#Thriller #Review ~ The Wrong Woman by Leanne Kale Sparks ~ @LMSparksAuthor @PRbytheBook @crookedlanebks #CrimeFiction

A string of murders threatens to unleash long-buried secrets in this pulse-pounding thriller for fans of Melinda Leigh and T. R. Ragan.

The only survivor of Denver’s notorious “Reaper” serial murders, FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck grapples with the ghosts of her past by seeking justice for victims of abuse. She’s neck deep in a particularly ugly case involving the disappearance of five-year-old Emily Williams—but her investigation is derailed when her best friend and roommate, Gwen Tavich, turns up dead in a nearby lake.

Devastated by the news of Gwen’s death, Kendall teams up with Denver detective Adam Taylor to find the killer. Gwen’s fiancé, Ty Butler, is being evasive about the last time he saw Gwen, and as the evidence mounts against him, he’s arrested for the murder. With every new clue, Kendall questions how well she really knew her friend. And when Gwen’s dark secrets begin spilling out one by one, she begins to understand the devastating magnitude of her murder. The Reaper has returned to Denver—and he’s not stopping.

As the trauma of Kendall’s past comes roaring back, she and Adam have no time to spare before more bodies start piling up. And then Kendall makes a shocking discovery that reveals the horrifying truth behind Emily Williams’ disappearance. Now, Kendall must confront her darkest fears as she and the Reaper face off one more time.

Fiction/Crime/Thriller
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Pub date: February 08, 2022
Pages: 320
Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4
ISBN: 9781643859415

Amazon: https://amzn.to/33nMTmG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58268020-the-wrong-woman

My Review & Rating:

The Wrong Woman by Leanne Kale Sparks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Wrong Woman is a psychological thriller with multiple storylines threaded throughout the book. Kendall Beck is an FBI Special Agent specializing in justice for abuse victims. As the only survivor of the Denver serial killer, Reaper, Kendall has made it her mission to take the bad guys down and make them pay for hurting anyone. Somes times that involves searching for missing children, having to ask children questions about abuse and neglect, and having her best friend fished out of the local lake.

Using her FBI connections, Kendall joins forces with detective Adam Taylor to search for Gwen’s killer. There are so many suspects, reasons, means, motives, and secrecy, making it difficult for Gwen and Adam to narrow the playing field. When it appears the Reaper is back, Kendall must now face her past, confront her present, and hope there’s a future.

Crime thrillers aren’t my typical cup-of-tea when it comes to book genre. I was approached by a PR firm to spotlight the book and decided to go ahead and review it, as well. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Between the story of Emily, Gwen’s death, and the return of the Reaper, Gwen’s sanity is tested around every corner. Her patience runs thin, her critical thinking is skewed, and her actions may destroy any chance she has of solving any of the cases she’s involved in at the present. Most disturbing of all, she’ll have to face the Reaper and hope she survives again.

The Wrong Woman is one of those novels that pulls you in and keeps you engaged from start to finish. You have to be paying attention when you read the book because so many things take place and are intertwined. The book is fast-paced and full of action. As Kendall works the case of Emily’s disappearance, then the death of Gwen, and finally, her confrontation with the Reaper, you are taken on a journey that will shake you to your core.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.   

View all my reviews

Cozy Mystery Review ~ Something Read, Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #5) by Eva Gates @evagatesauthor #CrookedLaneBooks

Print Length: 317 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: March 13, 2019
Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
ASIN: B07H7Q5L1C 

Amazon

Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.

Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O'Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie's Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.

But to their horror, Josie's imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn't do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie's wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie's parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom…and Jake doesn't seem entirely adverse to her attentions.

To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.



I absolutely love the Lighthouse Library series and every book is fantastic. Each book is filled with wonderful character interations, a plausible murder mystery, and a fantastic and breathtaking setting (at least in my mind, anyway). I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of Mirabelle and the indication that it was Josie and her treats. Knowing Josie didn’t do anything, I loved trying to figure out who did what to the treats without anyone noticing. The mystery of the death of Mirabelle so much to the story. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.

As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene's obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. I enjoy her slow and chaste relationship with Connor. They are sweet together, yet you are able to feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. Something Read, Something Dead is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Book #Review ~ Read and Buried (A Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book 6) by Eva Gates ~ #CozyMystery ~ @vickidelany @evagatesauthor

Read and Buried: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates

Book Details:

Read and Buried
A Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book 6
Cozy Mystery
Crooked Lane Books
October 15, 2019
Hardcover: 325 Pages
ISBN-10: 1643852337
ISBN-13: 978-1643852331
Digital ASIN: B07P9MQV3F



About the Book:

Librarian Lucy Richardson unearths a mysterious map dating back to the Civil War. But if she can't crack its code, she may end up read and buried.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library Classic Novel Book Club is reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne while workers dig into the earth to repair the Lighthouse Library's foundations. The digging halts when Lucy pulls a battered tin box containing a Civil War-era diary from the pit. Tucked inside is a hand-drawn map of the Outer Banks accompanied by a page written in an indecipherable code.

The library is overrun by people clamoring to see the artifact. Later that night, Lucy and Connor McNeil find the body of historical society member Jeremy Hughes inside the library. Clearly Jeremy was not the only one who broke into the library--the map and the coded page are missing.

Lucy's nemesis, Louise Jane McKaughnan, confesses to entering the library after closing to sneak a peek but denies seeing Jeremy--or his killer. When Lucy discovers that fellow-librarian Charlene had a past with Jeremy, she's forced to do what she vowed not to do--get involved in the case. Meanwhile, the entire library staff and community become obsessed with trying to decode the page. But when the library has a second break in, it becomes clear that someone is determined to solve that code.

My Review:

Read and Buried by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this series and every book is fantastic. I must admit; however, Read and Buried is now my favorite. I love the anticipation the author creates with the discovery of the metal box, journal, map, and handwritten code. Trying to figure out what the journal and additional documentation mean kept me intrigued. The history of the Civil War-era documents, along with the history of the Outer Banks and the emancipated slaves was quite interesting especially when paired with a modern-day treasure hunt. The mystery of the death of Jeremy Hughes just added another layer to the story. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.

As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene's obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. I enjoy her slow and chaste relationship with Connor. They are sweet together, yet you can definite feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. Read and Buried is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

View all my reviews