Tag: Crime Thriller

I’m not always a fan of action books because it sometimes seems like the author tries too hard. That is not the case with this new series by Alex Callister.

The action starts from the beginning and doesn’t let up (for once, the tag line of “heart-pounding suspense” is truthful). 

I did find it difficult to sort out the characters at first. There seemed to be references that referred to prior events (but this is the first book). Eventually, however, it all became clear.

I loved that the protagonist was a young female. With all of the talk these days of female empowerment, it was refreshing (and sure as heck a lot better than the proposed new “female Bond.” But I digress).

I thought that Winter was an interesting character. I liked that she had a spotty background, but that she was smart as well as feisty. In fact, her intelligence (to me) is what made her stand out as a heroine to root for.

The concept of torture for the online masses is also timely. As people become more involved with virtual experiences, and with the lack of civility that seems to be tracking with the rise of social media, it is not too farfetched to believe that we will one day have these types of options, as distasteful as it is. Who knows, maybe it’s already occurring on the Dark Web.

Anyway, I thought it was a great book. It was exciting and read like a movie, which I appreciate because the action moved the plot along quickly. If you’re looking for a crime thriller that keeps you intrigued, look no further.

Time for another “unputdownable thriller.” This time up, it’s Her Last Whisper, the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase.

Fresh off her first case, Katie is assigned to investigate cold cases in the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department. One particular cold case catches her eye because it is only six months old. It is somewhat “ripped from the headlines” in that it involves a woman who claims to have been kidnapped, but details and supporting facts seem to be lacking. (If memory serves there was a similar real-life case near Sacramento, CA a few years ago).

Katie suffers from undiagnosed PTSD from her time in the Army. The subplot involving a former Army buddy seems like an unnecessary complication, although it does give a little bit of depth to Katie’s background. Likewise, her PTSD appears to be used as a plot device more than an actual character trait.

I thought the detective work was mostly accurate, and the crime(s) were interesting. However, I felt like the author gave superficial treatment to some aspects of the case, even tossing off one plot point with a “we’ll never know” comment. It played a part in the investigation, and it didn’t ring true that it all of a sudden didn’t matter to the case. And I didn’t think that the perpetrator’s motivation was as detailed as it could have been.

All of that aside, there were some genuine surprises, and it was an interesting book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good crime thriller series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but there are several references to events from Little Girls Sleeping (the first book), so if you want a more solid background, start with that one.

AUTHOR BIO

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.  

LINKS

• https://authorjenniferchase.com/ 
• @JChaseNovelist

Have you ever had friends tell you that you HAVE to read a book (or see a movie, or watch a tv show) because it is incredible, or at the tip-top of its genre? And you think it couldn’t possibly be as good as everyone says, so you ignore it and get around to taking a look at some point, thinking you’ll give it a try? And then you realize that you’re an idiot and you’re missing out because it really IS as good as everyone says?   

If so, you’re just like me when it comes to Patricia Gibney’s books.

I have seen her recommended numerous times, and people in book groups rave about her crime thrillers. I am always looking for new authors, but I tend to shy away from ones who get a LOT of hype (for the reasons listed above). I am thrilled that I finally came to my senses when it comes to her books, though, because this was one thriller that I could NOT put down.

Even though Broken Souls is the 7^th in the Detective Lottie Parker series, I was able to read it almost as a stand-alone. The author did a fantastic job of allowing a new reader to enjoy the story without distracting references to past books.

That’s not to say that the references aren’t there, because they are (hard to avoid seven books in). But they were well-placed and served to move the current plot along instead of causing me to stop and try to figure out what had happened. The references also made me curious enough to want to go back and read the first books in the series, and I promptly added them to my Amazon cart.

The deftly-woven plot kept me turning pages. I love a book that reads like a television show, especially when it comes to UK crime dramas.  The author did a fantastic job of tying all of the characters together, and I think she captured the nature of a small-town realistically.

I sound like a broken record, but there are no spoilers here. Just a mea culpa that I should have listened to people and picked up Patricia Gibney’s books ages ago. Consider me a convert, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

When you find a series that catches your attention, you can’t help but be excited each time a new release comes out. That is how I feel about the Detective Natalie Ward series. I came to this one late (book three) but you can consider me thoroughly hooked now!

• AMZ: https://geni.us/B07SV1HJMHSocial…
• Also available in audio: UK: http://zpr.io/tnqHf US: http://zpr.io/tnqHG

This time out, Natalie and her co-workers have a multi-faceted investigation on their hands. A young girl has died in a mysterious fire. Her best friend seems to be hiding something, her brothers all react strangely, and neighbors and acquaintances paint a conflicting picture of the girl. Then her mother disappears.

As the web of connections between the characters grows, the author keeps a deft hand in leading the reader through the details and intricacies of the investigation. And this is one place where Ms. Wyer shines.

She has obviously done her homework when it comes to the ins and outs of an investigation, as her details are spot on. I liked how Natalie is using her training to read the body language of the people she interviews. It’s an essential tactic used by law enforcement, and so often overlooked. The specific tells Natalie notices pair with her gut feelings and the evidence to crack the case(s) and find the guilty person (or is it people? No spoilers here! 😉 )

Natalie is less successful, however, when it comes to recognizing what is happening in her own family. This is an ongoing thread in the series, and it seems to now be coming to a head. With two teenagers and an out-of-work husband who has been caught lying more than a few times, Natalie has her hands full on that front as well.

As part of a law enforcement family, I especially appreciate the way the author treats the members of Natalie’s unit and their attitudes towards both their professional and personal lives. People who are dedicated to their jobs very often become consumed with the cases they work on, sometimes to the detriment of their family life.

For some, it is easier to work methodically on a job where one can produce results. For others, it’s a way to bury their heads in the sand and focus on other people’s problems instead of their own. It’s fair to say that the author does an excellent all-around job of showing the reader how complicated it truly all it is by having each of the members of the unit a deal with a different issue on the homefront. I find these sections often to be the most interesting.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but the action flows smoothly. The “ah-ha!” moments are well-placed. The brief glimpses into the personal lives are often triggered by an event in the investigation, so everything is natural.

Really, there is nothing to complain about here. Even if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (and why haven’t you?!?), you will enjoy this crime thriller. Do yourself a favor and grab the others while you’re at it as well!