I am a huge fan of Jane Blythe and Amanda Siegrist. I loved the first book in the series, Drowning in You, so to continue on and read about Miles and Jade is a no brainer.
Jade lives in a friendly neighborhood, so when Miles asked her over for pizza and a movie she jumped on it. She is a cop, working on a tough case and could use a break. She has no idea he has a huge crush on her.
Miles is a computer whiz. He is shy, a nerd, and she has doesn’t realize how much he will help when she needs it most.
HE was peeping through the window, watching his next victim. He likes Charlie a lot and thinks about not hurting her…but that won’t stop him.
As Jade and her partner, Carter, begin investigating Charlie’s disappearance, she felt sure it was the serial killer they were looking for. There had been three women found in the park and she was afraid Charlie would be the fourth.
The title is appropriate, because Jade is terrified of the dark. At times her fear paralyzes her, putting her in danger because of her inability to act.
We have plenty of suspects and as we begin to eliminate them, one by one. The clock is ticking. Will they catch him before he kills again? The suspense is building, because I do know what comes next. At least, I think I do. And it’s not good.
We all know Jade and Miles will hook up, so to say the romance is a slow burn works. Have you ever looked at someone and, all of a sudden, saw them in a completely different way, like they’re not the same person you always knew? That’s Jade.
When I hear a noise at Miles door…
Each book introduces us to a new couple that will face danger and fall in love and are able to stand alone. Out of Darkness contains all I need for a horrible mystery to be solved with enough danger to fill me with suspense and characters that will enthrall me to the very end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Out of the Darkness by Jane Blythe & Amanda Siegrist.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Don’t turn out the lights. Anything can hide in the dark.
Some
childhood fears follow you into adulthood. Detective Jade Hawkins is
smart, reliable, and successful at her job. At least that’s what she’d
like everyone to believe, but, in reality, she leaves a tiny piece of
herself with every victim of every case she works. She’s starting to
wonder whether one day she will run out of pieces of herself to give,
but when a case has her needing the expertise of a friend, she may
realize that what she’s been searching for could have been right in
front of her all along.
Miles Thomas isn’t shy to admit he’s an
expert in computers. Women, on the other hand—that’s an entirely
different story. When his friend Jade asks for help in her latest murder
case dissecting the victim’s computer, he doesn’t hesitate. He loves
computers; they’re his forte, but he also can’t deny Jade anything
because he likes her way more than a friend. If only he had the nerve to
tell her. He might be shy to admit his feelings, but he refuses to back
down when he sees how much Jade truly needs him—no matter what he has
to do.
The entire Conquering Fear Novel series: (Each book can be read as a standalone.) Drowning in You (Book 1): Carter and Rose Out of the Darkness (Book 2): Miles & Jade
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
Jane
has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark
and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in
because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series,
Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.
When she’s not writing Jane loves to
read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears.
She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and
Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!
Love!
Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just
loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship,
and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a
happy camper:)
I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.
Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*
Carolyn Arnold does a fantastic job of writing cozies and police procedurals. Past Deeds is due for release on the 18th, so I am glad to give you a sneak peek.
Carolyn Arnold writes in multiple genres and her police procedurals are my favorites. She puts her characters in impossible situations and I always look forward to following the process to capture. Her stories remind me of Criminal Minds, and that is a very good thing. It makes it easy for me, along with Carolyn’s writing, to follow the process they go through to catch the criminal.
A sniper. A death. Is the sniper a hired gun? A vigilante? I am very curious. I love when I can relate to the villain, finding out their motivations for their actions, what drives them to do the evil that they do. It’s always the why for me.
Jack Harper and the rest of the BAU team are on the case. Each character has a unique personality and a history that drives them.
Brandon and Paige have a tenuous working relationship and Jack throws them together, time and time again. Brandon has problems with looking past the personal and dealing with the case. It strikes a little too close to home and the guilt that he carries. It’s his own fault. I want to slap him upside the heads. Can’t undo your Past Deeds, and they play a part in who you are now. May have you asking some questions of yourself. I love a thought provoking novel.
Kelly is new to the team, but not to Jack. Jack keeps the newbies close to him, working side by side. She questions herself and every word that comes out of her mouth, second guessing herself. I loved watching her grow confidence and learn what it means to be a member of the team. Her past gives her the ability to empathize with the unknown subject, which is a valuable tool.
I agree with Kelly’s thoughts about men in service. They deserve more than they get, once they come home. They are the forgotten heroes and the government doesn’t do enough for them when they are in need.
I love how Carolyn Arnold weaves reality with fiction, her ability to make me want to know the characters, want to watch them grow and struggle with their personal issues, along with the cases they work on.
As the search for the unknown subject continues, Carolyn Arnold creates a twist I didn’t see coming, a sickening twist, as the suspense builds and I read quicker. It saddens me. It can’t end good, but….the desire for the lost to be saved is still there for me.
The unknown subject is a soldier, on a mission. What happens when the mission is complete?
Past Deeds is a thought provoking story and my mind feeds on it. All our past experiences create the person we are today, but what if….
I voluntarily read an ARC of Past Deeds by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Some consequences can’t be predicted…
A sniping takes place in Arlington, Virginia, less than fifteen minutes from Washington, D.C., and nets several minor injuries but only one casualty. FBI Agent Brandon Fisher and his team with the Behavioral Analysis Unit are called in to determine if the threat is still active and whether they’re looking at an act of terrorism, an isolated incident, or the first in a planned series of shootings. All that seems clear from the ground is they’re looking for a skilled sniper who is former military.
As the FBI investigates, one possible motive has Brandon battling his own demons as the consequences of past choices resurface with a vengeance. He will come to discover how one decision can not only haunt us for the rest of our lives, but spread out and have long- and far-reaching repercussions we couldn’t even begin to imagine.
Past Deeds will have you joining the FBI in following clues and unraveling the psyche of a killer. This book will make you think and reflect—and you just might wonder if any past decisions you’ve made are stalking you, ready to strike.
ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.
Both her female detective and FBI
profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being
accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE
PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and
enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big
city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive
imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch
the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and
empower.
She currently lives just west of Toronto
with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada
and Sisters in Crime.
“Steps up several
levels into an exciting category all its own. It’s thriller, cold case,
mystery suspense, and police procedural, all rolled into one exciting
novel. Set amidst the political drama that comes with Washington DC and
the Pentagon, a current multiple murder becomes a search years in the
past. With a young, hot lieutenant assigned to NCIS, and his beautiful
new wife, you have all the makings of a bestseller. Nicely done, Ms.
Carr!” – Review by Merry Citarella, Mystery Suspense Reviews
The Latest Best-Selling Thorny Rose Mystery Available Now!
Get Your Copy Today!
Join us for this tour from Jan 20to Feb 28, 2020!
MY REVIEW
Is that a lycanthrope that stole that hamburger patty right out of Orville’s hands? LOL
I think I know the answer to that question. The critters in Lauren Carr’s books have distinctive personalities that have me laughing, and at times worrying about them.
Newman is a basset hound TV addict. Don’t mess with his remote. Gnarly, a German Shepherd, is a force of nature. Spencer is the sweet loving female of the group.
Archie has her own thoughts on the death of the vice president’s wife and I do love a good conspiracy. Was the president their target and Paloma just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Lauren Carr has thrown in so many twists and turns and multiple mysteries that make me wonder what they could possibly have in common.13 victims. Is there more than one murderer?
I read The Nutcracker Conspiracy in one sitting. I couldn’t believe how fast I flew through it, having to know who would be the next victim and why.
Lauren Carr has upped the game in this mystery, thriller, police procedural. There are a lot of characters, so to choose my favorites is hard for me to do. Of course, the dogs are always a hit and I look forward to what they are up to next. The love and romance is sweet and sexy without the details. Who wouldn’t love to have a husband like Murphy?
Every time Lauren Carr has a new novel, I jump at the chance to read it. She keeps me entertained, unable to put the book down until the last page is read. She keeps the mystery alive and the story filled with lots of action that is so well written it is easy to fly through the pages…having to know who did what to who and having some laughs along the way. I do love some humor with my murder. 🙂 I will be waiting…patiently (?)…for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr.
4 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: The Nutcracker Conspiracy(A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 30, 2020 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries,
so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on
stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some
mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
Book Description:
Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the
United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two
dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after
numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue
that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every
federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.
Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander
Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up
at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to
bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest
work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist
who’d disappeared months earlier.
“She was number twelve,” Dean says.
“Twelve?” Murphy asks.
“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”
Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:
“The plot was original, fresh and fast paced in spite of the
“traditional elements” employed which can normally be found in any other
thriller of this genre. The USP of this story would be its
unpredictability. When you think you have it all guessed up, the plot
would change its course keeping you hooked. There were a lot of suspense
twists and turns that kept the momentum up. Needless to say, the
writing was simply perfect. One thing that writer needs to be lauded for
is the humor she inculcated in the book. Minus those humorous parts,
the book would have been one serious read.” – Reviewer: Book and Ink
Book Description:
Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered
in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions
surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers
together only to be killed.
Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton,
USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims,
then he can find their murderer.
The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the
victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron
Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a
Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night
shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in
Crime join newlyweds Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift
through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the
Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning
killer?
“Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their
lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the
answers are found, it left me wanting more.” – Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental
Book Description:
After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton
are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in
their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle
of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep
secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out
at Murphy.
When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her
latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may
have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the
winery near-by, and suppressed the memory.
Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims,
Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker,
a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a
community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an
end to the Thorny Rose couple?
Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to
escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and
love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into
the wee hours.” Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:
Beware: Perfection has a dark side!
Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica
Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night.
The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a
couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned
by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and
business.
When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose
detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to
discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across
three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Her Last Whisper is one of those books that I really wanted to love. I read Dead Cold by Jennifer Chase and it was fantastic, so when I had a chance to grab Her Last Whisper from PumpUpYourBook, I didn’t hesitate.
I read Dead Cold by Jennifer Chase from the Jennifer Chase series and LOVED IT, so when I had the opportunity to read and review Her Last Whisper, what a great title, I had to have it. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat.
I love Prologues and Jennifer Chase’s Last Whisper prologue made me sit up and pay attention. I had hoped the story would continue to do the same, keep me on the line and reel me in.
Kate had been a patrol officer and an Army K9 handler, and a loner. Now she is stepping in to lead the cold case unit. I love cold case stories and the steps they take to solve the mystery.
I know what her first cold case will be, Amanda Payton, the kidnapped girl inn the prologue. I can detect too. LOL
Chad is her best friend, a firefighter for Sequoia County, but will it be more than that? I do like some romance with my serial killers. 🙂
He’s on the hunt…AGAIN.
I do love critters, especially dogs, in my stories. They tend to add that little extra I am always looking for. I just questioned why Kate didn’t have him by her side more. Even though it is explained why, I wouldn’t have left him behind. After all, Cisco is an Army K 9 and trained to the max.
We have a side mystery too. A blast from her Army past comes to town, looking for his lost brother. Will they come together, or is Jennifer Chase sharing her personal life to give us a glimpse into who she is, showing us a developed character?
Soooo close, but Her Last Breath didn’t quite get there for me. I devour suspense and thriller novels, so my expectations are always high when I ‘crack open a book’. A sense of urgency and suspense fell a little flat, BUT the ending was great. I would have liked that level of tension throughout .
There is no doubt I will be looking for more of Jennifer Chase’s work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Her Last Breath by Jennifer Chase.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Katie focuses her
mind, trying to keep another anxiety attack at bay. The victim’s long
brown hair is slick and wet, her body rigid in the grass. She looks more
like a mannequin than the woman Katie had spoken with only yesterday,
the woman she had promised to protect…
When a cold, naked body is discovered by a couple on a jog through the lush woodlands of Pine Valley, California, new recruit Detective Katie Scott
is stunned to discover the victim is Amanda Payton – a much-loved local
nurse and the woman at the heart of an unsolved case she’s been
investigating whilst getting a grip on her crippling PTSD.
Weeks
earlier, Amanda had run, battered and bruised, out into the headlights
of a passing patrol car. She claimed to have just escaped a kidnapping,
but with no strong evidence, the case went cold. The Pine Valley police made a fatal mistake…
Katie
is certain the marks on Amanda’s wrists complete a pattern of women
being taken, held captive and then showing up dead in remote locations
around Pine Valley – and she won’t let someone die on her watch again.
But
then a beautiful office worker with a link to the hospital where Amanda
worked goes missing. With only days before the next body is due to show
up, can Katie make amends for her past by saving this innocent life?
Totally
gripping crime fiction for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda
Leigh. Nothing will prepare you for this nail-biting roller-coaster
ride…
ABOUT JENNIFER CHASE
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning crime fiction author and consulting criminologist. Jennifer
holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in
criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed
out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own
experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep
personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds
certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.
Her latest book is the crime thriller, Dead Cold.
Every so often I will follow an email link from NetGalley and check out what’s happening. I try to limit how many books I grab at one time…you know how that is. I found some books by Joanna Schaffhousen and grabbed a couple. I would like to thank NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen for the opportunity to read and share them.
I immediately began reading No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen after finishing The Vanishing Season. I am loving the author and her characters and eagerly begin.
We start where we left off in The Vanishing Season. Each book can stand alone, though I highly recommend beginning at the beginning, because once Ellery got under my skin, I had to know… Each mystery, in this case two mysteries, end with my complete satisfaction and leave me wanting more. Now…let’s get to it.
Ellery Hathaway is on leave because of what happened. And that you will need to find out for yourself. Even though No Mercy is Book II, Joanna Schaffhausen will fill you in on the necessities.
Reed Markham is getting a divorce. He is an FBI profiler, so for those of you who watch Criminal Minds, you can see the complications that would entail for those left at home.
I love Joanna Schaffhausen’s ability to show me Tula, Reed’s daughter. I can see the little firecracker racing around, not happy with her pigtails daddy did because they are a bit lopsided. She’s ready for mommy to pick her up, but she’s so caught up in just being, she forgot she doesn’t have any shoes on. Joanna’s ability to show me the event had me smiling as I watched her.
Ellery had never been on a date. After her abduction at fourteen years old, I can understand why. Sure, she has sex. But she uses it like a weapon. Romance? She doesn’t believe it can ever happen for her after what Francis Coben, the serial killer did to her. Even though he is in prison, so is she. He is always with her…in her mind.
Something happens. I won’t tell you what, but Reed comes rushing to her side, leaving with just the clothes on his back. He saved her once, and he is determined to not let anything else happen to her. Little does he know, trouble seems to find her…or does she go looking for it? There is no romance between them, but, I wonder….
A note…
“You really think I’m unlucky enough to attract the attention of a third serial killer?”
Imagine yourself and everything about you splashed all over the internet. You even have a Wikipedia page, telling of the horrors inflicted on you by a serial killer. People building websites devoted to you…of HIM…the trolls, the filthy, disgusting…
Even though this is fiction, it reads like a true story. I don’t know how Ellery could even step outside her home. Especially on a dark night. I don’t know if I would every leave my house again. Could you? I would have alarms on every access point, the outside lit up as if it’s daytime and, at least, ONE BIG guard dog.
When it came time for Reed to leave, his boss giving him an ultimatum, I knew he couldn’t do it. There’s a rapist on the loose, an old arson case, and someone is messing with Ellery.
I love that he cooks for her, and stays with her. He’s a good cook and it is a definite improvement over the fast food she lives on. He refuses to leave her home alone.
Joanna’ Schaffhausen’s characters are the lowest of the low and the highest of the high. They range from the pond scum that doesn’t deserve to breath air to the knight in shining armor that all children dream about.
Ellery’s need to help others makes her a target all too often, but it leads to lots of non stop action and intense mysteries. Danger lurks around every corner and even comes knocking on her door. Joanna Schaffhausen stacks mystery on top of mystery, because one isn’t enough. LOL
Reed: “I want you to stop taking chances with your life.”
Ellery: “You forget. I’m living on borrowed time.”
OMG. Joanna Schaffhausen continues to blow me away with her in your face, can’t put down, take my breath away suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Police officer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham take on two difficult new cases in this stunning follow-up to The Vanishing Season.
No Mercy is award-winning author Joanna Schaffhausen’s heart-pounding second novel.
Police
officer Ellery Hathaway is on involuntary leave from her job because
she shot a murderer in cold blood and refuses to apologize for it.
Forced into group therapy for victims of violent crime, Ellery
immediately finds higher priorities than “getting in touch with her
feelings.”
For one, she suspects a fellow group member may have
helped to convict the wrong man for a deadly arson incident years ago.
For another, Ellery finds herself in the desperate clutches of a woman
who survived a brutal rape. He is still out there, this man with the
Spider-Man-like ability to climb through bedroom windows, and his victim
beseeches Ellery for help in capturing her attacker.
Ellery seeks
advice from her friend, FBI profiler Reed Markham, who liberated her
from a killer’s closet when she was a child. Reed remains drawn to this
unpredictable woman, the one he rescued but couldn’t quite save. The
trouble is, Reed is up for a potential big promotion, and his boss has
just one condition for the new job—stay away from Ellery. Ellery ignores
all the warnings. Instead, she starts digging around in everyone’s past
but her own—a move that, at best, could put her out of work
permanently, and at worst, could put her in the city morgue.
ABOUT JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN
Joanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, sharp skills she
developed in her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in
psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how
it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked
as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that,
she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such
as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in
the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset
hound.
Every so often I will follow an email link from NetGalley and check out what’s happening. I try to limit how many books I grab at one time…you know how that is. I found some books by Joanna Schaffhousen and grabbed a couple. I would like to thank NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen for the opportunity to read and share them.
The Vanishing Season is Joanna Schaffhausen’s debut novel, released in 2017…and, boy oh boy, is it a good one. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it gave me so much more.
Three people have gone missing and Ellery Hathaway knows they are dead and another will be taken very soon. Sam dismisses her warnings, but she won’t stop there. Sam is not only her boss, the chief of police, but also her lover, her married lover. I sure don’t approve of that, but as I read on, I could see how it happened. She uses sex as a weapon. That will have it’s own repercussions.
Woodbury, Massachusetts is a small town, a blink and you will miss it, with only eight police officers. I love to read of small towns, the gossip mill, and secrets that won’t stay secret. Ellery has a big one, but…
Ellery calls in the big guns, Reed Markham, an FBI profiler that had saved her from the serial killer that had taken her fourteen years ago, leaving her scarred and broken. He too has his own story. His marriage is on the rocks, but he had made a promise to her, so when she called, he came.
I love her basset hound, Speed Bump. LOL Critters always add some grins for me, and with a subject like serial killers, I need some chuckles.
The dog leapt from the vehicle with all the grace of a hippo performing a belly flop.
I have plenty of suspects, but two in particular have my attention. Even if I’m wrong, I don’t like them. LOL I do like to try and figure it out for myself as we follow clues, question witnesses, and try look for what others have missed.
There is no romance, though I know there are more books coming, so I wonder. I mean, just think about it, her body is scarred and so is her mind. She doesn’t want anyone in her house. Doesn’t want anyone touching her. And doesn’t want to share her secret. After what she’s been through, I can see why she protects herself, so who could possible get through the walls she has built up but the one person she trusts?
I am at 38% and my tension level is high, the pace is picking up, making me feel like the end is near, nut, there’s so much of the story left. I can only imagine what Joanna Schaffhausen has in store for her characters. I am lovin’ it.
I am filled with horror at the terrible things one person can do another, as the bits and pieces of Ellery’s captivity leaks out, each detail worse than the last.
Well…I didn’t see him coming. It takes a lot for an author to fool me so completely, especially near the end, but she had me eying the wrong guy until a page or two before he attacked. He was well camouflaged, but I will be on my toes with the next case, expanding my suspect list and reading between the lines.
Man oh man, I am so glad I took a chance on Joanna Schaffhausen. I had never heard of her. She kept me riveted from beginning to end and I can hardly wait for Book II, No Mercy. BRING IT ON!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Ellery Hathaway knows a
thing or two about serial killers, but not through her police training.
She’s an officer in sleepy Woodbury, MA, where a bicycle theft still
makes the newspapers. No one there knows she was once victim number
seventeen in the grisly story of serial killer Francis Michael Coben.
The only victim who lived.
When three people disappear from her
town in three years, all around her birthday—the day she was kidnapped
so long ago—Ellery fears someone knows her secret. Someone very
dangerous. Her superiors dismiss her concerns, but Ellery knows the
vanishing season is coming and anyone could be next. She contacts the
one man she knows will believe her: the FBI agent who saved her from a
killer’s closet all those years ago.
Agent Reed Markham made his name and fame on the back of the Coben case, but his fortunes have since turned. His marriage is in shambles, his bosses think he’s washed up, and worst of all, he blew a major investigation. When Ellery calls him, he can’t help but wonder: sure, he rescued her, but was she ever truly saved? His greatest triumph is Ellery’s waking nightmare, and now both of them are about to be sucked into the past, back to the case that made them…with a killer who can’t let go.
ABOUT JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN
Joanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, sharp skills she developed in her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that, she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset hound.
Talion: ex talionis – the law of talion – punishment of an injury by inflicting a similar injury on the offender, an injury similar in kind and degree.
Love the cover for Eye for Eye by J K Franko. Sure does foreshadow what’s inside!
It started thirty years ago, with the death of Joan, an eleven year old girl that only wanted to have fun at summer camp.
Now…we come to a spoiled rotten kid The scenario is one that always ticks me off royally. Can do the crime, but will do anything not to do the time. And so would his father, the Senator. I think we all know where that’s going. But… a ‘chance’ meeting and a plan is born.
Someone has to pay!
Want to commit a murder? Let’s start with PH1, the guidebook.
As the characters play their roles, I think I see where we’re going. HAH! Was I in for an awakening. The suspense came early and I was eager ‘to turn every page’. But police procedurals and psychological thrillers usually don’t make me have an intense feeling of danger,and urgency like dark, action packed, suspense thrillers. Maybe I’ m more of an adrenaline junky, even though I prefer to get my thrills through osmosis.
Everyone has secrets and as they are revealed are marvel at J K Franko’s imagination. He too Stranger on a Train and blew it away.
A stupendous surprise ending and I loved every minute of it. It put a smile on my face and that may expose a piece of my personality. LOL
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Eye for Eye by J K Franko.
4 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
“NEW TWIST ON STRANGERS ON A TRAIN” ~ THE SUNDAY TIMES
Book Details:
Genre: Crime & Mystery Published by: Talion Publishing Publication Date: June 22nd 2019 Number of Pages: 400 ISBN: 1999318803 (ISBN13: 9781999318802) Series: Talion #1 Purchase Links:Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
When I try to piece together how this whole mess began, a part of me thinks it may have started over thirty years ago. At least the seeds were planted that far back, in the early 1980s. What happened then, at that summer camp in Texas, set the stage for everything that was to come.
Odd, how something so remote in time and geography continues to impact me here, today.
Sometimes I try to imagine her, how she felt—that eleven year-old girl—as she ran, stumbling and tripping through the woods that night. I try to put myself in her shoes. When I do, I wonder if she was frightened.
Did she understand the consequences of what she’d gotten herself into? I imagine it felt otherworldly to her, like a dream. But not a good dream. No, one of the bad ones—the ones that make your heart machine-gun as you try to outrun some dark thing that’s chasing you. But the faster you try to run, the slower you go, your legs feeling leaden, clumsy, useless.
Panic sets in. Tears of frustration form. Fear takes hold and won’t let go. You open your mouth to scream but realize, to your horror, that you’re paralyzed. It’s not that you can’t scream; you can’t even breathe. Not a dream—a nightmare.
Then again, all that may simply be my imagination. It could just be me projecting what I might have felt onto Joan. Maybe she wasn’t scared at all.
True, it was dark out. The night smelled of rain, but there was no lightning, only the far-off rumble of thunder hinting at a distant storm. There were no trail lights, no visibility but for the moon peeking out intermittently from behind a patchwork of clouds. But, Joan had been down this trail before. She was running toward the main cabin.
She had been at Camp Willow for almost two full weeks. She had been up and down that trail at least ten times a day, every day. Of course, that was during the day, and always with her buddy, or a camp counselor (the children called them troop leaders). Joan had never been on the trail at night. And never alone.
Maybe I imagine Joan was scared because, as an adult, I believe that she should have been. I would have been terrified.
J.K. FRANKO was born and raised in Texas. His Cuban-American parents agreed there were only three acceptable options for a male child: doctor, lawyer, and architect. After a disastrous first year of college pre-Med, he ended up getting a BA in philosophy (not acceptable), then he went to law school (salvaging the family name) and spent many years climbing the big law firm ladder. After ten years, he decided that law and family life weren’t compatible. He went back to school where he got an MBA and pursued a Ph.D. He left law for corporate America, with long stints in Europe and Asia.
His passion was always to be a writer. After publishing a number of non-fiction works, thousands of hours writing, and seven or eight abandoned fictional works over the course of eighteen years, EYE FOR EYE became his first published novel.
J.K. Franko now lives with his wife and children in Florida.
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!
Enter The Giveaway!!!:
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for JK Franko. There will be 6 winners. Two (2) winners will each win (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. Two (2) winners will each win a signed copy of EYE FOR EYE by JK Franko (Open to U.S. addresses only) and Two (2) winners will each win a Knife set (Open to U.S. addresses only). The giveaway begins on July 22, 2019 and runs through September 22, 2019. Void where prohibited.
She
is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker,
teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and
has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler
series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and
entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Today,
she answers a few questions for us and gives us insight into her life and
journey as a mystery author.
Have you ever been on a manhunt or at
the scene where a dead body was found?
I
took part in my local police department’s Citizen’s Academy. As part of this, I
received an inside look at seventeen divisions over a ten-week period. As an
added benefit, each student was afforded a ride-along. And mine… Well, I went
on the perfect one for a crime writer.
My
ride-along actually started out with a manhunt. I experienced the excitement of
wanting to find the guy and found myself scrutinizing every male I spotted in
the area just to make sure he wasn’t the one we were after. Unfortunately, the
search moved to the downtown area from the eastern end of the city where the
hunt had begun, and the sergeant signed off the investigation. By the end of my
ride-along, about five hours later, the man still hadn’t been found.
After
the sergeant left the investigation, he turned to me as he was driving and
asked if I had ever seen a dead body. I told him I had at memorials and
funerals and then asked why. I soon found out that our next stop involved one.
I
figured I’d catch a glimpse of the deceased under a tarp or being wheeled away,
but I got far more than that. I received a front-row seat to a death
investigation. For hours, the sergeant and I were mere feet away from the body.
I witnessed firsthand how it changed color over time, but I also found that I
went into detective-mode. The forensic identification unit—essentially CSIs—was
called in and arrived with collection kits. The team members gloved up, snapped
photographs, took fingerprints from the deceased, and more.
The
entire time that I was on scene, I noticed myself going into a detached
state—the result of adrenaline. Later that evening, it began to sink in that I
had spent hours with a dead body, and I was nauseated. As more time passed, I
became weepy as it sank in that the deceased had been a husband, a father, a
lover, a friend…a person. That night I dreamed about the man. It wasn’t a
nightmare, but I was an officer trying to figure out what had happened to him.
I
couldn’t imagine returning to the field the next day and having a similar
experience or witnessing something even worse, like a violent murder scene or
that of a fatal car accident.
What do members of law enforcement say
about your books?
Many
testimonials attest that I am pleasing readers in law enforcement. They love
that my mysteries are accurate in that regard, and they view that alone as a
sign of my respect for them.
Here
are a few testimonials that I have received on Eleven (Brandon
Fisher FBI series):
“I spent thirty-eight years
with a major police department in Missouri, fifteen of which were in the
homicide section. I also had numerous dealings with the FBI throughout my
career, mostly bank robbery, interstate shipment thefts, and a few kidnappings.
Eleven kept my interest piqued throughout… Loved it.”
–Richard Bartram,
Sergeant (retired), St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St.
Louis, MO
“I am a forty-year veteran of
police work. All local, no Fed. Eleven was a great read. All the
descriptors and nomenclature were spot on.”
–Joe Danna, Police Officer, Katy Independent
School District Police Department, Katy, TX
“Very good! I worked as a
police officer for eleven years and with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for
twenty-two. I have also dealt with the FBI.”
–Richard Smith, Facilities
Development Manager (retired), Federal Bureau of Prisons, Central Office,
Washington, DC
“A great police procedural! …
Full of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and a mix of
interesting personalities. … Holds your interest to the end!”
–Mark Davis, FBI Special Agent
(retired), Washington, DC
What did you do before you became a
bestselling author?
For
a living, I worked in accounts receivable for a few different companies
collecting from businesses. Yet, despite working full time, in 2006 I was
reunited with writing. I wrote every chance I got—before work, on lunch breaks,
after work, on the weekends. I became so focused on writing and the publishing
world that hardly a day went by without them being a part of my life, and since
the summer of 2014, I’ve been a full-time author.
How do you know so much about what
criminals think?
I
can’t answer that without incriminating myself… Just kidding.
Everyone
has what we call a “dark side.” In writing these books, I suppose you could say
I tap into this side of my psyche. Whatever I can scheme up is possible, and I
write that which scares and excites me.
When did you know that you had hit the
big time with your books?
When
I got to say good-bye to my day job! Even before I fully resigned, I had cut
back a five-day a week job to four days, then to three. It got to the point,
though, that I loathed going in for that many days, and I knew it was time to
make the move and become a full-time author. That was in the summer of 2014.
Since then, I incorporated my own publishing company in the summer of 2015,
and, at the start of 2016, my husband joined me there full time.
MY REVIEW FOR SILENT GRAVES
We have all different sides to our personalities, both good and bad.
What happens when the bad takes control? We will be finding out here.
Women are missing…and one of the women is rising from the dead, from their grave, where her murderer had thought she would remain hidden..so says the villain, who is missing one.
Brandon and the rest of the gang are called in to help. Brandon is
still trying to fit in, but he walks a fine line with Paige. You always
have, at least, one know it all want to be ther hero cop. And Stenson
was it. He’s a Dumfree’s police officer but he wants to be so much more.
There are more killers than they thought and many more bodies that will be exposed.
Brandon and Paige…well, we will see what happens…Can they move on
from each other? Can they work together, whether or not they stay
romantically involved?
We have plenty of suspense and need Carolyn Arnold to take us through
the investigation, questioning here and there, each person having their
part to do, while dealing with every day life, tiredness and egos. She
is a pro at keeping the mystery alive and making me follow along to
learn she wraps up the case.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Silent Graves by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
BLURB
Profilers.
Serial killers. The hunt is on. Do serial killers and the FBI fascinate you? Do
you like getting inside the minds of killers, love being creeped out, sleeping
with your eyes open, and feeling like you’re involved in murder investigations?
Then join FBI agent and profiler Brandon Fisher and his team with the
Behavioral Analysis Unit in their hunt for serial killers.
This
is the perfect book series for fans of JT Ellison, Catherine Coulter, Allison
Brennan, and Blake Pierce. This series is also bound to entertain those who
enjoy Criminal Minds, NCIS, Silence of the Lambs, Seven, Dexter, Luther, and
True Crime.
Read in any order or follow the series from the beginning: Eleven, Silent Graves, The Defenseless, Blue Baby, Violated, Remnants, On the Count of Three.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
CAROLYN
ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a
speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction
series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and
Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre
diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and
thrillers to action adventures.
Both
her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law
enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the
trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn
was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves
the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her
overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to
touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and
empower.
She
currently lives in London, Ontario, with her husband and beagle and is a member
of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.
It’s the end of the Count To Ten series by Jane Blythe and I am so sad to say goodbye to some characters that I have known and loved for a long time. Jane Blythe found me through another, in her word, amazing blogger and I can only say thank you to whoever it was, because I have been loving Jane since 2016 because of them. I eat her books up like M&M candies. If you have tried her work, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, and are a thriller lover, than I recommend you give her a try.
I turn my Kindle on, search for Ten by Jane Blythe, then click the cover with trepidation. I have been following Jane Blythe’s Count To Ten journey since 2016 and I am eager, yet hesitant to begin, wanting to know the end, yet wondering if it will meet all my expectations. Fair or not, I have set the bar high for Jane Blythe…and I am so happy to say that even though I hate to see the journey come to and end, I am very sad, yet satisfied with the end. She not only met my expectations, she exceeded them.
An electrifying beginning and it doesn’t take long for the bodies to start falling and I am fearful of those characters I have come to care so much about.
Tessa…independent, reclusive, strong…she has been through so much, yet Jane is done with her yet. She’s and urban legend.
JANE JANE JANE! You’re breaking my heart. Hope you enjoyed your killing spree.
He sure isn’t what I expected, but now I am even more worried about my family. You have put them through hell, but the horror just keeps on coming. I must be almost as bad as you because I sure do love reading what you write. The darker, the better, and you paint a bleak picture with your words.
I am almost half way in and I cannot begin to guess at what is to come. Whether it’s because I don’t want to know or face it, I would have to stop long enough to think about it…and I can’t seem to do that.
These characters cannot get a break. Maybe it is time to end the series, Jane, while some of them are still standing. I kinda smiled when I typed that. How evil am I? Will any of them find a happy ever after? How will Jane Blythe wrap it up? Will it have a casket or a pretty bow?
NO NO NO! At 85% tears are falling down my face. I am soooo sad.
OH NO! More tears. I finally gathered my self together, thinking the worst is over…
Jane, woman, OMG, you’re killing me…And it’s still not over.
I laughed, I cried. And I want more. Thank goodness, she has a new series coming, Broken Gems and Cracked Sapphire is due for release in February of 2020.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Ten by Jane Blythe.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
They say time heals all wounds.
Tessa
Micah is snatched from her bed in the middle of the night. She manages
to make a phone call to her best friend, the partner of her deceased
police officer husband, before she disappears. Tessa has a complicated
past and as the widow of a decorated cop, there are a long list of
suspects. Retired detective, Skylar Wyatt, is determined to find her and
honor the promise he made to his partner; to protect and care for his
wife should anything ever happen to him.
Then people connected to
Tessa start getting murdered. The cops don’t know who from her past is
targeting her, or if it has something to do with her dead husband’s
cases. With time running out, and more bodies falling, vocations will be
questioned, futures reassessed, and not everyone will survive.
** Warning: Graphic violence and themes of sexual assault/abuse **
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
Jane
has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark
and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in
because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series,
Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.
When she’s not writing Jane loves to
read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears.
She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and
Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!
Woo Hoo. A big shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the chance to read Last Night, the second book in The Searchers series by Karen Ellis/Katia Lief.
OH NO! The beginning has me super angry. This is the type of book I have been avoiding. Smacks too much of realism and I don’t need anymore than I happen to catch flipping channels on the TV or clicking on the internet.
Ugly business and I see it ruining Crisp’s life. Will it make him become a monster? We’ll see.
A portrait of a white privileged teen girl, a promising, intelligent mixed race boy and a black homeless boy and what results from their coming together.
Kind of a coming of age story …I thought it would be about race when I first began, but it turned into teens…learning about life.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Last Night by Karen Ellis.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
NYPD detective Lex
Cole tracks a missing Brooklyn teen whose bright future is endangered by
the ghosts of his unknown father’s past, in this highly anticipated
sequel to A Map of the Dark.
One of the few black kids
on his Brighton Beach block, Titus “Crisp” Crespo was raised by his
white mother and his Russian grandparents. He has two legacies from his
absent father, Mo: his weird name and his brown skin. Crisp has always
been the odd kid out, but a fundamentally good kid, with a bright
future.
But one impulsive decision triggers a horrible domino
effect–an arrest, no reason not to accompany his richer, whiter friend
Glynnie on a visit to her weed dealer, and a trip onto his father’s old
home turf where he’ll face certain choices he’s always strived to avoid.
As
Detective Lex Cole tries to unravel the clues from Crisp’s night out,
they both find that what you don’t know about your past can still come
back to haunt you.
ABOUT KAREN ELLIS
Karen Ellis is a pseudonym of longtime crime
novelist Katia Lief. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and
International Thriller Writers. Her novel A MAP OF THE DARK will be
published by Mulholland Books/Little, Brown on January 9, 2018. Learn more at karenellisbooks.com
Stay in touch with Karen Ellis by joining her mailing list: http://eepurl.com/cS6h_r
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