Cronin's Key by N. R. Walker (Cronin's Key, Book 1)

NYPD Detective Alec MacAidan has always been good with weird. There were inexplicable events throughout his childhood (rescued from drowning in a pool, saved from a toppling bookcase) and even some once he became a cop like when a bullet that should have killed him deflected at the last moment. But, nothing has been as weird as tonight when a man disintegrated to dust in his arms.

While filing paperwork in the squad room following the event, a man suddenly appears and calls Alec by his true Scottish name – Ailig. Not only does he know something that others don’t, Alec finds himself unreasonably drawn to the man. When called, he steps forward, wraps his arms around the man and they disappear in the blink of an eye.

Cronin, a vampire elder, has been waiting for Alec his whole life. He’d been told that his fate involved a man with a shield but had never expected that it would be a human with a police badge. Upon seeing Alec, he immediately recognizes him as his “fated one” and does what he can to protect him.

Even as Alec and Cronin explore the meaning of their fated relationship and come to accept it, their new relationship is jeopardized by a vampire uprising in Eqypt. A new leader with unheard-of powers is threatening the existence of mankind and it’s up to Cronin and Alec to stop her.

Sadly, of the four main characters – Alec, Cronin, Jovis and Eiji – I found myself liking Alec the least. I didn’t dislike him, I just didn’t like him. I found him to be whiny and obnoxious while the other characters were strong and interesting. Eiji is great and made the story fun; Cronin’s caring and vulnerable nature made him deep and interesting and Jovis was supportive and calm in face of adversity.

I listened to this book on audio as narrated by Joel Leslie. The narrator had an amazing range in voices and did a great job with the book. However, the voice that the narrator used for Alec was – in part – a reason I was initially unhappy with the Alec character. Perhaps if he’d done something else, I could have gotten past some of the personality issues I had with Alec.

Rating: 3 Stars

Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis (DI Joe Plantagenet, Book 3)

Kissing the Demons is the 3rd book in Kate Ellis’ Joe Plantagenet series. Joe is a Detective Inspector on the Eborby police force.

Joe and DCI Emily Thwait are called in to investigate the murder of Petulia Ferribie. She and 3 of her college friends have rented a home at 13 Torland Place. The house has a disturbing past as it was once home to Obediah Shrowton, an executed murderer who was hanged after killing his family in their home. Joe wonders if there is any connection between Petulia’s murder and the house’s history. Then, other bodies begin to show up with a similar theme.

I like this series even though it has a touch of supernatural along with the murder mystery. Although I could do with a little less Emily, I really enjoy the Joe Plantangenet character. This previous 2 books in this series were better than this 3rd installment due to the convoluted storyline but it was still entertaining, suspenseful and kept the reader guessing ‘til the end. I will definitely be continuing with this series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Widower's Wife by Cate Holahan

Insurance Investigator Ryan Monahan is brought in to assess an accidental death claim. Ana Bacon, a young wife and mother has tragically fallen to her death from a cruise ship. The policy has a 10 million dollar pay-out in the case of accidental death. Although Ana’s husband has a solid alibi and there are witnesses to Ana’s fall, the things Ryan uncovers make her death seem suspicious.

The central characters of Ana and her husband,Tom, are well-written – to the point that I really despised Tom. Ana could at one moment invoke sympathy and at other times astonishment at her naivete. The character of Ryan Monahan was not as developed as I would have liked.

The book was a good read even if you could see the twist a mile off – but it was fun getting there.

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews (Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 1)

Helena needed a hero; Justin needed a wife

Helena Reynolds arrives in Devon in answer to a matrimonial advertisement placed by Justin Thornhill. Thornhill takes one look at the quiet, beautiful Helena and immediately realizes 2 things – 1) she’s hiding something and 2) she’s too good for him. Try as he might, Justin is unable to scare Helena off and they are married.

Helena, a gently born woman of five and twenty has answered Justin’s advertisement in hopes of finding someone kind, strong and, above all, willing to protect her. Despite their rough start, Helena knows that Justin is the man that she is looking for and decides to put herself in his capable hands.

Justin, an ex-soldier who has returned from India after suffering horribly as a captive, has spent the past 3 years avenging wrongs and improving his position in life. After returning from India, Justin acquired Greyfriar Abbey, a rundown and remote estate on the cliffs in Devon. His hope is that the woman who answers his advertisement will be willing to share this isolated life with him – and occasionally, warm his bed.

As Helena’s secrets come to light, Justin does as he’s promised and protects her both from her tormentors and from herself.

This was a very well-written and enjoyable Victorian romance. The characters were interesting and each have their own story waiting to be told. I will be looking for the next book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series.

Rating: 4 Stars 

* This review is based on an Advanced Readers Copy received courtesy of NetGalley, Perfectly Proper Press and Mimi Matthews

The Outsider by Stephen King

For me, Stephen King is hit-or-miss; this book was neither - it was "meh". It took me 15 days to read this book as I would read for a bit, get bored and move onto another book for a while. The first half of the book was a police investigation into a murdered young boy - the second half was the hunt for a supernatural killer.

A large part of my problem with the book was that I never connected with any of the characters - the DA was smarmy, Marcy was a shrew, Jeannie was annoying, and Yulan was a caricature. The only character I found truly entertaining was Lovie and she was such a small part of the book.

Maybe I would have liked the story better if I'd read the Bill Hodge trilogy first as this seems to be a continuation of that storyline.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Breathless by Anne Stuart (The House of Rohan, Book 3)

This is the 3rd book in the House of Rohan series. Although good - and definitely steamy - this storyline was not as good as the prior 2 books. I think my issue is that the hero in this story is just so awful that it's hard to "forgive" him as you can with Francis in Ruthless and Adrian in Reckless. Of course, Miranda does manage to keep him on his toes throughout.

I've listened to all three of the books so far on audiobook as narrated by Susan Erickson, who does an amazing job. I have already checked the fourth audiobook out from the library.

Rating 3.5 stars

Gone Missing by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder, Book 4)

Gone Missing is the 4th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in Painter’s Mill, OH and formerly Amish.

It’s Rumspringa and the Amish teens are out partying. However, that comes to asudden end when several Amish teens from across the state go missing. Kate’ lover John Tomasetti is an agent for Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and is heading up the task force searching for these teens. The investigation turns up a body and the search becomes a murder investigation. During the course of the investigation Kate and Tomasetti find connections to cold cases that are years old.

This is one of my favorite series. While there are times that I want to reach into the book and shake Kate because of her relationship issues, I think the connection between her and Tomasetti is great. In addition to Kate and John, the staff of the police station is awesome. Definitely will be continuing with the series.

Rating: 4 stars

Night Stalker by Chris Carter (Robert Hunter, Book 3)

Night Stalker is the 3rd book in the Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter. This series is definitely not for the faint of heart. Detective Robert Hunter and his partner, Detective Carlos Garcia, are members of the Los Angeles Homicide Special Section. The crimes that they investigate are the most heinous, sadistic of murders and often those of serial killers.

In this story, a woman’s body has been discovered. It is unclear as to how she died as the body has no marks but her most intimate parts have been stitched shut…to hold what the killer has put inside the body. More bodies turn up with similar MOs and the race is on to stop the killer before he kills again.

Though gruesome, these books are well-written and very suspenseful. The two detectives are great as are some of the supporting characters. This wasn’t as good as the first two books in the series but this is definitely a series I’m interested in continuing.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Wait for Me by Elisabeth Naughton (Against All Odds, Book 1)

Kate is putting her life together after a tragic accident took her memory. With her husband and son, she is making new memories...until the day her husband is suddenly killed in a plane crash. While going through her husband’s papers, Kate discovers a photo of a young girl that appears to be her daughter…a daughter she didn’t know she had.

Kate’s quest for answers takes her to San Francisco where she finds not only her daughter, but the husband who thought he’d lost his wife. As Kate and Ryan attempt to make sense of what has happened, their romance is rekindled even as their lives are threatened.

I enjoyed this story. The characters are great and the story had enough suspense to keep you wondering what was going on.

Rating: 4 stars

Plague Zone by David Wellington

I am a big fan of David Wellington. Thoroughly enjoyed his Overwinter series and the Monster Island series as well as having more on my TBR. However, this was a disappointment.

The main character, Tim, is a librarian from Seattle. He was in Chicago attending a conference and about to get it on with another librarian when he sees a news report of a plague outbreak in Seattle. This plague turns the infected into zombie and one of the zombies (a repairman named Phil that Tim knows) is shown on the newscast attacking and killing Tim’s family. This starts Tim on his path for revenge with the intent of killing the zombie that killed his family.

The plot is absurd and the characters are over-the-top (especially the gang Tim meets). Adding to the misery is the bad editing of the ebook I read. I didn’t hate the book so it didn’t get only 1 star but it was not good enough to be considered ok and get a 2-star rating.

Rating: 1.5 stars

Winter Chill by Joanne Fluke

Definitely not as exciting as I had hoped.

From the book - The moment Marian Larsen sees the patrol car stopped outside her house she feels a shiver of foreboding. the news is even worse than she feared. Marion’s husband and daughter has been in the snowmobile crash. Dan is paralyzed and Laura is dead...her body broken on the icy ground. Friends and colleagues in Marion’s Minnesota home town rally around to try and ease for grief. But soon there are more horrible accidents...

This book had an interesting premise, but there were several issues with it. The dialogue was simple and cheesy...the sheriff was generally unlikeable- always trying to grab the waitress’ butt...Laura’s parents spent most of the book feeling sorry for themselves...

Though the author tried to provide a couple of suspects, it was pretty apparent who it was. That was ok as the reader got to see the motivation of the killer. It was because of this, and despite the issues, that I gave this book the rating that I did.

Rating: 3 Stars

Playing with Poison by Cindy Blackburn (Cue Ball Mysteries, Book 1)

I don’t often read cozy mysteries but I needed one for a challenge and this one sounded like it would be entertaining and interesting.  It was.

Playing with Poison by Cindy Blackburn is the first book in the Cue Ball Mysteries series.  The main character, Jessica Hewitt, is a romance writer by the name of Adele Nightingale.  She is sitting at home working on her latest novel when her neighbor (Candy Poppe!)’s  boyfriend shows up at her door and proceeds to die on her couch.  When the lead homicide detective seems to be considering Jessie a suspect, she decides that she needs to find the real killer in order to clear her name.

The dialogue is witty and sharp.  The characters are interesting and different.  And, the mystery is surprisingly well-written and keeps the reader guessing.  I will be looking for more in this series when I have need of a cozy or even, just when I need something different from my usual fare of thrillers and mysteries.

Rating:  3.5 stars

Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer

Frank Amberley is on his way to dinner at his Uncle and Aunt's estate, when he comes across a young woman, Shirley Brown, standing in the road next to a car with a dead man in the driver's seat.

Mr. Amberley is asked by the local police force to lend a hand as he was instrumental in closing a prior case. Between directing the bungling constabulary and keeping the inept inspector busy with wild goose chases, Mr. Amberley solves not only this crime, but several others that occur as a result.

While I didn't think much of Shirley, I found Aunt Marion a hoot and cousin Felicity a joyful little minx. The police sergeant was such a good natured buffoon, you couldn't help but like him (and sympathize when he was so often the target of Frank's "attention"). Frank Amberley was laugh out loud funny with his very (did I mention VERY?) dry, sarcastic humor. In addition, he was extremely clever when putting together all the clues.

A criticism would be that there were some clues that the reader wasn't privy to until the big reveal (a la Columbo), but the majority you could get as they emerged or realize after the fact that it had been presented (but missed/overlooked).

Overall, a very enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Rating: 4 Stars

Reel Murders by Marian Babson (Evangeline and Trixie, Book 1)

This is the first book in the Evangeline Sinclair and Trixie Dolan series. Evangeline and Trixie are two actresses who began in silent pictures and continued through the advent of the "talkies". Evangeline and Trixie are in London for a retrospective of Evangeline's films when one of their housemates becomes involved in a murder and they become accomplices after the fact.

The women look to solve the crime because, after all....they've had so much experience in their films...lol. The additional characters, Gwenda, Mick, Des, Martha etc all add color and fun to the story. The story is full of movie and movie star references.

This is a fun story with a couple of unexpected twists. I plan to read more of this series.

Rating: 4 stars

Coffin Road by Peter May

In the opening scene, a man washes up onto shore with no memory of who he is or how he came to be in the sea. He learns his name only when his neighbor asks him, “Mr. MacLean, are you okay?” He also knows his dog’s name and various other bits of knowledge but nothing about himself. While searching the house for clues to his identity, he comes across a map of the area showing a route known as Coffin Road marked.

This story by Peter May is exceptionally well-written where you can feel MacLean’s confusion and sense of loss. The mystery of who he is combines with the mystery of what he is doing in the area and why. This is the first book that I have read by Peter May but it will not be the last.

Rating: 4.25 Stars

Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo

Olav is a fixer.
He doesn’t mind killing.

Olav is a perfectly sympathetic anti-hero. As ruthless as he is in killing, he has a large capacity for love. As he goes about his job of killing for one of Oslo’s most powerful crime bosses, he tells the story of the deaf, mute girl that he loves. She doesn’t know but he visits the grocery store where she works and then rides the train that takes her home – just so he can see and be near her.

His boss hires him to kill his new young wife, Corina, which puts Olav in a dangerous position. Olav knows that by killing Corina, he will gain leverage on his boss which will likely make Olav the next target. However, to refuse the job would also make Olav the next target. Olav must find a way to survive this task.

Rating: 3.75 Stars

Strong Poison (Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 6)

Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers is the sixth book featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, a nobleman and an amateur detective.

The story takes place in 1930 London. Mystery author Harriet Vane is on trial for the murder of her lover, Philip Boyes. The trial ends with a hung jury and is scheduled to be heard again in a month. Following the trial, Lord Peter visits Harriet in prison and declares his belief in her innocence and promises to catch the real murderer. He also announces his intention to marry her - which she rejects. Lord Peter enlists his friends and associates in his endeavor - DI Charles Parker, Hon. Freddy Arbuthnot and a highly entertaining "spy", Miss Murchison.

To be honest, it took me a bit to get into the book. The original crime is presented by the judge at the trial summarizing the case before sending the jury out for deliberation. In both book and audio format, this setup was slow and ponderous. However, once Wimsey starts investigating the crime, the pace picks up and the story becomes more interesting. There is a seance scene with Miss Murchison which is laugh-out-loud in parts. The crime is, of course, solved.

Rating: 4 stars

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter (Grant County, Book 1)

A young college professor has been mutilated and killed in the restroom at a local diner in a small Georgia town. Only after Sara Linton, the town’s pediatrician and part-time ME, conducts the autopsy will the full extent of the heinous crime become known. Then, another young woman from the college is found crucified on the hood of Sara’s car outside of the hospital.

Sara’s ex-husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, is Chief of Police and is leading the investigation into these deaths. What he doesn’t know is that these crimes have a link to Sara’s past…

The crimes are described in explicit detail and are definitely not for the squeamish. The story is well written. The characters are interesting and draw you in (even when you want to shake Lena for being such a pain). Blindsighted is a great first book for the Grant County series by Karin Slaughter.

Rating: 4 Stars

Natural Causes by James Oswald (Inspector McLean, Book 1)

This is the first book in the DI Anthony McLean series. There are several cases in which McLean is involved but the primary one - the ritualistic murder of a young girl from 60 years ago but newly discovered - seems to have connections to current crimes. Tony has to conduct his investigation with limited resources and very little help as most of the personnel in the precinct are assigned to a high-profile murder.

Natural Causes is a new genre for James Oswald who is primarily known for fantasy. However, he does a very good job on his first crime/mystery book by giving us characters that are likable (most, anyway), cases that are interesting and just enough information to potentially allow the reader to have a chance of solving the case along with McLean.

Tony McLean is an interesting guy. He's a new Detective Inspector who has already had run-ins with the Chief Inspector when he was working his cases as a sergeant. His fiancee was horribly murdered a few years ago and he has not yet fully recovered from that loss. His grandmother, who raised him from age 4 after the death of his parents, has been in a stroke-induced coma for the past 18 months. Despite all of these challenges (or maybe because of them?) he puts his all into solving crimes and getting answers/closure for the loved ones.

I really liked the characters - Tony, Emma, McBride, even Grumpy Bob - and enjoyed Oswald's writing style. I definitely intend to continue with the series - especially as it appears the next book will give us more insight into Tony's past. A note - this book does contain a supernatural aspect but it, ultimately, did not detract from the story though I was initially concerned that it would.

Rating: 4 Stars

Ice Hunt by James Rollins

On a research mission in the Arctic Ocean, a US Navy sub discovers an “ice island,” an inverted mountain 1.4 miles deep. Inside is Ice Station Grendel, an abandoned Russian research station. When the Navy team and polar scientists open the station, they discover horrors that have been locked away for more than 70 years.

Both the Russians and the US want what is locked in that station and the race is on. Caught between the 2 powerful factions are a couple devastated by a past tragedy, another couple experiencing new-found love and a man wanting to avenge a terrible wrong. While the US and the Russians are hunting for the secrets of the station – something is hunting them.

The story is fast paced and very engaging.

Rating: 4 Stars

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, Book 1)

Jacob has grown up listening to his grandfather spin fantastic tales of adventure and exploration. Now that Jacob is older, he realizes that that is just what they are – stories. Following a family tragedy, Jacob comes across information that makes him wonder if everything that he had been told really was make-believe.

To find out more about his grandfather’s life, Jacob convinces his father to travel to a remote island off the coast of Wales to visit the orphanage where his grandfather lived. Once there, he discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – a place more fantastic that he could have dreamed.

The fantasy that has been crafted by Ransom Riggs will keep the reader enthralled and reading to the end. The action and storytelling tend to ebb and flow a bit since this is the first book of a trilogy and it setting everything up. The characters are not fully developed in the first book but the following books help fill in the gaps.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook and thought the narrator, Jesse Bernstein, did a great job...until I listened to books 2 and 3 narrated by Kirby Heyborne (wow!). Obviously, I liked the first book enough to continue with the rest of the trilogy.

Rating: 4 stars

Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith

The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith is a sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. In this alternate history of the 20th Century America, SGS combines a wide range of historical facts with vampire history.

The story picks up after the shocking and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln. Vampire Henry Sturges is looking for a purpose in his life now that his friend is gone. This book will take you from Reconstruction-era America to England for an encounter with Jack the Ripper and then into the trenches of World War I. From there, you’ll met Tesla, ride the Hindenburg and have a part in the Russian Revolution.

Henry is being hunted by an enemy that has a name – A Grander VIII – but not a face. Hard as he tries, Henry is unable to uncover the motives or real identity of his hunter. It’s difficult to give a synopsis of the story as it would be too easy to give away significant pieces of the cat and mouse game in which Henry and A Grander VIII are engaged. Suffice it to say that the twists and turns of the chase are suspenseful and a surprise.

When I read AL:VH, I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Henry Sturges and was happy to see him get his own story. SGS has a masterful way of mixing vampires into the everyday world making it seamless and almost believable. This is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This one was hard for me. With all the good reviews and praise this book and author got, I was expecting SO much more. The story was interesting and the characters generally likable but overall, the story was ....okay. I liked it, but didn't love it. It's not a book that I will recommend to my friends as a "must-read".

Rating:  3 Stars

A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin

This novel came highly recommended to me by a co-worker. To be honest, I started the book a couple of times only to put it down due to lack of interest. The next time I promised myself I would push through so that I could discover the amazing book that my co-worker told me about.

The book is written as an extended flashback. It begins in 1964, with an elderly Alessandro catching a streetcar to Monte Prato, a city approximately 40 miles from Rome. While on the streetcar, he notices a young man on foot trying to catch up. Alessandro forces the driver to make an unscheduled stop and ends up outside with the young man, Nicolo. As the bus was the last one for the evening, the two set out on foot. Alessandro, a professor of aesthetics, begins a conversation with Nicolo, an illiterate factory worker.

We have early flashbacks – of Alessandro when he is 12 and accompanies his father on a trip to the Alps, of Alessandro as a young man racing his horse, climbing mountains and wooing the neighbor girl. However, the majority of the story takes place during Alessandro’s time as a soldier in World War I – the Great War. Knowing it is only a matter of time before he is called up to the military, Alessandro enlists in the Navy in an effort to avoid the almost certain death that was the infantry.

At this point, the story now finds Alessandro a member of the 19th River Guard – a group of naval men that have been assigned an infantry position guarding a tower on the river. From this point on, we follow Alessandro’s life in the military – from the tower along the river to an attack on Sicily to apprehend deserters and even to prison where he himself is awaiting execution for desertion.

Although the story follows Alessandro throughout his life during the war, the reader does not get the gritty experience of war. Alessandro’s experience is more surreal and always balanced by Alessandro’s faith and love of beauty.

Rating: 4 Stars

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry (Cotton Malone, Book 1)

This is the first book in the Cotton Malone series as well as the first book I've read by Steve Berry. The story was interesting, the puzzle intriguing and the characters (most anyway) likable.

The story centered on a hunt for the treasure of the Templar Order. While the clues were clever, the story was often slowed by too much theological discussion. But, overall the story was interesting and well written and I will be reading more in the Cotton Malone series.

Rating: 3.75 Stars

A Girl Like You by John Locke (Donovan Creed, Book 6)

Donovan Creed is not a nice guy.

He's an assassin for hire with his own set of rules. Because Creed is often used by the government for unsavory work, he gets a lot of leeway (and support) in his non-government work.

In general, the Donovan Creed series is a quirky, twisted, roller-coaster thriller ride. Often, the dialogue is cheesy, the action over-the-top and the protagonist (anti-hero?) bigger than life, but the books still manage to be a fun, quick and mindless read. These are the books you can go to after a slog through other heavy, depressing, pretentious reads just to escape for a bit. This is a love-it or hate-it kind of series.

I RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THEM IN ORDER.

Rating:  3 Stars

Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth (Nathaniel Cade, Book 1)

Nathaniel Cade works for the President.
Nathaniel Cade is 160 years old.
Nathaniel Cade is a vampire.

One hundred forty years ago, Nathaniel Cade was bound by a special blood oath to serve the President of the United States. He battles demons, bogeymen and other vampires – enemies that are far more dangerous than the average civilian can imagine.

In this first book in the series, Zach Barrows is introduced to Nathaniel Cade as his new handler…his Renfro. Zach was an up-and-comer in political circles until one serious lapse of judgment put him squarely at the top of the President’s Sh—List. Hence, the assignment to babysit the President’s vampire.

This story is great and I love the character of Nathaniel Cade. Christopher Farnsworth does an awesome job of creating an anti-hero that you can cheer. Cade is arrogant, rude, menacing and generally seems to dislike the humans he protects. His relationship with Zach has its ups and downs as they (Zach, really) learn to work together.

Since it is the first in the series there is a bit of drag as the author introduces the backstory but the action keeps the story moving along. The audio book is narrated by Bronson Pinchot who does a great job with the various characters.

Rating: 4 Stars

American Assassin by Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp, Book 1)

Though written 10 years after the first Mitch Rapp novel, this is actually the first in the timeline. Throughout the later books we’ve read about Mitch’s reason for joining the CIA’s counterterrorism task force and how he’s become a CIA superagent and assassin. This is the story of how he got to where he is – his high school/college sweetheart killed by terrorists on Lockerbie 103, the recruitment by Irene Kennedy and the spy craft/killing techniques taught by Stan Hurley.

Mitch Rapp has, for years, been one of my favorite characters.

Rating: 4.75 Stars

The Killer by Tom Wood (Victor, the Assassin, Book 1)

I love this series. It came highly recommended to me by the staff at my favorite used bookstore and I can see why. This anti-hero is my new favorite character. The Killer (published as The Hunter in the US) is the first book in the Victor, the Assassin series by Tom Wood.

Victor is an assassin. He has no past and no one knows his real name. He lives a solitary existence – working alone and living alone but that is all about to change. Victor takes on a very simple assignment – kill the target and retrieve a flash drive. What he doesn’t know is that he’s been set up and he’s now on the run for his life. Despite being pursued by multiple enemies, Victor decides the best defense is a good offense and takes the fight to them…

I listened to this book on audio, read by Rob Shapiro. It took me a bit to get used to his delivery but not far into the book, I was fully-engaged and enjoying his narration.

Rating: 4 Stars

A Gathering of Secrets by Linda Castillo

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance copy of A Gathering of Secrets by Linda Castillo for an honest review.

A Gathering of Secrets is the 10^th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.  Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police for Painter’s Mill, a small town in Ohio with a significant population of Amish.  Chief Burkholder was raised Amish but left the life in her teens after a traumatic event and deciding that this was not the way she wanted to live.

The story opens with Chief Burkholder responding to a barn fire at one of the local Amish farms.  The fire department investigators find the body of 18 year-old Danny Gingerich who has burned to death in the fire.  More disturbing is the fact that there is evidence that this was not an accident.  By all accounts, Danny was a good-natured, fun young man that everyone loved and wanted to be around; however, as Kate digs further, she discovers that Danny had a dark side and there were reasons that some might want him dead.

This was yet another great read from Linda Castillo.  The author kept the reader guessing throughout and even when you thought you had the answer…you didn’t.

Rating: 4 Stars