Blog Tour Review | QUICKSAND by Carolyn Baugh

Quicksand by Carolyn Baugh
Thriller/Mystery/Crime Published September 29, 2015
Forge Books
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The beginning of an engrossing new suspense series featuring Philadelphia policewoman Nora Khalil

Officer Nora Khalil is used to navigating different terrains. As part of a joint task force set up by the Philadelphia Police Department, the FBI, and the local sheriff’s offices, she works to keep Philly’s mean streets safe from gang violence, while trying to honor the expectations of her traditional Egyptian-American family. She can hold her own against hardened murderers and rapists, and her years as a competitive runner ensure that no suspect ever escapes on foot.

Nora tries to keep her professional and personal lives separate, but when a mutilated body is discovered in a tough section of town, Nora must rely on both her police training and her cultural background to find out whether this is another gang-related killing or the grisly evidence of something even darker and more disturbing.

My Thoughts...

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book.  I started it one day while I was on my lunch break at work and because of all my school work wasn't able to pick it back up for 4-5 days, but once I did I finished it in one sitting.  I was pretty much hooked from the 2nd chapter and now I am going to have a hard time waiting for the next book in the series to come out.  What I really liked about it is that this book is pretty much a self contained story, but a tiny thread of romance that will hopefully be the "thing" that carries over to the other books in the series.

Nora Khalil is a young police officer who has been tapped to join a special gang task force that's been set up with the FBI.  John is her older more experienced male partner who loves her like a daughter while at the same time teaching her what she needs to know to survive her job.  She's Egyptian and her family is very strict in their beliefs and traditions.  She's falling in love with Ben, one of the FBI officers that she works with, and vice versa, but inter-racial dating/marriage is not something that's looked on kindly in her family so she keeps him at arms length.  Nora and John, along with Ben and his partner are working on a case where a very young girl is murdered.  They believe it's gang related and it pulls them in to a much bigger and potentially deadly situation.  Some of the key players in this case are Muslim and Nora's language skills and her cultural knowledge and background are the things that help to crack the case wide open.  At the same time, she is finding out things about her own family that will aid her in decisions that she must make about her own life and future, both personally and professionally.

I felt like this novel was very well paced and pretty much action packed from start to  finish.  The whole of the case plays out over the course of about a week, maybe a little more.  All of the characters are very well developed, especially Nora and John.  You can't help but feel for Nora and what she's going through and when she stands up for herself and her beliefs you feel the need to root for her.  This is the first Carolyn Baugh book that I have read, but it definitely won't be the last.  I think that she has tapped into something that is possibly lacking in this market.  Her knowledge of the Egyptian and Muslim community is extensive because of her education and I think that her choosing to use it in this way is excellent.  It's a lighter way to bring topics such as these to peoples attention.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Review | 99 PERCENT KILL by Doug Richardson

99 Percent Kill by Doug Richardson
Contemporary Crime/Thriller Published August 15, 2015
Velvet Elvis Entertainment
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

99 Percent Kill follows Lucky Dey, an on-again/off-again Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detective who is both willful and acerbic to a dangerous fault. While in a holding pattern for official reinstatement, Lucky accepts a one-time gig to track down the missing teenage daughter of a Midwestern software millionaire. The novel is the first in a series, but also lives as a stand-alone thriller, winding its way through an L.A. landscape where the lights are bright, but the edges can be dark, perilously frayed, and populated with mix of human predators, amusing losers, and ambitious fringe dwellers. 

My Thoughts...

As much as I enjoyed Blood Money, my first taste of Lucky Dey, and as much as I was looking forward to reading this new book...it just didn't quite meet my expectations.  To that end, I am going to keep this review pretty short.

So the synopsis pretty much sums up what the story is about.  It's set in the seedier parts of L.A. with a glimpse of classier places like the Biltmore Hotel, but the bulk of the story happens far away from that.  Lucky is on a missing teenager case at the behest of Conrad Ellis who we met in the first book.  It kind of baffles me that Conrad is associated with Andrew, but what do I know!  As with the first book here is a whole cast of extremely unlikable characters with questionable motivation.  Herm is in search of his "unicorn" when he gets a glimpse of Karrie. He spends the whole of the book trying to get his hands on her.  He is more or less a pimp on the lookout for the really young girls that no one will  look for when they disappear, but he doesn't count on Lucky.

It may be because I got an ARC and maybe there was still editing to be done, but I had issues with the pacing of this story.  There were a lot of scenes that didn't really add to the story, characters that didn't necessarily need to be there to further the story.  I got an icky feeling from Andrew from the beginning and that was warranted, but it was overdone at times.  Then when you get to the end of the story all the final conflict takes place in just a few pages and then there is a cliffhanger ending!

I do still really like the character of Lucky but was a little disappointed to see that his relationship with Lydia was already over when this story started.  That was one of the better parts of the first book and what made him so likable for me.  My other favorite character in the book was Cherry Pie, she was a great character and added so much to the story.  She really had so much more potential than she was given.

I would like to see where this story goes so I will probably continue to read the series, but I think in the future I will wait for a finished copy.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*

Blog Tour Review | Mobster's Bones by Amy Rachiele

Mobster’s Bones by Amy Rachiele

Young Adult Organized Crime Romance published June 30, 2015 (first published June 28, 2015)
self-published eBook

Author's Website | Buy the Book on Amazon | Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads:

How can things you only glimpse for a moment sear themselves into your memory?

~Alessandra, Mobster’s Bones

Alessandra has a problem. It's not that the Mafia is the only life she knows, her father and best friend being members.

She's being followed. Her stalker destroys the one thing Alessandra thought they could never touch. She's now forced to flee the only home she's known, Palmetto.

How can someone be so beautiful? The morning sunlight is coming through the blinds on my window casting a glow around Alessandra. She has been here for a week, and we have fallen into a routine. It is sort of like she has always been here. Imagining her leaving, gives me an unwanted stone in my stomach.

~ Troy, Mobster’s Bones

Troy has his life planned out perfectly; graduate from Notre Dame with honors, get married, live a quiet life with his wife and kids in the suburbs. Just like his parents and their parents before them.

Things don’t work out according to plan - the scaffolding of his life is crumbling before his eyes. Troy’s plans didn’t include the daughter of a mob enforcer showing up at his door and sleeping in his bed. Are Alessandra and her mafia family worth throwing away the life Troy has always wanted?

What I Think….

Even though I'd never read anything previous from Amy Rachiele, I felt like Mobster’s Bones was a fast, clean read and easy to understand!  However, though the novel was simple, I really couldn't get in to it.  I will say though, Rachiele does a great job with the content of the novel. There were some fantastic scenarios that were full of suspense and kept me on my toes! I cannot imagine how much time and research would have to be done in order to create such accurate images. 

Alessandra and Troy create a unique bond when Alessandra is forced into Troy’s care due to an attack on her family. Someone is stalking her and is sparing no cost to make her life unbearable. After a shocking confrontation in her kitchen, Alessandra goes into hiding until the stalker can be found and dealt with. Did I mention she is connected to the Mob? Not only does Troy know this, but he is beyond intimidated by the information. He has never dealt with the Mob directly and doesn't plan to anytime soon. But, when a friend of the family needs a favor, Troy can't say no. It isn't Alessandra's fault this happened to her. But when someone makes an attempt on both of their lives, the duo has to figure out who they can trust and in a hurry. Among all the chaos, Alessandra and Troy find a way to look past the bad and into the good blooming between them.

Now, there were a few things that I found I wasn’t a fan of while reading. Some of the encounters between characters threw me off due to the lack of background information provided. By background information I just mean information that would have been pulled from the rest of the series. Because of this, I questioned their relevance to the story as a whole.  I also thought that the sentences lacked extra detail. They stated the main point, but seemed short and choppy to me. Also, I felt like the novel was rushed. There are some major moments in this novel that happen back to back, but have little explanation. There wasn’t really one big climax, more like a bunch of little ones with no real recess. 

I have to say, I don't think this should be considered a New Adult Romance, but more like a Young Adult fiction. The novel is extremely clean, with little vulgar language or brief sexual circumstances. I also do not think this should be read as a stand alone story. There just isn't enough information found in the rest of the series to prepare the reader, making it a hard read coming in new. I think I would have enjoyed this novel more, had I been better prepared for the the correct genre and been able to connect with the characters better. I will say, this novel does have great potential for the right reader. I think that the teenage generation would enjoy this immensely. 

[The reviewer was given an ARC for an honest review.]

Victoria ♥

Blog Tour | BLOOD TIES by Nicholas Guild

Blood Ties by Nicholas Guild
Thriller / Murder Mystery published May 12, 2015
Forge Books
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Homicide detective Ellen Ridley of the SFPD is tracking a serial killer terrorizing young women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ridley is sure she's cornered her most likely suspect: Stephen Tregear, a hacker and code breaker who works for U.S. Naval Intelligence. But Tregear is not the killer... he's the killer's son.

Ridley and Tregear team up to look for Tregear's father, Walter, in an elaborate game of murderous cat and mouse. As the body count rises, Ridley must race against the clock to stop Walter before he kills any more women--and Tregear must finally confront the father who has been trying to kill him for twenty years. Blood Ties is an elegant and frightening thriller from Nicholas Guild.

My Thoughts...

I just finished this book this morning and it was a pretty quick read for me.  Once I got started I didn't want to put it down.  I am not sure where to start my review.  There isn't really much in the way of spoilers as it's pretty cut and dry on who the killer is, etc... Most of it is just a psychological maze of piecing together the reasons why.

Review | "Ark Storm" by Linda Davies

Ark Storm by Linda Davies
Crime Thriller published August 19, 2014
Forge Books
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads

The Ark Storm is coming—a catastrophic weather event that will unleash massive floods and wreak more damage on California than the feared “Big One.” One man wants to profit from it. Another wants to harness it to wage jihad on American soil. One woman stands in their way: Dr. Gwen Boudain, a brave and brilliant meteorologist.  

When Boudain notices that her climate readings are off the charts, she turns to Gabriel Messenger for research funding. Messenger’s company is working on a program that ionizes water molecules to bring rain on command. Meanwhile, Wall Street suits notice that someone is placing six-month bets on the prospect of an utter apocalypse and begin to investigate. Standing in the shadows is journalist Dan Jacobsen, a former Navy SEAL. War hardened, cynical, and handsome, Jacobsen is a man with his own hidden agenda.

Linda Davies's Ark Storm brings together the worlds of finance, scientific innovation, and terrorism in a fast-paced thrill ride that will leave readers gasping.

My Thoughts...

This was a great page turner type book for me.  It's a fairly long book, but it's written in a lot of shorter chapters which is always a great way to move the reader through the story quickly.  The chapters, in most cases, are from different perspectives as well.  At first it was a little confusing because there are so many characters to keep track of, but once you figure out who is who you are completely hooked.

Dr. Gwen "Boudy" Boudain is a pro surfer turned meteorologist.  She lives right on the water and still surfs whenever she can, but her passion is Oracle.  She is working in California, but she has a counterpart in Peru whom she works closely with.  Gwen grew up in Peru with parents who were also in the weather business.  Gwen and Joaquin are noticing strange weather patterns and are trying to predict the next Nino weather event.  They need more funding so she goes to Gabriel Messenger who is more than happy to get involved.  He's already in the game, working on a program that uses drones to, in a nutshell, create rain from the ionized water molecules already in the air.  What they don't know is that someone is planning to hijack what Messenger's company has created to commit an act of terrorism.  They also have Gwen's fore knowledge of the impending ARk Storm to use as the catalyst.

Dan Jacobsen is a seemingly harmless journalist looking to find out what Gwen knows about ARk Storm.  There's more to Dan than what she sees though.  He's smart and cunning and as they grow closer she comes to depend on him more and more.  Will he be there for her when she really needs him though?

This story was very well crafted and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I got so wrapped up in it that I was able to read it really quickly.  There is a little romance, a lot of science, a lot of intrigue, murder, and venture capitalists trying to cash in on a disaster, throw in an act of terrorism and you have a well rounded story!  If you like a good thriller then this is definitely a book to check out.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Review | "Father of Fear" by Ethan Cross

Father of Fear by Ethan Cross
Mystery/Thriller published August 19, 2014
The Story Plant
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A father returns home to find that his family has been kidnapped and the only way to save their lives is for him to kill another innocent person…

So begins a journey that will force Special Agent Marcus Williams of the Shepherd Organization to question all that he believes, unearth his family's dark legacy, and sacrifice everything to save those he loves. In order to stop the serial murderer whom the media has dubbed the Coercion Killer, Williams must enlist the help of one of the world's most infamous and wanted men...the serial killer Francis Ackerman Jr.

Rippling with intensity, charged with tension, and brimming with a relentless spirit of humanity, FATHER OF FEAR is the latest evidence that Ethan Cross is one of the finest suspense novelists on the planet.

My Thoughts...

I said it in my review of the last book in this series and I will say it again....these really should be made into movies, they would be excellent!  This book was more of a psychological thriller than the last one, at least in my opinion.  Ethan Cross can definitely write crazy and it's so, so good.

In this installment we find Marcus and his crew in Kansas City trying to catch the Coercion Killer.  He is someone who kidnaps every family member but one and forces the remaining member of the family to kill someone he has chosen.  If they refuse he kills a member of the family until they complete the task, if they follow his orders he releases the family unharmed and virtually unaware of the situation.  Marcus enlists the help of his brother, who happens to be a wanted serial killer.  He's also the perfect person to help because of the way his mind works. Both Marcus and Francis are quite brilliant and they work well to kind of balance each other out.  Marcus the light half to Francis' dark.

Marcus is having his own problems, trouble sleeping, headaches, etc... He's kind of a loose cannon on the job, but Maggie helps keep him in check.  Despite his qualms he's also bonding with Francis as they work together.  Things go from bad to worse and Maggie is forced to work along side Francis, whom she despises.  It's a race to the finish to save someone they care about as well as the lives of countless others and they have to learn to trust people they wouldn't ordinarily trust in order to see it through.

This book is written in third person through the eyes of many different characters depending on what's happening at the current time.  It's fast paced and most of the chapters are short and succinct.  That combined with the quick pace makes for a very quick read if you have the time to sit for a couple hours.

This is a very dark read filled with lots of action, but a fair amount of gory imagery as well.  Not only from the serial killers view, but from Francis as well.  I have to admit that I loved Francis' character in this book.  He is clearly still a very unstable person, very prone to violent outbursts, still a killer no doubt about it, but he's changing.  He's a smart guy who knows that someone made him this way, and it's not necessarily who he wants to be anymore so he's trying very hard to change.  He reminds me of Dexter just a little bit.  He knows that what he is is wrong, but it's not entirely his fault that he's like this.

If you like a good thriller then I highly recommend this series.  You will be on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Blog Tour Review | "Favors and Lies" by Mark Gilleo

Favors and Lies by Mark Gilleo
Mystery/Thriller published July 1, 2014
The Story Plant

Where to find Mark Gilleo Online:

Website
Goodreads Author Page

Buy the Book:  Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads

Dan Lord is a forty-year-old private detective with a law degree working the blurred line between right and wrong in the Nation’s Capital. As a self-employed solutions broker and legal consultant, he works for a very select clientele. He doesn’t advertise and only takes cases on referral. But when two people close to him are murdered, Dan's work becomes very personal.

With the assistance of a newly hired female intern, extracting clues from a ladder of acquaintances, Dan bounds through both the underbelly and elite of society, each step bringing more questions and yet ultimately taking him closer to the answer he seeks. A bail bondsman, a recluse hacker, a court clerk, a university student, an old-school barber, a high-class madam, an intelligence officer, a medical doctor, and a police detective are among the list of people Dan must cajole for help. His quest will lead him to discover things he never wanted to know, and put him in the position to reveal things that important people would prefer remain unrevealed.

Tense, ingenious, and filled with the unforgettable characters that have become a Mark Gilleo trademark, FAVORS AND LIES is the most thrilling novel yet from one of the great new voices in suspense fiction.

My Thoughts...

This is the second book by Mark Gilleo that I have read and I must say that I enjoyed this one even more than the first one.  I think I managed to finish this one in 2 sittings, I was hooked from the first chapter and I really didn't want to put it down.  

Dan Lord is a 40 year old man with a very complicated past that lends a thick air of mystery to his character throughout the course of the book.  Dan gets a call in the middle of the night that changes the course of his life and it takes all the resources he has in his repertoire to solve this case.  As he gets more involved things become more dangerous for him and anyone he has contact with.  Even the people he starts to trust aren't who they seem and when we finally find out who is behind the whole thing it's a huge shock.  This is all I am going to say about the plat for fear of spoiling it and that would be a shame to do since this whole book is so plot driven.

The whole book is full of twists and turns and it's pretty much non stop from the very first chapter.  The characters are very well written and Dan is just one of those guys you love from the first page.   There were a few rambling bits that I didn't feel were altogether necessary to further the story.  They did provide back story for some of the more minor characters and I suppose they did lend them an air of credibility in the end.  Marks' writing style is very easy to be drawn into and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next, although I would love to see more of Dan Lord in the future!

If you love a good suspense, murder mystery story then I can't recommend Mark Gilleo enough and this book is a great way to get a sense of his writing style for sure.

XOXO, Shelly

Author Bio

Mark Gilleo holds a graduate degree in international business from the University of South Carolina and an undergraduate degree in business from George Mason University. He enjoys traveling, hiking and biking. He speaks Japanese. A fourth-generation Washingtonian, he currently resides in the D.C. area. His first two novels were recognized as finalist and semifinalist, respectively, in the William Faulkner Wisdom creative writing competition. 

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Review | "You're Not Safe" by Mary Burton

You're Not Safe by Mary Burton
Mystery Thriller Published March 25, 2014
Zebra Publishing
Author's Website  |   Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

He Will Never Forget
The broken body hanging from a tree in Texas Hill Country. . .the frozen figure huddled in a meat locker. . .only at second glance does the truth become apparent. What seems like suicide is far more sinister, and the terror is only beginning...

Never Forgive

One devastating moment changed Greer Templeton's life and ended two others. Now, with a body found on her property and Texas Ranger Tec Bragg on her doorstep, Greer's nightmare has returned. With each new victim, her link to Tec's case grows, and soon it will be too late to run.

And Never Let Them Live. . .

Greer hoped the past was behind her, but an obsessed killer has never forgotten the bond that unites them. One by one, he will track down his victims, finish what was started--and make Greer's dying wish come true. . .

My Thoughts...

I literally just finished this book minutes ago.  I blew through this book in no time at all, once I started it I couldn't put it down.  This is the 3rd of the Texas Rangers series that I have read and this was most definitely my favorite of the 3.  The story is intense and fast paced and the characters are well written.  This book would do just as well as a stand alone book, but Tec does work with Brody Winchester on this case.

This story opens with a murder staged to look like a suicide.  Rory, the murdered man is someone that was connected to Greer Templeton back years ago when she was still a teenager.  Before Ranger Tec Bragg even meets Greer she approaches his nephew Mitch and offers him a job working on her vineyard.  Greer has has a troubles past and she still feels the weight of that every day, she is working off a debt to her aunt Lydia when she seeks Mitch out.  Lydia helped her when she needed it most and she promised her that one day she would pay that forward and help out someone else.  Mitch is that someone.  He is going through much the same thing that she went through all those years ago.

Tec isn't so sure about Greer when he meets her initially, but he soon learns that there is a living, breathing woman under the tough exterior she projects.  We don't know much about Tec, but he's a good Ranger there is no doubt about that.  He did a lot of work on the Border and has the scars to prove it, but since his nephew Mitch returned from Iraq with physical and emotional problems he has started to put down roots in the Austin area.  Mitch is the only family Tec has left and vice versa, but they aren't exactly close.  Tec has tried to break through to Mitch with no luck until he starts working with Greer.  There is something about her that speaks to Mitch and he starts to change slowly, but it's a start. Tec doesn't want to like Greer, but the change in Mitch is one more reason for him to get to know her better.

When more bodies start turning up, much the same as the first they all start to lead to Greer.  It soon becomes clear that she is in danger and that riles Ranger Bragg up.  He is tough as nails and will stop at nothing to solve this case and keep Greer safe.

This story unfolds just perfectly and I had no idea who the killer was until the moment they were revealed.  if you like a good mystery / thriller, then I highly suggest this book.  I was engrossed from the minute I started reading. This was a 5 star read for me, without a doubt.  It's an adult read and it has some tastefully done love scenes, but not too much detail and very little, if any profanity.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Mystery/Thriller Review "No Escape" by Mary Burton

Title: No Escape

Author: Mary Burton

Released On: October 29, 2013

Publisher: Zebra

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   http://www.maryburton.com/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Mary Burton

Synopsis

He Was Taught How To Kill

Even behind bars, serial killer Harvey Day Smith exudes menace. Psychologist Jolene Granger has agreed to hear his dying confession, vowing not to let the monster inside her head. And Harvey has secrets to share—about bodies that were never found, and about the apprentice who is continuing his grisly work…

And Now He’ll Teach Them

He buries his victims alive the way his mentor Harvey did, relishing their final screams as the earth rains down. And as one last gift to the only father he knew, he’ll make the most perfect kill of all.

How To Die

Everything about this investigation is unnerving Jo, from Harvey’s fascination with her to the fact that she’s working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. Harvey’s protégé is growing bolder and more vicious every day. And soon the trail of shallow graves will lead them to the last place Jo expected, and to the most terrifying truth of all…

MY REVIEW

Every once in awhile I like to sit down and read a really good murder mystery and this was an excellent read.  I was also sent the first book in this Texas Rangers series and I loved it as well.  This could absolutely be a stand alone book though.  The main female character is Jolene Granger she's a psychologist who works occasionally with the Rangers and she did make an appearance in the first book and the 2 main characters from that book show up in this book as well.  You don't need any of that back story for this story though.

When Jo was going to school she did one of her big papers on Harvey Day Smith, when he decides to make a confession before he dies he want to talk to her.  The problem is that the Ranger responsible for his capture and the man who contacts her, Brody Winchester, happens to be her ex-husband.  They haven't seen each other in 14 years and working side by side is causing all sorts of old feelings and hurts to come to the surface.  Not to mention the fact that someone is out there killing and disposing of the bodies in the same manner that Harvey Day Smith did.

This book is fast paced and full of twists and turns.  For just a minute I thought I had it all figured out and boy was I wrong!  I love a book that keeps me on my toes and this one definitely did that.  Harvey has Jo all turned around and confused.  He intimates that there is a connection between them that she needs dig deeper to find and this has her tied in knots.  She is starting to re-connect with Brody a man who disappointed her at a time in her life when she needed him to stand by her side.  Jo has a lot of things working against her, but she is a strong woman who doesn't seem to let anything get her down.

If you are looking for a relatively quick read and you love a good murder mystery then I highly recommend this book.  It's an adult read and it has some tastefully done love scenes, but not too much detail and while there is some profanity it's used very sparingly.

*Disclaimer:  I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Crime Thriller Review "Blood Money" by Doug Richardson

Title:  Blood Money
Author: Doug Richardson
Publisher:  Velvet Elvis Entertainment
Publication Date: April 2, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Crime/Thriller
Format:  Paperback 320 pages  |  Kindle 830 KB

Buy this book on Amazon:  Paperback  |  Kindle Edition
Author's Website:  http://www.dougrichardson.com/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Doug Richardson 

Synopsis from Amazon: 

The disillusioned Marine’s plan seems simple enough: steal a refrigerated tractor trailer loaded with frozen blood product; drive the pirated cargo from Reno, Nevada to the Port of Long Beach; collect a million dollars. Yet even the most deliberate plans can go sideways. On his campaign south, the Marine’s “inner idiot” takes charge, leaving a smattering of dead bodies in his wake. 

In the dark before dawn, a telephone rings. Kern County Sheriff’s detective Lucas “Lucky” Dey, no stranger to being awakened with bad news, answers the call. But this time, the voice on the phone tells Lucky that his ill-fated younger brother has been gunned down on a blackened desolate highway. 

As Lucky chases the former Marine and his black semi-rig into the bowels of Los Angeles, he’s thrust into a landscape of competing agendas. Conrad Ellis, the multi-millionaire entertainment mogul, demands justice for the murder of his starlet daughter. Ambitious federal attorney Lilly Zoller is determined to turn any opportunity into her personal spotlight. Rey Palomino, the morally challenged contractor, colludes with the former Marine hoping to crawl out from under a crushing debt. LAPD detective and dedicated single mom Lydia "Gonzo" Gonzales, reluctantly accepts her assignment to "babysit" the unrestrained Kern County detective hell-bent on avenging his brother's death at any cost. 

A knee-breaking private detective, some unwitting feds, and a coterie of gang-busting L.A. Sheriff’s deputies further complicate the scenario and round out the cast of characters in this explosive and unpredictable thrill ride.

My Thoughts...

This was a pretty good read!  It's fast paced and it's pretty much non-stop action from the very first page.  This is a book that has a pretty big cast of characters, with the exception of "Gonzo" and Lucky, they are all pretty unlikable.  Really, Lucky isn't written as an overly likable character, but I still liked him!  This is the type of book that would make an excellent action movie.

Overall, the story is pretty upfront.  There is no mystery to solve per se, we know from the very first chapter who the "bad guy" is and it's quite obvious that he has issues.  Beemer leaves behind a trail of bodies that starts with the death of a police officer and a high profile TV teenager.  

For me, this was a quick read because it was so fast paced.  It's full of high speed chases,  explosions and murder.  This luxury big rig full of stolen plasma leaves a trail of destruction in it's wake.  Readers who like crime drama are sure to be intrigued by this story.  It's hard to do a good review because there was just so much going on all the time!

I did like Richardson's writing style.  It's clear that he can tell a good story.  I didn't realize that Lydia "Gonzo" Gonzales' story was started in another book, but I think I will have to look for that one.  I really did like her character and she is definitely one I would like to know more about.  I am also hoping, based on the ending, that we haven't heard the last of "Lucky" Dey.

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*