Critical Threat (Extreme Measures #3) by Lynette Eason

 

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn't mean they're not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer--in prison but certainly not out of Sam's life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter's MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They've met before--and though Grace thought they'd made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They'll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case--especially because it's about to get personal.

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I had to make a rule for myself with this book.  No reading it at night!  haha.  I'm such a lightweight when it comes suspense- especially serial killer suspense books.  This one really kept up with the creepy factor until the very end.  It was suspenseful and had great forward momentum.  The ending felt so satisfying.  So, so satisfying.

Grace and Sam have a growing friendship that turns into more throughout this book.  They have complicated, difficult pasts that they still deal with which actually made them even more suited for each other than they (or I) initially believed.  They worked together well.

I'm really enjoying this series!  It's exciting and gets my blood pumping without crossing my lines of becoming too gruesome or violent.  I can't wait for the next book.  Is there a next book?!  I really hope so!

Content:  peril, death.  Mild violence.  Kissing.  Some Christian elements.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon

 

 

From the bestselling author of Where the Lost Wander and What the Wind Knows comes the evocative story of two people whose paths collide against the backdrop of mystery, murder, and the Great Depression.

Chicago, 1923: Ten-year-old Dani Flanagan returns home to find police swarming the house, her parents dead. Michael Malone, the young patrolman assigned to the case, discovers there’s more to the situation—and to Dani Flanagan herself—than the authorities care to explore. Malone is told to shut his mouth, and Dani is sent away to live with her spinster aunts in Cleveland.

Fifteen years later, Michael Malone is summoned to Cleveland to investigate a series of murders that have everyone stumped, including his friend and famed Prohibition agent Eliot Ness, now Cleveland’s director of safety. There, in a city caught in the grip of a serial killer, Malone’s and Dani’s paths cross once again.

Malone is drawn to Dani and her affinity for the dead and compassion for the destitute. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that she could help him solve his case. As terror descends on the city and Malone and Dani confront the dark secrets that draw them together, it’s a race to find the killer or risk becoming his next victims.

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Author Amy Harmon is probably the only author I would follow down the path to a serial killer/murder mystery book.  I was so torn as to whether I wanted to read this one but ultimately I decided that yes, I would.  Because, well, Amy Harmon.  I'm not really a fan of these kinds of books, they tend to freak me out.  Yeah, I'm a lightweight.  I was a bit freaked out with this story, if I'm being honest, but only because it really did happen.  The author did a good job of creating characters and adding humanity for me to connect to.

Dani is my favorite.  Such a unique individual with a big heart and a clear head.  I loved her every movement, word and thought in this book.  What a powerful message came through her.

The details of the murders in this book were true to actual reports.  Such a gruesome, horrible thing to read about.  That was probably the worst part of it all for me.  The details.  I had such a hard time with it because creating a movie in my head with things like that is not where I want to be.  That is in no way the author's fault.  It's just my personal preference.  If this author writes in this particular genre again, I might not go there with her but I'm pretty much game for anything else she writes!

Content:  death, violence, details of murders including dismemberment and beheading.  Kissing, some sexual content (fade to black).  Frequent mild swearing. 

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Bound In Shallows (Natalie Marsh #4) by Stephanie Black

 

 

It’s the week before her wedding, and Natalie Marsh doesn’t have a moment to spare. But when a potential donor requests a meeting regarding Natalie’s mental health clinic, the soon-to-be-bride makes time for the conversation—especially since that donor is tied to a tragedy in the life of Natalie’s fiancé, Gideon: eight years ago, Gideon’s roommate Travis died of a drug overdose.

Now Travis’s mother wants to honor his memory by helping others avoid the same fate. It is a noble request that soon turns into a nightmare. As wedding celebrations ensue, old friends renew
acquaintances. But what begins as a party of wedding guests becomes a cast of suspects when the discovery of a bloodstained knife puts them all under the spotlight. Things are taking a deadly turn, leading Natalie and Gideon to a horrifying realization: all those years ago, Travis didn’t overdose—he was murdered. And his killer is willing to take deadly action to silence anyone who suspects the truth.

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Oh my.  I think Gideon and Natalie will need a lifetime of counseling after all the things that have happened not only in this book but the previous three.  How can two people go through so much?!

I love when I'm thinking about a book even when I'm not reading it.  This was one of those kind of books.   Every secondary character was a suspect in my mind at some point or another and it was a long list.  You know that a murder mystery is going well if you suspect everyone!  

Natalie and Gideon's relationship has been growing since the first book and in this book, it's wedding time.  I would really recommend reading this series in order.  You will have all the backstory understanding you need if you do.  While the books are more plot heavy, there are many characters who are in all (or most) of the books.  You will want to know them.  And if you are starting from the beginning, get ready for a crazy ride!!

The build up in this book was great.  I loved the tension and the multiple perspectives.  It was an excellent diversion.

Content:  Peril, violence, death.   

 - I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

To Die To Sleep by Stephanie Black + Win This Book!

After surviving a difficult year, Natalie Marsh is heading for Ellsberg Keep, an exclusive mountain resort that promises to provide the tranquility she desperately needs. She’s eager to relax and to reconnect with her estranged cousin Lily, who works as the Keep’s nurse—a reunion that begins abruptly when an accident on the winding mountain roads lands Natalie in the infirmary in the care of her cousin. They have little time to bond over childhood memories, however. Everything is thrown into chaos when the owner of the Keep is rushed to the medical wing, wildly delusional and raving about a murder plot.

Despite Lily’s care, the owner dies. Is his death simply an accident, or are his frenzied suspicions true? Determined to help Lily cope with the loss of her patient—and the accusations that she’s to blame for his death—Natalie searches for answers and is swept into a mystery that grows more puzzling as frightening hallucinations torment the dead man’s son. When a staff member who asks too many questions disappears, it is clear that this idyllic resort harbors someone with deadly intent—and Natalie may not survive to uncover the truth.

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Stephanie Black is an author whose books I have been reading for a long time.  I know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick up one of her books and I love that.  

This book is labeled suspense and there was some of that but to me it felt more like a mystery.  The characters are trying to piece together what is happening around the Keep because things are definitely not as they should be.  I kept trying to guess who the "bad guy" was but it was always changing.  The author was great at casting suspicion on all the people at some point or another.  There were a lot of characters in this book but I never felt confused or overwhelmed by who was who, which is another tribute to the author.

I enjoyed the building nature of the story and the climactic ending where everything starts coming together.  I tend to start reading faster when things get climactic and I really had to purposely slow myself down several time toward the end.  So good!!

This book is definitely more plot driven than emotionally driven.  There isn't much romance to speak.  It was interesting and engaging though, from beginning to end.  I really enjoyed it!

Content:  death, mild violence, peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author:  

I’ve enjoyed making up stories since I was a child, when my sisters and I would play long Barbie games full of intrigue and danger, or write and direct plays for ourselves and our younger siblings. I took a creative writing class in high school, but my stories stunk, since I hadn’t yet figured out that a story needs a plot. An encouraging comment from the teacher got me rolling in the right direction (thank you, Mrs. Owen!) and my final story for that class eventually developed--after many years, much studying of fictional technique, and countless hours of writing and rewriting--into my first published novel: The Believer, a dystopian thriller, was published in 2005 by Covenant Communications.

Four of my contemporary mysteries are Whitney Award winners for Best Mystery/Suspense, and my second dystopian novel was a Whitney Award Finalist for Best Speculative Novel. My novella “An Eye for an Eye” was part of the RONE Award-winning anthology Timeless Romance: Autumn Suspense collection.

My husband Brian and I have five children, two children-in-law (with one more on deck), and a rather majestic cat. I love spending time with my family, enjoy homemade pizza and anything chocolate, and have recently developed a fondness for LEGO projects. I play the violin in a community symphony (but never practice enough), and always have unmatched socks, post-laundry. At the center of everything that matters most is my love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

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On Tour With Short Investigations by Clair M. Poulson + $25 and Book Giveaway!

In the sleepy town of Heber, a strange 911 call is made to report an unthinkable crime: someone has murdered a woman . . . and her body has been found in Rhett Ketchum’s barn. Rhett, a well-known rodeo cowboy, is placed firmly at the top of the suspect list—the only problem is, he’s innocent. As officers search tirelessly for the evidence needed to lock him up, Rhett takes matters into his own hands.

Max and Patches Fisher are the father-daughter duo behind the unconventional PI firm Short Investigations, and they agree to undertake the task of proving Rhett’s innocence. Soon the list of suspects begins to grow, and Rhett feels a glimmer of hope—and an undeniable attraction to Patches. But when the officers on the case become targets themselves, it seems they may be the ones in need of protection. As events take a deadly turn, it’s up to Max and Patches to uncover the truth before time runs out.

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I've been reading Clair Poulson books for a long time now so I know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick up one of his books.  I'm sure my reviews all sound about the same but that says something about his consistency.  

One thing I know going into Clair Poulson books is that the characters aren't going to overwhelm me with personality.  I won't fall in love with them.  Any type of romantic starts to a relationship are going to be hard for me to feel.  These books are more plot driven than character driven.  But I always know this going in so it's all good.

This was a great murder mystery.  Actually, it started out with one mystery and ended with three!  There were so many things swirling around in this story which had me interested from beginning to end.  The list of suspects grew and I was right there, suspecting them all!  This is the consistent part I was talking about before.  Clair Poulson knows how to write up a good, interesting mystery.  I actually think this one might be one of my favorites.  

Content:  some violence, death (described in some detail), peril.  LDS fiction so some things specific to that religion are made (not drinking, smoking) but nothing preachy.  Characters offer a prayer for help.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Schedule:

*August 20^th: http://mybookaday.com/blog/

*August 21^st: https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*August 22^nd: http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/blog/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/, https://rachellechristensen.com/blog/

*August 23^rd: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*August 24^th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://brooklynberrydesigns.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

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Still Life (Chesapeake Valor #2) by Dani Pettrey

Work hits too close to home for crime scene photographer Avery Tate when her best friend disappears. The only lead is a chilling photo of her--apparently dead. As Avery, her boss Parker, and his friends dig into the case, she's forced to confront her feelings for Parker when they come face-to-face with a dangerous criminal.

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This is the second book in the Chesapeake Valor series.  I loved the first book, Cold Shot, and I knew I would be coming back for more in this series.  Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite authors in the Christian Fiction world.  

I have to say that this book gave me the willies.  It was creepy and the whole plot was a little (or a whole lot) twisted and dark.  This book felt a bit different than other books Pettrey has written and I can't say that I loved this book as much as previous books I've read, but it definitely had my attention.

I do love how we have the same main characters in every book.  They all work together and separately so we have a chance to know them all bit by bit.  There were two different story lines happening here (actually, there were three but one is really in the background) so I'm anticipating the one that didn't reach a resolution will continue on as the main focus in the next book.

This book has a lot of characters but I never felt like I was lost or couldn't keep track of who was who.  It took me a quick minute to remember the previous book and how all these characters were interwoven, but once it started coming back, it was easy to relax into the story.  Well, as relaxing as a creepy, twisted story can be.

I read through this book quickly (but not at night!).  I suspected everyone at some point or another of something and I didn't see that ending coming at all.  Crazy!  I will be coming back for the next book, I just hope the creepy, dark, twisted stuff is taken down a notch.

Content:  Violence, some graphic and disturbing scenes, murder.  Innuendo, some references to drug use, sexual activity with no details.  No swearing or profanity.  Some light Christian elements- characters praying for help.