving some personal growth with issues in her own life while still staying focused on her job. The personalities of the other members of the team are becoming more solid but there is still a long way to go before they become more than one-dimensional as the focus is mainly on Gina. It seems that in many books like this that the female detectives are messed up and have difficulty with relationships and I hope that Gina can break out of that mold. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Second book in Detective Gina Harte series. I read the first and enjoyed it as well.

Their Last Words (#1 Ray Paterson) by Steve Parker

This was a fast-paced, well-written crime thriller and police procedural -- the first in a new series featuring Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson. He's a wealthy playboy, recently promoted to head his first murder squad case -- and the victim is a young woman, savagely mutilated with a word carved into her chest. He and his team, based out of Bermondsey, South London, barely get started on the investigation when another victim is found. They have a serial killer to hunt. Thankfully, Ray has a good group to work with, including a friend who's helping him learn the ropes, DS Dave Jordan.
As they delve into their jobs, even calling in a behavioral analyst, it becomes clear that this killer has an agenda, and their inability to find and apprehend this monster will cost the department dearly. NO SPOILERS.

What an absorbing read! I could not put this down and was absolutely glued to the pages, gripped by the twists and turns and the grisly details. The characters were depicted quite clearly and the dialog and actions of the team seemed so believable and realistic. The chills and tension kept escalating and the narrative paced perfectly to draw out maximum suspense. I loved it! If you enjoy a gritty police procedural with characters that are more unique than typical in the genre, this is the book for you. I cannot wait for the next novel by this author and highly recommend this one. Sign me up for an ARC now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. This debut screams for a follow-up and I'm so glad I had the chance to get in at the beginning of what I'm sure will be a great ride for this obviously talented author who has the chops to write what he knows!

Series #1

The Day I Lost You by Alex Sinclair

Erika is taking her 4-year-old daughter to her estranged husband's top floor apartment on the 14th floor of an upscale building when they get trapped inside a stuck elevator. When it moves a little and the doors open slightly at mid floor, little Alice squeezes through the small opening onto the 7th floor. Erika, already anxious, can't get through and the doors close again taking her down to the lobby. Frantic, she asks the young man at the reception desk, Henry, to help her find Alice. She enlists the help of another resident, Alan, to come with her when Henry seems loathe to take any action. When they get back up to the 7th floor, Alice is nowhere to be found. A door-to-door search is fruitless. What could have happened and where is Alice? And does Alice's disappearance have something to do with Erika's ex, Michael, or has someone in this building kidnapped her? NO SPOILERS.

I read this short book in a little over an hour. Not because it was so compelling, but because I was having such a hard time making sense of the story given how I found it all so utterly unbelievable. That's how I knew something was really off. Yes, it would be entirely normal for a mother to be hysterical if she had lost her child but Erika seemed bat-crap crazy and her madcap actions had me shaking my head. I just had to get to the end of this so that I could find out if my instincts were correct. Yes. There was a twist at the end and it sort of explained some of the day's events as Erika, Alan and several others race up and down and around the building. Definitely different sort of missing child book to what I expected.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.

The Secret by K.L. Slater

"Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth." BUDDHA

Archie, 8-years-old, lives in Nottinghamshire with his mom, Louise, and adoptive father, Darren. He has a secret too big to hold inside but too scary to tell. But his deteriorating behavior and anxiety slowly become worrisome when he starts spending more time with Alice -- Archie's aunt and Louise's younger sister. Alice lives alone in a flat that belonged to their mother, she has some physical injuries from an accident, and she is prone to fears of her own. She can't explain away the things she finds out, or those signs that are revealed in the dynamics of dysfunctional relationships. What is really going on with Archie and his family and can Alice become brave enough to confront truth once and for all?  NO SPOILERS.

This was a psychological drama centered on family and the keeping of secrets. Alice is a mousy character who never learned to stand up for herself but who is now called upon to stand up for others. Louise is a domineering older sister who shows a real proclivity to narcissism and who is quite manipulative. Is Louise really a monster behind a facade of mother, wife and working professional? Her husband, Darren, expresses deep concerns about his wife. Alice is worried about everyone, even the upstairs neighbor whose phone rings at odd hours during the middle of the night. What is it that Archie can't tell anyone?

Enjoyable and fast-paced read with a surprising twist or two along the way. The narrative is told from three points of view and flips back and forth in time giving the reader a historical perspective on the development of the characters. Although I really didn't care for any of the lot, I know we're meant to feel an affinity for their various plights. I wanted to shake Alice a time or two and I have no patience for disinterested mothering or favoritism. Louise? I detested her completely. Anyway, I've no doubt Slater's fans (and I'm one) will eat this up! It should be obvious to anyone that a secret can be a very dangerous thing to hold.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

Sometimes a best friend isn't really good for you...

Two pre-adolescent girls from opposite sides of the track trying to find some care, love and affection in their lives. Drawn to each other, but bringing out the worst -- how far will they take things in order to be free from their suffocating and miserable existence? Charlotte and Katie want to be on the run like BONNIE and CLYDE. They make promises to each other, but one of them breaks their pact. And now, the past comes back with a vengeance. NO SPOILERS.

This domestic psychological drama flips back and forth in time and is told from the viewpoints of all the main players. It can be a bit confusing keeping it all straight so this is a book that is probably best read over a short period of time. The narration is not reliable and there are so many secrets and tidbits of important information kept from the reader until the last couple of chapters. There was no surprise or twist in this for me, I already knew from pretty much the beginning where this was going. So, I guess I can say now that I was fairly disappointed in this novel because it certainly didn't grab me or hold me in thrall with any suspense like BEHIND HER EYES did. I didn't really connect with any of the characters and I didn't find most of the narrative believable so it didn't create any tension for me.

A certain kind of reader will probably gobble this up and enjoy it tremendously. Unfortunately, that particular type of reader is not me. It took me far too long to get through this and I found it dragging at several points. I didn't really care that much about the characters and expected the resolution to be pretty much exactly what it was. I still hold on to the fact that I really loved her first book, so I will give Sarah Pinborough another go with her next outing, but this one left me feeling let down as I had such high expectations.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review courtesy of Edelweiss.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

What a fun "locked room" whodunit set within the confines of the cozy Mitchell Inn located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State.

The 10 guests make their way to the beautiful accommodations high into the mountains during a snowstorm. Away from civilization, without internet service, and with lovely vistas and well-appointed rooms -- this promises to be a weekend that none will forget. Unfortunately, all of the guests will not make it out alive. When the storm cuts the power, those at the Inn are without heat or light...and without help from the outside. Tensions and suspicions mount in the confinement and finger pointing becomes dangerous to those still alive.

The characters are quite the mix of personalities and, though there were quite a few, the author gives such great backstory that it is easy to remember who is who as each is introduced. Since the narrative flips between the point of view of the different people, the reader is aware of conflict beneath the surface of the initialally convivial gathering of strangers. When the first dead body is discovered on the morning after everyone's arrival, it's thought to be an accident at first glance. One of the guests, however, is convinced it is murder. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't go into describing each person staying at the hotel, nor the father and son who are left to run the place single-handedly due to the isolation caused by the storm. They are all quite interesting and I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues to see if I could guess the identity and the motivation of the perpetrator.

I loved the setting, the atmosphere and the story line. The writing drew me in and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough so stayed up late to finish all in one sitting. The conclusion was excellent, except I was left with one burning question! Definitely enjoyed this guessing game mystery and would recommend to fans of Agatha Christie. I've read both of this author's other books as well and this was a very satisfactory third outing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books, Viking for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series. Great cover!

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Mystery at a summer camp. What really happened to the girls?

"There's something worse than death...not knowing."

Artist Emma Davis has spent the last 15 years haunted by the disappearance of 3 of her cabin mates while they were at summer camp. Exhaustive searches revealed no hint of what happened to the teenagers. Now at age 28, she's been invited back to Camp Nightingale as an instructor. She decides to accept the offer in hopes that she can undo some of the damage she did back then -- because there were several things she lied about at the time. This time she's determined to find out what happened to Vivian, Natalie and Allison. Once back at the camp ensconced in the same cabin where she'd stayed when she was 13, Emma finds that she is still under a cloud of suspicion -- that's why there is a motion sensor camera trained right on the door to Dogwood. Emma knows that she really didn't have anything to do with whatever happened to those girls...

Told in past/present narrative style through Emma's voice at 13 and at 28, the events are slowly revealed which made me very impatient to get to the denouement and conclusion. Emma is a character that I never identified with and she is constantly scrutinizing all the secondary characters for hints of guilt or involvement. She suffers from hallucinations and paranoia while also acknowledging that she has never told the truth about certain things surrounding the relationship she had with the 3 girls who vanished. The family that owns the camp also comes under suspicion. And then there's the fact that the man made lake on the property actually might be concealing a secret. Lots of teen angst and drama and a mystery that drug on a bit too long. I had a bit of a problem with the ending and definitely issues with Emma.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and this had some similarities to the first in writing style and tone. I'm not a fan of the past-present structure, but I do prefer reading an adult perspective rather than that of teenager voice. The book didn't have that "can't put it down" vibe for me, but I admit that it can be difficult for a story to keep me fully engaged at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone fiction book that is not part of any series.

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Warning -- those of you who are die-hard Karin Slaughter fans might not want to read further. Or you can comment after you've read the book and this review!

The synopsis and premise were intriguing -- Andrea found out that her mother was not just some 55-year-old suburban cliche mom but was someone who had a really sordid history that she had had hidden from Andrea for 31 years, no -- that she had LIED about her entire life. When Laura kills a spree shooter at the mall and garners police suspicion, Andrea goes on the run and finds out the truth along the way. Told in past/present chapters with alternating voices, the story is at first confusing and unengaging. After the first couple of switches, the reader figures out how it's all connected.

This is not part of any series, but is a standalone. It's meant to be a suspense thriller for adults, but it reads more like YA fiction. Although the protagonist is 31, her thoughts, emotions and behavior are more like that of a teenager. Andrea (and how I hated the nickname, "Andy", not only because it was a dead giveaway of a supposed twist plot point, but my daughter's name is Andrea and I am so glad she never wanted to use that as a nickname) narrates alternating chapters as she's "on the run" where she spends all of her time vacillating, crying, making stupid decisions, angsting, having stream of consciousness repetitive thoughts in her head. She seems incapable of even forming complete sentences. Her character was so annoying that I was a breath away from just tossing the book down the stairs and never finishing it. But, I slogged on and got exactly what I expected. A long, drawn-out story about an adult daughter (Andrea) finding out that her mother (Laura) wasn't at all who she had pretended to be.

I had high expectations for this because I've read many other books by this author (who I almost never forgave for THAT ending). I was disappointed and, as I said, I had to force myself to finish. I didn't like ANY of the characters, I didn't care about what Laura had done, I thought the resolution and conclusion were both far-fetched and there was way too much drama in this for my taste. Way too much TELL and rambling description. No doubt I'll hear from other readers about how wrong I am, about how this book is "brilliant" and they "couldn't put it down", etc. and I say -- great! To each her own opinion. That's why we write reviews.

I'll hesitate in the future to request another KS book that is not part of her usual series style fare, but I thank the publisher, William Morrow, and Edelweiss for the e-book ARC of this to read and review.

Standalone -- not part of a series.

Last Witness (DI Zac Boateng #2) By Chris Merritt

When your past comes back to haunt you...

Crime thriller and police procedural, the second in a series featuring Detective Inspector Zac Boateng of the Lewisham Major Investigation Team. An old colleague is found dead -- a suspected suicide. Then another. And yet another. Three dead cops, all from the team that had responded to a 999 call years ago when they were all new to the police force. Obviously the deaths are murders, and Zac knows that he's next on the list because he was there that night as well. Something happened inside that house years ago and someone wants them to pay for it.

This is rather slow moving and also involves a concurrent unrelated investigation into hate crime in the area. I knew almost immediately who was behind the killing of the cops, so the reveal came as no surprise. I had enjoyed the first book in this new series, BRING HER BACK, so had wanted to follow up. I know there's a third in the works. The character of DI Boateng is rather stereotypical of male detectives -- strong silent type family man. Zac carries a lot of guilt (from events related to the first book) and with what happened to cause a killer to come after him in this book. Some interesting themes in the book include police welfare (psychological counseling and all-t00-common problem of police suicide) and the unique use of the drug, succinylcholine, a paralyzing agent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Slowly We Die by Emelie Schepp (Jana Berzelius #3)

Nordic Noir at its best!

Excuse me while I take a moment. Reverence! This book was absolutely fantastic and I can't believe I came in on the third in such a series having never heard of this author before (I don't know who to blame for that.) This is simply a great thriller. It has themes of loss, murder, revenge, redemption, and loyalty. It's part mystery, part police procedural, and partly just a darn great story. However, it is NOT a medical thriller (that is very misleading in the blurbs) by my reckoning. But, I'm going to let it go as I loved it anyway. 

This suspenseful novel is set in Norrkoping, Sweden. There are so many characters in this novel that it would be impossible, without spoilers, to give a run down of who is who and how they were involved in the plot. The main character is, obviously, meant to be Prosecutor Jana Berzelius (and whoa what a backstory she has) followed by the police team -- there's Gunnar, Mia, Henrik, Anneli, and technician Ola. Then there are the secondary characters about whom the action revolves -- paramedics Philip and Sandra. Then the victims -- murdered in their homes in most gruesome style. At first it's a little hard to keep them all straight. There's also a mystery man with whom Jana has a history -- and it's not the romantic kind. But I won't say more so that you can work it all out for yourself and enjoy it as much as I did. The writing and characterization are top-notch and, even if you guess ahead at what might be going on as I did, you will still enjoy the ride!

What are you waiting for -- get this on your TBR as soon as you can. Best would be if you read #1 and #2 first, I'm sure, though I didn't have that luxury. I can only imagine, given the little dangling morsel at the end, that there is going to be a fourth and I've already got it on my MUST READ list.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Books/Harlequin Enterprises for this e-book ARC to read and review. Don't forget me when I come begging for more Jana Berzelius.

Portraits of the Dead (DI Gravel #1) by John Nicholl

"If heaven can be a place on earth, then so can hell."

When 19-year-old Emma Jones wakes in a windowless cell, she knows that her hell has just begun. Kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night, she's held prisoner by a man who speaks to her through an intercom and hides behind a clown mask. Pictures on the walls show 5 other girls that look just like her. The man glories in sadistic torture and murder -- will she be next?

Detective Inspector Gareth Gravel and DS Clive Rankin of West Wales Police catch the case when the mother of a missing girl comes into the station. Shortly afterwards, the bodies of 5 unidientified young women are discovered in nearby Caerystwyth Wood. The hunt for a serial killer begins.

This grisly, dark thriller is immediately absorbing and tense. Though the identity of the killer is shared early, the narrative shifting between points of view, the reader is kept glued to the pages as the story progresses. Part police procedural, but with more emphasis on other disturbing action, it is difficult to put aside the book so I had to read it all in a single sitting. I must say I was rather upset by the climax and conclusion; it was unsettling and unexpected. The ending is abrupt in some ways.

I've read one other book in the DI Gravel series (unfortunately out of order) but will be starting the 3rd book, A COLD COLD HEART, immediately. Good stuff if you like serial killer chiller thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Tiffany Blues by MJ Rose

"...grief is the price we pay for love."

Jenny Bell is a gifted artist living in New York City in 1924 when she and her best friend, socialite Minx Deering, are invited to an 8-week course on Long Island at Louis Comfort Tiffany's art colony. Off they go to the beautiful Laurelton Hall estate where art will meet paradise. It is there that Jenny comes face to face with her demons, finds love, and refines her passion and talent as a painter of light. But happiness eludes her as the past she's hidden for so long comes back with a vengeance.

This lovely, romantic historical novel evokes all the frenzy that was the 1920s -- the music, the fashion, the art, the literature and the easy use of drugs and alcohol. Everyone was frantically trying to rid themselves of the horrors of the war and so much death. Jenny and Minx are quintessential young adults in a world where life and color rule and people are entranced by new inventions and radicalism. As they begin their course at Laurelton Hall, both are committed to winning the competition among the fellows that summer -- but their ambitions will be derailed by matters that neither predicted nor could control.

The detail and the descriptions of the scenery at Laurelton Hall and everything about their experiences are well rendered making the reader feel a part of that period in time. The clothes, jewelry, food -- the famous names dropped so casually -- it is obvious that M.J. Rose has a deep appreciation and understanding of beauty and art. I felt transported back in time and loved it all. Less compelling was Jenny's story and the drama (somewhat unbelievable) surrounding her backstory, but fortunately that wasn't why I read the book so that aspect was easy for me to overlook while savoring the rich historic period, the information about Tiffany, and the joy of imagining what it would be like to actually see that famous estate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to read and review. I've read many books by this author and the most compelling part of each is always her ability to bring the creation of art (or perfume or jewelry, etc.) to life.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series. #JazzAge #romance #art

Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane

"...sacrifice could teach us how to live fuller, that being true to oneself wasn't about temporary happiness, but about enduring the hardships and finding strength within."

Oleander Way, North Carolina. Four families. Four wives who are also mothers. Mothers who are drowning under the weight of demanding husbands and children. Something has to give.

This psychological thriller and mystery is told from the viewpoint of four different women. All are doing their best to take care of their children and their husbands -- and largely failing. One of these women decides to take matters in hand. The result is family annihilation. How did it get to this point -- was there a moment when everything broke or was it a slow, eroding process borne of frustration and futility?

A slow burner of suspense, this novel shows motherhood and marriage as a thankless prison. The anguish of the women is palpable, all the more because I struggled to understand it and empathize. The mother with a special needs child, the one whose husband was having an affair, the other with a secret lover who wouldn't let go, and the woman whose child was kidnapped from the park as retaliation for a long ago mistake. What do these women have in common? Real life and all its toll on their hearts, minds and time. NO SPOILERS.

An extremely fast paced book that begs to be read in one sitting. At the outset, the reader knows that a there has been murder, but it takes most of the narrative -- told from different points of view -- to get to the who and why. Although I'm not quite sure I liked how it all turned out, it definitely was a compelling read. I feel that the overall tone was quite depressing and certainly would make me question my desire to have children or a family (if I hadn't already gone that route with much different results). We read about women who "snap" and commit horrific crimes against their families and always wonder -- what was the last straw -- and WHY? There are no answers here, really, but maybe just the underlying theme: endure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound books for this e-book ARC to read and review. This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

The Perfect Friend by Barbara Copperthwaite

"We all have locked boxes inside us that only certain people get the keys to."

A dark and twisty psychological drama that starts slow and builds to a suspenseful climax.

Alex Appleby is 44-years-old. She lives alone, works as a dressmaker, and attends a support group for all sorts of trauma victims. She's a recovering anorexic, and she admits that she is a great liar.
Alex used to be married and she had twins -- a girl and a boy -- but no one knows exactly what happened though she admits that she is at fault for them being out of her life now. Alex has a lot of love with no place to express it, so she befriends a fellow group member, 24-year-old Carrie. Carrie is there because she just got a terminal diagnosis as her cancer has come back. Though there is a 20 year age gap, they become friends outside the group. Alex wants to "mother" and Carrie needs one. And that's when the trouble begins... NO SPOILERS.

The narrative, told from different points of view and a THEN and NOW as well, starts to build in the middle of the book. Little by little you learn the secrets that Alex and Carrie are hiding and start to see the nature of their bond. Although neither character really resonated with me, or compelled my sympathy and understanding, I must admit that I was not sure what was truth and what was a lie as both were unreliable. I stayed up well past my bedtime frantically turning the pages as fast as I could read in order to get to the end! I enjoyed the surprise of the unanticipated turns as Alex and Carrie are fully revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of a series.

VOX by Christina Dalcher

What would happen in America if the government decided that all females should be outfitted with a "bracelet" that limited them to speaking only 100 words a day? If the clock was rewound to mimic a period where women had, not only no considered opinions, but no jobs, no real education, and no ability to do anything besides care for the home, children and husband. That is the state of the nation in this near-future tale. The PURE movement, spearheaded by a preacher and the upper levels of government, has relegated women and female children to mere tools of the men to whom they belong. The men control every aspect of life. Propaganda fills the airwaves. Even the women, like Dr. Jean McClellan, a neuro linguist whose scientific research in eliminating Wernicke's Aphasia was about to make a huge difference in stroke and head injured people, have been silenced. Powerful men have reduced America to a fundamentalist state after subjugating half the population.

In this new world order, hope comes when it seems that all has been lost. Jean is called by the President to work on her project in a top secret lab because his brother has had a head injury from a skiing accident and the President needs him cured. When Jean arrives to begin the intense work demanded of her, she finds that something even more heinous is planned. NO SPOILERS.

This was quite the read -- shades of Atwood's chilling work, THE HANDMAID'S TALE -- but with the focus more on the voice of women and their need to pay attention to politics and their rights. To not stand idly by while government creeps into their homes and bedrooms. To use their power to vote and campaign for themselves. The story would definitely provide many themes and topics for a great book club discussion. It gave me chills to imagine how easily something like this could happen if fully half the population was lulled into a sense of complacency. Keep up the good fight, ladies.

The narrative itself was a quick read even though there was a ton of technical and scientific information. I found myself often wondering how far-fetched the science was though always rooting for it to be possible. I thoroughly absorbed it all and think it was a very interesting and compelling book. Sort of a wake up call to answer some of the current political shifts that have the potential to impact the lives of many women. People always say, "That couldn't happen here." But, they're wrong. All it takes is...and I'm paraphrasing...for a few good women to do nothing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I recommend it!

Standalone, not part of a series. This would make a great movie or miniseries!

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

After Alicia Berenson is brought to trial for shooting her husband, Gabriel, to death at their home, she's remanded into psychiatric care at the Grove, an old facility in North London that's about to be shut down. Her trial ended with this decision because it could not continue -- Alicia refused to speak. She was frozen, immobile, non responsive. It was said that she had a long history of mental illness. It's 6 years later, now, and Alicia still has not spoken a word. Enter Theo Faber -- a 42-year-old forensic psychotherapist. He is convinced that he's uniquely qualified to help Alicia Berenson to tell her story and to get well. In short, he seems almost obsessed about her. NO SPOILERS.

This psychological thriller is quite complex and though slow to start, once it gets going, the tale is very compelling. Sometimes a bit hard to follow, the reader knows that there's something very strange going on at the Grove. And a great deal wrong with certain people who work there. In addition, as Theo seeks out those who knew Alicia before her husband died, some disturbing information comes to light. Then, there's Alicia's diary. Either some folks are lying or Alicia is more messed up than anyone knew. Will Alicia ever speak to Theo and can he help her? The conclusion may surprise you!

I enjoyed this debut and will definitely look for future books by this author. Thank you to Edelweiss and Celadon Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Standalone, not part of a series. Psychological thriller.

The Birthday (DI Natalie Ward #1) by Carol E Wyer

DI Natalie Ward with the Samford Police Force has a chilling task -- to find the person who murdered 5-year-old Ava Sawyer and buried her behind a garden center 2 years ago. Ava had disappeared during a birthday party and was not found until the center was sold and excavation for expansion by the new owners had begun. After the discovery of the little girl's body, Natalie and her team are rocked by two new killings of little girls -- both found dressed in yellow party dresses.

DI Ward, Sergeants Lucy Carmichael, Murry Anderson, and PC Ian Jarvis make up the investigative unit that has a terrific job to do. Find out who is snatching and killing these little girls right under their noses. When a 4th girl is taken, the stakes are higher as this child is the daughter of a former detective who worked on the initial case. Can they find out the identity of the serial killer and stop him in time to save Sage?

Lots of red herrings and suspects in this one with the voice of the killer narrating an occasional chapter. Natalie is an interesting character, haunted by her failure in a former case involving a child, and is driven to solve this at the cost of her home and family life. I'm interested to see how she develops in the second book of this series. Looks like we will see more personal drama among members of the team as well. It's always fun to start a new series with fresh characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

What a fun, entertaining, page-turning suspense thriller that Barclay has written for our enjoyment! I've long been a fan, reading almost everything he's ever written, and this one does not disappoint! If you're looking for a compelling and enjoyable read this summer, pick this one.

Paul Davis is sort of a mess. He suffered serious head trauma when hit by a shovel after finding a colleague of his with two dead women in the back cargo area of a station wagon. Paul has a bit of PTSD along with some mental health issues, but he's seeing a therapist and starting to recover. Paul gets the notion that he will write about the events, visit the killer in prison, and get his life back. Someone has other ideas...NO SPOILERS.

Although I had some idea of where this one was going, it was still a well-written standalone novel with interesting characters and some great red herrings. For awhile, I wasn't sure I was right! This is definitely a book you can read in one sitting, it will be hard to put down, and had a very satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to LibraryThing and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review. 

Standalone but set in Promise Falls.

Into the Darkness by Sibel Hodge

"Sometimes the right thing to do is wrong. There were different kinds of justice."

An elderly couple is murdered on their isolated farm. THE DETECTIVE (DS Warren Carter) is working this homicide case. An 18-year-old girl (Toni) is MISSING. Toni's mom is desperate because the police are not being helpful, and hires THE VIGILANTE (Mitchell). Are these two investigations related -- and if so, why and how?

Toni is passionate about saving children from the horrors of the evil that is done to them. She finds evidence of snuff films on the dark web and wants to take this information to the local police when she's abducted. Will she be the next victim in the RED ROOM? Ex military SAS Mitchell was Toni's dad's best friend and when Toni doesn't come home, her mom calls him for help. Can he find her before it's too late?

DS Carter and his team can't figure out why the elderly couple was killed as there is no obvious motive. A set of handprints belonging to a missing prostitute named Tracy White is found at the scene. Why was she there? No link is found between Tracy and the owners of the farm.

This thriller is narrated by the three main characters -- Toni, Mitchell and Carter. As it unfolds, the connection becomes clear and the action ratchets up to a satisfying conclusion. The main theme of the book focuses on the activities of people trolling the dark web and the atrocities that are perpetrated in the name of entertainment for the sickos willing to pay for it. It's pretty gruesome stuff.

I've read a couple of other titles by this author and can tell she is passionate about protecting children and that she is definitely a human rights advocate. Some of her work has been about sex trafficking. I enjoyed the book and will look for others by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

On the night that Margaret hopes to become engaged to Chip, she's on the brink of starting the wonderful life she's worked so hard to set up for herself. She's just landed the job of her dreams and everything is falling into place. Until the moment she's pulled from the wreckage...

I won this from Bookish First and promised to read and review. I think I should have examined the synopsis a bit closer, but all I remember seeing was "accident" and "plane crash." Most of you who follow my reviews know that I like all things medical, and I hoped that the story of Margaret's survival and recovery would be more about science -- but it was a romance novel through and through. Sure there was plenty of doom, gloom, despair and misery -- but it was so overshadowed by the improbable love story that I just couldn't get from the book what I'd hoped for.

I had a hard time with many aspects of this novel (I've worked with people who've had this type of injury) and though I know the author did a lot of research on the topic of the injury Margaret sustained, I had to suspend a lot of disbelief about the way things progressed with her treatment and therapy. Margaret's family seemed to be props just to propel the situations that develop in order to get to that happy ending that you know is coming. I didn't, for one minute, feel that everything wasn't going to turn out OK. The whole story never clicked for me, but then again, I am not a romance reader and I just didn't know that was the main point of the book.

So, if you are looking for a feel good, sort of overly sentimental type love-in-spite-of-the-dismal-odds tale to provide some entertainment by the pool or beach, this is the one for you.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Standalone, not part of any series.

Believe Me by J.P. Delaney

All you need to remember after you pick up this psychological thriller is that CLAIRE is an actress. From Britain, now in NYC, she can't work legally while taking acting classes at Actors Studio. So she needs a job that pays cash to supplement her scholarship. Claire explains that, as an orphan who was shuttled from place to place in foster care, she learned the art of "behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances." And, "It's what you imagine that defines you as a character."

So she gets a job acting as a decoy to tempt husbands to stray. She's very good at her role, but one night she is hired to lure the wrong man -- who is disinterested and preoccupied with his academic work -- the translation and teaching of the work of Charles Baudelaire. Patrick Folger is enamored of a particular book of Baudelaire's poetry, LES FLUERS DU MAL -- which happens to be morbid erotica after a fashion. When he departs without falling for Claire's enticements, she meets his wife, Stella, who had hired her through a law firm that Claire works for. Unfortunately, Stella ends up dead in her hotel room the next morning. Who killed her? Along with the murder, there is money missing. At first, Claire is a suspect, but then she is hired to pursue Patrick because the police believe he might have murdered his wife and that he is, in fact, a serial killer. There's the premise in a nutshell.

NO SPOILERS. Claire agrees to go undercover and assume the acting role of a lifetime. Be beware -- Claire is not entirely reliable as a narrator and the reader is never sure if she is being real or acting -- or even if Claire can tell the difference between the two.

The prose has an unusual style, written at times like a screenplay. While fitting for the subject matter, it was a little odd at first. The game of cat and mouse is such that, while you are drawn in with questions, you become less sure of what is going on as the book progresses. Definitely you will need to suspend disbelief as some of what happens seems completely unrealistic or likely to happen as described. I didn't really care for the ending and not sure that I really liked this book though it definitely held my interest well enough that I didn't want to put it down.

So, ultimately, should you read it? Depends on your BS meter and your ability to get into a character such as Claire. The details about Baudelaire and his poetry were quite interesting and macabre. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. Looking forward to hearing others' opinions and thoughts on this second novel that I've read by this author.

Standalone, not part of a series.

The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk #4) by Dean Koontz

Do YOU know Jane Hawk? Rogue FBI agent intent on saving the world from the Techno Arcadians? If not, you've missed out on one of the most entertaining thriller series available for your reading pleasure.

This is book #4. Under NO circumstances should you read this until you have read 1-3. This is not any kind of standalone, plus you'll be missing the amazing backstory and the incredible details that continue to make these episodes so compelling.

Nanotechnology is real, but the Techno Arcadians have taken the science to a whole new level. This group of powerful men and women seek to enslave or destroy anyone who doesn't share their vision of revolution in order to create their version of Utopia. Jane Hawk is on the run, ferreting out some of those rich egomaniacs, all the while trying to save her son, Jack, whom she has hidden because he is her Achilles heel. They get Jack, they get her.

The action is nonstop, and Dean Koontz, like no other author, loves description, metaphor, simile, and $25.00 words! I am in love with this series and with Jane Hawk. If you're in the mood to step into a world that may become real in the not-so-distant future, you will inhale these books as I have. Definitely my most anticipated read of summer in 2018, I can honestly say that it was just as good as I hoped. More information, more gore, more unique characters, more "adjusted" people and more of Jane Hawk's evasion tactics. This, folks, is pure entertainment! Don't miss it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books for approving me to read and review this e-book ARC. I was happy to see a preview of #5 at the end of this, and cannot wait until I get to read it. Do we dare hope for a conclusion to this saga at that point, or will Koontz torture me further? 

Her Mother's Grave (Det. Josie Quinn #3) by Lisa Regan

The sins of a mother...

After the bones of a young woman, Belinda Rose, are found in a trailer park where she grew up, Josie Quinn is set to perhaps finally know the truth of her past. She had a childhood filled with loneliness and abuse, an evil mother, and many instances of trauma that have left her mistrustful, insecure, and haunted. With each discovery during the ensuing investigation, Detective Josie  Quinn and her team find one unsettling revelation after another. Complicated by questions that seemingly can't be answered, by hidden files and secrets that have bound the perpetrators, the case causes Josie to examine her memories and go back to that hated time of her life. Supported by her colleagues, Josie finds that the discovery of the bones is just the tip of the iceberg.

This series featuring Denton Police Chief Josie Quinn is simply one of the best out there! This is the third book, and if you consider reading it, I'd recommend starting at the beginning. I love police procedurals featuring strong female protagonists and, though Josie is as damaged as the rest of the ones typically appearing in genre fiction these days, there is something about her character that I find compelling and relatable. She's loyal, loves deeply and sincerely, and is painfully honest. As the series develops, with each new book, her personality becomes more defined and the characters of her colleagues and friends are also evolving -- becoming people you want to know better. The writing is excellent and the pace is fast, so this is a book you hate to put down. I can't wait to see what happens to Josie next, so come on, Lisa Regan -- get cracking on #4! Great mystery and suspense.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.

The Fifth to Die (4MK#2) by J.D. Barker

"You can't play God without being acquainted with the devil"

Anson Bishop is surely trying to be both. Detective Sam Porter knows Bishop well as he continues to follow the grisly clues that Bishop leaves in his wake...dead people. Beware -- this second book in the 4MK (Four Monkey Killer) series ends on a cliffhanger that will have you screaming for more!

Excellent writing, compelling action, complex plot, and intriguing characters make this a suspense thriller and police procedural that you won't want to miss. The story line is extremely complicated, so pay attention, and definitely, you MUST have read the first book before attempting this one.

Dead girls, dead parents -- what scheme has Bishop got going this time? He's changed his MO and signature a bit and Porter can't stand down from pursuing him even after he's put on suspension and the FBI has taken over the hunt for Bishop. Porter risks everything as he tries to find Bishop and stop his madness even as the victim count mounts. Bishop is an extremely brilliant psychopath whose strategy can't be anticipated. Can Porter trust anyone or does Bishop's network extend beyond the reach of any kind of justice. NO SPOILERS.  Highly recommended if you like thriller chiller killer novels!

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the e-book ARC to read and review. PLEASE, J.D. Barker, hurry with #3!