Category: 3 Star

TITLE: The Last Good Place
CHARACTERS: Sgt Al Krug & Casey Kellog
AUTHOR: Robin Burcell
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/03/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Robin Burcell has worked as a cop, hostage negotiator, and as an FBI-trained, forensic artist . She’s also the author of award-winning thrillers. Now she uses that unparalleled experience to continue Carolyn Weston’s groundbreaking series of books, which were the basis for the hit TV show “The Streets of San Francisco.”

Sgt. Al Krug and his younger, college-educated partner Casey Kellog are investigating a string of strangulation killings when another victim is found at the Presidio…but a surprising, violent incident at the crime scene makes them wonder if everything is what it seems. The two miss-matched cops, with sharply conflicting approaches to detective work, are under intense pressure to get results. It’s a race-against-the-clock investigation that propels them into the deadly intersection of politics, real estate, media and vice… the fertile, fog-shrouded killing field of a ruthless murderer.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Al and Casey are polar opposites. Al is older and street smart. Casey is younger and book smart. They do about their work with different approaches and yet somehow get the job done.

Everyone has heard about The Streets Of San Francisco, mostly from the TV show but there were also books written but the author, Carolyn Weston, but she passed away and Burcell has taken over the series. I never read the original books so I can’t say if they stand up to them but this was well written and kept me interested.

I will say that you really shouldn’t plan on comparing this novel to the old show. The really just don’t mess and that is ok. The show was done decades ago and this story is more up to date that a cop show set in the 70’s.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: The Girl With No Past
CHARACTERS: Lean & Julian
AUTHOR: Kathryn Croft
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Leah Mills lives a life of a fugitive – kept on the run by one terrible day from her past. It is a lonely life, without a social life or friends until – longing for a connection – she meets Julian. For the first time she dares to believe she can live a normal life.

Then, on the fourteenth anniversary of that day, she receives a card. Someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed the life Leah has created.

But is Leah all she seems? Or does she deserve everything she gets?

Everyone has secrets. But some are deadly.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a really interesting thriller. It takes a little while to warm up to Leah. She is the stereotypical librarian. She lives in her books, has little social life, etc. She wants to start having a social life and takes the current way… going online. But of course that doesn’t work out very well. The story takes place now but has a number of flashbacks that explains Leah’s story and why someone is after her.

I enjoyed the story. I thought the psychological part of it was thrilling. While dark it was really interesting. I haven’t read Gone Girl or The Girl On The Train so I don’t know if it compares but all in all I thought this was good and worth the quick read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Murder Mystery
CHARACTERS: Dade Cooley
AUTHOR: Gene Thompson
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When wealthy art collector Miriam Welles is crushed to death by her own Rolls Royce, the police call it a tragic accident.

But her lawyer Dade Cooley arrives on the scene in Los Angeles and quickly determines that, though the Rolls was empty, there was definitely a driving force behind Miriam’s untimely demise.

He takes on the role of detective with glee as the plot thickens.

Two more residents come to an unfortunate end, and Dade is convinced that murder is the cause of all these suspicious deaths.

When a special painting is stolen, the list of suspects grows until Dade discovers the unlikely perpetrator behind the killings.

Was it greed or love that killed the beauty?

‘Murder Mystery’ is a classic mystery story from a master story-teller.

REVIEW:
This was a good little mystery. The thing was it was very dated. Apparently this is a re-release and nothing was changed in it to bring some of it up to date. It is a funny who-dun-it that is a light read.

Good for being as dated as it is.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Vendetta
SERIES #: The Nikki Boyd Files #1
CHARACTERS: Nikki Boyd
AUTHOR: Lisa Harris
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the first in a new series from an author I have not read before. The synopsis pretty much tells it all so I don’t need to repeat it. It is pretty typical as well. Lady becomes cop because her sister went missing a decade ago and not another girl is missing and she takes it personal. Typical, like I said.

I’m am 60/40 on this book. I would say 50/50 but it did keep my interest and make me want to finish it so I will give it that push over the edge. The characters are good and well written. The history of Nikki is solid and again she kept my attention. I was waiting for something about the book that would be different than others… something about Nikki that we didn’t know that gave us that “Oh now I get it” moment but it never came. I also never felt much of a connection, except the loss of a loved one, between Nikki and Tyler.

I guess this would fall under the inspirational suspense more than anything else. And while interesting it just really didn’t do it for me. I can imagine some will love this series. I am just not one of them.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Time To Die
CHARACTERS: Jennifer Knight
AUTHOR: Caroline Mitchell
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Don’t ever cross his palm with silver.
He will reveal your most shameful secrets.
He will predict your death.
He is hiding a secret.
He is hiding a monster.
And all his predictions come true.

Investigating a series of chilling murders, Detective Jennifer Knight finds herself tracking a mysterious tarot card reader known only as The Raven.

As the death toll rises, Jennifer and her team build a picture of a serial killer on the edge of sanity, driven by dark forces. But these are not random killings. And the method behind the madness could be the most terrifying thing of all …

Especially when it seems the death of one of their own is on the cards.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the second in a series but to be honest I didn’t know that when I picked it up. I would say you can read it has a stand alone but I do feel like the first book probably gave some insight into Jennifer that would have helped enjoy this book more. But either way it can be enjoyed.

Jennifer has a psychic ability that she uses to help her solve crimes. I get the impression in the first book that by the end she was courted by Operation Moonlight because she is working for them in this book. Operation Moonlight works supernatural cases. Jennifer is a bit hard nosed with OCD and
strong willed.

This is a British crime drama that is very interesting. I found it to be sort of like the Krewe of Hunters series from Heather Graham with the bit of supernatural with a lot of suspense. I think you will be captivated by this story. But I might suggest you start with the first one just for the background.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.