Review: Inmate 1577

Inmate 1577 by Alan Jacobson is the fourth book in the “Karen Vail” thriller series. Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing LLC, July 2011

When an elderly woman is found raped and brutally murdered in San Francisco, Vail heads west to team up with SFPD Inspector Lance Burden and her former task force colleague, Detective Roxxann Dixon. As Vail, Burden, and Dixon follow the killer’s trail in and around San Francisco, the offender continues his rampage, leaving behind clues that ultimately lead them to the most unlikely of places: a mysterious island ripped from city lore whose long-buried, decades-old secrets hold the key to their case. Alcatraz. The Rock. 

What a thrilling ride. The author weaves two separate events from the past to the present and it’s in the present that we find Vail and the team looking for a connection between the brutal murder and rape of two elderly women and their husbands. When more victims are found, sifting through the clues trying to find a link between them and Karen’s profile will be the key to finding the killer. This fast-paced, action-filled drama kept me turning the pages as I could not put this book down. With so many twist and turns, this thriller kept me guessing and oh man, I did not see that coming when the killer’s identity was revealed. A great story that has me waiting for the next chapter in Karen Vail’s journey.

Dru

posted previously at dru's book musing

What a Week!

What A Week!

I don't know where this week has gone? One minute it was Monday and now it's Friday. I managed to get in some writing, and a lot of cross stitch is accomplished on my family sampler. After that things become sketchy and I know it started when my dryer quit running. I know I made a lot more meals thn I have in the past week. My daughter called every night but one and I even talked to my son once this week.

However I never wrote the reviews, posted that I want authors to interview for this (I do so if you want an interview email me or leave me your email address) and I never did my Monday blog which was then intended to be my Tuesday blog and well here we are on Friday.

My hsuband is to have carpal tunnel surgery in both hands so he will have a consultation with the surgeon this coming Wednesday. It took them almost two weeks to let us know and then I had to call them Grrrrrr......

It became colder and colder over the past week. However now we are going to be in the 70's through most of next week.

Okay my purpose for this blog is not to bitch but instead talk about how much I love this month. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. So are you dressing up this year and going to a party? Are going to read a Halloween Mystery and if so which one? Are you watching spooky movies and which movie would like to be a character in? Are you writing a Halloween blog ? Do you make a Halloween Ornament Tree? Do you give Halloween gifts? Are stitching a Halloween cross stitch project? When you look in the mirror what stares back at you?

Until next week have a safe and fun weekend!

Pam

Review: The Serial Killer's Wife

Title:  The Serial Killer's Wife
Autor:  Robert Swartwood
Publisher:  CreateSpace
ISBN: 1463664079

Sarah gets a call at work one day to find her child has been kidnapped and her life is thrust into turmoil again. But Sarah is not really Sarah (her name is really Elizabeth) - she had run away and hidden after her husband was arrested as a serial killer. And now someone wants his "trophies."

Now the clock is ticking, and we meet interesting characters along the way.  Her panic is palpable. A very suspenseful read with lots of fascianting plot twists

Terri

Review: Til Death Do us Bark

Till Death Do Us Bark by Judi McCoy is the fifth book in the “Dog Walker” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, August 2011

A Hamptons wedding gives Ellie an excuse to take a break for the first time in ten years, so she and her best friend pack up their dogs—yorkiepoo Rudy and terrier Twink—and head to the beach for a week. Since humans and canines have been invited to the festivities, Ellie hopes she doesn’t get roped into dealing with the wet-nosed wedding guests. But soon she’s chasing her tail over trouble of the two-legged variety. Before the bride can say, “I do,” someone is murdered, and Ellie and Rudy must put their noses to the ground to sniff out the killer before the entire ceremony goes to the dogs.

Ellie and Viv with their furry pals (Rudy and Mr. T) are in the Hamptons attending the wedding of Viv’s oldest sister. Instead of a happy celebration, Ellie finds herself involved in yet another murder, the groom-to-be. Secrets are exposed as Ellie, with help from Viv and Rudy, search for clues that will shut the door on wedded bliss for the killer. This easy-paced tale was such a fun read. I thought I knew the identity of the killer, but the author had other ideas that led me astray. With Viv’s family at the forefront, it was fun watching Viv’s relationship with her family as she worked together with Ellie and the dogs to prove a person’s innocence. The banter between Ellie and her canine friends is just as entertaining as the conversations she has with her human friends. This was another good story in this likeable series.

previously posted on dru's book musing

Pamela's Progress on Bookshelf project

Review - Close to Home

Close to Home by Jenna Bennett is the fourth book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, September 2011

Savannah’s late. The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it’s a circumstance that should make everyone happy – now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone’s been hoping and praying! – it isn’t Todd’s baby. And Rafe Collier, whose baby it is, didn’t sign on for fatherhood.  Add in the murder of Savannah’s sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila’s friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe’s twelve year old son David – the kid he never knew he had – and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come: When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah’s pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah hopes. In the end, she’s left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn’t, and when she gets in over her head, Rafe’s not there to save the day.

This story evoke so many emotions that I could not put this book down. This was a departure from the previous three titles when a murder hit very close to Savannah and her family. While dealing with her own health issues, a missing “boyfriend”, helping her brother find an heir; Savannah looks into who wanted her SIL dead and faces an opponent that gave her cause. The page-turning, action-filled drama pulled me in from that first sentence to the last line and I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderful series.

Dru Ann

 Previously posted on  dru's book musing

Review - Sleight of Paw

Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly is the second book in the “Magical Cats” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, September 2011

Kathleen Paulson never wanted to be the crazy cat lady. But when Owen and Hercules followed her home from mysterious Wisteria Hill, she realized her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her: Her cats have magical abilities. And when a body is found near Kathleen’s favorite local café, she knows Owen’s talent for turning invisible and Hercules’s ability to walk through closed doors will give the felines access to clues Kathleen couldn’t get without arousing suspicion.  With her pet partners, and perhaps the assistance of a certain handsome detective, Kathleen is determined to find out who kill Agatha Shephard, an elderly woman who seems to have helped almost everyone in town at one time or another. Someone is hiding dark secrets, and it will take a bit of furtive investigating to catch the coldhearted killer.

This was a good read. When Kathleen’s friend is arrested for murder and believing in her innocence, Kathleen begins an earnest investigation into the murder. This was easy-paced story that was very appealing. The mystery was good and with guidance from her mystical cats, Kathleen was able to expose a killer. I liked the character developments; the easy flow of conversations; the small-town feeling and of course, her two furry roommates. I look forward to reading the next book in this charming series.

Previously posted on  dru's book musing