Boston Detective D. D. Warren lets her husband Alex talk her in to attending the “Writers’ Police Academy” in Wisconsin on a free weekend. Alex has gi
Boston Detective D. D. Warren lets her husband Alex talk her in to attending the “Writers’ Police Academy” in Wisconsin on a free weekend. Alex has given workshops here several times and really enjoys helping writers with details for their mystery/thriller police procedural stories. D. D. has no idea what she is going to say to her packed classroom, especially since she didn’t expect to be a very big draw. The placard on the classroom’s door says “Insider’s Guide to Policing”; that doesn’t sound like her. She recognizes thriller writer Karin Slaughter, who is the keynote speaker; and Kathy Reichs a forensic anthropologist, who knows a lot more about dead bodies than she ever will.
Alex had told his wife that when he addressed authors in the past, he found that the bloodier the case, the happier the audience. D. D. decides to share one of her own very strange and bloody case with her audience that involves a sleazy motel, a hooker, and a sawed off leg. She advises that this case contains three truths and a lie. It will be up to them to solve and discover the lie.
3 TRUTHS AND A LIE is a novella; a prequel to Lisa’s Gardner’s next title, FIND HER. Ms. Gardner delivers careful plotting with plenty of intrigue, and flawed eccentric characters to these writers – and to us, her devoted readers. With the clues given, the mystery comes together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Prominent and highly respected San Antonio businessman, Harper Worthington, is found dead in a sleazy motel, with his pants around his ankles. Harper Prominent and highly respected San Antonio businessman, Harper Worthington, is found dead in a sleazy motel, with his pants around his ankles. Harper was supposed to be in Dallas for a meeting, but flew back to San Antonio and had a return flight booked to Dallas later in the evening. A teenaged girl is seen leaving the motel room by a taxi driver hired to pick Harper up and take him to the airport. FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid and her new partner, Barry Crawford, are assigned to the case. Harper was a government contractor with high level security, and his wife is a sitting United States Congresswoman. At first glance it is assumed that Harper was evidently with a hooker who took all his money and his cell phone. However, an autopsy reveals that Harper Worthington was given a lethal injection of poison and was dead before any sexual activity was performed. His cell phone is traced to a five-star hotel room of one of Harper’s acquaintances. The taxi driver gave a good description of the woman leaving the motel room, and she is identified.
Harper was very close to his daughter; they worked closely together, and she and her step-mother are not on good terms. Harper’s wife is secretly under investigation by another division of the FBI, and access to her is limited.
Sean Rogan, Lucy’s boyfriend, is a brilliant securities expert with high security clearance, and along with Lucy’s brother, Patrick, founded RCK. Sean is hired by Gregor Smith, the head of HWI, Harper Worthington International, to check out the company in San Antonio, and some very interesting information comes to light. The FBI isn’t pleased that Sean is involved in a case that one of their agents is working.
Exciting, dark, edgy, and pure terrific reading, BEST LAID PLANS might be one of the best books of its genre that you will read this year. Real characters are involved in believable story threads of treachery and greed. Allison Brennan is at the top of her game, as always, with this Lucy Kincaid page turner.
Zoe and Chloe Denning celebrate their twenty-first birthday in New Orleans by having dinner with some of their friends. Afterward, the group splits up
Zoe and Chloe Denning celebrate their twenty-first birthday in New Orleans by having dinner with some of their friends. Afterward, the group splits up, but they plan to get together in Baton Rouge before returning to All Saints. Zoe and Chloe are abducted before they can leave New Orleans; they wake up hours later nude, in separate cages, while a very large and hairy male, wearing nothing but a blacksmith apron, is cutting leather strips and singing “Happy Birthday” over and over. They manage to escape, but Chloe gets caught and is thrown back in the cage that is hidden below the ground in the killer’s house. Selma Denning, the twin’s mother, has tried to locate her daughters all night, and has a truly bad feeling about their disappearance and turns to her friend and counselor, Brianna Hayward.
Brianna pushes her way into the New Orleans Police Department and forces Detective Rick Bentz to see her. Bri is a psychologist who works with twin survivors; those who have lost their other half. Years back there was a serial killer known as the “21 Killer;” Donovan Caldwell was subsequently caught and is now in prison in California. Bri does not believe they have the right man; Caldwell is a distant relative of hers and she spent time in California trying to convince the police that he is not the mass murderer. Brianna feels that the 21 Killer is now in New Orleans and she has to convince Bentz virtuoso and Montoya to help her. As she is leaving the NOPD she is stopped by Jase Bridges, a reporter whom Bri had a crush on in high school. He had eavesdropped on her conversation with Bentz, and he wants to help her.
Bentz and Montoya have evidence that one of the vilest villains they have battled, Father John, is back in New Orleans.
Lisa Jackson keeps raising the bar for creating the most chilling and thrilling characters. Ms. Jackson is also a virtuoso when it comes to creating pulse pounding storylines and powerful pacing. Ms. Jackson skillfully counteracts emotion and tension to make NEVER DIE ALONE one of the edgiest novels she has written to date. It truly is “terrorific.”
Mira – May 2015 Forensic Instincts Series ~ Book Four
Someone is trying to kill RN Madeline Westfield. A Black SUV cam THE SILENCE THAT SPEAKS
Andrea Kane
Mira – May 2015 Forensic Instincts Series ~ Book Four
Someone is trying to kill RN Madeline Westfield. A Black SUV came from out of nowhere and nearly ran her down at a crosswalk; this was the second attempt on her life, but she knows the police won’t believe her. They didn’t believe she was in danger when her home was severely trashed and robbed. As soon as Madeline is dismissed from the hospital she hires Forensic Instincts to help her in her quest to stay alive! FI is an exceptional and highly sought after team of investigative agents; each team member has a stand-alone resume. Casey Woods is the company president and behavioral expert and the owner of Hero, a human scent evidence bloodhound. Ryan McKay is a techno genius and has created a robot named Yoda that has currently served in many capacities including FI’s receptionist. Today the team has hired Emma Stirling, a young woman with a dubious resume and background to man the front desk on a probationary period. Marc Deveraux is Casey’s right hand man and an ex-Navy SEAL and an FBI agent in Behavioral Analysis Unit; Claire Hedgleigh is a claircognizant with a unique psychic gift.
When the team assembles to meet their new client, Madeline, Mark Deveraux is totally poleaxed. While he was still a SEAL ten years ago, Madeline was a nurse at Bethesda when they met and really hit it off. The affair ended when life intruded. Madeline is recently divorced from Dr. Conrad Westfield, head of the cardio unit at Manhattan Memorial Hospital and is now on a leave of absence from his job; actually he is a patient at a private psychiatric facility. The patient he lost, Ronald Lexington, was a good friend who refused treatment unless Conrad performed the surgery. Lexington was the Manhattan Memorial’s administrator, and was well liked by everyone.
The strong feelings Madeline and Mark shared have never gone away, and FI tries to keep him out of this investigation, but that is impossible when more overt attempts on made to kill Madeline. The case gets more complex because other than the fact that Lexington was an errant husband, no one had a reason to hurt him, especially Conrad or Madeline although both are persona non-gratis at the hospital.
Andrea Kane combines intelligence and an adrenaline-driven narrative that keeps the reader quickly turning the pages. THE SILENCE THAT SPEAKS is an excellent novel that showcases richly abstract characters, romantic relationships, incredible plot twists, and thrill-a-minute action. If the reader likes an impressive whodunit, look no further than THE SILENCE THAT SPEAKS.
It’s impossible for Tyler Anderson to believe that his best friend, Arnie Watson, died from an overdose of d THE DEAD PLAY ON
Heather Graham
Mira May 2015
It’s impossible for Tyler Anderson to believe that his best friend, Arnie Watson, died from an overdose of drugs. Arnie had served three tours in Afghanistan, survived intact, and came home to kill himself? No way. He played the sax like nobody else, and played with Tyler and the B-Street Bombers n the French Quarters on Wednesday nights. This Wednesday Tyler is playing Arnie’s beloved sax that the Watson’s gave him, and it is like someone has taken over Tyler’s soul; he begins playing a song that isn’t on the song list to play. But, man does he play it, even though he has never played “I Still Believe” before; however, this was Arnie’s favorite song, and he played it a lot. Then, Tyler has some visions of Arnie – in Afghanistan and on Rampart Street where Arnie died. In the vision Arnie is being chased, and that’s when Tyler knows for sure that his friend did not commit suicide – he was murdered.
Michael Quinn, is an ex New Orleans cop turned investigator of out-of-the-ordinary-killings, along with his lover and partner, Danni Cafferty. Most of their cases concern cursed, haunted or truly evil happenings. Quinn has been called to the site of a brutal killing of a well-known local musician. There doesn’t appear to be a motive – no break in and drugs and a wad of money are sitting in plain sight. Detective LaRue mentions that this is the second murder with the same M. O. plus an assault incident involving some musicians walking home, all on the same night.
While Quinn is still with LaRue at the murder site, Danni gets a visit from a young man she went to school with years ago. Tyler comes to her souvenir and collectibles shop, The Cheshire Cat, wanting to talk about the strange night he is having. He wants someone to check into Arnie’s death because the police won’t do it.
Heather Graham, the Mistress of Darkness and Dang Good Writing, is one awesome story teller and THE DEAD PLAY ON is just one shining example. Ms. Graham creates credible characters and dialogue; a perfect locale for incidents involving the occult; interesting returning characters; and spine-tingling story threads that keeps the suspense streaming and the pages turning.
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.
Storm Cycle By Iris Johansen St. Martin's Press August 2009
Authors: Iris and Roy Johansen
Allie Kirby is dying of a rare disease, late on-set Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy GLD. Her sister, Rachel is a computer genius who masterminds one of the most powerful and sophisticated computers known to mankind and is known as Jonesy. Using her influential connections, Rachel has created a foundation for the cure of GLD, and even though there have been some breakthroughs, Allie is still failing.
Archaeologist/fortune hunter John Tavak has hacked into her system and is siphoning off cycles for use in tombs in Egypt. Tavak was a child prodigy with an off the charts IQ. He was enrolled in Harvard at age ten, and has an unbelievable knack for problem solving. When his nemesis, a man named Dawson who is working for a pharmaceutical company, has him trapped in a Fourth Dynasty tomb of a female doctor in Saqqara, Egypt, Tavak sends an SOS e-mail to Rachel. He explains that there are tablets in the tomb of Pereshet, the overseer of a staff of female physicians in the time of the pyramids. There is evidence that Pereshet had found a way to regenerate damaged cells of the central nervous system. Rachel is skeptical, but intrigued, and using more of her contacts she arranges for a team of mercenaries in Cairo to get Tavak and his injured companion out of Pereshet’s tomb.
STORM CYCLE is a brilliant techno-thriller from the mother and son team, Iris and Roy Johansen, who are each best-selling, award-winning authors. The reader is swept from Rachel’s headquarters in Texas to the ancient secrets of Egypt where they must solve a puzzle that leads them across several continents. There is just the right touch of romance in this story, and the supporting characters, including Jonesy, are as strong and interesting as Rachel and Tavak. The villain is a vile creature whose employer wants sole control off the medical miracles from centuries ago. The surprise ending of this page-turner will astound you. This is a great read from a superb team of awesome writers.
Blood Game: An Eve Duncan (An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller) By Iris Johansen
St. Martin's Press May 2010
An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller ~
Eve is concerned over her relationship with lover Joe Quinn. Joe has been distracted and often curt with Eve. He has told her that he doesn’t intend to help her look for her daughter’s killer, but there is another crazed killer in the area, and he has his sights set on Eve. This man, Kevin Jelak, is also on Eve’s short list of killers who might know something about Bonnie’s death.
Eve gets a call from her acquaintance Dr. Morgan Blair, a clairvoyant who helped police find the mass graves of children slain by Henry Kistler – see QUICKSAND. Morgan informs Eve that anyone who touched her, Morgan, when she went into her coma might inherit psychic tendencies they have never had. Eve realizes that Joe carried Morgan’s limp body after she passed out. Could heretofore unknown psychic tendencies explain Joe’s mood?
When the body of Nancy Jo Norris, a Georgia’s senator’s daughter, is discovered it is considered a ritual killing, as her body has been drained of blood and a golden goblet is left with the corpse. Joe is assigned this top priority case, because he is considered the best. Joe is struggling to come to grips with his newfound sense – a facilitator effect he gained from Megan – he can see and converse with the dead. Nancy Jo is trying to lead him to her killer with the help of a little girl – a little girl named Bonnie.
It isn’t a coincidence that Eve and her adopted daughter Jane find a similar goblet in Eve’s refrigerator, but this one has blood in it. Eve contacts Morgan to see if she or her relatives know anything about the goblet. Her inquiry sends Scotsman Seth Caleb, a hunter, to Georgia to find and destroy Jelak, as the goblet and Jelak definitely means something to him.
BLOOD GAME is Iris Johansen at her best and grittiest. It’s good to visit with Jane again. After the draining experience Eve had with Kistler, Jane came home from London to take care of her, but Eve doesn’t like or want to be coddled. Jelak is a vampire-wannabe and is one of the most perverted killers to come from Ms. Johansen’s astounding imagination. Beware – this is a one sitting, white-knuckled, fast-paced read that will leave you breathless and awaiting the next installment.
This book will be released in January 2015. More detailed review to be submitted closer to publishing date.
AbCane and Abe by Grippando, James (Harper)
This book will be released in January 2015. More detailed review to be submitted closer to publishing date.
Abe Beckham is Miami's Senior Trial prosecuter until his wife disappears and the FBI decides he is a person of interest in a series of murders by a villain called The Slasher. FBI Agent Victoria Danton is determined to find Abe guilty of something just because...
Edgy, dark, scintilating, and pure Grippando, which is always excellent.
The Perfect Stranger by Staub, Wendy Corsi (Harper)
Cancer survivors share a blog and have a strong bond. When the original blogger dies, the remaining The Perfect Stranger by Staub, Wendy Corsi (Harper)
Cancer survivors share a blog and have a strong bond. When the original blogger dies, the remaining members decide to hold a memorial for her in Florida. Is it possible that one of these members is a killer? Eerie, spooky, and second guessing the characters makes THE PERFECT STRANGER a perfect read for the discriminate read that enjoys twists and turns. Wendy Corsi Staub is a totally awesome teller of tales...
Betty Cox, Reviewer Good Reads Reader To Reader...more
Laura Doyle is the sole survivor of a private plane crash in the Colorado mountainside. She spends two nights fending off wild life and using her Red Cross survival training on her injuries and the freezing weather. Her fiancé, FBI Agent Cameron Winger, flies from D.C. to Denver to join the search and rescue team to find her. She has a severe infection in a gash on her leg, three broken ribs, and pneumonia; Cameron moves into waiting room of hospital in Aurora, Colorado while Laura is in ICU. He is joined there by Laura’s only family, her sister Sarah. When Laura is finally released, it is with severe trepidation and great courage that she is willing to get on another airplane.
Hershel Inman, a.k.a. The Stormchaser, and his late wife, Louise, had planned to retire in Mexico, but Louise died during Hurricane Katrina. Hershel met Laura and Cameron through the Red Cross operations in the Gulf area during that disaster and he blames the FBI for his wife’s death. He caused a lot of danger and problems for the women in Agents Benton’s and Luckett’s life. Hershel uses the name Paul Leibowitz now. He returns to Louisiana for the anniversary of Louise’s death, learns that Laura and Cameron are planning a wedding, and realizes he can get his revenge on the FBI at last. He arrives in D.C. with an evil plan for Laura; rents an apartment from a very astute senior citizen; and begins a series of atrocious massacres. Hershel is having trouble with Louise, as she keeps nagging at him to stop what he is doing. She has always been that voice that just won’t leave him alone.
GOING, GONE is one emotionally draining and beguiling psychological thriller. Sharon Sala has crafted a rapid-paced suspense tale in this third story featuring FBI Special Agents Tate Benton, Wade Luckett, and Cameron Winger, and their special ladies. GOING, GONE is a tight, gripping tale that has a villain with a ruthless craving for retribution.
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.
Tis the Season to be jolly and Eve Dallas is shopping and solving crime, as usual. What is different is she is actually enjoying the shopping! Her latest murder victim is a macho, award winning personal trainer that uses and abuses his female clientele. Evidently one of them couldn’t take it anymore and left him propped up in his bed with a knife stuck in his heart and a sign pinned to his chest: “Santa Says You’ve Been Bad!!! Ho. Ho. Ho!” Trey Ziegler was a personal trainer and a certified sleaze-ball man-ho. He was neither liked nor respected by his peers.
Investigation into Trey’s life indicates he provided private and personal services at many female clients’ homes for which he was paid very well in cash and gifts. Trey was also planning on opening his own salon.
Dallas and her husband, Roarke, are hosting an annual A+ List Christmas Party for over two hundred of their friends and extended family. Dallas and Summerset work on the party together, and for once she enjoys working with her antagonist. Matter of fact, Eve Dallas has a very good time mingling with her guests.
As usual J. D. Robb is spot on in setting, plot points, and narrative. This fantastic offering is not only a top-notch mystery; it is a delightful page-turner with clever banter and situations between these real people who visit us twice a year. FESTIVE IN DEATH is truly a guilty pleasure read, and one of Ms. Robb’s best yet.
Dr. Emory Charbonneau is a partner with two other physicians in a medical practice in Atlanta. Emory is MEAN STREAK
Sandra Brown Grand Central August 2014
Dr. Emory Charbonneau is a partner with two other physicians in a medical practice in Atlanta. Emory is also a very passionate marathon runner, and is in training for a run she will be sponsoring soon. Against her husband’s feelings, Emory is taking a week-end off to train on a mountain trail in a national park in North Carolina, a drive of over two hours from Atlanta.
Upon her arrival and subsequent check in at her motel, Emory calls Jeff to tell him she has arrived safely, and then she runs to the first turnaround on her agenda and intends to return to her starting place. Life doesn’t always work out the way we plan. The next thing Emory is conscious of is waking up in an isolated cabin with a strange man and an excruciating headache. Blood is matted in her hair and she has no idea what happened to her. The man, who refuses to give her his name, claims he saw her through his binoculars running when he was out, but when he found her she was lying crumpled on the ground. He is hoping Emory knows what happened, as he claims he has no idea if she fell or was hit. An ice storm has moved in preventing leaving the cabin that is situated higher up in the mountains on a twining road. Her rescuer promises to help her get back to town when driving is possible. In the meantime Emory has no choice but to wait it out. She’s alone with a stranger and has no access to phone or internet and therefore unable to let Jeff or her partners know where she is. When Emory fails to return to Atlanta by Monday, Jeff travels to Drakeland, North Carolina and files a missing person report. He doesn’t trust the local “hick” police force and makes a total jerk of himself.
MEAN STREAK is a splendid, suspenseful psychological thriller, and a mesmerizing page-turner. Sandra Brown delivers this impressively rapid-paced whodunit with tight, plotting and fully fleshed-out characters. Ms. Brown has a talent for forming convincing characters and creative plot points that grabs the reader and holds on tight. MEAN STREAK is both an outstanding, chilling mystery and an intricately contrived romantic thriller with an ending you surely won’t see coming.
Eyes on You: A Novel of Suspense By Kate White Harper July 2014
Robin Trainer seems to have finally gotten her life back on track. Two years ago she lo
Eyes on You: A Novel of Suspense By Kate White Harper July 2014
Robin Trainer seems to have finally gotten her life back on track. Two years ago she lost her television show. Since then she published a book, got a co-anchor job on “The Pulse”, a popular cable network show, and has a second book coming out. Robin’s good friend and head of a web master empire, Bettina Lane, is hosting a book signing for Robin’s new book in her penthouse. The only damper on the evening is a note someone put in Robin’s purse that says, among other things, “.... you’ll get yours.”
After this, rarely a day goes by that there isn’t some little glitch happening, and what started out as just irksome, soon becomes actual threats to Robin. Things are happening in-house at the network so it’s obvious the culprit is someone she works with. Robin’s handsome and charming co-anchor Carter Brooks wants to help her find the enemy, as does Ann Carney, the public relations director for the network and one of Robin’s best friends. The only viable suspect is, Vicky Cruz, a.k.a. “Cruz Missile” for her temper and attitude. Could Vicky be doing things like shredding Robin’s portrait or putting acid in the star’s make-up? Vicky was the network’s darling before Robin came along.
EYES ON YOU is a dynamic psychological suspense that has a lot of suspicious characters and one that definitely wants Robin dead. Kate White tells her story in a strong, clear voice, using great dialogue, and perfect pacing. All of the characters are well defined, intelligent, and interesting. EYES ON YOU is a really good read.
Girl Missing (Previously published as Peggy Sue Got Murdered): A Novel By Tess Gerritsen Ballantine March 2014
If Medical Examiner Kat Novak hadn’t clo Girl Missing (Previously published as Peggy Sue Got Murdered): A Novel By Tess Gerritsen Ballantine March 2014
If Medical Examiner Kat Novak hadn’t clocked in early a serial killer might still be getting away with murder. The other ME, Clark, was due to go off duty just as a corpse was brought in and since his family was waiting on him so they could start their vacation, Kat took the autopsy as a favor. From all accounts it looks like another drug overdose; the body was found near a garbage dump in the projects off South Lexington, no obvious trauma, and a long ridge of needle track scar tissue with a fresh puncture wound on the left arm.
Sergeant Lou Sykes and Detective Vince Ratchet found the body and hope that Kat will rule it a simple death by overdose and not a homicide. However, there are some disparities that will not allow her to do that immediately. The officers did not find a needle nor a syringe near the body, and there is a matchbook from a high-end restaurant clutched in the woman’s hand, with a phone number written on the inside cover. Kat calls the number and discovers it belongs to Adam Quantrell, owner of Cygnus Pharmaceutical Company. Adam rushes down to see the body, but cannot identify it. He finally admits that his step-daughter Maeve has run away and is living with a drug dealer in the projects. Kat runs tox screen, but cannot identify the drug in the woman’s system. Further analysis identifies it as an experimental drug being tested by Adam’s company, and it is a high security project; there should be no way it is on the street unless an employee of Cygnus stole a sample. Checking out another corpse that was found in same area as our Jane Doe finds the same drug in her system.
Tess Gerritsen reels you into this thriller quickly and keeps the pace going lickety-split. Ms. Gerritsen is a virtuoso at luring the reader to keep those pages turning throughout the story, and then she will have a big surprise ending for you. GIRL MISSING is a one sitting read, and has a cast of terrific characters that the author has fleshed out and instilled with intelligence and wit. There is also a soupcon of romance between Kat and Adam, along with the danger they face while trying to find Maeve. This is a real treasure for the mystery/thriller devotee,
NOTE: GIRL MISSING was originally published in 1994 and titled PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED.
Blood Sins: A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel (Bishop/Special Crimes Unit: Blood Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback) By Kay Hooper Bantam January 2010
A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel
Since the current director of the FBI does not put much credence in Noah Bishop’s Special Crimes Unit SCU, philanthropists John and Maggie Garrett, along with Bishop, have founded Haven. Haven uses civilians with special psychic abilities to do jobs that the FBI has not been invited to participate in. Right now both Bishop’s agents and Haven are trying to prove that the Reverend Adam Deacon Samuel, head of the growing Church of Everlasting Sin in Grace, North Carolina has psychic powers that can reach across miles and control the minds of killers to do his dirty work, as he did in Venture, Georgia see BLOOD DREAMS. They have no proof that he has killed several of his congregation that wanted to leave and whose bodies have been dumped in a river near his compound, but later found down river and too far away to substantiate his involvement. A Haven operative has also been killed after she was able to get several children to safety.
Tessa Gray, newly widowed, young, alone, and vulnerable has recently moved to her late, wealthy husband’s home in Grace. It doesn’t take long for ladies of the Church to approach her, offering sympathy, compassion, and a home inside the compound. This is Tessa’s first assignment for Haven, and one of Bishop’s agents, Hollis, is living with Tessa and keeping a very low profile.
The local chief of police, Sawyer Cavanaugh, also suspects Reverend Samuel is mixed up in the bodies that are being discarded in the river. Sawyer has only found two corpses, but he suspects that more than that have been discovered further down river and out of his district. When he sees Tessa visiting the Church, he has an urge to grab her and take her some place safe.
“Blood Sins” is a dark, gripping, and utterly chilling tale, yet it is extremely difficult to quit reading. Kay Hooper’s use of characters from her other stories gives the reader a sense of visiting with familiar and valued friends. One returning character in particular, Senator Abe Lemott, is determined to find the true killer of his daughter – the fiend who controlled the murderer that was caught in Venture, Georgia. “Blood Sins” is an outstanding, tense, multilayered paranormal story with just the right amount of mystery and romance.
Jared Barnett, a convicted rapist and killer, is saved from death row after an eyewitness recants his testimony.ONE FALSE MOVE
Alex Kava
Mira August 2004
Jared Barnett, a convicted rapist and killer, is saved from death row after an eyewitness recants his testimony. After Jared and his sleazy attorney, Max Kramer, spend several days “on tour” of the hard news talk shows, Jared returns to his home town of Omaha, Nebraska, and his family, which consists of an alcoholic, pill-popping mother, a younger sister, Melanie Starks, and her son, seventeen-year-old Charlie, who is immature, but very adept at stealing cars.
Melanie and Charlie are petty con artists, with very sticky fingers. They’ve never been caught and Melanie is trying hard to make a better life for them. Jared embroils them in a bank robbery, but everything goes wrong and four people are killed. The police nearly catch them, but they make their escape and are on the run for their lives. Jared killed one of the bank tellers using his signature -- shooting the victim in the jaw so their teeth, or dental records, can’t be used for identification purposes.
Andrew Kane is a noted author whose crime novels are all best sellers. Each year Andrew rents a semi-primitive cabin at Platte River State Park for two weeks to “recharge his batteries.” One of his best friends, Detective Tommy Pakula, will be joining him for a few days this year. Pakula was the lead officer that put Barnett in jail, and he is outraged at Barnett’s release. Pakula is only at the cabin for a few hours when he is called back on duty to investigate a murder/bank robbery in Omaha.
Melanie had not realized how volatile her brother has become, and when they stumble into Andrew’s cabin and take the author hostage, she fears for everyone’s life. Leaving a trail of bodies and stolen vehicles in their wake, they are soon on a course back to Omaha. Melanie knows that Jared intends to kill Andrew, but will she be able to stop her brother?
ONE FALSE MOVE moves with the speed of lightening and never gives you a stopping place, so be prepared -- and comfortable -- when you start reading this one. Alex Kava based this novel on several actual criminal events, and the realism of her story and her characters shine through. Ms. Kava’s uncomplicated and clear writing style, realistic dialogue, and faultless plot makes this one a winner.
“Dark is not a place, but a person, and you would be wise to be afraid…very afraid of him.”
AFRAID OF THE DARK is a mind boggling balance of abuse of p“Dark is not a place, but a person, and you would be wise to be afraid…very afraid of him.”
AFRAID OF THE DARK is a mind boggling balance of abuse of power and good versus evil. Peopled by three-dimensional characters, and propelled by an unrelenting pace, this is an extraordinary tale that never seems to find a stopping place. Dark is not a place, but a person, and you would be wise to be afraid…very afraid of him. All of the story threads come together in an eye-opening and violent climax. This is the author’s ninth book featuring Jack, and might possibly be his best legal thriller yet. Wow! ...more