Book Review: "Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun" By Elle Cosimano

 

Take the money and run ....

Ok, you know me as I'm blunt and to the darn point w/o fluff, w/o cherry coating, w/o all the fancy language and writings.

I know many of you trust me to give an honest review in exchange for this lovely ARC courtesy of Macmillan audio so here goes:

I didn't have any problem with the flow of this book (ADHD be damned). Nor, did I have issues with the plentiful array of characters.
I love the humor blended within the mix of the story because all work and no play does make for a boring ride.

This is obviously the 3rd in the Finlay Donovan series, and therefore, I would recommend you read the prior two to get a feel for this author's style.

In terms of the preview: Finlay is our divorced, single mom, author, and game changer with Vero ( the nanny accountant and baller).

They're on a mission to uncover information leading to this person simply known as "Easy Clean" which for some reason reminded me of the "Mr. Clean" guy. My bad...almost 50.

So, anyway we have a payoff of sorts for a debt if she could id this individual.

You know the money is always coming up in these stories and I'm here for it.

Finlay and Vero both suggest Easy may be part police connected and part killer. Opens up -Killer 101- and checks for how to catch one....

Now, a police academy with a hot guy named Nick might be the key needed to break this open. Or, at least break something. Sorry, my bad.

Nick plays a love interest and he's the guy in charge.

Around the same time we're introduced to another players like Sam who may or may not be a serial killer. Could she also be simply a smart female?

Well, as it turns out the Russian mob got her out of debt. So, she in essence owes them big league!
Stay focused. There's a task at hand here: Dear Readers..
Killer or officer?
Dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, hurdling the parenting juggle, and more.

Throw in some hot times with some men or two and we got ourselves a barn burner.

Oh, wait...This just in....There's been more than a few people that have suddenly gone missing or perhaps -DEAD!

Now, that changes some things...and with that comes some shady actions on everyone's part.

Whose telling the truth?
Will anyone save us?
Vero hid. Wade has a gun. Blackmail in progress....Loading.....

Duck, tumble, knock down, and run like hell, as this novel barrels at you from all angles.

I'm on the edge of the seat...which is better than hanging on to the edge of the building... with white knuckles looking down..

Could this be a contract killing? Is there a cash for carry option available? Will there be a huge payout?
Will everything simply go off course and will there be a 4th to the series?
Who is Easy Clean? Did this person murder others for money? What kind of sick AF person would do such a thing?

Bring in Nick to calm us down. To take the reigns and to lead us all to safety.

Or, so we had hoped...People use people for personal agendas which makes one wonder is this happening?

Who is this person that tried to take the ex-husband off the map?
Why is a better question?
What is on the line if you do catch the person responsible?
Bad hunches could go on all day but would it lead us any closer to the killer?

How about location...or was that relocation?

If only we could just take off and leave all our problems behind us. If only we had some sort of motivation or incentive....

One of my favorite places to visit has always been the ACNJ boardwalk ...although the people there are always trying to sell me things that I don't want.

Sorry, I digress....

This was fantastic and I look forward to the 4th in this series if Elle Cosimano leads us there.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and all those who provided this ARC audio in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "The Family Reunion" By Karen King

 

Imagine this...

A secret daughter who was abandoned as an infant now seeks your presence at an invited party.

However, lets not over exaggerate because it seems everything isn't coming up roses.

In fact, the two children of Mary arent' keen on this Cathy (aka Hope in her mind) is the real deal.

Lets backtrack a bit...

It turns out that Mary and Paul were happily married till he had a sudden medical condition. That led to a situation in which Mary sought family.

She began to have some interesting flashbacks to her past including her time with her first love Robbie - a hardcore type of fella.

Robbie we are led to believe was a bad dude with a shady past and so in her mind he was all but dead himself.

As the years went on nobody knew of this past life of Mary's not even her two children Joanne and Jason. They're both grown so what harm would it be to inform them of this past life and a step sibling?
Until the DNA proved that Cathy really was her long lost daughter.

Talk about opening up Pandora's box.

Everything went downhill literally from that moment of the reunion with Cathy. Was Cathy to blame or was there so much more to this story.

Strange things began happening to Mary who was possibly suffering from dementia...or was she?

Look, not everything is as it seems.

Money we all know is the root of all evil. Speaking of which these siblings seems to have plenty to discuss behind closed doors.

Why so many secrets? Will the truth ever be exposed? Will anyone be caught and brought to justice?

The storyline by Karen was a chock full of nuts. Broken people who hurt people is the best way to describe some of these characters. Everyone seeking love but in all the wrong places. Everyone wanting that attention, craving that adulation, yet starving themselves in the process.

If only we all knew how it would end....Would they be happy? Would this family become whole?

Karen King has found that soft spot that everyone could relate too and open it up to the world by exposing the fact that we all have secrets to tell.

A great read that I highly recommend!! The epilogue was pure gold!

Thank you Karen King, Bookouture, and Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy.

This thriller will be due out January 23rd! Don't miss out!

Book Review: "See It End" By Brianna Labuskes

 

Brianna nails it front and center with this fascinating thriller!

If you want edge of your seat action you've come to the right place.
My word, where do I even begin...Give me a sec!

Ok, after pausing to catch my breath we'll begin with the fact that this has it all. Murder, mystery, suspense, and dare I might add a bit of psychological suspense -if there's even such a thing!

Brianna is no stranger to my repertoire. In fact, I was over the moon with her 1st of this series, "A Familiar Sight" back in January of last year. See blog here: https://thesecretbooksleuth.blogspot.com/search?q=a+familiar+sight

However, she upped the game on me and is playing hard ball with an amazing set of characters and a plot that thickens quicker than my grandma's gravy.

Gives knew meaning to the phrase, "Not everything is as it seems."

Look fans of Brianna know what to expect. You know that train wreck is barreling down at you. You know there's a blizzard of fury, flight and fight, and hell-throw in plenty of investigative chatter.

It all begins with Dr. Gretchen White (Criminologist) and Lauren Marconi (Detective) and this big news of Lauren's arrest for murder.

Wait...What?

How the heck can someone with so much experience be arrested? Nope, not happening on Gretchen's watch.

So, when they say, "Don't investigate" they know the trail is getting hotter. Why on Earth would so many people remain silent?

Sometime many eyes are needed to solve such cases and so bring on Lachlan Gibbs (Internal Affairs and B.F. of Lauren) to sweeten the pot.

Lauren's future is on the line here. There's plenty of noise surrounding this case. Many hidden secrets.
Speaking of hidden there's a husband and wife that might also be on the line. Martha Hayes- Girl, you are quite something.

Speaking of this murder scene it has be pondering the meaning of a true 'Serial Killer' and could a killer such as this kill one of their own?

I'm probably not the smartest cookie on the block but we have to look at this progression and realize that the plot is getting juicier by the minute.

Wait, remember the other old saying...Hindsight is 20-20...and a dissociative disorder may be to blame but so too is the nature -nurture theory because some indidviduals aren't born but made from their familial circumstances.

Remember the BTK killer and his daughter. She swore he treated her with kid gloves. He was a great father to her. Makes one wonder doesn't it.

Well, "you can't run forever" and perhaps escaping might be the only way but what about obscuring evidence, what about admitting truths, and for god's sake what about new identities.
I'll close on this quote, " Why chase normalcy when there were so many fun things out there she had yet to try?"

Bring me this meal ticket any day of the week. This was pure excitement!
Thank you to Brianna Labuskes, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for another wonderful thriller!

See it End is due out: April 18th 2023

Run don't walk to get yourself a copy as soon as able!
#TheSecretBookSleuth

Book Review: "The Perfect Assassin" By James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 

Wow! James Patterson has brought the goods!

This was an action packed, heated, blistering novel full of everything a reader wants and needs. The chemistry was off the charts, the characters were lively, the setting and plot was a blast in both literal and figurative language, and the writing was superb.

James doesn't disappoint with a bare bones preview that excites every sensory nerve.

Folks, it's no secret I've been a huge fan and have read many of J.P's books. I deleted my Goodreads account last year (so take my word for it). LOL!

I know what to expect and what to pass on and this was a definite read with Doc Brandt Savage and hist strong willed professor simply known as, "Meed."

This storyline follows Doc's great-grandson, who's kidnapped by one of Doc's descendants and greatest enemies, while building up his stamina within a six month time frame. As a reminder the past began with 2 six month old babies stolen from a nursery wilst the two parents were left pondering what happened to them.

We move forward to present day action when Brandt is kidnapped by Meed and taken to a unknown location and held hostage by Meed (great grand-daughter of John Sunlight).

Meed and Savage have this distant ancestral connection built upon the knowledge that John Sunlight and Doc supposedly killed one another.

The premise begins upon Meed aka Kira as she takes him to her Russian training ground ( she escaped this location at 17yo) only to find herself back with a vengeance upon which others seek to wipe her off the map.

A powerful and riveting new series by Patterson and Sitts that will keep many generations busy reading for years to come.

A must read that was provided by Bibliotheca (Cloud Library) in exchange for this honest review.

Publisher Grand Central Publishing

Published November 15, 2022

Book Review: "The Prisoner" By B.A. Paris

 

First and foremost I must properly thank B.A. Paris, St. Martin's Press, and Cloud Library for this amazing copy.

Look I'll put this bluntly - B.A. (Bernadette) is a great friend from across the pond. I fell in love with her books from the beginning but this one is probably my least favorite.
Having said this, the issue I've had was with the timeline. Noting the past/present situation before heading into the chapter on "Reckoning" which went to present time & was determined to see it all through till the end.

Unfortunately, the flipping timeline is not only difficult for readers but harder upon writers to keep it straight and not get burned out in the end. I feel honestly as if this might've happened here.

Not to take away from the great work of one of my all time favorite authors.

In fact, I've conducted a skype with B.A. for our local library and I've mentioned how her books remind me of my own failed/abusive marriage. When I married a malignant narcissist (happily divorced 2013) I'm sure many didn't know we were even married and the few who did probably thought it was for the money. Lil, did they know I married for love but he had other intentions.

It was a quick monopolization but I wouldn't call it romantic more like convenient on his part to appear 'normal' and so that's the way this one plays out. Convenience for a number of various reasons that aren't well known till the end.

I must say the capture, imprisonment, kidnap, murders, and the elusive nature of it all was great. It just seemed to fizzle as the story progressed in the traveling aspect seeking justice for Amelie.
As they say never mix business with pleasure and with that you'll find this novel is full of antics in which everyone plays a substantial role. The characters are interesting from Amelie's (main character) spouse to Ned (the hated son) to the elusive yet wealthy father in law (Jethro) and many others within this close knit group.

I enjoyed the propositions, the money trail, the preparations/planning that it took to carry it all to term.
When several characters get knocked off the platform it's anyone's guess as to who is the kidnapper, abductor, and murderer. Who is telling the truth? What type of reality check do we have here.
As we all know victims can form bonds with their captors. Will that happen here? Stockholm syndrome is real and it makes readers ponder if this is where we might be going.

In the end, it's the last person standing scenario that truly is unique especially in regards to all the trauma, turmoil, and drama surrounding the storyline.

The plot thickens as they say and you most certainly don't want to miss this one as it's already out on the bookshelves or available through online channels.

Sometimes there's a slippery slope and other times there's love in the air. Which one happens is always fascinating to explore.

Book Review: "A Truth for a Truth" by Carol Wyer

 

First and foremost I want to thank Carol Wyer, Amazon Publishing Uk, and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy that's due out this April.

The fact that you can't run from your past is strengthened by the knowledge that not all women are crazy. In fact, some hear multiple voices in their heads.

DCI Kate is back at it with this very detailed and heavy read that for speed readers slows us in our tracks. It's full of information on every character's motives, their train of thought, and their reasoning for their explicit actions. Not that in itself is bad just not quite fitting for my needs.

Now, for most you might enjoy that idea that hearing voices is part of a larger guiding factor to warrant investigations in multiple directions. Heck, as detectives many are taught to go where the evidence takes you. However, the evidence is often based upon jealousy rather than plain view.

For me, I prefer plots that thicken quickly and don't have multiple avenues to explore as it becomes tedious to keep all the investigations, assumptions, lies, corruption, and confessions straight.

I seemed to be bogged down in the emotional aspect because as an empath I couldn't connect on any level to any of the characters.
Ironically the title, "A Truth for a Truth" is part of my reasoning behind my feelings because clearly nobody is telling the truth in the entire novel.

In fact, Kate has a boss named John Dickson who is violent and disgusting. He has information on a prostitute ring that involves young girls. He has information that could be used in court to take down many individuals. His close inner circle is examined with a fine tooth comb. Everyone is a suspect until they're excluded.

Kate meanwhile is still processing her feelings about the loss of Chris. His murder takes her on a roller coaster and her drive to get a confession from Dickson may have been her downfall.

What bothers me is the fact that everyone sees these young girls in precarious ways yet nobody bothered to speak out, contact authorities, right the wrongs?

Who do you trust is another component within this work by the lovely Carol Wyer.

I've read numerous books by Carol prior to this and I've enjoyed them all but this was just too much in too short a time span for me to enjoy.

If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the fact that everyone is suspect and the suspect literally gets away with murder than this is for you.
How so many could work so closely and not suspect DI Kate for over 6 days after the killing of her boss even with many pointing fingers in her direction only to have it hidden literally and figuratively land behind the bushes is perplexing.

Why are so many people watching others have sex is the question I raise?

Could there be a mole? Could Maja the sister of the prostitute be located and be located safely?
Will DI Kate ever face justice?

Could someone close to Kate's inner circle be charged with murder?
Will anyone come to terms with the truth?

It was a book that deserves your attention and demands it!

For that reason it's a good read and one that should be on your TBR!

Book Review: "Just A Regular Boy" By Catherine Ryan Hyde

 

Just a Regular Boy was such a pleasurable delight.

It begins with a father son duo who seem to take on more than they can bargain with near the borders of Canada.

The father Roy Blake was a strong, authoritative figure, who seemingly goes beyond the norm into 'survival mode' with his young boy named Remy at their remote cabin.

Remy is just 8yo when he becomes orphaned and has to fend for himself in a world that is uncertain and often fearful.

The pandemic, the wilderness, the rough and tumble nature of this book by the great Catherine Ryan Hyde is what draws you in and captures the senses.

Our world was at a stand still during the time this book was written so it's not hard to imagine going off the grid -even if temporarily for some self awareness.

However, in this case the idea that the father could be harming the child in some way takes shape and the books starts to have a sense of urgency around every turn.

It was gripping, emotionally compelling, and very relatable from start to finish especially in such a diverse culture as we have today.

The world is "wild" and this books takes the term to a whole new meaning!!

How can you not fall in love with Anne and her family who try to help this lost soul. Sure, there's some marital concerns but nothing they can't conquer if they work together.

This theme of togetherness and inclusion continues throughout this novel and really captures the readers hearts with not only adoption
concerns but other means of self care and observance that propell to center stage.

In a world when anything can change on a dime, when we lose those we love, when the world is so uncertain it's heartwarming to know that Catherine's books will shine beautifully.

Thank you to Netgalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishing for this exclusive ARC as it was mind blowingly fun with an edge of your seat feel!