REVIEW: Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Forgotten in Death (In Death #53)
Author: J.D. Robb
Narrator: Susan Ericksen
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: September 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the latest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas sifts through the wreckage of the past to find a killer.

The body was left in a dumpster like so much trash, the victim a woman of no fixed address, known for offering paper flowers in return for spare change―and for keeping the cops informed of any infractions she witnessed on the street. But the notebook where she scribbled her intel on litterers and other such offenders is nowhere to be found.

Then Eve is summoned away to a nearby building site to view more remains―in this case decades old, adorned with gold jewelry and fine clothing―unearthed by recent construction work. She isn’t happy when she realizes that the scene of the crime belongs to her husband, Roarke―not that it should surprise her, since the Irish billionaire owns a good chunk of New York. Now Eve must enter a complex world of real estate development, family history, shady deals, and shocking secrets to find justice for two women whose lives were thrown away…

My Thoughts: This series is simply amazing! Forgotten in Death, the stellar fifty-third offering in the In Death series continues to impress, entertain and shock me. This series gives no indication that it is starting to wind down, which is excellent for the many fans of this series as we have not yet begun to get enough of Eve Dallas and the equally wonderful cast of characters. These characters are so well developed through this series that the reader feels a deep connection with them. The reader cannot help but care about what happens to them and time spent with them is always a joy.

After fifty-three installments of this futuristic series, one cannot help but think Eve has pretty much seen it all. Nothing should come as a surprise or shock to Eve. In the relatively short time she has been a homicide cop, she has been thrust into the underbelly of New York City. She has seen the worst humanity is capable of. I wouldn’t say this case is any different than those she has undertaken, but it serves as a reminder just how cruel, selfish and heartless mankind can be and, often, are.

While investigating the apparent random murder of a homeless woman, Eve is called to an excavation site at a nearby building where the skeletal remains of an adult and an infant are discovered. Adding to the issue is that her Irish hottie husband, Roarke owns this building doesn’t surprise Eve as he pretty much owns the planet, but it does create snags.

I loved the way Eve tackles both of these cases. Her determination to not only find the killer of the homeless woman, but she is also determined to lay some punishment on the ex-husband who brutally abused her years before. Eve is convinced that the acts of domestic abuse are what set this woman on a path that led to her eventual murder, so to Eve’s way of thinking, it’s connected. Additionally, the discovery of decades old remains don’t stop Eve in her tracks. Her methodical approach to uncovering not only the identity of the victims, but her ability to quickly analyze and piece together the forensic evidence is simply brilliant.

In addition to the characters, the reader can connect and empathize with, J.D. Robb creates a futuristic New York City, circa early 2060. I get such a kick out of what this world entails, including prisons that are off-planet, cars that fly, Pepsi that comes in a tube and full course meals delivered through a machine called an auto-chef. This time period is not too far away from the time period I live in. I can only hope that some of these amazing things will sprout from J.D. Robb’s imagination into reality.

With the exception of the first few books in this series, I have gone with the audiobook format narrated by Susan Ericksen. Her performance adds to the enjoyment of this series with the various voices and emotions displayed by the characters. The realism she gives to these characters gives the reader a sense of being in the room with these characters, witnessing first-hand the eyerolls, the body language and Jenkinson’s eye-blinding ties.

The best part of this series and this story in particular occurs when Eve goes in for the apprehension of the killers. Her tenacity and dogged determination make for a supremely satisfying conclusion to a hard-hitting story, leaving the reader excited for the next book.

My Final Verdict: An excellent series that I highly recommend to fans of the mystery, thriller, police procedural and urban fantasy genres that need to be read in order.

REVIEW: A Litter of Bones by J.D. Kirk

Title: A Litter of Bones (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers #1)
Author: J.D. Kirk
Narrator: Angus King
Publisher: Zertex Media Ltd.
Publication Date: July 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Was the biggest case of his career the worst mistake he ever made?

Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan stopped the serial child-killer dubbed 'Mister Whisper,' earning himself a commendation, a drinking problem, and a broken marriage in the process.

Now, he spends his days working in Glasgow's Major Incident Team, and his nights reliving the horrors of what he saw.

And what he did.

When another child disappears a hundred miles north in the Highlands, Jack is sent to lead the investigation and bring the boy home.

But as similarities between the two cases grow, could it be that Jack caught the wrong man all those years ago?

And, if so, is the real Mister Whisper about to claim his fourth victim?

A Litter of Bones is the explosive debut crime thriller novel from JD Kirk, an exciting new voice in Scottish crime fiction.

My Thoughts: In A Litter of Bones by new to me author J.D. Kirk, the reader is introduced to Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan, a Scottish police investigator and, along with Jack, is drop-kicked into the Highlands to investigate a missing child case that bears a striking similarity to the case of the Mister Whisper case a decade ago. Jack knows this case all too well as he was the one who captured this despicable and vile man. Unfortunately for Jack, the whereabouts of Mister Whisper’s last victim, Dylan, were never resolved and it has haunted Jack all these years.

In addition to racing the clock to locate the newest missing child, Connor, Jack has to acquaint himself with a new team of investigators. I really liked Jack and though he carries a lot of turmoil and pain in his soul (who wouldn’t?), there were many moments the reader is given a glimpse of the humor, wit and charm lying below the surface. I look forward to getting to know Jack and this team of investigators better as I get further into the series.

J.D. Kirk’s writing is tightly woven and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. This story has numerous graphic descriptions of the horror the villain inflicts, but it is appropriate subject matter for this story. As horrifying as it was to listen to, it pulled me further into the story. The identity of the killer and the surrounding reasons completely knocked me off my feet in shock and surprise.

The narration was expertly performed by the very talented Angus King, complete with a beautiful Scottish accent. Readers who aren’t familiar with some of the terminology or have never experienced Scotland may find it easier to read the text. For me, the audiobook was amazing. The emotions are felt keenly and are appropriate for the characters in that moment. Additionally, I appreciated the humor and wit displayed by the characters more than I would if I had read a text copy.

My Final Verdict: There are currently nineteen books in this series so I highly recommend starting at the beginning and reading this series in order as I suspect character growth and development will evolve throughout the series. I am looking forward to more from this very talented author and will stick with the audiobook format.

REVIEW: Slaughterhouse by K.A. Lugo

Title: Slaughterhouse (Jack Slaughter Thrillers #3)
Author: K.A. Lugo
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Publication Date: December 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: It's the anniversary of the date he lost his family and Jack doubts he'll ever find those responsible. Depression has taken hold, and he pulls out his Beretta for the last time. As he fingers the trigger, Ray shows up with the identity of the man who’d killed himself in Jack’s house weeks before, leaving a note simply saying, ”I’m sorry.”

Jack soon finds himself dragged into San Francisco's underbelly and his life threatened at the hands of the city's deadly Chinese gang, the Jade Dragons. When things become more dangerous, Jack must keep pushing forward, even knowing it could mean his death because the gang's leader, Li Zihao, may have the answers Jack’s looking for—who destroyed his family and what happened to Leah.

Is Jack ready for the truth?

My Thoughts: I have been looking forward to my Jack Slaughter fix for a while and K.A. Lugo packs a punch right from the start! Chapter 1 pulled no punches and I thought I was going to have to put this book in the freezer. Thankfully for my Kindle, no freezer action was required as Ray shows up with news that Jack has been waiting to hear for the last four years.

My heart breaks for the pain and agony Jack is experiencing. His daughter and family dog are brutally murdered and his wife’s whereabouts are unknown. Her body has never been found. Jack often wonders if she is still alive or if she is the one responsible even for this devastation. I can completely empathize with what Jack is going through and understand why he wants to end it and be with his family again. Being told that the man who committed suicide in his home may have been involved in his family’s murder lights a fire under Jack as he knows in his gut it goes much deeper than a random homicide.

Not only was it great to be back in Jack’s world again, but it was also wonderful to see Ray. I love the relationship these two brothers from another mother share. They will always have each other’s six, but it goes beyond the badge. They are family and Ray proves it over and over again even when Jack keeps pushing him away. Their verbal sparring is so enjoyable to witness and even when they are angry with one another, it doesn’t last long. Of course, Jack gives Ray plenty to be angry with him about.

This story proceeds at a very fast pace, full of tense moments but also moments of laughter and moments of tears. The characters are so well developed, they feel real and are people the reader will care about. The city of San Francisco and surrounding area is a character in this series as well. The locales are expertly researched and described so vividly, the reader will get a keen sense of being able to visualize what Jack and Ray see.

My Final Verdict: Slaughterhouse is an excellent read, but you must read the series in order. K.A. Lugo has created a world and characters that the reader can grow with and get to know better with each book. I highly recommend this book and the whole series to fans of mysteries, thrillers, police procedurals and action stories. Thank you, K.A. Lugo for giving me so many hours of reading enjoyment.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Slaughterhouse from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: A Quiet Retreat by Kiersten Modglin

Title: A Quiet Retreat
Author: Kiersten Modglin
Narrator: Carly Robins
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: January 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.

That’s how it all begins—with a simple invitation.

For five authors, it’s meant to be the start of a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and likeminded company.

But shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn.

Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning their companions. As suspicions mount, the authors are pitted against each other.

Whom can they trust in a house full of strangers?

With tensions rising, the writers find themselves in the middle of their own mystery. Death, terror, and despair are common elements in their books, but at Black Hills Manor, the murders being plotted are their own.

My Thoughts: Good premise that holds a lot of promise, beautiful cover and a good narration that keeps the story moving and the tension high. There were a few moments when I felt I was on the edge of my seat, but they were few and far between. I honestly expected much better from such a prolific author.

Let’s break it down, shall we? The premise of five mystery authors all receiving an anonymous invitation to this beautiful and secluded retreat to knuckle down and write is what initially grabbed me, of course, after I saw the cover. Sounds like an author’s dream. Escape the daily distractions to eat, drink, mingle, network and write.

When personal items of the guests begin to disappear, I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. Honestly, it was such a disappointment that it took practically to the end of the book for anybody to vanish. Way too much build-up and the delivery fell flat. It would have been better if a couple of the author guests disappeared sooner.

There’s a definite Hitchcock feeling here as the group decides they need to split up when they discover all their cell phones are missing and the tires on their vehicles have all been slashed. It’s never a clever idea to split up, but this is where the story kicked it up a notch for me.

I didn’t mind the dual storyline from the past as I knew it would be connected to the current events, but it was never wrapped up cohesively and instead left me with more questions and confusion.

The author does a good job of giving us plenty of suspects to choose from and I was way off base with my picks, but the big reveal was a bit of a let-down for me as the motives behind everything was just plain juvenile and petty.

The narration performance by Carly Robins was very good. She kept the story moving at a good pace with the right amount of emotion and tension in the characters to make them more believable.

My Final Verdict: Overall, die-hard fans of mysteries and thrillers will enjoy this offering, even if they don’t love it. This was not my favorite, but there are so many more in my pile from this author, I’m sure I will find others that are more enjoyable.

REVIEW: The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza

Title: The Night Stalker (Detective Erika Foster #2)
Author: Robert Bryndza
Narrator: Jan Cramer
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2016
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: If the Night Stalker is watching, you’re already dead…

In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer’s night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.

A few days later, another victim is found dead, in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer – stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.

The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?

As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched… Erika’s own life could be on the line.

My Thoughts: As the New Year kicks off with this most excellent book, I can only hope the rest of my reading year will meet this same standard. Book #2 in the Erika Foster series brings the reader back into Erika’s orbit as she is investigating the murders of vastly different men…all single, all successful and trying to piece together how they are all connected to the mysterious night stalker is a puzzle Erika and her team are scrambling to figure out.

As with the first book, Erika continues to be a diligent investigator who is willing to go outside protocol and defy orders from her chain of command to solve these homicides. She is still keeping people at arm’s length, not allowing anyone to get too close, but there is a glimmer that she is open to friendships so I’m hoping this is explored more in the next book.

Robert Bryndza writes a tense story that keeps the reader in high anticipation. The identity of the killer is revealed fairly early, which I actually enjoyed, so the intense anticipation I was experiencing was from how the killer would be caught and what the body count would climb to. Mr. Bryndza’s research is so well executed, one can’t help but wonder if he has a background in law enforcement. The story flows very smoothly in spite of the subject matter. Be warned, readers, as the homicides are described in specific detail and are a bit disturbing.

The audio narration, performed by Jan Cramer, was also excellent. Her performance moves the story forward with the right amount of emotions to make the actions of the characters logical and believable.

My Final Verdict: If you have yet to read this series, I must encourage you to not waste any further time. I highly recommend this story to fans of mysteries, thrillers and police procedurals. Though the topic is quite graphic, fans of this genre will appreciate the attention to detail and the well-researched subject matter.