"The Power Couple", by Alex Berenson

“The Power Couple” is a look into a modern marriage and the challenges of parenthood, sex and love. 

The main players are the Unsworth : Rebecca works in counter-terrorism for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Brian is a coder for the National Security Agency they live in a suburbs of Washington DC with their two teenage children. The story brings the family to Barcelona on a well-deserved holiday but things take an unexpected and frightening turn when Kira, the daughter, does not return home from a night out at a dance club....What happened to their daughter?....and from then on we follow the couple's quest in finding their daughter. What a gripping read filled with intrigue, espionage and suspense.

The author spins his story around and brings you back in time for both parents retelling how they came together. We see Rebecca as a young woman driven by her career and wanting all on her own term and a young man settling for years as a supporting husband to an overbearing wife. No wonder resentment was brewing....Along the way the power couple come face to face with some truths about their union they have been ignoring for a long time. Eventually their suspicions of each other turn into a secret plan to end the marriage....In the final chapter the drama ends in a splash.... This portion of the narrative has quite a bit of info dump and not much of a warm tone in the voices.

No doubt this is a fast-paced and captivating thriller I enjoyed quite a bit. Written to tease and keep you focused till you reach the last word. Indeed this glob-trotting adventure is one that kept me on my toes till the very end and along the way gave heart pounding and nail- biting moments....

As for the characters they have some flaws and borders on the stereotypes but this did not annoy me too much since I gave my full attention on the development.

This is an entertaining read.

My thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalleys for the opportunity to read this ARC

"On Edge", by John W. Mefford

“On Edge”, by John W. Mefford

An Ozzie Novak Thriller, Book #1

Redemption Thriller Series, Book #13

This is the first book in the Ozzie Novak series under the umbrella of the Redemption Thrillers Series which also includes the Alex Trout and the Ivy Nash Thrillers. Why are these series wrap under one title it is simply because they are interconnected as some of the characters cross over and appear in the other novels.

“On Edge” doesn’t disappoint it takes us a journey of finding out the truth about why Ozzie’s life suddenly fell apart after all he had everything a man could wish for: a successful law career and a happy family. Why all a sudden did his dad get sick and died, why did his marriage fell apart and what where the FBI looking for when they raided his law firm.

Mr. Mefford gave Ozzie a rough ride from page one, never letting him take a breather, one stick in the wheel after the other is thrown at him and following him trying to figure out every pieces of the puzzle was quite an exciting roller coaster ride. Ozzie skills helped him to get out of situations and how he tackled each one of them sounded quite believable. I like Ozzie he is a very likeable character.

Of course, we have plenty of action and the inevitable curve balls thrown in for good measure. Not forgetting the twists and turns and bullets flying along the way. We have a bit of everything we enjoy in a good thriller.

“On Edge” is an entertaining story and an excellent escapism.

"Primal Calling", by Barry Eisenberg

This is a stellar first book. A richly written multi-layered story filled of intrigue and a nicely done portrayal of the power of persistence. Jack is the center of attention and the main player in this wonderful story.

The story focuses on Jack’s determination for find his father, a man he never knew existed, on his relationship with his mother and the developing relationship with a girl. This tense story brings us to Jack’s father, Stewart a man determined to fulfil his duty for the DIA ( a federal agency) and ordered to keep up with the subterfuge by his handlers for the safety of all. Following them we find ourselves enmeshed in an intricate world of national security and international intrigue.

A lot goes on and without going into too many details we have a story that takes off in several directions. The plot mainly set in the US brings some episodes to Germany and Arabia and as Jack’s gets closer to the truth so does the intrigue.... What a ride...and a heartwarming page-turner.

Persistence pays off but at what price. Jack’s every moves were track by a group of mysterious people...who were they?....haha!... you will need to read ”Primal Calling” I will say no more.....

Jack’s saga moves at a steady pace and keeps the tempo throughout: not too fast just smooth sailing. I like the portrayal of each character: each has a strong personality, we have no bad or good guys even when Steward got mixed up in a terrorist attack...oh yes we have a bit of a bang in a cafeteria and the usual aftermath...

I enjoyed this story quite a bit.

Thank you, Vanguard Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

"Cold Pursuit", by Toni Anderson

Cold Justice #2

Since I really don’t remember what happened in the first book I can assure you this second story can easily be read on its own so if you pick up at this point no fear you will fit right in.

“Cold Pursuit” starts with a bang. Shopping at a mall with her son, Vivi finds herself in the middle of a terrorist attack...then when things got worse Jed, an off duty FBI agent, springs into action and comes to their rescue...but unknown to Vivi and Jed the attackers think that her son can identify them and they need to illuminate him....and the action starts.

The tension is thick and taut as Vivi tries to protect her son and Jed tries to thwart all attacks that come their ways. No place is safe for Vivi and her son even while they are in police protection the bad guys manage to find them. Filled with suspense this is one of those story that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping all good guys would turn out unscathed and there to live another day. This story may seem to be a thriller but there is so much romance and sex to be labelled anything other than a romantic/suspense. Lust is in the air for Vivi and Jed and yep they went for it...really...

The plot nicely gives us a little bit of everything: some politics, terrorism, betrayal and the dilemma of who to trust. But in terms of romance it is kinda weak and failed to be brilliant...Am I a fuddy-duddy? ...maybe.

“Cold Pursuit” is a nice change in pace but is not my preferred genre.

"Lana's War", by Anita Abriel

I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially when the story is set during WW11 and involves the French Resistance. This light, fast-paced and engaging story opens in Paris 1943 then moves to the French Riviera.
After Lana’s husband was executed by the Gestapo she joined the Resistance, her cover story makes her the mistress of a wealthy industrialist on Cap Ferrat. Her mission as a spy was to infiltrate the aristocrat community who socialize with the German officers and gather information on upcoming raid on the Jewish community in order to help them escape.

Escape to freedom to the French Riviera with all its beauty a place in which the rich appeared to be little impacted by the war. They were attending parties, galas, dinners, visiting casinos and brushing shoulders with high level Nazis. Lana was amongst them. “Lana’s War” follows her odyssey and along with her we experience a full range of emotions.

The story is quite smooth with a bit of suspense and intrigue but what excel is the description of the beautiful landscape and how vibrant the characters played out their part in the drama. Although the main focus was on Lana we see what the resistance had to do at the risk of their lives in order to save as many people as they could. Yes, the story leads to some teasing and a tad of romance between Lana and Guy and of course I wished it would have gone further but it was not meant to be....

The story is nicely done and leaves us in awe in the last chapters. I was surprised and definitely never expected the dramatic turn of events the story left us with, what an about turn. Could the author be plotting something? Who knows, maybe a sequel?...

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books via Netgalley for an unbiased review.

"The Gods of Guilt", by Michael Connelly

Mickey Haller book #5

It has been years since I read the previous novel so picking up at this point what was I in for? Can I picked here and not be lost? No problems, Mr. Connelly smoothly brought his readers to speed and it was easy to go forward from there.

“The Gods of Guilt”, brings us to now.

Left haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey brings all his skill to get his client out of prison after the man was accused of killing a former client of his: a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on straight and narrow path. The call he received got his immediate attention.....and ours also.

If you like legal thrillers this may be a story for you. We have plenty of drama both in the courtroom and outside of it. Like the people he defenses. Mickey is not a nice guy; he will go to no ends to win a mistrial. His strategy is not to uncover the truth but to develop a credible alternative theory of the crime. As readers we follow the investigations and the climactic courtroom scene and along the way we learn a little more about Mickey’s complex backstory. Mr. Connelly is great in setting up characters, giving us riveting courtroom drama with all the maneuvers, tit for tat dialogue and never ending suspense.

But, yes once again I have a but...even with all the good words said about this book I nevertheless got bored with the never ending court room theatrics...I may take me some years before I get to book #6.....we will see.

"The Escape", by Lisa Harris

US Marshall book #1

This high octane cat and mouse game between the US Marshall and a fugitive is quite entertaining and an attention grabber.

It opens with two Marshalls transporting two prisoners across the country when their plane crashes, Madison James and Jonas Quinn survived, the pilots are killed so is one of the prisoners but Damon Barrick, the most dangerous one manages to escape thus launching a manhunt through forest, towns, airports, train and bus stations.

Although the subject is by far from original, the author has put quite a personal spin into her story. Things turns deadly along the way but no fear the two officers of the law quickly put their heads together and find a way to catch this slimy prisoner and bring him back to where he belongs…but achieving this goal becomes quite a challenge….and is very captivating for us to follow them.

The story presents a sidebar and is a real teaser: a black rose is left annually on the anniversary of Madison’s husband’s murder. Who is behind this act, can it be the killer and the one who was never brought to justice….This remains an unsolved and unresolved case at the end of the book leaving us believe it will spring up again sometime.

No doubt, this story is action-packed and is a page-turner. Well- written to captivate from the opening pages and holds you there till you reach the conclusion which ends in a cliff-hanger, of course, setting the stage for book #2. The characterisation is believable. The chase for Damon, a bit far-fetched but the exciting narrative makes up for all its faults. Well-done.

I received this ARC copy of this book from the publisher Revell via the first reviewer program for my thoughts

"V2", by Robert Harris

Near the end of WW11, Germany channels all its energy into a rocket, the V2. Robert Harris in a propulsive narrative tells the story from the perspectives of Dr Rudi Graf, a collaborator of Wernher von Braun, head of the rocket program and from Kay Caton-Walsh from the Women’s Auxiliary Air force. The story is set over five days and the dueling narratives expose how the tit for tat battle played out on both sides.

Skillfully mixing the real and fictional characters into the plot Mr. Harris has drawn a series of events related the V2 rockets and their launch. The storyline alternates between Dr. Graf who find himself in Occupied Holland launching the volatile and deadly machine against London and Kay Caton-Walsh who was sent to Belgium in the hope to discovering the location of the launch sites.

The narrative is the key feature and the joy is the two conspiracies we have in this book. Behind all of this is Wernher von Braun, head of the Nazi rocket program, who may be the only one to stand out from the cliché Nazi type. For all its pace “V2” is more drama than thriller. Mr. Harris has perfectly created tension within a story in which we know the ending and masterfully presented a well-researched history embellished with colourful human behaviour.

Although a fiction V2 tells a story close to what really happened during the war. It is very technical in details... get out your slide rule we have lots of maths to follow. Interesting in many ways...

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House via Netgalley and Edelweiss for an unbiased review these are my thoughts.

"Staccato", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Short book #1

Zeb Carter is leaving the coffee store when the shooter opens fire indiscriminately and escapes.... then Zeb springs into action and the hunt is on......

What an opening....

This novella is filled with never ending action of course when Zeb is around we have no peace, this is the main reason when Zeb and his team are concerned we are never bored. The dramas they find themselves into are a thrill to read. This little story is way too short once into it zap you reached the end but what a complete and excellent story, it notches all the boxes. Mr. Patterson brought in all his team plus managed to introduce two of his favourite cops, his boss, he did not forget Cutter Grogan, the main player in his new series and many more characters we came to know from other series also showed up. This story is cleverly written to fit in with the other series and is a wonderful filler between books when time is pressing.

"The Kingdom", by Jo Nesbo

This latest meaty and twisty standalone bring us to a remote Norwegian village where our attention will be centered on the complex relationship between two brothers, Roy and Carl Opgard. It opens when 15 year old Carl mortally wounds the family dog and his brother puts the animal out of its misery and cleans up the mess.
Then

Very slowly Mr. Nesbo methodically peels away the secrets surrounding the brothers’ backstory and gradually frog leaps into Carl and Roy’s relations with their neighbours. The simmering and complex story gives us unexpected violent twists when slippery Carl plans to reinvigorate the town...and inevitably gruesome secrets emerge and the ever growing body count mounts.

Although this story is more concerned with sibling rivalry, family secrets, young love and the winter blues...we still find a lot of conniving going on... so, why am I left hot and cold about “The Kingdom”. It simple: too slow moving, too convoluted, too many clichés and quite boring for too long. This story could have been said within 400 pages. It was a challenge to stay on top of this story but ¾ into it when things took an about turn more intensity and intrigue injected into the story I stayed glued and could not put the last pages down wanting so much to see how this saga would end....Oh boy what an open ending...One a final note this story provides us with amazing characterization and a superb narration but having said this I was left slightly disappointed with this one.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

"Chasing the Monkey King", by D.C. Alexander

When a U.S. government investigator vanished on assignment Former detective Lars Severin is hired to find out what happened to her by a family member. Was her disappearance the result of an act of violence or something more sinister....His quest to find out the truth will bring him and Wallance Zhang, his long-time friend, into a labyrinth of double dealing and conspiracy....The chase will lead them from the alleys of Seattle to Washington D.C. and to the city of Shanghai. Along the way these two intrepid travellers will entertain us with their continuous banter.

At the heart of this interesting plot is the subject of anti-dumping practice imposed on goods and the machinations some industries are willing to do in order to squash the competitors. What a timely subject. The author’s provides in his narrative many details of the practice.

The topic is original and the mechanics quite good. The investigation seems at first to lead nowhere, we have no motive, no data to say and where did the missing investigators go...no bodies, nothing. But Lars and Wallance are very competent at driving out despicable people, they take their time flushing them out, cloak and dagger at its finest.. But the slowness of their work affected the flow considerably and after a while a good push was definitely needed to move things along. I am not a big fan of raw humour but these two were experts and I simply love the ways they communicated with each other: witty remarks and constant teasing...loved it. These two are entertaining.

In all, this is a good mystery

BTW:

Mandatory while reading “Chasing the Monkey King” is joining Lars and Wallance for a cup of pu’er tea ....( you will understand once you open this book)

I received a free digital copy of this mystery. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"Without Blood", by Martin Michaud

A Victor Lessard Thriller 

 

Book #2 for the English audience

A note at the beginning suggests that we should consider “Without Blood” a prequel to the series.

I am not surprised learning that Mr. Michaud’s nickname is the Master of the Quebec thriller and that his Victor Lessard series has been adapted and is airing on the TV platform here in French Quebec as well as in Europe. For the English audience two of his books are now translated “Never Forget” came out earlier this year and “Without Blood” will in the next few months. My thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Each book has a unique story to tell, “Without Blood” invites us to travel through the beautiful streets of Montreal where multiple non-trivial stories unfold. It opens when a young woman (Simone) wakes up from a coma and goes on a mad dash to find a man who in all likelihood does not exist. It follows with rebellious cop Victor Lessard pursuing a ruthless hunter who stalks the streets of Montreal and the third thread brings a hunter stalking his prey and awaiting the right moment to close in for the kill.

The author, a native of the city, knows well the city and its neighborhoods, following the characters through the streets and locals brought back cherish memories to this Montrealer. The story is told in alternate voices going from a 1sr person narrative when Simone’s speaks and switches to a 3rd person narrative when Victor and the hunter play their parts. The alternating voices seemed hard to follow at first but I soon fell into the beat and from then on, no trouble I knew that... Simone, Victor and the hunter will each have their turn to tell their stories.

The translation is outstanding; the artist has captured the voice of the writer perfectly. Thanks to the author's fluid and rhythmic writing and the unbridled speed it is said this is one of those books hard not to be deeply invested in. Some may not like to be plunged into the paranormal when Simone has visions, although I am not a fan, it did not bother me at all. Victor is the perfect cliché of policemen but he plays his role perfectly, I love him. As for the rest of the crew they are well- defined and their roles are exciting to read.

I love this series and “Without Blood” gets 5 stars from me

"Break", by Ty Patterson

Cutter Grogan Thrillers book #1

As a fan I know by now that Mr. Patterson has a fertile imagination and has no limits in order to entertain his fans. Moving away from his well-known “ Zeb Carter” series Mr. Patterson introduces his new lead man, Cutter Grogan a former Delta soldier, who calls himself a “Fixer”. Once again we are given a story very hard to put aside. This is a page-turner of a story that grabs you from the start and holds you captive till you reach the conclusion.

A concern mother requests the “Fixer” to help her to rescue her son from the clutches of a drug pushing gang. Cutter soon finds out the situation is by far more complicated that he thought when he gets involved with a white supremacist group and one of them is running for president...oh my my.....

This is a blistering opening for what will be a great series. Cutter leads us into a thrilling ride filled with twists in every direction while in a cameo appearance Zeb Carter’s team is there to save our intrepid new protagonist from being killed. The plot provides many thread lines that are all interconnected and easy to follow, I never lost track of what was going on. “Break” is a well-written thriller populated with excellent characters and to boot has a great story to tell. Nicely done.

I received a copy of this book for my honest thoughts.

"Her Winter of Darkness", by Melinda Woodhall

A Veronica Lee thriller

Book #3

Reading Melinda Woodhall’s thrillers are exciting and such a page turner very hard to put down. This latest continues the adventure that first started with the Mercy Harbor series and morphed into an even more thrilling read with the Veronica Lee series. I am a huge fan of hers and I am happy to be notified when one of her new book comes out. Seize the opportunity to read “Her Winter of Darkness”, the story gives us everything a thriller has to offer. No worries this third book can easily be read as a standalone but by now you know it would be far more enjoyable to read a series in sequence.

In this latest, reporter Veronica Lee investigates the story behind a human trafficking ring after receiving desperate plea for help was posted on her web site from a captive woman. The cry for help sets in motion a quest that brings out not only the hunted: the remorseless predator but also the hunters: federal marshal and small town police. But more importantly the chase opens a whole slew of questions: why as Ling Lee been hiding for decades? What is Diablo real identity? Will the authorities find the women before it is too late? How much corruption is there in the police? , will the devious mayor ever be disgraced?...I can go on and on...The answers are slowly revealed but in meantime what a thrill, so suspenseful I couldn’t help but rapidly flipping the pages I wanted so much to know the outcome. Reading this book I had a wide range of emotions: human trafficking, captivity, mental torture, murder will bring out deep feelings in everyone.

This drama covers a lot. It is a very well developed storyline. Smoothly said and packed with excellent characters...I simply love this book and I am looking forward to read more from Ms. Woodhall.

I received a free digital copy of this crime fiction. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"The Brightest Fell", by Nupur Chowdhury

In the wake of a bloody civil war, we enter the world of Naijan, a fictional and futuristic country ruled alternately by the Birhani and the Zanya factions who had agree to share power over the population. The tale opens in the aftermath of a bomb-blast in the metro system of its capital city that left hundreds dead. The blast has created public rage and pressure on the Prime Minister to clear the use of Amven on criminals during the investigation....and so the game begins.....

The story is mostly set up to be a political thriller with plenty of corruption, disputes and resentments between the two factions. It also spins a dash of Sci-Fi around a miracle drug that would make terrorists docile. But the creator of the drug wants to keep the drug out of the hands of politicians even it means betraying his closes friends. Then, the story introduces us to some very colourful characters that have their own hidden agenda. The names of places and characters may be a challenge to remember but bear with it eventually it will all fit in. The characters do use slangs and expression some may use in their daily lives but not everyone, another challenge.....The witty and funny dialogues helps to keep the elements of suspense moving along at a fast pace. Some would say the story is dialogue heavy, indeed we do, pages after pages without a break. Dialogue driven story is a style I like, it makes for a lively read. A lot is going on: back stabbing, double crossing and plenty of unpredictable twists and turns.

This thriller is well-written, no choppy sentences, everything flows smoothly, the prose is of quality and the plot interesting, overall nicely done.

Thanks to the author, who provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Price of Valor", by Susan May Warren

Global Search and Rescue #3

This contemporary romance novel continues with another saga of high rescue mission during a devastating catastrophe. The latest drama picks up a few loose threads from Marshall Family and deepens them along the way. The main players are Ham Jones, a former Navy DEAL, with his wife Signe, a CIA operative. We also have the participation of Orion and Jake with their sidekicks, the much loved heroes from the previous stories. The rescue drama takes place in beautiful Sicily near Mount Etna. “The Price of Valor” is the series finale. Because of the intricacies of this latest, I strongly recommend reading book #1 and #2 first.

What a roller coaster ride and what an exhausting read this turned out to be: one natural disaster after another, terror never gives up. This is one story filled with shock factors no one would want to live through. Oh yes, the plotline gives a lot more than a story around rescuing people it is principally a love story of man that would not give up on his wife. This is Ham’s story and it is deeply emotional.

In the second storyline we follow Orion and Jenny on their journey to forgiveness and along the way we have a life lessons and the love of God. We also find surprising turns along the way and some intense moments to keep us on our toes.

Sounds good...why didn’t it appeal to me more.

Answer: feels like a religious soap opera and the constant rehashing was too much.

By the end, the story was so bogged down by faith aspect that my mind had disconnected and it was time to move on.....

I received a copy from the Publisher Revell via First Reviewer Program for my thoughts

"Act of Revenge", by John Bishop

A Doc Brady Mystery Book# 3

This medical thriller is not only a solid read but a good mix of mystery, family and danger. This 3rd mystery stands on its own two feet and for the novice of this series not fear you can easily melt right in and enjoy every moment passing time with Doc Brady as he finds himself involved in events that have him in the middle of a mystery. In this 3rd act, Doc returns to investigating when Lou Edwards, a friend, finds himself accused of murder.

This story captured my attention from the beginning and never let go. It opens with the murder of Paul Thompson a wealthy owner of a renowned insurance co and follows up with an investigation into the main suspect doctor Lou Edwards who had recently lost his malpractice coverage insurance. The mystery also pulls in the many people around them.

The author is a medical doctor by profession and his knowledge and experience shine in his words of course we have an abundance of medical procedures mainly mammoplasty, rhytidectomy and other cosmetic surgery but all done with taste and not too graphic. Doc Brady is a fun character and likeable in every way. His wife and son play a good part in the mystery so does Tip the loveable pooch. We also have secretaries, house keepers and daughters in the picture to move forward this very captivating mystery which also includes some twists and turns to keep us on our toes. I kept flipping the pages following Doc Brady work throughout the story I so wanted to find out the whodunit ... Was it Lou or not? This was so exciting... What a surprising outcome....

I big thank you to Anna at Goodreads for bringing this book to my attention and also to NetGalley and Mantid Press for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Blind Vigil", by Matt Coyle

                                                                               

Rick Cahill series # 7

What a great read this turned out to be. Although this is the 7th book in the series I had no trouble getting into it from the get-go Matt Coyle gives us snippets of what happened to his protagonist without lingering on his past and has masterfully moved forward his storyline with a blend of hard-boiled, noirish and a breath of fresh life to the PI tradition.

Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a PI nine months ago Rick Cahill is still trying to start a new life. But when his one-time partner Moira MacFarlane asks for his help on a case he couldn’t refuse...as always when Rick is involved things always turns deadly....

Mr. Coyle captured masterfully Cahill dealing with the loss of his eyesight and how he carries himself in the dark: he counts steps and is reliant on his others sense to move around. The mystery if told from the point of view of a blind person. I do have a weak spot for a first person narrative definitely my preferred style by a long shot.

Without a murder we wouldn’t have a captivating mystery Oh yes, Shay gets killed and Turk, Cahill’s best friend is the main suspect ...but he doesn’t believe his friend could do such a thing...and we have police, lawyers, suspects, friends and oh yes the Invisible Man with the Dove underarm smell...all in the fray... to entertain us and they do captivate till the very last page.

“Blind Vigil”, is well-written, fast-paced, has amazing and diverse characters and is a page turner very hard to put down. Excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Remember Me", by Mario Escobar

                                                   

                                                     A Spanish Civil War Novel

     
1936-1939

The Spanish Civil War is referred to as one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. Mr. Escobar’s novelization of the events is told by Marco, a fictional survivor and one of the 500 children that were relocated via ship to Mexico to escape the violence.

At what cost do you protect your child?

“Remember Me” is the story of the Alcalde family and focusses mainly on the children: Marco, Isabel and Ana who traveled across the sea without their parents only to be trapped in a country far from their homeland. Based on true events and documents we follow the siblings through their ordeal. Life was not easy, they had to endure hunger, beating and even kidnapping...their overall situation was horrible. The Alcade family represents the lives of thousands of families who were separated ... many children trying to survive alone and many parents suffering from having to let them go.

The story is told in three parts: the first deals with the Civil War in Spain, the second the children evacuation to Mexico and the last part covers the life in Spain under Franco’s rules. At the end of the book we have the author’s clarifications of the factual events from those needed to fit into his narrative and the final chapter gives a timeline of significant events during that period. The research is outstanding.

Mr. Escobar writing style is simple; his fluency of words and charged phrases will strike a chord in your heart, it did for me.

This is a great historical fiction

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher Thomas Nelson via Netgalleys the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"In the End", by John W. Mefford

                                               Ivy Nash book #6

                                   Redemption Thriller book # 12

This is the final novel in the Ivy Nash series and the most captivating story penned by Mr. Mefford.

It opens with Ivy being asked to find a missing daughter without the help of the authorities. The parents being illegal immigrants are deeply worried to be deported if the police are involved. Ivy will do her best to find the girl but it is not as easy as one may think. With Stan unofficially helping her working the case they soon stumble into satanic rituals going on and around the school and the local church......Creepy and macabre.

Mr. Mefford is extremely descriptive of the setting and knows how to make his characters leap off the pages. The story features a diverse set of characters but my favourite still are Ivy and her teenage sidekick Christina. Both grew throughout the series I hate to part with them but it is what it is... As I was flipping the pages I could visualise the action as it developed...yes, gruesome in parts but what a twisted imagination this author has. My heart rate kept going up and down ..grrrr.. but when a story is filled with action, has several plot twists and full of surprise what more can you ask....

I enjoyed the Ivy Nash series and looking forward to reading the 3rd set of thrillers in the Redemption series “Ozzie Novak Thrillers”.

I wish to thank John W. Mefford for sending me the 6 books in this series for my enjoyment.

"The Berlin Girl", by Mandy Robotham

This is a heart-wrenching story of a young woman, an English reporter, who puts herself in the line of fire as the world is about to be forever changed. Germany is on the brink of war. The story is set in Berlin 1938, at the height of summer and last till early Fall 1939.
After witnessing innocent people being torn from their home, Goergie Young along with her colleague, Max Spencer, needed to do something. As they dug deeper they uncovered the truth about Hitler’s Germany and through their eyes we see a world swathed in red flags and crawling with Nazis.

I was totally taken by this story; I simply couldn’t put it aside. Within the opening pages I was hooked and stayed eager to know what was in store for Goergie as she navigated her journalistic life during the Nazi occupation. Reporter’s work was not only censured by the Reich but the home office took great care not to offend the Germans by publishing what they thought were not based on fact reports; they wanted photos as proof before publishing anything, in fact Georgie and Max were also censured at home. Leaving the rest of the world oblivious to what really was going on.

There is a lot going on beyond the copious amounts of booze, smoking and yes strudel as Georgie bonded with her fellow journalists. She soon made friends with Sam at the British Embassy while she was involved with a German officer, but of course, this relationship eventually put her in extreme danger and the story behind is more than captivating. My favourite secondary character was Rubin a Jewish man who drove Georgie around the city till he no longer was permitted. The voices were essentially of Goergie but from time to time Rubin took center stage as he got more involved. By the end, along with his family, Goergie helped him escape Germany. I could continue but I rather you read this novel for yourself: discovering Ms. Robotham vision of events is what makes this novel a must read.

This historical novel is well-written and has sympathetic and likeable characters and we have quite a few to follow. Being during this difficult period in time the story plays with our emotions: although a truth spoken without drama. We have some elements of mystery, suspense and romance all perfectly balanced. This novel wraps up with a brilliant epilogue: closure for all....

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK via Netgalleys the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Acceptable Risk", by Lynette Eason

Book #2, in the Danger Never Sleeps series

This romantic suspense novel is another winner, a story that is as gripping and as hard to put down as its predecessor “Collateral Damage”. No worries book#2 has its own intriguing story and stands perfectly on its own.

A brief summary

Journalist Sarah Denning, barely back home after being held hostage overseas, digs into her brother’s death after he committed suicide. With the help of former Army ranger Gavin Black they race to peel back layers of lies to uncover the truth but along the way Sarah’s enemies seek to silence her....

My take

The storyline weaves together a nonstop thrill ride, a blend of suspense, mystery, intrigue. Along the way, the author has softened her narrative with light romantic threads. Through her protagonists and her plotline, the author masterfully tells the military life and the struggles the veterans have to face dealing with VA hospital once they are home. This story deals with hard but realistic issues that may not be easy to read: such as PTSD, hostage situations and suicide. By the end the piece of the puzzle connects and the higher than usual death are linked to a single VA hospital... What a perfect blend of betrayal and greed. Although we may be into a conspiracy hard to believe but the cat and mouse game played out by believable characters is definitely what drive this suspense.

“Acceptable Risk” gives us an enjoyable fast-paced scenarios peppered with emotions from start to finish. It is told in third person alternating between Gavin and Sarah, the chapters are fairly short making this a quick read.

Although this book is a Christian novel, the story does not overwhelm us with faith elements. The plot has the perfect structure to be Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel’s new drama. I was highly invested throughout.

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher Revell Books via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts

"The Girl Who Lived twice", by David Lagercrantz

                                                                Millennium book # 6

We have two stories to follow in this last installment: one involves the death of a beggar who had previously accosted Mikael Blomkvist, the editor of the journal Millennium and in the second we find out the reasons why Lisbeth Salander has somewhat disappeared from Mikael’s life and as created a cat and mouse game in which he is used as fair game.

Most of the narrative follows Mikael Blomkvist. The book opens with Mikael so tired and fed up trying to finish an article about a Russian oligarch when he gets a call telling him that his phone number was found in the pocket of a dead beggar in the wooded area. He turned up to be a Nepalese Sherpa... Then the novel meanders quite a bit with Salander appearing from time to time to mainly help Mikael with technical support as he goes about with his interviews.....eventually the story reveals unexpected connections and is more captivating...

While in the secondary plot we have Camilla, the evil twin sister, with her GRU cohorts tracking down Lisbeth in order to exact revenge. No worries about seeing blood and gore apart rolling political opponents into cremation oven alive there is not much other howling going on...of course...till the final confrontation....”When two bitches fight, only one will survive”.

This story leaves me hot and cold, at time captivating and at time dragging way too much. All of this drama unfolds with prose that is somewhat stilted and with plots that make little sense. This story is needlessly complex bogging down in a sea of names. Too often I had to pause and reread in order to place the character or go to the detailed list at the beginning to make sense of what’s going on. . Furthermore and as a side note, I think the ability of both the protagonists to take a hell of a kicking and somehow survive another day is a heck of a stretch.....What more can I say....

"Cometh the Hour", by Jeffrey Archer

 The Clifton Chronicles # 6

Mr. Archer’s spins a cracking yarn with his sixth volume and has plunged us even deeper into a very intense tale of spies, politics, love and most of all unlimited intrigue. “Cometh the Hour” continues the events of the fictitious Clifton and Barrington families now the characters have reached the 1970s. Although this story can be read on its own I would highly suggest not doing so as this latest follows the events of the previous book.

All stories have started with a bang and ended in a cliff-hanger, this latest is no exception...What tumultuous lives they lead and what intense reading it is navigating through the pages reading Emma facing a vicious legal battles while her husband Harry is still determined to get “Uncle Joe” published and his author, poet Anatoly Babakov released from the Soviet gulag. Her brother, Giles Barrington will do anything to get his lover out of East Germany but is Karen in love or a well disguised spy...what a hot topic...The story will not let us forget that it wouldn’t be so captivating and be such a page turner if it were not for the conniving Lady Virginia. You will enjoy reading what she is up to...Of course Emma’s son Sebastian is in love with a beautiful Indian girl with powerful parents who will go to any ends to keep them apart, another captivating saga we follow. Andrian Sloane and Desmond Mellor, Sebastian’s rivals, have insidious schemes waiting for him...What a bunch of back stabbers.....Not a moment of peace....What a bunch of fascinating characters.

The characters’ stories intertwined with historical events of the period such as the Cold war and Margaret Thatcher’s political ascent. While some chapters focus on British political and international espionage others will on corporate espionage and financial crime and some will give us more social commentary of the time. The portrayal of these different views is really what keeps the story fresh and engaging.

This is another story terribly hard to put down. I simply

 

loved it

"Metropolis", by Philip Kerr

Bernie Gunther book # 14

In “Metropolis” the final story of Bernie Gunther, Mr. Kerr’s created a timeless moment by taking us back to 1928 Berlin, when Bernie was on his first case as a homicide cop looking into a string of murders committed by a killer nicknamed “Winnetou”. I am not going to give the plot away you will have to find out for yourself. This is definitely a fitting end to Philip Kerr storied career.

Mr. Kerr style is appealing, I love the first person narrative, with his wise-cracking voice and trademark banter Bernie tells what is happening. Bernie is a detective caught up in an increasingly Nazified Berlin police department and he hates it “Metropolis” give us a tour of a city in chaos with its seedy sideshows and sex clubs, not forgetting a taste of the underground gangs, the homeless, the abandoned and the bewildered citizens. As always, the setting is brought to life with vivid description and through perfectly drawn characters. Weaved in are a number of real life historical characters and of course plenty of intrigue is found throughout. What a fine job of immersing us in the seamy side of Weimar Germany, through the facts of history and the vagaries of human nature.

On the other hand, this latest is not the author’s best, it seems more of an unfinished draft. Some plot lines appear out of nowhere and abruptly die there. Some sentences are clumsy and hard to follow, at times I didn’t know where I was or what I was reading... did I miss something?. ..As a whole “Metropolis” is a good read but one that did not meet my expectation.....

Saying goodbye is hard to do.....you will be missed...

"Mightier Than The Sword", by Jeffrey Archer

The Clifton Chronicles book # 5

This is the fifth novel in The Clifton Chronicles series could be accessible as a stand-alone story although to have a better feel of what’s going on it is by far better to read it in sequence otherwise you may find yourself wanting to see what had happened previously. And if you have read the previous novel “Be Careful What You Wish For” you will remember it ended in a major cliff hanger....But as a great storyteller, Mr. Archer thought of his newbies and thankfully volume 5 begins with repeating the final chapter of the last book.

Like the other entries in this series this story is an episodic adventure following a large cast of diverse characters and their political, romantic and financial machinations. It covers the tumultuous years from 1964 through 1970.

“Mightier Than the Swords” is a real page-turner that starts with a bang. The IRA sets of a bomb during MV Buckingham’s maiden voyage across the Atlantic. From then on cover-up with more cover-up, more machinations trump more machination, back stabbing over back stabbing, lies on top of lies...you name it. Of course, we see much of the same struggles of the families as they face off again with old foes. I couldn’t put this story down, definitely an engaging one.

We also have a new plotline in the quest to publish a biography of Stalin that is now behind the iron Curtain and once again Mr. Archer leaves this riveting saga with a cliff-hanger.

Another runaway read written by a master. I am so addicted to this series.

"The Girl Who Wasn't There", by Vincent Zandri

This is a psychological suspense at its best, one that plays with the mind of the protagonist and also with the one of its readers.

Not everything is as it seems

Sidney “Doc” O’Keefe is free after being incarcerated for 10 years in a maximum-security for a murder he did not commit. He needs a change in pace so with his wife and daughter he heads to Lake Placid but soon things turned ugly when his daughter is abducted from the beach just steps away from their hotel room. Sid thinks his old crime boss Mickey Rabuffo to be behind the act. Unfortunately, with his history of violence both in and out of jail Sid becomes the prime suspect. With nowhere to go Sid and Penny (wife) decide to take matters in their hands…Is this a mistake? Both are led down a path too convoluted to discover the truth. What a story.

This is a classic noir writing style at its best. Told from Sid’s point of view, he is a simple man driving by his unwavering love for his daughter. We immediate feel a connection with him. I loved him and rooted for him hoping all would end well.

This story needs full attention, Mr. Zandi knows how to execute twists that seem to lead somewhere but just when you thought you had it all figured it out and knew where he is going with his next move, he throws a curve to derail us and teases us with something new. I couldn’t resist turning the pages to see what would happen next. What a smart and cunning drama. The words are perfectly weaved to grab from the start and not let go. We have many chase scenes, lots of violence, blood and gore to make this not only an intense and captivating read but also a cinematic page-turner hard to put down. What a conspiracy is played out here.

And by the end:

Was this saga the fruit of Sid’s fertile imagination ……an illusion of some kind...the question is up for debate....well-done.

I received a digital copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalleys for my thoughts

"The Residence", by Andrew Pyper

This latest by Andrew Pyper really pulled me out of my comfort zone…”Moi” reading a supernatural horror thriller really????

This ghost story based on true events tells the story of a marriage and is set at the most famous building in the world: the White House during the time of President Franklin Pierce’s tenure. Jane his wife was a charming First Ladies and Frank a leader whose inaction set the course toward civil war... a president almost forgotten by historians.

The “Residence” is the story of a couple struggling with the loss of their children especially Ben who was the sole fatality in a bizarre train accident. After the inauguration, the couple were forced to reside in a place of grief. Jane wrote letters to Bennie, pleading for the boy’s return and in the book, he did. There were séances, eccentric behavior, visions, apparitions, all kind of weird stuff the author’s describes. Jane talked to Bennie every day and the ghost of Sir appeared multiple times, a vision in Jane’s mind that started in her childhood days. At first the sightings and exchanges were civil then events became tragic….. All in the haunted house its residents are not permitted to leave…A house with that much history must have some pretty dark secrets…right? We have a truck load of strange behaviour in this novel…

Wasn’t it supposed to be a kind of ghost story to scare us? No, it is simply a bla bla bla sad and depressing story. A dread-filled kind of story or any kind of dark story has to capture your imagination and keep you captive and engrossed to the last page. I was so bored I couldn’t reach the end fast enough. Not saying it is bad it simply did nothing for me. Having read and enjoyed books from this author in the past I was simply disappointed with this one. I guess one cannot please all the time. Well Mr. Pyper you did it, a story creepy for some and for others to leave on the shelf and never open it.

I received this ARC form Simon & Schuster via NetGalleys for my thoughts

"Don't Keep Silent", by Elizabeth Goddard

Uncommon Justice, book #3

“Don’t Keep Silent” is a soft romance/mystery where the focus is on Liam Mckane, the last of the three brothers in this series. Each book tells a story centered on the life and adventure of each brother. Their stories are independent to each other so no worry if you haven’t read the two first books you will enjoy this one on its own.

The two main players are Liam, ex-military and DEA operative and Rae Burke, an investigative reporter. Both have history together that has left a bad taste. When Rae seeks Liam to help her find her missing sister-in-law, he couldn’t say no even if she used him, blew his cover and broke his heart. Looking deeper into the disappearance they soon find themselves in the midst of a very sinister situation…..

The mystery is intriguing and quite suspenseful. I was once again immersed in the beauty and danger of the Grand Teton/Jackson Hole following the two protagonists. This is an intricate plot with some twists and turns that has kept me guessing for a while but I nevertheless figured it out before I flipped the last page….Both characters were so earnest in their hunt for the truth, so focus I felt immersed along with them in their investigation. Oh yes, as well skiing down the treacherous mountain slopes… The setting definitely plays a large role…..The beautiful imagery of the ski resort, the struggling to ski and the snowmobile scenes show the natural beauty of Wyoming.

“Don’t Keep Silent” is an excellently written suspense that breathes in a way fits of tender moments. A great finish to the series.

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher Revell Books via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts

"McGarvey", by David Hagberg

The World’s Most Dangerous Assassin

Kirk McGarvey book # 25

When asking for this book from the publisher Macmillan-Tor/Forge through Netgalleys I had not realized it was #25 in the series, there were no notes to that effect but now looking back after reading this story there were no reason to do so. This story stood well as a stand-alone. As agreed when receiving this book the following are my thoughts.

A tid-bit of the story:

McGarvey investigates the mysterious death of his parents a long time ago that unravels a string of buried secrets that are tied to Vladimir Putin. In return the Russian dictator wants him dead and sends Russian Hit Squads to eliminate him….

My thoughts:

Some would say the plot is unrealistic, I do agree but no doubts quite fun to read if you put aside that the smartest computer expect and hacker in the world can do what he is capable of doing in this plot is implausible. He will do anything to help Kirk even if it means to destroy every computer systems on earth….

As the story switches between times from recounting the time of the accident the protagonist’s parents were involved in to his present state of looking into the reason behind their death. Along the ways he comes face to face with members of the hit squad. Of course we have some action and Kirk comes out unscathed to fight another day. The scenario is not too complicated to follow although when the tension builds we definitely want Kirk to success without declaring a war. I wouldn’t say this book is action packed but it has a fair amount to be entertaining enough to keep us pushing forward. The writing is not literature nor pompous. The exchanges between characters are rather down to earth, very simple, really what it should be. As for the characters, you will definitely root for them….maybe even Putin.

“McGarvey” is good but quite the run of the mill type of spy story.

"Map of the Impossible", by J.F. Penn

Book 3, of the Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy.

I must say dark fantasy novels are not my preferred reading experiences and I rarely read them but I make exception when it comes to Ms. Penn. To be fair to the author and to myself I will say what I like about the book and I will also say what I like the least.

The Mapwalker Fantasy trilogy:
- Map of Shadows #1
- Map of Plagues #2
- Map of the Impossible #3

I am a huge fan of her Arkane series and was quite taken by the Sins series also, so when this trilogy was offered for my thoughts I jumped right in and said yes sent me the books. Thank you for doing so Ms. Penn.

In a few words:

Sienna and the Mapwalker team will use the Map of Impossible for their journey through the realm of the dead and face the challenges and the nightmare that awaits them. Can’t they reach their goal before it is too late?

What I like:

The blend of psychology and supernatural written with richness of words, each movement is vividly painted, although extremely dark but most of all full of lively descriptions…very wicked ones most of the time. Ms. Penn is very creative in her story and she loves to include creepy characters and supernatural happenings in order to propel us into a world of fantasy.

What I like the least:

Terror, darkness and “impossible” action. A storyline out of this world totally “impossible” played out by characters that weave spells, flames out of their hands, creepy creature at every corner, lead characters facing “impossible” situation and jumping, twirling in the air, kick boxing….dead birds coming back to life…brrrrrrrrrrr ”Impossible” is the correct word but again this is a fantasy and should be “Impossible”. In a few words the storyline didn’t gel for me but the way it is said is excellent and will please fans of this genre.

Since this story was not my cup of tea, I suggest you do not take my words for it and judge for yourself.

"Her Final Fall", by Melinda Woodhall

Veronica Lee Thriller book #2

This one also joins the terrific stories have been reading lately. I am a huge fan of Melinda Woodhall and after reading the 4 books in her thrilling “Mercy Harbor” series, I stayed faithful. So when she started the Veronica Lee Thrillers I seized the opportunity to immerse myself once more knowing that Melinda’s plot would be well thought of and be suspenseful, will bring back some characters from her first series and would add wonderful players to captivate us and most of all by the end all the dots would be connected . “Her Final Fall “, is one story that grabs attention and hold you captive till you reach the conclusion. What a great addition to the Veronica Lee series.

I loved passing time with “Her Final Fall”, it is a story about murders, the hunted and the hunters. It all started after a glamorous model is pushed to her death from a high-rise balcony in Miami. Then the action moves to Willow Bay with Veronica receiving a video of the horrific act. The victim so happened to be the state prosecutor Riley Odell’s sister, making the crime very personal for all. The chase is on when chief of police suspects the killer is in town and will strike again.

Action packed drama, one that kept me glued to the pages. So many twists and turns along the way and what an unpredictable ending. I never suspected the whodunit, what a surprise this turned out to be. Well-done.

Although this second book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone, so no worries to start here but you will be tempted…..

I received a free digital copy of this crime fiction. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"Incoming", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Book # 7

What did I get into with this latest…well hours of intense reading…ouf… very tiresome but what excitement this thriller brought. For one: never ending action and a very captivating story totally unputdawnable…of course if you love reading over the top covert operations Ty Patterson is a master in providing us with awesome plots hard to put down.

In “Incoming”, Zeb Carter has to stop Iran intelligence chief’s plan to destroy America. The audacious plan is to ruin the US economically and kill millions of people in the Western world. Zeb and his team along with the Iranian underground and Israeli operatives will do anything to foil the plan and in doing so will cause havoc on Tehran.

Yes, this is another Iranian bashing…of course they are the bad guys once again as in many of this genre of story. I admit within the first chapters I wanted to drop it and move on but being a huge fan of this author I simply couldn’t do this and I stuck with it…stuck became fast the wrong word engrossed much better. This latest in the Covert-Ops Zeb Carter was definitely thrilling. What a wild adventure that started with a plan to rescue a few Mossad agents and along the way be rid of the Quds leader. The descriptive scenes place us right in the middle of wild action where every turn is dangerous and the Quds even more ruthless.

I will join those who say this is one of the most complex plots Mr. Patterson has written so far. Fast-paced, action packed and strong characters to boot. “Incoming” is written in ways to slowly pull you in then keeps you on the edge of your seat till you flipped the last page.

Another winner

"First Shot", by E.H. Reinhard

Dedicated to Death book #1

Told from the point of views of both the detective and the criminals and using the first and third person narrative “The First Shot” is all about murder, mayhem, little clues, lots of blood, of course violence but most of all sleuthing.

Tampa lieutenant Carl Kane is the action hero who tracks down leads to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice. In this first episode Kane is called to an abandoned factory where three drug dealers are found shot to death alongside are two middle-aged women bound, gagged and executed…what happened here? Kane will find out…and the fun begins or should.

To love this type of story you really need to be a fan of over the top, questionable action and a shaky conclusion. Forget literature, the writing is not awful but very verbose and uses a lot of acronyms, yes, guess what they mean, of course if you read a lot of this type of book you may figure out the signification…good luck. The premise in this story is different. It is about a bunch of crooks that murder each other and are always a step ahead of the authority. By the end one of them confesses…just like that….hum. Boy do we have information: details of every place and what every person wore, how tall they were, how much they weighed, you get my drift, things gets boring after a while. Yes, like many police story Kane is at odds with his boss…not really news here…not much more to say…

The story has its moment, so don’t get me wrong, I did like it enough to read it to the end.

"Fire and Vengeance", by Robert B. McCaw

This story combines two exciting plots each with so many angles making “Fire and Vengeance” a riveting mystery. This is an unputdownable read….

Something terrible has happened at the KonaWili School on the Hualalai Mountain. Detective Koa Kane with his police team rushed to the scene and what they saw was horrific. Bodies of kids and teachers on the ground some injured and some dead. Around them it looked and smelled like a volcanic eruption….what happened here… this exciting plot will slowly reveal its mystery and provide us with much more….

Along with the investigation of a property developer who built the school over a volcanic vent in the second plot, Koa’s personal life shines and highlights how far he will go to help his troublemaker younger brother, Ikaika, who is now in jail.

Politic, greed, secrets that binds the politicians for more than four decades is explored in very exciting ways. A bizarre murder in the 1970 that has never been solved drives the plot even more. Yes, this is very ingenious and quite fun to read.

What a storyteller this author is. The story development and characters portrayal are outstanding. I was hooked from the start. So much suspense I was kept on the edge of my seat, biting my nails wanting the adventure to end up on a high note. The story has elements making it both realistic and compelling. Although the author does mention in his notes that the story is the product of a fertile imagination and the disaster at the KonaWili School never happened…ouf thank goodness.

What a page-turner this turned out to be.

If you are looking for a story that will keep you up all night…then look no further.

I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and NetGalleys for the opportunity to read this book.

"Off the Grid", by Robert B. McCaw

Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery book #2

This mystery is a sequel to “Death of a Messenger” featuring Chief Det. Koa Kane of the Hilo police department. In this follow up story Koa will investigate the gruesome murder of two off the grid couple. The woman died after her car collided with a truck and blew up and her partner’s mutilated body found not long after in the backcountry. Who are they, who murdered them, and why?

What an exciting read this turned out to be. It starts with a bag and Koa soon finds himself up to his ears in blackmail schemes, international espionage and political shenanigans. Everyone want to block the investigation CIA,MIA, Koa’s boss, politicians, military, even the Chinese you name it all the acronyms in the US show up to put a spoke in the wheel…as Koa meticulously tracks the complicated case his instincts point him in the right direction….and of course reading how he worked to solve the mystery is action packed, thrilling and entertaining to read. I must add even with all the government secrets we find Hawaiian vibes… think orchids and beautiful sceneries….

This mystery has many characters some are good and some not so but Koa although not perfect definitely stands out. His past haunts him. Koa has horrific flashbacks to his Mogadishu time in the military and to boot, a closet full of skeletons to content with.

The suspense is well maintained throughout. We have lots of drama, adventure and action including one surprise after the other. This is one well-concocted police procedural.

I loved passing time with “Off the Grid” next….book #3 “Fire and Vengeance”

I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this book