Month: July 2018

Stay Hidden – Paul Doiron

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Mike Bowditch is a member of the Maine Warden Service and has been recently promoted to investigator in the Bangor office. While the majority of the team is out investigating a hunting accident, Mike fields a call for yet another hunting mishap – a young woman has reportedly been shot dead on a remote Maine island, and the hunter is in custody. When Mike arrives to investigate the shooting, he learns that the alleged shooter denies the incident, but admits to finding her on the ground, leaving the investigation wide open for Mike. Was it really a hunting accident? Or something much more sinister?

Anyone who’s ever spent time in rural Maine knows how secretive and protective of another that Mainers can be. As Mike attempts to get to the bottom of the incident, he finds himself thwarted at every turn – even by the island’s constable himself. Then, out of the blue, the victim’s sister arrives, stunning the islanders with her resemblance to her sister – and she starts looking for her own answers…

I very much enjoyed this book, the characters, and the multi-dimensional aspect of their lives. Mike Bowditch is a strong, solid character and I look forward to seeing him in future novels spent quite a few years living in central Maine, so reading of places I was familiar with made this book extra special for me. A fabulous read, and a must for mystery/crime/thriller fans!!

Feared – Lisa Scottoline

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Bennie, Mary & Judy are back as the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm finds themselves under fire…

A warm celebration of Mary’s impending motherhood is being celebrated within the walls of the law offices, when a messenger arrives with packages for each of the female members of the team. As the courier departs he tells them that they’ve been served. In the midst of preparing for an anti-trust trial, the team is astounded to discover that they are being sued for reverse sex discrimination. Additionally, they learn that the suit is being brought against them by Mary’s nemesis, Nick Machiavelli, and that comments made by their lone male attorney, John Foxman, may be partially to blame.

Shortly thereafter, John Foxman leaves the firm and the group is subjected to a plethora of bad press, interviews, and news write ups designed to discredit the agency. As Bennie and her team prepare to fight back, they hire their own attorney – and begin their own investigation. But then, a death occurs – and Bennie’s own team becomes suspect…

As always, a fabulous read by Lisa Scottoline! Full of the characters, legalese and prose you’ve come to love, this book does not disappoint!! I couldn’t put it down!!

Justice For Jessica – Alretha Thomas

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Stacey and Jessica are best friends and have been since high school. Although Jessica has married up and now lives a lavish lifestyle, she appears to remain true to her early friendship. Stacey oftens spends overnights with Jessica when her husband is away, and as this book opens, Stacey awakens and finds her best friend dead in her bed in the guest room.

Rachel Storme is a homicide detective for the local police department. On a leave of absence of her choosing after a killer was allowed free due to compromised evidence, Rachel isn’t sure if she wants to return to police work. Then a quick favor for a colleague sucks her right in to Jessica’s murder investigation – just like that, Detective Storme is back.

As with any murder, there are the obvious suspects and like most novels, the killer ends up being someone you don’t suspect. The story line was good, but some of the dialogue just didn’t fit – the relationship between Rachel and Stacey for example. Also, and I know I was reading an uncorrected proof, there is once scene where Stacey calls 9-1-1- to report something, but when she hangs up, she says goodbye to Rachel. Not how it works at all. In any event, it was a good storyline, the author just needs a bit more insider knowledge of how investigations work.