SMUGGLER'S COVE

3.5 stars out of 5

At the time I received an advance copy of this book for review courtesy of the publisher (via NetGalley), at least, this book was described as being in the "thriller" and "mystery" genres. Well, although I did enjoy reading the book - the first in what will be this prolific author's "Twin Lights" series - there's nothing in it, including a dead body, that to me was thrilling, and almost nothing mysterious. I can't even describe it as a cozy mystery, although a case probably could be made for that. Rather, it's just a story - albeit it an interesting one - about a brother and sister who grow up in the shadow of a father who was sentenced to 100 years in jail for bilking his financial clients out of millions back when they were barely dry behind the ears.

The "kids" are Madison and Lincoln Taylor, who starting out living and loving the good life with mom Gwen and dad Jackson. Their lives changed forever in 1996, when Madison was a junior at a prestigious fashion design college and Lincoln was in his first year of college elsewhere. Their mother called with the gobsmacking news that their father had been arrested and carted away to jail. 

Madison and Lincoln grow older, Lincoln  marries Madison's best friend and co-worker at the New YorkCity fashion magazine Madison heads up. Their father remains in jail, and they rarely speak to his brother, Kirby, who lives life along the New Jersey shores that's close to being off the grid. Then comes another smack in the teeth: Kirby dies, leaving the siblings his broken down but thriving marina in Smuggler's Cove, tucked away along the Navesink River where the infamous Captain Kidd and other pirates of the day are rumored to have buried treasure. Assuming they'll sell the property as fast as they can, Madison, Lincoln and Olivia pay a visit to check it out. During their visit, their plans take a twist when a dead body is found under their marina dock (for the record, this appears somewhere around the 60% mark of the book on my Kindle; a bit of a mystery, yes, but since there are no signs of foul play, it barely qualifies).

From there on - and there's not much left - it's more of their plans for the rest of the summer and hints of what may be in store for the next book. I can't say I'm looking forward to reading that one, especially if it's more of the same, which quickly became same-old for me. The writing is excellent, and I'd even describe the story as engrossing, but it went nowhere that I really wanted or expected it to go.

Smuggler's Cove by Fern Michaels (Kensington, July 2025); 288 pp.

DEATH OF AN EX

4 stars out of 5

I missed the first book in this series, but I certainly enjoyed the heck out of this, the second - an easy one to read as a standalone. That said, I'll be watching for the installment for sure.

The main character, Evander (Vandy) Myrick, is a cop turned private investigator who's come home to ply her trade in Queenstown, New Jersey - the only Black P.I. in the community. Years ago, she was married for a brief time to Phil Bolden, with whom she had a daughter Monica, who died close to three years ago in a fraternity house as a student at nearby Rutgers University. After their marriage broke up, Phil remarried and has become a prominent Queenstown resident, businessman and philanthropist; he and his wife have a son, Tyriq, a star athlete with an artistic bent and a chip on his shoulder.

Vandy is befriending Ingrid Ramirez, a student at the town's prestigious Rome School. It's the school of choice for the town's wealthier folks, with scholarships available to the less financially fortunate (read: Blacks). Accompanying Ingrid to an awards dinner where the girl will get an award that's a first for a Black student, Vandy learns that Tyriq and Ingrid have a "thing" - and that Vandy's ex, Phil, is getting some kind of award. But when Phil gets up to give his presentation, what he says seems to be not only unexpected, but not, shall we say, well received.

Later, Phil - who is married to another school employee and private college guidance counselor, Melinda - later reconnects with Vandy, who starts having second thoughts about why they divorced. The next morning, Vandy gets the surprise of her life as the police knock on her door.

From that point on, I can't divulge much without spoiling the thrill for other readers (tempting though it may be). Suffice it to say that Vandy becomes part of an investigation that for me conjured up memories of a certain "Full House" star, bribery and money laundering. The whole thing ends with a bang as well as my vow, as I mentioned at the beginning, to not miss another of the books in this series. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to it by way of a pre-release copy of this book. 

Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts (Minotaur Books, June 2025); 306 pp.

DOGGED PURSUIT

5 stars out of 5

For at least a half-dozen years, I've bemoaned the fact that I found this wonderful series late in the game; I've read only the most recent six, and this is the 31st. More's the pity; but I'm also not one to go back and read dozens of books that came before the one with which I started. That doesn't mean, though, that I'm not interested in how it all began. Well, that itch has now been scratched. This installment basically is a prequel to the others - answering a ton of questions as well as being a doggone good book all on its own.

As it begins, former prosecuting attorney Andy Carpenter is nearing 30 years of age, newly married and, according to his retired highly regarded prosecutor father, heading for the dark side to start his own firm as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey. Readers are introduced to Tara, Andy's lovable golden retriever (and, I assume, the force behind the dog rescue Tara Foundation that keeps Andy busy in his retirement years). We're also introduced to Laurie Collins, who serves as his bodyguard (but who followers of the series know comes to play a much different role in future books).

Tara the dog, in fact, is directly responsible for the beginning of this tale. When Andy goes to the shelter to look for a small-ish dog for himself, he finds her and loses his heart. But when he sees that Tara and her shelter companion, Sunny, seem inseparable, he can't resist taking them both home. Problem is, Sunny isn't up for grabs; his owner, Frank Tierney, is in jail, awaiting trial for the murder of his former boss. Unless Frank gives the go-ahead, Sunny must stay right where he is.

Not wanting that to happen to the poor pup - and a bit curious about Frank's situation - Andy visits him in jail (Frank, that is). One thing leads to another, and poof - Andy has taken Frank's case - and as he soon learns, a difficult case to win it will be. Frank meets all the requirements for conviction: he has means, motive and opportunity - some of which has been documented by the very capable prosecution. But for whatever reason - maybe Frank's penchant for dogs - Andy is pretty sure they're barking up the wrong tree and his client is innocent. Proving that, however, will be a challenge for his entire team, and ultimately put his own life in danger.

All of this, of course, is laid out for readers like me to enjoy right up to the end - and enjoy it I did. Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get my eyes on a pre-release copy. Series lovers, heads up - this one's a don't-miss. And it seems to me to be a great beginning for those who want to start reading a wonderful, thoroughly entertaining series.

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2025); 288 pp.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON

5 stars out of 5

Retired attorney Andy Carpenter insists he wants to stay that way, but somehow he keeps getting pulled back into court. This time, his trusted but somewhat reclusive investigator, Marcus Clark, asks for a favor - the only time in their long association that's happened. It seems that one of the young men Marcus has helped get on the straight and narrow - Nick Williams - has been identified as a mass murderer after six employees were brutally shot at the law firm where he's been working.

When Marcus gets a call from Nick, who's been missing, to say he was kidnapped on the day of the murders and spent several days tied up in some kind of warehouse before his kidnappers inexplicably set him free. Marcus then calls Andy, who really doesn't want any part of the case, but he can't say no to Marcus. Reluctantly, Andy gathers his super-competent team around him, including Marcus and Andy's ex-cop wife, Laurie Collins - and they begin to plot their strategy despite misgivings that include a couple of witnesses who are for the most part convinced that the man with the gun they saw was, in fact, Nick.

As usual, the story is narrated by Andy, who enjoys talking to his own dogs while taking them for walks. He's an extremely personable guy with a sense of humor and a penchant for acting up in the courtroomwith both adding a bit of fun to each adventure (and eliciting an occasional giggle from me). Since the motive attributed to Nick seems thin - and both he and Marcus are so insistent that Nick wasn't involved in any way - the team begins to look for another reason for the murders. As clues turn up, Andy shares them with readers (and I'll leave those reveals up to him, thank you very much) right up to the somewhat surprising conclusion. 

Speaking of thank you very much, all that's left for me to say is that - to the publisher, via NetGalley - for giving me the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of another installment in a favorite series. Well done, as always!

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2024); 298 pp.

GOOD DOG, BAD COP

4 stars out of 5

Unhappy that I'd missed quite a few books in this series after reading "Holy Chow" last year, I was looking forward to this, the next in the now four-book series. While it was enjoyable, but I'm somewhat unhappy again. Why? The character that made me love that one, retired criminal attorney Andy Carpenter of Paterson, New Jersey, is conspicuous in his absence.

The focus here is on the K Team, comprised of Corey Douglas, Laurie Collins, Marcus Clark and their K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel (who really doesn't get to shine as much as I'd have liked, but at least he's in it). The team members aren't employees of the Paterson Police Department, but they've been hired by the Police Chief as sort of consultants to investigate cold cases. Their pick of the litter is the death of two people - a woman and a cop generally thought to be "dirty." But that man was a mentor to Corey, who never believed the rumors. They also plan to investigate murder of another guy who was shot while in his car in a parking lot.

The investigation sort of wanders all over the place as hunches are followed up and leads go not much of anywhere except to hint at local mob connections and a possible event that could bring part of the country to its knees. But here and there, connections are made, giving the team incentive to keep digging. It's quite a chase, and in the end, all's well that ends well. As for me, I'm ready for the next one (hopefully with Carpenter back in action), and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a prerelease copy of this one.

Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, March 2023); 288 pp.

HOLY CHOW

5 stars out of 5

Unfamiliar as I am with this series - this is the 25th book - I admit to expecting a dog-centric story on the order of the Spencer Quinn Chet and Bernie detective series that's a favorite of mine. It was clear from the git-go that I was barking up the wrong tree here, but no matter - it's every bit as doggone good. Put another way, what a thoroughly enjoyable book! 

The star of the show isn't a dog; rather, it's mostly retired criminal attorney Andy Carpenter of Paterson, New Jersey. Independently wealthy, most of his time and money have gone to the dogs; he runs the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization, and is the human parent to three of his own. Not too long ago, a 60-ish woman named Rachel Morehouse stopped by looking to adopt a four-legged friend and went home with Lion, an older Chow Chow (just for the record, although I'm a confirmed cat person, I do like dogs - and Chows are a favorite to root for while I'm watching the annual Westminster Dog Show). Anyway, Rachel later calls Andy to ask if he'll agree to take care of Lion should something happen to her. Her husband is deceased, and she's not sure her stepson Anthony will want anything to do with the pooch.

Not an issue, Andy tells her - never suspecting he'll be held to that promise much sooner than expected. Next thing he knows, he's in Rachel's attorney's office waiting for her will to be read; it seems she's suddenly passed away. There, he meets Anthony, who seems to be a pleasant enough guy who's not unhappy about inheriting Lion. That gets put on hold, though, when Anthony gets arrested; it seems his stepmother's death was not of natural causes, and he's been charged with her murder.

It also turns out her estate is far more than chump change, and even though Anthony may not get the (ahem) lion's share of it, he insists he's innocent and begs Andy to defend him in court. Because he was impressed by Rachel and a few things don't quite add up, he agrees to take on the case and brings his supremely talented team in to help. From that point on, the case starts to heat up as details of Rachel's vast business holdings come to light. For those, however, you'll have to read the book for yourself; all I'll say is it's a well-written, intriguing and often humorous adventure you won't want to miss. I'm sure glad I didn't, and I'm going to make sure I don't miss any more. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for leading me to a pre-release review copy of this one.

Holy Chow by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2022); 269 pp.

THE NIGHT SHIFT

4 stars out of 5

Same town, same gruesome scenario, 15 years apart: Four teenagers working late - one set at Blockbuster Video and the other at an ice cream shop, both in Linden, New Jersey - are brutally attacked. In each instance, only one of the four survives. The aftermath of the first attack in 1999 devastated lives of family and friends as well as that of Emma, the surviving girl. Now a therapist, Emma is called in to help calm the survivor of the ice cream shop murders; that plus her status as the lone survivor of the 1999 incident, she's thought to be eminently qualified.

Turns out the survivor, Jesse Duvall, is quite the handful; she's belligerent, refuses help and generally uncooperative - albeit a bit less so when she learns Emma is a survivor like she is. And suspicions that the two attacks may have been done by the same person are solidified when Jesse shares with Emma the words the attacker spoke to her when he left her for dead: "Good night, pretty girl." Shockingly, they're the same words Emma's attacker said to her.

Enter Sarah Keller, a very pregnant FBI agent who's trying her best to get the case solved before her twins decide to enter the real world, and a public defender who, unbeknownst to everyone else, is the traumatized brother of the man believed to be the Blockbuster murderer - and the man who got away.

Chapters switch from perspectives of various characters as well as time frames, with each adding bits of information that give readers insights into what's to come - which includes plenty of surprises (I did guess the culprit early on, but I'm always delighted when that happens). My only question? All the characters are referred to by their first names except the FBI agent, who's always "Keller." If that is supposed to mean something, it went over my head.

That puzzlement aside, I heartily recommend this action-packed book that I truly had trouble putting down. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Another excellent book by this talented author!

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay (Minotaur Books, March 2022); 368 pp.

DON'T LET GO

5 stars out of 5

Prolific readers know what I'm talking about: That "afterglow" that happens when you've finished a knock-your-socks-off book and hate to spoil by starting another one. Such was the case with this book, which followed close on the heels of one of the best I've read in a while. But this time, I really wasn't worried; the author has long been on my list of favorites. And from page one, yet again, he didn't disappoint. It's an easy-to-read, super-engrossing story that moves along quickly with plenty of intriguing twists and turns along the way.

So let's get to the nitty-gritty. Napoleon Dumas, a cop in suburban New Jersey, got a double whammy right before high-school graduation; his twin brother Leo and Leo's girlfriend Diana were killed by a train. As if that weren't bad enough, his girlfriend - with whom he expected to spend the rest of his life - that same night dumped him and ran off, never to be seen again. Needless to say, "Nap" - who narrates the story - has been despondent to a degree ever since as well as determined that someday, some way, he'll find out what really happened back then. His only comfort over the years is his friend and mentor, Augie; the about-to-retire local police chief encouraged Nap to join the force and serves as a sort of surrogate father.

As the story unfolds, Nap learns that another cop who was part of the high-school crowd has been murdered - apparently a shoot-and-run during a routine traffic stop. But then comes a surprising revelation: Maura's fingerprints are found in the rental car believed to have been driven by the killer, who has not been identified. That gets Nap's attention big-time, prompting him to set out with renewed vigor to find his old love. It turns out to be a complex journey that circles around a clandestine club and a long-since-closed missile base and puts him squarely in the crosshairs of some very nasty people who will go to just about any lengths to make sure their secrets stay that way.

Anything else that happens I will keep secret as well, lest I spoil things for others. But I'll shout one thing from the rooftops: This book is not to be missed. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben (Dutton, September 2017); 361 pp.

TRICKY TWENTY-TWO

4 stars out of 5



If nothing else, the latest adventures of bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is a hoot. By the end of a handful of chapters, I'd laughed out loud at least twice and once the water I was dumb enough to be sipping as I read got snorted out my nose. Quite a few of the chuckles came at the antics of Stephanie's office cohort, Lula, who is always a trip to say the least. When it comes to length, it's practically a novella, making it a quick read (for anyone who wonders about such things, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America defines "novella" as 17,500 to 40,000 words, or roughly 100 pages).

As usual, Stephanie is working at making a living, this time by chasing down Ken Globobic (Gobbles), who lives at the Zeta fraternity house at Kiltman College and was arrested for beating up the dean of students. When Gobbles didn't show up for his court date, Stephanie and Lula head out to check the frat house, where very strange things seem to be happening and some of the characters are weird by anybody's standards.

When a particularly unpopular campus big shot gets bumped off, things get stranger still; this time, though, Stephanie's main squeeze, Trenton, N.J. cop Joe Morelli, is on the case. Morelli also is fighting demons of his own in more ways than one, threatening his relationship with Stephanie and opening up the possibility yet again for dilly dallying with her hunka-hunka security guy Ranger (for me, most of that scenario has been a yawn over the span of several books).

Also as usual, the scrapes Stephanie and Lula get into border on the ridiculous (but somehow seems to me to be part of the appeal), as does the plot (ditto). There are the expected near-misses on losing life and/or limb and bullseyes on totaling at least one of Ranger's fancy cars, all of which is in good fun. All in all, reading this is a relatively fun way to wile away a few hours.

Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich (Random House LLC, November 2015); 304 pp.