Free to Kill by Julie Mellon is a GREAT First Book in a Gripping FBI Series - This Book is Currently FREE!

In "Free to Kill", FBI Agent Katie Freeman is recently reassigned from Louisiana to Tennessee when she’s immediately tasked with investigating the horrific death of a local woman. 

Katie and her hunky partner Michael must wade through the mounting evidence to find the sadistic killer before he kidnaps and kills again.

I liked this book. It had all the elements I look for in a suspenseful murder mystery. I enjoyed following the FBI’s investigative procedures and learning about Katie and Michael’s backgrounds. The story moves along at a nice, brisk pace without any annoying story speed bumps to slow things down. 

I had just two minor criticisms: The first was that Katie is supposed to have been raised in a sheltered environment, yet in just a few weeks her mother’s friend is able to get Katie set with a driver’s license and other government paperwork – far too quick to be believable. The second was the sometimes-stilted dialogue, where people spoke without using contractions. It wasn’t done consistently enough to be unbearable, but it was done often enough for me to notice.

One last thing I’d say about the graphic nature of the kidnappings and killing here, since some reviewers expressed that it was a deal breaker for them. Yes, there was some mention of medieval style torture, but it was brief and not overly descriptive. I think it was actually necessary to some degree. It added an extra layer to the story and eventually led Katie and Michael to the killer.

This book kept me entertained and reading along, and I finished in less than a day. I liked Katie and Michael’s characters, and the author’s writing enough to be willing to read more books in this series.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog

*This book is currently FREE on Amazon so grab it while you can!

Book Review of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn in Anticipation of the Upcoming HBO Series

Camille Preaker is a reporter at a low-budget newspaper in Chicago. When the editor wants to send Camille to investigate the vicious killings of two pre-teen girls in her hometown of Wind Gap, MO, she’s reluctant to go. Recently released from a mental health facility, Camille is still fragile. She knows going back will only dredge up memories of her dysfunctional childhood. Against her better judgment, Camille agrees to cover the story, but it just might end up being the death of her.

I read and loved Gone Girl and had Sharp Objects on my TBR for ages. HBO’s upcoming series, starring Amy Adams, made me move the book up on my list. 

Unfortunately, HBO has not yet released the trailer for the series, which is slated to air in "Summer of 2018" according to the HBO website. I guess we'll have to wait it out.

This one was definitely dark and twisted. There’s a lot of dysfunction going on here. I had a love, hate relationship with Camille. I hated the way she seemed strong and capable one minute, and needy and pathetic the next. Many of the other characters were highly unlikable and downright strange. It just goes to show that you do not need to create likable characters to have a likable book. And liked it, I did.

Gillian Flynn certainly has a dark imagination. She’s also a fabulous writer. The character detail, story descriptions, plot twists…basically everything…is so detailed, fleshed out and intricate that  I found myself in awe that this was her debut novel.

By now, most readers know what’s behind Camille’s hospital stay. However, I’d have to say that Sharp Objects should most definitely come with a trigger warning. Knowing ahead of time that the topic of cutting is prevalent here is important for some readers.

I enjoyed this book, as creepy as it was. It was interesting and extremely compelling. I finished it in less than a day. I’m now looking forward to watching the series.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

New Detective Novel by Robert Germaux Is Well Worth the Read. Get a FREE Sample of the Author's Work Here and Enter the Giveaway

·                     File Size: 638 KB

·                     Print Length: 253 pages

·                     Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

·                     Publisher: Robert T. Germaux (April 6, 2016)

·                     Publication Date: April 6, 2016

·                     Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

·                     Language: English

·                     ASIN: B01DX54ZFO

ABOUT HARD COURT:

Miles Bradshaw, the dot-com billionaire owner of Pittsburgh’s first NBA franchise, hires private detective Jeremy Barnes to look into what appears to be a simple case of harassment of one of the team’s players. But when Jeremy (JB to his friends) begins his investigation, the case proves to be anything but simple, eventually involving a local businessman with suspected criminal ties, a major FBI task force, a computer geek in California and a mob boss in Erie. Along the way, JB, who can quote Shakespeare as quickly and easily as he can land a solid left jab, uses his wits and his ever-present sense of humor to wend his way through a cast of characters who range from the ridiculously inept to the ruthlessly lethal. 

As Hard Court unfolds, there are numerous surprises and plot twists, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that neither JB nor the reader could have predicted. 

PURCHASE HARD COURT ON AMAZON

ABOUT ROBERT GERMAUX:

Both my parents were readers. I'm talking stacks-of-books-on-their-nightstands readers. So it's no surprise that at an early age, I, too, became an avid reader. Everything from sports books (especially baseball) to Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys to almost anything about distant and exotic places.

Although I've always enjoyed putting words on paper, the writer in me didn't fully emerge until I retired after three decades of teaching high school English. I quickly wrote two books aimed at middle school readers, at which point my wife urged me to try a novel for adults. As is usually the case, Cynthia's idea was a good one.

Over the next few years, I wrote several books about Pittsburgh private eye Jeremy Barnes. I took a brief hiatus from the detective genre to write Small Talk and The Backup Husband. Now I’m back and I just released my first Jeremy Barnes novel, Hard Court, on April 11.

In our spare time, Cynthia and I enjoy reading (of course), going to live theater productions, watching reruns of favorite TV shows such as "Sports Night" and "Gilmore Girls," and traveling to some of those distant and exotic places I used to read about as a child. So far, we've been fortunate enough to walk in the sands of Waikiki, swim in the warm waters of the South Pacific and share a romantic dinner in Paris.

I love interacting with my readers and getting their input on my characters and stories. Please feel free to contact me via my website and connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

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READ "LOGAN - A JEREMY BARNES SHORT STORY" HERE

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The Mystery of Claw Mountain by Paul Moxham is an Excellent Old-Fashioned Mystery for Readers of Any Age

How'd you like a FREE mystery book that everyone in the family will appreciate? If you loved The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a kid like I did, you'll appreciate Paul Moxham's Mystery Kids series. The Mystery of Claw Mountain is FREE and it's a great way to get into the series. 

Joe Mitchell along with his two sisters Amy and Sarah and his friend Will go on vacation to visit Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell. They keep themselves busy sledding, ice skating and camping out in an unused hut, but they love a good mystery. When they hear an intriguing story about how Claw Mountain got its name, they know they’ve got a case on their hands. When they stumble on an old abandoned mine they decide to go inside, but soon find themselves in some very real danger.

I loved this story! Mr. Moxham includes all the necessary elements to keep readers interested. Mystery, suspense, action and several sticky situations abound for the Mystery Kids in this book. I especially love the fact that the author has the children working together as a team to figure things out. The situations aren’t just happening to the kids, they’re active participants in the plot. Through character dialogue and kid-friendly action, readers can get a real sense of how well the children manage to work their way through any number of predicaments. That definitely makes these characters excellent role models for children.

The Mystery of Claw Mountain is extremely reminiscent of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, which I absolutely loved as a kid. I would highly recommend this book (and the series) to readers of any age who want to lose themselves in a good old-fashioned mystery.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton