Review: The Cutting Edge by Jeffery Deaver

Back in the saddle with Jeffery Deaver and his crime fighting duo Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme. Although I've read most of the books in this series I can't help but picture Rhyme as Denzel Washington and Sachs as Angelina Jolie because of The Bone Collector movie I saw year before picking up the book of the same title. I know, I know Rhyme is nowhere near being a black dude but this is what happens when I see movies before reading the book. The actors used in the movie are somehow imprinted on my brain and I can't quite get them out. But that's neither here nor there. 

Review: How It Happened by Michael Koryta

Whoa! What a fun ride How It Happened was. I am familiar with Michael Koryta's writing and I haven't been disappointed yet. The depth that Koryta goes into with regards to character development is top-notch for a suspense thriller such as How It Happened.

Review: Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley

Since this is not my first roll in the hay with Mr. Walter Mosley's writing I expected exactly what I got. What I got was a gritty, police procedural of an ex-detective, Joe King Oliver, making his way in life as a Private Investigator on the mean streets of Brooklyn. Let's refer to him as King from now on.

Review: The Late Show by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly is back with another hit with The Late Show. I just have to say, I love this author. I was first introduced to his work viaThe Lincoln Lawyer. Of course my initial interest was due to Matthew McConaughey starring in the movie and I have the he's definitely one of my celebrity crushes. 

Review: Good Behavior by Blake Crouch

Fresh off of the high I got with Blake Crouch's Dark Matter, I was super excited to begin reading Good Behavior. Good Behavior introduces readers to Letty Dubesh. She's not your typical heroine. Actually, she's not a heroine at all but she is interesting.

Review: Shutter Man by Richard Montanari

Shutter Man is another one of Richard Montanari's explosive, compulsive reads featuring the duo Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne. Although this novel shows the two doing their own thing, a series of gruesome murders brings them together in the hopes of capturing a killer like none other.

Review: Redemption Road by John Hart

What's so bizarre about small towns are there are no secrets... yet in every novel that has anything to do with small towns, there is some sort of bizarre secret that absolutely no one knew about. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! This is where I say Whoa! 

Redemption Road by John Hart follows three characters closely and their travels on this figurative road to redemption. Elizabeth Black, Adrian Wall, and Gideon Strange. Liz is struggling to find her place in life as well as the police force as she's being investigated for possibly murdering a couple kidnappers after finding their hideout. Instead of being considered a hero, she is being crucified for possibly using excessive deadly force. 

Adrian Wall is finally free after spending 10 years in jail for murder. He is a disgraced officer who was tried and convicted of first degree murder. His road begins once he takes his first few minutes of freedom. 

Review: The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari

Richard Montanari has quickly climbed the list of my favorite, and go-to authors when I need a fix on a well written crime procedural that keeps me guessing from page one to page...whatever. I was first introduced to the crime-fighting duo Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balsano. I was first introduced to the two in The Stolen Ones. It is there I first realized Montanari was an author I should be on the lookout for.

The Doll Maker is a multi-layered mystery that leads Byrne and Balzano on a race against time and a criminal mastermind who invites each of his victims on a the Dansant that is a tea dance that's more macabre than Cinderella-esque. The first victim found on a lonely park bench, leads to the next invitation, and clue for the "Dansant". A dansant that includes the death of innocent children, ending in an intricate display of them as dolls. Seems familiar?

We are allowed moments, and clues, that help us to determine who the possible killers could be. And while we work on the clues provided, there's another mystery brewing. Byrne is haunted by a case from 10 years earlier that is similar to the one at hand. A woman was accused and found guilty of killing children. Byrne is not satisfied with the case being closed and goes as far as... well you'll just have to read it. All I'll divulge is that the two crimes might have more in common than expected.

Anyway, The Doll Maker is definitely a must-read. This is only the second book I've read by Richard Montanari but he's proven his position on my list of must reads. I can't wait for the next installment of the Byrne and Balzano series. Montanari is definitely an author to watch for.  ****


Copy provided by Mulholland Books via Netgalley

Review: Memory Man by David Baldacci

There seems to be no shortage of the troubled hero who's family is brutally murdered in the worse way. Yes, these characters make for an interesting story... at first. It's no secret that this hero can often be redundant, boring, and overdone. David Baldacci attempt to break this mold by introducing us to Amos Decker with an unusual ability to remember everything. I mean EVERYTHING!

Memory Man begins with Decker, then a detective for the stumbling upon the brutal, senseless murder of his brother-in-law, wife, and daughter. After this devastating time, Decker slowly tries to begin his life again as a private detective. Long gone are the days on the Burlington police force... that is until a man named Sebastian Leopold confesses to the murder of his family. 

As if that isn't enough, there seems to be new murders and massacres that all point to having something to do with Amos Decker. There seems to be a cat and mouse game the the other players in this novel can't keep up with. Honestly, I couldn't keep up either. Memory Man is a fast moving title, but it also seemed a little too fast and under developed.

Before I get into what I didn't like about this novel, I will say that I consider myself a fan of David Baldacci although I've only read one other novel by him. I was especially excited to begin reading Memory Man. It begins in graphic detail of a heinous murder which is always a plus. It also provides insight into the mind of a man who has decided to choose between life and death after his world is taken away from him. For the first few chapters I was engrossed in Amos Decker's story. 

Baldacci gave the tortured hero more depth than others. Sure, he's socially awkward, emotionally detached, and pretty much struggling to hold things together. What's remarkable about Amos is that after being a delivered a career-ending blow to the head in the NFL, he "suffers" from hyperthymesia. For those who wonder what that is here ya go: It's a near-perfect recall of one's personal or autobiographical past. Imagine never forgetting a thing that happens to you. Like Monk says, it's a gift and it's a curse.

Yes, Amos Decker is interesting but not interesting enough to ignore that the other characters in this novel, besides the maniac on the loose, are totally forgettable. They struggle to keep up with Decker and it's painfully obvious. While Decker deciphers clue after clue (yes I know they were intended for him), it is so annoying that no one else can provide much insight. They just seemed to be going along with the motions and following Decker's lead. Since it seems this is the beginning of another recurring series, I want more of a reason to continue to invest my time in this series. This novel did none of that. I expected way more from Baldacci.

In conclusion, I wasn't too impressed with Memory Man but it wasn't awful. I would definitely read more by David Baldacci but I need more from his characters in the next Amos Decker novels. I understand there was a need to lay down the foundation for this tortured soul, but... if memory serves me correctly, I know Baldacci has better in him.  **

Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Reviews: Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner

Crash & Burn is the latest Lisa Gardner title in the Tessa Leoni series. The novel begins with Nicole Frank descending from a long fall off of a cliff in her luxury SUV. She reemerges "reborn" and in search of her young daughter Vero. As she climbs from the wreckage of her Audi, back up the hill, bloodied and disoriented, she tells the first person she sees that she needs to find her daughter.

As the story progresses and the possible crime of driving under the influence is investigated, things get very strange for the head investigator Wyatt (who is also Tessa's love interest). There seems to be more questions than answers as the search for a missing child unravels into a search for a woman's missing past. 

Immediately Gardner takes hold of the reader and refuses to let go. There are so many twists and turns that it's hard to keep track. Our staring character has some brain malfunctions, her husband could possibly be a murderer, and there are just so many holes there's no way to really judge where Gardner is taking this latest crime thriller. And I loved that about this title... and kinda hated.

What I wasn't so happy about is how the story came together in the end. I felt like there was a rush to just get the book over with because it was getting a tad bit convoluted with the many possible twists and turns. Nothing ever felt really resolved for me in reference to Nicky. After reading this title it will make you think twice about what people will do, or sell, for a quick buck.

Ultimately, Crash & Burn is a worthwhile read, definitely. Gardner never lets me down when it comes to providing a nail-biting thriller worth a few hours of my day to crash and burn. Even so, I wasn't over the moon about this title but Gardner is my go-to and has not lost a devoted fan in me. ***

Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley

Review: Die Again by Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen is back with another Rizzoli and Isles crime thriller spanning all the way across the bush in Botswana where there is a killer more sinister than the hunting leopard. Die Again tells the story of an adventure in Africa turned nightmare. A group of people travel into the bush in order to get a closer look at what it means to live in the wild. Before long, they become hunted, and it ain't by no lions or tigers.

Six years later, Rizolli and Isles are called to an horrific crime scene where a world renowned taxidermist, Leon Gott, is gutted similarly to the way big game is done. But his remains are not all they find. Before long, the investigation leads them to the bush, where six years earlier, a group of tourists disappeared. Or did they? Mwahahahaaaa...

Anyway, I have been a fan of Tess Gerritsen's work for a long time. She has a way of writing suspenseful, yet informative novels that refuse to let go. These novels are descriptive, especially when it comes to the human body or autopsy scenes. Gerritsen is a doctor, so expect to be amazed... or at least a little grossed out. Once I begin one of her books, it's not an option not to finish it. Die Again is no different. 

Although I'm a huge fan of Gerritsen's, I'm still able to read all her novel's objectively. How? Do you ask? Because she can afford to have an honest review or two. My honesty will not make or break her. When Die Again starts, it's clear that we are not trudging along the mean streets of Boston. It is actually a narrative. A really good narrative that brings to life the Botswana bush and invigorates the senses. It is here Gerritsen proves how well she writes. The animals come to life, the character's senses are heightened, and the sense of tension is palpable. I could have stayed in those moments forever.

Sadly, Gerritsen didn't give much attention to detail on the Boston side of things. I want to believe it's because followers of this series don't need too much detail. Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles need no introduction. For those of us familiar with them, they need no introduction. For others living under a rock, they may want to steer clear of reading this without first checking out prior works in this series. They will be doing themselves a favor.

The one other thing I noticed that kinda made my gears grind was how chick-litish the book really was. When they weren't talking about the perp who is haunting his prey, the characters are talking love, romance, nonsensical things that have no bearing on a crime thriller. I know it's been a while since I've read any books in this series, but were they always so soft? Even bad-ass Rizzoli seemed less... bad-ass.

Anyway, besides my one major gripe, Die Again comes highly recommended. I enjoyed reading every page. Tess Gerritsen always manages to make the tension real enough to feel. I look forward to hunting down the next Gerritsen novel. ****

Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley

Review: Terminal City by Linda Fairstein

I was hovering between giving Terminal City by Linda Fairstein 2 and 3 stars. Obviously I've settled on 3-stars. 

Alexandra Cooper is back in the saddle with the Special Victims Unit because of a gruesome rape and murder of a woman in the Waldorf Astoria. What makes this case so pressing is that the POTUS is soon to be visiting that very same hotel. Cooper and company are in a race against time to ensure that motive for the crime isn't in some way political.

For those unfamiliar with Alexandra Cooper, she is an Assistant District Attorney who assists the police, in the SVU, with investigating all sexually motivated crimes. Similarly to the showLaw & Order: SVU. Sidebar: I'm a huuuuuuggge fan of that show.

Anyway, Cooper narrates as they travel into the darkest, deepest, smelliest depths in order to catch the killer as the body count rises. It is here that Fairstein rises above the rest. She knows the inner-workings of New York in a way that most thriller novelists ignore. She goes into detail about "Mole People" and the history behind Grand Central Station. It is during these moments I was interested and glued to the pages. And then... that ride pulled in at its final stop.

What didn't appeal to me this time around with this author is the flatness of the characters. Cooper isn't much better. I gave her a pass on the last novel I read by her because I didn't begin the series at the first adventure. But, there was nothing more given. Cooper is either following the police around as they present better ideas or worrying about her strange relationship with Mike Anderson. That was emotionally taxing for me because I just wanted the action to continue.

Long story short, Terminal City by Linda Fairstein is a fast read, loaded with information I never even knew I was interested in: The rails and its people. But, the police procedural is not enough to make me wholeheartedly give a recommendation simply because of what it lacks: thrills, interesting characters, or an exceptional killer. Surprisingly, I do look forward to this author's next book. 

Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley

Review: Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter has been one of my favorite authors for some time now. Her Will Trent series has always placed her in a class all her own. Her gritty, descriptive, suspenseful crime novels make her a force to be reckoned with so it's no surprise that Cop Town, the first standalone novel, is as good as it is.

Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy take center stage as two female officers for the Atlanta Police Department. Maggie comes from a family that eats, breathes, and dies by the blue. Although no one in her family is happy she's on the force, she can take care of her own. Her brother Jimmy, and uncle Terry, are on the force as well. They give her as much of a hard time as all the other animals... I mean men in blue.

Kate Murphy is the rookie officer who is barely managing her first day on the job when she partners up with Maggie. Kate decides to serve after her husband dies in Vietnam. At first she seems lost and unsure of herself, but eventually she discovers what she's made of. 

Both women are investigating the death of Jimmy Lawson's partner Don Mosley. Someone has declared it open season on the APD. There have been seemingly random murders of officers while on duty which has turned the whole Atlanta Police Department on its head. They are out for blood and will not let this murderer have their day in court. 

Maggie and Kate begin to investigate the latest murder of Don Mosley and begin piecing together the evidence and witness accounts. There is enough proving that Maggie's brother is hiding something and the murders may not have been so random after all. 

Cop Town takes place during the 70s. Racism, homophobia, sexism and classism seems to permeate its way into the minds of every character. In some way, in some form, one person or another is faced with dealing with their own prejudices or ones thrown at them. Kate and Maggie battle not only the elements on the tough streets, but are constantly needing to prove themselves to their male counterparts. Kate is sexually harassed at least once every hour or so. I can't imagine what it was like for women who paved the way for current female police officers. Judging from this book they had a tough row to hoe.

Karin Slaughter writes a damn-good police procedural. She provides readers with great characters who have such depth I'd love to see them in future novels. (Please...maybe?) Both women trudge through the mud and find a whole lot more on the other side. I really enjoyed this journey with Maggie and Kate. Cop Town is a must read for all of Slaughter's fans. And for those living under a rock and haven't yet been acquainted her novels, make Cop Town your first.   ****

Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley

Review: The Keeper by John Lescroart

The Keeper is the latest by John Lescroart after last years phenomenal The Ophelia Cut. Let me just say this isn't The Ophelia Cut. There is no huge courtroom battle, no mountain of evidence against the defense, or really much of a performance from Dismas Hardy.

The Keeper begins with Hardy and his wife, Frannie, reading the morning paper and discussing the disappearance of Katie Chase. Katie is a client of Frannie's who was recently receiving counseling for her turbulent marriage. 

The main suspect, as with many cases where the wife has gone missing (or is dead), is the husband Hal Chase. He is a correctional officer for the San Francisco county jail where a stream of inmate deaths is barely making any news. Could there somehow be a connection? 

John Lescroart begins The Keeper as close to cliche as possible. Wife goes missing, the husband is a suspect, said husband enlists the help of powerhouse attorney Dismas Hardy, then revelations surface that the husband (who is also having an affair) may actually have a motive. All a very good recipe for a story we've heard before... many, many times before.

What Lescroart does right is that although the premise is pretty cliched, he does not continue in that direction long before many more suspects are introduced and more victims die. The Keeper becomes a police procedural starring Abe Glitsky who takes the story by the horns and is essentially the only character we follow. After I got used to the idea that we would not see Hardy battle it out before a judge, I got on board with this title. 

Bodies drop like flies, suspects come and go, and there is no shortage of possible ways this mystery could have turned out. I only feel like I didn't have any closure with respect to the inmate deaths. I found this to be an issue with the only other previous novel I read by Lescroart. The blurbs mention how important the politics are in his novels but there never seems to be a resolution to the politics of the matter. 

For all those fans who expect a great courtroom drama you are barking up the wrong tree. But just like the ending in The Ophelia Cut, The Keeper ends in a way I never saw coming. Maybe Lescroart's go-to is an explosive ending that entices us readers to remain trapped in his literal web. I don't know for sure, but I am definitely looking forward to reading even more by this author.   ***

Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley

Review: The Doll by Taylor Stevens

I'll start by summing up my review: I loved this adventure with Vanessa Michael Munroe!!!!! Taylor Stevens has made a fan of me after only reading one novel, out of order in fact. Sure it's not flawless but is exactly what I want in an action, suspense thriller.

The novel begins with Bradford checking out leads for where Vanessa Michael Munroe could be. The teams' intel suggests that she was involved in an "accident" that set the stage for her kidnapping. This kidnapping was orchestrated by the infamous Dollmaker. He specializes in ripping women away from their lives in order to supply an endless variation of young women for his wealthy clientele. Only this time he's chosen to kidnap the wrong person.

The Dollmaker forces Munroe into an undesired mission by holding the fate of the person she loves most over her head. Munroe reluctantly agrees to completing the mission so long as the one she holds dear remains alive. Although she isn't naive, and is convinced she's dead along with Logan once the Dollmaker's requests are granted, she still moves forward with moving precious, human cargo to the big-wig that's demanding the product. Not only is she faced with delivering this famous cargo in one piece, she's responsible for maintaining the "doll" in a certain condition.

Enter Steven's weak link. Neeva is probably one of the most recognized faces at the time she's been kidnapped. Her celebrity makes the mission especially difficult but to add insult to injury, she's one of the worse hostages possible. Initially she comes off as a brat. I personally couldn't stand her but I understood that her role was necessary in moving the story forward. I guess I was so busy rooting for Munroe that I failed to realize that Neeva was fighting for her own life just the same. 

Pushed up against the ropes, Taylor Stevens presents to newbies (like me) a woman who's more than capable of holding her own. A master of disguise, a true polyglot, and skilled in the art of complete badassery. I mean really!!!! Is there nothing Munroe can't do? Actually, that brings me to my first gripe. Stevens wastes no time to remind readers, newbies and dedicated fans alike, of the many ways in which Munroe is not to be messed with. After hearing for the umpteenth time that the men were speaking languages, assuming she couldn't understand but in fact really could, it got a little redundant. Then to keep reminding me that she's able to use anything, I mean absolutely ANYTHING as a weapon got to be grating. In my opinion, Munroe's Rambo-esque ambition needed no more justification.

My final gripe is one of my own doing. When I entered in the Goodreads Giveaway to win this novel it was only because I was slightly interested in the blurb and wasn't going to be heartbroken if I'd lost. To top it off, I didn't pay attention to the fact that this was a part of a series. Usually I can read books out of succession so long as the author is good enough to keep me posted on trivial background aspects without ruining previous novels should I read them at a later date. Ultimately, I felt that all the characters, even Munroe, were a little one dimensional. Again I say that's my fault because I didn't take the time (time I really don't have) to catch up with all the characters in a manner that wouldn't leave me wanting more. I take some of the blame, but for the rest I'm giving Taylor Stevens the honor. A great author writes each novel, even in a series, as if they are reaching out to an audience that hasn't been following the characters from inception.

My gripes aside, The Doll was gripping from page one. Taylor Stevens manages to never allow me one moment to become bored with her story. She goes inside of the corrupt, despicable world of human trafficking and forces readers to consider what morals they will dismiss in the hopes of saving the one they love. And then leave you wondering if the life of the one you love is truly worth more than the life of an innocent. I look forward to reading another adventure of Stevens' featuring Vanessa Michael Munroe. Munroe proves that you don't send any man in to do a woman's job. Yes!!!!!!   ****

Copy provided by Broadway Books (Random House) via Goodreads Giveaway

Reviews: Trouble in Mind by Jeffery Deaver

Generally I'm not a fan of short stories. I try to steer-clear of books that are a collection of short stories and this is because of the usual problems that arise from them. One dimensional characters, unfinished stories, cleverly wrapped up endings, or just a hollow place in my soul that feels empty due to a story unfinished. I have tried, like many other past titles of my favorite authors, to provide inquiring minds with a completely unbiased review. So... FYI I do love Jeffery Deaver's writing... and I'll attempt to provide the most authentic, unbiased review possible.

So... a little background. Deaver, for those living under a rock, is the creative mind behind fans beloved paraplegic criminologist Lincoln Ryhme. He is the brilliant, man behind novels such as The Bone Collector and others, which solidify his ranking in the most informative fiction that defines the very foundation that is criminology. He takes his self this seriously so I will do the same. That ends the background info. In short form, without all the mumbo jumbo, Deaver is the author of many great crime fiction and thankfully doesn't show signs of slowing down.

Trouble in Mind: The Collected Stories, Vol. 3 is the latest compilation of Deaver's mind. Unbeknownst to me, he's written short stories for a very long time. This latest installment is my introduction to this author in that genre. For someone who's usually not interested in investing the time necessary to commit to this genre, I find that I was pleasantly surprised. 

Jeffery Deaver introduces readers to a whole host of characters, some familiar, most not, that occupy our attention for however many pages is their story. Most of these stories end in an unforeseen twist, which is Deaver's MO, while others are just plain ol' fun.

Sure, he has short stories that feature his A-Squad. Kathryn Dance, who's his #1 profiler. A woman capable of reading the most minute physical giveaways and using that advantage to bag the bad guy who's only interested in making a point by killing 200+. As if Dance isn't good enough, he features Rhyme and his crew. Fiery red-head Amelia and all. They hunt a maniac that uses Rhyme's own manual against him. Then he introduces us to grannies who will stop at nothing to get rid of their questionable tenants. 

Ultimately, Trouble In Mind was a great way to pass the time. I don't have as much time as I used to. I can't devote a true 8-hours to reading any one novel, but can offer 30 mins to a story here or there that restores my trust in an author I rely on to totally captivate me from day one. An author who allows readers to assume they have it all figured it out until the final blow is delivered. Rating= Worth it. 

Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Review: The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari

Do You Dream?

The Stolen Ones is the 7th installment of Richard Montanari's novels featuring Philadelphia Detectives Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne. These detectives have been are brought in on a case after a wealthy businessman was found murdered in Priory Park. Before long, a series of murders and a mute two-year old girl bring them up against a man named Luther. Luther is the one person left behind after the closing of the Delaware Valley State Hospital. 

First off let me start by saying that I am so happy to finally become acquainted with this author. The Stolen Ones is the definition of what I look for in crime fiction. The pace is fast, characters are interesting, and the thrills come often. At times it felt I was reading a horror novel mixed with crime fiction, topped off with psychological suspense. And thankfully, those independant genres fuse well. 

Montanari does well to provide a 7th novel that doesn't read like there's something missing. There isn't a whole chunk of history in the two starring detectives lives that is eluded to and breezed over making the reader feel confused. Both Balzano and Byrne are well developed, interesting, and complementing of each other.

As the novel shifts between the past and present, we are introduced to a man named Luther and the people who crossed his path... for better or worse. His preferred travel method makes for some sleepless nights in the hopes of nothing being in my closet. Seriously. This novel had the perfect amount of suspense and sheer creepiness that I tried to steal a moment whenever I could to get back to the story.

Ultimately, The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari is a great way to spend the day reading. It fuses many genres seamlessly and introduces the world of dreams to the unsuspecting. This is one nightmare I would never want to live through. I look forward to reading more by this author. ****

Copy provided by Mulholland Books via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: Missing You by Harlen Coben

**SPOILER ALERT!!!** - I am the hugest fan of Harlen Coben. When I was approved for this title through Netgalley, I knew that I was in for a treat. Sure that suggests that I'm biased, but on the contrary. When Coben let's me down I let it be known!!! He can afford one bad review or two. Loyal fans like myself won't be shied away from a 2-star rating. Enough about me and my little disclaimer...

Missing You is the latest thriller by Harlen Coben. He really cranks these things out. I feel as I just read one a year or two ago. Anyway, I'm cool with that. Coben seems to the master at presenting readers with the idea that we never quite know who stole our hearts. Whether it be an old flame, a wife of 20 years, or even a family member, he suggests that someone is always hiding something. This novel is no different. Only this time the connections are more broad and cautionary to all you Match.com people out there.

Kat Donovan, a respected NYPD detective, is encouraged by a friend to seek companionship on an online dating site in an effort to bring some haneky-pankey into her mundane love life by a friend. After a few moments of grappling with her self she decides that maybe she should take a shot at love. She logs on to the dating site "Justmytype.com" and comes across the photo of an ex-boyfriend. The same ex who dumped her 18 years earlier. The same ex who she considers the love of her life.

After reaching out to him in the hopes of him maybe feeling the same for her, she is instantly shot-down she he tells her to keep the past in the past. Feeling dejected and confused, she continues to live her life until a teenage boy asks her to investigate the disappearance of his mother. His mother has used the same dating site and is supposedly on a romantic retreat with the love of her life. Her son isn't convinced after a string of odd texts, withdrawals from her bank, and just plain old skepticism. Kat reluctantly agrees to help him. This investigation leads her on a path that suggests her ex lover is maybe hiding something more sinister. 

I'll end my summary there because it's more fun if the plot is revealed as the pages fly past. What is instantly gripping about Missing You is how gripping it is. The killer approaches his prey in a way that hasn't been done to this extent in any other book. I'm seriously happy I'm not one of those Match.com people cause if this is how it ends please count me out!!!

Coben's characters don't really matter to me because they are just pawns to me who move along one freaky instance to another. I don't read his books looking for the next, most in depth character who compares to Hamlet, or Scrooge, or even Heathcliff... So all you book snobs don't take away his points for that reason. His novels are meant to be fast-paced, engaging, thrilling, and suspenseful. 

I will give him credit where credit is due for providing a huge glaring fact I could not ignore. If Kat's great love (Jeff) was in fact that, there is no reason why she wouldn't have Googled him, Facebook stalked, or searched for a blog featuring his article. FYI, he's supposedly a journalist. Seriously, after 18 years, and feeling like I lost the true love of my life, I'm searching for him. Yes You!!! You know who you are. The kid in the 4th grade who gave me your ring-pop and promised me love forever as well as a free snack swap at least one lunch a week. It is you I'm searching for on Facebook every night.

Besides my small qualms with this novel, I still love Harlen Coben's fiction. He's genuinely my favorite thriller writer because he never takes his foot off the gas once and introduces me to a killer so malicious, it shouldn't be possible that he exists. But he does... maybe. Long story short: Read Missing You or else you'll be missing out!  ****

Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley

Where Monsters Dwell by Jorgen Brekke

Where Monsters Dwell by Jorgen Brekke is slated as being the most anticipated Norwegian crime fiction debut in years and is now being released in English. I must admit that this novel was quite good and I can see why it is on the short list for lovers of crime novels. 

A brutal murder has taken place in The Edgar Allen Poe museum in Richmond, Virginia. It's not long before that murder is linked to another gruesome murder in Trondheim, Norway in the Gunnerus Library. These murders bring together Felicia Stone of Virginia and Odd Singsaker of Trondheim where they are on the trail of a killer who may be killing because of a sixteenth century palimpsest book. What's most interesting about this book, The Johannes Book, is that it was bound in human skin. Awesome? Yes!

Jorgen Brekke writes the novel from a few different points of view and even throws in some historical scenes that gives this novel a certain depth that causes readers to question what is real and what isn't. Thankfully Brekke includes clarification on what is a figment of his imagination and is actually true to history. Although I liked the historic aspect, it is the main characters Felicia and Odd that really captivated my attention.

Felicia is obviously a good detective or else she wouldn't have been assigned to such a devastating crime. She also holds a past that the author goes into with great depth and detail. The only thing lacking is how she rise above it all. Odd is equally interesting as he's back on the job after recovering from a brain tumor. I liked him very much. I look forward to reading more books featuring Odd. 

Ultimately, I really enjoyed reading Where Monsters Dwell and hope that this won't be the last English translation. What this novel suggests is that we all wear masks and it may be more brave to just take the mask off.  ****

Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley

Review: Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

I love Lisa Gardner’s latest novel Fear Nothing. Gardner always leaves readers guessing and rooting for the hero. In the interest of full disclosure, I am definitely a fan of Gardner’s and have been for a long time. Her novels crime thrillers are always fast-paced and full of sadistic nut jobs I’d never want to be left alone in any room with. Fear Nothing follows the same formula she is known for but still manages to seem fresh and engaging.

Fear Nothing is the 7th in her D.D. Warren series. For fans of the Warren series, we all know that she’s Boston’s most influential detectives and never ceases to bring the goods.  In this latest novel, she’s battling a an avulsion fracture after she goes back to a crime scene and is surprised by an unknown assailant.  D.D.’s captain suggests she speaks to Dr. Adeline Glen. Dr. Glen is a pain specialist who feels no pain.

Imagine a world where you feel no pain. The fear of an impending blow to the face, or a broken arm ceases to exist. Sounds pretty lovely except when you have to constantly check over your body to make sure you haven’t injured yourself inadvertently. Or constantly checking your temperature because you're not able to sweat and the risk of overheating can cause you to pass out.  These are the routines Adeline goes through to feel some little bit of normalcy.

While D.D. is trying to cope with her debilitating injury,  a killer is loose on Boston’s streets. A killer whose MO is similar to Adeline’s own sister is terrorizing the streets. Soon D.D. realizes that Adeline may be the key to breaking the case wide open. Since she has no memory of her own attack, she’s hoping the doctor who feels no pain, can help break the case.

Fear Nothing explores a topic that’s always pretty popular with psychological thrillers. The nature vs. nurture debate. Adeline’s past is anything but ideal. She’s the daughter of a well-known killer who suggests blood is love. Adeline also battles her own demons that will leave readers wondering what is the whole story. What exactly is her deal?

Fear Nothing will excite Lisa Gardner’s fans and make putting this novel down impossible. There’s misdirection, interesting characters, and gruesome murders. Basically the essentials for a great crime thriller. Lisa Gardner never fails her audience. ****


Copy Provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley