NORTH OF NOWHERE by Allison Brennan

Minotaur Books
August 8^th, 2023
978-1250164421
Thriller, Contemporary, New Release
E-ARC
Reviewed by Dawn Roberto (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher via Netgalley

4 Hearts

 

For five years, Boyd McIntyre has kept Kristen and Ryan McIntyre safe from their father and their family, hiding, moving from place to place and teaching the kids how to survive on their own in the wilderness in case the inevitable happens and Boyd is no longer there to keep them safe. But the time has come as their father and his henchmen have finally found them and this time Boyd is determined to keep the kids safe no matter what but with enemies after them, their aunt Ruby is determined to help find the kids and keep them as safe as possible even as she goes against her crime family as well as their plans for the kids. With nowhere to turn, Kristen and Ryan have to stay alive in the wilderness even as they grieve the loss of their protector while staying ahead of the people bent on capturing them no matter what.

NORTH OF NOWHERE by Allison Brennan is an action-packed adventure from start to finish as Kristen and Ryan’s crime boss father finally catches up with them and now with their protector dead and kids on the run, it’s a race against the clock as the bad guys known and unknown chase after them and they are determined to capture them once and for all. Allison Brennan delivers a wild ride from start to finish and it’s a story I was so caught up in that I lost track of time until I finished the book at three in the morning. This is one book that can read as a standalone story and delivers characters that will keep you glued to the pages, from a crime family that is determined to tie up loose ends, an aunt who got out of that family and is determined to find the kids and keep them safe and a cast of secondary characters that will leave you breathless. I love this author’s books and she is an auto-buy no matter what she writes and NORTH OF NOWHERE is one adrenaline race against the clock with twists I sure didn’t see coming until the end of the book.

NORTH OF NOWHERE is about Kristen and Ryan McIntyre, whose father and his family run a crime family filled with bad people, corrupt police/politicians, etc. and more in California. Ryan and Kristen have been on the run for five years, moving repeatedly, learning to survive and stay safe with their protector, Boyd McIntyre and the game finally ends as they face their greatest test when their family finally finds them. These characters had me gripping the kindle in anticipation as the race to find the kids ramps up halfway through the book and even more players come aboard the pages. I was thrilled to see that I had no problem keeping the cast of characters straight to the end of the book. I can attest this book had me on the edge of my seat till the very end of the book. There were a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and the ending was satisfying in all ways.

 

Allison Brennan is a talented storyteller who delivers a great thriller to lose yourself this summer. If you haven’t read this author before, then you can start with this one then tries her other books. I can’t wait to see where she goes next in her writing and what she comes up with story wise. I highly recommend NORTH OF NOWHERE if you enjoy action packed books filled with good and bad guys, captivating characters, and a setting that’s lush and wonderfully described.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

 

NOTHING TO HIDE by Allison Brennan

A Lucy Kincaid novel, Book 15

Minotaur Books

April 30^th, 2019

978-1250297655

Romantic suspense, mystery, Crime/Police procedural

E-ARC

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher via Netgalley

3.5 Hearts

 

FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid is good at getting into the heads of killers and victims both. But her latest case stumps even her. Three bodies showed up with the same unique and troubling MO yet any leads Lucy and the FBI gets lead to a dead end. But when Lucy probes into the case deeper and the victims specifically, she catches the widows in a lie and as she unravels the lies and misdirection’s, she finds a more sinister MO than even she imagined. Can Lucy solve this case before another life is lost to a killer who seems to be taunting the FBI with their kills?

I love the Lucy Kincaid series with a passion and NOTHING TO HIDE is a fast-paced thriller that will leave you breathless from all the twists and turns the author hides within the storyline. I really enjoy seeing where  Lucy goes in her career even as she and Sean ponder moving or having Lucy request a transfer within the FBI but when a case pulls Lucy in, Sean figures prominently as he helps her deal with the case as well down the well in her mind as she figures out possible connections and more. I love how this author delves into Lucy’s world with aplomb and keep my attention as I traveled along with Lucy and Sean as they try to figure out the killer and solve the most maddening case Lucy has dealt with in the FBI.

NOTHING TO HIDE introduces a case that has stumped Lucy and the FBI. Three murders of married men who supposedly led honest lives but all the leads Lucy chases down lead to nothing. Lucy is frustrated ye until she catches a widow in a lie does Lucy start to tear apart the lives of the victims searching for a motive to the deaths. I love how the author keeps coming up with unique cases that showcase Lucy’s wonderful and unique mind that just doesn’t think like others do. It’s fun to see where Lucy’s mind goes. The relationship between Sean and his newfound son is fun to read about and the relationship Sean has with his brothers also figure in the latest book. The author does a great job in capturing it all within the newest installment, NOTHING TO HIDE. The pacing and storyline flow smoothly and kept my attention till the very end.

If you enjoy a fast-paced suspense that will keep you entertained till the end, then grab the latest Lucy Kincaid book, NOTHING TO HIDE. I can’t wait to see where the author goes next with Lucy, Sean and the rest of the Kincaid/Rogan families.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

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THE DARKNESS BY Ragnar Jonasson

 

Publisher:      Minotaur Books

Published:      October 16, 2018

ISBN:        978-1250171030

Genre:      Thriller

Format:     Print from Library

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

FIVE HEARTS

 

Hulda Hermannsdóttir is a few months from her retiring after a lengthy career in law enforcement.  Despite her excellent work and drive to solve the crimes that have come her way, she’s never truly been admitted to the “boys club” of the police department.  Left out of investigations – often key investigations, demeaned more than recognized by her supervisor, she still has taken pride in her work.  Now as her career is winding down she’s looking at her options…what is out there for her.  Among her options is a new romance—a truly kind and understanding retired doctor.  Before she goes her supervisor allows her one more case—a cold case of her choosing—to solve.  She chooses the death of a young woman who had been seeking asylum from Russia in Iceland. 

As she delves into the case that was quickly written off as suicide Hulda finds herself with more questions than answers.  It soon becomes clear that not only did the young woman not commit suicide, but there may be a cover-up that extends beyond the simple hostel she found refuge in. 

This was my first Ragnar Jonasson read, but it will not be my last.  The blurb on my library website immediately caught my attention and I had to order THE DARKNESS.  When I read the intro I wasn’t sure what kind of read it would be because it was translated from the original Icelandic.  Clearly Jonasson is a master storyteller and his translator is amazing for capturing the emotional ups and downs of the story.   An outstanding team. 

Jonasson created a multi-layered, utterly fascinating character in Hulda.  It was wonderful to read an older police detective who is still on the top of her game – even more so because of how her supervisor and co-workers treated her.  How her history got her to where she is today, including what readers are told at the very end, adds to making her a likeable character.  You want to know this woman.  Hulda grows, changes and changes perspective throughout the story.  The other characters are equally interesting and have some well-done twists to their stories.

The setting in Iceland was refreshing and unique for me.  While Jonasson didn’t describe much of the landscape, what he includes has me wanting to know more.  

The story itself has some super twists and turns and most especially the ending.  Book 2 takes place 25 years in the past and I can’t wait to read it.  Since this is a trilogy I strongly suspect there will be yet another jaw dropping conclusion.  There simply has to be.

Ragnar Jonasson is one author you definitely want to add to your list of must read authors.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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POISONOUS by Allison Brennan

A Max Revere Novel, Book 3

Minotaur Books

April 12^th, 2016

978-1-250-06684-8

Thriller/Mystery

Hardcover

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Library

4 Hearts

When teenager Ivy Lake died from a freak fall off a cliff, no one was really upset…except her mentally challenged step-brother Tommy, who wrote a letter to Investigative reporter Max Revere to see if she could come and help find out who killed Ivy.

Max is intrigued by Tommy’s letter and the unsolved case is something she sees getting her teeth into but when searching for the truth, sometimes secrets can come out that might not want to see the light of day. Can Max figure out just what the truth is in the death of Ivy Lake and will it matter in the end when all the pieces are finally revealed?

POISONOUS delivers a story of cyber-bullying, secrets and more all wrapped up with twists and turn that will leave you breathless. I adore this series. The main character is a multidimensional woman named Max Revere who is as tough and complicated as anyone else in the real world. I can’t get enough of Max and her right hand man/bodyguard, David Kane. In the third book we see Max take on the most complicated case yet in her career, a teenage cyber bully dies and the police think its murder but have no proof of it. Max is still reeling from a case three months before that caused her to be kidnapped, tortured and drugged. With David hovering and offering his help, Max is determined to help Tommy and his family except the more she finds out about that family, the more questions she seems to have.

I really like how this author has Max tough as nails in her work and in her personal life, a bit more uncertain and wary. Max is a character that you can’t help but root for as you get caught up in her cases. Since the first book, Notorious, I was drawn to Max as a character as it felt like this was a person with vulnerabilities and issues other mortals have in real life. The author does an amazing job in capturing those nuances of Max’s personality and writing it in a way that you can’t help but be sympathetic toward. Her personal relationships are complex and she can’t help but speak her mind about situations even if it was the wrong thing to do. Honesty and truth is the core of Max and the reader gets to see that even more in POISONOUS. Add in a few twists and a killer I so didn’t see coming and you got the earmarks of an engaging story right to the climatic finish!

POISONOUS is a thrill ride every second and was drawn into the book right from the first page. If you haven’t picked this series up, then I highly recommend you start from the beginning with Notorious as it gives you the background of who Max really is and what shaped her to be the hard-nosed reporter she is. I cannot wait to see where Max goes next especially since the ending left a slight cliffhanger in Max’s personal life that I am anxious to see resolved one way or another. All I can ask the author is- please write the next book faster!

This is an objective review and not an endorsement