Malevolent: having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person.
The cover for Malevolent by E H Reinhad is fabulous and the fact the book takes place in Tampa, Florida, only adds to the spice of murder and mystery. Any books in Florida hit a special place for me, sand, sun and surf. I love it.
The Prologue is a gripping hook!
Lieutenant Kane is thirty eight and resembles Mr Clean. The simple description makes it easy to picture him…and his cat, Butch, a hybrid between a domestic and wild cat. He is an interesting character all by himself, growing and developing in the story.
“Death by drill and boiling water.”
I almost wanted to puke at some of the graphic details of his murders. I love it.
We have some light hearted and fun moments and dialogue, along with the gruesome.
There were some moments when I was shrugging my shoulders, not happy with what was going on. The writing did not make this a five star read, for me, but I did read it in one sitting and I would definitely grab another opportunity to read more of E H Reinhard’s work.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Tampa Homicide Lieutenant Carl Kane has a tough job. His day to day consists of decomposing dead bodies and removing murderers from the general public. But, when two women’s bodies are found under similar circumstances, it quickly turns into more than your average case. The killer is clearly looking to make a name for himself, and his plans for these women go far beyond death. When the media runs with the story, the killer’s moment in the spotlight arrives.
It’s up to Lieutenant Kane to bring the man the press has dubbed the ‘Psycho Surgeon’ to justice. Yet, being the lead on the case has its drawbacks—like becoming the focus of the killer yourself.
As Lieutenant Kane closes in on his suspect, he soon realizes that the case has become far more personal than he could have ever imagined.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
ABOUT E H RENHARD
E.H. Reinhard is the author of over twenty novels in the crime fiction and police procedural genres. Residing in sunny Tampa Florida, when not putting pen to paper, or more accurately, keys to keyboard writing his next novel, Reinhard is an avid fisherman and a general enjoyer of everything outdoors.
To see what he’s been up to lately, you can find him on social media, or can contact him directly using the contact form at: http://ehreinhard.com.
I first saw The Scorned by David Putnam in a tour. His name was familiar, but when I saw this cover, I was determined to do everything I could to win the giveaway. Karma was on my side, and I won the fabulous package below.
I know I am starting this out of order, but The Scorned by David Putnam is his latest release, so I am going to share that one first. As you can tell, I don’t have all of the other nine, but the main thing is….I have The Disposables, Book I, that I will be reading next.
First off, The Scorned by David Putnam is Book 10 and I have not read the previous books. The more I read of The Scorned, the more hooked I became and I will be going back to the beginning, The Disposables.
In the opening pages, David Putnam describes something that I find true, living in a tropical climate:
The humidity so thick words hung suspended a moment longer before dissipating.
I love the whole ex-cop, ex-con concept. Books that deal with trafficking in women and children hit home for me. I want to know the villains will get their comeuppance, at least in fiction. All too often, in reality, that does not happen. It does cause all my emotions to come into play.
Bruno Johnson and his bud, Karl Drago will face the villains…head on, raining hell down on them. I felt I knew Bruno, but Karl…it was a pleasure watching him grow and develop into a more complete individual. I would definitely want him on my side…and his crusty dog too.
The characters, even the good ones, do not walk the straight and narrow. Sometimes, to make things right, stepping outside the law is the only answer. Other times, we don’t always have the full story, so rushing to judgment can have you eating crow.
Most of the time, this action packed thriller was full of horrendous happenings, drugged and trafficked women, stolen babies, and meth heads. Other times, the good guys confront them, holding them accountable for their actions, showing no mercy and occasionally, even having some light hearted moments.
The more I read of The Scorned, the more it drew me in, feeling anger and fear, wondering how it will all end and if all my ‘friends’ will remain standing. I missed learning how the characters came to be in the situations we find them in…on the run, evading the law, forced to leave the United States and relocate to Costa Rica, though David Putnam did address it, filling in some of the blanks.
The children…the amazing actions taken to save any and all….
In the beginning, the story had an old time feel to it, the writing style making we wonder if the Bruno Johnson series was really for me. I kept at it and lost myself. I can hardly wait to go back to the beginning, The Disposables, and find out how it all started.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Scorned by David Putnam.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Ex-cop, ex-con Bruno Johnson stumbles into a criminal organization that exploits women and children—he must fight his way out and home
Bruno Johnson is hiding out from the U.S. law in Costa Rica with his pregnant wife, Marie, and the ten kids they rescued from toxic homes in South Central Los Angeles. When Marie encounters a difficult labor and delivery, their good friend Dr. Vargas rescues both her and Bruno’s infant son. So Bruno feels indebted when asked to escort his daughter Layla, a college student in Los Angeles, back home to Costa Rica.
When Bruno arrives in Los Angeles, he finds the problem with Layla is complicated and dire. Layla has fallen in with Johnny, the leader of a vast and notorious criminal empire that exploits women and children. She says she’s had his child and that he has taken the baby.
Bruno enlists the help of his old friend Karl Drago—and his dog, Waldo—to aid in his search for Layla’s baby—a baby her parents disavow. Bruno soon discovers things aren’t as they appear, but he will stop at nothing to save the innocent baby and return to his family and newborn son in Costa Rica—providing he can evade capture while on U.S. soil.
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and David Baldacci
While all of the novels in the Bruno Johnson Crime Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:
The Disposables The Replacements The Squandered The Vanquished The Innocents The Reckless The Heartless The Ruthless The Sinister The Scorned The Diabolical (coming 2024)
Thriller, Mystery, Internations, Suspense
352 pages, Hardcover
Published February 7, 2023
ABOUT DAVID PUTNAM
Best-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.
Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.
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 am always excited to read another Carolyn Arnold novel. She manages to hook me early and keep me flipping pages. I am just along for the ride, eager to go wherever the story takes me.
Amanda came home with more than fun after a night’s out. Too bad the romantic night she had anticipated is brought up short when a dead body is found on the bed they planned to use. Guess that would bring anyone up short. 🙂
Amanda is a detective , working homicide for the Prince William Sound County Police Department. Her first call is to dispatch, the second to her partner, Trent Stenson. Poor Trent. I feel the both have feelings for each other, but because they are partners, they fight the attraction.
Even though Logan is a suspect and Amanda is too close to be working the case, I know that won’t stop her.
The crime scene is too neat, too simple, all the clues lined up for them to see. They know crime is messy, complex.
Amanda is like a bulldog. She doesn’t give up until the case is closed. She may WANT to find the killer, but Trent NEEDS to solve the mystery. He has to find the answers, solve the puzzle.
Last Seen Alive is another success story for Carolyn Arnold.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The woman lies so still as her blood soaks into the soft bedcovers beneath her. A tear runs down her face as she looks at the wedding band on her finger. She had loved her husband so much…
When Detective Amanda Steele unexpectedly reconnects with an old boyfriend, the last thing she expects to see lying on his bed is the dead body of his wife, Claire, who walked out on him four years ago.
Logan begs Amanda to believe he’s innocent. But she doesn’t miss the gun on a nearby table, and she’s torn when forensics reveal that not only was this the murder weapon, but Logan’s fingerprints are all over it… Could he have been framed? Or is he using his connection to Amanda to get away with murder?
Determined to uncover the truth, Amanda retraces Claire’s last steps and finds that she visited her best friend the day before her death. But Amanda is devastated to discover that the friend died in a car accident just hours after meeting with Claire. What deadly secret connected them, and could more women be in danger?
But the killer is closer than Amanda realises, and when her beloved daughter, Zoe, is threatened, she’s suddenly in a race to find the final clue before the person she loves most pays the price…
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 north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.
Join us for this tour from Mar 28 to June 24, 2022!
MY REVIEW
Deputy Chief Dustin O’Meara, his daughter, father in law and four women were murdered in a home invasion and Mac Faraday is on the case. Because of that, the perp needs to be very nervous because Mac always gets his man.
“To the animal behind this, I want to say only one thing. I’m coming for you…and I will find you.”
Lots of great characters, human and animal both.
Teddy is a hero, a cockatoo with an attitude, and I love him. I love Kourtney too. This ten year old girl is such a fabulous character, older than her years. Gnarly always cracks me up with his hijinks. Erica, the Cold Case Diva, has a horse in a dog suit. How cool is that?
Mac may need some help, so the Nancy Drew Crew is on the case. They even made Kourtney a Junior member.
Lauren is so creative and adds a touch of humor to her murder, and I found myself smiling….a lot, sometimes laughing out loud. There is so much I want to share about the critters, but I must leave it up to you to find out why I love them so much.
I have been reading the Mac Faraday series for a long time now, but Shadow of Murder is not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the story, but I got bogged down with so many characters and so much info that I kept getting lost. This is an ARC, not a finished product, so changes may be made, creating a more polished version that the one I read.
So many plots, so many suspects, some murder, some laughs, some romance.
For a police procedural, Shadow of Murder was filled with action and a battle between good and evil and a wild ride at the end, making it all worth it.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr.
3 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 14) Category: Adult fiction, 496 pages Genre: Murder Mystery / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Mar 30, 2022 Content Rating: PG-13.
Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No
F-Bombs!
“Five Stars for Lauren Carr’s 14th book of the Mac Faraday Murder Mysteries,Shadow of Murder!
In this new release, she has recaptured the fun of cute “creatures” with the fast-moving, suspenseful, and captivating mystery, along with her usual touch of romance.” – review by Lu Ann Worley, Rockin’ Book Reviews
“This newest title in the author’s Mac Faraday cozy murder mystery series offers Lauren Carr’s most intricate plot to date – full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep readers up until the wee hours. While still full of the humor, fun critters and touch of romance that are her trademark, the author has also woven in a dark supernatural element that
whispers through to the startling ending.”– review by Marilyn R. Wilson, bestselling author, freelance writer, editor, and speaker at Olio by Marilyn.
Book Description:
You can’t move to the next chapter of your life, without tying up loose ends in the previous.
True crime blogger, Erica Hart starts a new chapter in her life with a bang when a dark shadow darts into the mountain road to send her SUV off a cliff and to the bottom of Deep Creek Lake. Spencer’s newest addition to the police force, Dusty O’Meara assumes it was a bear. Erica is not so sure.
Soon afterwards, contractors discover Konnor Langston’s body at the bottom of an abandoned swimming pool at the new summer home of Mac Faraday’s son.
With Police Chief David O’Callaghan away on paternity leave, Deputy Chief Dusty O’Meara must lead the investigation in his first murder case since moving to Spencer. Not only does Dusty have to work under the shadow of the legendary Mac Faraday, but he also has to match wits with Erica, who is determined to find justice for Konnor, her childhood friend.
Mac isn’t so difficult. Even Gnarly, the town’s canine mayor, is manageable if his authority is well-respected and he is kept entertained.
Erica Hart, Dusty finds, is more of a challenge. It wouldn’t be so difficult if she wasn’t so irresistible.
“Lauren’s dialogue is brisk, her setting beautiful and the addition of Gnarly is very clever…It’s Murder, My Son is a delightful read and I look forward to more of Carr’s Mac Faraday mysteries.”– review by Connie Gregory, Connie’s Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 288 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 23, 2010
Book Description:
What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This confidence would reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will unfold like one of her famous
mystery novels.
Soon after she moves to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Katrina Singleton learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her terrorist, who is nowhere to be found.
Three months later, the file on her murder is still open when Mac Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide
detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.
“As in any good who-done-it, there are red herrings and plot complications in Old Loves Die Hard and fans of mysteries and police procedurals will get a kick out of Lauren Carr’s books.”– review by David M. Kinchen, Huntington News
Book Details:
Book Title: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 2) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2011
Book Description:
In Old Loves Die Hard, Carr picks up where she left off in It’s Murder, My Son.
Mac Faraday is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife Christine shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors.
The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases?
With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping.
“Shades of Murder is a fascinating, intricately woven mystery that has a number of engaging characters looking into two cases that would seem to have
nothing in common. …This is a most entertaining entry in this series, made all the more so by the wonderful inclusion of Gnarly and Irving, Mac’s dog and Gates’s black and white cat, who meet during the course of
the story.”– review by Mysterious Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: Shades of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 3) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 232 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: May 7, 2012
Book Description:
In Shades of Murder,
Mac Faraday is once again the heir to an unbelievable fortune. This time the benefactor is a stolen art collector. But this isn’t just any stolen work-of-art–it’s a masterpiece with a murder attached to it.
Ilysa Ramsay was in the midst of taking the art world by storm with her artistic genius. Hours after unveiling her latest masterpiece–she is found dead in her Deep Creek Lake studio–and her painting is nowhere to be found. Almost a decade later, the long-lost Ilysa Ramsay masterpiece has found its way into Mac Faraday’s hands and he can’t resist the urge to delve into the case.
A world away, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; former JAG lawyer Joshua Thornton agrees to do a favor for the last person he would ever expect to do a favor–a convicted serial killer.
The Favor: Solve the one murder wrongly attributed to him.
Joshua finds an unexpected ally in Cameron Gates, a spunky detective who has reason to believe the young woman known to the media only as Jane Doe, Victim Number Four, was the victim of a copycat. Together, Joshua and Cameron (*) set out to light a flame under the cold case only to find that someone behind the scenes wants the case to remain cold, and is willing to kill to keep it that way.
Little do these detectives know that the paths of their respective cases are on a collision course when they follow the clues to bring them together in a showdown with a killer who’s got a talent for
murder!
“I must
say, I truly enjoyed reading this book! I found myself waking up
slightly early for work just to finish a couple chapters! Not only was
this book captivating, I found myself laughing at Gnarly, the ever so
lovable and rambunctious German Shepherd! I look forward to reading the
next book by Lauren Carr!”– Review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: Blast from the Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 4) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 301 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2013
Book Description:
A woman is killed when she
falls down the stairs. Men die writhing, in a little coffee shop. Death
may not be that unusual these days in Deep Creek Lake, but then someone
tries to kill Archie, the woman Mac Faraday loves.
When she tells Mac the reason behind it and her secret is
exposed, Mac and the entire police department will go to extremes to
keep Archie safe.
That raises rather a lot of questions:
Who exactly are they protecting her from? Could it be warring crime lords? Hit men? Why does one particular couple keep showing up around town? Just how many killers are there, anyway? Is anyone who they say they are?
“So much fun to read! The
castle seemed foreboding. The rumors of the ghost dog, werewolves, and
more made more plausible in light of the murders. Is it enough to make
even detectives reconsider? Is it all about the missing book or is the
real motive money?”– review byMystery Suspense Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 5) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 281 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 18, 2013 Content Rating:
PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the
murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit
sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far
between) No F-Bombs!
Book Description:
Never tell Mac Faraday not to go someplace.
Spencer’s police chief, David O’Callaghan, learns this lesson
the hard way when he orders Mac to not go to the south end of Spencer’s
mountaintop —even though he owns the property. It doesn’t take long for
Mac to find out what lies on the other side of a stone wall
and locked gate with a warning for visitors to keep out.
Topping the list of the ten top haunted places in America,
Astaire Castle is associated with two suicides, three mysterious
disappearances, and four murders since it was built almost a century
ago—and Mac Faraday owns it!
In spite of David’s warning to keep out, Mac can’t resist
unlocking the gate to see the castle that supposedly hasn’t seen a
living soul since his late mother had ordered it closed up after the
double homicide and disappearance of Damian Wagner, a world-famous
master of horror novels.
What was supposed to be a quick tour of a dusty old castle
turns into another Mac Faraday adventure when Astaire Castle becomes the
scene of even more murders. Mac is going to need to put all of his
investigative talents to work to sort out this case that involves the
strangest characters he has run into yet—including a wolfman. No, we’re
not talking about Gnarly.
“I recommend this book to all mystery lovers! The Lady Who Cried Murder was another heart-stopping thriller! While the mystery and the road to
it’s solution was amazing, I truly enjoyed the cast and characters (they feel like family)! Another great hit and I look forward to reading the next installment of Mac Faraday and his gang and what kind of drama they
end up in!” – review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: The Lady Who Cried Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 6) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 286 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2014
Book Description:
Determined to get her pretty
face in front of the cameras, Khloe Everest fakes an abduction only to make a grand entrance in the midst of a press conference held by Spencer’s Police Chief David O’Callaghan.
Three years later, after failing to catapult her notoriety into a long-lasting celebrity, Khloe Everest returns to Spencer upon her mother’s sudden death and seemingly finds another weapon to propel her into the spotlight. Unfortunately, someone kills her before she can make this entrance.
In Lauren Carr’s sixth mystery, Mac Faraday and his friends come up against reality stars, politicians, has-beens, and wannabes. Mac also finds himself face-to-face with an old foe from his past who had managed to escape arrest during their last encounter. Now, Mac sees that his adversary has only become more powerful, and dangerous, with the
passage of time.
Intent to not let this killer escape again, Mac and his friends need to put all of their talents together to put a stop to a cold-blooded lady killer.
“Twelve To Murder is a clever blend of comedy,
mystery, and sappy love story. Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the
quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And
you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until
the end.”– Review by Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
Book Details:
Book Title: Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 7) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 266 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: February 9, 2014
Book Description:
Mac Faraday’s plan to spend a quiet weekend home alone with his lady love, Archie Monday, is shattered by murder.
A middle-aged couple are brutally murdered in their summer place on Deep Creek Lake. To any other detective, the case would be considered open and shut when it appears as if one of the victims has written her killer’s name in her blood—not so for Mac Faraday, who believes there is more to this case than meets the eye.
In Lauren Carr’s latest Mac Faraday Mystery former child-star and teen-idol Lenny Frost steps into a pub in Deep Creek Lake to see his face on the television over the bar with the announcement that he’s wanted for the murder of his agent and her husband!
How does Lenny Frost react to this sudden comeback into the headlines? He takes everyone hostage and gives Mac Faraday twelve hours to find the real killer or he’s going to kill everyone in the bar.
“There is actually a mystery
within a mystery in Carr’s new book. It’s a tangled, twisting adventure
that adds more dead bodies along the way. Carr’s characters are lively,
her plots complex, there is always just enough humor to set a lighter
tone.” – Review by Allene Reynolds, Mystery and Me
Book Details:
Book Title: A Wedding and a Killing by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 8) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 275 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: September 13, 2014
Book Description:
Not wanting to wait until
their big day to start their life of wedded bliss, Mac Faraday and his
lady love, Archie Monday, decide to elope to the little church where his
ancestors had all married—along the tranquil shore of Deep Creek Lake.
However, before they can say, “I do,” the sanctuary erupts into chaos
when Gnarly finds a body in the church office.
In A Wedding and a Killing, Mac
and his team discover more questions than answers. What kind of person
walks into a church and shoots a man for no apparent reason? How do you
solve the murder of a man who has no enemies in the world? Which of the
seemingly kind-hearted church members is really a cold-blooded killer?
Then, there is the all-important question, how long do Mac Faraday and his lady love have to wait to get married?
“I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr
comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like,
for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author–she’s moving quickly to
where her goals are headed… Three Days to Forever has to be, in my opinion, the best of her best! Get it!”– review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Three Days to Forever by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 9) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 366 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 19, 2015
Book Description:
In one of the most critically-acclaimed Mac
Faraday Mysteries from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers
embark on a roller-coaster adventure with old friends (including
the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide
Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s
daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join
the team in the race to get the lovebirds to the altar!*
With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping
with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn
for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is
being touted as the social event of the year.
But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least
of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits
Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and
Gnarly running for their lives.
With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s
small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not
only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined
to stop everything … FOREVER!
“There’s lots of drama, crimes, murder, and laughter that surrounds
the Diablo Ball. As usual, Gnarly is in the middle of everything. Hated
to have to keep putting this down. I loved reading Open Season for Murder.”– review by Rhonda Laney, readalot
Book Details:
Book Title: Open Season for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 10) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 1, 2015
Book Description:
“Robin, it’s me, Ashton.”
Spring is in the air. In Deep Creek Lake, the burst of blossoms on the trees has the effect of a starting pistol in the race to get the resort area ready in time for the seasonal residents return to Spencer,
Maryland.
This year, the Spencer Inn, Mac Faraday’s five-star resort, has the added duty of preparing for the Diablo Ball, an annual benefit event that used to kick off Deep Creek Lake’s summer season. The exclusive gala has drawn in A-listers from across the country—including suspects and witnesses connected to Ashton Piedmont, a young woman who
had disappeared while skinny dipping in Deep Creek Lake five years earlier—days after the last Diablo Ball.
Intrigued by a mysterious phone call from a young woman claiming to be Ashton, retired homicide detective Mac Faraday can’t resist diving head first into the cold case. But he’s not the only one. Someone behind the scenes has gone to a lot of trouble to bring Ashton Piedmont’s friends and enemies to the Diablo Ball—which promises to be a gala event to die for!
“The story moves at a rapid pace
and has a bit of everything – romance, humor, and suspense with several
other murders after the body is discovered. A few surprises along with
the tension both at home and in New York. Carr does an excellent job of
developing her characters and providing backstory while maintaining a
quick pace. Well worth the sleep I gave up to get to the end.”– review by Christa Nardi, Christa Reads and Writes.
Book Details:
Book Title: Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 11) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 320 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 28, 2016
Book Description:
Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day
is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers
that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can walk
down the aisle—divorce his first wife!
Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail-biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows,
David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s
marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done.
When murder throws up a roadblock, it is up to David’s best man, Mac
Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get
David to the church in time!
“OMG! Carr is over the top and giving us an easy “10” with her latest, Candidate for Murder!…Don’t
just sit there thinking that this might be the book to try for Lauren
Carr! I’m telling you right now it’s a must-read for daring, adventure,
crime-busting, high-level government criminal elimination.” – reviewer by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 410 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 16, 2016
Book Description:
It’s election time in
Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent
years, the small resort town has become divided between the local
year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the
city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council,
and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate
community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed
limits to clotheslines.
When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral
nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides
to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd,
to run as mayor of Spencer!
What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight
Gnarly becomes the front-runner—at which point his political enemies
take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re
behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front-runner, of course.
Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply
embarrassing the front-runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge
from the United States Army but to throw in a murder for good measure.
With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including
old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a
killer, and save Spencer!
“With her usual panache, Lauren Carr blends the grittiness of
murder(s) with a good deal of humor, the latter revolving largely around Gnarly and David’s Belgian shepherd, Storm, who would much rather be couch potato-ing than anything involving exertion.” – review by Lelia Taylor, Buried Under Books
Book Details:
Book Title: Crimes Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 13) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 245 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: October 16, 2018
Book Description:
It’s a bittersweet reunion for Mac Faraday when members of his
former homicide squad arrive at the Spencer Inn. While it is sweet to
attend the wedding of a late colleague’s daughter, it is a bitter
reminder that the mother of the bride had been the victim of a double
homicide.
The brutal slaying weighing heavy on his mind, Mac is anxious
to explore every avenue for a break in the cold case—even a suggestion
from disgraced former detective Louis Gannon that one of their former
friends is the killer.
When the investigator is brutally slain, Mac Faraday rips open
the cold case with a ruthless determination to reveal which of his
friends is a cold-blooded murderer.
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday,
Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and
Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five
fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly
crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police
procedurals, romance, and humor.
The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager,
consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions.
She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
March 28 – Mystery Review Crew – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
March 28 – Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
March 29 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
March 29 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
March 30 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER / author interview / giveaway
March 31 – My Reading Journeys – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 1 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER
April 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of IT’S MURDER, MY SON April 4 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
April 5 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 6 – Leels Loves Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 7 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of OLD LOVES DIE HARD, SHADES OF MURDER, BLAST FROM THE PAST April 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 8 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 11 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE, THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER, TWELVE TO MURDER
April 12 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway April 13 –Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 14 – My Reading Journeys – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway April 15 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 15 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of A WEDDING AND A KILLING, OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER April 19 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of BLAST FROM THE PASST / giveaway
April 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 21 – My Reading Journeys – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway April 21 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
April 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
April 26 –Literary Flits – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway April 27 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
April 29 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 3 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER
May 4 – Literary Flits – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 5 –Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANCELLED VOWS
May 6 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER and CRIMES PAST
May 9 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
May 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway May 12 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 16 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 18 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
May 19 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 19 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of BLAST FROM THE PAST / giveaway May 23 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 24 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
May 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 26 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of CANCELLED VOWS / giveaway
May 27 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 31 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 – fundinmental – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 2 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest posts / giveaway
June 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 6 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
June 7 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
June 8 – The Page Ladies – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
June 10 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway June 13 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 14 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 15 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 16 –Literary Flits – book review of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER / giveaway
June 20 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CRIMES PAST / giveaway
I have been with Lacey James since the beginning and love the character that Chris Patchell has created. The covers are AMAZING! Chris Patchell has created a fabulous brand for the series.
The covers are linked to my reviews. They are so gorgeous I had to share them all.
Sweet Home, Oregon, is a small town, but it sure has its share of murders. This time, it’s JJ. He had come to town to disappear, but left Spot, one of the town bars, with a target on his back.
I love Lacey. I don’t know how she does all she does. She is giving, loyal, dedicated. I smile with her, but still do not understand her home life. I have had no use for Caleb since I have really got to know him. What did he think was going to happen when he came home to stay? I am suspicious. Is there more to his story? I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. To me, he’s like a weight around her neck and I think she will be better off without him. HA HA Maybe….well, that is for another day.
I love the interaction, the dialogue and smiles, between Lacey and her partner, Eli. It’s obvious how much he cares for her, but never steps across the line and I have mucho respect for an author keeping her characters of importance on the up and up.
Knowing Chris Patchell, I find it hard to believe that a bar fight was the reason for JJ’s death. It’s too easy. The suspects are mounting as are questions and alibis. In my mind I have ruled out one, but ya never know. Secrets make for suspects.
Lacey is cracking me up again. She takes no crap, so it surprises me how she handles Caleb with kid gloves. I get it, but letting guilt over working…isn’t that what happens in real life all too often. She does the best she can and I don’t see her kids having a problem with it. I love sharing her trials and tribulations with her, supporting her, hoping she will get what she deserves, a HEA. She has earned it!
Tell Her by Chris Patchell is more about Lacey’s personal life and the town’s secrets, than the crime and I am fine with that. It keeps me hungry for more and I am so excited for Hide Her by Chris Patchell.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tell Her by Chris Patchell.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Dark secrets are exposed when a killer comes to town.
When Officer Lacey James is called to the scene of a brutal murder, she doesn’t recognize the victim. Jonathan Jones–JJ is new to Sweet Home. Everyone Lacey talks to in the close-knit community claims he was a good guy, but someone is lying. Someone wanted JJ dead. And someone else knows why.
On the hunt for the murderer, Lacey reconstructs the victim’s trail. A bar fight. A bloody footprint. A faulty timeline. Together with her partner, Eli Davidson, Lacey pieces together the clues while keeping track of the witnesses’ lies. Each twist in the case raises new questions about the victim. About the motive behind the crime. Until Lacey and Eli unearth a piece of salacious gossip that sends the investigation reeling down a dark and dangerous path.
Will the killer be punished?
Or will the hunt for the truth land Lacey in the crosshairs of a killer?
I cannot wait for Hide Her by Chris Patchell. Check out the cover!!! I got shivers. Oh man, it is calling out to me, loudly!. From the horses mouth (Chris Patchell):
Thought I was only planning 3 books in the series, I quickly realized that Lacey needed a book 4 and so, I just “broke ground” on Hide Her.
ABOUT CHRIS PATCHELL
Chris Patchell is the bestselling author of In the Dark
and the Indie Reader Discovery Award winning novel Deadly Lies.
Having recently left her long-time career in tech to pursue her
passion for writing full-time, Chris pens gritty suspense novels set
in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her family and two
neurotic dogs.
Eve Parrish is a new to me author, and Her First Mistake is her debut novel…as Eve Parrish. It bothers me when an author writes under different names. In old time publishing, I get it. It was probably the publishers that pushed an author to have different pennames for different genres. Myself, I don’t think it is necessary. If I love what an author is writing, I’ll read anything by them. Yeah, I might not rate it as high from one genre to the next, e.g. romantic suspense and plain romance. It would take something special about a plain romance to get a 4 or 5 rating from me. That being said, I enjoy 3 star reads all the time and do recommend them.
Well, I got off on a bit of a rant there, so let’s get back to the real reason we are here…Her First Mistake.
The eerie cover first caught my eye and as I investigated further, I saw – serial killer. I’m all over that. I have a fascination for serial killers, whether fact or fiction. I love teases and the Prologue did it’s job. I’m hooked.
“I’m a bad boy.” With a start like that, I think I may have issues stopping long enough to…well, whatever.
It is not bad enough they have a kidnapper, a rapist, a murderer on their hands, the Saxon County Sleeper is all three wrapped up in one and he is back with a vengeance.
Nina Viken is a detective for Saxon County, a single mother, and familiar with serial killers. She has blow after blow delivered to her, and gets up stronger each time. Her father is a convicted murdered and he says he knows who the serial killer is. The killers past is textbook, foster homes, abuse…
The book has a twist as Rayna enters the scene. Her spidey senses are sent tingling when her friend goes missing…and she wants answers, even if she has to find them herself. I love her and would hope to have a friend like her if I ever went missing.
I love reading a book with flawed, damaged characters and seeing we have a serial killer on the loose, it’s no surprise that we have one of them here. Most characters have baggage they carry, but they are caring, loyal, loving people, doing the best they can.
I love the turn the book takes at 50%. And Livie…she is so darn cute, but, aren’t most little kids?
There is a time or two where I didn’t like what NIna did or didn’t do, but I get it. That’s how we create suspense for a rousing ending. And then…another twist. Hmmmm, you are making me work for this Eve. We have plenty of suspects. My mind is bouncing around, using a process of elimination to find the last one standing. AHA…it’s you!
I felt Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish was a three star book through half of it, but the more I read, the the more the suspect list grew, the more twists that came up, the more I got involved, I knew I needed to bump it up. Good job Eve.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Her First Mistake is a serial killer thriller with a female lead and mysterious love interests.
Detective Nina Viken is no stranger to the ominous clues serial killers leave with their discarded victims. It’s a typical method used to taunt and torture the authorities who are ruthlessly hunting them down. This time though, everything seems a little too close to home.
When Nina gets a call that a dead body is being pulled from the Hollow Pointe Ravine, intuition tells her she’s going to have her work cut out for her. Upon arriving at the crime scene, she sees various photographs scattered along the ground. The photos feature completely nude women–bound, shackled, bloody and bruised. At first it looks like it’s just another sick and twisted murderer on the loose…
But upon examining the body, Nina sees the signature of one of the East Coast’s most notorious serial killers–The Saxon County Slayer.
As if the pressure of finding him before he kills again wasn’t enough, Nina gets a call from her father–a convicted murder himself–saying he knows the identity of the infamous serial killer. With little evidence to point her in any other direction, Nina begins to look into her father’s claims.
Regardless of whether her father is telling the truth or not… The Saxon County Slayer is back.
And this time, he has a vendetta against Nina. A vendetta that he will stop at nothing to satisfy.
ABOUT EVE PARRISH (Victoria Ellis)
Meet Victoria Ellis: Victoria Ellis writing as Eve Parrish
Victoria Ellis started out writing primarily thrillers but slowly transitioned into both poetry and contemporary romance.
Now, she is a multi-genre author
that publishes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, and Romance novels. She is
also the author of two poetry collections.
Victoria has a penname, Gemma
Stone, for her upcoming romance novels that she plans on releasing. It was
important to her to separate romance from thrillers. Be on the lookout for more
Gemma Stone news in 2021 and 2022!
Victoria is the founder of
Cruel Ink Publishing, LLC.
She resides near Chicago,
Illinois with her husband, newborn daughter, and an abundance of animals.
I love the cover of Bad People by Craig Wallwork. I don’t know
whether to laugh or freak out. We will see…OMG…freaking out is the
answer.
Palmer had come to Stormer Hill for his novel about the missing girls. Four girls in four years. No clues, no suspects, no answers.
The characters could be taken from a Criminal Minds episode, as could the storyline. The villains are not for the feint of heart. Twisted, savage, evil.
More than a cozy, but less than the hard core, nail biting, spine tingling suspense novels I love so much.
I bounced between a three and a four rating for at least half the book, because, even though I loved the plot, it was predictable and slowed down, at times. BUT, the ending was a surprise and it took me almost until I got there to figure it out, though I felt something was up. It is a doozy and for that reason, a four star rating it is.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bad People by Craig Wallwork.
4 Stars
BOODREADS BLURB
THREE MISSING CHILDREN. Over the past three years, the quiet Yorkshire village of Stormer Hill has lost three of its children. No bodies were ever discovered. No evidence found. No witnesses. THE WRITER. Struggling to find inspiration for his new novel, celebrated crime author, and ex-police officer, Alex Palmer, believes the story of the missing children could end his writer’s block, but is he prepared for the story that’s about to develop? THE DETECTIVE. Tom Nolan, a seasoned detective and loner involved in finding each missing child. Nolan is tasked with chaperoning Palmer and walking through each case. But as both men revisit the past, and dig deeper, neither are prepared for the chilling discovery to why the children were taken. THE BRETHREN. A secret cult. Two men, and a series of brutal and unimaginable murders spanning over seven years with one intention; to show the world that death can be justified if it’s for a greater good.
ABOUT CRAIG WALLWORK
Craig Wallwork is the author of the novels, Bad People, and The Sound of Loneliness, as well as the short story collections, Quintessence of Dust, and Gory Hole. His stories have been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize, many of which feature in various anthologies and magazines both in the U.K. and U.S. He currently lives in England.
Dead Or Alive by Jane Blythe is Book III in the Detective Parker Bell series and it is wonderful to be back with such a fabulous group of characters and to see what trouble they find themselves in this time.
Dead Or Alive by Jane Blythe starts out with a BANG…and keeps on going.
Detective Parker Bell is doing his grocery shopping, just a mundane chore we can all relate to, when he hears a gunshot and sees a car screeching out of the parking lot. Two bodies are lying on the pavement…
The characters all have their heavy baggage to bear and miscommunication abounds because of their need to protect themselves, and their secrets. Parker and Tessa are together, but she holds tight to her thoughts and feelings. It’s a good thing he has patience and so much love for her.
Wyatt is Parker’s partner, but he thinks of him as his brother. Parker has a tendency to let his emotions rule him, becoming personally involved in many of his cases. That is how him and Tessa came to be together, but that is another story.
I love Jane Blythe’s ability to put me in the middle of the suspense and danger, Darkness and their past seem to dog their every footstep.
Tessa…she is my favorite character. If something needs to be done, she feels she must do it herself. She will sacrifice everything for Parker and her friends and family. She puts herself last.
I had trouble with a few things, but as the story came together and Jane was wrapping everything up, it all became clear. I love when an author leads me down a path that trips me up and leaves me saying, AHA, I get it now.
When Parker comes up missing, she makes a deal with the devil…and that is the tease for the next book in this standalone series. I do recommend beginning at the beginning because I have loved every step of the way, but Jane Blythe recaps a lot of the past action so that you can know why these characters do what they do.
SO…What’s the cost of making a deal with the devil? Find out in Little Girl Lost.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead Or alive by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
She was so close to finally being happy.
Lila
and Eric Abbott’s world spins out of control in an instant when their
young son is shot and their infant daughter abducted in a seemingly
random car jacking.
While working on the case Detective Parker
Bell disappears without a trace leaving his friends and family,
including new wife Tessa, frantic to find out what has happened to him.
Tessa clings to the belief that Parker would never abandon her, despite
the insistence of those around her that his recent behavioral changes
may mean he has left on purpose. What’s worse, a husband who’s dead or
one who’s alive but walked out on her?
↝ Trigger warning – themes of sexual assault ↜
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!
Even though I have only read Book III, Killer in the Band, in the
Lovers in Crime Mystery Series, I had no trouble reading Book IV, The
Root of Murder. Lauren Carr’s books read as stand alones that have
recurring characters.
The title and cover were aptly chosen, as the bases of the murder
goes back to the beginning, or the root of the secret and all that comes
after.
Of course, Lauren Carr has some fabulous characters, people, villains and fur babies, that crack me up with their antics.
Poppy. I am so happy to read her story. She’s a good person, dealt a
bad hand, but nothing stops her from moving on. She will be a great
addition to the Thornton family.
Poppy’s faith and belief in things working out the way they are meant to be makes for a heartwarming, uplifting romance.
Gulliver, Ollie & Charley are unique characters with big
personalities, bringing plenty of smiles and chuckles to the story. Once
you meet them, I don’t think you’ll forget them.
Irving and Admiral are great manipulators and good for some chuckles at their antics.
Two murders with a spin that increases the suspect pool. And, of
course, all the things that need to be dealt with in the normal world.
Animals and people alike are great and I love visiting them all as their lives grow fuller, richer.
Well, another happy ever after filled with romance, murder and
intrigue, friendship and family, suspense and mystery, and characterless
that will filled my heart with uplifting moments and humor.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copyof The Root of Murder by Lauren Carr.
4 Stars
BOOK DETAILS
Book Title: The Root of Murder (A Lovers in Crime Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 332 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: March 20, 2019 Format available for review: print, Audible download, mobi, epub, PDF Will send print books out: USA & Canada Tour dates: September 9 to October 25, 2019 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
Homicide Detective Cameron Gates learned long ago that there is no such thing as a typical murder case. Each mystery is special in its own right—especially for the family of the victim.The homicide of a successful executive, husband, and father seems open and shut when the murder weapon is found in his estranged son-in-law’s possession. The circumstantial evidence is so damning that when her step-son, J.J. Thornton, agrees to act as the defendant’s public defender, he assumes his first murder case will be a loss. Only the report of a missing husband proves that this case is not as open and shut as it seems. Strap on your seat belts for a wild ride in this mystery rooted in decades of deception that sprouts into murder. Fall in Love with These Other Lovers in Crime Mysteries:
Dead on Ice is the
first installment of Lauren Carr’s new series (Lovers in Crime)
featuring Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Thornton and
Pennsylvania State Police homicide detective Cameron Gates.
Spunky
Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a
legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an
abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover,
Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin’s
basement. It doesn’t take long for their investigation to reveal that
the risqué star’s roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley
community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She
should have kept her hometown off her road map, too—because when this
starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal
homecoming.
When Homicide Detective
Cameron Gates befriends Dolly, the little old lady who lives across the
street, she is warned not to get lured into helping the elderly woman
by investigating the unsolved murder of one of her girls. “She’s
senile,” Cameron is warned. “It’s not a real murder.” Such is not
the case. After Dolly is brutally murdered, Cameron discovers that the
sweet blue-haired lady’s “girl” was a call girl, who had been killed in a
mysterious double homicide.
Meanwhile, Prosecuting Attorney
Joshua Thornton is looking for answers to the murder of a childhood
friend, a sheriff deputy whose cruiser is found at the bottom of a lake.
The deputy had disappeared almost twenty years ago while privately
investigating the murder of a local prostitute.
It doesn’t take
long for the Lovers in Crime to put their cases together to reveal a
long-kept secret that some believe is worth killing to keep undercover.
Summer has arrived! The Thorntons expect it to be a summer of change and change it does, but not in the way Joshua had expected.
Joshua’s
eldest son, Joshua Thornton Jr. (J.J.) has graduated at the top of his
class from law school and is returning home to spend the summer studying
for the bar exam. However, to Joshua’s and Cameron’s shock and dismay,
J.J. decides to move into the main house at Russell Ridge Farm, the
largest dairy farm in the Ohio Valley, in order to rekindle a romance
with Suellen Russell, the lovely widow twice his age.
The
May/December romance, bonded by a love for music, between the symphony
conductor and young musical prodigy had bloomed many years earlier.
The
move brings long buried tensions between the father and son to the
surface–not the least of which being J.J.’s inexplicable dislike for
his stepmother Cameron. But when a brutal killer strikes, the Lovers in
Crime must set all differences with Joshua’s son aside to solve the
crime before J.J. ends up in the cross-hairs of a murderer.
Meet the author:
With over forty years of writing and publishing experience,
international best-selling author Lauren Carr has played an active role
in the revolution of independent authors.
While studying for her
college degree in English and journalism, Lauren worked as an editor and
layout design artist with the federal government in Washington, DC. It
was there that Lauren learned the foundations necessary for book
publishing.
Lauren’s debut mystery, A Small Case of Murder was
a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Awards. On the heels of
that success, she accepted an offer from a traditional publisher for A Reunion to Die For.
When
it came time to publish her third book, Lauren rejected offers from two
traditional publishers, choosing instead to independently publish It’s Murder, My Son,
which made it to #1 in sales on Amazon in cozy mysteries. She has never
regretted her decision to become an independent author.
Realizing
that she could use her experiences to help other writers achieve their
dreams to become published authors, Lauren established Acorn Book Services, offering professional services to independent authors.
The
international best-selling author of over twenty-five murder mysteries,
Lauren has gone on dozens of virtual blog tours (most with iRead Book
Tours!) and has seen first-hand that how an author publishes is
irrelevant to success. The key is exposure to potential readers. Virtual
blog tours are an excellent avenue for book promotion. Book spotlights,
reviews, author guest posts and interviews are forever, unlike
in-person book events, which become a memory as soon as they have
finished.
With her vast experience, it seemed only natural for
Lauren Carr to jump at the opportunity to join the iReads Book Tours
team. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German
shepherds on a mountain in West Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
A police procedural sci fi thriller ripped from future headlines!
After Jake shoots and kills a murder suspect who turns out to be the son of a powerful city councilman, he finds himself demoted to the Artificial Crimes Unit, tracking down androids hacked and programmed to be hit men.
When his case of an “extra-judicial” divorce settlement takes a nasty turn with DNA from a hundred-year-old murder in Boston and a signature that harkens back to the very first serial killer ever in London, Jake finds himself tangled up in the brutal slayings of prostitutes being investigated by his former Robbery/Homicide partner, Maddie–who is now his lover.
But a madman, The Baron, is just getting started with his AI recreations of Jack the Ripper’s brutal crimes. And Maddie and Jake are teamed up again to stop the carnage as the Baron’s army of human replicants imitate history’s most notorious serial killers.
“It might not make sense, but the beloved Media tags it ‘Murder by Munchausen.’ For a price, there are hackers out there who will reprogram a synthoid to do your dirty work. The bad news: no fingerprints or DNA left at the crime scene. The good news—at least for us—is that they’re like missiles: once they hit their target, they’re usually as harmless as empty brass. The trick is to get them before they melt down their core OS data, so you can get the unit into forensics for analysis and, hopefully, an arrest.” [excerpt from Murder by Munchausen]
Artificial Intelligence? Fuhgeddaboudit!
Artificial Evil has a name…Munchausen.
Read an Excerpt
From The Invisible Mind (#3)
It sat on a bench outside the dormitory of nursing students, waiting with its kind’s infinite patience. Originally acquired and programmed for landscaping at the Cleveland Clinic, the synthoid was one of a brigade of units which had been hacked and Munchausened, then returned to their menial daily services to mankind to await the Baron’s call.
There was no adrenalin surge behind the extremely life-like facade of humanity when that call came. Data packets, sent scatter-shot through the Atlas Grid, coalesced at the location outside the Cole Eye Institute, where it methodically trimmed and shaped the immaculate shrubbery around the building. To avoid Q’s metadata sniffing algorithms from detecting a download spike in the grid, the information came in digital sprinkles over the course of its human handler’s work shift, slowly building a malevolent intent to be executed that night. In the middle of the afternoon, it left the topiary unfinished to melt into the hospital shift change and disappeared.
Personality modules were a Gen-3 feature upgrade, which is why the earlier models were initially preferred. Swapping out a few IC chips and uploading hacked firmware was a relatively easy way to turn a quick buck with an automated contract killing. But evil innovates, too, and the same features that made synthoids even more human-like in their behavior also helped create robotic assassins which could better camouflage their malicious intents and evade the reach of the Artificial Crimes Unit by melting into and moving undetected through the humanity that surrounded them. For the Baron, it allowed for a greater measure of artistic expression in programming the synthoid’s behavior to not only recreate infamous crimes of the past, but to mimic the behavior of their perpetrators, which intensified the thrill of watching the video feed through the eyes of Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy or, this particular evening, Richard Speck. Jake wasn’t the only history buff and it amused Jamal that London police had photographed the eyes of Jack the Ripper’s victims, hoping to capture the last thing they ever saw: their killer’s face. If only Scotland Yard could have imagined the future.
The Gen-3 personality modules also supported the ANSI Adaptive Artificial Intelligence Protocol #9 to enhance the artificial human experience of real men and women who interacted with synthoids. The constant writing and rewriting of code in the personality/experience loop formed unique individual synthoid consciousnesses, which manufacturers uploaded to their servers for product improvement teams to study. In Munchausened units, that feed was hijacked and routed to another portal in the Darknet to build a collective id of evil.
At eleven PM, it rose from the bench and entered the dormitory. The bodies of nine women would be found the next day, having been strangled and stabbed to death. Unlike 1966, no eyewitness was left alive, though the phrase “Born to Raise Hell” was written on the wall in blood.
About the Author:
M.T. Bass is a scribbler of fiction who holds fast to the notion that while victors may get to write history, novelists get to write/right reality. He lives, writes, flies and makes music in Mudcat Falls, USA.
Born in Athens, Ohio, M.T. Bass grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, majoring in English and Philosophy, then worked in the private sector (where they expect “results”) mainly in the Aerospace & Defense manufacturing market. During those years, Bass continued to write fiction. He is the author of eight novels: My Brother’s Keeper, Crossroads, In the Black, Somethin’ for Nothin’, Murder by Munchausen, The Darknet (Murder by Munchausen Mystery #2), The Invisible Mind (Murder by Munchausen Mystery #3) and Article 15. His writing spans various genres, including Mystery, Adventure, Romance, Black Comedy and TechnoThrillers. A Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor, airplanes and pilots are featured in many of his stories. Bass currently lives on the shores of Lake Erie near Lorain, Ohio.
