Posted in mystery, suspense, Thriller on August 24, 2020

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

She tried to forget the horrors of war–but her quiet hometown conceals a litany of new evils.

 

Sergeant Camille Waresch did everything she could to forget Iraq. She went home to Eastern Washington and got a quiet job. She connected with her daughter, Sophie, whom she had left as a baby. She got sober. But the ghosts of her past were never far behind.

While conducting a routine property tax inspection on an isolated ranch, Camille discovers a teenager’s tortured corpse hanging in a dilapidated outbuilding. In a flash, her combat-related PTSD resurges–and in her dreams, the hanging boy merges with a young soldier whose eerily similar death still haunts her. The case hits home when Sophie reveals that the victim was her ex-boyfriend–and as Camille investigates, she uncovers a tangled trail that leads to his jealous younger brother and her own daughter, wild, defiant, and ensnared.

The closer Camille gets to the truth, the closer she is driven to the edge. Her home is broken into. Her truck is blown up. Evidence and witnesses she remembers clearly are erased. And when Sophie disappears, Camille’s hunt for justice becomes a hunt for her child. At a remote compound where the terrifying truth is finally revealed, Camille has one last chance to save her daughter–and redeem her own shattered soul.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

Little Falls snaps with suspense from beginning to end. With skilled execution of setting and plot, Elizabeth Lewes shuttles the reader between continents on a thrilling journey that reveals haunting secrets. I couldn’t put this book down!” —Margaret Mizushima, author of the award-winning Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, including Hanging Falls

 

“A dark, dangerous read populated by distinct, well-drawn characters. The tormented heroine is a woman on the edge and fascinating in her unpredictability. You’re rooting for her, afraid for her, but never fully confident that she won’t succumb to her multiple demons. There is a desperate sense of urgency right up until the very end.” —P. J. Tracy, New York Times bestselling author of the Monkeewrench series

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Lewes is a veteran of the United States Navy who served during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. An analyst and linguist by training, she now practices law in Seattle. Little Falls is her debut novel.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight – Little Falls by Elizabeth Lewes #debutauthor #newrelease @Elizabeth_Lewes #mystery #thriller #suspense
Posted in 5 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on July 31, 2020

 

Synopsis

 

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven’t all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we’ll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.

It’s even harder when you’re all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won’t stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there’s a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.

But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * BAM

 

 

Review

 

This is the second time this week I’ve read the second book from a newish author and wondered if they could live up to their first book.  The answer? Yes she can.

The story seems innocuous enough, three siblings on a road trip to fulfill their grandfather’s wishes per his will.  Actually, it is the same trip they took with their grandfather as children.  If you traveled as a child, you probably are thinking about a fun filled trip, well as the story goes on we learn it wasn’t quite what one would expect to experience.  The crazy museums, dive hotels, and twists I did not expect.

“Because I could.”

This line is spoken by multiple characters and while it seems like a harmless statement, it is not.  I can’t remember how many of the characters said this line, but I remember at least two, maybe three.  It is a justification for their actions.

I think this whole family was twisted in one way or another. The family was raised playing the game Risk.  If you are not familiar with this game, it is one where you strategize, create alliances, and more to take over the world in the game. You may think you can trust your family, but when it came to this game, no one trusted anyone.

“As much as I hated it, that time lying was easier because you’ve got to pick your battles. That’s a Risk thing. You can’t fight everyone all the tie, you’ll just lose your whole army.  Now that I think about it, maybe I am living pretty authentically. It’s just the Risk version.”

Beth is the narrator of this story and just when I thought I understood her she would throw a curveball and challenge what I thought I knew to be true. Along with her siblings on this trip are two spouses. Eddie’s wife Krista and Beth’s husband Felix.

I can’t share too many details since I do not want to give away some of the plot twists, but just when I was settling into a groove with the story and characters, something would happen that would turn everything upside down.  Then there would be another plot twist, another unexpected action by the characters, and so forth.  The ending?  OMG, I did not expect that to occur.  I also wanted to throw my Kindle across the room because the author leaves you hanging wondering what the final outcome is with all of the characters.  I have my suspicions but the author truly does leave it up to the reader.

This author is one I will continue to read and I wonder what she might be working on next that will turn us on our ears.  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 | 
Comments Off on Review – He Started It by Samantha Downing #newrelease #suspense #thriller
Posted in 4 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on July 26, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

The synopsis isn’t wrong when it describes this book as Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith.  Holy mackerel, on this book and the twisted minds of Millicent and her husband….and you know, I can’t even remember if we ever know his name since he is the narrator.  How do you find someone that has a hobby that is like yours?  Was this something they just fell into by accident?  We find out how this started (no spoilers here!) and near the end of the book you really find out more about how this really all came to be for this couple.  It is so hard to not share more because it would spoil the story!

This couple has two teenage children and it makes one wonder how they could keep all of this a secret.  Their son Rory suspects something, but nothing to this magnitude.  He just thinks dad is cheating on mom and decides to blackmail his father.  If he only knew what was going on and why his dad was leaving the house.  I think the narrator was somewhat weak because why not tell Millicent about Rory’s blackmail?  She knows why he is going out at night…to hunt for their next victim.  Granted, he did cheat on her and sleep with one or two of the potential victims, but does she need to know that part of it?  Rory just suspects and by dad giving in it just confirms his suspicions.

I enjoyed the story that was woven with demented characters but the narrator somewhat redeems himself in the end.  I don’t think he was the strong one of the two because when some facts came to light about the murdered women he was quite surprised.  But I have to admire his veracity in getting to the truth of the situations.  I think this story kept me up a night or two wondering what twisted path it could take next.  I was surprised as some facts were revealed but it seems to make sense when I reevaluated my perception of what was the truth.

We give this book 4 paws up and if you like psychological thrillers this is a good one to read.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

Posted in excerpt, suspense, Thriller on June 17, 2020

 

Synopsis

Is there a sociopathic killer murdering prostitutes in New York City? NYPD’s top cop, Homicide Commander Lieutenant John Driscoll, believes there is.

Someone who calls himself “Tilden” claims to have been sexually abused as a child by his mother’s john. But what could have triggered Tilden’s rage to place him on a mission to eradicate all of New York’s prostitutes? Tilden is not your run-of-the-mill sociopath. After all, would a common murderer take the time to embalm his victims—determined as the cause of all the deaths by the medical examiner?

Driscoll is on mission to put an end to the madness. A man haunted by the events of his own unstable childhood, he teams up with Sergeant Margaret Aligante and Detective Cedric Thomlinson to stop the killings and bring Tilden to justice before he kills again.

 

 

 

Excerpt

Excerpted from No One Will Hear Your Screams. Copyright © 2020 by Thomas O’Callaghan. All rights reserved. Published by WildBlue Press.

Pearsol opened the mortuary cooler and pulled out the stainless steel tray supporting the victim. “Lieutenant, meet Jane Doe,” he said sliding the woman’s bloated body under Driscoll’s gaze. “Harbor Patrol fished her out of the muck. I’d say she was a feast for the gulls for a day. Maybe two.”

“What’s that smell? Paint thinner?”

“Phenol.”

“She was doused in phenol?”

“Injected.”

Driscoll’s eyes narrowed.

“The complete autopsy will fill in the blanks, but I’d bet my pension I already know what killed her. The who, and the why, I’ll leave to you.” Pearsol handed the preliminary lab report to Driscoll. It identifies a mixture of substances inside her vascular system.

“Phenol, formaldehyde and Chloride of Zinc?” Driscoll looked perplexed.

“The same Chloride of Zinc they put in dry cell batteries?”

Pearsol nodded. “There’s three more.”

“Myrrh, aloe and cassia,” Driscoll read aloud. “That’s a strange mix.” He glanced at Pearsol, who nodded. “Says here you drained 851 milliliters from her circulatory system. What’s that? About two pints?”

“Just under.”

“A body contains five to six quarts of blood. So the rest of this mixture?”
“Still in her.”

Using his finger, Driscoll pushed back a lock of the victim’s hair. “What could you have done to warrant this?” he whispered, eyes on the corpse.

“Right now the unofficial cause of death is phenol poisoning by arterial injection. Familiar with the German word, ‘abgespritzt’, Lieutenant?”

“No.”

“Abgespritzt was a method of genocide favored by the Nazis in the early 1940s. Hitler’s henchmen delivered instantaneous death by injecting 15 milliliters of phenol directly into the heart.”

“What kind of syringe injects six quarts?”

“More than likely he used a centrifugal pump. And he knew what he was doing.” Pearsol pointed to the side of the victim’s neck, where a semi- translucent latex adhesive covered a two inch stretch of rippled flesh between the carotid artery and the jugular vein. “An extreme method of murder, Lieutenant. He arterially embalmed her.”

Driscoll winced.

“There’s more.” The M.E. produced a transparent evidence bag containing a locket. It was an inch in diameter and featured Saint Vitalis of Gaza; his name etched in a half circle below his likeness. “I found it under her tongue. Someone apparently placed it there before suturing the tongue to the floor of her mouth.”

“What’s that about?” Driscoll wondered aloud.

“Good question. I’m not familiar with that saint. You?”

“She‘s the patron saint of prostitutes.”

“Well, there’s a lead. Oh, and there’s one other bit of information you’re sure to find intriguing. The myrrh, aloe, and cassia injected with the embalming fluid were once embalming solutions on their own. Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“They were the purifying fragrances applied to the linens that wrapped the crucified Christ before he was laid in his tomb.”

 

About the Author

 

Thomas O’Callaghan’s work has been translated for publication in Germany, Slovakia, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, China, and Italy. As an internationally acclaimed author, Mr. O’Callaghan is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers associations. A native of New York City and a graduate of Richmond College, Mr. O’Callaghan resides with his lovely wife, Eileen, a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean in beautiful Belle Harbor, New York.

His debut novel BONE THIEF introduces NYPD Homicide Commander Lieutenant John W. Driscoll. THE SCREAMING ROOM is the second in the John Driscoll series. The third book in the series, NO ONE WILL HEAR YOUR SCREAMS, is now available from WildBlue Press.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 | 
Comments Off on Excerpt – No One Will Hear Your Screams by Thomas O’Callaghan @TomOCallaghan_ #thriller #JohnDriscollSeries
Posted in excerpt, suspense, Thriller on June 14, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

After enforcer Richard “Rico” Sanders stepped in to protect his girlfriend from a local mob boss’s hot-headed nephew, all hell broke loose.

When the smoke cleared, the nephew had vanished, but three goons who had tried to help him lay dying where they’d stood.   Fighting for his life, Rico was alive but gravely wounded.

Out of the hospital but not fully recovered, he needed a place to crash – a place where he wouldn’t be found by men who surely would be looking.   A place like the cabin owned by lawyer Paul Elliott, whose life Rico had saved more than once.  Trouble was, Paul’s girlfriend hadn’t forgotten Rico’s dark history.  Or Paul’s fascination with him.

Using Rico’s girlfriend as bait, vengeful killers soon would be coming for him.  The only question was whether he would face them alone or with help from Paul.

 

 

 

Praise for the Pigeon Blood Red Trilogy

 

“…It rips along like a .45 bullet rushing past your head….a crime novel in a style you don’t … see too often… a juggernaut of a story that just won’t quit.” – Monkey’s Book Review

“A fast-paced read with complex and morally ambiguous characters that leaves you on the edge of your seat!” – AllieReads.com

“Readers in search of a tight, well-written…crime/action/adventure will find…an engrossing story that will keep them involved to the end. And like me, they will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next installment.” – Mike Siedschlag’s Review

“This charming, classically-told crime thriller is a must for noir fans…refreshingly old-school pulp, inhabited by a familiar cast of gamblers, con men and hustlers found in Dennis Lehane and Elmore Leonard novels” – 5 Stars, Best Thrillers

 “This Chicago set thriller is a pacy read, written with an edge and style… Ed Duncan’s series will sweep up fans as it goes along.” – Crime Thriller Hound

“With danger looming in every chapter… Duncan skillfully draws the reader into a complex web of characters… A few key twists within the storyline keep the reader intrigued… an outstanding crime thriller…” – 5 Stars, Red City Review

“…suspense from start to finish… a fast-paced read… Entertaining, Gritty and Nailbiting.” – The Bibliovert

 

 

Excerpt

 

Cosgrove, however, hadn’t finished venting and didn’t appreciate Koblentz’s gesture.  “You want some of this, old man?”

“I was just –”

Cosgrove interrupted him with a vicious slap to the mouth that drew blood.  Koblentz fell to one knee, head bowed, and was silent.

“You bastard!” Jean yelled.  She glanced at Rico, who was still in his car in front of her some ten yards away.  She wasn’t sure how much he’d seen because his expression, as usual, was utterly inscrutable behind his aviators.  She sprinted to Koblentz’s side and knelt beside him.  “Are you okay?”

Cosgrove glared at her, then a cruel smile lifted his mouth.  She was a mouth-wateringly gorgeous woman and his mouth watered.  Taunting her, he pressed one foot against Koblentz’s back and slowly forced him to the ground.  Jean’s eyes flashed and she straightened up and slapped him hard enough to make his head turn.  At once surprised and enraged, he immediately drew his arm back to retaliate.  Jean closed her eyes and flinched in anticipation.  Cosgrove reached far behind him to increase the momentum of his blow and then he launched his open hand toward her as hard as he could, creating a swoosh of air as his hand traveled forward to meet Jean’s face.

But it never reached its target.

Rico had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and, with one hand, had grabbed Cosgrove’s wrist from behind, stopping his hand mere inches from Jean’s face.  Now he stood behind Cosgrove holding his wrist in a vice-like grip from which there was no hope of escape.  Slender and soft, Cosgrove was around five feet ten inches tall and weighed about one hundred and seventy-five pounds.  Rico stood six feet two, weighed over two hundred pounds, and was solid muscle.

He was a killer, but not your run-of-the mill killer.  He was exceptional at what he did, but he was not only that.  He was also a killer with a conscience.  He didn’t kill kids, he killed women only as a last resort, and he only killed people who “had it coming.” Or at least that was what he told himself, because sometimes it was a close call.  But at least he tried.  And that made him unique, as nobody else in his business gave a hit a second thought.

Cosgrove tried to turn to face him, but with just one hand holding his wrist, Rico prevented him from even budging.  After Cosgrove stopped squirming, Rico twisted the man’s arm behind his back and wrenched it upward until he yelped in pain.  Then he thrust his free forearm under Cosgrove’s chin and applied just enough pressure so that Cosgrove, with some effort, could still breathe and talk. Just.

Cosgrove squealed, “What the –”

“Shut up,” Rico said and turned to Jean who was helping Koblentz to his feet.  “You all right?”

“Fine.” Her worried eyes met Koblentz’s.  She smiled.  “Are you okay?”

Gingerly wiping the blood from his face, he nodded and smiled back.

“Wait in the car,” Rico said.

“What are you gonna do with him?” Jean asked, a little apprehensively.

“Wait in the car.”

Jean started to press him but by now she knew the drill.  She collected her shopping cart and she and Koblentz headed for the car.  The boy, still on his back resting on his elbows, scrambled to his feet and stood staring at Rico in awe.  Rico said, “Kid, get outta here.”  Dejected, the boy slowly started to walk away.  Raising his voice an octave, Rico said to the other gawkers, “That goes for everybody else, too.”

The edge in his voice did the trick.  No one objected and no one lingered.  Except the boy.  He turned around after he’d taken a few steps and, in a voice just above a whisper, said, “Thanks, mister.”

The slightest hint of a smile appeared on Rico’s face.  “Nice catch, kid.”  That brought a grin to the boy’s face.  He pounded the ball in his glove and hurried away.

Rico scanned the area in a 360-degree arc and, seeing no one besides the steadily retreating onlookers, released the choke hold on Cosgrove’s neck but maintained his grip on his wrist.  Then he placed his free hand on the back of Cosgrove’s neck and, mimicking what Cosgrove had done to Koblentz moments earlier, he slowly guided him to the ground, face down.  Rico knelt beside him.

Cosgrove coughed and drew in several sweet breaths of air now that the pressure on his windpipe had been relieved.  “Your ass is mine, motherfucker,” he hissed under his breath.

“I don’t think so,” Rico said as he patted Cosgrove down.  “I’m pretty attached to it.”

The pat down yielded a Smith and Wesson Model 10 .38 revolver in Cosgrove’s belt under his jacket.  Searching him had been a basic precaution, yet Rico hadn’t expected to find a gun and when he did, he immediately regretted leaving his own in his apartment.

“Shit,” he said out loud, but it was in the same tone of voice he might have used if he’d walked down three flights of stairs only to find that he’d left his cell phone upstairs in his apartment.  In other words, he was irritated but not alarmed – yet.  After all, this was only one guy with a .38 – no, one guy who used to have a .38.  And so far, there was no evidence that he had company.

But there was no evidence that he was alone, either.

Rico tucked the gun in his own belt next to his belly, and with his free hand he reached down and turned Cosgrove’s face toward him.  He had a question. He knew he couldn’t trust Cosgrove’s answer but the inflexion in his voice might give him a clue.  “You alone, smart ass?”

Cosgrove said nothing.

Rico increased the upward pressure on Cosgrove’s arm which was still pinned behind his back. Cosgrove gritted his teeth.  Rico increased the pressure again until Cosgrove could stand it no longer.  He yelled, “Help!”

Maybe it was just a primal cry to the heavens, but Rico thought it was directed toward someone. Maybe more than one person.  Who knew?  He relaxed the pressure on Cosgrove’s arm but continued to hold his wrist in a vice-like grip.  With his other hand he checked the .38, engaging the cylinder release, snapping the cylinder free, spinning it with his thumb, then snapping it back in place.  It was fully loaded.  Six rounds.  A picture of his Sig Sauer with its twelve-round capacity magazine flashed across his mind.  This will have to do.

 

 

About the Author

 

Ed Duncan currently lives outside of Cleveland, OH. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University Law School. He was a partner at a national law firm in Cleveland, Ohio for many years. “It’s always been said that you should write what you know. I am a lawyer – as is a pivotal character in the novel who is being pursued by a hitman – and I’m excited to be able to use my legal training creatively as well as professionally,” says Duncan.

 

FacebookTwitter * Instagram * Goodreads * Website

 | 
Comments Off on Excerpt – Rico Stays by Ed Duncan @pigeonbloodred #thriller #suspense
Posted in 5 paws, excerpt, mystery, Review, suspense on May 18, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Dawn Andersen and her parents are horrified when her carefree Aunt Amy is found stabbed to death on the beach, the second woman to be murdered in the small oceanside town of Manatee Beach. The police have arrested a homeless man for the murders, but is he the real killer? Dawn, 25, makes the biggest decision of her life when she decides to leave her routine existence in Ohio to move into her aunt’s cottage a block from the ocean in South Florida. From the first night that Dawn arrives in Florida, the feeling of uneasiness never leaves her. There’s the strange man next door who always seems to be watching her. Married neighbors who were infatuated with her beautiful aunt. The nosy, the too friendly mailman. A hooded figure who’s been lurking outside her house at night. As Dawn learns more about her aunt’s life in Florida, she becomes convinced that the murderer is closer than she ever imagined, that her aunt’s killer is actually somebody in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This mystery/suspense novel will have you looking at your neighbors and wondering if they are who you think they are, or if there is something evil lurking beneath the face they present.

Dawn is a character that many will relate to her desire to adventure out on her own and out from under the watchful eyes of her parents.  While her parents only have her best interests at heart, sometimes they (and many parents) don’t know when to step back and let their children take a chance.  Now there is more to that story between Dawn and her parents and a secret is revealed near the end, but it is one the reader will probably figure out before the announcement but the details will be unknown until the reveal.

Throughout the book, I felt like I was in Manatee Bay from the descriptions of the town, the beach, and even the neighborhood.  The characters had a depth to them, even the minor characters like the mail carrier and the homeless men.  I am always glad when an author does a story justice by drawing in the reader and making them feel like they are living with the characters.

The mystery is who killed Amy and another young woman in this sleepy town in Florida? The author does a wonderful job of weaving in possible motives and peppers possibilities and red herrings throughout the novel.  There are several suspects but the actual killer surprised me in the end.  Once I thought about it, I saw the motivation of this character but this character never crossed my mind to suspect.

This novel also reminds us that everyone is different and we should give people the benefit of the doubt before casting aspersions on their character.  In this novel, it is one of the neighbors, Jerome, that had a head injury as a child and is not like everyone else.  It is a shame that so many assume he is bad or evil because he is different when that couldn’t be further from the truth.  I admired the way some of the neighbors stood up for him and gave him a chance.

Overall I enjoyed this book and plan to look into her other works.  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

Excerpt

 

It was midnight by the time Dawn circled the cul-de-sac on Coral Court to the last house. Amy’s little cottage didn’t have a garage, or even a carport, so Dawn pulled into the short driveway and turned off the engine. She sat in the driver’s seat for several moments, wringing her hands and trying to calm herself. Seeing that headline had totally unsettled her. The article didn’t say much, just that the murder was similar to the other two. The victim had been bludgeoned and stabbed to death on the beach. The police didn’t come out and say it was the same murderer—since the homeless man they thought did it was locked up in their jail. They just said they were continuing their investigation, words she and her parents had heard more times than they could count.

But Dawn knew. Amy’s murderer, and the killer of those two other women, was still out there somewhere. Somewhere not too far away. Who knew where he was right now? She was only one block from the beach. And here she was, alone after dark, just like her aunt and those other women had been.

The neighborhood was completely dark except for a couple of dim porch lights.

“Not even a street light,” Dawn thought nervously.

Not only was there a murderer on the loose, one who killed women at night in the dark, but her mother’s fear of a neighbor thinking she was breaking in popped into her mind. What if one of them shot first and asked questions later? She’d heard of that happening before. Florida had a Stand Your Ground law. Did that count for a neighbor’s house? She wasn’t sure. She tried to calm herself. You’re not moving to the Wild, Wild West, for God’s sake. This is Florida, beautiful Florida. Just relax. Everything will be fine.

She wasn’t exactly sure what she should do. It finally came to her that the best thing would be to leave the inside car lights on with all the doors open so if anyone saw her, they would realize she was unpacking the car. She timidly stepped out of the Honda, and immediately perked up as the cool sea air hit her face. A steady breeze rustled the palm fronds of the trees on the block, and she could hear the repetitive breaking of waves on the beach in the distance.

Clicking on the flashlight, Dawn hurried up the walkway as fast as she could, stepped onto the porch, and started looking for her keys. She thought she’d put the key chain in her pocket, but it wasn’t there. Where was it? Oh God, was it still in the ignition?

She stumbled over the bottom porch step as she rushed back to the car, keeping the beam on the flat stones of the walkway. At the car, she snatched the keys out of the ignition and turned to start back to the house when she heard a deep howl that sounded like a wolf or a coyote. A shiver went down her spine. Her imagination was starting to get the best of her. She realized it was just a dog, but from the sounds of it, a very big dog.

It howled again, louder this time, and she cringed.

She couldn’t tell where the howl was coming from—she just hoped the dog was penned up and not roaming around free. Moving as quickly as she could up the walkway, she froze when she saw the silhouette of a man standing in the middle of the road. A tall man. A huge, hulking man. “What if he’s the killer,” she thought in a panic. Her pulse sped up, and she tried to move toward the house. But her feet felt frozen to the walkway.

The man had something on his head that was shining out a beam of light, like a coal miner’s hat. She couldn’t see his face or his features, just his enormous size. He looked like he was seven feet tall. The dog stood at his side. She could see its yellow eyes shining in the dark. It was built like a pit bull or a Rottweiler, and it was growling now.

 

 

About the Author

 

Judy Moore is the author of the popular thriller, “The Mother-in-Law,” as well as three mystery novels: “Somebody in the Neighborhood,” “Murder in Vail,” and “Murder at the Country Club.” She has also written numerous novellas, including the Christmas anthology “Christmas Interrupted,” which contains three novellas: “Airport Christmas,” “The Holiday House Sitter,” and “The Hitchhiker on Christmas Eve.” She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine feature writer, and publications editor for several years. A former tennis pro, Ms. Moore’s writing background also includes sports writing, and athletes from various sports are sprinkled throughout some of her novels. A lifelong resident of Florida, she currently resides in Vero Beach.

 

Goodreads * Amazon

 

 

 | 
Comments Off on Review – Somebody in the Neighborhood by Judy Moore #mystery #excerpt #suspense #5paws
Posted in 5 paws, Christian, Giveaway, Review, suspense on May 9, 2020

 

 

A FIRM PLACE TO STAND

 

by

 

LORI ALTEBAUMER

 

 

Genre: Christian / Romantic Suspense

Independently published

Date of Publication: January 25, 2020

Number of Pages: 321

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

She’s either being stalked or losing her mind.

A job at a camp in the rustic and often rugged landscape of West Texas offers Maribel Montgomery a chance to escape both, especially if she makes sure no one knows she’s there. But when the body of a woman washes up in the river on her first morning, her hopes of a safe place to start over are swept away.

The suspicion that she’s being watched follows her to her new home, and Maribel is forced to take a stand or keep running. Does she have the courage to face the danger stirring at the Pool of Siloam Camp? If she doesn’t, another girl might die. If she tries and fails, it could be her.

Circumstances force her into the acquaintance of Conner Pierce—a man with secrets of his own. Can Maribel risk working with him in order to save the next victim and find a missing girl? Or is he the killer?

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon * Barnes and Noble  * Books-a-Million

 

BookBaby  *  Bookshop.org

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t even know where to start with this book and how much I enjoyed it and the message.  I highlighted so many passages because they spoke to me.  This book is more than faith, suspense, or trust. It is the culmination of so many different aspects, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the various characters.  Let’s just start with how the book starts:

 

“Journalists traveled light – especially the unemployed ones running from a tsunami of poor choices. Of course, she wasn’t exactly running since she had nowhere else to go.”

“Somewhat telling that at age twenty-six everything Maribel owned had fit into the back of a car.” 

 

Maribel is a lost soul whether she realizes it or not.  She doesn’t believe she is worthy of love or anything else all because of some bad journalistic moves on her part.  But perhaps this new job at the Pool of Siloam camp will be her salvation, or at least give her a place to sort out her life.  But everything is not as it seems as we travel the pages of this novel and follow Maribel’s journey.  I felt for Maribel because she beat herself up over an event that was not her fault (especially near the end as we really learn the truth about the events) and her lack of faith in herself.  She also didn’t believe that she was worthy of God’s love and forgiveness which is the furthest thing from the truth.  Her time in this small Texas town and interactions slowly lead her down a new path to forgiveness and as the title states, A Firm Place to Stand.

I really felt the passion that Mack and Conner had for God and forgiveness and their calling to bring Maribel back into the fold.  They have a long hard road ahead of them because Maribel carries a lot of guilt and emotional baggage that tends to get in the way of her life.  But these new friends in her life can see past her baggage and despair and continue trying to bring her around to a more positive light.

Outside of the religious/belief aspect is the suspense/mystery portion.  Why was Maribel brought to this sleepy little town in Texas?  What happened to the missing camp counselor and camper?  Who is trying to harm Maribel and why?  All of these questions kept me hooked on the story and trying to figure out who had ulterior motives.  There are some red herrings and not everything as it appears, but closer to the end of the book I had a feeling about a few characters and their motives, and I wasn’t far off base.  While the “why” surprised me, it was somewhat obvious to me that these character(s) were up to no good.

There were multiple minor characters that also drew me into the story including Peg, who brought her here for research and a family history project; Rock Griger, the town sheriff, that just didn’t seem on the up and up; Daylee, one of the campers that had been abandoned by her family.  The supporting characters had depth and I felt they were an integral part of the whole story.

Here are some of my favorite lines in the book (and there were quite a few)

 

“By the time she returned, the sun would be up, baking everything with the unrelenting heat of Texas in July.”

“The determination to stop giving herself away piece by broken piece was strong but she also knew her weaknesses.”

“Order and control eliminated chaos. Order and control took away the anxiety laden sleepless nights. Order and control equaled safe right?”

“Maribel may not have as many Texas generations behind her name, but it only took one to understand the character of those who did. A character she admired and respected.”

“How would it feel to have that strong a connection to something, roots running that deep? A simpler, purer life perhaps. A life without regrets.”

“Everything about the woman picked at the stitching holding Maribel’s heart together. Eventually she might find a loose thread and Maribel would be unraveled.”

“Peg wasn’t picking at the loose strings of Maribel’s heart.  She had simply cut her anchor line and tossed it overboard, instead of being anchored in place, Maribel sensed release.”

“She reminded Maribe of a giant metal clip trying to hold her pieces together.”

“Something – or someone – spoke to her in the soft rustle of the breeze, like a breath whispering truth in her ear. You are enough.”

“The notes didn’t just silence the night. they silenced the noise in her head and the chaos in her heart, demanding she be still.”

“Maribel felt more broken and vulnerable than ever before. The protective shell she worked to build crumbled around her. After everything she told herself, she knew what she had wanted wasn’t possible.”

 

I was inspired by this book and it had me looking deeper within myself and was I enough?

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A life-long Texan, Lori lives in a small community not far from the rugged West Texas landscape she loves to write about. The mother of now-grown twins, she has learned that the secret to survival is a well-developed sense of humor and an active prayer life. After years spent working in the insurance business, Lori now uses her time to educate, inspire, encourage, and entertain through the written word.

 

Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram

 

 

 Goodreads ║ Amazon ║ BookBub

 

 

———————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS: 

 

1ST PRIZE

 

Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand + $25 Gift Card to the Texas Indie Bookstore of Choice

 

2ND PRIZE: Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand

 

3RD PRIZE: eBook of A Firm Place to Stand

 

APRIL 30-MAY 10, 2020

 

(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

4/30/20 Notable Quotable Texas Book Lover
4/30/20 BONUS post Hall Ways Blog
5/1/20 Review Librariel Book Adventures
5/1/20 Excerpt 1 Reading by Moonlight
5/2/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
5/3/20 Excerpt 2 Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
5/4/20 Review Nerd Narration
5/4/20 Review Bibliotica
5/5/20 Top 5 Book Fidelity
5/5/20 Review The Page Unbound
5/6/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading
5/7/20 Playlist All the Ups and Downs
5/7/20 Review Forgotten Winds
5/8/20 Review Tangled in Text
5/9/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
5/9/20 Review Missus Gonzo

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Review, suspense on May 8, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

After a divorced Chicago father is charged with killing his girlfriend and unexplainable secrets about her come to light, he’ll have to figure out how much he’s willing to risk to find out the truth . . . and how much of it he wants to know.

Liam Parker finds his girlfriend, Elise, dead in the bathtub, wrists cut. Suicide, he figures. But the truth turns out to be more complex than anyone might expect. While trying to clear his name, Liam uncovers clues that suggest Elise was not who he thought she was: she was living under an alias, has a record, and lied about where she worked and where she grew up.

Making matters worse, his relationship with her has tied his fate to those of a conman and a stockbroker, neither of whom he has ever met. And as these three men’s lives hurl unexpectedly toward each other, Liam learns he’ll have to do more than just prove he’s innocent—he’ll have to unravel a mystery that threatens to destroy everything he cares about.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

I enjoy a good suspense/thriller novel and this one did not disappoint.  The interactions, secrets, and the devious nature of multiple characters will keep the reader on their toes.

This story is woven together with insights from multiple characters and no one character knows everything or the how and why events play out as they do in this tale.  But the tale they tell all comes together in the end and it all makes sense.  It may not be right, but the answers fall together.

Liam seems to have his life in order until he discovers his girlfriend dead in her apartment.  That triggers the first domino to fall and life gets out of control for Liam in ways he cannot even imagine.  I won’t spoil it but some of the revelations at the end shocked me because I didn’t expect those answers.  I’m surprised that Liam was able to investigate as much as he could, even with the help of some unlikely characters.

When we learn the why of this story, it saddens me a bit because of the motive of those behind Liam’s downfall.  While I understand their reasoning, it doesn’t make it right and perhaps a different result could have happened with a different approach.

We truly enjoyed this book and will have to look at this author’s other works to see if they are just as suspenseful to this reader.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Reagan Keeter is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist. His previous book is a psychological thriller called BURIED.

Reagan has worked as a writer and editor at Georgia newspapers. From Georgia State University, he earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism and from Southern Polytechnic State University his master’s in Technical and Professional Communication. He has lived in Bucharest, Prague, Manchester, and Chicago. Currently, he resides with his wife and two dogs in Atlanta, Georgia.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 | 
Comments Off on Review – The Redwood Con by Reagan Keeter @ReaganKeeter #suspense #newrelease
Posted in 5 paws, Giveaway, Psychological, Review, suspense, Thriller on April 17, 2020

 

 

THE CARETAKERS

 

by

 

ELIZA MAXWELL

 

 

Genre:  Psychological Thriller / Gothic Fiction / Sisters Fiction

Publisher: Lake Union Press

Date of Publication: April 14, 2020

Number of Pages: 317

 

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

In the isolated estate she’s found the perfect getaway. But there’s no escaping the past in this chilling novel from the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl.

Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.

She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.

A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.

“Suspense fans will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

 

 

 

║ Amazon ║ IndieBound ║

 

║ Barnes & Noble ║

 

 

 

 

This is one author that I know will have me on the edge of my seat wondering what new twist will send us to new depths.  This book did not disappoint!

Tessa is struggling with the fact that she helped free a possible killer and the backlash from filming her documentary about his case.  But is he a killer?  There are many signs that point to yes, but just as many that say no as well.  As the story unfolds we learn the truth and a few twists that maybe we should have expected but still surprised this reader.  On top of this struggle, her mother passes away and now there is the news of her mother’s true family history or at least some glimpses into a past that she and her sister never knew about.  And let’s not forget the long-standing misunderstanding between Tessa and her sister Margo.  When the truth is finally revealed it was a little bit of a letdown because you had to wonder why they let it fester this long without talking to each other.  Or maybe that is me and knowing how my family would handle a similar situation.

As Tessa embarks down the rabbit hole of discovering her true past, so many secrets are revealed that you almost need paper to write down to keep straight.  How did everything come about for her mother?  Who are these new family members?  What are their stories?  We learn more as the book progresses and each chapter is a new delight in knowledge and understanding for the characters and their situations in the past.  I tried to decipher the family on my own but never would have guessed several of the revelations.

I was engaged in this book and enjoyed the layout of the chapters that alternated between the past and the present.  It led to the mystery of the story and discovering the truth of Fallbrook and Tessa and Margo’s heritage.  Kitty is a sweet octogenarian and has the kindest heart especially once she meets Tessa.  There are many facets to Kitty’s actions and words that are slowly revealed throughout the book.  Her sister, Deidre, is more reserved and protective of Kitty and Fallbrook and for good reason but you could see the love she felt for both and why she felt the need to protect them from outsiders.

I enjoyed this book and was satisfied with the ending, but I didn’t want the story to end and I wanted to discover what happened next for everyone.  I guess my imagination will have to create that additional story in my head!  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliza Maxwell is the author of The Shadow Writer, The Widow’s Watcher, The Unremembered Girl, The Grave Tender, and The Kinfolk. She writes fiction from her home in Texas, which she shares with her ever-patient husband, two impatient kids, a ridiculous English setter, and a bird named Sarah. An artist and writer, a dedicated introvert, and a British-cop-drama addict, she enjoys nothing more than sitting on the front porch with a good cup of coffee.

 

Goodreads ║ Facebook ║ Amazon Author Page

 

BookBub ║ Website ║  Instagram

 

 

————————————-

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS!

 

ONE WINNER: Signed Copy + $25 Amazon Gift Card

 

TWO WINNERS: Signed Copy

 

APRIL 14-25, 2020

 

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

4/14/20 Review Tangled in Text
4/14/20 Review Momma on the Rocks
4/15/20 Audio Review Librariel Book Adventures
4/16/20 Review Nerd Narration
4/16/20 Review All the Ups and Downs
4/17/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
4/17/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
4/18/20 Review Rainy Days with Amanda
4/19/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
4/20/20 Audio Review Forgotten Winds
4/20/20 Audio Review KayBee’s Book Shelf
4/21/20 Review #Bookish
4/22/20 Review Jennifer Silverwood
4/23/20 Review The Page Unbound
4/24/20 Review It’s Not All Gravy
4/24/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Psychological, Review, suspense on April 14, 2020

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

What makes Simon Fitch so perfect?

-He knows all her favorite foods, music, and movies.
-Her son adores him. He was there when she needed him most.
-He anticipates her every need.
-He would never betray her like her first husband.

The perfect husband. He checks all the boxes.

The question is, why?

Nina Garrity learned the hard way that her missing husband, Glen, had been leading a double life with another woman. But with Glen gone―presumably drowned while fishing on his boat―she couldn’t confront him about the affair or find closure to the life he blew apart.

Now, a year and a half later, Nina has found love again and hopes she can put her shattered world back together. Simon, a widower still grieving the death of his first wife, thinks he has found his dream girl in Nina, and his charm and affections help break through to a heart hardened by betrayal. Nina’s teenage son, Connor, embraces Simon as the father he wishes his dad could have been, while her friends see a different side to him, and they aren’t afraid to use the word obsession.

Nina works hard to bridge the divide that’s come between her daughter and Simon. She wants so badly to believe her life is finally getting back on track, but she’ll soon discover that the greatest danger to herself and her children are the lies people tell themselves.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

 

 

Review

Psychological thrillers give us a peek into the twisted mind of a psychopath.

Things are never as they seem.  This could not be more true than in this new release.  A man is missing, but is he dead or did he run off with someone else?

You know in horror movies when you shout at the screen “don’t go in there” or “get out of there now”?  Well, there were several places in this book (especially near the end) where this is what I wanted to shout at Nina.  Especially when everything was coming to a head in the last 15% of the book and my heart was racing fearing for the characters.

This book is told from several POV but primarily Nina, the mom, and Maggie, her daughter.  Maggie believes her dad is still alive even though it has been 18 months and his body was never found and there has been no word from him.  Nina, despite everything, has moved on with her life and has found love with someone new, Simon.  Simon Fitch seems to care for Nina and her children, but does he really or is there something more in his motive?

The story has some massive twists and turns that I did not expect.  Sure some of it might have been a little predictable, but those twists had me questioning everything I thought I knew about this book and the characters.  Simon is not someone to be trusted, but for the first half of the book or so, I thought he was doing everything for Nina and her family because he loved her.  But he had deeper motives than we could have ever expected.  I would have liked to have seen more into Simon’s past than the few glimpses we had because I think it would have explained more about him.

While I liked Nina and thought she was doing what she could for her children, I wondered why she waited nearly 2 years before finding a job to support them especially when she discovered that there was no money and Glen had spent it all.  It isn’t like the children were young, but maybe it was the grief and everything she went through while searching for Glen and trying to move forward with her life.  I am glad that she started questioning things and didn’t take everything at face value.

Overall we really enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up.