Archive for the ‘Mystery’ Category

Your Next Choice For Saturday Screams ~ The After House

Posted: October 3, 2015 in Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews
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Welcome to my Saturday Screams!

With Halloween fast approaching, I’ve amassed a bunch of creepy stories to share with you.

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Recently I showcased several books I won from Michael Phillip Cash and I asked you to help me choose which order I should review them in.

The Flip was the top choice and you can read my review HERE.

Next up is The After House.

Come on in and get your scare on!

The After House

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My Review

This was an entertaining haunting.

Remy rents a cottage for her and her young daughter, despite the protests of her parents. She needs her independence since her divorce.

It’s not long before eerie things start to happen in the house. Her daughter, Olivia, sees a ghost. Remy hears things and sees things out of the corner of her eye. And someone is stalking her.

Trying to run her business and raise her daughter, Remy has precious little time for romance. Her parents say that’s nonsense. There’s always time for love. And her mother arranges a meeting with the town mayor.

Hugh and Remy hit it off immediately. It’s like they’ve known each other forever. Someone or something doesn’t like this one bit.

Her house is ransacked, someone tries to burn down her business, and she sees something in the bushes by her house. And her ex-husband is a pain in the behind.

Will she have a happy ever after or will something put an end to her dreams, or her?

This was a lot of fun. I liked Remy and her need for independence. Her daughter, Olivia, is a precocious, charming young girl. And Hugh is sexy and smart, yet gentle and nurturing.

The ghost is another matter. He’s a mess and ornery as a snake. There’s something keeping him here, and as I read more, I began to cheer him on, hoping he’d find what he forgot.

There’s more than one mysterious otherworldly being in this story two. There are two onlookers that have their own agenda. They seem to have been involved with the characters in another book by this author, The Flip. I like that connection.

There’s also a fascinating prologue. You learn a lot about the whaling era. And you will understand the meaning behind the title. I enjoy learning some new trivia from stories. Then the story begins in the present and the connections are made later.

I enjoyed meeting these characters. Liked the mystery. Enjoyed the multiple character’s stories. And had a good feeling when I finished this book.

Not to scary. Just right.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?

Trailer

 

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Stop back by next Saturday for your next choice!

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Love the snark! The Friday 56 #80 ~ Brooklyn Bones

Posted: October 2, 2015 in Mystery, Series, The Friday 56
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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

 Brooklyn Bones

An Erica Donato Mystery

by Triss Stein

15811825

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My 56 

Oh yes, and I had a fight with Joe. I meant to give him a heads up that the police would be asking him some questions about security when he was working at my house, but they got to him first. He was more than a little ticked off about this and tole me so by phone at seven a.m. I had an uncomfortable feeling he was right, too, so of course I came back with a strong, “I really don’t have time to deal with this!” and hung up.

There were several quotable moments on page 56. This one tickled my funny bone the most.

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

In Brooklyn Bones, a crime of the past comes much too close  to home when Erica Donato’s teen-age daughter Chris finds a skeleton behind a wall in their crumbling Park Slope home. Erica – young widow, over-age history Ph.D candidate, mother of a teen, product of blue-collar Brooklyn – is drawn into the mystery when she learns this was an unknown teen-age girl, hidden there within living memory. She and her daughter are both touched and disturbed by the mysterious tragedy in their own home.

Chris’s dangerous curiosity and Erica’s work at a local history museum lead her right back to her neighborhood in its edgy, pre-gentrification days, the period when the age of Aquarius was turning dark. A cranky retired reporter shares old files with her. The charming widow of a slumlord has some surprises for her. The crazy old lady who hangs around her street keeps trying to tell her something. And there are people, including some she is close to, who know the whole story and will stop at nothing to make sure it stays buried forever.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

It gets hairier and hairier ~ Kill And Run by Lauren Carr ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: September 24, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
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As promised yesterday, I’m now sharing my review of Kill And Run, A Thorny Rose Mystery by Lauren Carr.

More laughs with these lovable characters, both human and furry. Lots of intrigue and action too.

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Kill and Run

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My Review

Five women and counting… Who killed them and who’s next?

Lieutenant Murphy Thornton is assigned the case and at first finds no connection between the five murdered women. As he digs deeper, he finds iffy connections and one huge one that rocks many back on their heels.

After reading Three Days To Forever from The Mac Faraday Series, I was so excited to read this book. The Thorny Rose Mysteries are a companion series. I bumped into many of my favorite characters and this one features another fun couple.

Murphy and his new wife, Jessica, are still adjusting to married life, when all of a sudden their home is over run with guests.

Jessica’s brother, Tristan, needs a place to stay while having his place repaired after it was flooded. He brings his beloved pet, Monique, under heavy objections and much negotiation. For those of you unfamiliar with her, she’s a tarantula about the size of a dinner plate!

Now, that makes three people along with a giant spider, Murphy’s TV watching mixed breed dog Newman, and Jessica’s Shetland sheepdog, Spencer/Candi. Jessica calls her Spencer. Murphy calls her Candi. She answers to Candi.

When a connection is found between one of the murdered women and the cold case murder of State Trooper Nicholas Gates, his widow, Cameron Gates, their step-mother, comes to stay at the Thornton household.

Now, there are four people, a tarantula, and two dogs. Cameron adds to the furry mix with her opinionated Main Coon cat, Irving. She looks like a skunk, all black with a white stripe down her back from her head to the tip of her tail.

One more stray is added to the household. Izzy (Isadora Crenshaw). the young teenage daughter of one of the murdered women is brought to Murhpy’s and Jessica’s home under police protection. She’s wise for her age and quickly becomes a part of the gang. She also has a special affinity, seems to communicate with the herd of animals. They all adore her, even Monique.

Now there are five people, a giant spider, two dogs, and a large cat. How much more can one house hold.

So many connections must and do lead to deadly shootouts, stalkers, conspiracy, and cover ups.

The action is intense, the mysteries keep you engaged and eager to see how they connect, and the characters, both human and furry, keep you laughing and gasping.

The author includes a bio of each of the characters, including the animals, at the beginning of the book. I’d recommend you read them first. It just takes a few minutes and makes it so easy to follow and connect with them throughout the book.

This can easily be read as a stand alone book, but I’m betting you’ll be wanting more about Lauren Carr’s characters and will be grabbing more of her books.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?

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Yesterday I reviewed Three Days To Forever, a Mac Faraday Mystery. It was my first encounter with some now much loved characters.

Three Days to Forever

You can find my 5 Star Review HERE.

Author

Lauren Carr

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Open Season for Murder is the tenth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series.

In addition to her series set on Deep Creek Lake, Lauren Carr has also written the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates, who were introduced in Shades of Murder, the third book in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. They also make an appearance in The Lady Who Cried Murder.

Three Days to Forever introduced Lauren Carr’s latest series detectives, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Look for Kill and Run, the first installment in this series, to be released September 1, 2015.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. Visit Acorn Book Services’ website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~   Facebook

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Will it be ’til death do us part?’ Three Days To Forever by Lauren Carr ~ My Review and a Giveaway

Posted: September 23, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , ,
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iRead Website new logo

Thanks for visiting my stop on the tour.

Make sure to stop back by tomorrow for my review of Lauren Carr’s Kill and Run too!

Enjoy my review of Three Days To Forever.

Learn more about Author Lauren Carr and her other books.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Three Days to Forever

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My Review

It’s Three Days To Forever. The countdown has begun.  Will it be Til Death Do Us Part or Rest In Peace?

Day One.

It’s three days until Mac Faraday and Archie Monday tie the knot. Family and guests are arriving at the fabulous Spencer Inn, owned by Mac.

A stalker sends a picture to Mac. It shows the man with his arm around Archie and says, “I was this close.”

The stalker ends up dead, stabbed multiple times with a knife engraved with the Spencer Inn’s initials. Mac becomes a suspect.

While in contact with the police at the scene of the crime, Mac, along with Joshua, his best man, Agnes, his soon to be mother-in-law, and Gnarly, his faithful German Shepherd, come under attack as a hit squad shoots up the place.

Joshua is shot but they all make it out alive and escape to a safe house.

And Archie’s spitting mad about the hair-do she got at the salon. Not what she wanted at all, and too late to change it before the wedding. I must tell you, she’s not being shallow. She doesn’t know about the attack yet.

Day Two.

Time to figure out who attacked and why. Did stalker, Russell Dooley, now dead, hire the hit men? He was out for revenge after Mac got his wife locked up in prison. Once she learned her last appeal failed and she’d never get out, she killed herself. Dooley blamed it all on Mac and swore revenge on him and those he loved.

Or could it be something to do with Joshua? He has a lot of secrets. Really big ones.

Or could it be something else?

The men scramble to solve the mystery while the women scramble to keep their men in line and at their appointed destinations on time.

Day Three.

Ah, it’s the wedding day.

I wonder if it will happen. Will their be wedding crashers, with big guns?

That I can’t share with you. You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Wow. what a rollercoaster this was. Stalkers, black-ops, terrorists. Global connections keep you guessing as to who is doing what and why.

The character list is vast. A description of each one is provided at the beginning of the book. After reading each one, I quickly became familiar with their names and the story flew.

Aside from the violent parts of the book, there’s plenty of humor, romance, and fun pets. Especially fun is the furry Monique.

I had no idea when I started reading this book that it was the 9th book in the series, and had no trouble at all following the plots and connecting with the characters. I’ve put a face to most of them and now I want to go back to the beginning and see how they all first connected.

Lauren Carr has a few other mystery series with characters you’ll recognize. All of her books are stand alone reads so feel free to jump in anywhere you like.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

In this latest Mac Faraday Mystery from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers will embark on a rollercoaster adventure with old friends (including the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join the team in the race to get the love birds to the altar!

With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is being touted as the social event of the year.

But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and Gnarly running for their lives.

With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined to stop everything … FOREVER!

Author

Lauren Carr

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Open Season for Murder is the tenth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series.

In addition to her series set on Deep Creek Lake, Lauren Carr has also written the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates, who were introduced in Shades of Murder, the third book in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. They also make an appearance in The Lady Who Cried Murder.

Three Days to Forever introduced Lauren Carr’s latest series detectives, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Look for Kill and Run, the first installment in this series, to be released September 1, 2015.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. Visit Acorn Book Services’ website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~   Facebook

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Double Trouble ~ A Ghostly Demise and A Ghostly Murder ~ My Reviews and a Giveaway

Posted: September 21, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Humor, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy
Tags: , , ,
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They’re back!

The residents of Sleepy Hollow are back and there’s murder in the air. Along with some new ghosts.

Venture on.

Enjoy my reviews.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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A Ghostly Demise/A Ghostly Murder
by Tonya Kappes

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GhostlyDemiseA Ghostly Demise:
A Ghostly Southern Mystery 
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Witness (August 25, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0062374912
E-Book ASIN: B00PQRWLRC
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The prodigal father returns—but this ghost is no holy spirit

When she runs into her friend’s deadbeat dad at the local deli, undertaker Emma Lee Raines can’t wait to tell Mary Anna Hardy that he’s back in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, after five long years. Cephus Hardy may have been the town drunk, but he didn’t disappear on an epic bender like everyone thought: He was murdered. And he’s heard that Emma Lee’s been helping lost souls move on to that great big party in the sky.

Why do ghosts always bother Emma Lee at the worst times? Her granny’s mayoral campaign is in high gear, a carnival is taking over the town square, and her hunky boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, is stuck wrestling runaway goats. Besides, Cephus has no clue whodunit…unless it was one of Mrs. Hardy’s not-so-secret admirers. All roads lead Emma Lee to that carnival—and a killer who isn’t clowning around.

My Review

So here we are, back in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. And yes, Emma Lee still sees and hears ghosts. It’s a side affect of having a giant plastic Santa fall on her and knock her out cold.

Her doctor calls it ‘funeral trauma’, not believing she really communicates with ghosts. Appropriate name as she and her sister run Eternal Slumber Funeral Home.

Emma is shocked and pleased to run into Cephus Hardy. He just up and vanished 5 years ago, leaving his wife and daughter to fend for themselves. It’s only after Doc Clyde starts talking to her that she realizes Cephus is a ghost. Drat, now Doc will tell her grandmother, Zula Fae, and soon the whole town will know she still suffers from funeral trauma.

Cephus tells her he didn’t abandon his family. Says he never left Sleepy Hollow. Adamant that he was murdered. But, he can’t tell her where his body is or who killed him. Emma Lee takes this info to her boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry. Yep, they are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

There’s not much to go on, but Jack Henry starts digging. So does Emma Lee, much to his consternation. With two murder cases under her belt, Emma dives back in with no regard to danger. Business as usual, think Jack Henry.

You never know who you;re going to meet in this series. each book introduces new characters, new ghosts. They all have such fun names.

In the south, lots of people go by their first and middle name. You’ll be bumping into Zula Fae again. Emma’s grandmother is following through on her plans to run for mayor, and she’s taking her campaign to a whole new level. She’s such a pistol.

There’s also Mable Claire, Beulah Paige, Hettie Bell, and Cheryl Lynne. to mention a few more. I keep waiting for a Bubba to pop up.

So, the skinny is, someone murdered Cephus. Emma Lee has to solve the case, the whole town thinks she’s still whacko, and her granny is taxing her last nerve. So much fun.

About twenty-five percent into the book, I found my first clue. But, knowing this author, I couldn’t count on that leading me anywhere but down the garden path. So I pressed on, and tripped over a few more clues. Yep, they led all over the place.

I’ll leave you here. Don’t want to spoil anything. Grab it. Read it. Find out for yourself who did what. A good thing is, you don’t have to have read the other books to jump into this series. The author fills you in on past events quickly and in just the right places.

4 Stars

Purchase Links
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IMG_5265A Ghostly Murder:
A Ghostly Southern Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Witness (September 29, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0062374936
E-Book ASIN: B00RTMCOPQ
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Emma Lee Raines knows there’s only one cure for a bad case of murder.

I told you I was sick, reads the headstone above Mamie Sue Preston’s grave. She was the richest woman in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, and also the biggest hypochondriac. Ironic, considering someone killed her—and covered it up perfectly. And how does Emma Lee, proprietor of the Eternal Slumber Funeral Home, know all this? Because Mamie Sue’s ghost told her, that’s how. And she’s offering big bucks to find the perp.

The catch is, Mamie Sue was buried by the Raines family’s archrival, Burns Funeral Home. Would the Burnses stoop to framing Emma Lee’s granny? With an enterprising maid, a penny-pinching pastor, and a slimy Lexington lawyer all making a killing off Mamie Sue’s estate, Emma Lee needs a teammate—like her dreamboat boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross. Because with millions at stake, snooping around is definitely bad for Emma Lee’s health.

My Review

Here we go again. Another murder, another ghost, more fun characters with those double names. I couldn’t wait to dive in and see what Emma Lee was up to.

She’s busy with the murder of Mamie Sue, the towns richest resident, or she used to be. She comes to Emma, offering bug bucks to find out who killed her.

Things get sticky when several other people want that money too. One of them is Eternal Slumber’s arch rival, Burnes Funeral Home. It looks like the showdown will finally happen.

All of the usual characters are back, plus you’ll meet some new ones. The town still thinks she’s crazy, even though Emma Lee has three solved murdered cases under her belt.

The romance between Emma Lee and Jack Henry is still going strong. That saying, “They’re meant for each other,” is so true. I love these two together. And I love that Jack Henry believes that she sees and talks to ghosts. He still gets the heebie jeebies when she talks to one when she’s with him.

I had such fun following Emma Lee around as she stuck her nose in everyone’s business, sniffing out clues. Lots of suspects, some quickly eliminated, some staying in the hot seat. A lovely mess to mull through.

As with the other books, you can read this without having read the others. You’ll get filled in on past events without the story slowing down.

Come meet the residents of Sleepy Hollow. You never know who or what you might bump into.

4 Stars

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N
Shop Indie Bookstores

Tonya 5

About The Author –

Tonya Kappes is a USA Today Bestselling Author.

I write fun humorous fiction, some with romance and some with a little mystery.

More than anything I love to connect with readers! I’m a huge fan of them and LOVE getting to know them. Making readers smile, and remembering not to take life too seriously is how I like to write. I’m addicted to coffee, McDonald’s Diet Coke, and Red Hots Candy to keep her going!

When I’m not writing about quirky characters and even quirkier situations, I’m busy being the princess, queen and jester of my domain which includes my BFF husband,  three teenage boys, two dogs and one ornery cat.

Author Links:

And be sure to stalk me on Facebook,  Twitter, TSU, Instagram!

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I have one eBook copy of A Ghostly Demise or A Ghostly Murder to give away. Winners choice.

Entry is easy. Just leave an email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

Have you ever had a strange experience, perhaps a ghostly encounter?

Giveaway ends September 30th.

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Tour Participants

September 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – Guest Post

September 19 – Book Babble – Review

September 20 – Laura’s Interests – Review, Spotlight

September 21 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

September 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Guest Post

September 23 – Community Bookstop – Review

September 24 – Bea’s Book Nook – Review, Giveaway

September 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,  &, Sissy, Too ! – Review, Giveaway

September 26 – Frankie Bow – Guest Post

September 27 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review, Giveaway

September 28 – Back Porchervations – Review, Interview

September 28 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Giveaway

September 29 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway

September 30 – readalot – Review, Giveaway

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I’ve also read the first two books in this series.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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The Friday 56 #77 ~ Stillwater : A Jack McBride Mystery

Posted: September 11, 2015 in Mystery, Series, The Friday 56
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

 Stillwater

A Jack McBride Mystery

by

Melissa Lenhardt

24693868

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My 56 

“I love you too.” His throat thickened; he couldn’t remember the last time he said those words to his son. He lifted his arm full of tubes and pulled Ethan closer. “We’re going to be fine.”

~~~~~

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

Former FBI agent Jack McBride took the job as Chief of Police for Stillwater, Texas, to start a new life with his teenage son, Ethan, away from the suspicions that surrounded his wife’s disappearance a year earlier.

With a low crime rate and a five-man police force, he expected it to be a nice, easy gig; hot checks, traffic violations, some drugs, occasional domestic disturbances, and petty theft. Instead, within a week he is investigating a staged murder-suicide, uncovering a decades’ old skeleton buried in the woods, and managing the first crime wave in thirty years.

For help navigating his unfamiliar, small-town surroundings, Jack turns to Ellie Martin, one of the most respected women in town—her scandal-filled past notwithstanding. Despite Jack’s murky marriage status and the disapproval of Ethan and the town, they are immediately drawn to each other.

As Jack and Ellie struggle with their budding relationship, they unearth shattering secrets long buried and discover the two cases Jack is working, though fifty years apart, share a surprising connection that will rattle the town to its core.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

Isolation ~ A Faye Longchamp Mystery ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: September 9, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , , ,
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Partners In Crime Tours

I do love a good mystery. And it’s even better when there’s a mystery inside a mystery. Lots to keep you guessing and on your toes in Isolation!

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

Isolation

A Faye Longchamp Mystery

by Mary Anna Evans

25575967

Genre: Mystery, Women Sleuths
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Number of Pages: 284
Series: A Faye Longchamp Mystery, 9
ISBN: 9781464204029

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My Review

This has all the makings for a good mystery.

A family torn apart by tragedy, isolation on a private island, toxic spills, murder, stalkers, and all of this might possibly be connected to a mysterious history. I was hooked already!

Being a fan of character driven stories, this didn’t disappoint.

There’s Faye Longchamp – Mantooth. She’s coping the only way she knows how after a terrible loss. She spends every waking minute and most nights prowling the island and doing random digs. Not herself at all. Being a professional archaeologist, she knows better. You need to investigate, do the math, before digging. I think she’s just trying to stay numb.

Her husband, Joe Wolf Mantooth, is such a gentle soul. He loves his wife and patiently waits for her to come around, knowing she needs time to grieve and heal. In the meantime, he takes care of their young son, Michael, making sure he’s happy and loved.  When things go wiggy and bodies start adding up, he goes into alpha mode. I loved the gentle bear and the warrior spirit of Joe.

Joe’s father, Sly Mantooth, out after serving time in prison, shows up on their doorstep and they invite him to stay awhile. Faye hopes the two will stay out of her hair, and Joe’s looking to get reconnected with his father. I like Sly. He’s a diamond in the rough. He keeps his thoughts to himself, unless a pretty gal is around. Then the charmer, the ladies man, comes out to play. There was one particular lady I wanted him to get better acquainted with. I hoped the author would grant my wish.

Not just a murder mystery, there’s also the mystery of Faye’s ancestor. Some people want to prove her great-great-grandmother Cally was a murderer. Faye’s having none of it and launches her own investigation, keeping their relationship secret while she works to clear Cally’s name. Not so easy when you’re going back 150 years.

A strange toxic find on the island, chemical dumps in the gulf, murder and violent attacks. Could all of this be random events or do they all tie together? I couldn’t wait to find out.

Though this is the ninth book in the Faye Longchamp Mystery Series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I’ve not the read the other books and with some short mentions of past events, had no trouble reading this first.

Good clean fun, with no sex scenes or foul language.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Archaeologist Faye Longchamp-Mantooth has dug herself a deep hole and she can’t make her way out of it. As she struggles to recover from a shattering personal loss, she sees that everyone she loves is trying to reach out to her. If only she could reach back. Instead she’s out digging holes all over her home, the Florida island of Joyeuse.

In their old plantation home, Joe Wolf Mantooth is surrounded by family—Faye, the wife he loves; their toddler son he adores; and his father, who hasn’t gotten around to telling him how long he’s been out of prison or how he got there—yet Joe has never felt so helpless or alone.

Then a close friend at the local marina is brutally murdered, the first in a string of crimes against women that rocks Micco County. Joe, desperate to help Faye, realizes she is in danger from both her inner demons and someone who has breached the island’s isolation. Local law and environmental officials say they want to help, but to Faye and Joe they feel more like invaders. A struggling Faye reaches back over a century into her family’s history for clues. And all the while, danger snakes further into their lives, threatening the people they love, their cherished home, even the very ground—some of it poisoned—beneath their feet.

Purchase Links

Amazon / B&N / Goodreads

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Author Mary Anna Evans

Mary Anna Evans

Mary Anna Evans is the author of the award-winning Faye Longchamp archaeological mysteries–Artifacts, Relics, Effigies, Findings, Floodgates, Strangers, and Plunder. She has degrees in physics and chemical engineering. Her background includes stints in environmental consulting and university administration, as well as a summer spent working offshore in the oil fields. Writing lets her spend weeks indulging her passion for history, archeology, and architecture, and months making up stories. Mary Anna is preparing to move to Oklahoma since accepting an Associate Professor position with the University of Oklahoma.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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The Eve Project: Machines Of The Little People by Tegon Maus ~ Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Posted: September 3, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, Science Fiction
Tags: , , ,
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MachinesOfTheLittlePeople banner

Have I got a fun book to share with you today.

Do you ever feel like something is watching you?

Have you heard whispers?

Whispers that mention your name?

Come on in and find out what Machines Of The Little People is all about!

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Synopsis

When Ben Harris’ sister passes away, her husband, Roger Keswick, is mysteriously absent from her funeral. It’s not until 6 months later that Ben is pulled back in to Roger’s life, only to find that he’s moved on. His new wife may be called Jessica, but she’s the spitting image of Ben’s sister. Things escalate when Roger claims there’s a factory under his house run by little people called the Katoy.

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Check out the excerpt

“What was the problem, Roger? Why are they here?” I asked, still trying to figure out what had happened to make him call the cops.

The officer shifted uncomfortably, staring at the ground but said nothing.

“Roger? Why are they here?” I asked, pulling him by the arm, turning him to face me.

“I heard voices under the house,” he said flatly. It was clear his mind was struggling with it.

“What?” I couldn’t believe my ears.

“I heard voices under the house,” he repeated, giving me a stern look.

The officer kicked at the ground as if waiting for me to give him permission to leave.

“Roger,” I began…

“They were talking about me. Three of them. I could hear them shushing each other. But, Ben…   I heard them.” His voice held a level of desperation. His face twisted, his eyes begging me to believe him. “Benjamin. I swear to you… I heard them.” His voice, little more than a whisper, quivered.

Before I could react the harsh crackle of the officers walkie-talkie burst to life.

“Ten four,” he said into his shoulder. His eyes, clearly serious, shot to me.

“Thank you, Officer.” I barely got the words out of my mouth and he was marching toward the gate.

I turned to follow him but Roger made a beeline in the opposite direction.

“Benjamin, come over here. They’ve just begun working. Come on. I don’t know how long it will last. Hurry,” he called excitedly, running back and forth.

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Author Tegon Maus

MachinesOfTheLittlePeople author

I was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends I could conjure. Not that I wasn’t friendly, I just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe I lived in my head way more than I should have, maybe not. I liked machines more than people, at least I did until I met my wife.

The first thing I can remember writing was for her. For the life of me I can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married me shortly after that. I spent a good number of years after inventing games and prototypes for a variety of ideas before I got back to writing.

It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought it was more of a stepping stone. My wife and I had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told.

I was thrilled. If there is one thing I enjoy it’s making people believe me and I like to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mine you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not. When I write, I always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, I guarantee you, nothing, makes me happier.

Amazon / B&N /  / Tegon Maus / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon /

Goodreads / Shelfari / Linkedin / Pinterest

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Just a little….Hair Of The Dog ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Posted: August 18, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , ,
4

Partners In Crime Tours

Hair Of The Dog

A Dan Mahoney Mystery

by Susan Slater

24974807

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0420-3
Purchase Links:

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My Review

It’s supposed to be kind of their practice honeymoon. Soon to be married, Dan entices his fiancee Elaine to spend some time with him in tropical Florida. He works an an investigator for United Life and Casualty. They have a case he needs to check out. Five prized dogs were lost in a fire at the Greyhound Racing Park. Things look all in order and Dan can steal some quality time with Elaine. Should be an easy wrap.

That is until Elaine stumbles upon a stray dog while taking a walk and the dog has a clue in it’s mouth.

I was drawn to this book because of the Greyhound racing. I live in Alabama and we don’t have horse racing, which I love. I was introduced to the Mobile Greyhound Racing Club and found it just as fun and exciting. I was an amateur and chose my bets by catchy names for the dogs. Never did win much but I loved watching those elegant, sleek dogs chase that rabbit.

I did enjoy the characters. Each had their own mysteries. Dan had to determine if the insurance company should pay off on the fire and the lost greyhounds. Elaine was getting her P.I. license and working a case for her mother-in law, Maggie. And Maggie was worried that her new fiance, Stanley, might be someone other than he who says he is.

In an area renowned for ex mobsters provided with new identities from the witness protection agency, who knows who Stanley really is. About to uproot herself and move to Palm Beach, Maggie wants to make sure she doesn’t have a rotten apple from the barrel.

And lets not forget Fucher. What a sweetie. He’s a bit slow but loves the dogs and taking care of them, especially his beloved Sadie. An employee at the track, he’s the perfect patsy for the cops to arrest. It’s not just arson either. Kennel owner, Jackson Sanchez, was found stabbed to death with the word thief carved into his forehead. Could Fucher have done it? He recently came into a lot of money and perhaps he loaned some to Jackson , and he wasn’t paying it back?

The police believe they have their man and are content to look no further.

Mystery upon mystery, the plot is afoot. I was kept on my toes, for sure. The author had me going in circles and, until the smoke cleared, I had no idea who the true culprit or culprits were.

I chased that rabbit and got my reward.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

It sounds like some work and mostly play when United Life and Casualty sends its investigator Dan Mahoney to Florida. Five greyhounds—all heavily insured—were lost in a fire at the Daytona dog track. So simple. Five dogs dead by smoke inhalation, bagged, tagged, and cremated. Papers all in order. Ashes in specialty urns on the desk of Dixie Halifax, track and casino co-owner. In jail, a young employee charged with arson to cover a murder he’s blamed for committing. Then the body of kennel owner Jackson Sanchez is found face down in a pool of blood, a knife stuck in his back. But Sanchez didn’t die from a knife wound. Someone has carved “thief” on his forehead. The blood pooled underneath his body isn’t his. Should Dan be looking for a second corpse? And the one man who can answer questions, the track vet, dies in a motorcycle accident. Working this case is not as complicated for Dan as having his mother Maggie move into the FBI’s favorite mob slob haven in nearby Palm Coast, while his fiancée Elaine Linden, on sabbatical, works on a PI license. Perfect—the FBI can set Maggie up to spy on her boyfriend who may be laundering cash in some geriatric mafia scheme in this follow-up to Flash Flood and Rollover.

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

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Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

Morning. The gold-orange glow shimmered in the narrow window high above him barely illuminating the computers and file cabinets. He turned over and rubbed his right hip bone. Musta slept on that spring poking up through the cotton batting. Cheap mattress, cheap cot, but when he was working with the dogs late, he could sleep in the office—didn’t have to travel ten miles to get home. On his bicycle. If his mother had taught him one thing, it was not to look the gift horse in the mouth and to thank the Lord for small favors. All in all, he didn’t have no regrets.

He could hear the dogs. Mostly barking but there were a couple howlers out there. And it was breakfast time. They never waited much past sunrise to let him know they were expecting a bowl of raw meat and kibble. These dogs were as precious as race horses, even if they only chased a mechanical rabbit a couple times a week. He swung his legs over the cot’s side and sat up, taking a deep breath. Acrid smoke settled around his head and the deep breath sent him to his knees in a spasm of coughing. Fire. Oh, God, help him. He had to get the dogs out. The barking was at a fever pitch now. Had the fire reached the kennels? He grabbed his pillow and pressed it to his nose and mouth. Better. He could take them to the turnout. That area of scruffy grass where potential bettors could size up the day’s might-be stars. No time for muzzles. Bites would be the least of his worries about now.
He moved the pillow away from his mouth, “Sadie? Come here, girl.” She never left his side that sleek, brown-eyed silver greyhound. Knew without words that he’d saved her life some four years back. Slept with him curled into a ball at the foot of the cot. Shared his lunch and dinner. She was a real pushover for shrimp fried rice and pot stickers. Frantically he tried to see in the haze. The office door was open. That was odd. Could he have forgotten to latch it? Oh well, he’d find her outside in the hall or maybe in the kennel. She wouldn’t be far.

But he couldn’t go out in his skivvies. He put the pillow down and pulled on overalls, no time for a shirt or shoes and, bending low, pillow again over his mouth and nose, with eyes squinted almost shut, he sprinted for the door. And went sprawling. Through the doorway, crashing with a thud on one knee, slamming head-first onto the tile, shoulder scraping against the doorjamb, propelled forward, splayed out on all fours. And all because he caught his foot on … on … on a body. He pushed up, sitting back hard on his haunches, then bolted upright, heart pounding, slipping in the blood pooling beside the inert man dressed in Levis and plaid shirt, lying facedown, but with a knife handle sticking straight up out of his back. He couldn’t stop his hands from shaking. He backed up against the wall knowing the keening sounds were his, a low-pitched wail that rose in intensity. Help me. God and my mama, help me.
The smoke was thick now. He had to do something. He bent over, dropped to all fours, grasped the knife handle and closed his eyes. The jerk threw him backwards as the knife slipped out easily and clattered across the tile. It was out, but he knew it wouldn’t matter none to the man on the floor. He was dead. Absolutely, totally not getting up anytime soon. He knelt beside the body and leaning across it firmly put his left hand on the shoulder opposite, and right hand around the man’s upper arm and pulled. The man flopped over against his thigh, then slipped down leaving a smear of red and settled into the pooled blood. “Jackson?”

He stared down at the biggest kennel owner at the Daytona track. But no time to wonder about what had happened, that fire wasn’t slowing down. Smoke billowed thick above his head. He grabbed up the pillow, and squinting into the acrid gray cloud, raced along the corridor to the room of large metal crates lining every wall, each holding a dog. Much less smoke back here. He tossed the pillow aside and set to work. He started with the crates closest to the hall. He twisted handles and jerked doors open as fast as he could, stopping only to cross the hall and throw wide the double doors to the outside.

Dogs pushed against him, jostling to enter the run that emptied into the observation and exercise area. Fifty dogs. All being held over for Thursday’s races, with a hundred more arriving that morning. They had sent a whole bunch for training earlier that evening. And now the transport carrying the new racers was due at nine. Thank the Lord they hadn’t gotten here yet. He needed to make sure the dogs still kenneled at the track were all accounted for. But no counting now. He’d save that for later; he needed to keep going. He didn’t stop until the last crate had been opened and the last greyhound had bolted for what they thought might be freedom. But had he gotten everyone out the exit? Dogs were everywhere, and the smoke wasn’t clearing. Thin tendrils hung in the air.
Only one thing to do. He grabbed two packages of stew meat from a fridge in the hall and waved handfuls above his head to get the attention of the errant few still circling frantically. He led them through the exit to safety, slamming the door behind him.

Still, no Sadie. He yelled her name but doubted she could hear over the raucous, panicked dogs. Had she run with the pack and was already safely out in the chain-link enclosure? He could have easily missed her in all the confusion. Maybe she was fighting over turf or circling the fence looking for him right now. The smoke was thinner outdoors, but behind him, the office was engulfed in flames. No time to check now. She’d wait for him. She wouldn’t run away.

The body. Oh no. He’d forgotten. He wasn’t thinking straight. He should have pulled it out of the doorway. He couldn’t just leave it to burn. Dead or not, that wasn’t showing respect to the family. He knew Jackson had a mother. You could find her every Wednesday when the programs were free, putting down a big chunk of her Social Security check at a betting window. He had to give Jackson back to his mama.

He started to run. The closer to the office, the thicker the smoke. He dropped to all fours and crawled forward. He stopped. Had he passed the office? No. He was in front of the door. There was the blood spot darker now around the edges. But no body. Jackson was gone. Maybe he’d been wrong about him being dead; maybe Jackson had crawled away. And he took his knife with him. There wasn’t any knife where it used to be. That was a puzzle. What if the body had been a dream?
He could hear sirens, trucks turning in from South Williamson Road. Tendrils of fire now licked out of the office coming way too close to his clothing. No more wondering, he needed to leave. He crawled backwards and then stood and ran toward the dogs. He needed to do a count and find Sadie and then feed the dogs their breakfast. He’d grab some muzzles—he hoped there hadn’t already been fights. Funny how some dogs were just jealous and needed to have their way. He’d bet old Pete had already put the chomp on somebody. Sadie’d be smart. She’d stay out of the way. He tried to whistle for her but there was too much noise. She’d never be able to hear him.

 

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Author Bio

authorSusan is the author of the Ben Pecos series (Pumpkin Seed Massacre, A Way to the Manger, Yellow Lies and Thunderbird), a stand-alone (Five O’clock Shadow), a women’s fiction novel (0 to 60), a para-normal short story in Rod Serling’s commemorative Twilight Zone Anthology (Eye for an Eye), and the Dan Mahoney series. Susan lives on the Atlantic coast and writes full-time.

Catch Up:
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Adopt a Greyhound! Check out A Ticket Home by clicking on the image below. Aren’t they precious!

With short racing careers, these beautiful dogs need some TLC when the dust settles.

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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Susan Slater & Poisoned Pen Press. There will be one US winner of 1 Box of Poisoned Pen Press books including Hair of the Dog by Susan Slater. The giveaway begins on August 1st, 2015 and runs through August 31st, 2015.

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Teaser Tuesdays #126 ~ Ghosts Among Men

Posted: August 18, 2015 in Mystery, Novella, Paranormal or fantasy, Teaser Tuesdays
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48

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for this week is from

Ghosts Among Men

A Samantha Davidson Novella

by Laura Del

25623998

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My Teaser from 18% in the eBook.

“Would you please go away,” I almost begged her. Even for a dead person she was annoying.

“Fine. But remember – “

“You’ll be back,” I finished. “I get it.”

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My Review

You’d think being able to see and talk to ghosts would be a handy thing if you’re a private investigator. But that doesn’t help Samantha Davidson.

Samantha is working a murder case with her assistant, Mark, and homicide detective, Lance MacDowell. She sees and interviews the murdered girl, Allison.  The problem is, Allison can’t remember what happened to her, who killed her.

Samantha has solved all twenty of her cases so far, from helping loved ones connect to catching adulterers. Not bad for only a year as a P.I. But this case could threaten that record.

Life gets complicated for Samantha. Things aren’t what they appear in this case. Lots of secrets. Lots of money. Lots of ghosts. And she’s trying to have a love life too, crushing on her sexy office manager, Mark.  Hey, a girl’s gotta try.

I’d call this a dark comedy mystery. Heavy on chuckles and mystery.

There’s a scene where Samantha is having dinner with the parents of Allison, the murdered girl. The father doesn’t want his wife to know he’s hired a private investigator, especially one who communicates with ghosts, so Sam poses as the dead girls friend.

Try to picture Sam, struggling to ignore Allison as the ghost butts into every conversation. It’s almost impossible not to blow her cover. Allison is a sassy lass and loves toying with her.

There’s a dark side too. Things got creepy while reading a scene where Sam is dreaming. In her dream, she’s Allison and reliving what happened the night she was murdered. Such an ugly betrayal.

I was surprised by how quickly I came to know the characters in this story. This isn’t a long book, but I easily connected to and liked many of them. They were easy to visualize, even the stereotypical jerks.

And the ending was something else. Bazinga was the first thing that popped into my head when the case unfolded.

I’d recommend this to mystery and paranormal lovers. It’s fast, fun, and you’ll want more.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Samantha Davidson sees ghosts for a living. More specifically, she sees ghosts as a private investigator, working alongside the Chicago Police Department to put away killers and put troubled spirits to rest.

When the daughter of one of Chicago’s wealthiest families turns up dead, Samantha and her assistant Mark team up with homicide detective Lance MacDowell to get to the bottom of the crime.

Allison Allen is tall, blonde, beautiful–and very much dead. As Samantha interviews the girl, who doesn’t remember anything about the circumstances of her own murder, it’s clear that there’s more going on behind the walls of this manicured home than anyone wants to let on—and that Samantha has her work cut out for her this time.

Juggling her own love life, tracking down troubled spirits, and evading attempts to thwart her investigation keeps Samantha on her toes. Good thing Samantha knows how to keep her eyes open, her wits about her, and her sense of humor.

A paranormal mystery that is both dark and funny, Ghosts Among Men will cause chills to run down your back even while you’re laughing out loud at the lovable, strong, and supernaturally sighted private investigator Samantha Davidson.

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