"The Redemption File", by Marc Sinibaldi

This mystery has Detective Brandon Sidney living in the wake of a personal tragedy had to dealt with the murder of his best friend and partner Derek Hill. It seemed evidence showed Derek was on the take. Not believing this to be so, Brandon maneuvers through an underworld of drug dealers, rival cops, weapon smugglers to solve not only Derek’s murder but also to clear his name….

I was on the edge of my seat following Brandon confronting a labyrinth of corruption while dealing with his personal drama. The author deftly balances the crime and personal struggle and by doing so he has expertly penned an emotionally charge thriller for us to enjoy.

The fast paced and tightly woven narrative is vividly said and very engaging. The tension is relentless and never lets go, needless to say I was hooked from the start. I love the gritty plot line and how Brandon tackled the investigation leaving no stone unturned.

Drugs, murders, smugglings, kidnappings, mole in the department, mob boss and it goes on and on….what is not to like when you have a story filled with all kinds of excitements.

Well said and well done

Thank you Lisa from Swell Media for this ARC which I received via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"The Second Son", by Simon Gervais

From soldier to sommelier Chase Burke finds himself dealing with the aftermath of his older brother covert action branded a traitor. His attempts to move his life forward was soon derailed when he is caught in crossfire protecting congresswoman who was dining at the restaurant where he worked at. Question by detectives investigating the shooting, when things didn’t quite add up, they soon had doubts about his heroism and Chase soon became a person of interest. He then went on the run to clear his name and get at the bottom of this mystery…. Enjoy

I simply couldn’t put this story down, both authors are at the top of their game writing this type of thriller. It is a pulse-pounding espionage thriller that is writing with realism only someone in the know can do. Even with its breakneck intelligent pacing it still offers a deeply human core and insights into loyalty. This book is well worth passing time with. The story is well balanced with high- octane moments and quieter ones.

Chase Burke is a wonderful protagonist well worth rooting for: intelligent driven and somewhat flawed and by far not superhuman, he has bad moments. I loved how he partners with a street-smart NYPD detective to uncover the truth before the shadowy network of mercenaries silence them both.

In whole, this story is a nice blend of action, emotion and family drama. I loved every moment I spent time reading it.

Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this ARC which I received via Netgalley

"The Quiet War", by Michael J. Lalonde

Book#1

Drawing from his service in the Canadian Armed Force and years as a military intelligence officer, the author has penned a political thriller in a narrative that is gripping of operations, espionage and geopolitical tension. This debut novel places Canada at the centre of a global conflict along with its allies.

Sergeant Sebastien Ray leads JTF2’s (Joint Task Force) Alpha team on a rescue mission: free the hostages and eliminate their captors. The enemy is no ordinary zealot; he is the architect of upheaval intent to changing the entire world. The story begins with a rescue that spirals out of control…..

First, a note from the author:

“Most Canadians have never heard of them, but when a Canadian veteran and a British intelligence officer vanish in Belize, it’s JTF2 that answers the call.” This first installment recreates a version of the mission.

In “The Quiet War”, Canada may be the first target but is not the last. U.K. USA and beyond will be subjects of their own war…I simply can’t wait to see how far- reaching the tentacle of war can be.

With steady pacing and grounded heroes this thriller feels too real IMO and stands apart other geopolitical stories by showing what Canada can do when it is force to act. The narrative is active and passionate, a cinematic glimpse into the high-stake world of a quiet war: it may be drugs, trafficking, abductions even murders whatever the prime target is, hopefully someone higher up the chain of command will be there to take the right decisions.

This first installment challenges assumption about Canadian identity, strength and sovereignty…..so real in today’s world.

This is an excellent read that will have you flipping pages at the speed of light. Interesting and captivating to no end….I simply loved it.

Well-said and well-done.

My thanks to the Book Whisperer for this ARC which I received from Netgalley

"Illusion of Truth", by James L` Étoile

Detective Emily Hunter Mystery book # 3

This author is giving us a police story that is much more then an exciting police procedural mystery. It is filled with complications, revelations and setbacks. So many twists and turns it is very hard to figure what the next move will be…they keep on coming and soon another one and after that another one. Don’t miss out, see for yourself. This mystery is one of the best one I read this year.

The story and my thoughts in a few words:

A series of explosions rocks Sacramento, Det Emily Hunter is particularly affected when her love interest Sgt. Brian Conner was badly hurt in an explosion while responding to a false call. The bomber has only started and subsequent attacks were done on other colleagues. As the investigation moves on at a fast pace, it implicates a councilman, a vocal opponent of the police. It doesn’t stay there, one move leads to another, the swat team is implicated while further attempts are made on the lives of cops suggesting a strong desire for revenge….but why and who is behind all of thing carnage.

The tension is at a high level all through no time to breath, I was so involved with what was going on I had a hard time putting this very exciting story aside, the author maintains nerve-jangling tension throughout and does an excellent job at capturing the attention and keeping us captive.

This latest is an absolutely relentless thriller, a crisp and fast-paced police procedural played out by characters that have emotional depth and show perseverance.

This another top-notch hit penned by James

This book was made available for a sort time at Oceanview Publishing, I couldn’t resists it, I knew I was in for a treat.

"Near Death", by Glenn Cooper

This story is definitely not be for everyone but I loved it didn’t take long before it grabbed me and I had a hard time putting it down, it may also meet your fancy, who knows. “Near Death” is not my usual read, this one is rather creepy and so is one of the main characters. This genre is totally unusual: it includes crime, drugs, death, near death and science. Some gave this book an “R” rating for its violence and mature language. It didn’t turn me off one bit…. Not that bad IMO.

Set in Boston, the story revolves around FBI Special Agent Cyrus O’Malley and Dr. Alex Weller a neuroscientist at Harvard.

After being involved in an accident, Weller nearly killed has a near death experience and spends the rest of his life investigating the brain during the final moment preceding death and became so obsessed that he needed to obtain the chemical from a dying human…. he concocted a drug called “Bliss….and discretely shared his drug to close friends…it soon became a hot commodity on the streets.

When multiple bodies show up with a small hole drilled in their skull, then the FBI came into the picture and Cyrus O’Malley took the lead….

What a story, a plot with an unusual mix of mystery and an unbelievable concept of afterlife. The pressure from family and the day-to-day responsibilities all this said in a gripping narrative. The fast-paced nature and the very suspenseful plot made it hard not to be invested in a story that is both exciting and thought-provoking. As for the characters both are well-developed and complex and the care given to them added depth to this thriller. BTW, I love the final twist…it made my day.

Well-said and well done.

My thanks to Book Whisperer for this book which I received via Netgalley.