Tag Archives: serial killer

New Release – Helltown by Casey Sherman @caseysherman123

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Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Well, this wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. I love reading about serial killers, suspense and thriller fiction and nonfiction. Helltown seems to be a cross between them. It reminds me of the way recreations are done on TV, and I did do some web searching to check on some of the facts. It covers more than the murders. It’s about the 1960s, Cape Cod, Provincetown, the drug culture, hippies…

I have been traveling to the Cape for more than twenty years and I love it. You know exactly where you are by your surroundings, a unique and beautiful place. So many familiar places, I couldn’t help but smile as we drove the roads, ate in the restaurants and…

Can definitely see how far we have advanced when it comes to investigating a murder and how many more tools we have at our disposal.

The police, Kudos to them. Once they established a murder had taken place, they worked together tying the knot around Costa’s neck.

Even though there were fictional elements thrown in, I loved the way it was written. Easy to read, flowing smoothly.

I think a lot of people may have trouble with the recreations and suppositions, and that is why I didn’t rate this higher. It is supposed to be true crime, but it was written like a fictional novel. It was more about the times and the Cape than only a serial killer.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Helltown by Casey Sherman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love… and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire―the leader of their counter-culture movement, the charming man who speaks eloquently and hands out hallucinogenic drugs like candy. But beneath his benign persona lies a twisted and uncontrollable rage that threatens to break loose at any moment. Tony Costa is the most dangerous man on Cape Cod, and no one who crosses his path is safe.

When young women begin to disappear, Costa’s natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. Meanwhile, local writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer are locked in a desperate race to secure their legacies as great literary icons―and they both set their sights on Tony Costa and the drug-soaked hippie culture that he embodies as their next promising subject, launching independent investigations that stoke the competitive fires between two of the greatest American writers.

Immersive, unflinching, and shocking, Helltown is a landmark true crime narrative that transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s, reveals the secrets of a notorious serial killer, and unspools the threads connecting Costa, Vonnegut, and Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before. New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman has crafted a stunner.

ABOUT CASEY SHERMAN

Casey Sherman

Casey Sherman is a New York Times Bestselling Author of 13 books including The Finest Hours (now a major motion picture starring Casey Affleck & Chris Pine), Boston Strong (the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg), Animal & Hunting Whitey.
Sherman is also the author of 12, Search for the Strangler, Animal, Bad Blood, Black Irish, Black Dragon, Above & Beyond and The Ice Bucket Challenge.
Sherman is a contributing writer for TIME, Esquire, Washington Post, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine and has appeared as a guest an analyst on more than 100 television news programs.
Sherman is a graduate of Barnstable High School (Cape Cod), Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg, Me.) and Boston University.

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Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza @RobertBryndza #NetGalley #ErikaFosterReturns

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NEW RELEASE

Every once in a while, I hop over to NetGalley and see what’s happening. I have missed some good books, but found some new authors, and Robert Bryndza is one. YEAH!

Fatal Witness (Detective Erika Foster, #7)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

As soon as I saw the cover for Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza, it screamed READ ME. It’s awesome and sure does relate to the story inside, suspenseful, dangerous.

Then, I read the Prologue and it grabbed me. I do love a good Prologue and it made me ask myself…How did it come to that? Why?

Erika is a police officer and had been married to one. Her husband, Mark, had died on the job and her new house is to be a fresh start for her.

I like my action fast and furious, but I settled down in the police procedural, gathering clues with Erika, though they seem to be few. Suspects are eliminated as they crop up.

Two murders, seemingly unrelated, yet both are from the same rental building.

Even though Fatal Witness is fiction, it reminds me of how small a world we live in.

Well written. Easy to read. Flows nicely.

I sometimes have difficulty with novels from the UK, but not so here. Some words were unfamiliar, but the book was written in a way they were easy to understand.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Detective Erika Foster is back in FATAL WITNESS – with a chilling new serial killer case in Robert Bryndza’s multi-million bestselling crime thriller series!

How do you find a killer who has destroyed all the evidence?

Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.

Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky’s notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.

The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.

ABOUT ROBERT BRYNDZA

Robert Bryndza

Robert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over five million copies.

His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 29 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).

Robert has released a further five novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, the seventh Erika Foster novel, is now available to pre-order and will be published 7th July 2022.

Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands and the third book, Darkness Falls, has just been published.

Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.

You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com

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The Finale – Some Mistakes Are Unforgivable by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Jane Blythe and Some Mistakes Are Unforgivable is another heart wrenching series that has reached its conclusion. I will miss Rivers End.

Some Mistakes Are Unforgivable (River's End Rescues, #6)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Anyone that knows me, knows that Jane Blythe is one of my favorite authors. She has never let me down when it comes to getting lost in a make believe world.

Oh yeah, it is fabulous to be back in rivers end with familiar characters but a new romance.

“Her fate had been sealed the moment she made the decision to defy her parents.”

It had been eight years since her friends had been taken and forced to play the game, Rape, Torture, Kill. She will have to live with the guilt and horror for the rest of her life. She had thought the danger was over, the perpetrators had all been killed, but that was not to be.

She had to return home, or other girls would be taken. What do they want with her. Was it just that she was the one that got away?

Fletcher…she had always had a crush on him, but had never acted on it. She didn’t know that he returned the feeling because he never acted on it either. Fletcher is a deputy sheriff in Rivers End. He was determined to break down the walls Dahlia had created. He wouldn’t let her get away this time.

Jane Blythe knows how to immediately grab me by the throat, holding on, unable to stop reading, with white knuckles and my body filled with tension. Her books fit me to a T. They are fast paced with awesome characters. Unputdownable.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Some Mistakes Are Unforgivable by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

One moment in time you wish you could take back.

When Dahlia Black was fifteen she made a mistake that got her best friend killed and she hasn’t been able to forgive herself for it. Banishing herself from River’s End she’s lured back when someone decides that the past hasn’t been laid to rest. Returning to town doesn’t just mean facing the family she let down but the one man she’s always loved but who nearly died saving her.

Fletcher Harris grew up as an honorary member of the Black family, Dahlia like a little sister to him, but when he lays eyes on her for the first time in eight years he finds a beautiful, strong but hurting woman in place of the kid he remembers. Unable to get her out of his mind he’s determined to help Dahlia learn to forgive herself so she can finally move on.

But guilt could lead her to take extreme measures, ones that might ruin any chance the two of them might have had, and destroy the Black family forever.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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They Lurk by Wesley Thomas @WesJThomas

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I love the cover of They Lurk by Wesley Thomas, but there is so much more going on than a huanted house. It is available for .99 or free on Kindle Unlimited.

They Lurk

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“Our race had been cursed with all kinds of demons, wearing human disguises.”

“My passion. You take my horror, you take my soul.”

We shall see as the brothers face more than they could have imagined.

Right from the beginning, the cover fit the story, plus a bonus….a serial killer.

Shadows. Killers. Ghost men. Vitamin D Killings. What’s up with that? He explains to his brother what’s been happening, but….Is it real? Is he crazy?

The serial killer snuck up on me as I was lost in the horror of the shadows. I had moments of hurry, hurry, hide, don’t go there. I was pretty ho hum through the majority of the book with patches of fear for the boys and curiosity that kept me going.

The ending…I love when an author reminds me there is not always a happy ever after. Wesley Thomas lured me into complacency, setting me up for a very suspenseful ending. I think sometimes the writing, a British horror novel, makes me stumble while reading, taking away some of the urgency I would normally feel.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of They Lurk by Wesley Thomas.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

‘Grabs your psyche and squeezes like a fist.’ *****

A small town falls prey to monsters, ghouls, conspiracy, and one very hungry serial killer, with only two young men to protect it. When a horror movie-obsessed teenager discovers that people in his hometown have dropped dead, drained of vitamin D, puzzling and terrifying the authorities, Jack realizes this is no fantasy. With the reluctant help of his older brother, they dive into unimaginable horror that he thought was safely confined to the world of film and literature. If that wasn’t bad enough, an uncaptured native serial killer decides to revisit his old hunting grounds.
His days of classrooms and cafeteria food are over.

‘A suspenseful mystery wrapped with fear.’ *****

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

ABOUT WESLEY THOMAS

Bestselling British horror author Wesley Thomas made his mark in the horror fiction world in 2011, when he released his debut novel. Since then he has produced several bestselling collections, novels, and novellas. For over two decades Wesley has been obsessed with all things horror. So breaking into horror fiction was a natural choice for him.

His work has been published in various anthologies, featured on multiple horror websites, national and local newspapers, Scream horror magazine, and won multiple awards.

Wesley is completely addicted to the horror genre, regularly reading horror, watching horror movies and TV shows, and attending horror-themed events around the globe. Albeit, he does enjoy travelling, photography, technology, art, architecture, and spending time with family and friends.

Endorsements:

‘Wesley Thomas is one of the very few authors that has managed to completely scare me when reading his work.’ – Word Forward Blog.

‘Simply speaking, Wesley is a writer who cares for the genre deeply, and contributes to it meaningfully!’ – Dustin Urness, Author of ‘Disturbing Tales of Anguish & Horror.’

‘Wesley is an extremely talented young horror craftsman. Love the retro vibe to his work and the presentation.” – Terry. M. West well-known horror author, director, and actor.

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The Art Of Fear (The Little Things That Kill, Book I) by Pamela Crane @MentalMommyPam

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I have read a few books by Pamela Crane and loved them, so I am happy to share The Art of Fear. I LOVE the creepy cover and…well, you’ll have to scroll down to get my thoughts about the story. BUT, how about that cover? What are your thoughts? Does it make you want to read it, or run screaming? LOL

The Art of Fear (The Little Things That Kill, #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

WOW! I am speechless.

WARNING: Human trafficking and all the ugliness that goes with it.

Luckily for you, I’m a master of The Art Of Fear

The Art Of Fear has a morbid start and I love that Pamela Crane makes dishing out the crazy look so easy. She paints vivid pictures with her words. They flow at a pace that makes it impossible for me to stop. I have an urgent need to know…

I am only at 27%, but the villain is terrifying, and what’s more, I know there are real people like the villain walking among us. Next time you’re out, look around you…

Ari and Tina are complicated characters, as are those that surround them. Ari and Tina are suspicious, guarded, wanting answers and wanting something to give them a reason to go on. I am curious about Tristan and have my fingers crossed that he won’t be a bad guy. Ari deserves to have something good in her life. Children, betrayed by those who were supposed to love and protect them. I urge you to discover them for yourself.

There is so much going on, my head spins, I am confused. I found myself reading until my eyes crossed, because I had to know. White knuckled, heart pounding, emotions running riot. Intense, edge of your seat suspense. Great job, Pamela, keeping me guessing until the end. When I was done, I felt like I’d been ‘put through the wringer’, as my mother used to say…and I WANT MORE!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Paula Hawkins, Pamela Crane introduces a mind-twist that takes everything you love about thrillers, pushes it outside the box, and electrifies you with clever prose and a plot that will terrify you. A must-read thriller…” – Southern Editor Reviews

A life no girl should endure. A father no daughter could love. A twist no one would predict.

From USA Today best-selling author Pamela Crane comes a terrifying tale of small-town secrets and murder.

Ari Wilburn’s life ended long ago—the day she watched her little sister die in a tragic accident and did nothing to stop it. Crippled with self-blame and resented by her parents, she stumbles through life … and onto an unexpected clue that casts doubt on whether the death was accidental.

Now a psychological wreck, Ari joins a suicide support group where she meets Tina, a sex-enslaved escapee who finds her long-lost father dead. Suicide, police ruled it. But Tina suspects foul play. As a bond develops between the women in their shared loss, they’re dragged into playing a dangerous game with a killer.

A serial killer with a deadly message.

Faced with a murderous wake-up call and two possibly linked deaths, Ari’s investigation puts her next on the killer’s list. But she’s never been one to back down from a fight.

Needing closure, Ari must face her demons and the killer behind them … or lose everything she loves.

“If Dexter and Gone Girl had a love child, this would be it.” – reader review

ABOUT PAMELA CRANE

Pamela Crane

PAMELA CRANE is a USA TODAY best-selling author and professional juggler. Not one who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler of four kids, a writing addiction, and a horse rescuer. She lives on the edge (her Arabian horse can tell you about their wild adventures while trying to train him) and she writes on the edge…where her sanity resides. Her thrillers unravel flawed women who aren’t always pretty. In fact, her characters are rarely pretty, which makes them interesting…and perfect for doing crazy things worth writing about. When she’s not cleaning horse stalls or changing diapers, she’s psychoanalyzing others.

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Review – Time Killer by Todd M Thiede #ToddMThiede

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Time Killer by Todd M Thiede has been lingering on my reading shelf since 3.15.13. With the fabulous cover and title, I am sure it was an oversight.

Time Killer

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Have you ever been ticked off by someone taking to long in the grocery store line? Has someone made you wait while they decided which cafe latte they wanted? And…to put the shoe on the other foot, have you ever got in a fast food line and hemmed and hawed about what you wanted to order? Have you ever fumbled around at the ATM for your debit card? At the pharmacy? This book will make you think twice…maybe.

Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.

It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.

I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…

Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.

Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.

Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.

ABOUT TODD M THIEDE (from his website)

When you think of an Amazon bestselling author you probably won’t think of Todd M. Thiede. He’s been a finance manager at a car dealership in Illinois for over 15 years. He’s a father of 4 and now a grandfather of 3. When he’s not working or spending time with his family, he’s writing books. His Max Larkin Detective series has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list for multiple books in the series. He’s also written Political Thrillers under the pseudonym T.T. Michael, and those books have won multiple awards from Readers’ Favorite and Book Excellence Awards.

Todd M. Thiede is now diving into the Sci-Fi world with his new book “A New Planet”.

Website

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Piggyback Killer – If I Had Two Lives by A B Whelan @AuthorABWhelan

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Oh yeah. I have read a couple other books by A B Whelan already this year and loved them, so to add If I Had Two Lives to my repertoire was a welcome addition. Check out the fantastic cover. It really creeps me out and I can’t wait to dive in. What do you think?

If I Had Two Lives

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the cover for If I Had Two Lives by A B Whelan. The colors pop and the content creeps me out. If I Had Two Lives was inspired by a young woman in a vegetative state. I think I have read another book or saw a TV show about the event, so it made me even more curious about If I Had Two Lives.

I am sickened, filled with disgust, yet oddly drawn to know more.

As Vicki Collins, an FBI agent, investigated the Piggyback Killer, a problem arises that causes her much difficulty…an unknown brother with a criminal record. The FBI frowns on secrets. And there is so much more to come than she could have anticipated.

Doug…he’s a piece of work. I can’t figure out why she is with him, other than an occasional hop in the sack being more convenient than going out and looking for it. The more I get to know him, the less I like him.

Human nature is why I love to read thrillers, and the more damaged the characters, the better. Will they be redeemed? Will they succumb to their baggage? I want to know what happens when the shit flies. My curiosity is a monster with an insatiable appetite that can never be satisfied.

Though If I Had Two Lives seems choppier and more disjointed than other books I have read by A B Whelan, I still loved the story. The blows to Vicki keep on coming and I didn’t see everything coming. I love book surprises and reward them. The more I read, the harder it was to put the book down. I had to know how it would end. I love that through all the suspects, he remained elusive….until we came face to face.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of If I Had Two Lives by A B Whelan.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“You’re telling me I have a brother I don’t know about?” When ambitious law officer Vicky Collins transferred to the FBI, she thought she was ready for anything – until a DNA background check brings up the criminal record of a brother Vicky didn’t even know she had. Tracking down her mysterious sibling might be the only way she can cling to her career in law enforcement – but what price will she and her family have to pay when their darkest secrets come to light?

As the truth emerges, it sends Vicky’s career, relationship, and mental health spiraling to pieces all around her – and that’s before her investigation uncovers one more disquieting possibility: That the secrets she’s revealed might link members of her own family to the murders committed by the Piggyback Killer – the same serial killer she’d been assigned to investigate just prior to her suspension.

Tautly written, visceral, and intense, If I Had Two Lives is the third stand-alone psychological thriller by A.B. Whelan; described by readers as “chilling, disturbing, and unputdownable.” Fans of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Alex Michaelides will be instantly enthralled by the chilling storyline, achingly relatable characters, and immensely satisfying conclusion.

ABOUT A B WHELAN

New release: No One Can Hear You Scream is a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller about obsession, survival, and family bonds, releasing on October 20th.

A.B. Whelan

Whelan is an Amazon bestselling author of domestic psychological thrillers.

She currently resides in California with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing, editing, marketing, or researching her next book, you can find her walking her two rescue dogs, socializing online, coaching soccer, or doing another DIY project with her husband.

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MY A B WHELAN REVIEW

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New Release – Little Dolls by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Jane, Jane, Jane…you write so fast I can hardly keep up. I love the cover for Little Dolls. When I saw it, I had to put aside the other book of yours I was going to read, Saving Charlie and delve into this one. How about you, readers? Do covers call out to you?

Little Dolls (Candella Sisters' Heroes #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Usually it is the cover of a book that first catches me eye. Even though I love the cover for Little Dolls by Jane Blythe, it was the title that caught my attention first. Having read a lot of books by Jane, and knowing her penchant for thrills, I am bracing myself.

She pushed the pedal to the metal as the flashing lights glared behind her. Jane Blythe knows how to set the hook early, and I love that! And that is how Detective Jonathon Dawson meets Clara Candella. The immediate attraction leads Johnathon down a path that he could never have anticipated. With Jane Blythe’s writing, nothing is at it seems, so beware.

We have triplets, of a sort…Naomi, Clara and Agape. Even though they all have the same father and they have different mothers, they can still pass for triplets.

Little Dolls is a perfect title…each child taken was found with a doll…and another young child. What is the meaning? Why pairs? Why blond, with blue eyes (mostly). Why has it been so long between the kills of the past and now?

Clara had been six years old when she had been taken by the Doll Killers. Her and the boy she was trapped with had managed to escape. Her mind had blocked her memories, but now she feels she has to restore them to save who she can and put the people away once and for all.

The circumstances push Clara and John together. All the events happen over a short period of time, so I can overlook the instant attraction. After all, romantic suspense has to have romance to go with the thrills and chills that Jane Blythe creates, and the horrible situations she puts her characters in, fighting for their lives…or someone else’s.

Little Dolls by Jane Blythe kept me wondering…what the heck is going on…and who is doing it. Sure, I think he is involved…sure, I think ? is involved, but how does it all fit together? Jane never fails to give me hours of thrilling reading pleasure.

Little Dolls is Jane Blythe’s newest series, and Clara’s story. I can see where the series is going, each sister will get her chance to tell their story. I love that Jane ties up each story for her books, sometimes giving a little tease to make you want to read the next one. The characters make recurring appearances, so we don’t lose track of what they are up to now, getting to know them better through others stories.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Dolls by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

He’s trying to prove her friend is guilty of murder.

When Clara Candella is carjacked it brings the past she thought was firmly behind her crashing into her present. Now the sexy detective who saved her life is trying to prove that her childhood friend is guilty of the same horrendous crimes they both survived. Can she set the fact that they’re on opposite sides of this investigation aside and allow the attraction simmering between them to grow into something more?

A car chase leads Detective Jonathon Dawson to a woman he instantly feels a connection to, unfortunately, she’s hellbent on proving that her friend is innocent, even though he knows differently. Despite her being involved in his case he asks her out, only to be turned down flat. He knows there’s something between him but winning Clara’s affections while simultaneously searching for proof of her friend’s guilt isn’t going to be easy.

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!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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New Release – Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish #EveParrish

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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.

Her First Mistake: A Heart-Pounding Crime Thriller: A Detective Nina Viken Novel

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

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.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
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

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.

Connect with Victoria Ellis:

  • 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’.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Book Promo – Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish @WildfireMarket1

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Release Date: January 11


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.

 Grab Your Copy Here!

Meet Eve Parrish


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.

 

Connect with Eve Parrish

Website | Newsletter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Reader Group | BookBub   Facebook 



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  • 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!