"The Slowest Death" A Jack Murphy Thriller by Rick Reed

                                                                                        

"See No Evil, Hear No Evil," Jack said. "That leaves Speak No Evil." Tunney said, "The killer isn't finished.".....

One of my favorite detectives is back in the 6th of the “Jack Murphy” series. Be prepared for dark humor and a gruesome story.

Life circumstances have changed for Jack. A new murder case hits close to home. A fellow cop has been murdered. The circumstances will make Jack search close to fellow law enforcement. More victims, more secrets. The killer may be closer than he thinks.

As always, a thrilling adventure. Details that will make you shudder. Written by a former police officer, expect a story that feels real. I’ve read the five previous books by this author and am never disappointed. Dark humor will make you smile.

With his partner, Liddell Blanchard, they are searching for this killer who tortured his victims in horrific ways. Jack won’t give up, Liddell will be there to back him up. Will the other officers be as forthcoming with them, or are some of them keeping secrets? Sometimes the biggest obstacles are people you work with. Some are downright annoying.

As the murders continue, an object connects the killings. Where the victims are from make it easier to lead in the right direction. When this case is behind them, there will be more life changes for Jack and Liddell. The next book in the series, “The Deadliest Sin,” is soon to follow. I look forward to more “Jack Murphy.”

Thank you Rick Reed, Netgalley, and Kensington Books

Buy "The Slowest Death" on Amazon Feb. 6th: click here!

"Killer Choice" by Tom Hunt

                                                                                             
          Buy "Killer Choice" Jan. 30th on Amazon: click here!

“He’d always wanted to get the hell out of this place. After getting released from prison two decades earlier, he’d come straight back to the old neighborhood because he had nowhere else to go, then started selling drugs because he didn’t know what else to do.”.....

Two men with life and death problems. One is a good guy, pregnant wife, and a business he runs with his brother. The other guy is a drug dealer being blackmailed. You wouldn’t expect their paths to cross, but oh how fate steps in.

Gary’s wife has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. A fast growing one that may soon take her life. There’s a clinical trial overseas, but Gary needs 200,000 to take Beth there.

Otto the pawn shop owner/drug dealer has a big problem. In order to make it go away he’d like to pay a total stranger 200,000 to make it happen.

When Beth’s plight is written about in the local paper Otto thinks he’s found a way to help himself, hoping the lure of the money will get Gary to do his dirty work.

Is Gary the kind of man who could break the law? For the money to save Beth’s life, how far is he willing to go?

The story was intriguing from the start. You can’t help but feel empathy for this couple who just want to have their baby and live their lives.

Otto, on the other hand. Not exactly your fine upstanding citizen. I had to see where this would go. Will Gary take Otto’s offer? Can they save Beth? Will she have her baby, or will all be lost?

The great pull here is the fact that you can’t be sure which way this story was going to go. So much at stake, so few choices. Right and wrong become a blurry line sometimes.

Suddenly things spiral into different directions. What should have been an obvious assumption escaped this reader. Clever twists, hard to put down.

Thank you Tom Hunt, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing Group

"Sepultura" by Guy Portman

"Jeffrey Dahmer may have kept human body parts in his fridge, but he was a sick individual, unlike me. I keep pimiento stuffed olives in my fridge, various other Mediterranean style mixes, cheeses such as this manchego and brie, these in addition to cold meat selections, milk, mayonnaise, bottles of Chablis and Semillon Blanc- not body parts. The only reason 'his head' is in the salad tray is because there is no room in the freezer.".....

Dyson, like the vacuum cleaner, is state of the art. Think a high class British “Dexter,” from books and television. Dyson refers to others by inanimate object names. They are not people, they are referred to as “it,” or “Free Lunch.” The not so bright “Free Lunch,” happens to be his ex’s current boyfriend. No one is good enough, ask Dyson.

Even with a child of his own, Dyson makes no life adjustments. He’s cool, calm, and murderous. With a trail of questioning by the police, he’s unfazed. After all, he’s never been caught doing anything wrong. He has high end tastes, a strange job, and extremely strange social interactions.

He’s a creepy character, because I suspect there are the “Dysons” of the world roaming free. I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to like this book. I couldn’t stand Dyson. I’m not saying I liked him any better at the end, but he certainly held my interest.

Would he get caught? Will he raise his son to be a “Dyson Jr.?” Told from Dyson’s point of view. If you find yourself reflected in Dyson, whatever you do, please don’t contact me. It was definitely an interesting, suspenseful story. I wasn’t overly thrilled by the ending. That was me, you may be pleased with it.

Thank you Guy Portman

Buy "Sepultura" now on Amazon: click here!

"Walking The Bones" by Randall Silvis

                                                                         

Buy "Walking The Bones" on Amazon January 23rd: click here!

"Seven young females reduced to bone," Hoyle said. His eyes remained fixed on DeMarco's. "Seven skeletons in a four by fourteen by ten-foot space between walls. Each one cocooned in clear plastic sheeting. The kind painters use to cover a floor. Each cocoon sealed with silver duct tape."....

Sergeant Ryan DeMarco is back for the second book of this mystery series. We first met Ryan in “Two Days Gone,” a previous book I reviewed. I enjoyed that one, and looked forward to the next installment. It didn’t disappoint!

After events in the first book, Ryan is just trying to take some down time. With his new girlfriend, Jayme, Ryan finds himself drawn into another investigation. While visiting Jayme’s hometown he is made aware of an unsolved crime. Seven young girls gone, and nothing but their bones left behind.

Very descriptive, draws you in from the very first page. Well defined characters and a chilling story line make for a great suspense, mystery thriller.

Small town life, where everyone knows something about someone. Could it help Ryan solve these crimes? Even if he is a reluctant part of this, some things you just can’t walk away from.

While this book is a stand alone, I think it always helps to read the series. It’s interesting to see character development. You never know if a character in the first book is who you think they are. I like to see the life changes, and the roads they take.

Ryan has been through some tragedy and heartbreak. Is Jayme his saving grace? Will his down time bring him back to the state police department or take him permanently away?

Will Ryan and Jayme find justice for these young girls?

Thank you Randall Silvis, Netgalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark

About the Author:

Randall Silvis is the internationally acclaimed author of more than a dozen novels, one story collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. His essays, articles, poems, and short stories have appeared in various online and print magazines. He lives in Pennsylvania and is the author of Two Days Gone.

"Everything She Lost" by Alessandra Harriss

Buy "Everything She Lost" now on Amazon: click here!

 "Deja stretched her legs in the tub, wishing she could go back in time to that night. She would pack a bag, take Miles, and leave Kevin. She had no idea where she'd be now if she'd done that, but the threat of Kevin resurfacing and ruining everything constantly hung over her head."......

Nina has been through terrible tragedy. It leads to a mental breakdown. Her road back to a normal life is difficult. She has a husband and two young daughters to consider. Her parents lives have also taken a hard toll on all of them.

Nina’s best friend, Deja, is always around, not necessarily for good reasons. Unfortunately she may have done things that could stop Nina from making a full recovery. Nina's husband, Rodney isn't necessarily that helpful either.

As events unfold and mysterious incidents begin no one is sure if Nina is relapsing. Not even Nina, herself. Is someone following her? Is she forgetting things?

The story was suspenseful and captivating. What happened to Nina? What did Deja do to jeopardize their friendship? There are children involved, along with past secrets. I enjoyed reading as they unfolded and the pieces fell together.

A great story of friendship and betrayal. Lessons to be learned by all.

Thank you Alessandra Harris

"The Wife Between Us" by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

  Buy "The Wife Between Us" Jan. 9th 2018 on Amazon: click here

"He used to touch me that way. I told him once I loved the subtle, sexy feel of his fingers there. I get up, moving quietly in the darkness, and retrieve my burner phone and my laptop from the bottom dresser drawer. Richard cannot marry again. I begin to make my preparations. The next time I see her, I will be ready."........ 

She is about to marry the man of her dreams. At times she doesn’t feel she’s good enough for this man who expects perfection. Is Richard too good to be true, or was his ex wife so horrible he had to leave?

Vanessa is the first wife. Richard cheated on her, then tossed her from her life of luxury with him. Forced to live with her elderly aunt, and take a job where she caters to former high class friends. Drinking is her friend. Plotting and obsessing about her replacement is controlling her life. To what end though? It may not be for the reasons you'd assume. 

The first half of the book alternated between one life and another. With a huge surprise leading into the second half of the book. The final part was just so clever.

Where do we go from here? Two wives and a husband. Who is the victim, who is the manipulator? We love someone and overlook the small signs of danger, cheating, fear of loss. A thought provoking suspense. Just when you think things are figured out, you’ll never see the twist coming. Original story line considering that divorce, cheating,and remarriage is so common.

Thank you Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen Netgalley, St. Martin's Press

"Titch" by A. Ireland King

                                                                              

This short story is available on the authors website: click here!

"I stop walking and meet his eyes, realizing this is my one chance to get out. My voice comes out quieter than I intend. "I don't work for you anymore." Bronco laughs. "What else are you going to do for money?".....


"This short story introduces us to a key character in the debut novel “The Whisperer” by the author, A. Ireland King.

“Titch” is Andy Laidlaw’s nick name. Growing up as 1 of 10 children in total poverty he finds himself working for a thug named Brunco. He’s done it to protect his family. Afraid Brunco will use his younger siblings in his gang, Titch has half heartedly followed Brunco’s orders.

An opportunity arises for Titch to change his life. Does he? I found this short background story interesting. I look forward to finding out what is set in motion by Titch and his life changing decisions.

Thank you A. Ireland King.

"Two Girls Down" by Louisa Luna

                                                                                              

Buy "Two Girls Down" on Amazon: click here!

"Vega washed her hands in Cap's bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought about death. Which is what she usually did when she looked in strange mirrors in strange bathrooms. It made her think of hospitals and morgues, how a body could look peaceful but only in the way a piece of luggage looks peaceful-it was simply an item that didn't move."....

Kylie and Bailey are 2 little girls left alone in the car outside a KMart. When they disappear, they’re great aunt hires a well known bounty hunter. Alice Vega is good at finding lost children.

When Alice comes to town she gets a former cop, turned private detective, to help her with the case. Max Caplan has a few of his own secrets, like why he really left the force. A drinking problem, a divorce, and maybe a desire to redeem himself in his daughters eyes.

The characters felt real. The story was one you just fall into and can’t let go until you know the truth. Alice is a tough girl, but is she tough enough to overcome the obstacles to the missing girls? The girls grieving mother is falling apart at the seams. Media coverage isn't helping the stress and strain its putting on everyone. Everyone who knows them is suspect. 

Descriptive, detailed account of a town that could be Anywhere, USA. With rampant drug issues, an overworked, understaffed police department, they’re going to need the likes of Vega and Cap if they ever hope to find these little girls again. They can get answers in ways cops might not be able to. The police aren't exactly thrilled to have them involved and it shows. Even the FBI is coming to town for this. Getting everyone to work together will be tough. 

A thrilling suspense story from start to finish. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, or how it all would end. The story definitely took a turn I didn’t see coming. It didn’t end the way I expected either. I love a good book that is not always predictable.

Thank you Louisa Luna, Doubleday Books, Netgalley.

"Timeless" by Simone Elise

                                                                                               

                "Timeless" soon to be available on Amazon: click here!

"I knew as soon as she turned the tables on me and pushed me away that what I'd done was a mistake. She had disappeared like she promised. And I knew she was going to keep her word about never seeing me again. Years had passed since the day she left me in prison, and no matter how many men I hired to find her they pulled up nothing."......

Six years ago Jackson went to prison. The love of his life, Amber, went on to another life. A life different than the one she had with Jackson, the biker, leader of the gang Satan’s Sons.

Now he’s out. Amber has been hiding. She’s also been keeping a secret. Will she let Jax back into her life? Amber's’ been on both sides of the law. Jax is definitely not on the legal side. Choices will have to be made.

With Jax out, and part of his crew being Amber's brothers, it’s definitely a family affair. Bad boy bikers and a little romance. A genre I’m always afraid to mention. Too many people say they don’t read the romance genre, myself included. Within those lines fall bikers, and rock stars. I almost always end up getting hooked into these story lines. This one was no different.

Just a brief look at where Jack and Amber are going. A great ending, with a great set up for the next part of their lives. The possibilities are infinite. Can't wait for another in this series.

Thank you Simone Elise and Inkitt Publishing

"The Easter Make Believers" by Finn Bell

 Buy "The Easter Make Believers" now on Amazon: click here!

"What would you do if you were given the man who did it, on his knees, gun to his head? If you knew how slim the chances were of him ever being convicted. If you knew he wasn't going to change or ever feel sorry, that he enjoyed doing it and would do it again as soon as got out. If he was smiling unrepentantly, looking up at you, confident that you can't do anything to him because good , normal people never do. Would you pull that trigger?".....


When the Chen family is held hostage by gang members, detectives Nick Cooper and Tobe White are brought in. They work the gang unit, and the ones inside the house are familiar to them.

When it’s over, one gang member is missing, and one family member is missing. Are they dead or alive? Nick and Tobe are investigating every possibility.

There is a bit of “food for thought” banter between the detectives. How people come to be the way they are. What happens to children who are young victims. I found this to be an interesting part of this story.

A snow storm descends on them as they search for Remu and James Chen. Scared for James life, they take a huge risk in the storm.

With things I most definitely didn’t see coming, and an exciting story line. The ending was a shock. Well written, intriguing characters, made this story set in New Zealand, a page turner.

Who lives, who dies? Who makes a choice to change the lives of the family involved. Can James save his family? Will the detectives find Remu and James in time, before more people die?

Thank you Fin Bell for another thrilling book!