Review: The Blue Journal by L.T. Graham

Description:
When one of Randi Conway’s psychotherapy patients is found dead of a gunshot wound, the investigation is turned over to Lieutenant Anthony Walker.

Formerly a New York City cop, Walker now serves on the police force of an affluent community in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  He lives among the privileged gentry, where he understands that appearances are often far removed from reality.  This certainly proves to be true in the death of Elizabeth Knoebel, when Walker discovers that she had been keeping a private journal entitled “SEXUAL RITES”.  

In her diary, Elizabeth was recording the explicit details of her sexual adventures with various men, many of whom were married to the women in her therapy group.  Elizabeth was a predator bent on seducing and, in some instances, humiliating these men, obsessed with a perverse mission that Walker believes led to her murder.

As Walker uncovers the secrets of Elizabeth’s memoir, he becomes convinced that her killer is another of Randi Conway’s patients.  

But which one?

My Thoughts:
I loved a good mystery that keeps me guessing. This one kept me guessing to the very end. Elizabeth wasn't a very nice person and the more that is revealed, the more suspects there are. And the more that the reader hates her. She's one of those murder victims that you can't help but have some sympathy for the killer. I thought characters, too. Hope to read more Detective Anthony Walker novels and I hope to see more of Randi Conway as well.


My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!


My Source: author's representative


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | Google Play


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review: Dead Drop by Jesse Miles

Description:

Jack Salvo teaches philosophy one night a week at a community college, but he pays his bills working as a private detective in Los Angeles. An aerospace company hires him to investigate a small-time embezzlement. It’s a piece of cake – a direct route to the embezzler and client with deep pockets. The company assigns a pretty, quick-witted security expert named Lilith Lin to work with him.

Salvo is looking forward to a big paycheck and a possible date with Lilith, when another embezzlement and a pair of corpses expand his investigation into more perilous territory. As Salvo searches for answers, from the bland L.A. suburbs to the tawdry sparkle of the Sunset Strip, he is grilled by suspicious LAPD detectives, punched in the face by a dazzling TV actress, and stalked by cold efficient killers.

Salvo’s investigative options are running out when he observes a mysterious exchange of information at a “dead drop” in a canyon near Beverly Hills. From there he descends into a labyrinth of espionage, kidnapping and murder orchestrated by a brilliant, perverted psychopath. Jack’s life and Lilith’s are at stake, as are stealth technology secrets that could impact national security.



My Thoughts:
I thought this was an excellent detective story. I was pulled in from the very beginning and the twists and turns kept me flipping pages. I enjoyed the first person point of view. I liked Jack Salvo's sarcastic sense of humor and his methods for solving cases. There's even a bit of romance mixed in, though there were times that I wanted to slap Jack over his mental assessments of the women he met. As a philosophy professor/private investigator I thought he was an interesting character. The story kept me guessing and was exciting to the last page. I look forward to more Jack Salvo adventures. I highly recommend for lovers of mysteries, thrillers, and detective stories.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!
*Notes: Language, some gore.

My Source: NetGalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes


Where to find the author:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Bronze Gods by A.A Aguirre

Bronze Gods (Apparatus Infernum #1) by A.A. Aguirre

Description:
Hy Breasil is grimmer than it used to be.

Before the Architect closed the door, there were regular crossings, and a great war decimated both humans and Ferishers. The native fae who refused to treat with the invaders faded; their bodies withered and died, stranding them as hungry, angry spirits that haunt the countryside.

That means there’s always trouble brewing in Dorstaad.

Janus Mikani and Celeste Ritsuko work for the Criminal Investigation Department, keeping citizens safe from things that go bump in the night. He’s a hardboiled cynic with an uncanny sixth sense; she’s determined to justify her promotion as the first female detective in her division. Together, they’re trying to keep a black tide from drowning the city.

But when the second body surfaces, murdered with the same type of infernal device, the entire CID must face the truth. There’s a madman on the loose, twining magic and blood… and only Mikani and Ritsuko can unravel the intricate, lethal conspiracy before the Royale killer completes his macabre plan, unleashing old, forbidden magic on an unsuspecting populace. If the maniac succeeds, it could mean the end of everything…

My Thoughts:
Not quite like anything I've read before, and I mean that in the best way. An interesting combination of steampunk, urban fantasy, and a detective novel. The characters are intriguing and have personality. The relationship between Mikani and Ritsuko, working and otherwise, is enjoyable to read. The banter between them is fun. I loved this and look forward to the next book in the series.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !
*Notes: Some blood and gore, but not graphic.

My Source: Goodreads giveaway

Where to get it:

Where to find the author:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads

Review: The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark

The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark

Description:
Two gruesome murders have shocked and divided the community of Bella Coola, a small, isolated village in a remote river valley on the coast of British Columbia. The evidence points to a teenaged Nuxalk boy, and the simmering tension between whites and tribe members heats up. RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao must sort through misleading clues, cultural conflicts, tangled relationships, sexual scandals, and even rumors of sorcery to find the truth.

Marcus is a man whose life has skidded into remorse and misery. His own infidelity has ended his marriage to the woman he still loves, and now he finds himself with only two things to keep his sinking spirits afloat: the need to serve justice and his eternal fascination with solving the puzzle of the crime. This latest puzzle, however, is proving to be a maze of intrigue, and his mettle as well as his principles will be tested.

My Thoughts:
This was a fantastic, well-written mystery. The plot wasn't too complicated, but kept me guessing. The story really follows Claire and Daniel, the Nuxalk teenagers, but Marcus Chao is called in to this small, isolated town to solve the murders. Marcus is an interesting character and the author is working on a second Marcus Chao mystery, which I am excited about. If you don't mind dark, gritty, and gruesome, this is an excellent read.


My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !
*Notes: Gruesome murders, deals with rape and other mature themes.

Where to get it:
Amazon

Smashwords

About the author (from her Amazon author page):
Lane Stark has had three enduring passions through her life: travel, art, and the written word. She has traveled the world, lived abroad in both Europe and Asia, and experienced many cultures. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in linguistics, has studied eight languages, and recently ended a career as a graphic artist. She has now turned her creative attentions to full-time writing and leisure-time photography. Travel provides a wealth of inspiration for books, and she finds herself weaving tales around the people she meets and the places she explores. She and her husband have indulged their love of the vagabond life by moving into an RV full-time and following the roadways to new adventures. She is currently working on a second novel featuring RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao, A Premature Death.

Where to find the author:
Lane Stark

Review: Angel Dance by M.D. Grayson

Angel Dance by M.D. Grayson




Description:
Beautiful Seattle business heiress Gina Fiore has vanished. Desperate, her family turns to Gina's old boyfriend, Danny Logan to find her and bring her home safely. Logan soon finds that he's not the only one looking for Gina. He's not only going to need all the skill and luck he can gather, he's going to need to confront his unresolved feelings for Gina-feelings that might just get him killed.

My Thoughts:
I love detective novels, mysteries, and stories with suspense. Angel Dance has all of that and more. The mystery has plenty of unexpected twists and kept me guessing all the way through. I didn't want to put it down. All of the characters at Logan P.I. are well-developed and likeable. I love the dialogue and banter between them. I am looking forward to reading more. I especially want to see what happens with Danny and Toni, but I would like to find out more about the others as well. The second book in the series, No Way to Die, is available now and on my TBR list.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !
*Notes: Strong language, some violence.

Where to get it:
Amazon (ebook and paperback)

About the author:
M.D. Grayson is the author of Angel Dance - the first of the Danny Logan mystery series. He lives on an island near Seattle with his wife Michelle and their three German Shepherds.Before becoming a full-time writer, Mr. Grayson worked in the construction industry, as an accountant for six l-o-n-g weeks (square peg - round hole), and as a piano player on the Las Vegas strip. When he's not writing, he loves zooming about on two wheels - bicycles and motorcycles alike. In addition, he's a pilot, a boater, and an accomplished musician - always ready for a jam session!


Where to find the author:

M.D. Grayson

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