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Books On Tour (Review): Gone in Seconds by Ed James

Picking up essentially where Tell Me Lies left off, the action in this book just keeps on rolling.

As in the first book of the Max Carter series, we start with a child abduction. If you read the first one, you know that makes sense because that’s Carter’s specialty. But it becomes apparent early on that there is much more going on than just that. There are nefarious characters, intricate connections, ulterior motives, and shady pasts (and presents) that need to be sorted out.

Fortunately, Carter is a hero who looks at the whole picture. Although there are times that he is on the wrong path, he is astute enough to realize it and change course accordingly. I like that he follows his instincts as much as the clues. I think his background (having been abducted by his father) sometimes gives him a different type of instinct.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B088FP74XHSocial
Apple: https://apple.co/3fDOxCm
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2WIxuqc
Google: https://bit.ly/2LmHoZi

As mentioned, there are a lot of mysterious connections and not everything is as it seems during the investigation. If you did not read the first book, you will definitely be missing some of them, and a few plot points may seem out of place (but they really aren’t).

I did find Carter’s relationship and interactions with his father to be somewhat jarring as they took me out of the main story. But I understand why they were important to the plot, because they gave more depth and insight into Carter’s reasonings and motivations.

There is an awful lot going on through the whole book, and there were a few times that I had to go back and make sure I knew what the connection or who the character was; and I read the first book. If you didn’t read it, I would highly recommend doing so, because it will make this one much clearer. And there is definitely a cliffhanger that indicates at least a third book in the series.

It’s a good one to get in on before the story gets more complicated, so start with Tell Me Lies and then move into this one for a strong hero and page-turning action.

Author Bio

Ed James is the author of multiple series of crime novels. The bestselling DI Simon Fenchurch series is set in East London and published by Thomas & Mercer. The self-published Scott Cullen series of Scottish police procedurals features a young Edinburgh Detective Constable investigating crimes from the bottom rung of the career ladder he’s desperate to climb. The first book, “Ghost in the Machine”, has been downloaded over 400,000 times, hitting both the Amazon UK & US top five.


The Craig Hunter books is a sister series to the Cullen novels, with a PTSD-suffering ex-squaddie now working as a cop investigating sexual abuse cases. With lots of slapstick and banter.

Ed lives in East Lothian, Scotland and writes full-time, but used to work in IT project management, where he filled his weekly commute to London by literally writing on planes, trains and automobiles.

Mailing list — http://bit.ly/EJMail
Email — ed@edjames.co.uk
Twitter — http://www.twitter.com/edjamesauthor
Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/EdJamesAuthor
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Blog Tour (Review): Red Sky Over Hawaii

Considering the usual settings for historical fiction novels, this one stands apart as quite original. It brought up a lot of interesting points that I would be willing to bet that most people never think about.

Set in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, we get the story of Lana, who is on a personal journey following a mysterious call from her father. The plot also uses a few flashbacks to the days immediately prior to the bombing to set the scene for the rest of the book.

Lana was a complicated character, because a lot of what she went through seemed almost more contemporary than what one would assume would have happened in the 1930s and 40s. Her past mistakes and decisions weigh heavily on her present situation, but she learns and grows through it all.

I thought the mixture of characters was also interesting. The interactions all seemed to be realistic, but again some of them seemed more modern than historical. I especially liked Coco. She absolutely made the book for me.

The underlying message of mysticism and how people should pay more attention to universal signs around them is manifested in Coco. As a child, she still holds childish beliefs, but she ultimately teaches Lana (and other adults around her) how important it is to have beliefs in the esoteric. This is an especially strong message as the world is quite literally falling apart around them.

I did like the setting, as it brought back many memories of visits to Hawaii when I was younger, especially camping trips in Kona. The nature of the Hawaiian people was apparent and reminded me of the people I had the pleasure of knowing there (Auntie especially…I could picture her in my mind).

The timing was important because of plot points. I would be willing to bet that some readers did not know that Italians and Germans were also rounded up in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor.

I’ll never forget a WWII history class in college. I grew up in California, and I wrote a research paper about how the Italian fishing trade from Monterey Bay to the SF Bay Area was decimated when the federal government rounded up Italians. The instructor took issue with it, saying that he had never heard of it. I showed him all of my resources and references. He wrote me an apology letter and said he would be changing his lectures about the prisoner camps.

Anyway, it was an informative read, and I was taken in by the overall message of looking at the bigger picture and the signs that might be sent to help through the hard times. Good advice these days.

Facebook: @ackermanbooks Twitter: @AckermanBooks Instagram: @saraackermanbooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sara Ackerman is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant’s Nurse and Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals. Find out more about Sara and her books at www.ackermanbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @saraackermanbooks and on FB @ackermanbooks.

This review was the first of three on the 2020 Summer Reads Blog Tour for Historical Fiction. Be sure to check back here on 6/23 for The Black Swan of Paris and on 7/16 for The Woman Before Wallis!

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Books On Tour (Review): No Escape by Casey Kelleher

At times, this was a difficult book to read, not because it was bad, but because it was so good. Casey Kelleher certainly gives a new meaning to “gritty” in No Escape. From the prologue to the last pages, I was gripped by the stories of the characters. But trust me when I say that this is not for the faint of heart. Some of the action is, unfortunately, realistically brutal.

And to be clear, it’s unfortunate that the brutality is realistic. It is accurate to the lives of people who live in areas like Griffin Estate.

The author does a fantastic job of illustrating the book title via the character’s situations. For those who live at Griffin Estate, there is no way out. Shannon goes to school and works hard, but there’s rarely enough money to get by. Shannon’s brother Kian gets involved with Jax’s gang because he sees them making money and wants to help his family. They’re both in that situation because their mother is a drunk wastrel (who also hasn’t been able to escape her circumstances).

Buy Link: https://geni.us/B085S4G4WQSocial

Jax and his gang take advantage of Philip, who is on his own. Gary and his pals take advantage of Shannon’s mom, who is incapable of helping herself. Even Trainee Detective Constable Lucy Murphy tries to escape the memories of her childhood and doesn’t always succeed. And her grandmother has dementia, where she gets trapped in her mind.

Honestly, pretty much every character in this book is trapped in one way or another.

I thought the author also did an excellent job of weaving all of these individual stories together into one page-turner of a book. I don’t know that I can say that I enjoyed the plot, because it was dark and “joy” did not factor in too much.

But it held my attention, and I did like how the author laid out the connections. It was neat (for lack of a better term) to see how easily intertwined people in those situations could be.

Knowing how life can be in projects in the U.S., I got an absolute same feeling from the estate. In that regard, this book serves not only as a gritty crime thriller but as a pretty searing commentary on poverty and downtrodden populations as well.

If you’re looking for a pick-me-up, this isn’t it. But if you want something well-written and truthful, definitely give this one a look.

Author Bio

Born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, Casey Kelleher grew up as an avid reader and a huge fan of author Martina Cole. 

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up her three children together with her husband, Casey penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time.

Website: www.caseykelleher.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialcaseykelleher
Blog: http://caseykelleher.wordpress.com
Twitter: @caseykelleher
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Blog Tour (Review): Where Lost Girls Go by B. R. Spangler

I’m always excited to find a new crime/mystery/suspense series. I find it fascinating to compare how authors address law enforcement and criminal investigations. No two are ever the same. That’s certainly the case with this book, which is unique in several ways.

I liked how it seemed that the initial crime (Casey’s daughter’s kidnapping) would be the focus of the book…until it wasn’t. That background compelling Casey’s actions was smart, as it drove her forward even as she wasn’t always exactly on the ball. I can only imagine how losing one’s child could skew a person’s perspective.

And Casey can’t afford to make mistakes, because the investigation she finds herself a part of is quite complicated. I don’t want to give anything away, but two seemingly disparate crimes run parallel. However, they both involve young girls, and it soon becomes apparent that they have more in common than initially thought.

I also liked the way Casey was introduced to the location of the Outer Banks. Sometimes the best decisions are made thoroughly by following your gut and not overthinking it; that’s definitely the way Casey approaches things. Of course, she is ultimately driven by finding her daughter, but she is also open to new possibilities.

Without giving away the plot, I will say that the subject matter is timely and something that is often overlooked even though it is a global issue. That being said, I make it a habit never to read the full blurbs because I like to discover the book as I read. I look at the cover and a short description, and that’s enough for me to decide.

In other words, if you want to know the plot, you can find it elsewhere; but I enjoyed the book much more NOT knowing the secrets that would be revealed. I thought it was a great introduction to a new character, and the series has a lot of promise. I look forward to Detective Casey White’s next investigation.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Fallen Girls by Kathryn Casey

Hands down, one of the most unique settings for a crime thriller that I have ever read, this book had me enthralled from beginning to end.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2zDKLbP Apple: https://apple.co/2AgcCic
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3c8HMWa Google: https://bit.ly/2THaEyb

I’m always excited to find a new crime series. Clara Jefferies is a detective to root for, not only because she is an intelligent investigator, but because she escaped a life that would have sent her in a completely different direction.

I thought the choice of a polygamist town was bold and fascinating. Making Elijah’s People a fundamentalist Mormon sect allowed the author to explore the nature of polygamy and all of the restrictions and rules that go along with it.

I found the perspective to be thought-provoking. On the one hand, there are aspects to that type of living that go against what is acceptable in society. On the other hand, there were times that they were quite sympathetic.

One such example is how the women and sister wives were left practically destitute when some of the men were arrested in previous years. It was a stark illustration not only of the rules they lived by but also how deep-rooted the beliefs were. Either the author has first-hand experience or did extensive research because the level of detail was incredible.

The author also did a great job of keeping the action moving even in times where not a lot was happening; the dialogue was crisp, and the interactions kept everything the investigation moving forward. I also thought that the chapters from Delilah’s point of view added to the mystery while also answering some questions.

I especially appreciated that the author kept me guessing until the very end. The clues weren’t exactly red herrings, but they were enough to keep me off-balance as to who the perpetrator was. Even beyond that, I liked how it ended. We have to wait for the next book to see what Clara’s final decision was, and I think that’s brilliant.

I look forward to reading Clara Jefferies’ investigations in many books to come!

Author Bio
A novelist and award-winning journalist, Kathryn Casey is the author of eleven highly acclaimed true crime books and the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series. Library Journal picked THE KILLING STORM as one of the best mysteries of 2010. Her latest true crime, IN PLAIN SIGHT, investigates the Kaufman County prosecutor murders, a case that made worldwide headlines.

Casey has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Biography Channel, Reelz, The Travel Network, Investigation Discovery, and many other venues. Ann Rule called Casey “one of the best in the true crime genre.”

Website: www.kathryncasey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.casey.509
Twitter: @KathrynCasey
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Books On Tour (Review): Water’s Edge by Gregg Olsen

I really enjoyed the introduction to Detective Megan Carpenter in Snow Creek, so I was looking forward to her next investigation. I am thrilled to report that I was NOT disappointed!

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0854143TDSocial Apple: https://apple.co/32qn3tz
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Vmqn7O Google: http://bit.ly/3902iYb

Megan has a tortured (quite literally) past, and it rears its head during investigations. This time, the investigation brings back even more memories due to the similarities in the victims. I’m not going to go into a lot of details about the crimes, because I don’t want to give too much away.

I did like how the investigation sort of went in reverse, as instead of victims increasing in real-time, they made connections to past crimes. That’s indicative of real police work; to be able to connect the dots to past events to predict who or what patters to look for future crimes.  

Megan is one of my favorite female detectives (and there are a lot of them out there). Each of them is unique in their way, with diverse backstories that influence and motivate their decisions. But Megan takes the cake for a messed up early life and demons that continuously haunt her.

I particularly enjoy her one-line asides (an example is when she tells someone she is not lying, and then there is a line that is her thinking “I was lying”). This part of her personality comes through strongly. It also illustrates her sense of humor; as she states, dark humor is an officer’s way of releasing pressure when faced with pressure situations. This is 100% true and accurate to real life.

Her dark and sarcastic sense of humor is shaped by her past. We get that backstory via tapes of recordings made during counseling sessions when she was younger. Even though the background is detailed, it is a complicated past, and it drives Megan relentlessly, keeping her from feeling human. This is partly illustrated by her confused feelings toward Dan.

Even more so, we see it in her reluctance to work closely with Ronnie, a reserve deputy who is kind of thrown in as Megan’s partner. Megan works alone, and her comments about having to work with Ronnie are ascerbic…until she realizes that Ronnie is pretty darn good at the job.

I liked how Megan took a mentoring approach to work with Ronnie, encouraging her (even subconsciously) to be better and look closer at clues. I thought this was a good relationship that I hope continues.

The investigation kept me guessing right up until the big reveal (so kudos for that). There is still some unfinished business for Megan, and the arrival of an unexpected guest promises that there is still a long way for her to go. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Author Bio

A #1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Olsen has written nine nonfiction books, seventeen novels, a novella, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife, twin daughters, three chickens, Milo (an obedience school dropout cocker) and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

Website: https://www.greggolsen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreggOlsenAuthor/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Gregg_Olsen
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Books On Tour (Review): Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat by Leighann Dobbs

I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. Her books are well-plotted, the characters are memorable, and the mysteries are unique. However, mysteries are tough to re-read. Honestly, once you know “whodunnit” you can only go back so many times to see what you missed before the story gets old.

I’m always looking for a new author who writes similar to Ms. Christie, and I couldn’t be happier than to have found Leighann Dobbs. I thoroughly enjoyed A Purr-fect Alibi and was excited for more to come. Her latest, Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat, does not disappoint. (I must point out, the two books are not in the same series. This new one is standalone).

I may have found a new favorite pair: Nora Marsh and her feisty great-aunt Julia are a fantastic duo.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3gldcMd

Right off, I liked the setting. It reminded me of one of my favorite Christie’s Death On the Nile. The “single-set” of a steamboat allowed the author to be creative (there are only so many places to be on a ship). But that also helped keep the action tight; there were no rambling passages about travel.

I also like the era. Ms. Dobbs captured everything from the music to the lingo to the dress of the day. She created an atmosphere that just screamed “1920s” from head to toe.

As to the mystery itself, I wouldn’t be a good blogger if I gave it all away, would I? Suffice to say that the set-up is masterful because each of the characters is introduced naturally, and viewing them through the eyes of a murder novelist was unique. It felt like a “live” game of Clue.

It was also nice to be able to change it up and read a straightforward mystery instead of crime or psych one. To me, that change of pace is relaxing and feels like sitting down with a cat curled up next to me. I guess that’s why they are called “cozy mysteries,” though.

Fans of Agatha Christie, cozy mysteries, the 1920s, historical fiction (any or all of these!) will no doubt enjoy this book as much as I did.

Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book “Dead Wrong” won the “Best Mystery Romance” award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book “Ghostly Paws” was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

Website: http://www.leighanndobbs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighanndobbsbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leighanndobbs
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Blog Tour (Review): The Guest by Cathryn Grant.

Every so often, I come across a book that has a lot of promise that I am excited to read, especially if I enjoyed a previous book by the author. I liked The Good Mother, so I figured that The Guest would be of those books.

I liked how the author set the stage. A stranger with a tenuous friendship with a relative is invited to stay with the family. What could possibly go wrong?

Purchase Links: Amazon UK-https://tinyurl.com/TheGuest-AmazonUK Amazon US-https://tinyurl.com/TheGuest-AmazonUS

There are also character tensions galore: husband and wife, stepson and husband, stepson and schoolmates. Everybody seems to have an issue with at least one other character. Things take a turn early when the son is questioned about a missing classmate. And then things got weird.

The stranger insinuates himself seamlessly into the lives of the family. Tensions between husband and wife continue; wife gets suspicious of the stranger even as she fights her attraction to him. There’s also bad news about the classmate. When it comes to light that the husband has been lying about something, all bets are off.  

I think that is a problem that I had with this book. There was just way too much going on, and it all lacked focus. There were also a lot of details in odd places. I thought the descriptions of food were strange but enjoyed the perspectives on art. I just kept hoping that the seemingly disparate storylines would converge, and all make sense together.

I can’t stress enough; I liked the premise, and the storylines could have been woven into an amazing psychological thriller. The pieces were there, and it could have been so good. But it ultimately needed editing to keep things tight and cohesive. As it was, by the time I got to the epilogue, I wasn’t that surprised by what should have been a shocking reveal.

I would still recommend it because there were some entertaining aspects. But in the end, it felt rushed; if a little more time had been taken, it could have been so much more.

About Cathryn Grant

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels.

She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.

Cathryn is the author of The Good Neighbor and many other crime thrillers. THE GUEST will be her third novel published with Inkubator Books.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CathrynGrant
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathrynGrant.Writer/
Website: https://www.cathryngrant.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathryngrant_fiction/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cathryn-Grant/e/B004G1I484?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1566901527&sr=8-3
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Cover Reveal: An Eye for an Eye by Carol Wyer

If you love Natalie Ward, be sure to pre-order to check out this new series from Carol Wyer, featuring DI Kate Young!

Eye-catching, right?!? Here’s a blurb for more info.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE by Carol Wyer

A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.

DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.

But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police.

Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide.

But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?

Out February 4th 2021 but available to pre order now

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Blog Tour (Review): Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon

This book had me running the gamut of emotions. I wasn’t sure who to trust at any given time, my loyalties to individual characters switched, and I was left feeling disturbed. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Buy Links:  Harlequin  Barnes & Noble Amazon
Books-A-Million Powell’s

The author did an admirable job of creating sympathy for Eleanor in the beginning. She had been beaten down by life (literally and physically), and she was losing the one person she could rely on…until she couldn’t anymore. I related to her early on, because her feelings about her father brought back memories of my dad’s illness. I could feel her pain.

I was fortunate, however, to not have a vile mother like Sylvia. It was easy to see why Eleanor was as insecure as she was. Both her mother and sister, Amy, were horrible people in general and specifically to Eleanor.

Eleanor finds out a secret that she isn’t meant to know, and at that point, I thought the book took an odd turn. I understand the point that desperate people can be led to do desperate things, but it felt a little off. I’m not sure why, but because Eleanor got a little dark, I felt less sympathy for her.

I don’t want to give away the rest of the book, because it all flowed well after that, and I found myself going back and forth between disliking Eleanor for her duplicity and feeling sorry for her because she obviously had severe issues that compelled her decisions.

I also don’t want to give away anything, because there are a few twists that I did not see coming. There were also a few I thought would happen and didn’t. I like it when an author can balance the tension like that. I did think that the middle was drawn out, and then an awful lot happened in the last quarter of the book. Some of it was even just described instead of actually occurring within the plot. There were some surprises, but I think I would have enjoyed the action of them instead of a description. (hope that makes sense).

In the end, I was left feeling…I’m not sure of the word? Empty, maybe. A little angry or disappointed that people can be so evil to each other? Psychopathy is real, and it is certainly exhibited in spades in this book. Human nature can be the most harmful of all forces.

Kudos to the author for creating memorable characters that left me feeling disturbed and unsettled. And very glad that I don’t have a sister (to my knowledge).  

AUTHOR BIO

Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing, and is now the author of The Neighbors and Her Secret Son. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons, and is delighted by her twenty-second commute.

Social Links: Author Website Goodreads
Twitter: @HannahMMcKinnon
Instagram: @hannahmarymckinnon
Facebook: @HannahMaryMcKinnon
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