Dead and Gone Review

Author: Joanna Schaffhausen

Series: Annalisa Vega #3

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: August 8, 2023

Order: Amazon

Many thanks to Minotaur Books

Reviewed in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The next installment of Joanna Schaffhausen's critically acclaimed Detective Annalisa Vega series.

Review:

DEAD AND GONE is the third book in author Joanna Schaffhausen's Annalisa Vega series, and I'm here to say each book is better than the last. There's a reason Joanna Schaffhausen is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author, and the evidence is in this book! With a tenacious heroine who never gives up, multiple twisted plot lines, immersible setting and a whole lot of family drama, DEAD AND GONE is highly engaging and unbelievably atmospheric.

When ex-cop turned private investigator Sam Tran is found hanging from a tree in a cemetery with an ugly message written across his chest, it should be painfully clear he didn't commit suicide. Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega arrives on scene in time to answer the cell phone ringing in the dead man's pocket only to be shocked by hearing her brother Vinny Vega's voice on the other end of the line. She learns Vinny hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker threatening his daughter on her college campus. The stakes are sky high for Annalisa and her family as they'll do whatever it takes to keep free-spirited Quinn safe. In an effort to unravel several convoluted cases, Annalisa begins sorting through the dead PI's open cases while also trying to keep an eye on her niece who's not happy about being confined. The more she investigates, the more she believes the cases may be tied together in some way. One thing is clear . . . PI Sam Tran stumbled upon some information that got him killed and to discover the identity of the killer, Annalisa will have to connect the dots between all his open cases. As it turns out, a twenty-year-old double homicide may hold the key Vega needs.

DEAD AND GONE is an intense, complex and highly engaging story. As always, Schaffhausen's characters are fully fleshed out and compelling. Readers will easily connect with Annalisa as well as most of the support cast which includes several red herrings. Ex-husband Det. Nick Carelli is Vega's partner in both a professional and personal manner, and their interactions adds a touch of personal depth and anguish to the storyline, helping temper the viciousness of the murder case. A multitude of twisted plot lines keeps the tension high and the tone dire as Vega races against time to find a stalker before her niece, who fancies herself an amateur sleuth, gets into something she can't get out of . . . at least not alive. Vega also faces some personal revelations that put a strain on the relationship she and Nick are trying to rebuild.

From the unsettling prologue to the final shocker, DEAD AND GONE is impossible to put down. While it is part of a series, the author does an excellent job weaving in needed backstory to make this one readable as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the series in order for character development. Totally addictive, DEAD AND GONE is a fantastic addition to this intriguing series. The story is an action packed, tension laden, riveting suspense thriller with just the right blend of murder, suspense and personal relationships. I look forward to learning where the author takes these characters in future books. Highly recommended to fans of suspense thrillers.

Synopsis:

For Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega, Sam Tran’s death presents an ominous puzzle. The ex-cop turned PI is found hanging from a cemetery tree with a message across his chest that suggests someone holds a murderous grudge against the police. Annalisa suspects the real answer lies in one of Tran’s open cases. She believes he stumbled on a dark secret during his investigations and someone killed him to keep him quiet. Her own family harbors plenty of secrets, something Annalisa is reminded of when her brother turns out to be one of Sam’s last clients.

Vinny Vega hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker on his daughter’s college campus. Now Sam is dead and the stalker remains at large, with Annalisa’s niece Quinn firmly in his sights.

To protect Quinn, Annalisa begins tracing Sam’s steps back through his open cases, which include not only the campus stalker but also a brutal double homicide from twenty years ago. Did Sam finally find the killer? Did he uncover the stalker’s identity? Annalisa must figure out which secret got Sam killed, and fast, or someone else will die. Every move she makes brings her closer to the truth of Sam’s death, and closer to a murderer who will stop at nothing to remain free.

What The Neighbors Saw Review

Author: Melissa Adelman

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: June 20, 2023

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.

Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Desperate Housewives meets The Couple Next Door in a chilling story of murder and intrigue set in a well-to do DC suburb.

Review:

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a domestic thriller about an ambitious young couple who succumb to the lure of all the glitz and glamour of living in an upscale neighborhood alongside the wealthy. When the chance to buy a broken-down Cape Cod cottage at a deal presents itself, they jump at the chance knowing it's a fixer upper, but location is everything, right?  In their eyes, they have finally moved up to take their place among the affluent. They settle in and begin meeting their wealthy neighbors and attending block parties while also starting renovations on their bottomless money pit of a house. Funds are tight, but Sam is expected to make partner at his law firm soon, and Alexis is preparing for the new baby.  Just when it seems they are finally on the right track, a murder shatters their perfect illusions. A neighbor is found dead of suspicious causes.  How does that happen in the middle of suburbia paradise?

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a slow burn tale unfolding through dual points of view - that of Alexis and also Blair, an influential neighbor who appears to take Alexis under her wing guiding her through the long list of who's who including who's cheating on whom within the not nearly so perfect neighborhood.  Before long, it's clear money cannot buy happiness, and after the birth of her child, Alexis tries to conceal her growing uneasiness that's fueled by spying on neighbors.  The more she sees, the more she suspects all is not as it seems in the land of the affluent.  Eventually, the long, sleepless nights with a crying newborn takes its' toll on her sanity, and those around her begin to question the validity of her sparsely shared observations.  The story that unfolds is an intriguing domestic thriller where dark secrets begin surfacing and masks slipping amid a hunt for the killer living among them.

 Melissa Adelman has penned an intriguing story with detailed descriptions of life among the wealthy and/or wanna be wealthy.  The first half of the book plays out in slow motion with the author paying great attention to individual family dynamics within the community as she strips away layers and draws aside the curtains to reveal some ugly truths to readers.  At times, it feels as though the murder investigation is secondary with more time and attention being paid to the daily lives and happenings within the community.  In doing so, the author emphasizes that wealth does not buy happiness or loyalty, changing location does not assure bliss and the grass is not always greener elsewhere.  Even though some may find the slow pace frustrating early on, I think they'll appreciate Adelman's attention to detail in setting and characterizations as much as I did.  While most characters are certainly not very likeable, they do afford readers juicy entertainment as the gossip mill runs rampant and lies and secrets pile up.  With the pace increasing in the latter half of the book, questions about loyalties and betrayals arise, and I suspect many will be shocked at the big reveal and climax.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a warning about the many dangers in trying to keep up with the Jones, of trying to fit in at all costs.  Relationships become strained within families and friendships as people are often shocked at just how far they're willing to go to protect the lifestyle to which they've become accustomed.  Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy this one as will fans of suspense thrillers.

 Synopsis:

Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses…

When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.

But the neighborhood’s picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy – a handsome, successful father of three – is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.

In the midst of the turmoil, Alexis takes comfort in her budding friendship with Teddy’s beautiful and charismatic widow, Blair. But as the women grow closer, the neighborhood only becomes more divided. And when the unthinkable truth behind Teddy’s murder is finally uncovered, both Blair and Alexis must reexamine their friendship and decide how far they are willing to go to preserve the lives they have so carefully constructed.

The Resemblance Review

Author: Lauren Nossett

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Release Date: Nov. 1, 2022

Purchase Link: Amazon

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.

Review:

THE RESEMBLANCE is a story that focuses on the dark, dangerous, ugly side of university life - fraternities, brotherhood, hazing, bullying, misogyny, injustices against race and religion.  It's a story of privilege, loyalties, friendship and the burning need of humans to belong.  It's a story of accountability and power . . . or the lack thereof.  It's a story of murder.

Detective Marlitt Kaplan is visiting her mother on the campus where she teaches when screams are heard from the street outside.  Rushing out, she finds fraternity brother Jay Kemp lying dead in the crosswalk - a victim of a grinning hit-and-run driver that witnesses swear looked exactly like Jay.  Marlitt is familiar with the university's dark history involving fraternities and hazing and soon follows her investigation alongside partner Teddy White right back to the Greek system and the wealthy students whose parents wield enough power to cover up their indiscretions even when they cross the line into criminal activities.  The things the detectives learn sends chills through Marlitt as they're reminiscent of haunting memories and ghosts from her own dark past.  Soon, she's receiving threats, and it becomes apparent that the tangled roots of brotherhood may extend beyond the campus into the police department and city where she works.  The story that ensues is dark, intense and complex bordering on a commentary on the dark side of university life.

Lauren Nosett has crafted an intense, dark tale with convoluted plot lines and complex characters maneuvering their way through an age-old corrupt university system with its ugly history as ancient as Rome.  I enjoyed the heroine's tenacity, strength and dedication to doing the right thing in spite of the cost to herself, but at the same time she's prone to detouring from procedure to go off on her own with indications of immaturity.  The investigation into the murder case goes in several directions which may cause some readers to lose concentration; however, the author does a great job of weaving it all back together by the end.  I found the commentary on university life and fraternity culture to be eye-opening and compelling.  THE RESEMBLANCE is taut, sinister and educational - a unique blend of psychological thriller and police procedural.  

Synopsis:

Never betray the brotherhood.

On a chilly November morning at the University of Georgia, a fraternity brother steps off a busy crosswalk and is struck dead by an oncoming car. More than a dozen witnesses all agree on two things: The driver looked identical to the victim, and he was smiling.

Detective Marlitt Kaplan is first on the scene. An Athens native and the daughter of a UGA professor, she knows all its shameful histories, from the skull discovered under the foundations of Baldwin Hall to the hushed-up murder-suicide in Waddel. But in the course of investigating this hit-and-run, she will uncover more chilling secrets as she explores the sprawling, interconnected Greek system that entertains and delights the university’s most elite and connected students.

The lines between Marlitt’s policework and her own past increasingly blur as Marlitt seeks to bring to justice an institution that took something precious from her many years ago. When threats against her escalate, and some long-buried secrets threaten to come to the surface, she can’t help but question whether the corruption in Athens has run off campus and into the force and how far these brotherhoods will go to protect their own.

Divine Rivals Review

Series: Iris at the Front #1

Genre: YA Fantasy/Historical

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Release Date: April 4, 2023

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to Wednesday Books for an arc.

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. Shadow and Bone meets Lore in this epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

Review:

DIVINE RIVALS is the first book in Rebecca Ross's Front series.  It's an epic romance featuring two reporters vying for the same position at a newspaper.  The editor turns it into a competition by challenging them to come up with the best war story with the winner getting the job.  Iris and Roman come from two different worlds - one poor and one wealthy.  Their rivalry sets the stage for an intense enemies-to-lovers story set in a fantasy land.  War is brewing among the gods and people are choosing sides.  Unfortunately, Iris's brother who's fighting in the war has disappeared.  Iris eventually joins the war effort as a front-line reporter in order to search for her brother.  At the same time, a romance blossoms between her and Roman through letters passed magically through the slots of their wardrobe doors . . . only Iris has no idea who her secret "pen pal" is which allows her to let down her walls and reveal her vulnerability.  The story that unfolds is complex with a multi-layered plot line unfolding through unique characters.  

Once I settled into this world, I became entranced with the story of rival lovers unknowingly connecting in the middle of a war over power between divine beings.  The undertone is dark and bleak and yet these two characters provide a spark of hope in the midst of darkness.  Themes of love, loss, enemies-to-lovers and found family are at the core of the twisted plot line enhanced by other-worldly characters and the devastation of war.  The story is highly emotional and heartbreaking driving the intense plot forward at a pace that increases as one turns the pages heading to the shocking climax.  DIVINE RIVALS is a beautiful love story all wrapped up in magical paper and delivered via an ethereal experience.  Highly recommended to fans of romance and fantasy.

Synopsis:

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Make A Wish Review

Author: Helena Hunting

Series: Spark House #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: MacMillan Audio

Narrators: Jason Clarke, Stella Bloom

Release Date: Jan. 24, 2023

Purchase Link: Amazon

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for an audiobook of this title. #MacMillanAudio

With her signature charm and sense of humor, bestselling author Helena Hunting creates a novel about love, family, and second chances in Make a Wish.

Review:

MAKE A WISH is the third and final book in the Spark House romance series and it features the youngest sister Harley.  Like previous books, it low-angst, sweet and a bit predictable, but highly readable.

Seven years ago, Harley Sparks was a nanny for single dad Gavin Rhodes' young daughter Peyton.  Gavin lost his wife to cancer and is still working through the grief process, and Harley stepped into their lives to help take some of the childcare load off his shoulders.  One night when they're alone in the kitchen and he's obviously hurting, Harley attempts to comfort her boss by hugging him, but it turns into an unreciprocated kiss.  The embarrassment is palatable for both of them and shortly thereafter Gavin moves across the country with his daughter.  Fast forward seven years and an accidental meet up flames old feelings between Harley, Gavin and yes, his daughter Peyton.  Harley falls into a pattern of meeting dad and daughter for dinner, ice cream and days in the park and the flames of heat between them grow.  In order for their romance to blossom, there are obstacles to overcome such as an overbearing mother-in-law that doesn't appear to want her son-in-law Gavin to move on and Harley's own internal battle over both her career and personal future.

MAKE A WISH is a heartwarming story that unfolds tackling themes like single parent, age difference, loss, grief and self-esteem.  The support cast includes characters from previous books and for that reason I recommend reading the series in order.  Having said that, this book certainly stands alone with a pertinent background information included.  I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed performances by Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke in a dual POV format.  Highly recommended to fans of romance featuring single parents, age gaps and adorable children.

Synopsis:

Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again.

Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel. Despite trying to avoid the awkwardness of the situation, she can’t help but notice how unbearably sexy he looks in a tutu. Add to that a spontaneous hives breakout, and it’s clear she’s not even remotely over the mortification of her egregious error all those years ago.

Except Gavin seems oblivious to her inner turmoil. So much so that he suggests they get together for lunch. For Peyton’s sake, of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds. Or it could just reopen them. This is one of those times Harley wishes she could see the future…

A Stolen Child Review

Author: Sarah Stewart Taylor

Series: Maggie D'arcy #4

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: June 20, 2023

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.

Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Sarah Stewart Taylor is known for her atmospheric portrayal of an American detective in Ireland, and her critically acclaimed series returns with A Stolen Child.

Review:

A STOLEN CHILD is the fourth novel in the Maggie D’Arcy police procedural series by author Sarah Stewart Taylor. The series features a former Long Island, New York detective of twenty years now living in Ireland along with daughter Lily at the home of boyfriend Conor and his son Adrian.  Now working as a Garda patrolling the streets of Dublin, Maggie D'Arcy will have to pay her dues and wait for an opening before rising up the ranks to once again work as a detective. However, when her friend Detective Inspector Roly Byrne's team is short-handed, Maggie is temporarily called up to assist in investigating high profile cases which she does without hesitation.

Garda Maggie D'Arcy is on patrol with her partner Garda James Savage when they get a call about a possible homicide at the same apartment where they answered a domestic distress call from former model Jade Elliott a few days earlier.  She assured them all was okay . . . but had they missed something?  While investigating the scene, Maggie recognizes signs of a child's presence in the apartment, but where's the child?  A murder investigation quickly morphs into a kidnapping case, and Maggie is excited when she's called up to partner with Detective Sergeant Padraig Fiero to assist in the case.  Her expertise as a homicide detective is priceless to the understaffed police department, and Maggie is thankful for the opportunity to do what she does best.  As the story unfolds, Maggie and Fiero dive into Jade's personal and professional past for any links that may lead to the kidnapper. What they uncover is a convoluted, twisted web of lies that ties their investigation up in knots. Clock's ticking, and they fear time is running out for one scared little girl.

Author Sarah Stewart Taylor has gifted readers with another riveting story in A STOLEN CHILD.  Her distinctive, descriptive writing style transports readers to the beautiful land of Ireland with its colorful scenery and people with all the sights and sounds of Dublin.  I appreciated the author's attention to detail when it comes to highlighting the differences in the hierarchy and structuring of the law enforcement department in Ireland vs. the American ways and system of justice.  The intriguing plot line is steadily propelled forward by a series of dead ends and investigators' increasing panic as days pass without finding the child and leads turn cold.  The author keeps readers on their toes sorting through an impressive list of red herrings as the investigation evolves.  Fans of the series will enjoy the side story involving Maggie and Conor's personal lives including scenes of the renovation of their home with old photographs found hidden within walls becoming a story within a story.  The subtle blending of story lines adds needed dimension to the characters with intimate peeks at their personal journeys.

A STOLEN CHILD is a highly engaging, totally immersive police procedural that continues Maggie D'Arcy's story with her move to Ireland.  While this book can certainly be read as a standalone with the author filling in needed backstory nicely, I recommend readers start at the beginning with book one and read the series in order for the overall character development.  I predict fans of the series are going to love the direction Taylor is taking these characters along with the roadblocks she continuously challenges them to scale.  Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and police procedurals. 

Synopsis:

After months of training, former Long Island homicide detective Maggie D’arcy is now officially a Garda. She’s finally settling into life in Ireland and so is her teenage daughter, Lilly. Maggie may not be a detective yet, but she’s happy with her community policing assignment in Dublin's Portobello neighborhood.

When she and her partner find former model and reality tv star Jade Elliot murdered—days after responding to a possible domestic violence disturbance at her apartment—they also discover Jade's toddler daughter missing. Shorthanded thanks to an investigation into a gangland murder in the neighborhood, Maggie’s friend, Detective Inspector Roly Byrne, brings her onto his team to help find the missing child. But when a key discovery is made, the case only becomes more confusing—and more dangerous. Amidst a nationwide manhunt, Maggie and her colleagues must look deep into Jade’s life—both personal and professional—to find a ruthless killer.

The Instructor Review

Author:  T.R. Hendricks

Series: Derek Harrington #1

Publisher: Forge Books

Release Date: April 11, 2023

4 Heated Hearts

Dive into The Instructor , former Army intelligence officer T. R. Hendricks' fast paced, action-packed debut thriller that's Jack Reacher meets Survivorman , the first novel in the Derek Harrington series!

Review:

THE INSTRUCTOR is the first book in a new military action thriller series by author T.R. Hendricks.  It tells the story of Derek Harrington, a retired Marine Force Recon and SERE instructor who's suffering from PTSD and having a hard time settling back into civilian life after twenty-two years in service that haunt him nightly.  He's barely making a living teaching wilderness survival class's while trying to convince his ex-wife not to take his son away.  Harrington is at the end of a very taut rope when a student makes him an offer he can't refuse.  Instruct a private group for thirty days for some serious cash.  Even though his gut tells him something's off, Derek can't afford to refuse the offer if he wants to keep his son.  He sends a coded message to a FBI friend and goes deep undercover infiltrating the cult-like group to find out what's really going on.  The story that ensues is a high action thriller that never slows down.

Hendricks has rendered a highly entertaining & atmospheric story in THE INSTRUCTOR.  Derek Harrington is a damaged character with anger and control issues that easily wins readers' empathy.  The wilderness setting is well represented, and I enjoyed the multitude of survival techniques incorporated into this charismatic story. From the early pages until the final paragraph, The Instructor is intense, explosive, riveting and extremely difficult to put down.  Highly recommended to fans of high action, tension laden thrillers.

Synopsis:

Derek Harrington, retired Marine Force Recon and SERE instructor, is barely scraping by teaching the basics of wilderness survival. His fledgling bushcraft school is on the cusp of going out of business and expenses are piling up fast. His only true mission these days? To get his ailing father into a full care facility and to support his ex-wife and their son.

When one of his students presents him with an opportunity too good to be true―$20,000 to instruct a private group for 30 days in upstate New York―Derek reluctantly takes the job, despite his reservations about the group's insistence on anonymity. But it isn't long before the training takes an unexpected turn―and a new offer is made.

Reaching out to an FBI contact to sound his concerns, Derek soon finds himself in deep cover, deep in the woods, embroiled with a fringe group led by a charismatic leader who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. When what he wants becomes Derek's head, the teacher is pitted against his students as Derek races against time to stop what could very well be the first attack by the domestic terrorist cell.