Tag Archives: detective amanda steele series

Payback’s A Bitch – Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold #MissingBeforeDaylight #NetGalley.

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It started with a smile….

Leah adjusted her reindeer antlers in the domed mirror that was nestled in the far corner of the store.

Her day ended in bloodshed and the race is on to find her killer. It is very sad that she was murdered, and it wiped the smile off my face. It’s one of those things, in the wrong place at the wrong time.

5:15 AM and Amanda is running out the door. Her and her partner, Trent, are on the case.

Amanda has an adopted daughter, Zoe, who is the sweetest thing, older than her years. She has a lover, Logan. Their relationship has advanced to the moving in together phase, but he is not a member of law enforcement and I foresee huge problems on the horizon. After all, it is not a 9 to 5 job. It would make more sense, to me, that her and Trent hook up. I think they are a match made in heaven. Will they? Are you just teasing me, Carolyn?

They discover that Katherine Graves, an ex police officer, was in the store and had been kidnapped. She has many enemies and it will be their job to figure out who has taken her.

Amanda yanked Lowell’s hair back, and pressed the nose of her gun to his skull, “I said, hands up!”

That is why I love Amanda Steele. She is fierce.

As the story unfolds, the past comes back to haunt Katherine, the pace picks up, the danger rises, and I am rapidly flipping pages. Carolyn Arnold does not make it easy to figure things out, leading me here and leading me there, at times fearing for Amanda’s life. Of course, I worry for the other characters, but, you know…she’s my favorite. 🙂 She does give me a satisfying ending and I always look forward to the next story.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS

She wakes surrounded by an inky black darkness and can barely breathe. A sack is covering her head, and her hands are tied behind her back. She desperately tries to struggle free as she hears footsteps walking toward her. She silently starts to cry as a chilling voice whispers “It’s time to pay for what you did…”

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the murder scene of a young gas station clerk just before dawn, she assumes it must be a robbery gone tragically wrong. But when she discovers nothing has been stolen, she knows the motive must be far more personal.

Watching the security footage, Amanda is shocked to witness the cold-blooded killer not only shoot the clerk dead but abduct a customer. And her heart stops when she recognizes the customer as her former colleague, Katherine Graves . As Amanda breaks the news to Katherine’s heartbroken Aunt May , she vows to do whatever it takes to bring her niece home alive.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda and her partner, Trent, search Katherine’s home. Soon, they discover that despite no longer being with the police department, Katherine has a long list of very dangerous enemies. Enemies who have been sending her anonymous letters promising revenge.

The more Amanda digs into Katherine’s past, the longer her list of suspects becomes. But when May is sent a ransom demand and a picture of Katherine close to death, Amanda knows time is running out. With only hours left to find Katherine alive, Amanda is prepared to risk everything to keep her promise to May, even her own life…

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Organized Crime, Serial Killers
  • 369 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 22, 2024 by Bookouture
  • Series: Detective Amanda Steele, #10

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting 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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.no
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold #HerLastWords #NetGalley

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love a good Prologue, don’t you? It sets the hook, and Carolyn Arnold did a great job with the Prologue for Her Last Words, but that doesn’t surprise me. I have read a lot of Carolyn Arnold’s books and she never disappoints me. Yeah, they may not all blow my mind, but they do supply hours of entertainment.

I love Detective Amanda Steele. She is a power to be reckoned with…and, even though she is on vacation, when someone she knows is murdered, she’s on the case. Could she have prevented her murder if she had returned Felicity’s call? See carries plenty of guilt already. Does she neglect her family for the job? Isn’t that a question many of us ask ourselves?

Felicity is a successful crime novelist and Amanda was on the case. Could her success have been the catalyst? Could it be her work in progress? She was known for her in depth, detailed research. Could she has found something someone wanted to left undiscovered?

Carolyn Arnold is good at keeping the mystery alive, giving us a plentiful supply of suspects and motives, throwing out red herrings, trying to lead us down the wrong path. In the end, she brings everything together, like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. Step by step, clue by clue. We have some danger, but it’s not the dark and depraved kind that I love so much. It’s your normal, everyday murderer that could be your neighbor, your boss, your coworker, your friend…

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley , her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.

Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.

But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…

A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

  • Genre: Fiction, Organized Crime, Serial Killers, Suspense, Thriller
  • Format: 341 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication: October 17, 2023 ‎by Bookouture
  • Series: Amanda Steele, #9, can standalone

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting 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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.no
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold #HerFinalBreath #NetGalley @Carolyn_Arnold @bookouture

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Anyone that has been hanging around fundinmental knows that I am a huge fan of Carolyn Arnold and her police procedurals. She always has great covers to go with the wonderful stories inside.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture fot the advance copy.

Releases tomorrow: 2.17.23, but you can preorder your copy HERE.

Amazon / Apple / Kobo / Google / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Her Final Breath is Carolyn Arnold’s seventh book in the Amanda Steele series. I love this strong female protagonist. She has a big heart and when Zoe’s parents were murdered, Amanda was on the case. She fell in love with the young girl and took her into her home. Amanda does work a lot, but she has a great support system and Zoe is a very happy young lady. Now, what about her love life? Well…we shall see. She is not in any hurry, though she has a couple guys hanging around. I know who I want, but, like I said, we shall see.

A mother and her daughter were found curled up in a park and the girl’s toy elephant hit a little close to home for Amanda, seeing her daughter had one just like it. Putting that aside, Amanda does not waver when it comes to finding the murderer, especially when another grave is found and another mother and daughter are missing.

Domestic abusers can fall through the cracks and those they are abusing pay the price. I find in real life, this is all too familiar. Our military may come home hurting, needing help, unable to adjust to our world after combat.

The ending was a bit different from the usual fare I get from Carolyn Arnold, but I am always up for something different and it works for the story.

Carolyn Arnold writes fantastic police procedurals, law enforcement acknowledging her accuracy with the details. She is a must read author for me, keeping me glued to the pages of her books for hours on end.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Faint sunlight dapples the two figures lying on the ground. The mother cradles her daughter close to her side, a stuffed toy elephant next to them. Leaves from the tall trees fall onto their faces, but neither moves to brush them off.

When a dog walker in a local Virginia park finds the bodies of a mother and daughter, Detective Amanda Steele is first on the scene. Her own daughter has a toy just like the girl’s elephant and seeing the child like this is her worst nightmare come true. Heartbroken, she vows to get justice.

They quickly get an ID—Jill Archer and six-year-old Charlotte were reported missing last week, but interviewing Jill’s husband, Roy, Amanda’s gut tells her he is hiding something. When the autopsy reveals a terrible pattern of bruises, she’s certain that a domestic argument escalated out of control, and tiny Charlotte got caught in the crossfire. But just as Amanda is about to arrest Roy, another grave is found, containing another mother and daughter.

Desperate for a lead, she goes to every place the women could have been targeted, and learns from a concerned ER nurse about Leanne Reilly and her young daughter, Gracie, who haven’t been heard from in a week. Amanda hopes that Leanne has simply left her deadbeat husband, but she’s gripped by the fear that they are the killer’s latest victims. Now every second counts for Amanda to find the family and stop a little girl’s nightmare before it ends in tragedy…

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting 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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

New Release – Girl On The Run by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

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I have read a lot of novels by Carolyn Arnold and she is on my must read list of authors. Girl On The Run was published this month and I was so happy to get a review copy. I love the cover and it fits the story inside.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hibbert & Stiles Publishing for the advance copy.

Here’s a book fact…

Girl on the Run was inspired by a real-life experience I had at Union Station in Toronto.  ~Carolyn Arnold
Girl on the Run (Detective Madison Knight Series Book 11)

Goodreads l Amazon.com | Apple | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon Universal

MY REVIEW

I love a Prologue. I am like a hungry fish, swimming around, looking for a juicy worm and with a good Prologue, I eagerly bite and get hooked. Girl on the Run by Carolyn Arnold definitely set the hook.

She runs, but there is no escape.

“You’ll be wishing for a bullet by the time she’s done with you.”

I am curious to know why.

Madison was in line for a coffee, when she heard of a shooting at the Liberty Train Station, suspected causalities. Madison is on the case seeing she works for Major Crimes. Two dead, one in the hospital.

Madison is tenaciious, a Bulldog. She felt putting bad guys behind bars was her legacy and made personal sacrifices to achieve it. She has her chocolate lab, Hershey and her fiancee, Troy Matthews, who works for the Stiles Police Department too, to keep her grounded.

Who is the girl with the orange backpack that seemed to Madison to be the trigger, and what does she have to do with the shooting?

Madison had been through hell due to corrupt cops, so when she saw the shooter, who had identified himself as a cop, she stood at attention. Could a corrupt cop and the Russian Mafia be behind the shooting? She had dealt with them on more than one occasion. They were prolific in Stiles.

The investigation deepens, spreading out in different directions. Carolyn Arnold is an expert at bringing all the pieces together.

Two dead, one wounded, a girl with an orange backpack, a victim that Madison recognizes from her past, the Russian Mafia, drug trafficking, infidelity, betrayal…Step by step, I follow Madison’s footsteps to the conclusion.

Most of the book, I was plodding along, accumulating clues with Madison, thinking three stars. I was complacent, knowing this is a police procedural so it may lack the in your face thrills and chills I love so much, then…KAPOW…I’m awake now. It’s those punches, book surprises, that add the extra star.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Girl On The Run by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Shivers tear through her, but she must be brave—for herself, for her future. She grips her coat tighter and steps into the night and the cold, pouring rain. Never to be seen again.

An ordinary Monday morning commute turns deadly when a gunman opens fire in the local train station. Detective Madison Knight rushes to the scene, but she’s too late for the victims. Two women were fatally wounded, including an expectant mother, and one is fighting for her life. But it’s the face of one of the dead that has Madison seeing a ghost from her past. She looks just like Madison’s college friend Courtney Middleton, who vanished over fifteen years ago. If it is her, where has she been all these years, and does her resurfacing have anything to do with the shooting?

Eyewitnesses say that a young woman triggered the incident, but both the shooter and the girl seem to have evaporated into thin air. Mounting evidence suggests they may be part of a drug-trafficking operation, the girl being one of their runners. But Madison’s not so sure the girl is the hardened criminal she appears to be.

As Madison races to track down the young woman, more people turn up murdered, and there’s still no sign of the girl. Is her body out there to find or is she on the run? If the latter, is it due to fear or guilt? Could it simply be that the shooting victims were caught in the crosshairs of organized crime? Madison’s not sure, but she can’t shake her niggling suspicion: what if it was something more than that?

An absolutely gripping and addictive crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan, and Rachel Caine.

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.

Carolyn Arnold

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 north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:  Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!