Day: March 10, 2021

Agent Tori Hunter is back, and I’m so very glad that Braddock is back with her.

This is one series where I almost like the secondary characters more than the main character herself. But more on that in a minute.

I love the way this author writes. The scenes are so descriptive that I feel like I am watching a movie in my head as I read. Even the sound effects of tires squealing or guns blazing have a place in the writing.

I appreciate that because it doesn’t seem forced or overdone. It simply becomes part of the action.

And oh, what action there is. Starting with the opening scene and carrying through to the very last pages, this one is a page-turner for sure. It’s even complete with one of the most thrilling car chases I’ve ever read.

(Yeah, that was an odd sentence to write – but it’s true).

I also thought that the balance between Tori’s personal and professional lives was good. In her case, they tend to meld together though, because her beau also ends up being a partner during investigations.

Which leads me back to Braddock.

I don’t want to get too personal, but he reminds me so much of my husband, that I drink in every word about him. Even down to his experiences with 9/11, it’s like the author interviewed my husband and built Braddock based on him.

It’s one thing to relate to a character, it’s another to feel like you personally know them. The latter is the case with Braddock for me.

In that regard, I guess I like Tori because she likes Braddock? I wish I related to her a little more – although I do have some of the same thoughts as her. As I read, I found myself thinking something and then she would say it a few lines later. That was kinda cool too.

Regardless of the personal feelings I have, this is just really a good story. I don’t want to give away any major plot points, but the author gives a very honest look at a crime that is widespread, but sadly often flies under the radar

There is also an accurate portrayal of a very touchy, personal, and complicated subject. It was obvious (to someone who has been through the process described in the book) that the author did copious amounts of homework to get the details right.

I guess that’s why I’ll keep coming back to Tori and Braddock. They’re the most personally relatable team of any of them out there. I can’t wait to see what they tackle next!

Author Bio:

Roger Stelljes is the acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of pulse-pounding murder mystery and suspense novels, including the Tori Hunter and McRyan Mystery Series. Roger’s crime thrillers are noted for their fast-paced, yet intricate plots filled with layered and complex characters.

Roger started his first novel in July 2002 while on vacation in Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes area and has been writing ever since. His debut book, The St. Paul Conspiracy, was nominated in genre fiction for the Minnesota Book Awards along with finalists Brian Freeman and William Kent Krueger. With his follow-up, Deadly Stillwater, where Vince Flynn hailed Roger as a “powerful new thriller voice”, he won the Midwest Independent Book Publishers award for commercial fiction.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Roger still lives there with his family. In addition to his work as an author, Roger is a partner in his law firm. Roger is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys spending time outdoors boating, attending hockey games, and honing his golf game.