​Genre: Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Mofina captured me again with his latest thriller, Missing Daughter. There have been quite a few novels about missing children published in the last few years, and that is not a topic that I find comfortable. Since I am a fan of this author, I decided to give this one a try and wasn’t disappointed.

When Maddie Lane disappears from her bed one night, her family is devastated. Her parents, Ryan and Karen, are questioning themselves and those around them, while her brother Tyler feels responsible for not being there to save his sister. As always, Mofina’s development of his characters add tremendous depth to the story. Even the secondary characters have interesting backstories that keep the reader wondering about who could be involved.

The plot is well developed and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. Mofina throws in clues that foster theories...a nearby halfway house for convicts...a teenage boy who admits being by her window...a collection of secretly taken pictures of Maddie...but nothing seems to pan out. Time goes by and it is difficult not to lose hope, but we ultimately do get answers as the author wraps up his story.

Missing Daughter can’t help but tear at you heart, but it is truly worth adding to your library.

- Beverly

​
Publisher - MIRA
Date of Publication - ​February 19, 2019

​Genre: Legal Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

During the last few years the opioid crisis has filled the pages of many newspapers, magazines and books. Who is to blame? Why is the use of heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.,  on the rise? Are doctors prescribing too many pain killers? J. D. Trafford approaches this topic with a vengeance in his latest novel, Without Precedent.

Corporate attorney Matthew Daley is one of the most successful defenders of pharmaceutical companies in the country. His latest success comes at the same time his sister Allison dies of a heroin overdose, rendering the offer of a promotion bittersweet. His return home before her funeral sets his life in a whole new direction.

Taking a stand for his sister, he takes on a multibillion dollar pharmaceutical company represented by a team of New York corporate attorneys, trying to prove that their drug was the first step in his sister’s heroin addiction. Trafford’s knowledge of this issue, whether by research or experience, draws the reader in, and his likable protagonist keeps us interested.

I found myself disliking "Big Pharma" even more than I thought I did, when I read about their relationship with the physicians who prescribe their products. I realize that the description of these corporate bigwigs was fictional yet I can’t help but believe that there is a ring of truth in the author’s words.

As much as I liked Matthew, I did think some of the other characters were a bit weak. His alcoholic mother could have been much more interesting if her backstory had been developed. His father was superficially presented too, even though there seemed a great deal to develop there. I kept waiting to find out more about his brother, Jackson, and friend, Sherman, who helped build his ragtag team. Imagine the fun Trafford could have had building the character of Jackson, a liberal redneck.

The story itself was compelling though, and the reader can’t help but cheer for this New York lawyer who returns to fight a hometown battle. I have reviewed several of Trafford’s novels, and liked them all enough to anxiously await his next one.

- Beverly
​ 

​Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - March 12, 2019

​Genre: Psychological Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

In 1985 Jonathan Kellerman introduced us to Alex Delaware in the novel When the Bough Breaks. Thirty-four books later we are still being entertained with tales of this forensic psychologist and his police detective buddy Milo Sturgis. Alex, whose beginning years were spent enmeshed in child psychology, plays the role of detective as well as psychologist in these well written books. Instead of the typical tough guy detective persona, Alex uses a gentler approach in crime solving.

He contrasts well with Milo, who is a big, lumbering detective who happens to be gay. In 1985, when Milo was introduced, a gay character was not as easily accepted as today, and I loved the fact that Kellerman gave him such a pivotal role in the series. He is one of fiction’s more interesting side-kicks and often comes to Alex’s aid. There are other characters that wind their way through Delaware’s novels, but these two definitely take center stage.

The Wedding Guest: An Alex Delaware Novel begins with a dead body found at a wedding. Guests on either side seem to recognize the dead young woman, and Milo calls for Alex’s help. Alex find’s something familiar about the method used in the murder, and so begins the hunt for clues. The author does a good job keeping us guessing while feeding us clues that keep us involved. Kellerman's novels are set in the Los Angeles area, and I enjoy his references to places in the area.

This mixture of police procedural and psychological thriller can definitely be read as a stand alone, but if you haven’t read this series before I suggest that you begin to rectify that mistake now by grabbing book number one.

- Beverly

Publisher - Ballantine Books
Date of Publication - February 5, 2019

​Genre: Mystery

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Tracy Whiting has introduced us to a very interesting character in Havilah Gaie, and I found The 13th Fellow (#1 The Havilah Gaie Series) a very enjoyable Cozy Mystery. Havilah is an American professor in France, an attractive academic who speaks several languages and is known for her many achievements.  She is shocked when her colleague, Lathan “Kit” Beirnes is found murdered, and dismayed that she might have been on the phone with him when the murder occurred. She is apprised of the situation when two policemen come to her door in Paris. This is her first encounter with Thierry Gasquet, a special agent for the French National Police, who is sent to protect her.

The author is very descriptive in her writing and allows the reader to smell, taste and hear France as the story progresses. She captured my senses from the first description of a Paris street and the “dog poo” she was forced to walk around. I remember avoiding just such a mess when trying to navigate my way around a street in Paris a few years ago. While there were times that the descriptions became a bit too much, on the whole they brought the story to life for me.

I also enjoyed Whiting's use of French interspersed throughout, although I can see where it might be frustrating for a reader with no background in the language. Context clues should certainly alleviate any confusion though, and it was fun trying to revisit my high school French.

Whiting does a good job with her characterization too, and I found more depth to Havilah than most Cozy Mystery heroines. She is obviously intelligent and allows the book a refreshing lack of “ditziness” that many of these mysteries feature. Of course there is suspense and romance to keep the reader interested, and if you are looking for a better than average Cozy Mystery, this would be a good choice.

- Beverly

Publisher - booksBnimble African-American Mysteries
Date of Publication - May 20, 2015

​Genre: Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

There is something very comfortable about reading a Harlan Coben novel. His characters are eccentric yet somewhat relatable, and his style is uniquely his own.  It began in 1990, when he wrote his first romantic suspense novel, Play Dead. He followed it the next year with Miracle Cure, and both books were well written and well received. Then in 1995 he wrote the first in his very successful Myron Bolitar series. Myron was a promising basketball player who became a sports agent when an injury sidelined him. The secondary characters in the series have been my favorite part, and I love the fact that he introduces snippets of them in his equally successful stand alone books.

Run Away is his latest stand alone, and it grabbed me and kept me coming back until I regretfully reached the last page. It begins with Simon sitting on a bench in a park in Manhattan. Simon is a successful businessman with a beautiful wife, Ingrid, and three children whom he adores. Their life was perfect. Why then do we come to find out that the drug addled panhandler with sunken cheeks and matted hair is Paige, his eldest daughter. How could she have gotten involved with an older druggie, left college and the life she had to end up here?

We watch as Simon tries to bring her home and watches as she runs away. We see his altercation with the abusive man who is destroying his daughter's life, and we know this will lead to no good. How far will a father go to save his child, and at what expense? Soon his life and his family are on the line, and Simon is navigating a world that he never knew existed.

Coben’s descriptive writing makes the reader see, feel, smell, and taste the scenes that he portrays in this thriller. No parent can read this without feeling the pain that Simon and Ingrid are feeling. I anxiously await this author’s books each year and savor them until the last page.

- Beverly

Publisher - Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication - March 19, 2019

​Genre: Legal Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

John Lescroart’s characters have varied jobs in the legal field, and through the years each of the main ones have been protagonists in his legal series. Dismas Hardy, my personal favorite, is front and center in  The Rule of Law: A Dismas Hardy Novel. 

Hardy's secretary, Phyllis, begins acting strangely, and he becomes concerned when she seems to disappear. Through the series Phyllis has been one of the most reliable characters, so the reader knows that something must be amiss. When Dismas finds out that her brother, a man who served twenty-five years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder, has recently been released, his anxiety levels up a few notches.

Phyllis returns to work reluctant to explain her absences and is suddenly arrested as an accessory in the murder of a man who had been smuggling women into the country from Mexico and El Salvador. Dismas is sure Phyllis is innocent, but as he looks into her recent activities he realizes he might have a difficult time proving it.

As in most of Lescroart’s novels, San Francisco politics plays a large part, and some cold cases shed light on problems in the D.A.’s Office. San Francisco is a character unto herself as we get a glimpse into the restaurants, clubs and streets of this amazing city.

This seems to be the season that authors are highlighting the immigration issues, and Lescroart is no exception, but this one didn’t capture me as completely as others I have read. I loved revisiting the characters, and there were many exciting moments to keep me turning pages, but I wasn’t as invested in the outcome as completely as I have been in others I have read. I do recommend the book though, particularly if you are a fan of his previous works. 

- Beverly

​Publisher - Atria Books
Date of Publication - January 22, 2019

Genre: Legal Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

James Grippando’s books are always relevant, and The Girl in the Glass Box: A Jack Swyteck Novel is certainly no exception. Grippando tackles the problems surrounding the illegal immigrant population, and he does an excellent job making his readers see the dilemma facing this community.

Julia Rodriguez fled from the violence of El Salvador with her teenage daughter, Beatriz. She escaped from an abusive husband as well as violent gangs and tried to make a life for herself in Miami. When Julia’s boss in her new hometown makes sexual advances, she turns him down immediately. Not used to being rejected, he seeks revenge by tipping immigration about her illegal status. She is arrested and waiting for deportation. Beatriz escaped capture and is living with Julia’s sister who is here legally. Enter Jack Swyteck, who agrees to represent Julia as a favor to his beloved grandmother.

One of the things that I love about Grippando’s books is his detailed description of Miami, a place I know so well. He mentions restaurants that I am familiar with and streets that I have driven down many times.

His characters are well defined too and add a depth to his stories. Jack's Abuela (Spanish grandmother on his mother’s side) is an interesting character who is present throughout the series. Since Jack’s mother died when he was very young, she plays an important role in his life. His good friend Theo is a strong sidekick with an interesting backstory that has the reader rooting for him. Of course we met Jack's wife Andie quite a few books back when she became his girlfriend. Watching their relationship grow has added dimension to the Swyteck series.

If I have any complaint about this book, it would be the ending. I tend to like things wrapped up in a tidy package, and Grippando disappointed me with this one. I can get past that though and hope that the next book finishes the job.

It is not necessary to read the previous books in the series to appreciate this one, but if you haven’t read them yet, there is no time like the present.

- Beverly

​Publisher - HarperCollins Publishers
Date of Publication - February 5, 2019

Genre: Legal Thriller

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

The intensity in Phillip Margolin’s novels can keep a reader breathless for hours on end. His ability to paint a picture so vividly with words is a talent that has served him well since his first novel, Heartstone, written in 1978. Forty-one years and Twenty-three books later, The Perfect Alibi will be published in March, proving that Margolin has not lost his touch.

The the case of a young woman accusing a college athlete of rape is a common theme and  Margolin takes it up several notches. There is a DNA match that should clarify everything, but in Margolin’s world it only leads to more questions.

Protagonist Robin Lockwood, a prominent young lawyer, watches as Blaine Hastings is found guilty of the rape of Randi Stark and agrees to represent Randi in a civil suit against her rapist. At the same time she is defending another client on a murder charge that should be self defense. Then there is the case of another attorney who needs Robin’s help with a vengeful prosecutor who is accusing him of killing his partner and best friend.

Nothing is ever as it seems in a Margolin novel, and this is one of his best. The action never slows down, and every page brings a new revelation. His characters are well fleshed out and the descriptions of the surroundings and the court scenes make the story come alive. I was sad to turn the last page and anxiously await his next novel.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - ​​​​March 5, 2019

Genre: Legal Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

It is rare to find an author who successfully presents a strong female protagonist, but Paul Batista really surprised me with two very strong leading ladies in this complex courtroom drama, The Warriors. Not only does he introduce us to this dynamic duo, he shows their strength unapologetically and without “girly” things to soften them for the reader.

Senator Angelina Baldesteri is a former First Lady who lived through the assassination of her extremely popular husband. The senator has plans to run for the presidency but there are those who do not want to see that happen. She suddenly finds herself accused of money laundering, perjury, bribery, and obstruction of justice and realizes that she needs a strong attorney to protect her reputation while proving her innocence.

Defense attorney Raquel Rematti (the first time Batista introduced this character was in his novel, The Borzoi Killings) is a personality to be reckoned with, and she agrees to represent the senator. The problem is, they are both strong willed, pig headed and want to be in charge. Raquel quickly realizes that she doesn’t know the whole truth, and there is more to Angelina’s story than meets the eye.

Throw in murder and mayhem, drug lords and a Mexican cartel, and you have Batista at his best. Bringing out the positive and negative strengths in these two characters showcases the talent of an author who draws on his own experience in the courtroom to bring us a novel that is difficult to put down until the last page.

- Beverly


Publisher - Oceanview Publishing
Date of Publication - December 18, 2018

​Genre: Mystery

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

In Look for Me Lisa Gardner really started  off with a powerful prologue. It was, in fact, a bit too gut wrenching for me, since I am pretty squeamish when I read books or watch movies. The entire story-line is disturbing, but Gardner is a top-notch author and handles it well.

Roxie Baez is the only one in her family who survives a mass shooting, and then she disappears. Is she a survivor or a suspect? The characters in this D.D. Warren series are strong, and with D.D. on the case we know the truth will come out eventually. Flora Dane, herself a survivor of violence, is after her own form of justice, and as the story progressed,  following both points of view kept me flipping pages.

One can not read this book without being immersed in the highly topical social issues that face society in the twenty-first century. As a former teacher, the bullying aspect rang true to me. The foster system is exposed, and we see how the justice system itself failed Roxie. While the mystery is compelling, I was equally drawn into these social aspects and believe they are lessons to be learned.

There is no doubt that Lisa Gardner is a talented author with a devoted fan base. I have not read many of her previous novels and am looking forward to catching up on D. D. Warren’s backstory. This is not an emotionally easy read, but it is one that is worth your time.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - ​​​​February 6, 2018