FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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THE FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEW is the place to come
to find out what to read next. Want to know what readers are saying
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we’ll have those, too. Come in, sit down and see what’s
write with the world! (Or, right in the world of write!) New reviews this month from: . Dr. Cynthia Clark . Harriet Klausner . Christine I. Speakman |
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November 2011
Ties That Bind
Anne Patrick
Publisher: Awe-Struck Publishing
http://www.awe-struck.net/
Genre: Contemporary Romantic
Suspense, Paranormal Mystery
ISBN-13: 978-1-58749-732-2
Pages: eBook: 270
Starting Price: $4.99
Blurb via Publisher’s website:
FBI profiler, Jo McDaniels has an unusual gift. As with most profilers, they are able to take the evidence, background of the victims and crime scene photos and reenact in their minds what took place between the killer and the victim. But what if there are no crime scenes and the victims have been decapitated in order to hide their identity? This is where Jo's unusual gift comes into play. Unlike most profilers in her field, she is able to go a step further. Using her psychic ability she is able to sense exactly what victims felt prior to their death. Her ability allows her to get to know the victims better than anyone else. She not only feels their emotions; she feels their pain.
Sheriff Austin Garrett doesn't quite know what to think of the sassy and beautiful profiler that is able to tell him more about the victim after a few minutes with her than the coroner knows. But he's willing to try anything to catch the serial killer plaguing his community. In all his years in law enforcement, nothing has prepared him for the monster he is up against now. A killer so cruel and calculating that it leaves him no choice but to turn to Jo and her unique gift.
Jo knows the risk she's taking by using her psychic abilities. The last time she relied on it, it almost cost her career as well as her sanity. As the case progresses and the body count rises they soon realize that Jo's sanity isn't all that is at risk. She has become the killer's ultimate kill.
Review
Would you be happy if I said this was a solid read and nothing else? Probably not, but it’s the truth. Sure, a few techno writing glitches, but nothing that took me out of the story or lessened the impact of a solid mystery read.
The character of Jo comes across strong and somewhat cautious and defiant. She’s been burned before with people accepting her gift…how many of us actually believe in any type of second sight. This, and coming home, immediately leaves her wary. How does one reconnect with family after all this time? Would they forgive her for missing her dad’s funeral? You have to put up a shell when you face the deaths Jo has.
Austin is slightly different and a good counter-match for Jo. He knows what she’s seen, but has the responsibility of fatherhood to ground him. Even with everything he’s seen, though, Jo’s gift is still a little far-fetched. Testing her will either strengthen their relationship or ruin it.
Either way these characters are on the hunt for a killer who knows how to not leave a trace. Does he…she…know about Jo’s gift?
As mentioned, this is a solid crime mystery. I would mark it as a weekend read or a stormy night curl-up. Ms. Patrick weaves clues and suspects logically and emotionally. She never cheats the reader with surprise endings we couldn’t have figured out for ourselves. Her characters ring true, no one is a little too overboard, too flawed, or too perfect. Yes, there’s some romance, but it fits and isn’t overwhelming for those who rather not have romance with their crime read. And for those who want romance, it’s enough for you to keep cheering Jo and Austin onward.
All in all, TIES THAT BIND is worth the read. You won’t be disappointed, but you will lose track of time and everything else around you. In other words, a good escape time is to be had.
The Antique Toy Car
John Russo
August 2011, Muse It Up Publishing
Jason Chapman owned an Antique Toy Car worth a lot of money. When Jason was in the Merchant Marines he was a Machinist’s Mate Second Class. Those skills allowed him to reproduce his precious car and begin collecting $3000 a pop. Now, Jason was smart enough to right on the receipts as is, in case anyone discovered that their toy car was a fraud. Jason toured the antique circuit bilking many out of $3000 each but in true O’Henry fashion nothing is as it seems.
John Russo has crafted a delightful, charming short story that keeps you questioning which car is real. It’s like the pea in the shell game, where is the real pea – car. But Mr. Russo does it which such cunning and cleverness that you go “Gotcha” and feel great about it! Excellent.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D. MHt.
Miraculous Deception: Future Imperfect Book Two
P.I. Barrington
2010, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc., 115 pages
ISBN: 10-1-936000-69-5
MIRACULOUS DECEPTION is the second novella in the series by P.I. Barrington. Police Officer Payce is lying in a coma in the hospital. Dr. Georgene Channing uses her experimental and unapproved machine on Payce. But Payce isn’t exactly unconscious; it’s more like she is having an out of body experience – an extremely painful one. She is feeling every prod, every stick Georgene is doing. Then Payce realizes she can communicate with her partner Gavin. He can hear her. She asks him to ask Nick for help. He tells her that the man hates him and then he thinks – what am I crazy Payce can’t talk. But he seeks out Nick just in case.
Intern Logan challenges Georgene to no avail but when she is out of Payce’s room he turns down the machine allowing Payce to get relief.
As Gavin, Nick, and Amy – a reporter who insinuates herself into the case try to hunt down who did this to Payce, Payce begins to gain some inner strength. Through her out of body experiences she watches how the machine works and when she is ready she uses all the strength she has to pull the probe out and leave the room. But her escape is short lived when she is taken.
In the meantime there is a cult in town. One that is definitely up to no good….
PI Barrington has crafted a wonderful trio of novellas. I reviewed book one a couple months back. I became so captivated and involved with the story and characters that I had to keep reading not only this one but book three as well. Ms. Barrington’s weaving of the story is fascinating. She puts you in the story hovering like Payce over all of the characters and action. Book two ends with a shocker. Wonderful! A nonstop thriller.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D. MHt.
Final Deceit: Future Imperfect Book Three
P.I. Barrington
January 2011, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc., 108 pages
Book Three continues as Book two ended. The police chief, Charlie orders a search of the wreckage of what was the Cult arena. He is hoping that someone is alive. The Mayor is against it because he has trouble of his own – his daughter, who has been in an institution is now missing. In the meantime, buried deep underground, Payce, Gavin, Amy, Nick, and Logan attempt to determine if they are hurt and who else might be alive.
El Jefe, the real leader behind the Cult hires a female impersonator who has his own agenda. The Mayor’s son starts to look for his sister. Charlie, the police chief hunts for Gavin, Payce and all. But they are disrupted by the falling of a piece of rescue machinery that causes a cave-in separating the group. Gavin and Payce, Nick and Amy, and Logan by himself. Each must try to find a way out as Charlie is given to order to not go in or attempt any more rescues. Charlie disobeys and goes back in. But so much is not as it seems. El Jefe is calling the shots, blackmail and more, but who is he? And will Gavin ever learn that Payce loves him as much as he does her? And where is the Mayor’s daughter and is she nuts?
Again. PI Barrington has weaved a highly charged, exciting story. I could not put it down. As we follow each set through dark corridors trying to find a way out we are right there. My leg hurt right along with Amy. Wonderful. I can easily see this trio of stories as an n exciting, edge of your seat movie. Well done. Easy read yet exciting! Bravo!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D. MHt.
Kill Them All
Harry Shannon
A book in the Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin series
THE DEAD MAN
2011, Adventures in Television, Inc.
The sixth book in THE DEAD MAN series is written by Harry Shannon and provides not only more escapades for Matt but a new enemy. Matt Cahill survived being buried under an avalanche for three months. And with his survival came an uncanny ability to see evil. These particular evil people are connected to the Dark Man, a particularly evil man. Matt has made it his mission to bring down the Dark Man.
In KILL THEM ALL, Matt is traveling in Nevada when he hears a young man calling for help. His sister is trapped in some sort of well. Matt never turns down a chance to help someone in distress. This is no exception. He goes into the well and rescues Suzie. Jeb, Suzie’s brother and Suzie are the sheriff’s children. The sheriff is thrilled to meet Matt after he saved his daughter’s life. He offers to put Matt up in their little town for the night. But Matt declines. While in the local saloon, Matt witnesses two local thugs giving the waitress, Sally a hard time. He puts them in their place earning more respect from the not only the sheriff but the town’s people. Sally tries to get Matt to stay but he is intent on continuing his journey. Sally offers to drive him to the road, warning him to watch out for some odd strangers that had been in town earlier. But Matt cannot stay out of trouble. The strangers get the better of him, drug him and start to bleed him. He is kept alive to produce more blood. He learns the Dark Man is not his only enemy.
But Matt has more lives than a cat. How does he escape? What does he learn? What else is going on? More questions….
KILL THEM ALL, like all of the books in the series of THE DEAD MAN is excellent. This is a wonderful horror thriller cross genre. Love it! Love Harry Shannon and all of the THE DEAD MAN authors! In the line of TRUE BLOOD, etc. THE DEAD MAN series would make a great visual show – all the authors, including Mr. Shannon write with such panache that you can visualize the characters, the “monsters”, and all the action with vividness and liveliness. Not only are we entertained, scared, but we are transported to another world and so immersed in that real time flies. I read KILL THEM ALL in what seemed like moments and nothing distracted me. I was engrossed in it! Excellent! Great addition, Mr. Shannon! Perfection! With each new part, the series just keeps getting better and better!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D. MHt.
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