Chain Reaction Review

Author: James Bryne

Series: Dez Limerick #3

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: Jan. 28, 2025

Special thanks to Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Dez Limerick, a man of many skills and a murky past, faces the impossible—a skilled, deadly opponent who anticipates his every move.

Review:

CHAIN REACTION is the third book in the highly acclaimed Dez Limerick series and in my opinion, the best yet! Author James Byrne has firmly established himself as one of the top writers in the espionage thriller genre with this explosive, action-packed series featuring a dynamite character with deadly skills, keen mind, strong sense of right and wrong, and a wry sense of humor as well as a love of music and an eye for the ladies. Set aside your to-do list before starting this page burner. I promise you’ll find it impossible to put down.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka "Dez" is a larger-than-life former military "secret" trained as a highly skilled gatekeeper - now retired unless he's called upon to help a friend or innocent victim. His skill set doesn't mesh well within the confines of society's rules, and he's often found on the outskirts of events, silently observing, evaluating people and situations. Dez enjoys playing gigs with musicians when he has the opportunity and jumps at the chance to fill in with a band at the grand opening of the Liberty Center in New Jersey; however, he quickly finds himself in the middle of a Russian terrorist attack when the Center is sieged and thousands of lives endangered. Dez solicits the aid of a reluctant former adversary, Cat, a master thief, and with her aid and his wit and unique skills, they rush headfirst into the impossible task of defeating, or at the least waylaying, an army. A puzzling chain of events occur in the days following the attack that don't add up and being a numbers guy Dez's seriously disturbed when two plus two doesn't equal four. Evidence indicates Dez and others were lured to the convention center under false pretenses by someone as highly skilled as he is . . . but Dez only knew one person that fit the criteria and she's dead. Isn't she?

CHAIN REACTION is an blistering, high octane espionage thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. Byrne brilliantly manipulates characters and readers through pages of revelations at a breakneck pace. Fans of the series will enjoy getting more insight into Dez's background even as they marvel at the extent of his inventive skills at turning everyday objects into deadly weapons and overcoming insurmountable odds--all with a slightly warped sense of humor. Support characters are well developed, including a couple of strong-headed women who could be worthy friends or formidable adversaries – the jury remains out on which one Dez can trust. Magnificently written and delivered, fans of high-action, high-stake espionage thrillers will enjoy CHAIN REACTION and this new, highly skilled hero "Dez" who’s a combo of Macgyver and Jack Reacher on steroids! This one would be sensational on the big screen!

Synopsis:

Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. He was trained as a "gatekeeper"—he can open any door, keep it open as long as necessary, and control who does—and does not—go through. Now retired from his previous life, Dez still tries to keep his skills up to date.

Knocking around the country, picking up the occasional gig as a guitarist, Dez is contacted by a friend in urgent need of his musical skills. At his behest, Dez flies to the East Coast to a gig at the brand new massive complex, the Liberty Center. But he's barely landed before he finds himself in the midst of a terrorist attack, a group has taken over the whole center and thousands of hostage lives are in danger. With the semi-willing help of a talented thief, Dez takes on the impossible task of outfighting and outwitting a literal army. But that's just the beginning, as Dez learns he was actually lured there under false pretenses, by someone who knows more about Dez, his past and his skills than any living person should.

Murder Town Review

Author: Shelley Burr

Series: PI Lane Holland #2

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Day: Nov. 5, 2024

(First Published: Aug. 30, 2023)

Thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review published in The Big Thrill Magazine

For fans of Jane Harper and true crime, a dark and gripping thriller set in a small town in the Australian Outback, by the author of the international bestseller WAKE.

Review:

Australian Author Shelley Burr's sophomore novel, MURDER TOWN, is an intense, highly atmospheric thriller set in Rainer, Australia, a fictional small town whose only claim to fame is a series of horrific murders by the notorious serial killer, the Rainier Ripper, and his subsequent capture. Almost two decades later, desperate locals debate whether to allow a tourism company to promote the dark tragedy by spotlighting their dying town with the Ripper Trail Tour. Gemma Guillory, her police officer husband, and other locals are still traumatized by the events that occurred when the last victim of the killer died in Gemma's arms at her quaint tea shop. She fears publicity generated by the tour will open old wounds, spill secrets and rattle skeletons best left to rest. The choice is ripped from their hands when a tour representative is murdered in a manner closely resembling that of the Rainer Ripper, and the undercurrent of unrest rippling through their quiet town ignites in an inferno of fear and chaos. Gemma and her husband are pulled back into the nightmare along with a prisoner, former investigator and cold case expert Lane Holland. Once again, a killer is stalking their vulnerable town. With time running out, Gemma questions how well she knows her neighbors.

MURDER TOWN is the follow up to Burr's phenomenally successful first novel Wake, and while it stands alone, there is a crossover character featured in both books. Burr excels in setting highly immersive, atmospheric scenes that pull readers into the story utilizing sight, smell, touch, and sound while creating a keen sense of place. A steadily increasing pace is driven by an undertone of malice permeating the pages as readers and characters navigate a minefield of twists through a unique plot line that culminates in a final shocking reveal. Fans of classic murder mysteries, crime fiction, and thrillers will devour MURDER TOWN--the gripping story of a small-town community pushed to the edge.

Synopsis:

Gemma Guillory has lived in the Australian Outback enclave of Rainier her entire life. She knows the tiny, red-dust town’s ins and outs by heart, knows the people like they are her family, their quirks as if they were her own.

She also knows her once charming town is now remembered for one reason and one reason only. That three innocent people died there at the hands of a serial killer. The last stop on the Rainier Ripper’s trail of deaths fifteen years ago was her picturesque little tea shop. She knows that the consequences of catching the Ripper still haunt her policeman husband and their marriage to this day, and some of her neighbors are desperate enough to welcome a dark tourism company keen to cash in on Rainier’s notoriety as the “Murder Town.

When the tour guide is killed by a Ripper copycat on Gemma’s doorstep, the unease that has lurked quietly in the original killer’s wake explodes into the light, and Gemma is drawn into the investigation. Unbeknownst to her, so is a prisoner named Lane Holland, a former private investigator who earned a living cracking cold cases before he ran afoul of the law.

Gemma knows her town. She knows her people. Doesn't she?

The Crash Review

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Day: Jan. 28, 2025

Many thanks to the publisher for a gifted arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

Review:

Author 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.

Synopsis: 

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.
 
But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

Meet the Author!

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

https://www.freidamcfadden.com/

Mask Of The Deer Woman Review

Author: Laurie L. Dove

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: Jan. 21, 2025

Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for a gifted arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram

Reviewed for Mystery & Suspense Magazine

To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself. 

Review:

MASK 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.

Synopsis:

At rock bottom following her daughter’s murder, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation that raised him, but they need a new tribal marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home. In the last decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some dead, others just… gone. Now, local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her. What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.

The More The Terrier Review

Author: David Rosenfelt

Series: Andy Carpenter #30

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Publisher: Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio

Release Day: Oct. 15, 2024

Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook version of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The next installment in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling Andy Carpenter series brings a lone pup to his doorstep, but when it comes to dogs, The More the Terrier. With equal doses of doggy humor and courtroom drama, as well as Andy Carpenter's traditional humbug Christmas spirit, David Rosenfelt delivers another winner.

Review:

Author David Rosenfelt returns with episode thirty in the Andy Carpenter series, THE MORE THE TERRIER, just in time for the holidays. The series is a perfect blend of cozy mystery and courtroom drama with a sprinkling of humor interspersed throughout. Add in the major cute factor with all the antics of the adorable dogs, and you've got a story that's delightful to read with an intriguing mystery to be solved.

Andy and his family return home from a skiing vacation to find an additional canine waiting - one the dog sitter says showed up on their doorstep and refused to leave, choosing instead to lounge around with their three dogs Sebastian, Tara and Hunter. Struck by the familiarity, Andy engages his investigation skills to determine that the dog is Murphy, a former Tara Foundation dog, who was placed with a family two years ago. Returning the dog to its owner leads Andy, the reluctant lawyer, to defend a college student accused of murdering his professor over a dispute over grades. As they begin their investigation, Andy and his motley crew, including wife and ex-cop Laurie, Sam the computer whiz, Corey and his K-9 dog, Eddie the lawyer and Marcus the muscle, soon determine that the Russian mob are involved in payoffs and have a stake in the outcome of the trial. Further investigation uncovers additional red herrings with motives involving computer viruses, drug traffickers and abuse via the metaverse world. Throw in a shady lawyer and Andy is convinced his client was set up, and he's facing a formidable task to convince a jury of reasonable doubt. As the story unfolds, the case proves to be more complex and twisted than expected with multiple viable threats against Andy and his family, but all Andy needs is one Christmas miracle to get his client home for the holidays and save Christmas.

Fans of the series will acknowledge Rosenfelt has a signature style that the Andy Carpenter stories follow and that's okay because despite that, each story is unique and highly readable in its' own way. The familiarity of the characters along with the antics of the dogs is comforting to series' readers, offering numerous laughs to cut the tension of a life-or-death case. A steadily increasing pace keeps readers engaged as does the author's wry sense of humor with our hero Andy dropping sarcastic remarks throughout and talking through cases with his dog, Tara.

THE MORE THE TERRIER is a delightful smorgasbord of cozy mystery, comedy and courtroom drama. If you're new to the Andy Carpenter series, it's one of a very few that I can honestly recommend can be read as a standalone as all the needed backstory is included and a case is solved in each book. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Grover Gardner as the narration is fantastic as always, bringing these characters to life right in your own living room. THE MORE THE TERRIER is perfect for fans of light mysteries, comedies and legal thrillers.

Synopsis:

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

The Mirror Review

Author: Nora Roberts

Trilogy: The Lost Bride #2

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Day: Nov. 19, 2024

Special thanks to St. Martins Press for a gifted arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first publisher in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror.

Review:

THE MIRROR is the second book in Author Nora Roberts The Lost Bride trilogy, picking up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of the first book INHERITANCE. By nature, a trilogy has an overall story arc that spans three books, and while the author does a fantastic job easing readers back into the storyline, I recommend reading book one before venturing into THE MIRROR.

Sonya MacTavish settles into daily life with best friend Cleo in the haunted Victorian mansion she inherited from her deceased uncle. As time passes, the women welcome and adjust to the daily activities of the friendly ghosts of brides who died tragically in the mansion on their wedding day at the hand of the evil entity holding court in the gold room - Hester Dobbs. While Hester's actions are disturbing, Sonya and Cleo, joined by companions Trey and Owen, manage to remain defiant in the face of her frequent temper tantrums complete with the slamming of doors, loud noises and flying objects. When a magic mirror Sonya has dreamed of appears before her, she's drawn to pass through it time and again, finding herself decades in the past witnessing firsthand the happiest day of each bride's life before it ended in heartbreaking tragedy at the murderous hands of Hester who claimed each of the seven brides' wedding rings. As the story progresses, readers learn more about the unique history of each bride and groom, their families, their secrets and how they interacted with the antagonist Hester who vowed to be the only lady of the manor. Readers also see the relationships between the main characters evolve in the present as they bond in friendship and love, together vowing to recover the seven stolen rings and banish the evil spirit from the mansion. Hester has other ideas.

THE MIRROR is an atmospheric story, highlighting Roberts extraordinary abilities at world-building with descriptive prose that lures readers into scenes via sight, smell, sound and touch. The author maintains a balance of regular, small-town life and the mystical aspects of this story while ramping up the action with elements of mystery and suspense. The story unfolds through past/present chapters as Sonya slips back and forth through the mirror allowing readers to witness the history of families as it occurred over several centuries while raising the stakes for the challenge facing the group in the present. The slower pace in the first half allows time for characters to develop personal and community relationships while interspersing escalating paranormal episodes throughout to steadily increase the tone of malice and danger in a race to the final scene that explodes off the page. Per Roberts signature style, the women are strong, devoted and fiercely independent, and the men are smart, talented and supportive. Together, they emit positive energy bringing light and love to the mansion as they form a formidable team but is it enough to defeat a centuries old evil entity out for revenge?

Author Nora Roberts is an expert at detailed, vivid world-building, often drawing on ancient family history and incorporating it into suspenseful storylines with strong characters. The power of love, family, friends and good over evil are frequent themes. The Lost Bride trilogy is a prime example of her skillful blending of fantasy, romance and suspense in such a setting with characters readers will develop relationships with. THE MIRROR is an intense, atmospheric, heartwarming yet creepy tale that's perfect for those who love stories that stretch their imagination. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy, romance, mystery and suspense with a touch of the paranormal.

Synopsis:

When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets.

Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.

I'll Be Waiting Review

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Day: Oct. 1, 2024

Many thanks to St. Martins Press for a gifted arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

First reviewed in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...

Review:

Author Kelley Armstrong's newest release, I'LL BE WAITING, is the perfect book to put readers in the mood for the spooky season.  A grieving wife's desperate attempt to connect with her deceased husband beyond the grave turns deadly in this highly atmospheric tale of supernatural horror. Make sure you have all the lights turned on before starting this one!

 Terminally ill Nicola Laughton considers herself to be a fortunate woman. While she's lived with cystic fibrosis since childhood, modern medicine has improved her quality of life as well as her life expectancy. Married to Anton, the man of her dreams, she's enjoying life to the fullest until the day a car crosses the center line claiming her husband's life.  As Nicola kneels on the pavement cradling her husband in her arms, Anton's dying vow is to wait for her. Captured by cell phone cameras, the scene soon goes viral with rumors that Anton's ghost or spirit appears hovering over them while whispering to Nicola. The news is all it takes to bring self-claimed psychics out of the woodwork telling Nicola they can facilitate her reconnection to her dead husband only to leave Nicola disappointed and disillusioned. In one last desperate attempt, friends and family step in to set up one final seance with a reputable parapsychologist to take place at Anton's family's Lake Erie beach house where Anton spent a great deal of time. Soon after their arrival, mysterious events occur indicating the possible presence of entities residing in the old house. Is Anton reaching out? Or has something darker, more sinister been awakened?

 I'LL BE WAITING is a tension laden, highly atmospheric paranormal thriller. A foreboding tone is set early enhanced by the setting in a secluded beach house complete with unexplained voices and footsteps, doors opening and closing, a creaking dumbwaiter, a room full of creepy porcelain dolls watching . . . and a history that includes a missing boy and murder. As the story progresses, short flashbacks give readers insight to past events raising more questions while leaving readers to decide what's real and what's not. The author slows the pace through the middle portion of the book, taking time to build the suspense while keeping characters and readers off-balance with a variety of eerie, goosebump worthy incidences only to pick up speed again as danger escalates through the final showdown. Some readers may find it hard to connect with characters who appear illusive due to the mysterious, ever-changing aura and circumstances surrounding them. Readers are challenged with uncovering the truth while figuring out who to trust in this tale of things that go bump in the night.

 Author Kelley Armstrong has expertly rendered another paranormal page turner, a smoke'n'mirrors mystery, perfect for fans who enjoy a good ghost story without crossing over into full-blown horror. Armchair detectives will also enjoy the challenge of solving this one.

 Synopsis:

Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future… together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car crash, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”

That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press—the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn’t Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body.

Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium—a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.

The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter…in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she’s haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn’t her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn’t her real name.

That’s when she finds the first body....

In this atmospheric, thrilling new ghost story, Kelley Armstrong's full talents are on display to thrill, chill and leave the reader guessing how Nicola escapes with her life--if she can.

The Swimmer Review

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake/Brillance Audio

Narrator: Reba Buhr

Release Date: Sept. 10, 2024

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

A deviously twisty novel of psychological suspense about secrets, neighbors, a need to belong, and murder by the award-winning author of The Maid’s Diary.

Review: 

THE SWIMMER by Author Loreth Anne White is a razor sharp, tautly plotted psychological suspense thriller that raises the bar of excellence in the suspense thriller genre. White's decision to deliver the story by interspersing true crime podcast transcripts in the present among chapters from the past allowing readers to see what transpires in real time is nothing short of brilliant. Get your affairs in order before starting this one because you will not be able to stop reading until you turn the final shocking page.

 Chloe Cooper is a socially awkward, eccentric forty-year-old bartender whose constricted world consists of work, caring for her terminally ill mother in their fifth-floor apartment, dog walking and people watching, most often with binoculars. Over the years, Chloe's mother's repeated warnings to trust no one, not even the police, have sentenced Chloe to a lonely, isolated life with little real interaction with others. Her only emotional outlet is her eccentric artwork and the stories she invents about the lives she observes. When new neighbors, renowned surgeon Adam Spengler and his beautiful, social media influencer wife Jemma, move in across the street, Chloe can see directly into the house and their private lives through the ceiling to floor curtainless windows. Her obsession with Jemma, who's everything Chloe isn't, grows daily as do her suspicions that something is deadly wrong in that household and marriage. Convinced it's up to her to stop a potential tragedy, Chloe begins recording her observations in her journal, including Jemma's habitual, early morning swims in the bay, and she's there on the beach the foggy morning a woman is intentionally run down by a jet ski while swimming in the bay. Ignoring her mother's repeated warnings, Chloe calls in an anonymous tip to the police, unknowingly opening Pandora's Box and setting a chain of events into motion that quickly spirals out of her control. 

 THE SWIMMER is rendered through multiple points of view and dual timelines including a true crime podcast hosted by Trinity Scott from BENEATH DEVIL'S BRIDGE fame. The author utilizes short chapters with mini cliffhangers to drive a maddening, breathtaking pace forward through a cleverly twisted, multilayered plot line laden with ominous vibes and relentless drama. Layer by layer, the author manipulates characters and readers with shocking, never-see-that-coming revelations that had this reader neglecting daily duties to finish the book.  The dismal, constricted setting lends itself to the overall feeling of confinement as well as the paranoia suffered by the main character. White's brilliant signature characterizations afford readers authentic, in-depth characters to either love, hate or feel sorry for, and her command of the overall story is reminiscent of an expert conductor directing an orchestra. 

 Magnificently written and delivered, THE SWIMMER is Author Loreth Anne White's finest piece of work to date, and that's saying a mouthful. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Reba Ruhr who knocks it out of the park giving voice to numerous characters with different dialects. THE SWIMMER, a story of obsession, loneliness, secrets, lies, betrayal and revenge, is on this reader's brief list of the best of 2024. Highly recommended to fans of suspense thrillers that leave you reeling!

 Synopsis:

Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

A move to the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a fresh start for Jemma and Adam. It’s a renewed commitment to a marriage fractured by secrets. A chance to work through the tragic losses in their past. For Jemma, however, this new beginning also comes with an unnerving sensation that she’s being watched.

Then, on a fog-shrouded beach early in the morning, Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer. Her suspicions aroused, she suddenly sees her neighbors in a sinister new light. But as a detective and her partner close in, nothing is quite as it seems. Because the Spenglers are not the only ones with secrets. And Chloe isn’t the only one who’s been watching.

Out In The Cold Review

Author: Steve Urszenyi

Series: Special Agent Alexandra Martel #2

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: Nov. 12, 2024

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this title! Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Special Agent Alex Martel is thrown back into a deadly world of deception when a series of attacks threaten to incite World War III in this action-packed thriller.

Review:

Special Agent Alex Martel, former army combat medic, sniper and assassin, returns in Author Steve Urszenyi's OUT IN THE COLD, an explosive, action-packed follow up to his highly acclaimed PERFECT SHOT. Readers wondering if the author could match the intensity, insane pace and action of book one can rest easy. Not only does Urszenyi match it, he surpasses it and then some. Strap on the bullet proof gear and settle in for an evening of nonstop, high-octane, cover-to-cover action as Agent Martel goes rogue to uncover the identity of forces whose actions threaten world peace.

Special Agent Alex Martel is aboard a luxury mega-yacht crossing the Mediterranean when explosions rock the ship. On a task force assignment with her temporary CIA boss, Caleb, Martel engages her unique skills as a former army sniper to fight off mercenaries and whisk her friend and Director of Interpol, Celeste Clicquot, and other dignitaries to shore safely. As other attacks ensue, political allies agree that all signs point toward Russia planning a massive takeover of Finland, a new NATO ally, potentially setting the stage for a third World War. With tensions high, political advisors in the United States convince the President to bring NATO troops back to the region in preparation of being ready to strike back should Russia invade Finland. When Martel's former mentor and friend, Cliquot, is attacked a second time, Martel disobeys orders, abandons her CIA assignment, and goes rogue with no backup vowing to avenge her friend while searching for the mastermind behind the attacks and the aggression against Finland. Martel's gut tells her the facts as they're known don't add up, and her gut hasn't failed her yet. Is it possible there's a conspiracy setting Russia up to take the fall? Who's really behind all the espionage and chaos? Are the answers to be found on American soil? Can Alex uncover the truth in time to advert a global catastrophe?

If you're a fan of high stake, international espionage thrillers with nonstop action, OUT IN THE COLD is the book for you. While I also highly recommend the first book in this series, PERFECT SHOT, 

Author Steve Urszenyi does a fantastic job of setting the scene with sufficient backstory for readers to enjoy this one as a standalone.  Be prepared to be highly engaged as the author brilliantly manipulates characters and readers through a tangled plot line of smoke'n'mirrors. Laden with danger at every turn, Martel is a dynamite female lead who manages to stay one step ahead of the bad guys while dodging numerous attempts on her life through her own highly honed skills. It's refreshing to find a female character with adept abilities that rival those of any male hero - one who's deadly and yet still harbors a softer side with a lot of heart, compassion and kindness. The tease of a possible romantic relationship with Caleb is simmering in the background, keeping readers hoping for more. A blistering pace driven by the constant threat of imminent danger kept me burning up the pages searching for the identity of the mastermind, and while my suspicions were correct, I suspect some readers will be surprised by the author's last page reveal.

Well-developed characters fighting their way through a complex plot line rich in conspiracy, espionage, political and international intrigue keeps readers highly engaged from the first page to the final line in OUT IN THE COLD. Highly recommended to fans of high action, covert, espionage style thrillers such as the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. Author Steve Urszenyi is authentic, and here to stay!

Synopsis:

While sailing across the Mediterranean, the megayacht Aurora is rocked with explosions, taken under siege by unknown assailants. On board are some of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful political players, including the secretary general of Interpol, a high-ranking Finnish diplomat, and Special Agent Alex Martel―whose lethal sniper skills kick in to bring them safely to shore.

Someone is waging a ruthless campaign of attacks against Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, in an attempt to throw the Alliance into turmoil. Teaming back up with CIA agent Caleb, Alex is thrust into the middle of the fray, pursuing the villains from the waters off of Monaco to the Baltic Sea and home to American soil.

As the US is pulled deeper into the conflict, a global catastrophe seems inevitable. But who is really responsible for these escalating attacks on Finland? The Russians, or someone much closer to home? As new allies surface and old enemies reappear, Alex has no way of knowing who to trust―and she might only have one last shot to keep the world from going to war.

The Boyfriend Review

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Day: Oct. 1, 2024

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for an arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim. A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadde n proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…

Review:

Author Freida McFadden explores the potentially dangerous pitfalls of online dating through the eyes of women of a certain age who have suffered one too many disastrous dates while looking for Mr. Perfect in her latest book, THE BOYFRIEND.  Wasting no time, McFadden sets a chilling, ominous tone in the Prologue - a clear forewarning of the danger lurking at every turn, on every page, in her latest psychological thriller.  

Sydney Shaw is knocking hard on the door of thirty-five, her biological clock ticking loudly, counting down the days with no viable lifetime partner possibilities on the horizon. Her latest obnoxious online date is yet another disaster, and she can't wait to cut the tortuous evening short. When he refuses to accept an emphatic no to walking her home, Sydney follows her gut taking him down the wrong street to "her house" where he suddenly turns from annoying to violent. Having seen no one in the surrounding area, Sydney is surprised but relieved when a dark, handsome stranger sends her attacker scurrying, but before she can get his name, he melts back into the shadows from whence he came. In the weeks to come, Sydney becomes obsessed with finding the dark-haired stranger until finally he's there - her hero seducing her with his good looks, charming smile and hypnotic words. Sydney's convinced this man may be the one even though some of the things he's telling her doesn't add up. Has her luck finally changed? Or is his perfection a mask? Meantime, police are investigating a string of unsolved murders believed to have been committed by an unknown man the women connected with through online dating. When tragedy hits close to home, Sydney's suspicions run rampant as she begins questioning the small inconsistencies in her new boyfriend's story. Has Sydney found the perfect man . . . or the perfect killer?

 THE BOYFRIEND is an intense, immersive thriller that is rendered through dual timelines and alternating points of view which are highly effective in allowing readers to learn firsthand how certain players got to the current point in the story. McFadden brilliantly maneuvers characters and readers through a complex plot line that keeps shifting and twisting at an ever-increasing pace before finally dropping a last minute, shocking bombshell that left this reader reeling. The author's ability to misdirect readers with several vexing red herrings raises the stakes, leaving them guessing. Authentic characterizations make it easy to feel empathy for some while making it difficult to discover who's being truthful and who's manipulative, carefully hidden beneath a mask. A suffocating air of malice thickens page by page, leaving little doubt danger is nigh. 

 Author Freida McFadden gifts readers with another gripping, page turner thriller in THE BOYFRIEND. In doing so, she shines a spotlight on the danger of online dating and the real possibility of evil lurking behind carefully constructed facades. Themes of obsession, stalking, loneliness, seduction, and the suggestive public's perception of women, especially of a certain age, are explored. Fans of this author's work are sure to love this one! Also highly recommended to fans of twisted psychological thrillers with last page shockers.

 Synopsis:

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

The Lightning Bottles Review

Author: Marissa Stapley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Day: Sept. 24, 2024

Many thanks to publisher Simon & Schuster for a gifted copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

This review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The author of New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick Lucky returns with a love letter to rock ‘n’ roll and star-crossed love, following Jane Pyre’s road trip around Europe as she attempts to find out what really happened to her partner in love and music, who disappeared without a trace years earlier, leaving Jane to pick up the pieces.

Review:

Author Marissa Stapley propels readers on a whirlwind ride down an emotional, nostalgic rock'n'roll memory lane in THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES, carrying them back to the '90's Seattle Grunge scene with the music and all the drama associated with rock bands and their loyal legion of fans. Woven in is an intriguing mystery - the story of a rock legend who's been missing and presumed dead for five years, and his music and life partner, the woman fans love to hate, left behind to grieve and work through the guilt consuming her, wondering where it all went wrong and what really happened to her soulmate that fateful night she sent him away.

THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES opens with a young German teen, Hen, listening to the music of her all-time favorite band, The Lightning Bottles, on the eve of the five-year anniversary of the tragic disappearance of the group's star singer, Elijah Hart, who allegedly died in a drug-induced haze in the frigid Icelandic waters though his body was never recovered. The current whereabouts of his band and soulmate Jane Pyre, who is the unrecognized genius behind the group's famous lyrics, are unknown as she disappeared shortly thereafter to grieve, rehab and escape the ire of angry fans who blame her for Elijah's demise. It’s imperative Hen contact Jane because she has a secret, a clue about Elijah's disappearance. Imagine Hen's shock when she realizes the woman moving into the isolated property next door is none other than the despised woman herself, Jane. When Jane catches a girl spying on her, Hen shares her secret, and the despondent woman and teen fan embark on a trip that carries them and readers across a continent in a frantic search for the truth about Elijah’s disappearance. What they discover will either save or finish destroying a fragile, disillusioned, heartbroken Jane.

Unfolding through highly effective past/present chapters, THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES allows readers to experience Jane and Elijah's rocky journey first-hand from the early days to the day he disappeared in Jane’s own words as she relays their tragic ill-fated story to Hen. In the present, readers travel with Jane and Hen as they follow clues that carry them back to the places where main events occurred in Jane and Elijah's lives. The pace escalates as they go through the motions setting a desolate tone that soaks through the pages like the tears shed over the lyrics of heartbreaking songs woven throughout. While Jane and Hen carry the story, there’s a strong support cast adding another intriguing layer to the plot line. What happened to Elijah? Did he die in the icy sea off Iceland as believed? Or is he out there somewhere, alone and scared waiting for Jane to save him yet again?

Stapley takes readers on a highly atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful, yet painful trip paying homage to the world of rock'n'roll, capturing the power and essence of the music scene in the '90's - the music, fame, parties, addiction, groupies. Greed and jealousy, along with the endless drug and alcohol induced days and nights, took its toll creating toxic working relationships. The author's expert ability to weave a dark mystery into this story takes it to another level as does the emphasis on themes of misogyny, inequality in the workplace (especially the music industry) and the blistering cost of fame on both individuals and those who love them.

 THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES is an epic, brilliantly rendered, character driven mystery and ode to music. A story of fated love, jealousy, guilt, pain and loss. A time when stars rose and fell quickly, and music was everything. A visual masterpiece, this book would be fantastic on the big screen. Highly recommended to fans of star-crossed romance, mysteries and ole time rock'n'roll.

 Synopsis:

Jane Pyre was once one half of one of the most famous rock ‘n’ roll duos in the world, The Lightning Bottles. Years later, she’s perhaps the most hated (and least understood) woman in music. She was never as popular with fans as her bandmate (and soulmate) Elijah—even if Jane was the one who wrote the songs that catapulted The Lightning Bottles to instant, dizzying fame, first in the Seattle grunge scene, and then around the world. But then Elijah disappeared and everything came crashing down. Even now, years after Elijah vanished, Jane is universally blamed and reviled by the public. In an attempt to get some peace and quiet, Jane rents a house in a remote part of Germany where she knows she won’t be disturbed. But on the day she arrives, she’s confronted by her new next-door neighbor, a sullen teenaged girl named Hen who just so happens to be a Lightning Bottles superfan—and who claims to have a piece of information that might solve the mystery of what happened to Elijah, and whether he is, in fact, still alive and leaving messages for Jane after all these years. A cross-continent road trip about two misunderstood outsiders brought together by their shared love of music, interwoven with flashbacks to the beginnings of Jane and Elijah’s love story and meteoric rise, 

The Lightning Bottles is a love story, a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll, and a searing portrait of the cost of fame.

You Will Never Be Me Review

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: Aug. 20, 2024

Special thanks to Berkley Publ. for the gifted arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reviewed for Mystery & Suspense Magazine

When cracks start forming in an influencer’s curated life, she finds out that jealousy is just as viral as a video in this riveting suspense novel by bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Review:

Author Jessie Q. Sutanto takes readers on a chilling, eye-opening deep dive into the cutthroat world of social media super influencers in YOU WILL NEVER BE ME. A place where the stakes and potential for making six figure incomes are high and the odds of crashing and losing it all higher. A place where friendships are made and broken and greed, jealousy and insecurity take root and grow. A facade where revenge turns dark, ugly and deadly.

 Super "Momfluencer" Meredith Lee is riding a social media high at the top of her game when she takes a struggling mother, Aspen Palmer, under her wing teaching her how to become a successful, top earning influencer on social media. In a short amount of time, the student surpasses the teacher in the number of followers, likes, sponsors and income earned on TikTok and Instagram. Suddenly, Aspen is the social media darling invited to all the right parties, meeting other super influencers and making the big bucks, and she has little time for her former mentor. After a particularly nasty argument, the former friends part ways. Aspen is basking in her new fame and lifestyle while Meredith's flame is fading fast leaving her on the outside looking in, but don't count her out just yet. She made Aspen . . . and she can break her. Meredith begins stalking her former friend and when opportunity knocks, she walks through the door. Two can play this game . . . until someone goes missing, and the accusations fly. 

 YOU WILL NEVER BE ME unfolds through the dual points of view of Meredith and Aspen. The pace builds slowly as the author lays the groundwork, allowing readers to get to know each of the women and their families while setting the stage for what's to come. Halfway through, the pace intensifies, and the tone takes a dire turn into an imminent danger zone with warning signs flashing on every page. From this point on, no one will be putting this book down for any reason as it shifts gears with each shocking twist. While most of the characters are shallow, arrogant and extremely self-centered, the kind you love to hate, they are exactly what one would expect to find within the context of this story. Sutanto does an expert job at character development, allowing readers to see what drives each one. Like a wreck on the highway, I couldn't look away afraid of what I might miss. I suspect the ending may be controversial, but whether you like the way the author chose to wrap this story up or not, I guarantee you won't forget it anytime soon. I know I won't, and I'll never look at social media influencers the same way ever again. 

 Author Jesse Q. Sutanto brilliantly renders a dark, witty, parody of the fake, cutthroat world of social media influencers in YOU WILL NEVER BE ME. Toxic friendships are fed by greed, lies and the desire to be seen as the top influencer in the niche. I'm amazed and quite frankly shocked at the idea of how far some will go and how much they're willing to sacrifice to reach the pinnacle of success in the influencer world. I'm happy to say this reader has no desire to dip a toe in those toxic waters. Highly recommended to fans of suspense thrillers and anyone curious about the world of social media influencers.

 Synopsis:

Influencer Meredith Lee didn't teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite.

Then Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen's kids' iPads and swipes it. Now she has access to the family calendar and Aspen's social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen's place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer's only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers. 

Meanwhile, Aspen doesn't understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn't find out who's behind everything, she might just lose it all. But what everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn't become one of TikTok's biggest momfluencers by being naive.

When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen's world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.