It's narrated in first person and breaks the fourth wall often, which will make you connect with the readers instantly with our action hero Adrian HelIt's narrated in first person and breaks the fourth wall often, which will make you connect with the readers instantly with our action hero Adrian Hell. He's an ex-CIA and now an assassin for hire. The mob hires him to kill a man who has backed out from a land deal. Pretty simple. Until Hell finds the reason why the man backed out. The land is something way too important to sell to an underworld don. From there Adrian Hell gets embroiled in a deadly conspiracy that links with Russian militia outfit and US defence contractors. Only problem I have is that though fast paced, the author has unnecessarily dragged it to over 300 pages when he could've done it under 250 pages. Well, I know it's very difficult for any writer to chop off words from his manuscript. I'll go for the next in the series soon....more
Expectations were high from the third book after the brilliant first two books of the series but it just didn't turn out that good. It's good in itselExpectations were high from the third book after the brilliant first two books of the series but it just didn't turn out that good. It's good in itself but comparison is inevitable as it's a part of a series. The mystery, the crime, the characters weren't as developed and relatable compared to the ones in the previous two books....more
It was a short book, under 200 pages. So can't expect an intricate convoluted plot. It was narrated from 2 POVs - protagonist Ilse Beck, a survivor cuIt was a short book, under 200 pages. So can't expect an intricate convoluted plot. It was narrated from 2 POVs - protagonist Ilse Beck, a survivor cum shrink and Agent Sawyer. Like Ilse, her new client, Samantha, was also abducted and now she feels she's been stalked again. Samantha's case look eerily similar to Ilse's own twenty years ago when she was held captive. To make matter worse, Ilse is now receiving anonymous postcards that suggest the captor is back. While I've read many suspense thrillers, I must say the revelation was shocking and not something I was expecting. It's a no nonsense thriller with no space for fluff. You're gonna enjoy it. A little suggestion for author: enroll your book on KU as well....more
If there's a murder, it is expected that the readers will join the protagonist's journey of uncovering each layer of truth and get to the identity of If there's a murder, it is expected that the readers will join the protagonist's journey of uncovering each layer of truth and get to the identity of the killer. However, though the protagonist doesn't know whodunit, the author makes no delay in telling the readers the identity of the Killer. So essentially you know who has done and it's just about how the protagonist finds it. I find this kind of storytelling very bland. There's absolutely no incentive to reach till the end because there was no suspense, which is very essential is a murder mystery. Or perhaps it wasn't supposed to be one. Then there were a plenty of social issue stuffed in which looked forced. Not sure if i ever return to the next book in the series....more
This is my first book by this author. This one was a crisp, light read. Doesn't go deep into the psyche of its characters but stay largely on the surfThis is my first book by this author. This one was a crisp, light read. Doesn't go deep into the psyche of its characters but stay largely on the surface. Short chapters, fast moving scenes. You can easily finish it in a day or two. The mystery was good, well kept until the very end. Though what I don't like is that the protagonist - PI Lee Callaway - gets directly involved in the case only in the second half. So it's only after half the book is over you'll see the PI investigating the case. In that sense the story could've been further trimmed down. Nevertheless it was the first book and perhaps the author wanted to establish the PI. Will grab the next one soon....more
The thing I like about romantic suspense (and which is why I choose them over thrillers) is that they aren't just pretentious police procedural. The sThe thing I like about romantic suspense (and which is why I choose them over thrillers) is that they aren't just pretentious police procedural. The stakes are high for both protagonists and the killer and they are involved emotionally in the case rather than just solving yet another case. Similar was the case with FBI Agent Dane, who's Investigating a case of a girl stabbed to death and her face desecrated with talon marks, reminiscent of his own dead sister. Josie, who was a victim of the Bride Killer in the first book has written a book about it and the book is turning being adapted in a movie. The girls being killed now are the aspiring actresses. Like the first one, there are multiple suspects and motives and a lot of intertwined backstories. Will grab the next one soon....more
The author tried to write a very realistic police procedural but ended up with a bland story. The story could've been wrapped under 200 pages but the The author tried to write a very realistic police procedural but ended up with a bland story. The story could've been wrapped under 200 pages but the author padded with a lot of fluff which I just kept skipping after a few chapters. I understand the author might have wanted to make it a slow burn but the lack of thrill makes it boring largely. Coming to the story, a killer is killing people associated with a church however, in the end it isn't clear why he picked specifically those people because he had problem with only one person. I don't think I'm going to return to this series....more
People are being pushed off the cliff, all connected with the protagonist DCI Lesley's gf, who becomes one of the suspects. The first one in the seriePeople are being pushed off the cliff, all connected with the protagonist DCI Lesley's gf, who becomes one of the suspects. The first one in the series was an average yet entertaining read. Rachael McLean's crime thrillers are good police procedural but not the dark, twisted psychological ones. They have murders, pool of suspects, investigation, forensics, enough red herrings that keeps guessing unti the end. But the climax and final revelation like the first one, wasn't shocking enough. Maybe it's the author's style to keep it realistic. I'll go for the next one soon....more
First off, it's not a book 1 of the series but the continuation of Xander King series. There are over half a dozen characters who seem to be carried fFirst off, it's not a book 1 of the series but the continuation of Xander King series. There are over half a dozen characters who seem to be carried forward from previous series who'll only confuse the readers who haven't read the previous series. Secondly, though the author managed to keep the story edge of seat all the time, the narration is very confusing. Everyone's double crossing everyone else and the reason not very clear. I read it only because the story looked interesting. The next book seem interesting too but I'm not sure if I can give this author a second chance soon....more
Crunch of bones and cracks of semi automatic, spray of blood and tissues. That's what you expect from Black Force shorts. They are fast paced, explosiCrunch of bones and cracks of semi automatic, spray of blood and tissues. That's what you expect from Black Force shorts. They are fast paced, explosive thrillers set only across a duration of few hours. In this one, we see Rollins back again who was retired in Book 3. He is a small Italian town stumbles across a Chinese drug lord. Like all other Black Shorts, there's no room for fluff or backstories, the story just goes on in present and the events keep unfolding at a breakneck speed. Good for binge reading....more
It's less of a whodunit because you'll know right from the start who's the perp. Cate receives a jaw bone of a child and a newspaper cut out highlightIt's less of a whodunit because you'll know right from the start who's the perp. Cate receives a jaw bone of a child and a newspaper cut out highlighting a cold case of her from years ago of a missing child. The recent events suggest the child is dead but the perp is still out there. After that it becomes a game of cat and mouse. The best thing about these novellas are they are short quick reads but have all the essential elements of a mystery thriller. I love them more than the full length novels by the same authors....more
After going rogue in The Glinkov Extraction, Stiletto is now a mercenary, now hired by a private defence firm to track down a Russian woman, Zhanna PeAfter going rogue in The Glinkov Extraction, Stiletto is now a mercenary, now hired by a private defence firm to track down a Russian woman, Zhanna Petrova, who's stolen a US military technology. While the plot isn't very complicated, the back to back action sequences keep you busy. That's what makes this series entertaining. Will get the next one soon....more
Someone's killing young girls in Graveyard Falls, dressing them as bride and shoving a thorne stem in their throat, reminiscent of Thorne Killer from Someone's killing young girls in Graveyard Falls, dressing them as bride and shoving a thorne stem in their throat, reminiscent of Thorne Killer from 30 years ago, only problem being the murder is in the prison. FBI agent Cal is investigating the murders and his dead friend's wife and his former love interest, Mona, is in search of his real parents. Both get embroiled in the case and their relationship keeps getting complicated. While there were many surprise elements, the frequently changing POVs was just breaking the tension. The changing pov works well for action thrillers but in mysteries, readers need to get deep into the psyche of the characters. Also at some places we see the characters suspecting someone but before that in earlier chapters, the author has already established that that character is not the culprit. Despite these, I find the plot very strong and chemistry of protagonists was portrayed very well....more
It's an ultra short read, under 100 pages. When you have such a short book, you go in with expectation of a quick plot based read. But the author has It's an ultra short read, under 100 pages. When you have such a short book, you go in with expectation of a quick plot based read. But the author has made sure you connect with the protagonist even with such a tight and short story. A commendable job by the author. The story is narrated from 2 characters - the protagonist and the villain. The protagonist is Nameless, someone who works for a shadowy vigilante organization called Ace of Diamonds. His memory goes back to two years but he has a rather supernatural clairvoyance of having visions from both past and future. Though the hero's power is not yet explained in this book but I really want to see some science behind it rather than a superpower. The villain is Sheriff Soaked who's a corrupt cop and a pedophile, killed many families who went against his wishes. Nameless arrives in jre the county to get rid of the menace. It's a single sitting short thriller. Will try the next book soon....more
This one has a fairly simpler plot than the first book. King got himself into trouble again, messed up with drug mafia of Venezuela and ended up in a This one has a fairly simpler plot than the first book. King got himself into trouble again, messed up with drug mafia of Venezuela and ended up in a hellish prison. The rest of the story follows how he gets out and finish off his enemies. Very seen-it-before story. Action and blood and violence were in abundance but with a weak storyline, I wasn't satisfied when i finished the book. I like Black Force shorts more....more
The Widow's island novellas are keep getting better. This one's about a rotting remains of a girl found buried in the mountains. There were a handful The Widow's island novellas are keep getting better. This one's about a rotting remains of a girl found buried in the mountains. There were a handful of suspects, all have their own motives to hurt the girl. Loved the way the protagonists Tessa and Logan went through the evidence and clues and found the culprit. The final confrontation was a good, little action sequence. Will read the 8th one soon....more
This one features Black Force operative, Will Slater. Matt Rogers already has a dedicated series on Will Slater post military life. So this one is a pThis one features Black Force operative, Will Slater. Matt Rogers already has a dedicated series on Will Slater post military life. So this one is a prequel from the early days of Slater when he's just started as a Black Force operative. A police commander of Chicago police is killing homeless people for some reason unknown and Slater is tasked to find the reason behind the killings. The story then turns into a hostage rescue operation. Again like all other Black Force novels, this one too is full of fast-paced, bone-crunching action. If you love action thrillers with high body count, Black Force shorts is highly recommended....more
The protagonist Detective Rob Miller has been made a senior investigation officer for the first time for the case of a stalker cum rapist cum serial kThe protagonist Detective Rob Miller has been made a senior investigation officer for the first time for the case of a stalker cum rapist cum serial killer. I like the detective and his teammates follow a very methodical approach for solving the crime, perhaps that's how the investigation works in real life, and I liked the way they tread their way through the clues and evidence to the culprit. However, in any murder mystery, letting the reader participate in terms of guessing the culprit is an important part which was missing in this book. There were no pool of suspects, rather no suspect, so you won't be wondering while reading who could be the killer. Otherwise, it was a good thriller. I may try the next one in the series....more
Widow's Island novellas are short under 100 pages read. Set in a remote island, every book is a new murder mystery with limited suspects and rarely anWidow's Island novellas are short under 100 pages read. Set in a remote island, every book is a new murder mystery with limited suspects and rarely any backstory. But the authors (both Elliott and Leigh in their respective books) do a good job of building the suspense and an action filled climax just like any other full length novel. Will go for next in the series soon....more
The author is very upfront on what to expect from Black Force shorts in the description and it delivers exactly that. Fast paced, explosive thrillers The author is very upfront on what to expect from Black Force shorts in the description and it delivers exactly that. Fast paced, explosive thrillers full of raw and brutal action. This one is about a bomblet that a criminal wants to plant in the capital of Peru with the help of tribals. Black Force operative, who's already failed in stopping the criminal once and thrown in a local prison, is saved by none other than Jason King, and sent to complete his failed operation. Every story is Black Force shorts is about an operative of Black Force and his mission. The action is non stop. There's no backstory, not there's any room for character development. Mostly they are set across a period of only a few hours....more
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