Category: Suspense

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Kimberly reviews Hiding Place by Meghan Holloway

TITLE: Hiding Place
SERIES #: Hector Lewis #2
CHARACTERS: Hector Lewis
AUTHOR: Meghan Holloway
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/10/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Hector Lewis is obsessed with uncovering the truth of what happened to his wife and daughter fifteen years ago. The man he believed responsible for their disappearance is dead, and the trail has once again grown cold. Until he finds a long-hidden message from the past. Unraveling the clues his wife left behind leads Hector deep into the wild borderlands of Yellowstone National Park and into the dark labyrinth of his own obsession with finding his missing girls.

Faye Anders is in hiding. The remote town of Raven’s Gap, Montana, has been the perfect refuge. Until her young son goes missing on a school field trip. Desperation forces her to make a choice that will shatter the illusion of safety she has carefully built and bring the powerful man she fled five years ago straight to her doorstep.

Hector is a man chasing answers. Faye is a woman willing to do whatever it takes to keep her son safe. Caught in the crosshairs of a man who is determined to silence them both, they discover some men will kill to keep their secrets buried. But when the past comes knocking, there is no place to hide.

REVIEW:
This is the second in the series which I did not read the first of. It can be a stand alone.

This book is about Hector, a cop, who lost his wife and daughter a decade and a half ago. For some reason he feels like he needs to start investigating it on his own even after all this time. Mainly because he is finding notes his wife left him before her death. The case is cold but she continues to investigate. Faye is now living in the same town with her son under a false identity.

I think this falls under the romantic suspense genre more than thriller. I am not sure why but I never really connected with either main character. I really wanted to. I liked the idea of the book. It seemed to have a bit of a different storyline than traditional romantic suspense.

I will give the next in the series a try hoping to connect a bit with the new characters.

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

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Kimberly reviews Hit The Road Jack by Willow Rose

TITLE: Hit The Road Jack
SERIES #: Jack Ryder #1
CHARACTERS: Jack Ryder
AUTHOR: Willow Rose
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/25/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ben is supposed to be in school. It’s Monday morning but his parents are still asleep after a night of heavy drinking. Ben Waits patiently, even though he knows he is missing out on today’s field trip to the zoo. But, when his black Labrador suddenly runs upstairs and comes down with a finger in his mouth, Ben knows he’s not making it to school today at all.

Detective Jack Ryder is chaperoning his kids’ field trip when he gets the call from the head of the Cocoa Beach Police Department. A body has been found and they need his help. Soon, Jack finds himself up against a killer, a predator who ruthlessly chases women and kills them so they can never leave him. The case soon causes serious consequences for him and his family once the truth is revealed.

With her new hero, Jack Ryder, as a loving father and committed detective, a new location in tropical Florida, and a story that moves at an incredible pace, Hit the Road Jack is Willow Rose at the top of her game.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts So NetGalley re-released this and I thought it was a good chance to learn of a new author. Well, maybe not.

This book was hardly worth the read. The author rushed through so much of the story and then dragged on parts nobody would care about. The murders are continuous and unoriginal. I never cared about any of the characters and the story made so little sense it was unreal.

I hope her other books are better as I requested all that NetGalley had to offer at the time. And because this was my first book by her I will give the others a try hoping her writing matured as she went on.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Steal by MJ Rose and CW Gortner

TITLE: The Steal
CHARACTERS: Ania & Jerome
AUTHOR: MJ Rose & CW Gortner
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/10/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend—until they’re stolen.

Ania Throne is devoted to her jewelry company. The daughter of one of the world’s most famous jewelers, she arrives in Cannes with a stunning new collection. But a shocking theft by the notorious thief known as the Leopard throws her into upheaval—and plunges her on an unexpected hunt that challenges everything she believes.

Jerome Curtis thinks he’s seen it all, especially when it comes to crime. Until he’s hired to investigate the loss of Ania Thorne’s collection, his every skill put to the test as he chases after a mysterious master-mind responsible for some of the costliest heists in history—and finds himself in a tangled web with a woman he really shouldn’t fall in love with.

From the fabled Carlton Hotel to the elegant boulevards of Paris, Ania and Jerome must race against time to catch a thief before the thief catches them. With everything on the line, can they solve the steal or will the steal take more than diamonds from them?

Set in the late 1950s, THE STEAL is a romantic caper by bestselling authors C.W. Gortner and M.J. Rose.

REVIEW:
Set in the 1950’s this is a throwback to the type of book written “for women” in the 70’s. At least that was my feeling.

Priceless jewelry has been stolen before the Cannes Film Festival is set to begin and the rich and famous are ready to wear the jewels. This story takes place in all the high end areas you expect. Besides Cannes there is Paris and NYC. And the race is on with Ania and Jerome to find the jewels before time runs out.

What I found most interesting about this book was the writing. I am used to the writing of MJ Rose but have not read anything by CW Gortner. Each author seemed to take the role of one character, Rose with Ania and Gortner with Jerome. Each gives us a history into their lives up until the present. However, I certainly enjoyed Rose’s chapters more than Gortner’s. Gortner seemed to get stuck on certain phrases that were repeated way too often.

This book was an interesting combination of the 1970’s and 2020’s.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter

TITLE: The Serial Killer’s Wife
CHARACTERS: beth Hardcastle
AUTHOR: Alice Hunter
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/03/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re husband and wife – till death do them part…

REVIEW:
Let me say that this is the first novel from this author, as far as I can tell, and this author has a lot of potential. This book has a good beginning and a really good ending. The ending even surprised me a bit, which isn’t easy with all the books I read.

The middle part of this story slacks a bit before picking back up. There was too much time between revelations and too many pages with too much filler.

I thought the suspense of the story kept me trying to figure things out and like I said I was a bit surprised at what had happened so many years ago.

As I said, the author shows potential with this book and I look forward to picking up the next from this new author.

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

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Kimberly reviews Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams

TITLE: Hairpin Bridge
CHARACTERS: Lena & Raymond
AUTHOR: Taylor Adams
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/15/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of the “full-throttle thriller” (A. J. Finn) No Exit—a riveting new psychological page-turner featuring a fierce and unforgettable heroine.

Three months ago, Lena Nguyen’s estranged twin sister, Cambry, drove to a remote bridge sixty miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped two hundred feet to her death. At least, that is the official police version.

But Lena isn’t buying it.

Now she’s come to that very bridge, driving her dead twin’s car and armed with a cassette recorder, determined to find out what really happened by interviewing the highway patrolman who allegedly discovered her sister’s body.

Corporal Raymond Raycevic has agreed to meet Lena at the scene. He is sympathetic, forthright, and professional. But his story doesn’t seem to add up. For one thing, he stopped Cambry for speeding a full hour before she supposedly leapt to her death. Then there are the sixteen attempted 911 calls from her cell phone, made in what was unfortunately a dead zone.

But perhaps most troubling of all, the state trooper is referred to by name in Cambry’s final enigmatic text to her sister: Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.

Lena will do anything to uncover the truth. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, Lena’s search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself…

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts I had really hoped for more with this story. The concept was interesting but it just didn’t have the oomph I hoped for.

The story is told in the POV of both sisters but that was a bit confusing for me. The writing didn’t seem to have the change most writers have when they tell different POVs.

I never connected with the sisters. I continued reading it to find out what happened but was hardly overwhelmed with it.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Child In The Photo by Kerry Wilkinson

TITLE: The Child In The Photo
CHARACTERS: Hope & Stephen
AUTHOR: Kerry Wilkinson
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/14/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I stare at the newspaper article about a baby snatched from the back of a car thirty years ago, and wonder why someone would post it through my door. Looking closer, my blood freezes. The little girl in the photo has an unusual scar – just like mine. I’ve never met anyone with one like it. Is this stolen child… me?

Trembling with shock, I know I have to confront my mother. My parents got me through a horrific accident, helped me find a job I love teaching art, and even with buying my own house. But was it all built on lies?

She tells me the day I was born was the best day of her life, and I’m flooded with guilt for questioning her – but why do I catch her burning papers in the garden the next day?

Then I come home to find a woman sitting on my doorstep, covered in bruises and claiming she knows who abducted me. I don’t know if I can trust her – or if I’ll be the next to get hurt.

Because all the while, I’ve been hiding my own secret. Does whoever sent the article know what really happened the day of my accident? Desperate for the truth, I break into the house of my supposed kidnapper. Inside, I find a handwritten list of names. A shiver goes down my spine as I realise wasn’t the only child to be stolen.

Then I hear a key in the lock, and I know my life is in terrible danger…

An absolutely addictive read that will have you racing through the pages and questioning everything you thought you knew about your family. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena.

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts I have read other books by Wilkinson but this one was a bit off for me. The thing that seemed odd was the fact that we learned pretty quickly that Hope was taken as a child and even who took her. So what part is the “who-dun-it”?

I didn’t feel that this was a suspenseful story at all. There is a lot of drama but no “thriller”.

This was a fast paced read and the writing is fine but a bit of a let down on the suspense.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Hive by Gregg Olsen

TITLE: The Hive
CHARACTERS: Lindsay Jackman
AUTHOR: Gregg Olsen
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/08/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Glamorous messiah or charlatan? A mask of beauty hides deadly secrets in #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s mesmerizing novel of suspense.

In the Pacific Northwest, police officer Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit…

To hear Marnie Spellman tell it, when she was a child, a swarm of bees lifted her off the ground and toward the sunlight, illuming her spiritual connection with nature—an uncanny event on which Marnie built a cosmetics empire and became a legend, a healer, and the queen of holistic health and eternal beauty. In her inner circle is an intimate band of devotees called the Hive. They share Marnie’s secrets of success—including one cloaked in darkness for twenty years.

Determined to uncover the possibly deadly mysteries of the group, Lindsay focuses her investigation on Marnie and the former members of the Hive, who are just as determined to keep Lindsay from their secrets as they are to maintain their status.

REVIEW:
This is a weird one. I like Gregg Olsen but this might be the weirdest he has ever written and that is saying something.

In this story we go inside a female lead cult. Marnie is trying to “help” women find their full potential but that includes leaving your husband and more. And Marnie has a dark past that starts to come to light.

Like I said, this is a weird story. I found the different POV’s a bit much. I would have preferred the story to just be told. I also think it was odd that Olsen decided to make this about a female lead as a male writer. It was odd having him talk about female empowerment.

As a fan of Olsen’s I will say this was not one of my favorites but it was still an interesting read.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Bullet by Iris Johansen

TITLE: The Bullet
SERIES #: Eve Duncan #27
CHARACTERS: Eve & Joe
AUTHOR: Iris Johansen
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/08/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn must protect the life of a brilliant scientist so that she can live long enough to bring her discovery to the world, in this fast-paced thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen.

Diane Connors is a dedicated doctor with the world’s biggest secret, a discovery that could have shocking global ramifications. But while conducting private research trials, word has gotten out. The wrong people have heard the news and now want to hide Diane’s achievement for their own ends.

With nowhere else to turn, Diane finds herself on the doorstep of the last man she wants to ask for help: her ex-husband, Joe Quinn. Joe has remarried, and he and his wife, Eve Duncan, seem blissfully happy in their quiet, rural life until they are faced with the challenge of risking it all—even their marriage itself—for the greater good …

Now Eve is trapped in a web of murder and deceit as powerful enemies rush to cover up the truth, determined that Diane’s discovery goes with her to the grave—even if Eve and Joe get buried with her.

REVIEW:
This is the 27th book in the Eve Duncan series. You would think by now it would be old and tired by now but the story keeps getting better. I will say I really do not think these stories can be read as stand alone. I mean I guess if you do not care about the backstory of Eve and Joe you might be able to pick it up but Eve and Joe have had a lot to deal with over the years and this story really needs to have that backstory to help you understand what they could be losing.

In this story Joe’s ex-wife comes back because she needs help and she has no one else to turn to. But this puts Joe and Eve into a perilous situation.

Another great read by Iris Johansen. Any fan of suspense or romantic suspense should already know about this series but if not you need to start because this series will be one of your favorites.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Now You Know by Nora Valters

TITLE: Now You Know
CHARACTERS: Lauren
AUTHOR: Nora Valters
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/06/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Everything I’ve suffered, you will too…

Lauren has worked hard to create her dream life: a perfect fiancé, a great job, and a safe, cosy home.

But then, out of the blue, it all goes terribly wrong and Lauren finds her job is on the line, her fiancé is accusing her of cheating and someone is writing terrible things on her car.

At first, Lauren thinks this is just a horrible run of bad luck. But as her life spins out of control in a series of escalating disasters, it begins to dawn on her that these aren’t random events. She’s under attack.

And she’s certain that whoever is doing this won’t stop until they’ve completely destroyed her life.

But she’s wrong – they won’t stop until she’s dead.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Talk about having bad luck. At first Laren thinks life is just picking on her but too much is happening to have it be coincidence. So now Lauren has to figure out what is going on and who is responsible.

I had a bit of a hard time in the beginning of this book as it was a bit slow to get started but we have to figure out who Lauren is to understand all that is going wrong. Once I was into it I was really interested. I will be honest and say I figured out the who pretty quickly but I could not figure out the why and how.

This is a fast paced story once it gets started. Keeps you interested and reading until the very end.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Taken Girls by Glenn Cooper

TITLE: The Taken Girls
CHARACTERS: Marcus Handler
AUTHOR: Glenn Cooper
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/03/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They were taken. They returned. They never aged.

A family is abducted.
There are no signs of a struggle. Their Italian holiday villa is untouched. There are no ransom demands. The parents and two little girls, Victoria and Elizabeth, have simply vanished.

The daughters are returned.
Four years later, the girls appear back at the family’s holiday home. But they are the exact same ages they were at the time of their abduction. Their parents are still nowhere to be seen.

Only one man can solve the mystery.
Marcus Handler, a retired CIA officer, is hired to investigate. He wants Victoria and Elizabeth’s disappearance explained. But his hunt for answers leads Marcus to a disturbing truth and a reckoning with his own troubled past…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts When a family goes missing there are so many questions but five years later when the girls come back looking the same age without the rest of the family and having cancer there are even more questions.

This is a well written story that kept me interested. There were some parts I felt were added just for more pages and some characters that really added nothing to the story but to confuse the reader but all in all it was a page turner. I did think the author rushed the end a bit to give us all the answers but I would take that over closing the book and wondering what happened to ____.

It would sound like I didn’t like the story very much but I actually did enjoy it. As I said this is a page turner to keep you wondering what happened and what is up with these little girls.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Her Ocean Grave by Dana Perry

TITLE: Her Ocean Grave
SERIES #: Detective Abby Pearce #1
CHARACTERS: Abby Pearce
AUTHOR: Dana Perry
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/02/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Over the cliff edge, she sees a broken body on the jutting rocks below, the waves crashing all around. She can’t see the girl’s face, which is covered by her long, brown hair. But she knows her. She met her just yesterday…

When Samantha Claymore doesn’t return home after an afternoon bicycle ride on Martha’s Vineyard, Detective Abby Pearce acts immediately. She knows from experience how quickly a lost girl can become a tragedy. Back on the island for the first time since she ran away as a teenager, Abby hopes solving Samantha’s case will make up for her past mistakes… But, as the media swarm and Samantha’s grieving mother joins the search, the police find no trace of the beloved sixteen-year-old—even when a reward is offered for her return.

Trawling through old case files, Abby discovers that Samantha is not the only girl to have gone missing in the small community of Martha’s Vineyard. She’s convinced more could follow, but her team insists there’s no link to be found. Until Samantha’s best friend is found dead at the bottom of a cliff the next day…

After searching Samantha’s bedroom and trawling through the files on her computer, Abby digs into the death of Samantha’s father five years ago at sea, following the trail to one of the island’s most powerful families. The same people who failed to protect Abby the night she was forced to leave as a young girl. Is there anyone left on this quiet island who Abby can trust? Can she find Samantha before more innocent lives are taken?

An absolutely unputdownable and nail-biting crime thriller that will have you racing through the pages. Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Gregg Olsen.

REVIEW:
I do not recall ever reading this author before but I will certainly read more of her work. The synopsis sounded interesting so I thought “why not?” since it was the first in the series and I am so glad I requested it.

Abby moves to Martha’s Vineyard to start over. She will be a detective in a much more laid back area than in NYC, or so she thinks. But when Maddie is assigned a case that isn’t at all laid back.

Abby has so many eyes on her including her new boss, her new partner, the mayor and a local journalist just to name a few. And let’s not forget the suspense of the case of the missing daughter of a cosmetic mogul.

I found this story to be interesting and well written. Abby is someone I would like to be friends with and certainly someone I would go to in an emergency for help. The characters are well rounded.

Can’t wait for the next in the series.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Mystic’s Accomplice by Mary Miley Theobald

TITLE: Mystic’s Accomplice
SERIES #: Mystic’s Accomplice #1
CHARACTERS: Maddie Pastore
AUTHOR: Mary Miley Theobald
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/01/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The first historical mystery in award-winning author Mary Miley’s 1920s Chicago-set series introduces reluctant sleuth Maddie Pastore and takes readers into a dark and dangerous world of mobsters, speakeasies and seances.

It’s 1924, and Maddie Pastore has it made. A nice house, a loving husband with a steady job – even if it is connected to Chicago’s violent Torrio-Capone gang – and a baby on the way. But then Tommy is shot dead, and she learns her husband had a secret that turns her life upside down.

Penniless and grieving, Maddie is only sure of two things: that she will survive for the sake of her baby, and that she’ll never turn to the mob for help. So when she’s invited to assist a well-meaning but fraudulent medium, she seizes the chance. She’s not proud of her work investigating Madam Carlotta’s clients, but she’s proud of how well she does it.

When Maddie unearths potential evidence of a dark crime, however, she faces a terrible dilemma: keep quiet and let a murderer go unpunished, or follow the trail and put herself and her baby in mortal danger . . .

With its Prohibition-era setting, lively characters and enthralling historical detail, The Mystic’s Accomplice is an ideal pick for readers who enjoy 1920s-set mysteries.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This was kind of interesting. I have been interested in mob life since I really learned about who Al Capone was. Not just the “Scarface” we hear about but the real man. Anyway….. I thought I would pick up this book since it is a start to a new series.

Maddie’s husband has a history with the Chicago mob but when Maddie is widowed and pregnant she will do what she needs to do for her baby. I really liked Maddie. She was going through the hardest moment in her life and she persevered.

I think fans of gangster/mob stories will enjoy this new series.

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