#NetGalley Review: Mind Game: A Novel (Eve Duncan) by Iris Johansen

The strong suspense and sharp romantic tension reminds me why I enjoy this author.

Mind Game: A Novel (Eve Duncan)
by Iris Johansen

File Size: 4763 KB
Print Length: 373 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250075858
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 24, 2017)
ASIN: B06Y16RFM6
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Mind Game takes Jane MacGuire back to Scotland where she continues her search for the treasure she’s been chasing for years. But now she’s being plagued by dreams of a girl in danger. Who is this girl, and what is she trying to tell Jane? And will Jane figure it out before it’s too late—for her and the mysterious young woman? Things are further complicated when Seth Caleb comes back into Jane’s life. This time he’s the one in trouble, and Jane will find herself pulled unexpectedly into his world as she fights to save him.
With the adventure, intrigue, and explosive energy that Iris Johansen fans love, Mind Game is a high-octane thriller that readers won’t be able to put down.

Review:
Jane MacGuire is a strong young lady and a gifted artist. Not only can she draw what she sees, she can also draw what she dreams. For years she had dreams about an ancient Roman woman, Cira. Now they are close to finding Cira’s hidden treasure back in Scotland with her friends.

Recently Jane has had new dreams – a young woman in trouble is reaching out to her. Jane is just the type of person who must try to help no matter the danger.

Seth Caleb is a dark, mysterious man who has a strange impact on Jane. She has tried to keep him at a distance but is pretty sure that at some point they will collide, if not combust. Seth is on hand to help with the treasure hunting. He quickly realizes that Jane is disturbed by something and he wants to find out what so he can help her. The mystery deepens as it becomes clear that the girl is reaching out to Jane because of Seth.

I admit that it has been quite a few years since I have read Iris Johansen and the Eve Duncan series. I was immediately drawn by the characters even as I Seth reminded me of an earlier dark, mysterious and sexy character - Sean Galen in The Search. Johansen does a wonderful job of building sexual tension leading to a scene that is tasteful and adds to rather than distracts from the mystery plot.

The plot is twisted with dark skills and people who want to control and use the skills for their own greed and evil plans. The story moves at a good pace. I did roll my eyes a few times as Jane walks herself into danger, but it rather fits her headstrong character. I enjoyed how Eve and Joe were a supportive part of the story.

I collected and read this author’s titles from 1990 through 2008 which took me through Book 7 in the Eve Duncan series. (I didn’t stop because I didn’t like them, I just got busy with blogging and reading many new authors. I was glad to enjoy an older favorite author.) Having read the early books in the series helped me to know these characters better although the author does give some introductory background on the connections and personalities. I am inclined to think this would read fine if picked up as a stand-alone. I am pleased to find that Ms. Johansen has not lost her knack at writing strongly engaging thriller with nice romantic tension. I recommend this author, the series and this book.

Source: NetGalley 2017. This qualifies for 2018TBR, NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

#NetGalley Book Review: In Wolves' Clothing by Greg Levin

This is gripping and well written.
In Wolves' Clothing
by Greg Levin

File Size: 1556 KB
Print Length: 273 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0990402940
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: White Rock Press; 1 edition (October 11, 2017)
ASIN: B075WSMPBT
Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 0f 5.0

On his best days, Zero Slade is the worst man you can imagine. He has to be. It's the only way to save the Lost Girls.
During his seven years on a team fighting sex trafficking, Zero's become quite good at schmoozing with pimps, getting handcuffed by cops and pretending not to care about the young girls he liberates. But the dangerous sting operations are starting to take a toll on his marriage and sanity. His affinity for prescription painkillers isn't exactly helping matters.
When the youngest girl the team has ever rescued gets abducted from a safe house in Cambodia, Zero decides to risk everything to find her. His only shot is to go rogue, and sink deeper into the bowels of the trafficking world than he's ever sunk.
It's the biggest mission of his life. Trouble is, it's almost certain death.

Review:
Zero’s is an ex military man who has an intense, tough job. He and his team mates pretend to be wealthy men seeking to party with young girls. They are really there with authorities in the wings to capture the pimps and free the young girls who are an unwilling part of the child sex trade industry. The job takes Zero’s team to all parts of the world, from cities in Asia to Central and South America. There is lots of planning and most times things go smoothly; but not always. There is always danger, risk and emotional trauma to be contained.

Zero is already self-medicating from injuries, pain and guilt from his military loses. Between coping (or not) with those memories and trying to minimize the emotions caused during his missions, he is struggling to keep proper communication with his wife, Nina, whom he adores. Problem is, he is gone a lot and even when he is home he is not always connected. Nina loves Zero but knows he needs help and she may have to take drastic steps for him to cooperate.

The team rescues a group of particularly young girls and the youngest clings to Zero. The youngster has touched a place in Zero’s heart and he returns to visit her. Then he gets news that she has been kidnapped from the facility. Zero can’t, or won’t, wait to ask for a team to go in. He chooses to go himself, even with recent injuries, and even though it will risk everything – his career and his marriage. Still, he feels he must rescue Sung before it is too late.

I really liked the writing style which is direct and presents the story in first person through Zero’s voice. His internal thinking is very real and sometimes gritty. There is also a subtle, self-deprecating humor. He is a man with integrity but also plagued with problems and flaws. Mr. Levin presents strong background information on the issues of painkiller addiction and sex trafficking. These are not easy subjects, but they are handled in a manner that makes a point of the devastating trauma and problem.

There is some material that is tough to read as well as some strong foul words. These are (sadly) a natural part of the story that is presented. I do recommend this to readers who like crime fiction suspense and those who may find combating sex trafficking interesting.

Source: NetGalley 2017. This qualifies for my 2018TBR, Take Control, NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

Audio Review: The Earth Bleeds Red by Jackson Baer

Good thriller with family emotions and light faith elements.

The Earth Bleeds Red
By: Jackson Baer
Narrator: Dan Carroll

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 01-29-18
Language: English
Publisher: Jackson Baer
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
My Rating: Story 4.0 of 5.0;
Audio 2.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Scott Miller has everything he's ever hoped for. He has a successful marriage to Jessie, a stunningly beautiful, creative woman. His 17-year-old daughter, Ashley, is both gorgeous and intelligent, and has just been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where Scott received his PhD. He has a comforting home in the woods, and a fulfilling career as a college professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He's blissful, and at peace, until it all comes shattering down.
Ashley is kidnapped. The scene of the abduction is horrific and bloody, and the police are convinced she couldn't have survived. They accuse her boyfriend, Brandon, of Ashley's murder. He declares his innocence, and claims that a masked man who entered his house and overwhelmed them both took Ashley. No one believes Brandon.
Then the bodies of three other missing girls are discovered, all bearing the mark of a known serial killer the FBI has been hunting for years. Evidence mounts. As Special Agent James Duncan tracks the Hail Mary Killer, Scott and Jessie try to move on with their lives. But they can't shake the feeling that Ashley may still be alive, and that the time for saving their only daughter is quickly running out.
In the best tradition of literature and suspense, Jackson Baer has weaved a heartfelt tale of one family's struggle to survive after a despicable evil wrenches them apart.
©2013 Jackson Baer (P)2018 Jackson Baer

Review:
Scott Miller loves his wife and his 17-year-old daughter, Ashley. They live in a nice home in the woods of Oregon and Scott has a good job as a college professor. Ashley has been accepted into the University of Notre Dame. She is a lovely young woman who attends church and lives a good live. Live is good for the family until one night when Ashley doesn’t come home.

Ashley disappears from her boyfriend Brandon’s house, leaving a pool of blood behind. Scott and the police don’t buy Brandon’s story of a masked attacker who knew Ashley by name and knocked him out. They are convinced that Brandon is guilty.

No ransom call comes and time goes by with no trace of where Ashley has disappeared. Scott and his wife have tried to accept that she won’t be returning but they don’t want to give up hope.

Months later bodies of young women have surfaced and the FBI is intently investigating a serial killer. They find clues that make them tie Ashley’s disappearance to the Hail Mary Killer. Tension mounts along with personal conflict for Scott and his wife.

This story had an interesting mix of styles. It starts with a cozy family picture that shifts into the suspense of mystery and trauma of the missing daughter. The strong, emotional family elements continue to weave in and out during the tension of the mystery. I liked the light faith comments that were lightly shared. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a thriller with twists and emotional drama.

Audio Notes: This is one time that I don’t think the story was helped by the narration. I found Dan Carroll’s narration to be flat. The only effort to provide voice characterization consisted of awkward accents. There was little emotion or suspense shared which would have been appropriate. This was little more than a flat reading. Sadly I found this distracting and almost abandoned the audio to pick up the Kindle version. I only continued with the audio for the convenience of listening with my MP3. I suggest listening carefully to the sample before deciding to pick up the audio version.

Source: Author. This qualifies for 2018 Audio and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: One Year After by William R. Forstchen

This was just so realistic. Great entertainment!

One Year After

By: William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Series: After (Forstchen), Book 2
Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 09-15-15
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

The thrilling follow-up to the New York Times best-selling novel One Second After.

Months before publication, One Second After was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should have, a book discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a truly realistic look at the dangers of EMPs. An EMP is a weapon with the power to destroy the entire United States in a single act of terrorism in a single second; Indeed, it is a weapon that the Wall Street Journal warns could shatter America. One Second After was a dire warning of what might be our future... and our end.

One Year After returns to the small town of Black Mountain and the man who struggled to rebuild it in the wake of devastation: John Matherson. It is a thrilling follow-up and should delight fans in every way.

©2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2015 Blackstone Audiobooks.

Review:
In the first book, One Second After, an EMP attack destroys the US infrastructure. Forstchen describes the devastation and struggles that result in 4 out of 5 Americans dying in the months after the detonation of just several small nuclear weapons.

This book picks up one year later, focusing on the town of Black Mountain. This community has pulled together to survive and rebuild without waiting for a government in chaos to rescue them. The town administrator, John Matherson, is a former military man whose decisive action has helped stabilize the town. He led the training of a group of college students into a local self-defense force when the town had to stop a brutal gang of border raiders. The town people have worked together to set up successful crop arrangements, medical facilities, schools and are on the verge of putting power back online, even if limited.

Unfortunately, the news of the successful defeat of the raiders and the regrowth of the town has reached the ears of political leaders. A pompous military man, Dale Fredericks, arrives as the Federal Administrator in Ashville. This ‘leader’ is a political hack, not a commander. He apparently is intent on getting control of Matherson and his resources. Fredericks begins by using flattery and bribery to try to gain Matherson’s cooperation. If that doesn’t work he is prepared to use force to manipulate Matherson, even if it means hurting innocent civilians and wreaking destruction on the community.

The ‘reestablished’ federal government has instituted a mandatory draft of able-bodied into the Army of National Recovery, ANR. The ANR is sending teenagers for minimal training before pushing them into dangerous, combative situations. Matherson has already lost his younger child and isn’t happy about the thought of his 18-year-old daughter, a mother of a 14-month-old, going off to fight for a tenuous, self-proclaimed government that has been cobbled together by old politicians.

While tensions and hostilities mount between the people of Black Mountain and the federal representatives, Matherson has to deal with community squabbles and border raids, including murder. His troubles include getting kidnapped by a group of independent raiders although he finds a way to escape. Then he has to help defend his town from an invasion by an ANR troop under the command of Fredericks.

This story is well told with non-stop action. I was totally invested in Matherson and his community who are faced with the choice of passively submitting to fascist rule or facing death as they fight other Americans. There are a lot of emotional pulls with anger, fear, love, pride, disgust and more. The characters and scenarios, including the politics, are strikingly realistic.

I listened to the first book a number of years ago and probably should have listened to this sooner. I will be getting the next book, The Final Day, to see what happens next. I think this series is a must read/listen for fans of the post-apocalyptic genre. However, I also recommend it to readers who have any interest in the impact that could result from an EMP strike.

Audio Notes: I was fine with the narration by Bronson Pinchot. He provided different accents for the characters. There were a few whose southern accent was over the edge hillbilly – but that also fit a few of the characters. I became immersed in the story which moved quickly. I appreciated the audio performance that contributed to the entertainment for me.

Source: Audible TBR/sale purchase from 2016. This qualifies for TBR, Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Book Review: The Letterbox by Layton Green

This ghostly thriller brings some soul searching.
The Letterbox
by Layton Green

File Size: 2336 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publication Date: September 2, 2016
ASIN: B01LHMCTSA
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

What if you had the chance to uncover tangible evidence of the divine? How far would you go, what dangers would you brave, in pursuit of the greatest mystery of all?
Four companions of varying beliefs, on a journey to the forgotten corners of Europe, are about to find out.
On a desolate English moor, a team of scientists unearths a two-thousand-year-old wooden box, preserved in silver and inlaid with a map of patterned gemstones. A set of runes inscribed on the box claims the map is a pathway to God.
In an attempt to decipher the map, a wealthy New Orleans collector assembles an unlikely team: a specialist in cultural antiquities who dabbles in the occult; a jaded attorney searching for meaning; a brilliant linguist who loathes organized religion; and a Catholic historian with a reputation for acquiring pieces no one else can or will.
Shackled by secrets and hidden motives, pursued by a sinister religious order, driven by an insatiable desire for answers, the four companions trek across Europe as they search for a connection among the ancient sites revealed by the map. As the hunt for truth takes them deeper into the unknown, their lives and perhaps their souls in peril, they must determine whether the letterbox is part of an elaborate, centuries-old deception—or the answer to mankind’s ultimate questions.
From critically acclaimed and bestselling author Layton Green, The Letterbox is a thrilling new mystery that weaves danger, exotic locales, breathless suspense, romance, and ancient secrets into the tapestry of an unforgettable novel.

Review:
A unique artifact is found on a desolate English moor. A wealthy New Orleans collector, Lucius, is hired to retrieve the letterbox and investigate its origins and purpose. The collector calls in a brilliant linguist, Lou, an atheist, who drags along his best friend, Aidan, an attorney who is disgusted with his work and seeking some greater meaning to life. Lou determines that runes on the box may be interpreted as the “God path”. Not all the writing and mosaic work on the box matches the described or expected setting and historic time which adds to the puzzle. Lucius’ assistant, Asha, who dabbles in the occult, joins the team and they head off to Dubrovnik to pick up the team guide, Jake, a Catholic historian skilled in collecting, and protecting, rare pieces.

The four are quickly drawn in and committed to the search by individual drives and secret motives. Even as strange visions, ghostly apparitions, threatening druids and dangers stalk them across Europe, they cannot let go of the quest. Will the map lead them to a hidden treasure, druid secrets concealed centuries ago, or an encounter with God? It is a quest that may steal their lives if not their souls.

This is a fascinating mystery guided by a puzzle that might have readers thinking of The Da Vinci Code while the quest is reminiscent of a modern day Indiana Jones adventure traveling to spiritually rich sites. The history, action and danger of the quest are engaging, but I was anxious to discover the end result. I found the four varied reactions to the revealed ending to be consistent with their beliefs and preset attitudes, which provides an interesting psychological argument.

The writing is strong with unique and well researched settings. The story is told from Aidan's view which worked well since he is the one seeking meaning without a preset belief system. I recommend this as engaging reading to those who like a puzzling thriller with a touch of soul searching.

I received this from the author for an honest review.

Book Review: Resurrection America by Jeff Gunhus

This is a tense, engaging post-apocalyptic thriller.

Resurrection America

by Jeff Gunhus

File Size: 4240 KB

Print Length: 374 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0998217719

Publisher: Seven Guns Press (June 5, 2017)

ASIN: B06ZYTZYSC

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

USA TODAY bestselling author Jeff Gunhus. 

In the near-future, the world order has deteriorated after America's exhaustion from endless foreign wars causes her to pull back within her borders. Her enemies and allies alike pursue their own interests, grabbing resources, erecting trade barriers, and launching opportunistic wars. The American Century is a distant memory.

Sheriff Rick Johnson thinks he's left behind the problems of the greater world, retiring from the Marines to become the sheriff of the little town of Resurrection, Colorado. His relationship with Dahlia, his childhood friend's widow, has given him new purpose, along with the responsibility of being a father-figure to her young son. Life isn't perfect, but it's better than he ever expected it would be after seeing the horrors of war. But when helicopters and armored vehicles filled with soldiers in hazmat suits unexpectedly quarantine the town, Sheriff Rick Johnson feels like the nightmares of the outside world have followed him home.

While the town follows martial law, Rick isn't buying the official version of events from the military that a virus has been released into the air. As he investigates, the cover story unravels and he discovers the military's presence and the salvation they offer isn't what it seems. Soon he and his ex-flame, scientist Cassie Baker, are entangled in a plot so evil that it could only be bourn from the absolute extremes of nationalism and madness.

There are men in Resurrection who are willing to do anything to see America restored to her former greatness, even if the rest of the world must be destroyed to make it happen. But Rick Johnson is a man willing to do anything to protect the people he loves. And he's a force to be reckoned with.

Review:
Rick is a former marine who has settled as Sheriff in the small town of Resurrection, Colorado. He suffered enough in war and his is glad to have an easy-going job and hopeful of building a relationship with an old friend’s widow, Dahlia, and her young son, Charlie. When Rick gets a strange radio call from his deputy which is cut off, he heads up the old mine road to check on him. Instead of finding his deputy, Rick finds a large fence closing off the mine and a man, Keffer, who offers him $10,000.00 to keep quiet for three days. Rick isn’t interested in the bribe but is willing to stay quiet for the extra millions the man assures will be forthcoming to the town from the secret entity that is reopening the mine with robotic assistance.

The town is hosting thousands of visitors to a festival that weekend when an alarm sounds, a helicopter hoovers overhead, tanks appear in the streets and snipers appear with guns aimed at the crowd. A warning issues from the loud speakers that the town has been exposed to radiation but that the men are there to issue a live-saving inoculation. No one understands what is happening and Rick really doesn’t believe the story, especially when he sees and hears actions inconsistent with Keefer’s explanation.

Rick tries to challenge Keefer, but even his friends think he has had a PTSD episode and is delusional. Getting locked in his own jail cells with his ex-wife, a biochemist from the company that previously worked the mine, is the only thing that might give them a chance to save Dahlia, Charlie, the community and visitors. Keefer’s proclaimed goals are to save America and restore her position as a superpower. Sadly, the extent of his plan moves into madness and extremism.

This is a rather scary scenario and gets more alarming as the secret lab and the expected use of the captured citizens is revealed. One can hope that the science is only fiction although somehow I think the possibility might exist in the future. A few scenes do stretch believability but that’s why they call it “fiction”. That didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the fast moving, suspenseful plot. The primary characters are well developed and I liked the relationship between Rick and those he loves. There is good action and an ironic twist at the end. I recommend this to readers who like apocalyptic tales that have a different storyline.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: No Easy Hope: Surviving the Dead, Volume 1 by James N. Cook

This is a solid EOTW, biochemical (zombie) story with a strong lead character and good action.

No Easy Hope: Surviving the Dead, Volume 1
Written by: James N. Cook
Narrated by: Guy Williams

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
Series: Surviving the Dead, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-07-13
Publisher: James N. Cook
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Zombie
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Eric Riordan was once a wealthy man leading a comfortable, easy life. Until one day Gabriel, his oldest friend, Marine Corps veteran, and a former mercenary, told him how the world was going to end.
He did his best to prepare. He thought he was ready for anything.
He was wrong.
As the dead rise up to devour the living, one man finds himself struggling to survive in the ruins of a shattered world. Alone, isolated, and facing starvation, his only chance is to flee to the Appalachians and join forces with Gabriel. But the journey will not be easy, and along the way his humanity, his will to live, and his very soul will be tested.
This is the beginning. This is his story.
©2011 James N Cook (P)2013 James N Cook

Review:
Eric is a wealthy man, not a military man. He and Gabriel, Gabe, became friends during the sale of land between them. Sometime later, Gabe warns Eric to prepare for a chaotic collapse of the world. Gabe is a former Marine and former mercenary who has reason to know of biological secrets that could endanger society.

Eric had the money to prepare a bunker and stock it with food and weapons. He thought he was ready – but who can really prepare for the bloody rising of the dead? After staying alone in his own bunker for a time, Eric sets to meet up with Gabe who is hunkered down in a cabin in the mountains.

Along the way Eric faces danger and rescues a young man from an attack of the undead and returns with him to a compound of survivors. Some of the survivors are thankful but some are resentful and untrusting. Eric remains and proves his good intent as he helps the group clearing local communities of infected so they can gather more supplies. Sadly, the undead are not the only enemy that the survivors must face. There are rival survivor groups who are lawless and brutal.

I really liked Eric’s strong, well developed character. The survivor group he works with is well developed also. Mr. Cook does a good job of creating an engaging story with a good balance of human elements and action. There is gore and bad language but it is not the focus of the story but rather part of the situation.

There are also grammatical errors which might be attributable to the nature of the characters… otherwise it is just inadequate editing. I let them slide. There are a few slower segments but for the most part the story pacing moves along well. I did not realize that this series is already up to 8 books. I will likely continue to read at some point, although not immediately. I recommend this to readers who like well written, catastrophic, end of the world (EOTW), scenarios.

Audio Notes: Guy Williams does a good job with the narration. I found it is easy to listen and follow the characters. There did not seem excessive emotion but adequate to convey the scenes of the story. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

I picked this from my Audible TBR shelves. It qualifies for Audio Challenge, Mount TBR and "N" in Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: AFTERLIFE by Marcus Sakey

This was interesting but strange; not really my cup of tea.
AFTERLIFE
by Marcus Sakey

File Size: 2950 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1477848401
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (July 18, 2017)
ASIN: B01NGT8YVM
Genre: Thriller, Ghosts, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Soon to be a major motion picture from Imagine Entertainment and producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
Between life and death lies an epic war, a relentless manhunt through two worlds…and an unforgettable love story.
The last thing FBI agent Will Brody remembers is the explosion—a thousand shards of glass surfing a lethal shock wave.
He wakes without a scratch.
The building is in ruins. His team is gone. Outside, Chicago is dark. Cars lie abandoned. No planes cross the sky. He’s relieved to spot other people—until he sees they’re carrying machetes.
Welcome to the afterlife.
Claire McCoy stands over the body of Will Brody. As head of an FBI task force, she hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. A terrorist has claimed eighteen lives and thrown the nation into panic.
Against this horror, something reckless and beautiful happened. She fell in love…with Will Brody.
But the line between life and death is narrower than any of us suspect—and all that matters to Will and Claire is getting back to each other.
From the author of the million-copy bestselling Brilliance Trilogy comes a mind-bending thriller that explores our most haunting and fundamental question: What if death is just the beginning?

Review:
Brody is an FBI agent working under the direction of his boss, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Claire, who is also his lover, behind the scenes. Their FBI unit is pursuing a serial killer who always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities… as though the killer has insider knowledge.

Brody and a team follow a lead to an abandoned church. It appears to be a false lead until Brody looks out a broken window and sees a man on a balcony watching him. The building explodes and Brody wakes up without an injury but he soon faces three derelict types who clearly wish him harm. He learns that he is in a world that is similar to his “real” life but more like an echo or ‘shadow’ world.

Claire gets a vision that directs her to track down the killer. Events unfold that put her into Brody’s world. But the killer is there too and he is extremely powerful in the shadow world. Brody and Claire want to be together but their nature to protect others compels them to face the powerful evil. They don’t fully think it through which propels Brody on another unexpected path.

I can’t describe too much in this story without leaking into spoilers. Early in the story I felt like I was reading a horror rather than a thriller. The story did get deeper and offers an unusual view of life after death as well as offering a view of how evil develops and grows. The story is engaging although I felt there were inconsistencies and certainly I don’t agree with the after-death scenario. I did like the strong love connection, the moral good and the key elements that made the difference between evil and good.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Brilliance Trilogy which I would rather see in film than this book. This is more sensational and apt to be a bit controversial. The writing is good and the story moves along well. Although I wasn’t enthralled, I would recommend it to readers who like dark thrillers and are willing to look at an alternate view of death.

I received this through NetGalley by invitation from Little Bird Publicity. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Fake by Twist Phelan

This is a fast-paced, engaging thriller with an interesting female protagonist.
Fake
by Twist Phelan

File Size: 1479 KB
Print Length: 228 pages
Publisher: Virage Press (May 30, 2016)
ASIN: B01GEY1HGQ
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Finn Teller Corporate Spy Mystery #1
Have you ever thought about buying a counterfeit product? Maybe a watch or a handbag for fun? After you read FAKE, the first book in Twist Phelan's series featuring Finn Teller, corporate spy, you'll think again.
From Thriller Award-winning author Twist Phelan comes "a new and capable heroine you'll want to see again" (Jan Burke, Edgar® Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author). FAKE, the first book in Phelan's new series featuring corporate spy Finn Teller, shines a light on the netherworld of counterfeit goods.
An assignment with a Milan fashion house leads Finn to an undercover investigation of a train wreck in Croatia—scene of her most tragic professional mistake and home to terrorists still out for revenge. The hunter becomes the hunted and the stakes skyrocket as Finn must win a race against the clock to stop the spread of a deadly African pandemic and escape with her life. FAKE is a page-turning mystery that will keep you guessing up to the end.
"Full of character and good storytelling!" –Michael Connelly, Edgar® Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author

Review:
Finn, a corporate spy, is a tough cookie with some painful guilt baggage. She solves a case in a Milan fashion house which gets her assigned to investigate a train wreck in Croatia. She doesn’t want to return to Croatia which is the place of a mistake she feels she made a few years earlier. But her skills are needed, the client wants her specifically and the boss says “go”.

The train wreck is only part of the investigation as the real problem is that it was carrying a special antibiotic for an African plague. The pills on the train were discovered to be fake when found at the train wreck. Finn is interviewing and investigating both angles of the case but soon is dodging bullets. The attacks on her might be tied to her current investigation or might just as likely be tied to the case she feels she bungled. Either way, she needs to move quickly to save herself and try to help the victims of the plague. Can Finn expose the villains before they or the terrorists take her out?

This has a realistic plot and a fast action ride. I liked how the details were uncovered and the spurts of danger and race to escape made for page turning attention. Finn is a strong character with her own flaws and vulnerabilities. The author interspersed chapters describing the prior event that impacted Finn so hard and left her with enemies in the area. I appreciated that the book moved at a quick pace without compromising on the suspense.

This is the first story I have read by Ms. Phelan but I hope to read more. I may have to try the other series since it involves a female business lawyer. I do recommend this to readers who enjoy a good, fast-paced thriller.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for 2017 NetGalley Challenge and Mount TBR.

Audio Book Review: Apocalypse Machine by Jeremy Robinson

I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed, engaging EOTW Thriller.

Apocalypse Machine
Written by: Jeremy Robinson
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-12-16
Publisher: Breakneck Media
Genre: Sci Fi, EOTW Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The human race started the sixth mass extinction on Earth.
A chain of subglacial volcanoes erupt in Iceland. The melting ice floods the countryside. Poisonous gas descends on Scotland. A tsunami devastates the Norwegian coastline. An ash cloud rises into the atmosphere, blotting out the sun across Europe, ushering in a new Ice Age. Dozens of nuclear power plants, flooded by ocean water, experience meltdowns. Millions perish. Many more are displaced. All on the first day.
On the second day, a series of earthquakes moving in a straight line, reveal the presence of something massive walking across the landscape. Concealed by a thick, radioactive ash cloud, the 'aberration' heads west, toward Russia.
Abraham Wright, a science writer for Modern Scientist, who wants nothing more than to be reunited with his family, finds himself at the center of the United States' response to the crisis. Under his new title as Assistant Science Advisor to the President, Wright is sent to Europe with a team of Army Rangers, where he uncovers the truth about the ancient behemoth laying waste to the world: there have been five mass extinctions on planet Earth, and the aberration has been present at each.
On the third day, the world fights back.
And loses.
Separated from his family by continents and oceans ravaged by countless disasters and populated by strange new life, Wright struggles to survive in an evolving world. Hoping to uncover the key to mankind's redemption, he fights for answers, and to reach his loved ones - before the human race's extinction.
The Apocalypse Machine will finish it.
Jeremy Robinson returns to the Kaiju thriller genre he popularized with the largest Kaiju to ever appear in fiction: the Apocalypse Machine. Bursting with all the epic action, desperate struggle and complex characters that listeners have come to expect, Robinson takes the world to the brink.
©2016 Jeremy Robinson (P)2016 Jeremy Robinson

Review:
Abraham Wright is a science journalist. He knows ‘a lot about a lot’. He is with a team examining an Iceland volcano when they stumble (literally) across an unexpected object. One team member steps on a sharp point. Abraham gets down on the ice to inspect the out of place item. When he touches the point he is sent into a strange dream state and begins to see visions. As he is pulled out of the vision, he discovers his hand is burned and the ice around them is melting at such a speed that they may not be able to get back down the mountain safely.

Abraham has unintentionally triggered a monster machine. First it leads to volcanic eruptions which is followed by melting floods and poisonous gases. Next come the tsunamis. But that is not the worst of the destruction that has been unleashed. The Apocalypse Machine monster, which appears to be alive, strides out across Europe crushing the nuclear power plants that haven’t already suffered melt down.

Abraham and a few of the other scientists escape the machine and make it home to the United States. Abraham’s primary goal is to keep his family safe. The government has other plans. He is whisked off to a secret government facility to meet with the President and other high authorities who are trying to figure out how to survive the devastation that the human race is facing.

Although his family, consisting of his wife and son and his mistress and another son, are flown in to be with him, he is soon sent out on another dangerous mission. Abraham and a highly skilled team of military men are sent to examine the machine and learn more about it.

Abraham and the team leader barely survive the encounter with the machine. Once again Abraham is struck with visions but he doesn’t know what it means. They survive attack by parasites and face one battle after another trying to get back to the states. Early in their flight they are joined by a trained Mossad agent so at least Abraham has skilled military friends to help him survive. But they wouldn’t make it without his ability to think on his feet and improvise. The Machine is busy re-seeding (terra-forming) the world and there are many new, hostile creatures. Many years later will they be able to stop the machine before it wipes out all of humanity?

This book is packed full of action as well as intriguing near death dangers. I really liked Abraham and his companions. The author does a remarkable job creating a Biblical analogy which isn’t obvious until near the end of the book. That doesn’t make it preachy in any way, although the book does speak to mankind’s own tendencies to destroy its planet home.

Some of the events are a stretch. Still the full package is very engaging and I will want to read more by Mr. Robinson. I recommend this to sci fi fans.

Audio Notes: Jeffrey Kafer does an excellent job with the narration. He captures the character of Abraham and does a fine job with the other voices and characters also. He keeps a good pace and gives the story action depth. I do recommend this in audio format.

I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom. It adds to my Audio Challenge.

Audio Book Review: Bad Deeds by Robert Bidinotto

This is a great thriller with a “To Thine Own Self be True” dilemma.
Bad Deeds
Written by: Robert Bidinotto
Narrated by: Conor Hall

Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
Series: Dylan Hunter, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-29-16
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Thriller, Espionage
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The hero of Hunter - number-one Kindle thriller best seller - is back in action!
He sought peace in the tranquility of nature. But can he tame the violence in his own nature?
At a cabin in the Allegheny National Forest, Dylan Hunter and Annie Woods seek to heal the wounds from their ordeal at the hands of a twisted psychopath. And to build a life together, Dylan promises Annie that he'll abandon his violent ways.
But ideological zealots and Washington's political elites have conspired to terrorize and plunder the hardworking locals. These victims have no protector against the bad deeds of the powerful and privileged.
Except for one man.
A man as ruthless and violent as they.
A man committed to absolute justice.
Because Dylan Hunter cannot walk away - not even if it costs him the woman he loves.
©2014 Robert Bidinotto (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Dylan Hunter is a man who finds it hard to turn away from injustice. He is not beyond taking matters into his own hands. After all, he has the training and the funds to take action. He is currently holed up, incognito, in a cabin in the Allegheny Forest in Pennsylvania, with Annie Woods, the woman he loves. She is trying to recover from the trauma of watching Dylan coated in blood from a battle with a prior enemy.

Dylan and Annie are visiting a café when three workers from a local fracking company run in being chased by environmental activists. Dylan soon learns that there seems to be a connection between the activists known as Wild Justice, a “green energy” investment company, CarboNot, and the EPA. These entities are raising opposition to the local fracking efforts, even using false testings to create a moratorium. Dylan decides to protect the workers when he sees the gang that swarms the café with hand weapons.

Although Dylan helped in the initial confrontation, he hadn’t planned to become embroiled in the dispute. But the leader of the Wild Justice group attacks Dylan and Annie. The man had no idea who he was messing with! Dylan, a journalist, will report the issues seeking exposure for the injustice. But exposure isn’t enough. Who else can help protect the local workers and businesses from the power of the government agencies and the elitist investors backing them? This is what Dylan does, but Annie objects to more violence and danger in Dylan’s life. He has to make a tough decision... stay safe to keep the woman he has come to love or be true to who he is.

I enjoyed learning of Dylan’s strong father and the lessons and examples that shaped Dylan into the man he is. I also appreciated the insights that Dylan’s former CIA boss, Grant Garrett, gives to Annie and Dylan. These psychological tidbits, and the loving romance, were neatly woven into the action that develops as Dylan investigates the corruption and how far it spreads. The discussion of the process of fracking and the underhanded schemes of the environmental groups is interesting. Dylan’s tactics and tricks at spying and imposing retribution are even more fascinating. Dylan is not quite as impulsive as before, especially now that he has Annie to think of.

The story moves along at a quick pace with a fine combination of emotion, romance, conspiracy and action. This could be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend reading book one, Hunter, to learn more about the complex protagonist and to appreciate his character growth in this book. This book has a natural conclusion but leaves a very scary opening for another confrontation for Dylan.

Audio Notes: Conor Hall does an excellent narration of the various character voices and the emotions. I was able to always tell who was speaking and the intensity and pacing were spot on.

I was glad to receive this second book in the series from the author for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

Book Review and Feature: City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold

This is an entertaining, action packed adventure with the plus of police procedure.
City of Gold (Matthew Connor Adventure Series Book 1)
by Carolyn Arnold

File Size: 585 KB
Print Length: 375 pages
Publisher: Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. (November 27, 2015)
ASIN: B016LLDQIY
Genre: Mystery Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Action-adventure books for the mystery lover. In this series, modern-day archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor travels the globe with his two closest friends to unearth treasure and discover legends the world has all but forgotten. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.

Finding the Inca’s lost City of Gold would be the discovery of a lifetime. But failing could mean her death...

Archaeologist Matthew Connor and his friends Cal and Robyn are finally home after a dangerous retrieval expedition in India. While they succeeded in obtaining the priceless Pandu artifact they sought, it almost cost them their lives. Still, Matthew is ready for the next adventure. Yet when new intel surfaces indicating the possible location of the legendary City of Gold, Matthew is hesitant to embark on the quest.

Not only is the evidence questionable but it means looking for the lost city of Paititi far away from where other explorers have concentrated their efforts. As appealing as making the discovery would be, it’s just too risky. But when Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is abducted by Matthew’s old nemesis who is dead-set on acquiring the Pandu statue, Matthew may be forced into action. Saving Sophie’s life means either breaking into the Royal Ontario Museum to steal the relic or offering up something no one in his or her right mind can refuse--the City of Gold.

Now Matthew and his two closest friends have to find a city and a treasure that have been lost for centuries. And they only have seven days to do it. As they race against the clock, they quickly discover that the streets they seek aren’t actually paved with gold, but with blood.

Review:
I generally begin my reviews with a synopsis of the story. However, in this instance it would be repetitive of the blurb which covers the summary very nicely.  There are some interesting personal dynamics and conflicts that add to this adventure.

Only a handful of close friends - Robyn, Cal and a few others - know that Matthew is more than an archaeologist. He hides the truth from his father who is funding the adventures of the elusive Gideon Barnes and becoming increasingly annoyed that the hunter refuses to appear at the gala events celebrating his priceless finds.  Although I don't agree with Matthew's estrangement and immature attitude towards his father it makes some sense and adds a side conflict to the story 

Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is suddenly taken by someone who thinks they can trade her for an Indian statue that Matthew recovered. As Matthew bargains with Sophie's kidnapper he recognizes the hand of an old nemesis. Matthew cannot deliver the statue but he offers the lure of bigger treasure: the lost city of Paititi, or the City of Gold.

Matthew, Robyn and Cal rush off to Bolivia with two goons along to keep them honest and in hand. Matthew leads the team in the jungle like Indiana Jones, solving puzzles within tunnels and hopefully dodging deadly traps. Tensions are high and not everyone is careful enough to make it out of the jungle alive.

Meanwhile, back home, Sophie suffers the fears and trauma of being kidnapped. The greedy villain isn’t aware that Matthew has tasked the household butler (and treasure researcher), Daniel, with finding clues to locate Sophie from the proof of life videos. Also a bulldogged police detective is investigating the nice car found in a seedy part of town that leads him to a missing young woman who has connections to the mayor's son.

This is definitely akin to an Indian Jones story set in modern times. There is very fast paced action and danger in one scenario with some good investigative twists at the home front. The two lines of the story worked well to keep interest moving and to make the book more than just a fun, albeit deadly, treasure hunt. I appreciated the bits of police tactical details that were included to balance out the hi-jinks of the hunters.

The touchy relationship between Matthew and Robyn is another dynamic that added intrigue.  I wondered about their past history and I was rooting for them to pull together. Since this is the first in the series I imagine more may be shared about their relationship in books yet to come. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a fun thriller and mystery, topped with a touch of romance and a touch of family drama.

I received this title through Great Escape Virtual Tours for an honest review. It qualifies for C on my Alphabet Soup challenge and for TBR Triple Dog Dare.

City of Gold
(Matthew Connor Adventure Series Book 1)
Hardcover: 314 pages
Publisher: Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc (November 27, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1988064666
ASIN: B016LLDQIY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CAROLYN ARNOLD is the international best-selling and award-winning author of the Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher, and McKinley Mystery series. She is the only author with POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.™

Carolyn was born in a small town, but that doesn’t keep her from dreaming big. And on par with her large dreams is her overactive imagination that conjures up killers and cases to solve. She currently lives in a city near Toronto with her husband and two beagles, Max and Chelsea. She is also a member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

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And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

Purchase Links

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Click HERE for a full list of Tour Participants and to find other reviews, author interview and excerpts.

Video on the painting for the cover:

(If you have any trouble viewing the video try the direct link to YouTube:

https://youtu.be/-JJIa9OStuM )

Book Review: Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) by Richard C Hale

This fast paced thriller has a good bit of killing with intense tension.
Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1)
by Richard C Hale

• File Size: 1523 KB
• Print Length: 328 pages
• Publisher: Three Thirty A.M. Publishing (March 5, 2012)
• ASIN: B007HETCU6

Genre: Suspense Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Jaxon Jennings. Cop. Homicide detective. Partner. He always had your back and rarely made mistakes.
Until the death of his son. Until the night he couldn’t save him. Until everything he held dear was taken away from him.
Now, a shell of a man, his reckless actions mark him as a burn-out. A Loner. A dangerous man whom many in the Fairfax County Police Department cannot trust. The criminals he pursues in the suburbs of Washington D. C. are nothing more than ways to bide his time until his next drink, next fix, next loss of control. His past haunts him no matter how hard he tries to hide from it.
So, when a boy’s body shows up floating under the ice of a quiet neighborhood pool, Jaxon finds himself immersed in a world where the ghosts of his past feel too close for comfort. A psychopath is using the innocent in ways that appear familiar.
Jaxon’s past is catching up with him. And the anger that seethes below the surface threatens to destroy not only his life, but the lives of a group of kids somehow connected with him. The answers are locked, frozen in the part of his past he refuses to confront. But people are counting on him. And he must do anything to save them.
Anything. Even if it costs him his life.

Review:
The story starts with a child disappearing; then another. The story continues to tell the sometimes gruesome tale of a broken cop and a serial killer who goes after children and teens. Jaxon is the cop who lost his own son to a killer years ago. When a boy’s body shows up floating in a pool Jaxon begins a chase with a criminal who seems to be always one step ahead.

Luke and Ellie have been best friends since third grade. Now they are in ninth grade and their relationship is warming up. Luke hear’s a strange voice as a group plays outside. Ellie’s dog disappears until Luke stumbles upon it during a snowball fight. The pair then get creepy facebook messages from a stranger. The kids pull a prank that turns into something horrible and soon the police are regular visitors.

Jaxon is intent on stopping the killer each death crushes his spirit more. As more dead bodies are found, including beheaded animals, the FBI is called in for some input. Soon Jaxon’s ex-wife, an FBI agent is working the case with him. Things might improve between them if Jaxon doesn’t fall into a greater depression over the death of more children.

Ellie and Luke need protection when it becomes clear the killer is targeting them. Can Jaxon and the authorities, or even Luke and his teen friends, stop the killer before he gets to Ellie?

The mystery and suspense is well done even though I found the murders disturbing. The young romance is an interesting and warm element to set off a bit of the gruesomeness. The story is fast paced with writing that is easy to read. However, I wouldn't recommend this for young readers. I do recommend it to readers who like a good thriller and aren’t squeamish about serial killing.

This title was from my Kindle library, free in July, 2012. It is the final book for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. It is still available as a free read.

Audible Book Review: Day by Day Armageddon: Beyond Exile by J. L. Bourne

This continuing story tells of entertaining zombie battles. 

Day by Day Armageddon: Beyond Exile

Written by: J. L. Bourne

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Series: Day by Day Armageddon, Book 2

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:07-13-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Thriller, Sci Fi

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The first book of Day by Day Armageddon took us deep into the mind of a military officer and survivor as he made a New Year's resolution to start keeping a journal. The man kept his resolution and brought to us the fall of humanity, day by day. We see the man transition from the life that you and I live to the prospect of fighting for his very survival against the overwhelming hordes of the dead. We see him bleed, we see him make mistakes, we witness him evolve. The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling underground cult classic, Day by Day Armageddon, begins where the first novel left off.

BEGIN INTERCEPT

Armies of undead have risen up across the U.S. and around the globe; there is no safe haven from the diseased corpses hungering for human flesh. But in the heat of a Texas wasteland, a small band of survivors attempt to counter the millions closing in around them.

INTERCEPT COMPLETED

Day by day, the handwritten journal entries of one man caught in a worldwide cataclysm capture the desperation--and the will to survive--as he joins forces with a handful of refugees to battle soulless enemies both human and inhuman from inside an abandoned strategic missile facility. But in the world of the undead, is mere survival enough?

©2010 J.L. Bourne (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Review:

As I began to write this review I realized I do not have a name for the protagonist. He is listed in Book 1 as “the Unknown Survivor (the TUS). We know that he was an officer who found himself the soul survivor of the plague that turned his squadron into the living dead. Now he is a man struggling to survive with a small group of other survivors. TUS journals each day to keep track of the epidemic and the brave efforts to fight off the undead and find other survivors.

TUS is doing well with a group at their compound at “Hotel 23”, an abandoned, underground, strategic missile facility in Texas. The Hotel has proved to be a secure haven from the world of the undead although it still suffers threats from human raiders.

The journaling continues as TUS and his friends forage for food, fuel and (noncombatant) survivors. The Hotel 23 crew hear a distress call from a Marine squadron whose vehicle broke down. TUS and others run a rescue mission to save the Marines from the undead. They don’t want the Marines to know where the compound is so the men are blindfolded for the travel before they are returned to their own unit. Of course the Marines then try to find Hotel 23 and when they finally arrive they threaten to break in until TUS realizes he has a way to control the situation.

TUS also finds a note at a Texas airport indicating there are other survivors at another airport. Of course, he sets off on another rescue mission and encounters more hordes of undead.

Another ‘adventure’ ends with TUS surviving a helicopter flight that strands him far from home. He is struggling along the way home when he gets unexpected help in the form of supplies dropped from the sky. The supplies give him an advantage that just might allow him to work his way back to Hotel 23. TUS runs into difficult situations and is lucky to find another military specialist, Saien, who joins him along the trek.

Even in a time when 90% of the population are undead, TUS discovers he still has to deal with authority and manipulation. He will have to make some political decisions when opposing sides command his actions.

The story is full of gritty action and intrigue. The journaling approach works to present TUS’ view of action and military input. However the journal (and story) have a limited emotional presentation. There is little depth and background development among most of the secondary characters. Still the story is entertaining. I recommend this to readers who enjoy the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He manages to convey the intensity in the action even though he is reading a journal. I enjoy this in audio

I listened to the first book some time ago and decided to listen to this one which has been on my Audible shelf since 2011. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge and as a TBR shelf read.

Audio Book Tour Review with Giveaway: Murder on Safari: A Thriller by Peter Riva

This is a well plotted, engaging mystery thriller with a fascinating setting. 
Murder on Safari: A Thriller
Written by: Peter Riva
Narrated by: R. D. Watson

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:05-19-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Mystery Thriller

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Only a reality TV producer and an expert safari guide can stop a terrorist attack.
Every adventure starts at the fringes of civilization. For expert safari guide Mbuno and wildlife television producer Pero Baltazar, filming in the wild of East Africa should have been a return to the adventure they always loved. This time they'd be filming soaring vultures in Northern Kenya and giant sea crocodiles in Tanzania with Mary, the daughter of the world's top television evangelist, the very reverend Jimmy Threte. But when a terrorist cell places them in the crosshairs, there is suddenly no escape, and they must put their filming aside and combine all their talents to thwart an all-out al-Shabaab terrorist attack on Jimmy Threte's Christian gathering of hundreds of thousands in Nairobi, Kenya. The problem is Pero has a secret - he's been working as a clandestine courier for the US State Department for years. If anyone finds out, it may get them all killed.
Exciting and expertly plotted, Murder on Safari is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller set in the great wide-open plains of East Africa.
©2015 Peter Riva (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Pero Baltazar is a wildlife producer accustomed to working with a close knit TV crew. Mbuno is a long time friend and an expert Safari guide. This trip the crew starts by filming the star, Simon, hang-gliding under the curious gaze of soaring vultures. The filming is good until Simon suffers an ‘accident’. Pero and Mbuno realize that the scene shows more than expected. The two crew land rovers end up fleeing an armed caravan that Pero believes is terrorist related. Pero, who has, for years, quietly and secretly worked with an old college friend at the US State Department, calls in his suspicions.

Pero is determined to find Simon's killer but he keeps the show moving along. The crew picks up Mary, the daughter of a top, highly respected and loved, televangelist, Jimmy Threte. Mary specializes in crocodiles and the team has a program to film her with giant sea crocs in Tanzania. As they move along in their program they dodge a bombing and other threats causing Pero to think fast and keep changing travel plans. Bit by bit clues are revealed that indicate a major terrorist attack is in the works and that Pero's crew has been targeted for getting in the way. Pero is promoted to the position of a field agent out of necessity – there being no other asset near enough to help control the investigation. Pero is distressed at bringing danger to his friends who have a surprising reaction to discovering his secret connections.

Parts of the setting in the story are amazingly beautiful and exotic. Other scenes portray the harsh reality of poverty, divided classes and distinct cultural differences. It took me a little bit to get into the story and the narrator, but after the first hour or so, the mystery and danger really pulled me in. The story is told from Pero's view and he shares background of the country and his friends that adds depth to the story. The second half of the book is amazing as Pero and his friends share clues and work out the details of a multi-tiered attack with a few surprising conspirators. Pero and another friend are the only ones on hand to face down the main threat in an exciting and dangerous aerial fight! Pero and Mbuno are especially wonderful characters, supported by a handful of interesting side characters.

This is a really well plotted thriller and the wildlife details are a wonderful background. I would like to read more suspense by Mr. Riva and wouldn't mind revisiting some of these characters. I highly recommend this book to readers who love a mystery with strong characters and lots of danger and clues to work through.

Audio Notes: I have to admit it took me just under an hour to get accustomed to the narration by R. D. Watson. Once I became more engaged in the story I appreciated the narration. Watson does a good job with most of the accents although the females and American accents are a bit exaggerated. Still, the narration brought the main characters alive, adding to the intensity and intrigue as well as the emotional elements of the story. I recommend the audio to those who like to listen instead of reading – just make sure you push through the first hour or so and then buckle up and enjoy the ride.

I received this for review through I Read Book Tours. It adds to my Audio Challenge.

Buy the book:     Amazon    Barnes & Noble     Chapters/Indigo

Author's Bio:

Peter Riva spent many months over thirty years in Africa, many of them with the legendary guides

for East African white hunters and adventurers. He created a TV series (seventy-eight 1-hour episodes) in 1995 called WildThings for Paramount TV. Passing on the fables, true tales and insider knowledge of these last reserves of true wildlife is a passion.

Connect with the author:
    Website  ~   Twitter  ~   Facebook

The tour schedule can be found at the author's iRead home page.

GIVEAWAY

Win 1 of 10 copies of Murder on Safari (print or audiobook)

& 1 of 2 $25 Amazon gift cards (international)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Judas the Apostle by Van Mayhall Jr.

This is an engaging biblical thriller.

Judas the Apostle
by Van Mayhall Jr.

• File Size: 813 KB
• Print Length: 303 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475931557
• Publisher: iUniverse (August 22, 2013)
• Publication Date: August 22, 2013
• ASIN: B00EWF24D0

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Ancient language expert Dr. Clotile Lejeune is happily living a quiet life in Seattle when her world is profoundly shaken. After she learns that her estranged father has been murdered, Cloe must travel with her soldier son, J. E., back to her Louisiana hometown to unlock the mysteries of a two-thousand-year-old oil jar her father has left her—a jar inscribed with the name Judas Iscariot. Anxious to find her father’s killer and dispel her own personal demons, Cloe has no idea that what she is about to uncover has the potential to set the international religious community on fire.

With the help of a mysterious cleric, her son, and a letter from her father, Cloe soon realizes the African oil jar her father unearthed during the war may be the most important relic discovered in centuries. But it is only the beginning. Across the globe, a billionaire arms merchant is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake in his pursuit of the jar and its contents.

In this biblical thriller, the race for answers takes a language professor on a dangerous quest across three continents in order to discover the identity of Judas Iscariot. Now only time will tell if Cloe can find out what the past is reaching out to tell her—before it is too late.

Review:
Cloe was estranged from her father since her unwed pregnancy. She worked hard and earned a respected position as an Ancient Language expert. Her son, J.E., is a intelligence soldier on furlough when she is advised her father has been murdered. They travel from Seattle to Louisiana for the funeral and reading of the Will. Cloe inherits an African oil jar that was her father’s treasure for special reasons. It soon becomes clear that the jar, believed to bear the name of Judas Iscariot, has some historical significance especially with Monsignor Roques, a representative from the Vatican, stepping in to help study the artifact.

The Vatican isn’t the only person interested in the jar. There is a cold-hearted, cutthroat antiquities collector who wants the jar -- at whatever cost. Cloe, J.E. and the monsignor have to dodge killers as they gather data and search out clues. They face betrayal, danger and twists along their journey. Ultimately the protagonists meet up with the villain and there is surprising intervention.

There are early snippets of suspense that help maintain movement through the slow beginning of the story. The action picks up mid way and the danger and excitement continue to the end. I enjoyed the clean, direct writing style and the sharing of fun regional foods. I found the theological arguments, offering various views of Judas' actions, thought provoking. I had some initial qualms about Cloe’s personality but I appreciated that she was able to recognize errors and return to some important truths in her life.

Readers should be prepared for theology discussion which is pretty obvious by the title and central subject. There is good suspense and action too. I recommend this to readers who enjoy archaeological elements, mystery and suspense.

I selected this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley challenge.