PENITENCE by Author Kristin Koval is a complex, heartbreaking domestic suspense highlighting how impulsive decisions can change the trajectory of livePENITENCE by Author Kristin Koval is a complex, heartbreaking domestic suspense highlighting how impulsive decisions can change the trajectory of lives. Not only for the people directly involved, but also for the waves of people that wash in and out of lives over time. It's a story of profound grief, life altering choices, guilt, redemption and forgiveness. It's a story of the extraordinary power of love.
The story opens with thirteen-year-old Nora sitting in a jail cell while local police ponder what to do with a child that has just confessed to killing her older brother Nico. Nora hasn't spoken a word since the early morning hours when gunshots woke her parents, sending them rushing into the horrifying nightmare of their son lying in a pool of blood, their daughter holding the smoking gun. Fighting shock and tears, Nora's father David contacts small town lawyer Martine to plea for her to defend Nora while her mother Angela falls apart. Martine in turn contacts her son Julian, a successful New York City crime defense attorney who specializes in seeking justice for minors and asks him to take the case. This is where things get tricky . . . Julian and Nora's mother, Angela, were teenage sweethearts with plans for marriage after college before a tragic accident claimed a life, tearing the young lovers apart and banishing Julian to New York to live and finish school at the home of his grandmother. Both went on to marry others and appear to live normal, happy lives, but the burden of guilt, secrets and unanswered questions remain between them over what happened that dark night on the ski slopes. And now questions about what happened the night Nico’s killed are threatening to rip this family apart. Did Nora enter her brother's bedroom and shoot him with her father's gun in cold blood? Nora says she doesn't remember what happened, but is she telling the truth?
PENITENCE, Koval's debut novel, is an amazing, poignant, heart wrenching domestic thriller with a depth of characterizations and plot lines seldom found in debut novels. The story unfolds through dual timelines, the present with the tragedy unfolding with Nora and her family, and the past with Angela and Julian's tragic story with all its ugly secrets becoming known. Along the journey there are a multitude of broken promises and lives, all buried beneath some dark, take to the grave secrets that have festered for years. Koval's ability to tap into human emotions following unspeakable trauma is a stunning achievement. Richly drawn characters render flawless performances as the author delves deeply into the flawed juvenile justice and legal system highlighting the tendency to punish vs. rehabilitation. From the first page to the last, the pace escalates as Nora's situation plummets at every twist and turn until the final verdict is rendered. Some readers may find the ending too open ended, while others will nod their heads in agreement that justice is served. This reader is somewhere in the middle.
I highly recommend the audiobook version of PENITENCE as narrator Thérèse Plummer delivers an outstanding performance rich in emotion bringing each character to life. PENITENCE is a stunning, gut wrenching domestic thriller that encourages self-reflection. One this reader couldn't put down. Two stories of unfathomable tragedy, two shattered families entwined in crisis, two snap decisions decades apart forever changing the course of lives. Highly recommended to fans of soul-searching domestic suspense and family drama. I look forward to more from the talented Author Kristin Koval. 4.5 Stars Special thanks to Celadon Books for a complimentary arc of this title that released on Jan. 28, 2025. Opinions expressed are entirely my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
Easily one of my favorite series ever! So much depth to the characters in a multifaceted plot line. Reagan keeps me guessing every single time! The quEasily one of my favorite series ever! So much depth to the characters in a multifaceted plot line. Reagan keeps me guessing every single time! The queen of the last minute twist!! The Drowning Girls is another excellent addition that touches a member of their team. Time is of an essence, and as always, Josie throws herself right into the middle of the action/danger! Highly recommended!...more
DEAD MAN'S LIST is the third book in author Karen Rose’s San Diego Case Files series featuring Detective Kit McKittrick and Dr. Sam Reeves. As always,DEAD MAN'S LIST is the third book in author Karen Rose’s San Diego Case Files series featuring Detective Kit McKittrick and Dr. Sam Reeves. As always, Rose delivers an intense, complicated, twisted murder mystery that keeps fans guessing right up to the shocking climax.
DEAD MAN'S LIST is a complex, multi-layered thriller featuring a gritty, introverted heroine who keeps her emotions tightly wrapped and others at arm's length as much as possible. Kit's horrific experience bouncing around the foster system left her toting a great deal of baggage but extraordinarily little trust before she hit the lottery with foster parents Harlan and Betsy McKittrick whose unconditional love and security chipped away at her defenses helping form the capable woman and resolute detective she is today. Her keen sense of duty and dedication drive her not only to seek justice for victims, but to also give back to the foster parents who saved her by mentoring other young girls and women.
Dr. Sam Reeves, a police psychologist working with the San Diego Police Department, breathes a sigh of relief when SDPD Detective Kit McKittrick finally agrees to go out with him. Sam understands Kit's emotional state remains precarious when it comes to forming relationships, but he's a patient man willing to invest the time to show her he intends to be part of her future. Wanting to share his love of hiking with her, he takes Kit and their dogs to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for a casual date. Just as he feels he's making progress breaking through her defenses, they stumble over the partially buried body of a well-known city council member named Brooks Munro. Multiple stab wounds indicated a vicious crime of rage and given the unpopularity of the politician, Kit and Sam know the suspect list will be a long one. As Kit and her team begin working on the case, it's clear several powerful and influential people have dark secrets they’re determined to keep hidden. However, there's a missing binder of names and rumors of extortion circulating, and when more bodies surface, Kit’s certain someone is working through a kill list eliminating witnesses one by one. As Kit gets closer to unmasking the killer, she becomes a complication the killer can't ignore.
Author Karen Rose excels at weaving taut, intricate suspense thrillers with detailed characterizations and multiple plotlines that keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Dedicated support characters with their own issues help to steadily drive the pace forward as the action increases through twists and turns, crisis after crisis before exploding in a shocking climax most will never see coming. Multiple red herrings provide readers with several possible villains for consideration, and armchair detectives should watch closely for the bread crumb clues the author sprinkles throughout. A budding, slow burn romance between Kit and Sam adds a human touch, allowing readers to join the couple as they explore new emotions, especially Kit as she struggles with accepting she’s worthy of this man. Like the seasoned expert author she is, Rose maneuvers readers and characters through another fantastic suspense thriller. I recommend DEAD MAN'S LIST to fans of murder mysteries, romance suspense and police procedurals as I look forward to the next one. Many thanks to Berkley for a complimentary arc of this title scheduled for release on March 4, 2025. Opinions expressed are entirely my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, the debut novel from Author Laurie L. Dove, explores the daily tragic realities faced by Indigenous People living on reservatiMASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, the debut novel from Author Laurie L. Dove, explores the daily tragic realities faced by Indigenous People living on reservations - the hopelessness, despair, poverty, youth lost to addiction or big cities, rape of land and resources as well as the heartbreaking, ongoing epidemic of missing Indigenous Women who disappear from reservations yearly with little to no recognition or concern from the news media or law enforcement.
After the murder of her teenage daughter left her drowning in grief and guilt with no place to turn, ex-Chicago Detective Carrie Starr finally lands a job as tribal marshal for the new Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Oklahoma reservation where her father grew up. Hoping to be accepted home, her main priority is to investigate the cold cases of missing and murdered Indigenous Women others have deemed unworthy. The urgency and stakes increase when Chenoa Cloud, a local college girl researching the possibility of an endangered species of insects on a plot of reservation land, disappears with clues pointing towards a connection to past disappearances. As Carrie begins investigating, her own dark, haunting memories surface, leaving her lost in foggy hallucinations of the Deer Woman, a mystical Indian lore figure with a female body bearing a deer's antlers - one she recalls from her father's long-ago tales, but why is she repeatedly appearing to Carrie? As she digs deeper, Carrie begins uncovering widespread corruption among the town's leaders including a get rich scheme involving oil found on reservation land. . . the same land that may be an endangered species' habitat. It's up to Carrie to connect all the pieces of the puzzle before another girl disappears. Carrie failed to save her own daughter . . . she can't let these women down.
MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN is an intense, highly atmospheric story about the plight of a nation of people long ignored by authorities as well as the news media. Most of the story unfolds through Carrie's point of view, allowing readers to ride shotgun as she frantically searches for the missing women hoping to bring closure to grieving families while trying to keep a handle on her own sanity. Carrie's repeated hazy visions set a dire tone of malice, driving a steadily rising pace as she races the clock to find the missing college student before she too is lost. The author does a fantastic job offering up red herrings with plausible motive to keep readers guessing until the final climax and reveal. The magical realism element of Indian lore is beautifully written and incorporated into the story in a manner that enhances the plot line while driving the suspense. Characters and readers are left wondering if the deer woman is friend or foe.
Author Laurie L. Dove's debut novel, MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, is the heartbreaking story of missing and murdered Indigenous women often ignored by law enforcement. It's the story of the difficulty faced by one woman in her search to find her place in a cruel, unaccepting world that took her daughter from her – to find a place of healing where she belongs when she's pulled between two vastly different worlds, neither of which welcome her. Intense and highly visual, MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN is for fans of mysteries, suspense and heartfelt stories with a touch of magical realism. 4.5 Stars Thank you to Berkley Publishing for a gifted arc of this title! Opinions expressed within this review are my own. This title is scheduled for release Jan. 21, 2025. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
Author Freida McFadden returns with another highly atmospheric thriller with the coming January 2025 release of THE CRASH. The highly acclaimed authorAuthor Freida McFadden returns with another highly atmospheric thriller with the coming January 2025 release of THE CRASH. The highly acclaimed author of THE BOYFRIEND wastes no time in giving fans what they want - another intense, breathtaking, twisted thriller with a shocking ending no one will be able to predict. This book is a one-seater so find some alone time and settle in for a bumpy ride.
Eight months ago, Tegan went out with friends, met a charming, handsome stranger and made her first mistake. A few short weeks later, she's surprised to learn she's pregnant and after contacting the man from that night, she learns two things . . . the father, Simon, is a wealthy, married man who wants nothing to do with her or the baby, and he's willing to pay a ridiculous amount to keep her quiet in exchange for a nondisclosure agreement. The money will solve her financial woes, but something still nags at her about that night. Why can't she remember? Eight months later when Tegan and Simon meet for the final signing, his presence triggers vague memories of that night, driving her to refuse the money and make plans to seek refuge at her brother's house a couple of hours away. It's late when she begins the trip, and soon a blinding snowstorm causes her to lose control of her vehicle before crashing into a tree, stranding her in a deserted area in the freezing cold with a broken ankle and no way to go for help. When a man in a truck stops to offer help, her relief is short-lived as his size and demeanor frighten her, but she's out of options if she and her unborn baby are to survive. Hank takes Tegan to a cabin hidden away deep in the woods where she meets and bonds with his wife, Polly, a former nurse. With promises to take her to a hospital in the morning when the roads are clear, the mysterious couple settles Tegan in a bed in their basement. As time passes, Tegan begins to suspect that all is not right in this secluded cabin in the woods, and she fears for the life of her unborn child. Has she made her second and potentially fatal mistake?
THE CRASH is a complex, gut-wrenching, locked room style thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Through past/present chapters of before and after “the crash,” readers are drawn into a deadly situation where it's impossible to figure out who can be trusted and who has ulterior motives. From beginning to end, all elements combine to set a deadly scene, driving an insanely suspenseful pace to a final unbelievable reveal. McFadden has cemented her place in the thriller genre as a writer who pushes characters and readers to the edge . . . before pushing them off with a shocker they never see coming. Support characters provide a choice of red herrings with motive who may want Tegan and her child out of the picture permanently. Readers are charged with deciphering the clues to figure out who the villain is before being blind sighted by the truth.
Intense, mesmerizing and heart stopping, THE CRASH is Author Freida McFadden at her best. Fans are going to devour this one in one sitting as I did. Highly recommended to fans of locked room mysteries and suspense thrillers. 4.5 Stars Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for a gifted arc of this title scheduled for release in Jan. 2025. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
BLOOD AND THE BADGE by former New York Times editor Michael Cannell is a compelling true crime expose` highlighting the shocking story of two decorateBLOOD AND THE BADGE by former New York Times editor Michael Cannell is a compelling true crime expose` highlighting the shocking story of two decorated NYC Police Detectives who led double lives as Mafia informers and henchmen in the underworld of 1980s Brooklyn. Their case of police corruption is the worst betrayal of the public's trust ever known in American history, and only through the diligence and determination of Police Officer Tommy Dades, who pursued the case into his retirement, were they finally brought to justice. Detectives Louis Eppolito and Frank Caracappa perpetrated an outrageous travesty against the very people they took an oath to serve and protect. Leading double lives as mafia henchmen, the pair of decorated detectives not only served as mob informants, alerting mob bosses to impending raids, arriving drug shipments, etc., but also operated as mob henchmen often conducting mob hits. This went on for over ten years despite a few efforts to get indictments against them. It was only through the work of retired officer Tommy Dades that enough evidence was eventually gathered to get a conviction and send the disgraced officers to prison.
The American public can now read the entire sordid, shocking, true story through the hard work and dedication of New York Times editor Michael Cannell with the release of his book, BLOOD AND THE BADGE. Cannell spent endless hours combing through interviews from numerous sources, police records, and court testimonies, starting from the beginning of the corruption and following through until Eppolito and Caracappa's trial and conviction. The result is a true crime novel that's impossible to put down - a story that unfolds with suspense building chapter by chapter, through twists and turns with shockers that'll leave you reeling like only a favorite author's best work of fiction can . . . only this book isn't a work of imagination. It's undeniably one of the worst cases of crime against the innocent I've ever read. Through interviews with mob bosses, Cannell lays open the inner working of the mob as well as cracking the tight-knit inner circle of the NYPD who either ignored the corruption or at least failed to step up to stop it. His research is meticulous in delivering the facts - the dark, sordid tale of two arrogant police officers who placed themselves above the law, using their position and power not to serve but to profit. Two decorated officers whose twisted tale is so horrifying that it's hard to believe that this is not a work of fiction, but indeed a true crime narrative that throws open the doors of the ugly underworld of Brooklyn in the 1980's.
BLOOD AND THE BADGE is a shocking expose` on corruption in law enforcement, but also a testament to justice - to the perseverance of one good officer who refused to back down. Cannell's ability to transport readers into the story through engaging prose allows them to witness Eppolito and Caracappa's transgressions firsthand including what drove them to lie, cheat and kill on command. Readers also engage with police officer, Tommy Dades, as he tirelessly pursues the dirty detectives right into his retirement years, refusing to stop until justice is finally served. I highly recommend BLOOD AND THE BADGE to fans of well-written, true crime narratives that are not only eye-opening, but also highly entertaining. A big thank you to Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed are entirely my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more