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.

 

SHADOW TARGET by David Ricciardi

(Jack Keller #4)
Berkley, June 2021
Hardcover
ISBN: 1984804693
ISBN13: 9781984804693
Thriller
***

The fourth book in David Ricciardi’s Jack Keller books, SHADOW TARGET, is both a continuance of the series as well as a standalone novel.  SHADOW TARGET is a spy thriller sure to be of interest to any fan of the genre.

CIA field officer, Jack Keller, is on his way to a mandated ski vacation when his plane is shot down, leaving Jack the sole survivor of the crash.  A helicopter arrives soon thereafter, but it is apparent to Jack that the men on board are not there to rescue anyone.  Jack manages to escape the crash, but it has become clear that someone wants Jack dead.  As Jack tries to discover who wants him dead, he has to rely on a very small group of his most trusted contacts to survive as the attempts on his life keep mounting.  Sadly, Jack suspects someone in his agency is feeding his every move to the very people who are trying to end his life.  As we follow Jack in his quest through the streets of London and Paris, it is a race against time to see if he can figure out who is behind the threats before it is too late.

Having not read the first three books in this series, this reader was hoping against hope that the first three books weren’t needed for context.  Luckily, SHADOW TARGET stands on its own just fine.  While Ricciardi is no Robert Ludlum, he is perhaps a Ludlum in the making.  The storyline was interesting, and the pace kept the action moving along at a nice pace.  The minor characters were well thought out each had his own unique characteristics.  The main character, Jack, is a rich and complex character, albeit a loner unused to asking for help.  The biggest miss for this reader is that the Jack character didn’t pull at heartstrings and was difficult to have empathy for.  This character needs something to soften his edges and make readers want to help him.  Perhaps a bit of character development will show in the next book in the Jack Keller series.

David Ricciardi’s SHADOW TARGET was a fairly fast-paced and interesting read that will attract fans of the spy thriller genre easily.

Review by Tammy (TammyLRM@gmail.com)
*This is an objective review and not an endorsement*

WRONG ALIBI by Christina Dodd

An Alaskan Mystery, Book 1

HQN Books

December 29^th, 2020

978-1-335-08082-0

Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary Fiction

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Author.

3.5 Hearts

 

For Evelyn Jones, this was the perfect job in small-town Alaska as she works for a reclusive wealthy art collector when he disappears, and she is the prime suspect in a double murder as well as being accused of embezzlement and theft. With life in prison in her future even as she protests her innocence, she goes on the run and isolates herself as she tries to solve the crime against her. Determined to get to the truth of the matter, Evelyn is on the search for a killer who set her up and destroyed her life. But whispers are on the wind as danger grows as she gets closer to the truth, but what happens when she finds out who set her up and why, will it shatter this strong and courageous woman she has become or force her to see what was always in front of her?

 

WRONG ALIBI is the start of a juicy new series by Christina Dodd and one I couldn’t wait to delve into. There were times I had to suspend disbelief a little in the beginning, but I think it helped set up Evelyn the character as well as the story itself. The story flows smoothly after that initial introduction of characters and events that cause Evelyn to flee into hiding. I love Christina Dodd’s thrillers and found WRONG ALIBI to be entertaining as well as a mystery that had me on the edge of my seat. With the right amount of tension, mystery and thrills, the author delivers a story that will keep the reader guessing who the killer is as well as the why about it.

WRONG ALIBI delivers an entertaining story that left me turning pages as quick as can be as well as rooting for Evelyn to get to the bottom of things. Yes, there were times the story did bog down a bit but it helped that it didn’t hang on the author righted the ship those times so to speak. I liked Evelyn and though she felt a bit naïve in the beginning, I felt she grew into herself as time went on within the story to become a wonderful, intriguing character to enjoy. If you are looking for a mystery to keep you entertained these cold, snowy nights then I highly recommend WRONG ALIBI and hope you can enjoy it as well as I did.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

NEVER LOOK BACK by Mary Burton

A Criminal Profile Novel, book 3

Montlake

July 1, 2020

978-1542009843

Thriller, Mystery, Action, Crime Fiction

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by self purchase

3.5 Hearts

 

Agent Melina Shepard is determined to solve the disappearances of multiple women but while working the street undercover, she narrowly escapes becoming a victim of the serial killer. Needing backup, she teams up with FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey, a lone wolf, he joins forces with Melina as leads run cold and they find themselves frustrated in trying to solve the case. When called to a scene where a little girl is found abandoned, they find themselves horrified to find another crime has been committed. But does that mean there are TWO serial killers working their own agenda and MO? Jerrod and Melina quickly race against the clock as both killers are determined to stop them at whatever the cost, including Melina’s life.

 

NEVER LOOK BACK is a taut thriller that will keep you entertained till the very end. Ms. Burton delivers one of her best works to date with her latest book and I was drawn into the cat and mouse game both killers employ as they face off against Jerrod and Melina. The writing is tight, and the story flowed smoothly with a few twists I sure didn’t see coming. The characters kept my interest and the fact there was two killers working separately left me eager to see if Jerrod and Melina would catch them or not. I also enjoyed the subtle chemistry between Jerrod and Melina. It was quite sexy at times but also gave a depth to the storyline filled with death and killing.

 

Ms. Burton delivers a great mystery/suspense that will leave the reader gasping and turning the pages for more. With each page, the reader is drawn into the world of Melina and Jerrod as they battle wits with not just one serial killer, but two and with danger looming against Melina, Jerrod and Melina will be hard pressed to solve the baffling crimes. What intrigued me about this book was the two different MO’s of the killers. Seemingly different yet both kept my attention as they went about their way to get their next victim and to make sure they didn’t get caught. I love stories like this were I am forced to think and try to figure out the killers’ identities. They few revelations towards the end of the book had me in shock and I was eager to see how it would all play out in the end. NEVER LOOK BACK is a thrill ride from start to finish and you will not be disappointed if you are looking for a taut, action packed suspense story that will keep you guessing. Now I want to know is when is the next book out.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement