Naked In Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #1)

Synopsis

Here is the novel that started it all- the first book in J.D. Robb's number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series, featuring New York homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke.

It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing: passion.

When a senator's daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she'd been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washington politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve's growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome... and the leading suspect in the investigation.

Naked In Death is the first installment in the long-running In Death series by J.D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts). I may be a little late to the party just starting the series now. But, better late than never - right?!

It was a bit jarring to start the novel and realize there's a bit of sci-fi tossed in. It takes place in 2058 (which somehow doesn't even feel that far away now) , but the scientific advancements are a bit further than what I expect for then - but who knows! Since the book was published in 1995, there are a lot of references to years that we have already lived through (I.e - 2016). The inaccuracies are pretty funny to read. 

Anyhow, Naked In Death ended up being a great introduction to our protagonist Eve Dallas (not to be confused with Eve Duncan - the Iris Johansen series . . . I mixed up the name in my head a lot while reading). She's a badass cop which is my favorite type of main character in a book series. Love a strong female lead! We also get to meet Roarke - the dark, mysterious, powerful man that grabs Eve's interest. As with any book, it takes a little bit to get to know them and decide how you feel about them as characters. But, by the end, I was ready to pick up the second book to read more of their story. 

The storyline of this first novel didn't hold back any punches. We learn that in this future world, prostitution (which I will refer to going forward as the more acceptable phrase now: sex work) is legalized. But, sex workers are being murdered and the videos of these gruesome crimes are being send to Eve specifically. Not only is that horrific enough, but the first victim is the daughter of a Senator and the granddaughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. 

The story only becomes more twisted and messed up from there as Eve desperately tries to solve the murders before there are too many more victims. All while trying to run away from her own past demons. 

This book took me on a wild ride and introduced me to some new favorite characters. To make it even better, the ending was very satisfying instead of a huge cliffhanger. I can't wait to start book 2. 

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "It wasn't pretty. Death rarely was a peaceful, religious experience to Eve's mind. It was the nasty end, indifferent to saint and sinner. But this was shocking, like a stage deliberately set to offend."

"With all our technology, with the amazing advances that have been made in genetics, we are still unable to control human virtues and flaws. Perhaps we are too human to permit the tampering. Passions are necessary to the human spirit." 

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The 23rd Midnight by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club #23)

Synopsis

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke behind bars. Now a new killer has recreated Burke's most infamous crimes-and disappeared without a trace.

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail.

Reporter Cindy Thomas put Burke on the bestseller list, in her true-crime book about the case.

An obsessed fan is studying every detail-and committing fresh horrors that carry Burke's signature.

Now Lindsay's tracking an elusive suspect, one who's penning a deadly playbook featuring Cindy's name in blood-red ink.

'The 23rd Midnight' was a great follow up to a very solid '22 Seconds' novel. I said in my review of that one that I expected it to be more intense from the synopsis. Where that one lacked in some tension, suspense, and intensity - 'The 23rd Midnight' made up for it PLUS some. 

And appealing to my personal wants, we got a classic "Women's Murder Club" meetup to sift through evidence and bounce ideas around. But this time, Cindy was not there - because it was her they needed to save.

Speaking of the Women's Murder Club, it was a good novel for most of them - 

Lindsay Boxer

We got to see a new side of Lindsay. After so many years and so much pain and trauma, she's not quite sure if she wants to continue with her job or move on. If there is a plan for this series to continue, I have to imagine she takes a vacation and comes back ready to take down more criminals. It wouldn't be the same if Lindsay wasn't working cases as a cop. 

Cindy Thomas

Cindy is who this novel revolves around. She's seeing some great success due to her new True Crime novel, but it also puts her life in danger. While she may not have actually appeared in as many scenes as she sometimes does, a good majority of the chapters touched on how the story goes back to her, her novel, and her connection to a psychotic serial killer. 

Yuki Castellano

I love the books in this series that have one of Yuki's court cases as a heavy feature. The chapters are always interesting and keep me turning the page fast to see if she comes out on the victorious side. 'The 23rd Midnight' was full of tension and suspense with Cindy in danger. But Yuki's chapters were almost more gripping to me. Almost. She's a great character and isn't always super involved in the books. It's a treat when she is. 

Claire Washburn

Unfortunately, with so many strong story lines featuring the other three, Claire didn't see as much time in this one. That was the only thing I was bummed about. But, it wouldn't have made sense with the flow of the story to insert her randomly where she wouldn't normally be. 

A classic, thrilling Women's Murder Club installment. 

5/5 Stars

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22 Seconds by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club #22)

Synopsis

22 seconds... until Lindsay Boxer loses her badge—or her life.

SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind.

There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home.

Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies:

You talk, you die.

Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose.

Ah, it is always so wonderful to jump back into a world that you love. It always kind of feels like coming home when I open up a new Women's Murder Club novel. The good thing about finishing this one today is that #23 was just released today! So, I get to jump into the next one immediately! What a treat. 

Jumping into this one after reading the synopsis, I knew there was going to be a seriously trying case that Lindsay would be getting mixed up in. And there certainly was. The scale of said case was enormous, and there were so many moving parts and so many dead bodies showing up. It was chaos!

But also from the synopsis, I was anticipating it to be a bit more intense and anxiety-inducing than it was. Once I got to the part that gave the novel the title '22 Seconds', it wasn't at all what I was expecting. 

Saying that, it was still a good story. There were so many agencies working together that we got to see many returning characters. That's always fun! I was hoping for more scenes of the Women's Murder Club being together, but there was so many going on it made sense that they didn't have much time. 

Overall, I enjoyed the ride - I finished all of it but 9 chapters in one go. But it was lacking some of the tension and intensity of other installments even with Lindsay and Joe in the crosshairs of some dangerous people.

4/5 Stars

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Triple Cross by James Patterson (Alex Cross #30)

 Synopsis

Detective Alex Cross hunts down a serial killer who’s murdering entire families—and who will next be coming for Cross.

A methodical killer is targeting multigenerational families in and around Washington, DC—striking under cover of darkness, triggering no alarms, leaving no physical evidence of any kind.  

Alex isn’t the only one investigating. Also on the case is a charismatic true-crime author who sees patterns the detectives miss. 

The writer calls “The Family Man” a perfect crime story. Alex knows there is no perfect crime—the investigation should never become the story. Unless the ending falls somewhere between fact and fiction.

PHEW! If you read my review of the previous book in this series, 'Fear No Evil', you saw that I was disappointed in not fully enjoying an Alex Cross novel. 

In comes Triple Cross! And it more than made up for the poor experience I had with #29. 

Around DC, Alex Cross and his long-time partner John Sampson are trying to solve "The Family Man" murders. A ruthless killer is slipping into family homes at night, murdering them all, and slipping out while leaving zero evidence or trace of his existence (outside of the crime scene) behind. 

Bree is spending time in New York City on contract to figure out the secrets behind a large fashion company and trying to dig up the skeletons they've left behind. 

While all of this is going on, a big-name true-crime writer contacts Alex and John trying to get the scoop on the Family Man for his next novel. They have to deal with this distraction and figure out if this energetic author is responsible in some way. He HAS gotten super close to many criminal investigations and always seems to find new clues. 

'Triple Cross' was a wild ride from start to finish and had notes of the wonderful family dynamic that we have all come to love about the Cross Family. This book was fast-paced and remained interesting until the last page. 

5/5 Stars

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Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #3)

 Synopsis:

When six young prostitutes are found strangled in Los Angeles, an investigation begins that takes the reader on a wild ride involving powerful families and close friends. Child-psychologist Alex Delaware has received a garbled, middle-of-the-night crisis call from an ex-patient. As Dr. Delaware becomes involved, he stumbles on a deep secret, one that has existed for over forty years. Along with detective Milo Sturgis, Delaware is about to find himself on a journey into an unforgettably brutal world of madness and murderous passion.

The Alex Delaware series is a great mystery series because it gives readers a new perspective. Alex is a psychologist. So these books dig into what makes the bad characters act the way they do or commit the crimes that they do. 

This can sometimes be extremely brutal, because a lot of crime stems from childhood trauma. So, while it's interesting, it can be tough to read. The first two books delivered a high level of intrigue and the story moved at a good pace. This third novel, "Over the Edge", moved at an absolute snail pace to me. 

I was interested in the core story of Alex's ex-patient, Jamey Cadmus. He seemingly went from a troubled genius to a babbling serial murderer who was drugged into the stratosphere despite no drugs showing up on any tests. Sounds interesting, right?

I thought so too until I was actually reading the book and it went nowhere fast. There could have been so much cut out of this to make it a much more fast-paced and engaging book. Thankfully the end of it ramped it up a bit and it was a good conclusion to the story. 

But it was so slow to me that it put me in a mini reading slump. 

2/5 Stars

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Color Blind by Jonathan Santlofer (Kate McKinnon #2)

 Synopsis:

Kate McKinnon is back -- and this time it's personal. When two hideously eviscerated bodies are discovered and the only link between them is a bizarre painting left at each crime scene, the NYPD turns to former cop Kate McKinnon, the woman who brought the serial killer the Death Artist to justice. Having settled back into her satisfying life as art historian, published author, host of a weekly PBS television series, and wife of one of New York's top lawyers, Kate wants no part of it. But Kate's sense of tranquillity is shattered when this new sequence of murders strikes too close to home. With grief and fury to fuel her, she rejoins her former partner, detective Floyd Brown, and his elite homicide squad on the hunt for a vicious psychopath known as the Color-Blind Killer. In her rage and desperation, Kate allows herself to be drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. She abandons her glamorous life for the gritty streets of Manhattan, immersing herself in a world where brutality and madness appear to be the norm, where those closest to her may have betrayed her -- and where, in the end, nothing is what it seems.

After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, 'The Death Artist', I was excited to find the sequel and jump into it. 

Kate McKinnon is a great protagonist. A former NYPD cop, not a big shot in the NYC art scene. Her experience brings a unique perspective to the cases she gets involved in, as they all revolve around art. 

In this second book, there are people all around New York City being brutally murdered. At each crime scene, the killer leaves a bizarre painting in which the color schemes make no sense. 

As if a deranged killer on the loose wasn't a big enough problem for Kate to get involved in . . . a murder with seemingly the same M.O. targets her own family. Suddenly, it all becomes personal and she has to try to push her emotions to the side so she can analyze these paintings hoping to find clues. 

The story is intriguing. Kate remains a great protagonist. The book pulls you in and makes you keep turning the page. Even the killer was interesting and I wanted to know what the full story was. 

In other words, it was a great read that keeps your attention until the end. 

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "Well, you could try one of the merchants who deal in this stuff." He plucked the glasses off his beak and peered at the ceiling. There's that little shop that's recently relocated to Chelsea, the Gallery of Outsider Art, though, if you ask me, it's not nearly outside enough - perhaps New Jersey would be best- and naturally I have never, nor will I ever, step foot inside it.”

"Kate stared past the traffic and passerby, lost in thought. She believed that every artist was searching for something, often trying to understand the world more clearly through their artwork."

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First Degree by David Rosenfelt (Andy Carpenter #2)

Synopsis

No one can separate defense attorney Andy Carpenter from his golden retriever, Tara, who stands loyally beside him through every investigation, no matter how dangerous or puzzling-and he is about to be confronted with one of his most difficult cases yet.

When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy expects is for a stranger to waltz into his office and confess to the crime. For the wisecracking millionaire attorney suffering from "lawyer's block," the case looks like a no-brainer, that is until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life. Soon Laurie's case is looking bleak and Andy is becoming increasingly desperate. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head . . . and the heart.

First of all, one of the main characters is a golden retriever. I automatically love it. 

More than that, it was interesting to read a mystery book from the POV of a defense attorney. Most of the books I read are mysteries, and a good deal of them are from the POV of a detective or investigator. I enjoyed the change of pace. 

To add another layer, said attorney is faced with the task of getting his girlfriend found not-guilty of a brutal murder. 

'First Degree provided an interesting story with fun characters PLUS a golden retriever. 

I haven't decided if I want to give the rest of the series a shot or just appreciate this book for what it is alone. I didn't realize it was the second book in a series when I started it, oops. 

5/5 stars

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Blood Test (Alex Delaware #2) by Jonathan Kellerman

Synopsis

It is a case unlike any psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware has ever encountered. Five-year-old Woody Swope is ill, but the real problem is his parents. They refuse to agree to the one treatment that could save this boy's life. Alex sets out to convince Mr. and Mrs. Swope--only to find that the parents have left the hospital and taken their son with them. Worse, the sleazy motel room where the Swopes were staying is empty--except for the ominous bloodstain. The Swopes and their son have vanished into the sordid shadows of the city. Now Alex and his friend, homocide detective Milo Sturgis, have no choice but to push the law to the breaking point. They've entered an amoral underworld where drugs, dreams, and sex are all for sale...where fantasies are fulfilled at any price--even at the cost of a young boy's life.

Book number two in the Alex Delaware series, and it was definitely another thriller.  

There were a lot of complicated and layered characters, but it was easy to keep there straight and interested to uncover different parts of them. And, once again, Alex had to do some traveling in his attempt to get answers to a case he was interested in. 

Yet, the whole book, there is the underlying worry for the kid - Woody - because he's suffering from cancer and needs to be found so he can get treatment. 

I think this was a quicker read than the first book was, but it still dealt with a lot of rough topics. That seems to be the theme in this series. There are a lot of sex crimes. That wasn't what I was expecting going in. 

Overall, I enjoyed the read. I look forward to #3. 

4/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "I'd long thought that a surfeit of sensitivity could be a killing thing, too much insight malignant in its own right. The best survivors -- there are studies that show it -- are those blessed with an inordinate ability to deny. And keep on marching."

"To trust someone is to take the greatest risk of all. Without trust nothing ever happens."

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Compulsion (Max Revere #2) by Allison Brennan

Synopsis

Investigative reporter Maxine Revere has a theory: that the five New York City murders for which Adam Bachman is being tried are just part of his killing spree. In probing the disappearance of a retired couple who vanished the prior summer, Max uncovers striking similarities to Bachman's MO and develops a theory that Bachman wasn't working alone.

Max wins a coveted pre-trial interview with the killer, whose disarming composure in the face of her questions is combined with uncomfortable knowledge of Max's own past. She leaves the room convinced, but unable to prove, that Bachman knows exactly what happened to the missing couple. The D.A. wants nothing to jeopardize his case against Bachman and refuses to consider Max's theory. With no physical evidence, Max has to rely on her own wits and investigative prowess to dig deep into Bachman's past. The picture that Max puts together is far darker and more deadly than she ever imagined.

As Max gets closer to the truth, she doesn't realize that she's walking down a road that has been paved just for her. That every step she takes brings her one step closer to a brilliant, methodical sociopath who has been waiting for her to make just one small mistake.

And when she does, he'll be there waiting.

When I started this book, I had no idea it was the second book in a series. That was unfortunate to me, because I hadn't read the first one. I don't like jumping into a series without reading the first book or reading them out of order in general. 

But, since I did it without knowing, I had to get over it and just pretend it was a standalone book. 

I will say, not having read the first book, I didn't feel like I had missed anything or that I was severely out of the know. So, Allison Brennan did a great job of welcoming new readers into the series if they were knew to her work like I was. 

I also found it interesting to read a crime novel from the POV of an investigative reporter. Usually they come from the POV of the detectives investigating the case. So this was a fresh change of pace to me. It was an interesting story, and it kept me hanging on until I finished it. 

I think I'll definitely be on the lookout for the other books in the series. I should probably read the first one so I can be all caught up. 

4/5 Stars

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When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware #1) by Jonathan Kellerman

Synopsis

In the first Alex Delaware novel, Dr. Morton Handler practiced a strange brand of psychiatry. Among his specialties were fraud, extortion, and sexual manipulation. Handler paid for his sins when he was brutally murdered in his luxurious Pacific Palisades apartment. The police have no leads, but they do have one possible witness: seven-year-old Melody Quinn.

It's psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware's job to try to unlock the terrible secret buried in Melody's memory. But as the sinister shadows in the girl's mind begin to take shape, Alex discovers that the mystery touches a shocking incident in his own past.

This connection is only the beginning, a single link in a forty-year-old conspiracy. And behind it lies an unspeakable evil that Alex Delaware must expose before it claims another innocent victim: Melody Quinn.

I read my first Jonathan Kellerman book awhile ago now, and I've had When the Bough Breaks sitting in my TBR pile for nearly as long. After finding a good chunk of the series at various book sales, it was finally time for me to dig in and read my way through it!

The good news is that I enjoyed the book. It'd be rather unfortunate if I had quite a few books In the series and ended up hating the first one. As someone who, obviously, enjoys mysteries and thrillers but is also a psychology nerd, this series appears to be a wonderful blend of those two interests. For those unfamiliar with the Alex Delaware series - Alex was a child psychologist. After being retired for a few, he becomes a consultant to the police. 

All of this was great and intriguing. What I wasn't expecting was just how graphic and vulgar some of the language was - especially since this novel deals with sexual abuse of children - another thing I was not prepared for. I usually keep my reviews as spoiler-free as possible. But, I feel like that needed to be mentioned. Because it was rough. 

There are also some things about the writing that make it obvious this series was started in the 80's. It's not specific to the 80's, per se, but some of the racial words and phrases used to describe people are now very out of date. I had to keep reminding myself that this was written decades  ago as I was reading it. I can only hope that as the series goes along, the vocabulary becomes more modern. 

Sidenote - as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I absolutely love that Milos is gay. That warmed my little heart. 

4/5 Stars. I've already started the 2nd book, and I look forward to seeing how the series progresses. 

Memorable Quote: “It was shaping up as a beautiful morning. The last thing I wanted to hear about was murder.”

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U is For Undertow (Kinsey Millhone #21) by Sue Grafton

Synopsis

It's April 1988, a month before Kinsey Millhone's thirty-eighth birthday, and she's alone in her office catching up on paperwork when a young man arrives unannounced. He has a preppy air about him and looks as if he'd be carded if he tried to buy a beer, but Michael Sutton is twenty-seven, an unemployed college dropout.

He tells her a story. More than two decades ago, a four-year-old girl disappeared, and a recent newspaper story about her kidnapping has triggered a flood of memories. Sutton now believes he stumbled on her secret burial and could identify the killers if he saw them again. He wants Kinsey's help in locating the grave and finding the men. It's way more than a long shot, but he's persistent and willing to pay cash up front. Reluctantly, Kinsey agrees to give him one day of her time.

It isn't long before she discovers Sutton has an uneasy relationship with the truth. In essence, he's the boy who cried wolf. Is his story true, or simply one more in a long line of fabrications?

Moving between the 1980s and the 1960s, and changing points of view as Kinsey pursues witnesses whose accounts often clash, Sue Grafton builds multiple subplots and memorable characters. Gradually we see how everything connects. And as always, at the heart of her fiction is Kinsey Millhone, a sharp-tongued, observant loner who never forgets that under the thin veneer of civility is often the roiling dark side of the soul.

U is For Undertow is another installment in the Kinsey Millhone series. But, if you weren't aware of that going in, I could see how it may fool you. Because it's a Kinsey Millhone novel . . . with a severe lack of Kinsey. 

This is due to the novel traveling back and forth in time between the 60's and the 80's and between points of view. You get the perspective of 4 different characters, including Kinsey. I had no idea how it was all going to come together in the end, because they all seemed like completely different stories. 

It was a strange book where a lot happened, and it was fairly long, but it didn't really go anywhere until the very end. I understand having to lay down the full background and what led up to Kinsey investigating the case of a missing child from about 20 years prior, but I just didn't care about most of it. 

I could have lived without McNally's perspective. Corso was interesting. Deboroah Unruh's was necessary to paint the story with how it played out. Had the novel just flipped back and forth between Kinsey and Jon Corso, I feel like it may have had some more life and would have been more interesting - much like for T is for Trespassing flipped between Kinsey and "Solana Rojas". And that book kept me on the edge of my seat, especially at the end. 

There were just too many peripheral characters in 'U' that I didn't care about. Some of the chapters became a chore. 

And again - there was a severe lack of Kinsey. 

3/5 stars

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The Wife by Alafair Burke

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Alafair Burke, a stunning domestic thriller in the vein of Behind Closed Doors and The Woman in Cabin 10—in which a woman must make the impossible choice between defending her husband and saving herself.

When Angela met Jason Powell while catering a dinner party in East Hampton, she assumed their romance would be a short-lived fling, like so many relationships between locals and summer visitors. To her surprise, Jason, a brilliant economics professor at NYU, had other plans, and they married the following summer. For Angela, the marriage turned out to be a chance to reboot her life. She and her son were finally able to move out of her mother’s home to Manhattan, where no one knew about her tragic past.

Six years later, thanks to a bestselling book and a growing media career, Jason has become a cultural lightning rod, placing Angela near the spotlight she worked so carefully to avoid. When a college intern makes an accusation against Jason, and another woman, Kerry Lynch, comes forward with an even more troubling allegation, their perfect life begins to unravel. Jason insists he is innocent, and Angela believes him. But when Kerry disappears, Angela is forced to take a closer look—at both the man she married and the women she chose not to believe.

This much-anticipated follow-up to Burke’s Edgar-nominated The Ex asks how far a wife will go to protect the man she loves: Will she stand by his side, even if he drags her down with him?

 

The Wife is a fun, quick thriller. It's a great afternoon read or a book to work your way through over a weekend. It's not super long and it's not super dense. 

It's a classic story of murder being committed and the questions surrounding who is responsible. Is it the man whose life is spiraling out of control? The wife who wants to believe him? Is something more sinister going on?

It didn't take very long for this book to grip me and suck me into the journey. I became invested in the characters and in the storyline. I had to see how it all ended. 

If you want a mystery that's easy and quick to read, give this one a shot. 

4/5 stars

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The Coast-to-Coast Murders by James Patterson

Synopsis

A detective and an FBI agent join forces on what seems like an open-and-shut case—but a new rash of killings sends them on a pulse-pounding race against time in this intense thriller.

Michael and Megan Fitzgerald are siblings who share a terrifying past. Both adopted, and now grown—Michael is a long-haul truck driver, Megan a college student majoring in psychology—they trust each other before anyone else. They've had to. Their parents are public intellectuals, an Ivy League clinical psychologist and a renowned psychiatrist, and they brought up their adopted children in a rarefied, experimental environment. It sheltered them from the world's harsh realities, but it also forced secrets upon them, secrets they keep at all costs.

In Los Angeles, Detective Garrett Dobbs and FBI Agent Jessica Gimble have joined forces to work a murder that seems like a dead cinch. Their chief suspect is quickly identified and apprehended—but then there's another killing just like the one they've been investigating. And another. And not just in Los Angeles—the spree spreads across the country. The Fitzgerald family comes to the investigators' attention, but Dobbs and Gimble are at a loss—if one of the four is involved, which Fitzgerald might it be?

From coastal California to upstate New York, Dobbs and Gimble race against time and across state lines to stop an ingenious and deeply deranged killer—one whose dark and twisted appetites put them outside the range of logic or experience.

This book is largely responsible for breaking me out of my reading slump early in the year. (Note: yes, I read this early in the year. I'm getting caught up on writing reviews. It's been a crazy year!) 

After I absolutely devoured this book, I NEEDED to jump into another novel immediately because I had such a great time on this journey. Luckily for me, the next book I read was The Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope and that was also an incredible read. So, suddenly I was out of my slump and enjoying reading again instead of not being able to focus. 

But it all started here. 

The Coast-to-Coast Murders is one of the best Patterson books I've read in a long time. It's a crazy journey that tells a story of how powerful the mind is and how insidious mental illness can be. Or how the mind can be warped into working against you. 

This book is full of action. It's full of mystery. It's full of suspense. And it had one of the most gruesome death scenes I've ever read. 

Plus, it truly had me shocked at the end when everything was wrapped up. I never saw the twist coming which was exhilarating to me. 

5/5 stars

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The Stories You Tell (Roxanne Weary #3) by Kristen Lepionka

Synopsis

A late-night phone call is never good news, especially when you’re Roxane Weary. This one is from her brother Andrew whose evening was interrupted by a visit from Addison, a hip young DJ he knows from the hotel bar where he works. She was drunk, bloody, and hysterical, but she wouldn’t say what was wrong. After using his phone, she left as quickly as she appeared, and Andrew is worried. That’s when he calls Roxane.

But another late-night call occurs as well: Addison’s father calls the police after getting a panicked voicemail from his daughter. The only thing he could understand is the address she gave in the message—Andrew’s. Before long, the police are asking Andrew all about why there’s blood in his apartment and what he did to Addison. Meanwhile, another cop is found dead on the opposite side of town, leading to a swirl of questions surrounding a dance club whose staff—which includes Addison—has suddenly gone AWOL.

When I started this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series. Not to mention - the third book in a series. Unfortunately, I haven't read the first two. So this was my first introduction to Roxanne as a protagonist. 

It was quite the interesting story to follow and there were twists and turns all over the place. I was never really sure where it was going to go. But I was invested, so I kept following it. 

Every attempt to get answers unlocked even more questions. And it ended up being more twisted than I imagined when I started it. But the end was sort of frustrating.

I'd be interested to read the first two books in the series one of these days. 

3/5 stars

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The Family Lawyer by James Patterson

Synopsis

THE FAMILY LAWYER with Robert Rotstein: Matthew Hovanes is living a parent's worst nightmare: his young daughter is accused of bullying another girl into suicide. But this loving father is also a skilled criminal defense attorney. And something here doesn't add up...

NIGHT SNIPER with Christopher Charles: Cheryl Mabern is the NYPD's most brilliant detective--and the most damaged. Now she must confront her darkest fears to stop a calculating killer committing random murders.

THE GOOD SISTER with Rachel Howzell Hall: Her beloved sister's cheating husband has been found dead. Now, Dani Lawrence must decide if she will help the investigation that could put her sister away...or obstruct it by any means necessary.

This book was three stories in one! It starts with The Family Lawyer which is a great thriller about family dynamics and the things that can go so wrong in high school. 

Then there is Night Sniper which shows the terrifying double life that some people can lead. 

It ends with The Good Sister which is also a winding and weaving tale about wild family dynamics and how far some people will go for revenge and loyalty.  

Each of these stories could have been their own full length novel, but they were great bite-sized thrillers all packed into one package. They were more well-rounded and enjoyable than the Bookshots that Patterson has released. So that was a plus in my book. As much as I wanted to love to Bookshots, they just seem forced and rushed. There's an art to forming a well-rounded shorter story. 

If I had to rate them individually, I'd say they're already in order from best to worst. I enjoyed The Family Lawyer the most and was actually bummed out when it ended. I wanted to know more about how the characters would progress. 

The Good Sister was the weakest of the trio, but it was still a fun read. 

I'd definitely recommend picking this one up and jumping into some thrilling stories. 

4/5 stars

Memorable Quote: "There's something I've learned during my years on the job: a broken man will let himself hear what he's always wanted to hear." - Night Sniper

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Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson

Synopsis

Alex Cross enters the final showdown with the relentless killer who has stalked him and his family for years.​

Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness—where they will be the prey. They’re not on the job, but on a personal mission. 

Until they’re attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. 

Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. 

No backup. No way out. Fear no evil. 

Another installment in the Alex Cross series! Unfortunately, this one didn't really do it for me like most of the others have. 

The parts that were most interesting to me were when it flashed to Bree on her new job assignment in Paris. I love to see her character going down a different path from where she had been with DC Metro. 

Other than that, Alex and John were being hunted down by rival groups. But it didn't make much sense to me that they would be coming after them as hard as they were. And a lot of that storyline seemed to . . . out there and unrealistic to me. Even for a fiction novel. 

I was also angry that John's dream vacation got ruined. 

This was a book I just powered through because I care about the characters. It definitely wasn't a gem in the Alex Cross series. 

3/5 stars

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Deadly Cross (Alex Cross #28) by James Patterson

Synopsis

A scandalous double homicide in the nation's capital opens the psychological case files on . . . Detective Alex Cross.

Until Kay Willingham's shocking murder inside a luxury limousine, the Georgetown socialite, philanthropist, and ex-wife of the sitting vice-president led a public life. Yet few -- including her onetime psychologist -- had any inkling of Kay's troubled past in the Deep South.

Murdered alongside her is Randall Christopher, a respected educator whose political ambitions may have endangered both their lives. While John Sampson of DC Metro Police tracks Randall's final movements, Alex Cross and FBI Special Agent Ned Mahoney travel to Alabama to investigate Kay's early years.

They discover that although Kay had many enemies, all of them needed her alive. Alex is left without a viable suspect, and facing a desperate choice between breaking a trust and losing his way -- as a detective, and as the protector of his family.

A crime that reaches across so many different states with connections to many high-profile characters - including Alex Cross himself. 

Deadly Cross was one of those series installments that pulls you in right from the beginning and doesn't let go until you race through the pages. It featured a truly baffling crime that had so many potential suspects. And it kept me guessing until the very end. What a ride!

And we get a new level of character development for Bree Cross, which is always fun. If you enjoy the Alex Cross series, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy this book. 

5/5 Stars

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Shine by Lauren Myracle

Synopsis

When her best guy friend falls victim to what seems like a vicious hate crime, 16-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.

Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

Even after reading the synopsis for this book, I wasn't quite prepared for how dark and sad it got at times. It deals with some really harsh topics such as racism, addiction, sexual assault, LGBTQ hate crimes, and questions about sexuality, and more. All of that was packed into a relatively short novel. The fact that it didn't feel disjointed and forced speaks a lot to how well the book is written. 

There were times it made me feel uncomfortable. There were times it made me sad. There were times it got me to smile. Its definitely a story of the power of love and a coming-of-age story about the importance of family. It's a real look into how trauma can touch so many lives in so many different ways.

At first it kinda seemed like it was trying to be one of those young adult books where some kid or young teenager solves all the problems of a small town. But it ended up being so much deeper than that, and I really appreciated it in the end. 

It's not an easy read due to the topics, but it is written well and goes pretty fast. 

4/5 stars

Memorable Quote: "That was the problem with lying to yourself. Sometimes you got too good at it."

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T is For Trespass (Kinsey Millhone #20) by Sue Grafton

Synopsis

In what may be her most unsettling novel to date, Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass is also her most direct confrontation with the forces of evil. Beginning slowly with the day-to-day life of a private eye, Grafton suddenly shifts from the voice of Kinsey Millhone to that of Solana Rojas, introducing readers to a chilling sociopath. Rojas is not her birth name. It is an identity she cunningly stole, an identity that gives her access to private caregiving jobs. The true horror of the novel builds with excruciating tension as the reader foresees the awfulness that lies ahead. The suspense lies in whether Millhone will realize what is happening in time to intervene. Though set in the late eighties, T is for Trespass could not be more topical: identity theft; elder abuse; betrayal of trust; the breakdown in the institutions charged with caring for the weak and the dependent. It reveals a terrifying but all-too-real rip in the social fabric. Once again, Grafton opens up new territory with startling results.

Kinsey Millhone is back again! I wasn't the biggest fan of the installment prior to this one. But, T is For Trespass was definitely a wild journey that kept me turning the page! It was great to be pulled into this one after it was so hard for me to get through S. 

T is for Trespass alternated voices between Kinsey and a newcomer to the neighborhood, Solana Rojas. The book being written this way gave us, as the reader, a different insight into knowing what was happening before and while Kinsey was figuring it all out. It was an interesting way to get into the story, but it also made the whole book SO frustrating. 

I was rooting for Kinsey to figure everything out sooner rather than later. But once the ball finally got rolling, it was an intense ride. The ending of the book had me on the edge of my seat and I was actually sweating as my heart was pounding as I raced to the end. 

I don't know about you, but I always love when a book can pull me in so much that it can get me worked up like that while reading. 'T' was definitely a great rebound  from 'S', in my opinion. I had to jump right in to reading 'U' when I finished it!

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: 

"In reality, the place had stimulated my hopes for an early and sudden death."

"At the end of every day, I was exhausted from having to maintain such a tight grip on myself. Fear, like any other strong emotion, is difficult to hide. Much of my energy was devoted to denying it was there." 

"I don't want to think about predators. I know they exist, but I prefer to focus on the best in human nature: compassion, generosity, a willingness to come to the aid of those in need. The sentiment may seem absurd, given our daily ration of news stories detailing thievery, assault, rape, murder, and other treacheries. To the cynics among us, I must sound like an idiot, but I do hold to the good, working wherever possible to separate the wicked from that which profits them. There will always be someone poised to take advantage of the vulnerable: the very young, the very old, and the innocent of any age. Though I know this from long experience, I refuse to feel discouraged. In my own unassuming way, I know I can make a difference. You can as well."

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S is For Silence (Kinsey Millhone #19) by Sue Grafton

Synopsis

Just after Independence Day in July 1953 Violet Sullivan, a local good time girl living in Serena Station Southern California, drives off in her brand new Chevy and is never seen again. Left behind is her young daughter, Daisy, and Violet's impetuous husband, Foley, who had been persuaded to buy his errant wife the car only days before . . .

Now, thirty-five years later, Daisy wants closure.

Reluctant to open such an old cold case Kinsey Millhone agrees to spend five days investigating, believing at first that Violet simply moved on to pastures new. But very soon it becomes clear that a lot of people shared a past with Violet, a past that some are still desperate to keep hidden. And in a town as close-knit as Serena there aren't many places to hide when things turn vicious . . .

A small tight-knit town. A woman the whole town lusted over. A mysterious disappearance. 

S is For Silence was another installment in the Kinsey Millhone series. It time hops between 1953 and "current time" (the 80's in Kinsey's world) to tell the story of Violet and Kinsey's search for her. 

This was one of those books where, despite the intriguing story, it took me forever to get through it. I don't really know why. Perhaps I didn't feel connected to the characters when the book flashed back in time. So trying to get through those chapters was a lot more tough. 

But, I did need to know what happened to Violet. And Kinsey is always interesting. So I kept pushing through. I'm glad that it wrapped up and didn't leave any questions hanging. 

Maybe not the BEST book in the whole series, but it's worth the read. 

3/5 Stars

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