"Dreading Darkness" by Melinda Woodhall

Bailey Flynn FBI book # 5

I have been a fan of this author since her first book was published in 2018 and since then I read and reviewed each one and given them high marks, after all the stories were top notch. This year Melinda has concentrated her writing on the Bailey Flynn Mystery this is her 5th book in the series and is as exciting to read as the others. Well-done Melinda.

The story in a few words:

When the daughter of a local detective goes missing from her home in Belle Harbor, Florida, FBI Special Agent Bailey Flynn joins the search and makes a gruesome discovery. Two dead teenagers have been dumped in an abandoned car near Summerset Park. One of the bodies has already been embalmed. Then, Bailey follows a trail of death and destruction into the terrifying trap of a greed-fueled killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

My thoughts:

This is very suspenseful and fast-paced drama very hard to put down. It is also quite interesting in many ways especially when we are brought into the shady practice of funeral homes and crematoriums, including the presence Cartel members who are behind the smuggling operation of using bodies as mules….

The story moves smoothly even if I needed to pause when two characters’ name were mixed up. A little hiccup, a little pause and here I went back enjoying Bailey in her saga.

This story offers a bit of everything: a creative and well- written storyline, including some plot twists to keep us on our toes, pretty good players and giving us recuring characters that have nicely developed through this series.

No doubt, this latest is a great addition to a wonderful series.

I received an advance copy, and I am leaving this review voluntary

"The Life and Death of Rose Doucette", by Harry Hunsicker

What an engrossing and emotionally charged mystery this one turned out to be.

The story in a few words:

Dallas PI Dylan Fisher hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rose in three years. Rose is a homicide detective wanting them to meet. She needed his help with a murder investigation she was working on. After leaving each other, Dylan felt uneasy when he noticed seeing someone tailing her car, he wanted to warn her…. but it was too late, the driver had shot her, killing her instantly. Then things turned seriously wrong when the police fast determined that Dylan had done the deed…..

My thoughts:

I love the PI genre a lot they are suspenseful and keep you on the edge of your seat. When Detective Lutz tries to pin Rose’s murder on Dylan Dylan’s lawyer Mia Kapoor had his back and out on bail pronto. Can Dylan stay idle? No way. Doing so brought us into a series of twisted events.

“The Life and Death of Rose Doucette” grabbed me from the get-go. The author’s writing style is so smooth that I found myself almost through the book so captivated by the going on that time had just passed by in a jiffy.

I like the Dylan’s character, a determined man wanting to clear his name while looking for answers. It is hard not to be rooting for him. Teaming with Rose new husband Tito, a defense attorney, was something else to read. As the investigation unfolds this story gives secrets and surprises and danger galore lurking in the darkness….No doubt, we are into one exciting mystery to follow.

Pleasantly, the narrative is very active and is said in the first person by Dylan. As for the supporting cast, they are varied and unique giving the perfect touch to this engrossing mystery.

This story is well-written and move smoothly at a leisurely-pace. Passing time reading this story was not wasted time.

I received a copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing

"Cabin", by Patrick Hutchison

Off the grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman

To be honest if this mémoir wouldn’t have triggered fond memories I would have said this is the most boring book I have read this year but no it wasn’t too bad after all and I stayed with it till the very last page. Did I enjoy passing all that time …not really but I didn’t dislike it either…

The book tells the author’s journey from an office job to restoring a cabin (shack) in the Pacific Northwest. Wit’s End, it’s the name of a gravel road and the address of a run down off the grid cabin. 120 shabby squared feet of fixer upper purchased on a whim. The man had zero carpentry skills and learned a lot over the six years it took to renovate it….This book is the story of those renovations.

The way it is told is sometime laugh out loud funny, can you picture the dilemma over drills and interchangeable batteries in tools, how to use a gas can, which nails to use, what kind of wood for finishing, what metal to use on the roof, how about a chimney and a sink and yes an outhouse, the driveway needs gravel….and it goes on and on….over the course of 28 chapters Mr. Hutchison comically details every step of his journey. Lucky him he had equally adventurous friends wanting as much as him to spruce up the shabby cabin that didn’t even have a light switch. With his friends he shared good times drinking beer, cooking meals but in construction all of them displayed a complete lack of experience. But they made it eventually.

Along the way the author discovered a surprise knack for handiwork and a new career was born.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC

"Want You Dead", by Peter James

Roy Grace book #10

Reading this novel, I expected nothing but the best suspense thriller and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

Summary in a few words:

33, single girl seeks new flame to rekindle her fire, fun and who knows more maybe? Red Westwood wish comes true when she meets Bryce Laurent on a dating app and is instantly attracted to him. But Bryce is not the man she thought he was and her infatuation with him gradually turns to terror and withing a year she finds herself under police protection……Then it is up to detective Superintendent Roy Grace to stop Bryce before it is too late.

My thoughts:

It kicks off with a vivid description of the torture and murder, GP Karl Murphy starting a slow by exciting investigation.

Love it love it…. Peter James sets Roy Grace into one of his most intense cases to date and takes us on a thrilling ride from start to finish, clinging to every page so absorbed in what was happening that I couldn’t let go. The characters riled my emotions at times I simply wanted to shake some sense into them, especially Red. Bryce on the other hand, the crazy stalker boyfriend gives us very interesting moments …makes you think if online dating a good option?

“Want You Dead’ may feel sluggish at first but when it picks up speed with shocking scenes that pop from nowhere and cause trouble for the regular characters, I was totally into it: on thing after another happened, and the plot threads are juggled adeptly to keep us glued to every word. Yes, Roy’s upcoming wedding is on and some returning face from the past show up also.

Reading this story was a treat. Even if this series is well into its stride, it has stayed fresh and vibrant. I started reading this series a long time ago but when I was getting bored it was time to put it on the back burner. This year was time to resume and once more enjoyed every single saga Roy Grace has faced. I simply love “Want You Dead”.

"Deadly Revenge", by Patricia Bradley

Pearl River, book #3

Deputy Jenna Hart has been working Pearl Springs for sometime now when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Is someone bearing a grudge and is set on revenge after the construction of a dam forced people to move out… Agent Maxwell Anderson is assigned to the case and will work along with Jenna to solve the mystery….and as the investigation progresses and the teams track down the killer….a smoldering attraction sparks into a romance…. Awe.

This mystery has a bit of everything: a killer, some suspense, a bit of teasing romance, subdued action, some tension, has an interesting premise, good actors, nicely written, clean language, some chapters from the killer’s point of view and a multilayered mystery to unravel. In general, this story is well-done and should please all who enjoy an entertaining journey with a light overlay of romance and faith.

“Deadly Revenge” , pulled my away from my usual read and it gave me a refreshing change, so nice to have from time to time.

I received this Arc from Revell via Netgalley

"Deep Water", by Heidi Hinrichs

Northern Shores Cozy Mystery book #1

(Murder in the Dunes)

The story in a few words:

Germany North Sea

During a routine rescue dive, Inspector Enna Koopmann stumbles on a dead man drifting in the waves. It is evident the man did not die of natural causes. So, Enna and her extremely meticulous partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof need to find a motive and the culprit…. launching an investigation.

My thoughts:

The author lays the groundwork for her trilogy while in the background the investigation moves along at a very snail pace. It dilly-dallies quite a bit so much so that at times my mind was someplace else and I had to reread some passages. Having said this, the book is a police procedural first then a people behavior study. I particularly love how the author depicts Pavel’s odd behavior and how Enna manages to deal with him. This is well done. This cozy mystery gives us some humour along the way and in general also well plotted. Enna is an original she wears shorts and very colourful socks, not the usual attire for a policewoman but hey she made me smile or maybe giggle a little bit.

Set in Germany the author tried too much to please the North American audience in doing so tripped by using Fahrenheit instead of Celsius and FBI instead of BND or some other agencies. I may be picky but although fiction I prefer reading something closer to reality for those little details.

Definitely this book was not one of my preferred I found it somewhat boring but again this is me. I said it before this is my opinion judge for yourself you may love it.

Thank you, Book Whisperer, and Netgalley

"A Hill To Die On", by Peter Hogenkamp

Jade Stryker, #2

“The Woman From Death Row” introduced us to Jade and her pedigree, in her second outing “A Hill to Die On”, Jade brings us along with her as she faces a challenging saga looking to help Kateryna, one of her friends, who is in the clutch of very evil people.

I loved the first book so much that no way was I refusing the offer from Mr. Hogenkamp to review his second book. You really have to read the first book in order to appreciated this latest one.

jade was living with Mark and their daughter went she received the die-hard call from her friend she doesn’t think twice and sets off for Manhattan without saying much. Soon after she left, Mark answers the phone from his former CIA boss who gave him a job to do…..and the action commences. I was totally engaged and invested from the get-go.

The story more along in alternate chapters moving back in forth between Jade and Mark. Not a dull moment in both the sagas as we follow them from one dangerous situation to the next. I was wondering where this would end and it did with a bang at the end. No worries, Jade and Mark came out in one piece. Both stories are said in a first-person narrative which I simply love, I always think the characters are talking in my ears…

The characterization is strong and well drawn, the plot and its pacing excellent, the writing style just the way I love it. What else can I say apart that I enjoyed immensely this mystery. And I am looking forward to the next saga from these two wonderful characters.

Well said and well-done and thank you Mr. Hogenkamp