Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Those Who Walk In Darkness (Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1) by Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene

I enjoyed this engaging mystery with good characters.
Those Who Walk In Darkness (Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1)
by Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene

File Size: 669 KB
Print Length: 282 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (March 8, 2016)
ASIN: B01AS8NN6Q
Genre: Historical Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Three years ago in 1867, Julia Jackson was a well to do young woman from Boston whose fiancé, Jonathon, was killed right before her eyes. Obsessed with finding the killer, a man whose face she saw only in a flash as he walked up and shot Jonathon, she leaves her family and her life behind. She starts a new life as ‘Jacks’ Jackson—a cigar smoking, dead eye, female Pinkerton agent…pretending to be a man.
Now Allan Pinkerton needs Jacks to find the man who kidnapped the wife and son of a railroad official, David Boyd. Their only clues are the severed finger from the man’s wife, complete with wedding ring, and a map of the Qualla boundary, the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina.
Jacks doesn’t like the way the whole thing sounds from the beginning. David Boyd isn’t important enough to target for a kidnapping. And why travel so far with two hostages?
But Pinkerton tells her that he believes the man responsible for the kidnapping worked with Jonathon’s murderer in a train robbery five years ago. Jacks agrees to go after the kidnapper with hopes of catching him before he can reach his home grounds.
Pinkerton insists that Jacks bring three men with her—Boyd, her new partner, and a Cherokee guide named Running Wolf, who’s always watching her, like he’s trying to figure it out.
Can Jacks catch the kidnapper with her secret—and her life—intact?

Review:
Julia Jackson was on the way to her wedding when her fiancé was murdered at her feet. No one could help her locate the murderer so she took matters into her own hands by going undercover as a male Pinkerton agent. Three years later she is known as the highly successful and brash Agent “Jacks” Jackson.

Jacks is assigned to pursue a Cherokee Indian who has kidnapped the wife and son of railroad official, David Boyd. Jacks prefers not to work with a partner but young Davey Hume has been paired with her. To make matters worse, Boyd insists on going along the journey and Pinkerton has also assigned a Cherokee guide, Running Wolf.

The four begin the trip from Chicago to North Carolina, following the kidnapper’s trail. Soon it appears that the kidnapper is taunting them, sending bloody fingers from Boyd’s wife, and leaving dead bodies in the towns where they stop. Running Wolf looks intently at Jacks as though he sees through her. He tries to convince Jacks to delve deeper into the facts because things are not always as they first appear.

I have long been fascinated by stories of Pinkerton agents and it is fun when the agents are women. Jacks is a good character with determination – even if it is for the negative emotion of revenge. I liked Running Wolf’s intense character and his attitude and determination to ‘rescue’ Jacks from her own obsession. I liked the spirit elements, consistent with Native American teachings, that were woven into the mystery.

The story jumped right into action and kept my interest to the end. I enjoyed the characters, the mystery and the good movement of the story. The writing flows well and is an easy read. Although the mystery is resolved, I was a little bit disappointed that there were loose threads at the end. Then again - this leaves an opening for another good installment. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good mystery in a historical setting.

I received this through Great Escape Book Tours for an honest review. This qualifies for T on my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

 

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Midnight-Joyce-Lavene-ebook/dp/B019AJC1XU

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

www.joyceandjimlavene.com

www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene

http://amazon.com/author/jlavene

https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

GIVEAWAY

Ends 3/22/16

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

March 8 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 9 – A. Holland Reads – INTERVIEW

March 10 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST

March 11 – Author Annette Drake’s Blog – INTERVIEW

March 12 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 14 – Book Babble – REVIEW

March 15 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – REVIEW

March 16 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

March 17 – fundinmental – REVIEW

March 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

March 20 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT

March 21 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW

March 22 – Community Bookstop – CHARACTER GUEST POST

Sunday Post March 13, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 14, 2016

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This week I did a lot of traveling for court hearings which gave me good listening time! We were all out of the office on Friday for an industry conference so I will still be playing catch-up when I return on Monday. Our weather has been rather lovely and it would be fine with me to stay with these spring temperatures and mildly breezy days.

Reading was good in quantity and quality. I finished four books (three eBooks and one audio) and am well into two for this week. I posted four reviews and my other usual memes and posts.

I enjoyed visiting other blogs early in the week and a couple mid week. Beyond that I wasn't online enough to visit.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post March 6, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 7, 2016.

• MBS February 2016 Reading Wrap Up.

• Audio Book Review: Defects: The Reverians, Volume 1 by Sarah Noffke; YA, Dystopian; my rating 4.0.

• Book Review: Dear Emma by Katie Heaney; Coming of Age, College Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 11, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/17/2016.

• Audible Book Review: Agenda 21: Into the Shadows by Glenn Beck ; Christian, Sci Fi, Dystopian; my rating 4.25.

• Book Review: Path of the Bullet by M C Jacques; Mystery, Crime Thriller; my rating 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #243 Comment Giveaway March 12, 2016. Ending 3/19/16.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 13, 2016.

Finished Reading:
1. ebook/Kindle (NG)

Dear Emma
by Katie Heaney
Well written if not really my cup of tea.
My review is linked above.

Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/ MP3 (TBR)

Agenda 21: Into the Shadows
Written by: Glenn Beck
Narrated by: Jeremy Lowell, January LaVoy
I did enjoy this sequel. 
My review is linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG)

Path of the Bullet
by M C Jacques
I enjoyed this fast paced British mystery.
My review is linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

4. eBook/Kindle (Tour)

Those Who Walk In Darkness (Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1)
by Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene
I enjoyed this historical mystery 
with a female Pinkerton agent.
My review with Great Escape Book Tours will post on March 15, 2016.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:
1. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Destroyermen: Straits of Hell: Destroyermen, Book 10
Written by: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: William Dufris
I am loving the action and continuation of the story in this series.
I pulled this from my Audible TBR (2015).
Publisher's Summary
Matt Reddy's old Asiatic Fleet destroyer USS Walker has been mysteriously transported to an alternate version of earth. Here, WWII is no longer raging, and Reddy and his crew have been trying to find a new place for themselves in this strange new world.
Now, along with the felinoid Lemurians and Imperial allies, they fight to keep the reptilian Grik, a race growing in supremacy, from reconquering the Lemurians' ancestral home on Madagascar. Reddy and his crew are exhausted, far from reinforcements, and wildly outnumbered. As for the fate of the Americas, Don Hernan and the evil Dominion have gathered to annihilate the forces behind the walls of Fort Defiance as a shadowy power with an agenda all its own rises with chilling resolve.
As the war teeters on a knife-edge, a tipping point may have been reached at last - and cold steel and hot-blooded valor will remain the ultimate weapons.
©2015 Taylor Anderson (P)2015 Tantor

2. eBook/Kindle (Tour)

Breaking the Story (Scottie's Adventures Book 2)
by Ashley Farley
I like this author's straight forward,
easy writing style.
My tour review will post on 3/17.
Passion, peril, and a scandal that will rock American politics.
Scottie Darden's life is a disaster. Her marriage has become toxic, and her career as a photojournalist has stalled out. To attract the attention of the main players in the news industry, she needs a standout story with a unique perspective. What she finds is a scandal that could turn the 2016 presidential election upside down. But before she can release her damaging images to the media, Scottie must uncover the truth behind the photographs. She turns to handsome mystery man Guy Jordan for help. When they join the campaign trail in search of answers, their investigation quickly becomes deadly.
Hop on board for a wild ride of adventure where desire ignites, lives are threatened, and secrets are revealed.

3. Audio/MP3

Good Morning... Processes Must Be Improved
Written by: Ray Jay Perreault
Narrated by: Christopher M. Allport
This looked like a fun, quick (59 min) sci fi!
I received this from the author through Audiobook Blast

Publisher's Summary
What happens when a man and a computer is put on Saturn's Titan for a year to mine methane? The relationship doesn't always work out the way everyone plans. The relationship should be based on trust, but what if one member of the team isn't doing what the other expects?
©2015 Raymond J. Perreault (P)2016 Raymond J. Perreault

4. eBook/Kindle (NG)

Chakana: Encounter In The Sacred Valley
by W.E. Lawrence
I am looking forward to starting this adventure.
I received this from the publisher through NetGalley.
In 1940, James Fleming, the original British secret agent, races on a high-stakes mission to track down the lost Incan treasure of King Huascar. Along with Kate Rhodes, a policewoman on leave from Ohio, he decodes clues and faces the challenges of the Chakana designed to allow only the most devoted to escape alive.

Among the ancient ruins of Peru, disaster hides around each corner as they battle Incan death traps and an international artifact smuggler who will do anything to acquire the hidden wealth. If James and Kate fail, the Nazi’s Third Reich could win WWII and take over the world. Intrigue, danger, adventure, and even romance abound in this quest to save the free world.

5. Audible/MP3

Good Fences: A Scorched Earth Novel
Written by: Boyd Craven III
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
This post apocalyptic novel has good ratings.
I picked this up with an Audible credit this week.
Publisher's Summary
Brian Cartwright just wants to work and run his farm in peace. The police keep showing up as the HOA from the new neighborhood keeps filing nuisance complaints against him and his farm. What makes matters worse, his former boss George and his son built a big house overlooking the farm. His prepping lifestyle and following the news online is his only other hobby other than church activities.
George's son is the teenager responsible for causing the accident that killed Brian's wife. Every interaction with the power hungry father drives him insane. To make matters worse, George's son has been trespassing and gets injured on Brian's property causing him to build bigger and taller fences.
The neighbors that once shunned Brian Cartwright now need him like never before. America has been attacked with an EMP and they find themselves requiring the help of the widowed farmer the same time he realizes he needs them as well.
When things get dicey, can they mend the wall, or do good fences make good neighbors?
©2015 Boyd Craven III (P)2015 Boyd Craven III

February 28, 2016- up to date -
Reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church.
I will also be listening (sometimes) to the companion commentary online.

I posted two reviews last week which leaves two for this week - once again up to date.
I don't think I will get too many TBRs this month as I have a month full of scheduled reviews:
Rel 3/1/16 Dear Emma by Katie Heaney - (NG) from Grand Central Publishing
3/5 Ladies Book Club - Talon
3/15 Those Who Walk In Darkness (Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1)
by Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene - Great Escape Book Tours
3/17 Breaking the Story (Scottie's Adventures Book 2) by Ashley Farley – (NG) through Caffeinated Book Reviewer
3/24 The Ethical Coach Leader by Dwight Johnson - through iRead Book Tours
Rel 3/29/16 The Cracked Spine: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton – (NG)

In addition to March reviews I have five more author reviews committed with no specific dates. My NetGalley shelves are down to 8 books.

I will be adding another new title this week at eTreasure's NetGalley page.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received two new Audio review titles this week.
TBR Triple Dog Dare update: It has been 73 days and I only bought one $.99 Kindle book.
I selected my two February Audible titles. :-).
I found one free audio and I added more free kindle titles to my library.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I picked up two books through Audiobook Blast.

Northern Lights: A Scorched Earth Novel
Written by: Boyd Craven III
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
This is a post-apocalyptic story. I picked it before I realized that I had just purchased book one in the series. So I plan to listen to book one this week.

Good Morning... Processes Must Be Improved

Written by: Ray Jay Perreault

Narrated by: Christopher M. Allport

This looked like a fun, quick sci fi!
Full description is above under currently reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I used my February Audible credits to purchase these two books:
This new release (3/8) was a no brainer since I love the series!

Fire Touched: Mercy Thompson Series, Book 9
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Narrated by: Lorelei King

I saw this Post Apocalyptic novel and thought it looked good, plus a 4.6 rating bodes well.

Good Fences: A Scorched Earth Novel

Written by: Boyd Craven III

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Free

The Blue Fairy Book
Written by: Andrew Lang
Narrated by: Angele Masters
Fairy tales can be fun to listen to.

Over the past week I added 46 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 13, 2016

It was another lovely Sunday of good messages! I will save Pastor’s sermon for another day so I can share from our Sunday School lesson today. Our leader finished with the third part of Romans 12:12 which reads: “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” NLT.

First we learned to recognize that our HOPE is in believing that Christ died so that believers (having faith in what is unseen) could become heirs to eternal life (rather than eternal death). Second, last week, we discussed ‘persevering in tribulation’, which means we keep our trust in God in the hard times knowing that He is developing our character and recognizing our need of Him.

Now we see that we have to “keep on praying”! NASB translation reads “devoted to prayer”. The Message says “pray all the harder”. And NIV says “be faithful in prayer”. The point is that we must communicate with God. Many of us in class were eager to share our “two bits” so much so that our leader had a hard time getting back to his notes.

Prayer can be hard to fit within our busy lives. Often when things are moving smoothly in our lives we let prayer slide. But if we run into trouble we are quick to cry out. (Reminds me of the Israelites.) The point is that we are to be faithful and consistent in prayer. There are two styles for consistent prayer. Some of us are familiar with “breath prayers” where we pray all day. Sometimes if I am on hold on the phone I use that time to pray. But, although that is keeping an open line to God, it is not a time when we stop and listen.

The example that Jesus gave was to withdrew to quite place for prayer. God said “Be still, and know that I am God.” As one of our classmates said: ‘it is awesome to think that the King of the universe want a relationship with me!’ He wants to communicate but it is a two-way line. Since we are to pray in His will, we must take time to listen; take time to hear Him.

God created Adam to fellowship with as well as to worship Him. Having a puppet would not be very meaningful so God gave man free choice. When Adam and Eve sinned, their guilt and disobedience caused them to hide from God and we tend to do the same thing. Satan uses this tool in his propaganda: “You are disgusting and shameful; God could never love you; God doesn’t want to hear from you; God won’t give you any blessings; God will punish you. But these are lies. God is a merciful God. Yes, He wants obedience and there may be consequences for wrong choices. But God knows that our flesh is weak and we are unable to be obedient (or perfect) without His guidance. God wants and needs to hear our prayers to know that we are relying on Him, not on ourselves. Jesus was sent to reconnect the communication that was lost in the Garden. He is the operator and He always provides an open line for us to communicate with God. Speed dial is good but an open line is best!

This song speaks perfectly of this problem for many of us:

I Miss My Time With You (Larnelle Harris)

Verses for Today:
Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT
7While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

God, please help me to be better at my prayer time. Help me to do more than bring my petitions but rather help me to go to a quiet place, spend time and listen to Your will and direction.

Sharing Beyond Books #243 Comment Giveaway March 12, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I had a good week with traveling to hearings. Thursday night I got to visit with our son, d-i-l and granddaughter. Friday mom and daughter were headed for the pool while I was headed to an industry conference. The conference was informative and we had an enjoyable visit with several of the people.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Five of us like variety in our settings. Several have no favorites. Civil war, historical, sci fi and small town got several votes. However at least two people do not care for contemporary or small town. Two people like New Orleans and Natalija was specific with a secluded mountain cabin for suspense.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #242 comments is: #4 Linda who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol. Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #243

(One Question.)

Rubynreba asks: 1) What is your favorite Easter memory??

I had to think about this. I did enjoy the egg hunts with our children but I enjoyed coloring the eggs with them even more! When I was little I remember liking that we got a new dress and new shoes; sometimes a hat.

Image found at Skip to My Lou

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:
Rubynreba asks: 1) What is your favorite Easter memory??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday March 19, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: The Path of the Bullet by M C Jacques

This is a fast read and engaging mystery.

Path of the Bullet

by M C Jacques

File Size: 1846 KB

Print Length: 196 pages

Publisher: Matador (November 24, 2015)

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

ASIN: B018ITMGK6

Genre: Mystery, Crime Thriller

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

A ruthless assassin at large in the UK and heading for a target in Cambridge… an office steaming with jealousy and passion… a hero’s body found in a war museum and a disconsolate man – gnawed at by ghosts from his distant and recent past – charged with finding the murderer.

With a steadily increasing fusion of murder, intrigue and suspense, the floundering Mark McKay finds himself thrown onto a hotbed of deception, fraud, incest and even a neo-Nazi’s murderous intent.

Set in Cambridge at around the turn of the millennium, The Path of the Bullet, the first of the new Cambridge Mysteries series, explains how McKay forsakes his hermitic existence on the Lincolnshire coast and becomes attracted to the beautiful city of Cambridge in both mind and body.

Review:
Mark McKay has personal issues but responds promptly to the call of a friend to investigate the murder of a soldier at the Royal War Museum. As McKay begins to interrogate the workers, he discovers there have been numerous acts of sabotage kept quiet. He also gets several leads that point to one female employee, Sarah Millar. There is a theory that the killing may have had connection to a terrorist cell. McKay visits the bar and café near Sarah’s apartment, running into several Arab characters.

McKay gets help through email research provided by an American journalist who was an old college friend. He also coordinates with the local police. McKay gets mugged early in the investigation. Later a second body is discovered with two different bullet wounds that confuse the investigation even more.

The story starts out and moves at a very fast pace. In the first few pages it is easy to be confused by multiple suspects but the author repeats the list at about 12% making the characters and their connections clear as they are explained to McKay. I liked McKay’s character and I really liked the British jargon and descriptive, fast tone of the writing. It felt the story was on fast forward which was disconcerting for that first 10% but after that I liked it. The story and action blended well to keep me engaged. There is a bit of time jumping where the author moves forward in time so that some of the comments are reminisces but I found that to be an interesting technique. I would be interested to read more in this series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a fast, PI centered mystery.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review. This qualifies for NetGalley Challenge, TBR Triple Dog Dare and March 2016 TBR Challenge.