The Perfect Witness By Iris Johansen St. Martin's Press October 2014
Sixteen-year-old Teresa Casali was shot in her side as she is running from three men that have been sent to kill her. She is rescued by a man she has never seen before, and sure doesn’t trust, so she attempts to get away from him, but is too weak and tired. The man’s name is Andre Mandak, and he is a searcher for people that have strange and oft times troublesome gifts. It is believed that these people are all descendants of a fourteenth century clan and many are forced to use their gifts for evil. Teresa has such a gift. She can read people’s memories; all the dark things they have done and the enjoyment they received. Her father, Antonio, was a mob boss who was recently gunned down by his rival, Rico Camano. Antonio used his daughter to eliminate potential enemies; Camano wants to kill her to keep her quiet. Teresa’s mother, Gina, has betrayed her by telling Camano that Teresa was at their cabin. Gina has already insinuated herself as Camano’s mistress.
Mandak is not the only one trying to save Teresa. Josh Dantlow, of the FBI wants her as a witness against the mob. The teenager is put in the witness protection program and moved to Flagstaff, Arizona where she becomes Allie Girard. Allie lives with a mature couple who have lost their only child, a son, and they treat her like a daughter. Mandak has helped her block unwanted memories, and he also taught her how to defend herself mentally and physically. All goes well. Allie finishes school, graduates from college, and is working on an advanced degree when it is discovered that her file and records at the FBI have been compromised, and once again she is running for her life. This time she has a traveling companion, Mandak.
THE PERFECT WITNESS is exotic and heady, with several intriguing plot threads, and a cast of unusual, but brilliant, characters that are tightly and fully presented. The relationship between Teresa and Mandak was victim and savior; seven years later this relationship becomes sensual. THE PERFECT WITNESS is a first-class, high-stakes page-turning adventure, packed with secrets, suspense, and psychological terror. Iris Johansen’s name on a book ensures outstanding pacing, characterization, and a dazzling narrative.
The executioner is confused, and sometimes doesn’t recognize the face in the mirror; there is no memory of what
HAUNTED
Kay Hooper
Berkley September 2014
The executioner is confused, and sometimes doesn’t recognize the face in the mirror; there is no memory of what has happened, but it was surely something evil. Especially when there is blood splattered everywhere. Things are getting better because the voices are starting to make conversation, and giving instructions.
In the small mountain community of Sociable, Georgia there is a group of natives that once escaped their hometown and have now returned, mixed in with a few that have never left. Melanie James has only lived here for nearly three years, but she was drawn into the group since they are all of the same age. Toby Gilmore reads tarot cards, and has a large percentage of correct predictions; Annabel Hunter and Caleb Lee are believers, whereas Melanie, Scott Abernathy, and Xander Roth are openly skeptic. Crystal County Sheriff Trinity Nichols just keeps the peace of the town – and the group, when necessary. She is more concerned about two groups of two women hikers that have disappeared in the mountains north of Sociable.
Deacon James, Melanie’s older brother, takes some much needed time off from his job at Haven, and comes to Sociable to see her. Right off he meets Trinity and she was expecting him, or so she thought. She had contacted Bishop and asked for help. Two murders have happened in her town, and she has feelings that they might be the victims of a serial killer with special talents. They are also members of “The Group.”
HAUNTED is creepy, crawly, terrifying, and an all-around stupendous read for Kay Hooper’s legions of fans. Either there are two killers that desecrate their victims’ bodies – in the cases of the hikers and the group – or there is one copycat killer and a killer that has arisen from the dead. The reader gets a chance to get together with other members of Haven, including Bishop and Miranda.
Hannah Riley has given up her career as a human rights worker and convinced THE HIDDEN GIRL
Louise Millar
Emily Bestler Books/Atria Paperback August 2014
Hannah Riley has given up her career as a human rights worker and convinced her musician husband, Will, that leaving London and buying Tornley Hall, a derelict mansion that has been empty for over two years, in the Suffolk countryside, will give them a new start in life. Will agreed to the relocation and commuting to London for his job as a music producer, but he is already regretting it. The Hall needs a major rehab, but Hanna is obsessive about getting some rooms ready for Barbara’s visit in two weeks. When Will leaves for London on Sunday, the day after their arrival, he will not be home for many days as an unbelievable snow storm moves in and commuting is impossible. Hannah is in a spooky old house with the doors to several rooms locked and no key, and the boiler goes out. She discovers she has two neighbors; an older man named Bill, and a rather strange jack-of-all-trades-handy man named Dax. Dax becomes a regular at helping Hannah with painting, getting doors unlocked, repairing things, but never gives her a bill or tells her what he is charging. Hannah thinks Dax is her friend and confides several things to him; nothing dangerous, just her hopes and fears. Dax, in turn asks for her help in picking up salvage items he sells.
Things are getting done for Barbara’s visit, but at the same time things are getting broken, rearranged, and at one point Hannah found a homeless person sleeping in one of the downstairs rooms. Her calls to Will are going unanswered, and Hannah is afraid her marriage may be in serious trouble. She can’t leave, and Will can’t get home. And, there are a lot of really strange things and people coming into her life on a daily basis.
Louise Millar possesses an awesome talent for penning menacing tales. THE HIDDEN GIRL is a tightly penned thriller with fully fleshed out characters, interesting and intelligent dialogue, and stellar plotting. For most of the book this reviewer wondered who “Barbara” was and her place in the story. I believe Ms. Millar truly enjoys playing with the reader before she turns loose of all the malice and doom awaiting them. ...more