Tropical Delusions……

Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson are on the scene of an untimely death in a cabin deep in the woods of Gainesville, Virginia. The deceased is a young female who Amanda recognizes as the founder of a popular & profitable cosmetic company, Alicia Gordon. It appears she died alone, shattered wineglass by her side, family portrait tucked underneath the blanket with her.  As Amanda gazes at the framed picture, she is astonished to recognize the young woman’s companion as someone she once knew in high school – and she realizes the case has just become that much more complicated.  With no evidence of a break in, and they key in the cabin with the victim, the Detectives have little to go on. Was this death a suicide – or something more sinister?

As Amanda & Trent await autopsy results, they begin their investigation by learning as much as they can about the victim. Upon arriving at her home, Amanda sees Tony for the first time in years, surprised to learn he and Alicia had recently married. They also learn that she was considering selling her company – and in the event of her death, most of Alicia’s assets would go to Tony, giving him a significant motive. Furthermore, Tony insists that Alicia would not have harmed herself. A call from the medical examiner has the team leaning towards murder…but who…how…and why? 

As the duo digs deeper, they learn of a rival cosmetic company – and accusations of a stolen formula being the source of Alicia’s success. She also learns of animosity between Amanda and her ex-husbands & Tony’s alleged dalliance with a nanny – a relationship he flat out lied to Amanda about, putting him right back at the top of the suspect list.  When a second person dies, in a manner startlingly similar to Alicia’s, Amanda & Trend must re-double their efforts to put the pieces together and stop a stone-cold killer in his tracks. 

I’ll admit, this one kept me guessing until Amanda made the connection – and that what makes it a good read fore me!  I really enjoy this series and I am curious to see how Amanda and Trent’s characters – and relationship – will continue to grow, both professionally and personally, in the books ahead.  Great read, great series!! 

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Bookouture in exchange for an objective review.  Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

#21 in the Temperance Brennan Series!

It’s been a stressful day for Tempe Brennan and her daughter Katy, as they work to move Katy into her new apartment in Charlotte, NC. Finally discharged from the Army, Katy is trying to settle back into civilian life and Tempe is delighted she chose to be close, but she senses changes in her daughter, concerning for PTSD. 

As the duo finish up for the day and head to the Annex, Tempe’s home, for a shower and dinner, Katy finds a box addressed to her mother on the front porch. As Tempe opens the box, she’s astonished to find a single eyeball, impaled on a pin, staring back at her. As they await the local police, Tempe inspects the gift, determining that it is human, and appears fresh. A nudge from Bird, Tempe’s cat, sends the eye rolling, and that’s when Katy notices some odd markings – which appear to be GPS coordinates. 

As Tempe briefs Slidell, former Charlotte Detective, now turned PI and partnered w/ Ryan, Tempe’s beau, he is astonished. Even more so when a location of the coordinates reveals another macabre surprise – and a tug on Tempe’s memory – but why?  Intrigued, he enlists the assistance of the police as well, with new Detective Donna Henry joining the investigation. Fresh from the West Coast and seemingly eager to prove herself, Tempe still finds her a bit rough around the edges. 

As other bodies, seemingly random, begin to pile up, Tempe starts to notice a pattern – these deaths are eerily similar to cases she’s consulted on before, years ago, while working in Canada.  But who would know of her past investigations? Why are they being duplicated? What is the endgame?  Meanwhile Katy has been incommunicado, after a mention of a stalker and Tempe doesn’t know where to turn…

Another stunner from one of my most favorite authors!! (I feel like I say that a lot, but I have more than a few!) Reichs just gets better and better!  I you love forensics, mystery and intrigue all wrapped up in a warp speed story – this novel – this whole series – is for you!!  

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Scribner in exchange for an objective review.  Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a Rizzoli & Isles novel, so I was very appreciative of Netgalley & Random House for selecting me to advance read. 

On a snowy winter’s evening, a young woman slips off the sidewalk into the path of an oncoming car… 

Fast forward, two months later…there’s a new couple in the old neighborhood and Angela Rizzoli, mother to Boston PD Detective Jane Rizzoli, is determined to learn what she can. A quick visit to introduce herself to the Green’s has her puzzled. The couple of aloof, and worst of all, have declines a loaf of Angela’s famous zucchini bread. Sensing something amiss, Angela intends to pay close attention. 

Meanwhile, Jane and Coroner Maura Isles are on the scene of a homicide.  A young woman, a nurse, has been beaten to death in her own home. By all accounts, Sofia was a respected and well-liked nurse who worked at the local hospital. Who would want to kill her, and why?  From all accounts, she appeared to live a quiet life. As Jane and Maura process the scene, it becomes apparent that the victim had a computer – yet, it is nowhere to be found.  

As Jane’s investigation intensifies, she learns that Sofia had ben reaching out to old colleagues, and even called her old employer, a hospital in Maine – but no one seems to know what she may have been trying to find. While canvassing the neighborhood, Jane learns that a young teenage neighbor was known to assist Sofia occasionally. 

Back in the neighborhood, Angela’s suspicions grow as she watches the new neighbors – for a couple moving in, why isn’t there any furniture – why are the blinds closed all the time and why is he installing bars on the windows?  And oh – now Angela has caught a glimpse of a gun! These people cannot be up to good.  With Jane neck deep in her own investigation, Angela takes things into her own hands, only to quickly find she’s in way over her head. 

Told from the points of view of Angela, Maura and Jane, these seemingly separate storylines culminate into a complex tale that is guaranteed to keep you alternately laughing at Angela’s shenanigans and frantically turning the pages to see what happens next as each storyline intersects for a stunning conclusion – this one had me guessing all the way to the end!! Great read! Great series!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Random House in exchange for an objective review.  Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

FBI Agent Nina Guerrera and her eclectic teammates, Breck, Kent & Wade, have arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, to investigate the disappearance of several female coeds from the local tech college, the Arizona Institute of Technology – all seemingly disappearing from the campus without a trace. With them is teenaged prodigy Bianca, a former, runaway foster child that Nina rescued from the streets of Virginia years earlier. Bianca has expressed an interest in completing her master’s work at AIT and has plans to meet with the nanotech researcher on site for a tour. 

As Nina and her team meet with the local campus officers, they learn that five women are missing, and interestingly, no footage is available from campus cameras – they seem to have been tampered with – corrupted images are all that remain for the timeframes the girls are believed to have gone missing. Victimology indicates similar appearances to the missing girls, and no bodies, ransom notes or communications have been discovered. As the meeting concludes, they receive a call that another student has gone missing. 

As the investigation kicks into high gear, a chance find in the desert has Nina and her team staring in horror at the mummified remains of several of the missing victims, each clutching a black feather – but what does the feather signify? Why, mummification?  Is the remaining victim still alive? As Nina and her team explore the significance of their findings, computer guru Breck is working her magic to restore footage from campus cameras…and what they find is stunning… 

As the investigation heads in a different direction, the killer, in desperation, takes another girl…but this time the victim is Bianca… As Nina and her team frantically search for the killer, Bianca is just as determined to thwart her captor…but can she survive long enough for the team to find her?? 

This was my first novel with Nina Guerrera and her team, and I couldn’t put it down! I was partially drawn to the story because Nina and one of my childhood friends share the same first/last name, so I felt it was an omen.  I was hooked a page or two in, read late into the night and was overjoyed at its end to learn that this is just one of a series! While easily read and enjoyed as a standalone, Nina’s references to her past in areas of the novel have me anxious to start the series from the start – so more to add to my must read list! 

A great book – you won’t be disappointed! 

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an objective review.  Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!