Tropical Delusions……

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

Detective’s Nick Fourcade and Antoinette ‘Annie” Broussard are back in this newest installment from Tami Hoag.

In sleepy Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, a young boy is found brutally murdered in his own bedroom, while his mother somehow witnesses the assault, yet survives, and is able to flee the home and summon help. Detective Nick Fourcade is called to investigate the scene, while Annie Broussard heads to the hospital to connect with the surviving and grieving mother.

As the investigation begins and the team dives into the lives of Genevieve Gauthier and her now deceased son KJ, startling facts come to light. KJ’s father is in absentia, and KJ was often left with a 12-year-old daughter of a schoolmate, who is now missing, as Detectives look to interview her. With the town up in arms over the present events, the team must consider the mother as a suspect in the crime, as well as search for an elusive killer.

Meanwhile the new regimented police chief, Kelvin Dutrow knocks heads with Nick every chance he gets, threatening to fire not only Nick, but Annie from the team. And a grieving father lashes out at Fourcade and the department, convinced that his disabled daughter’s sexual assault investigation is being neglected for the murder.

Did Genevieve kill her son out of frustration and despair over single motherhood? Or is a far more sinister explanation awaiting discovery???

I have been reading books Ms. Hoag for the last 25 years, and I have to say this was one of her best yet!! She just keeps getting better!! With rich, dynamic characters, intriguing settings, and complex storylines, this book, like her others, kept me up far into the night! Un-put-downable! Whether you’re a long-standing fan, or new to Tami Hoag, this book is an absolute MUST READ!!!

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

A young man is traveling along a country road in rural England, when a back door of the van in front of him suddenly opens, and a girl’s body falls out in front of his car. As Toby steps on the brakes, and calls for help, the van continues on its journey, seemingly unaware of what has transpired.

Despite it being her weekend off, Detective Inspector Gina Harte is called in to work the case. Fresh off her most recent case, and a dangerous assault at her home, Gina is still struggling a bit with anxiety, and with her short-lived relationship w/ her commanding officer DCI Briggs. As she and partner DS Jacob Driscoll meet at the hospital in hopes of interviewing their victim, they learn that the only words she’s uttered are ‘help her’. But who is she referring to??

Shortly after the investigation begins, a body is found buried in a shallow grave on a recently sold piece of property. As the two cases run concurrently, forensics are able to identify the young women, and the team makes a startling discovery, which links the two cases together. And nearby, a desperate mother is searching frantically for her missing daughter…

This was my second Carla Kovach novel featuring Gina Harte and it will NOT be my last! This was a GREAT read! Full of action, suspense and drama you come to expect from mystery/police procedurals, I had a very hard time putting this one down!! Time to read the one I’m missing, as I eagerly await more of DI Harte from Ms. Kovach!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

Newly minted Doctor Emily Norton is Baltimore bound as she is preparing to start her surgical residency. Freeing herself from her religiously tyrannical father, and determinedly agnostic herself, she rents an attic bedroom in a flamboyant home owned by Mr. Norton Wharton, a large imposing man who surprises her with a super effeminate voice. As she settles in, she begins to get to know Norton’s eclectic friends, including the elderly gentleman next door, Frank Norton and his cat, Helga. Despite just meeting her, Frank gifts her with a rare piece of jewelry, and the admonishment to wear it always. Initially, Emily wears it to appease the older man, but all to soon removes it and adds it to the neckline of an old skeleton that adorns the corner of her rented attic.

As Emily begins her residency and its challenges, she finds comfort in a fellow female resident, Mondra, as she finds herself championing for the underdog. She befriends a young woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer and does her best to assist an under privileged patient escape a hospital bill. Tending to a young man’s lacerations after a motor vehicle accident, she draws the ire of his father – a powerful community businessman, and in a series of unfortunate encounters Emily finds herself fired from her residency and scorned by the community she has just started to call home. At the same time, her fiancé tells her he has met another girl and wishes to end the relationship.

As Emily’s world comes crashing down, she eyes the skeleton wearing its charm and replaces it around her neck. Almost immediately, things begin to change…. Is it magic? Or an old curse of kings? Or coincidence?

A sweet story about Emily and a crew of ‘different’ people, and the importance of acceptance, tolerance, self love, and being yourself! I loved this book and its messages!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

Detective Inspector Jessica Daniel is back for more in the newest installment if this fabulous series!! As she struggles to come to terms with her fiancés comatose state, and her housemate Bex’s seeming abandonment, Jessica is also honor bound to keep the community safe, even if that includes a call from the English Rockstar Blaine Banner, who believes that he is receiving death threats, despite being unable to provide much credible information. After taking his complaint, she heads for the station only to learn that England’s notorious serial killer, nicknamed “Jaws” is due to be released from prison, and into the Witness Protection Program, in an effort to keep him safe. If that wasn’t enough, the fiancée of a missing person is picketing the police station, and summoning news crews, as she feels the police aren’t doing enough to find the missing ‘Liam’.

In an effort to protect the community, Jess and her team are asked to ‘protect’ Jaws killer Damian Walker from harm, while they also ascertain that he remains in place in his safe house. However, shortly after his release, a new victim is found, killed in exactly the same manner as his prior victims. But…Damian, with his protective detail in place, had not left his home…

As Jess investigates the newest murder, a ghost attacks the Rockstar, and Liam’s fiancée calls the press, creating a media circus in town. Meanwhile, Jess is privately dealing with her own sorrows, and her fear that she’s the reason that Bex left. It’s a wild ride from start to finish as Jess does what she does best – chock full of action, great characters, and a twist or two you won’t see coming!!

I LOVE this series! I had never heard of Kerry Wilkinson prior to joining the Netgalley community, and I have to share that she has very quickly become a favorite author of mine. The best part is – the Jess Daniel series is plentiful! I cannot wait to read more!! Love LOVE these books!!