Friday, October 28, 2016

"Missing Parts" by Lucinda Berry



"Now was the time for me to freak out, but I still felt nothing. Dr. Koven had just told me my daughter was suffering from a medical problem that had the potential to kill her, and I was numb. Maybe I was in shock. People responded to bad news differently all the time. I was sure any minute the emotional impact of the news would hit me. It had to. Until then, my job was to be there for David and Rori.".....

Celeste has spent her life creating it to be just the way she wants. She's married, with a daughter. She has a career. She has mom friends that meet for dinner and gossip. David stays home to care for Rori, since Celeste is at work. He handles the play dates. She also has a secret she refers to as, "That Night." Celeste seems to have a pretty good life. 

Celeste grew up without her dad and wants more for her own child. She"ll do anything to protect the life she has created. Everything is about to be on the line when Rori becomes extremely sick. Celeste's reaction to the illness creates friction between her and her husband, David. 

There were things about Celeste's character I found unusual as a parent, but not necessarily unique to moms world wide. Many can have children, not everyone should. There's a complicated connection sometimes. It's created a chasm in her marriage.

Is 4 year old Rori going to die? Will their marriage get through this trial? What lengths will Celeste go to protect her family? What happens when the details of "That Night" are finally revealed?

The story had some shocking surprises! Definitely a psychological thriller you will enjoy. What is wrong with Celeste? I developed some empathy for her along the way. What has she done? Celeste has some "Missing Parts,"and those she love will suffer for it. 

Thank you Lucinda Berry, Rise Press Publishing. 


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Saturday, October 22, 2016

"The Twenty-Three" (Promise Falls Trilogy) by Linwood Barclay

                    Buy "The Twenty-Three" on Amazon: click here!

"I know I won't be able to get them all. But I hope I'll be able to get enough.".....

Its the final book of the "Promise Falls Trilogy." Detective Barry Duckworth recognizes a serial killer is at work in their little town. So many disturbing things are going on. 

It's Memorial Day, May the 23rd, in Promise Falls, N.Y. People are becoming sick in droves. Some are dying. Over the past month the number "23" has been appearing at the scenes of some very bizarre happenings. 

Private investigator Cal Weaver is also back in this book. He's trying to figure out if the town has been poisoned and why would anyone do such a thing. Is some one exacting some sort of revenge? What would they have to gain by killing, or sickening so many?

If they can figure out the meaning of "23" perhaps they'll find their killer. Who will it be? Will Detective Duckworth and Cal survive? How many residents of "Promise Falls" will die? Will the killer get away? With a surprise "who done it," I would have never guessed the ending! 

I really liked this trilogy. Well written, unusual situations, and great characters. Everything is wrapped up from the previous two books. The author says it's the final book, but the ending was so good, and I can see future opportunities to return to "Promise Falls."

Thank you Linwood Barclay, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group.


Wednesday, October 19, 2016

"Hide and Seek" A D.I. Helen Grace Thriller (Book 6) by M.J. Arlidge

Buy "Hide and Seek" now on Amazon: click here! 


"Helen raised her head, refusing to look broken, but all she saw was a hundred mocking faces-laughing, joking, revelling in her misfortune. In her former life, she'd been a respected police officer- she would have dealt with someone like Campbell swiftly and decisively- but now she was powerless to act. In here she was the butt of all jokes, an accident waiting to happen, a handsome trophy for any inmate brave enough to chance an attack.".....

We're back for book six in the "Detective Inspector Helen Grace" series. Book 5, (Little Boy Blue), ended in a way you knew there was going to be serious trouble coming for Helen. These are stand alone books, but I highly recommend the series. Seeing character development through the books gives you a greater investment, and I think more enjoyment with each book. Helen is a complicated woman. 

Helen is now in Holloway prison. From there she's waiting for trial to try to prove her innocence. Will she make it on the inside? When fellow inmates are being murdered in a gruesome manner, she begins a hunt for a serial killer. 

Who could this killer be? Is it another inmate, or someone from the staff? Helen needs to figure it out before she becomes next on the killers list. Many have eyes on the former police officer, and very few would lift a finger to help her. 

Meanwhile, trying to solve this while not having police means and access, may be one of her most trying cases yet. The cop in her won't let it pass. It's being officially investigated of course, but having Helen on the inside may save some lives. 

I hated to see Helen end up where she has. Will she be able to prove she's not a killer? Will she ever be able to go back to being a police officer, even if she is found innocent? The real question is who is the killer, and will Helen die at Holloway? What an exciting read this was! 

Thank you M.J. Arlidge, NetGalley, and Penguin UK.


Wednesday, October 12, 2016

"The Highest Stakes" A Jack Murphy Thriller by Rick Reed





"At the hospital Sergeant Wolf oversaw the drawing of blood from Jack and Liddell, as ordered by Double Dick. Their test results showed they were clear of any alcohol or drugs in their systems. Liddell got a few stitches, but Doctor Findlay was nice and hid them in the hairline. Then Dr. Findlay faced Jack and moved his mouth like he was talking but there was no sound. Jack panicked, thinking he really had gone deaf, until the doctor grinned and said "Just kidding. Who'd you shoot this time, Jack?" Everyone's a comedian."..........



One of my favorite detectives is back in this new "Jack Murphy Thriller" series.  In this fourth installment we find Jack looking for a "needle in a haystack" kind of killer. What's truly scary is who this person actually is, and how he came to be a murderer. The scene is set in Evansville, Indiana.

The killer appears so ordinary that no one notices him, not even after it's already too late, and he's committed another murder. Jack isn't your usual cop, and if anyone can figure out who he is, it's definitely going to be Jack, along with his partner Liddell. Others know his identity and may go to great lengths to eliminate him before the detectives uncover the truth. Well, if he doesn't eliminate them first. Some shady cops are involved and ill equipped to know what they've gotten themselves into.

Does he operate alone? How does he travel the country doing as he pleases? His fatal mistake could be getting on Jack's radar, or will he find a way to escape into the void? This story was a little more intense and complicated than previous books. Still, I found the characters interesting, and the story line intriguing. Some exciting scenes led to another great book in this series. 

All Jack's issues with his job don't come from the outside. Not everyone is happy with the way Jack gets his job done, sometimes that includes family. Jack does still have his inherited dog, Cinderella. She provides a little humor to the story with her antics. A good book always has a dog in it doesn't it?

One of my favorite things about this author is his attention to detail. As soon as you begin one of his books, the details are so interesting that it draws you inside the book immediately. His characters are descriptive. You get a real feel for the  people and situations. I can't wait for the next in the series!

Thank you Rick Reed, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing.

Friday, October 7, 2016

"Set in the Woods" by Lacey Crowe





"When Jordan reaches the last page, he lays the script face down on his lap. He looks out the window and watches the city disappear behind him. Now, he can only see trees. A cheesy independent horror film. It's not what he expected. It's not like anything he's ever done before. "Last stop," the lady bus driver says in a hoarse voice.".......


Jordan is just a teenager, dropped out of school, distanced from his single mother. He's just wanting a way to make some money, when he finds an ad for a job on the internet.

The job is for an actor for an independent horror film, and it's "Set In The Woods." That alone should have been a clue to run the other way. Turns out Jordan is the only actor, and Lionel is the only crew member. Drawn now into Lionel's twisted game, will he survive? Asked to do the weirdest things, he goes along. After all Lionel is going to pay him, or maybe not.

The twist will hit you hard, and you'll never see it coming. Clever doesn't begin to describe this author. I just sat here shocked when I finished it. It's the next day and I'm still not over it.

A short story from the author of one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, "Apostle." Who could pass up a chance for another disturbing book from her? Not me. You shouldn't either. You read this book and I guarantee you'll want to read "Apostle," along with anything else she writes.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

"Web Of Fear" A Glenmore Park Mystery (Book 3) by Mike Omer



"Hannah's mouth tasted bitter, and she felt as if her entire body was covered in a layer of slime. Some days, no matter how much she showered, she couldn't feel clean. She sat in Clint's Chevy as he drove her back to her car. The lighthearted atmosphere that had surrounded them as they left Red's Pizza was gone. It was evening, and they had visited and interrogated two rapists, a child molester, and a pedophile who was once caught with over seven hundred underage porn clips on his laptop. Hannah hadn't managed to stay calm and distant for long. These twisted examples of humanity at its worst got under her skin, into her bloodstream, piercing her heart."....


It's St. Patrick's Day and Detective Hannah Shor is out on a date when she gets a frantic phone call from a friend. The friends daughter,Abigail, is missing, and it appears her best friend, Gracie, is also missing. Two young girls just hanging out in the local park, with the promise of meeting a new boy, and now they're gone.  

Can Hannah and her partner, Bernard Gladwin, find these girls alive or dead? Was it random? A pedophile? Or is it someone with a grudge against one of the families? With the help of the others in the department the search is on. Street patrol officer, Tanessa Lonnie, is also back, along with her brother, Mitchell, and several others from the previous two books. The FBI becomes involved when its declared a kidnapping. That involvement won't necessarily go smoothly for everyone, some relationship issues will come to light as well. I like the way the characters are humanized. They become more than just words on a page. They become real people, ones that you can relate to their feelings and emotions. 

The story isn't all dark. The author has a sense of humor that is allowed to sneak in here and there. Be sure to read the section of Martha driving down the road, thinking about her next book club. It's not often you will laugh out loud during a thriller, but this is one of those gifted authors who knows just how to reel you in. Clever story lines. 

Missing girls in Glenmore Park made for a gripping tale. Just as it was steady paced reading, it took off to some exciting changes. Things I didn't see coming and some great scenes. Great ending. Not everyone will survive this ordeal, but you'll need to read it to find out! This police procedural series is one of the better ones I've had the pleasure of reading. I enjoy these characters and story lines. 

Thank you Mike Omer

Monday, October 3, 2016

"Rise of The Chosen" by Anna Kopp






"The Waking was a global event that began when humans who died began coming back to life. "At first we didn't know what to call them. Most call them zombies, but it didn't seem right, because unlike their fictional counterparts, they didn't hunger for flesh, Others called them demons, sent back from the underworld to the world of the living after a lifetime of sin. Ghosts, spirits, the possessed, one thing was certain: the dead were dead no longer." A.J. Hill.......


It's the future, the worst has come true. Set in Savannah, Georgia. Those that died came back one of two ways, a zombie like killer, or strong enough to help preserve life, an immortal. 

Samantha has lost her family. Her father was a hero in his defense job with the "Watch Guard." Now Sam is also part of the guard. A gruesome story at times, and a dire warning from a friend "that war is coming." 

Sam isn't completely alone. There is someone special in her life, but that person is also endangered. When secrets are uncovered and Sam is drawn deeper into her job, it will be hard decisions and danger for Sam. 

"The Watch" has secrets and Sam will have to choose a side. Those that have become immortal and can control themselves become "the Chosen." Now the Chosen have a new plan for their lives. Find out how Sam fits into this and what side she chooses. 

I wasn't real sure if I'd be interested in this book. There's a lot of "apocalypse zombie" stories out there. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a rather intriguing story line with a new take on a currently common theme. The ending was a great set up for what looks to be an exciting series. 

Thank you Anna Koop, NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers.