In Their Blood
Sharon Potts
Oceanview, Oct 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781933515625
On elite restricted Lotus Island off Miami Beach, a trespasser murders Miami Intercontinental University controversial economics Professor D.C. Stroeb and his wife Rachel, a CPA, in their affluent home. The intruder does not harm their sixteen year old daughter Elise who was there during the home invasion and is mentally traumatized, and stole laptops; nothing else was touched.
Their twenty-two year old shocked son, Jeremy, rushes back from Europe where he was backpacking across the continent to bury his parents and obtain guardianship of his frightened sister who fears the killer will return to finish the job. The brother of D.C. Uncle Dwight an attorney and Aunt Selma object to Jeremy being his niece’s guardian; insisting he is too young and immature. Jeremy vows to learn who and why starting with questioning lead Police Detective Kuzniski. Next Jeremy obtains work at his mother's CPA firm Piedmont Coleridge Miller and enrolls at MIU. He begins digging into the work history of his late parents while connecting with his father's foreign exchange graduate assistant Marina Champlain who says the arson last fall was proof that his dad’s position to end the Cuban embargo was hotly opposed. As he crunches the numbers of his findings, nothing adds up and the bottom line remains the same: his two parents dead.
This is a super amateur sleuth tale starring a sympathetic hero who seeks closure for himself and his hurting sister. The story line is fast-paced throughout as Jeremy works the probe into the work of his parents from inside. In some ways a coming of age story family drama, IN THEIR BLOOD is a terrific creative not by the numbers thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Blind Eye-Stuart MacBride
Blind Eye
Stuart MacBride
Minotaur, Oct 2009, $26.99
ISBN 9780312382643
Although Aberdeen, Scotland Detective Sergeant. Logan McRae is still healing from the brutal Flesh House case he investigates nasty hate crime assaults on Polish immigrants; even the cops are horrified with what has happened to the eyes of the victims. DCI Finnie believes the prime suspect Gilchrist is a malcontent who loathes the influx of foreigners from East Europe for taking the jobs away from locals.
However, Logan wonders if something else is the motive beyond the attacks when even a crime boss is beaten. Instead Logan considers a mob war between Scottish mobsters and Polish gangsters while Finnie tells him to stop thinking as that is not standard operating procedure for a DS. Meanwhile, McRae feels a double whammy when Finnie punishes him by sticking him with loud mouth Detective Inspector Roberta Steele to keep witness Rory Simpson, a pedophile, safe from an angry female stalker.
This is a strong Scottish police procedural that is owned by Logan but contains a deep support ensemble especially the cops. The investigation is cleverly devised so that Logan is once again an outsider in trouble with his superiors especially pompous Finnie. Fans will enjoy his latest case as he works around the bureaucrats to solve the hate crimes. His back case load is also worth reading (see BLOODSHOT, DYING LIGHT and COLD GRANITE).
Harriet Klausner
Stuart MacBride
Minotaur, Oct 2009, $26.99
ISBN 9780312382643
Although Aberdeen, Scotland Detective Sergeant. Logan McRae is still healing from the brutal Flesh House case he investigates nasty hate crime assaults on Polish immigrants; even the cops are horrified with what has happened to the eyes of the victims. DCI Finnie believes the prime suspect Gilchrist is a malcontent who loathes the influx of foreigners from East Europe for taking the jobs away from locals.
However, Logan wonders if something else is the motive beyond the attacks when even a crime boss is beaten. Instead Logan considers a mob war between Scottish mobsters and Polish gangsters while Finnie tells him to stop thinking as that is not standard operating procedure for a DS. Meanwhile, McRae feels a double whammy when Finnie punishes him by sticking him with loud mouth Detective Inspector Roberta Steele to keep witness Rory Simpson, a pedophile, safe from an angry female stalker.
This is a strong Scottish police procedural that is owned by Logan but contains a deep support ensemble especially the cops. The investigation is cleverly devised so that Logan is once again an outsider in trouble with his superiors especially pompous Finnie. Fans will enjoy his latest case as he works around the bureaucrats to solve the hate crimes. His back case load is also worth reading (see BLOODSHOT, DYING LIGHT and COLD GRANITE).
Harriet Klausner
Down In The Flood-Kenneth Abel
Down In The Flood
Kenneth Abel
Minotaur, Aug 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312377199
As Katrina buries New Orleans and politicians point their fingers at everyone but themselves, former assistant district attorney Danny Chaisson works insurance claims. However, the Feds pressure one of his clients Louis Sams to turn state’s evidence against his boss during a Grand Jury inquiry into corruption, who runs a company that manufactures cement.
Danny learns two former cops turned paid killers kidnap Louis. The lawyer blames himself for Louis’ dangerous predicament as he provided inadequate counsel. He walks through streets filled with mud, debris and lakes in a quest to rescue Louis before the two flotsam and jetsam hit men make his client part of the floating rubble.
This is a gripping thriller that showcases how the government on all levels and both parties failed during Katrina in spite of the advanced warning from the National Hurricane Center. The story line focuses on one ethical man trying to rectify an error he made that could kill his client; contrast Danny’s stand to the politicians who did the finger pointing let them eat cake and dance from a distance as the buck not only failed to stop it floated away. Danny treks across the dead sea called New Orleans while the hurricane of the century and its aftermath storm the Mississippi Delta. With a depth matched by few novels, Kenneth Abel provides a great tale of how greed drowned New Orleans and the surrounding area.
Harriet Klausner
Kenneth Abel
Minotaur, Aug 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312377199
As Katrina buries New Orleans and politicians point their fingers at everyone but themselves, former assistant district attorney Danny Chaisson works insurance claims. However, the Feds pressure one of his clients Louis Sams to turn state’s evidence against his boss during a Grand Jury inquiry into corruption, who runs a company that manufactures cement.
Danny learns two former cops turned paid killers kidnap Louis. The lawyer blames himself for Louis’ dangerous predicament as he provided inadequate counsel. He walks through streets filled with mud, debris and lakes in a quest to rescue Louis before the two flotsam and jetsam hit men make his client part of the floating rubble.
This is a gripping thriller that showcases how the government on all levels and both parties failed during Katrina in spite of the advanced warning from the National Hurricane Center. The story line focuses on one ethical man trying to rectify an error he made that could kill his client; contrast Danny’s stand to the politicians who did the finger pointing let them eat cake and dance from a distance as the buck not only failed to stop it floated away. Danny treks across the dead sea called New Orleans while the hurricane of the century and its aftermath storm the Mississippi Delta. With a depth matched by few novels, Kenneth Abel provides a great tale of how greed drowned New Orleans and the surrounding area.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hunt Her Down-Roxanne St. Claire
Hunt Her Down
Roxanne St. Claire
Pocket, Sep 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9781439102213
Fourteen years ago, undercover FBI Dan Gallagher was the key player in destroying the drug smuggling operation of El Viejo. He knows his success in sending father and son to prison was due to his informant Maggie Varcek, girlfriend of El Viejo's son Ramon. To protect Dan, the Feds insured he “died”, but did nothing for Maggie, left alone, frightened and pregnant.
El Viejo and Ramon are no longer in prison. They want their loot and vengeance on the woman who betrayed them. Now a Bullet Catcher assistant chief, Dan heads to Marathon, Florida to warn and keep Maggie safe. Upon seeing him alive, she feels a zillion emotions, but knows what she felt then was real as she still loves him; however she has one secret he is unaware of; her teen Quinn carries his DNA.
Fans have waited a long time for Gallagher to swallow the bullet of love, but will find the wait worth the time. HUNT HER DOWN is a fabulous tale as Dan must return to the woman he loves but “deserted”. Though he wanted to know what happened to her, he knew not to intrude because he could not stay away from his beloved as he proves when he returns from the dead. The hunt for the loot augments a super Bullet Catcher romantic suspense saga.
Harriet Klausner
Roxanne St. Claire
Pocket, Sep 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9781439102213
Fourteen years ago, undercover FBI Dan Gallagher was the key player in destroying the drug smuggling operation of El Viejo. He knows his success in sending father and son to prison was due to his informant Maggie Varcek, girlfriend of El Viejo's son Ramon. To protect Dan, the Feds insured he “died”, but did nothing for Maggie, left alone, frightened and pregnant.
El Viejo and Ramon are no longer in prison. They want their loot and vengeance on the woman who betrayed them. Now a Bullet Catcher assistant chief, Dan heads to Marathon, Florida to warn and keep Maggie safe. Upon seeing him alive, she feels a zillion emotions, but knows what she felt then was real as she still loves him; however she has one secret he is unaware of; her teen Quinn carries his DNA.
Fans have waited a long time for Gallagher to swallow the bullet of love, but will find the wait worth the time. HUNT HER DOWN is a fabulous tale as Dan must return to the woman he loves but “deserted”. Though he wanted to know what happened to her, he knew not to intrude because he could not stay away from his beloved as he proves when he returns from the dead. The hunt for the loot augments a super Bullet Catcher romantic suspense saga.
Harriet Klausner
Show No Fear-Marliss Melton
Show No Fear
Marliss Melton
Forever, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446509275
Her superior at the CIA wants field agent Lucy Donovan to spend more time healing from her last operation. She insists she is ready to go back out into the cold. Thus she is assigned her next project to work with Lieutenant Gus Atwater on a hostage negotiation.
Except for her pride Lucy would like to tell her boss she needs more time because of whom she is partnering with; they were once lovers so pretending to be a married couple working for the UN Human Rights initiative should prove easy. In Colombia, FARC operatives hold two CIA operatives; Lucy and Gus are to locate the pair and get out of the way so his SEAL Team 12 mates can extract them. However neither of the masquerading couple is comfortable with the scenario as something besides their hearts and libido seems wrong.
The latest SEAL Team 12 romantic suspense thriller is an action-packed entry that grips readers once the lead couple enters the Columbian jungle and never slows down until the final confrontation. The heat is on in several ways to include the steamy locale, the attraction between the lead pair, and the war zone they enter. Fans will relish this exciting life and death with love in the middle saga.
Harriet Klausner
Marliss Melton
Forever, Sep 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446509275
Her superior at the CIA wants field agent Lucy Donovan to spend more time healing from her last operation. She insists she is ready to go back out into the cold. Thus she is assigned her next project to work with Lieutenant Gus Atwater on a hostage negotiation.
Except for her pride Lucy would like to tell her boss she needs more time because of whom she is partnering with; they were once lovers so pretending to be a married couple working for the UN Human Rights initiative should prove easy. In Colombia, FARC operatives hold two CIA operatives; Lucy and Gus are to locate the pair and get out of the way so his SEAL Team 12 mates can extract them. However neither of the masquerading couple is comfortable with the scenario as something besides their hearts and libido seems wrong.
The latest SEAL Team 12 romantic suspense thriller is an action-packed entry that grips readers once the lead couple enters the Columbian jungle and never slows down until the final confrontation. The heat is on in several ways to include the steamy locale, the attraction between the lead pair, and the war zone they enter. Fans will relish this exciting life and death with love in the middle saga.
Harriet Klausner
Evidence of Murder-Lisa Black
Evidence of Murder
Lisa Black
Morrow, Sep 2009, $24.99
ISBN 9780061544484
Eight months have passed since Cleveland forensic expert and single mom Theresa MacLean’s fiancé Paul Cleary was killed during a bank robbery. She has tried to move on, but still grieves her loss and struggles at home and on the job.
The murdered corpse of twenty-four year old former escort Jillian Perry is found in the nearby woods. Theresa’s cousin homicide detective Frank asks her to help him on the investigation. She disagrees with the prevalent police theory that Jillian committed suicide. Instead Jillian had turned her life around and had every reason to live as she loved and cherished her five-month-old child and was a newlywed with an adoring husband, who along with a partner was about to make millions on a video game they invented. Soon after she joins the inquiry, a man steps forward claiming he is Jillian's boyfriend and files for custody of her baby.
The sequel to TAKEOVER is a fabulous forensic investigative thriller as the murder case ironically brings Theresa back to life though she still mourns her loss. The police investigation is intelligent though it contains a high degree of implausibility. Still the audience will not care as readers will root for the heroine who brings sass and wit to the job.
Harriet Klausner
Lisa Black
Morrow, Sep 2009, $24.99
ISBN 9780061544484
Eight months have passed since Cleveland forensic expert and single mom Theresa MacLean’s fiancé Paul Cleary was killed during a bank robbery. She has tried to move on, but still grieves her loss and struggles at home and on the job.
The murdered corpse of twenty-four year old former escort Jillian Perry is found in the nearby woods. Theresa’s cousin homicide detective Frank asks her to help him on the investigation. She disagrees with the prevalent police theory that Jillian committed suicide. Instead Jillian had turned her life around and had every reason to live as she loved and cherished her five-month-old child and was a newlywed with an adoring husband, who along with a partner was about to make millions on a video game they invented. Soon after she joins the inquiry, a man steps forward claiming he is Jillian's boyfriend and files for custody of her baby.
The sequel to TAKEOVER is a fabulous forensic investigative thriller as the murder case ironically brings Theresa back to life though she still mourns her loss. The police investigation is intelligent though it contains a high degree of implausibility. Still the audience will not care as readers will root for the heroine who brings sass and wit to the job.
Harriet Klausner
Evidence of Murder-Lisa Black
Evidence of Murder
Lisa Black
Morrow, Sep 2009, $24.99
ISBN 9780061544484
Eight months have passed since Cleveland forensic expert and single mom Theresa MacLean’s fiancé Paul Cleary was killed during a bank robbery. She has tried to move on, but still grieves her loss and struggles at home and on the job.
The murdered corpse of twenty-four year old former escort Jillian Perry is found in the nearby woods. Theresa’s cousin homicide detective Frank asks her to help him on the investigation. She disagrees with the prevalent police theory that Jillian committed suicide. Instead Jillian had turned her life around and had every reason to live as she loved and cherished her five-month-old child and was a newlywed with an adoring husband, who along with a partner was about to make millions on a video game they invented. Soon after she joins the inquiry, a man steps forward claiming he is Jillian's boyfriend and files for custody of her baby.
The sequel to TAKEOVER is a fabulous forensic investigative thriller as the murder case ironically brings Theresa back to life though she still mourns her loss. The police investigation is intelligent though it contains a high degree of implausibility. Still the audience will not care as readers will root for the heroine who brings sass and wit to the job.
Harriet Klausner
Lisa Black
Morrow, Sep 2009, $24.99
ISBN 9780061544484
Eight months have passed since Cleveland forensic expert and single mom Theresa MacLean’s fiancé Paul Cleary was killed during a bank robbery. She has tried to move on, but still grieves her loss and struggles at home and on the job.
The murdered corpse of twenty-four year old former escort Jillian Perry is found in the nearby woods. Theresa’s cousin homicide detective Frank asks her to help him on the investigation. She disagrees with the prevalent police theory that Jillian committed suicide. Instead Jillian had turned her life around and had every reason to live as she loved and cherished her five-month-old child and was a newlywed with an adoring husband, who along with a partner was about to make millions on a video game they invented. Soon after she joins the inquiry, a man steps forward claiming he is Jillian's boyfriend and files for custody of her baby.
The sequel to TAKEOVER is a fabulous forensic investigative thriller as the murder case ironically brings Theresa back to life though she still mourns her loss. The police investigation is intelligent though it contains a high degree of implausibility. Still the audience will not care as readers will root for the heroine who brings sass and wit to the job.
Harriet Klausner
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