FOLLOW ME

5 stars out of 5

Wow! What a timely, provocative and downright creepylicious story! Don't misunderstand: Generally speaking, I'm all in when it comes to new technology, even though I realize that just about any advancement comes with the potential for misuse. Knowing that, I'm active on social media, but I don't post anything I'd be upset about if my grandmother saw it; still, I recognize that who gets what I post - and what they do with it - isn't always under my control.

Case in point: As I was in the middle of this book, my husband and I were recovering from nasty colds. One morning, I mentioned that tidbit on my Facebook page (garnering expected sympathy, of course, from family and friends). What I didn't expect was this: the very next day, an email arrived from our drugstore of choice expressing the hope that we were feeling better and offering a discount on cold-related items. Immediately, the theme from Twlight Zone passed through my brain; to this day, I'm not clear on how that happened, but I'm totally sure it was no coincidence.

The story here follows the experiences of Audrey Miller, who has an enviable following on her blog and Instagram posts. She's just moved from her beloved New York City to Washington, D.C., to take a job managing social media for a major museum. She's also moved close to her ex-boyfriend, who's an on-again, off-again friend with benefits, and to her long-time friend Cat, an on-the-climb attorney at a high-powered D.C. firm.

Audrey lucks into a basement apartment not far from her friends, but it comes with her landlady's whacked-out grandson who loves get into her apartment whenever he feels like staring at her up close and personal. Chapters shift between perspectives of Audrey and Cat and "Him" - an anonymous male who's been in lust with Audrey ever since she began posting all her comings, goings, likes and dislikes online. In fact, her life is like a day-to-day autobiography, open to anyone who cares; clearly, "Him" cares beyond the point of obsession.

Her stalker isn't identified, but readers learn he's managed to install secret software on Audrey's laptop that allows him to track her every moment - even when she's asleep. All she knows is that strange things are happening - like the feeling that she's being watched and that someone besides that grandson has been in her apartment - but there's no way she can prove anything. Meantime, there's growing tension between Audrey and Cat that only grows stronger when Audrey meets Max, who knows one of Cat's darkest secrets - one she's determined to keep that way.

As the relationship between Audrey and Max heats up, the unknown "Him" gets bolder in his pursuit of her affections and the action ratchets up to a can't-put-it-down frenzy that doesn't stop till the bang-up ending. Super good - as well as a scary reminder that somebody's out there watching us all. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-publication copy for review.

Follow Me by Kathleen Barber (Gallery Books, February 2020); 349 pp.

THE OTHER MRS.

4 stars out of 5

Generally speaking, it takes me about a chapter and a half to get so frustrated with paranoid female characters who question everything and everybody. Truth is, the same thing happened here, but there was something so intriguing about the story that my sensible self told my annoyed self to put a lid on it and keep going. And you know what? That was the sensible thing to do.

Sadie, her husband Will and their two sons have left Chicago for Maine, where Will inherited a old but spacious home from his late aunt. Will insisted that they move largely because the aunt's daughter, Imogen, was left an orphan at 16; worse, her mother committed suicide and Imogen was the one who found her.

The scene then shifts to Camille, who lives in Chicago and not only had a fling with Will, but became obsessed with him. At one time, she was Sadie's roommate and coveted Will, but Sadie won him over. Problem is, Camille won't let him alone, finding him for trysts wherever and whenever she can.

From the start, Sadie doesn't much care for Maine; also from the start, Imogen absolutely hates both Sadie and Will - and that makes life difficult at best. But then, it gets worse; a neighbor is found murdered, and fingers begin to point to Sadie - who of course swears she's innocent. And as the evidence against her piles up, the more suspicious and paranoid Sadie becomes. The local police chief - and even her own sons - call her a liar.

Just as I'm about to think the same about her, the plot twists begin; quickly, the scenario changes, and keeps bringing surprises right up to the end. Some of them, including the ending, stretched believability a bit (on occasion more than a bit), but overall, this one is a keeper that held my attention throughout. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica (Park Row, February 2020); 368 pp.

CINDERELLA AND THE GLASS CEILING

4 stars out of 5

Definitely not your mother's fairy tales! Well, not mine, anyway - she was of a generation that firmly believed a woman's job was to find a man who would "provide" for her while she kept their home immaculate and served him three squares a day. In my mother's case, the fact that she had beautiful black curls and could grow, kill and fry up a chicken accompanied by a killer cherry pie no doubt gave her a leg up on the competition.

In spite of (more likely, because of) that upbringing, as a young adult out on my own I enthusiastically embraced the "Women hold up half the sky, Adam was a rough draft" feminist concepts - which, BTW, I hold to this day. That, of course, explains my primary attraction to this book. The other is humor; I love jokes, puns and parodies - no matter how irreverent they may be. In this case, the authors have rewritten a few familiar fairy tales, in which, they explain, "...women get the last word on their own terms."

And boy, do they ever! Honestly, though, I'd be remiss if I didn't offer a word of caution here: Don't sit down to read these stories at bedtime to your young daughter without reading them for yourself first. The language is frank, honest and overall a hoot, but for the most part it's not for anyone who wouldn't dream of uttering the word "vagina" anywhere except in the bathroom with the door closed. That said, the authors certainly get their point across, usually with some chuckles thrown in (Cinderella's stepmother, for instance, resented the girl for "...being the only one in the family without a widow's peak").

In all, there are about two handfuls of revised stories, all of which turn the usually sappy and clueless females into thinking adults (who among us was really happy that Snow White had to do all the cooking and cleaning for seven perfectly healthy little men, one of whom was Grumpy all the time)? My personal favorite is "Some Princesses Are Gay," a modern spin on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea." Did she feel it? Yes, she did. Will she wed the handsome prince? Well, you'll just have to read it and see.

All told, this is an enlightening and quite entertaining compilation (and kudos for the really neat illustrations as well). Now that I've finished, I'm reminded that there's no shortage of other fairy tales that present women in ways at least some of us would rather not be depicted. Hopefully, then, the authors will set about to rectify a few more in another volume. While I wait, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for my pre-publication copy to read and review.

Cinderella and the Glass Ceiling: And Other Feminist Fairy Tales by Laura Lane and Ellen Haun (Seal Press, March 2020); 128 pp.

THE SUN DOWN MOTEL

5 stars out of 5

Do you believe in zombies, ghosts and things that go bump in the night? Neither do I, unless I'm in the middle of a Stephen King novel - or this one. What could be more perfect for reading over a couple of icy cold winter nights?

The story takes place in the quintessential creepy place: A broken-down motel in small-town upstate New York, where lodgers - at least those who actually exist - typically stay one night, pay in cash and leave at odd hours. In 1982, a young night clerk (yes, there was one, if only to deter vagrants from trashing the already disheveled rooms) named Vivian Delaney mysteriously disappears - never to be found. That bothers Carly Kirk, a college student who happens to be Viv's niece. Long a lover of murder stories, in 2017 she leaves college and sets out for remote Fell, New York, to look into her aunt's disappearance.

Carly finds an apartment with another young woman, and once she sees the Sun Down Motel, she realizes the best way to learn more is by working there. Low and behold, the mostly absent owner needs a night clerk - and you guessed it, Carly gets the job. Chapters flip back and forth to the perspectives of Viv and Carly (switching so often that I nearly got whiplash until halfway through, when I was able to keep each time frame in perspective). Almost from her first night at the desk, Carly hears and sees strange things - some of the same things that, readers learn through those flashbacks, Viv experienced as well. Clearly, this motel has sordid secrets; and if Viv has gone to her grave as Carly suspects, it'll take some digging to unearth them.

But terrified as she may be, Carly is nothing if not determined. Gradually, she identifies people who were there when Viv disappeared - some human, some cooperative and others not so much on both scores - but just as her aunt did all those years ago, she pushes on at her own peril. Then and now start coming together near the end, bringing some not entirely unexpected "surprises." Needless to say, you won't learn anything more about that from me.

Without a doubt, this is a book that reeled me in and I didn't want to put down (and except for sleeping, I didn't). Definitely a winner, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get a pre-release peek.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (Berkley, February 2020); 336 pp.

NEVER FORGET

4 stars out of 5

Why the decision was made to translate to English the third book in this series instead of the first remains a puzzle to me, but I'm sure my enjoyment of it suffered as a result (as well as from a few glitches in the translation). While this book stands on its own fairly well, knowing more about the main characters' backgrounds and previous interactions would have made my reading more enjoyable. Nor was I comforted by the author's suggestion that readers are "not to worry" about the lack of background because we "will be able to learn more" when the first two books are translated later this year and next. Sorry, but it's rare that I go back and read prior books in any series.

So for the first half or so, I struggled. But I hung in there, and for the most part, my overall experience was positive as the pace - and my understanding of the rather complex plot - picked up. Detective Victor Lessard of the Montreal Police is an interesting and, for the most part, likable character; hints reveal that he's been shaped, for better or worse, by his background (hence the desire to learn more about what that was). Fighting demons of his past and dealing with two grown children and a new love - a woman named Nadja - keep him on the edge of self-destruction throughout.

His partner, Jacinthe Taillon, doesn't fare so well in my eyes. She and Victor have a contentious yet cautiously respectful relationship, which certainly adds spice. On the other hand, I couldn't help the feeling that considerable effort went into making her unappealing - and I must say that for the most part it succeeded. She's mouthy, irreverent, impatient and basically portrayed as a fat slob who never saw a French fry she wouldn't eat (at one point, for instance, she "came up behind him [Victor] with the grace of a dump truck." Maybe it stems from my feminist leanings, but the overweight digs seemed a bit excessive (pun intended).

The plot is complicated mostly by rather abrupt shifts and an abundance of characters - sometimes called by their first names, sometimes by their last and sometimes by something entirely different - but it's definitely intriguing. At the beginning, a woman's body turns up in a warehouse sporting some very strange markings; later, it's discovered that she was a retired psychiatrist. Then, a homeless guy jumps off a roof, leaving behind a couple of wallets. One belongs to a recently murdered man (also a psychiatrist), and the other to a ritzy corporate attorney who has gone missing.

While constantly dealing with Jacinthe's disagreeable nature, Victor has to work around a few health issues of his own. And unbeknownst to Victor, his son Martin finds trouble of his own, putting him in danger and causing friction between Victor and Nadya. As the police investigation into the suicide and murder victims and missing lawyer continue, evidence of an almost unbelievable conspiracy with ties to the United States begins to emerge, and even more bodies turn up - done in by a fiendishly wicked weapon.

In the end, things are wrapped up rather nicely, making this is a worthwhile read (albeit not an easy one to wade through). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to a new series by way of an advance review copy.

Never Forget by Martin Michaud (Dundum, January 2020); 544 pp.

ONE DAY YOU'LL BURN

4 stars out of 5

This one got me fired up right at the start with

the discovery of a once-human crispy critter under a Thai pagoda in Hollywood. Called in on the case are LAPD Detective Marcus Tullius ("Tully") Jarsdel and his partner Morales. An ID is next to impossible (as it will remain for some time after the body cools off), but signs suggest it wasn't your average body dump. Rather, someone deliberately picked both the modus operandi and disposal site. That brings out Tully's professorial side; the son of two gay fathers, he left the halls of academia for the police ranks (to the total and continuing dismay of both his dads).

Meantime, the two partners have been trying unsuccessfully to learn who's behind the killing of several dogs - each of which bit the dust after biting into poisoned meat on their owners' wedding day. As part of the investigation, the single Tully meets Aleesa, one of those who lost a dog a while back (long enough ago for her to have lost her husband as well). She's a bit on the kooky side - but then so is Tully, who's fond of expounding on history and philosophy at the drop of a page or two. Truth is, I found that characteristic enjoyable, educational and fitting with his character, but I'll also say that my sweet husband - who loves police procedurals perhaps more than I do - wouldn't appreciate Tully's lengthy pontifications nearly as much as I did.

At any rate, Tully and Aleesa hit it off from the git-go, adding a bit of romance to the plot. Before long, the over-baked body is identified; seems he was a huxter who once tried to sell jars of "Hollywood Dirt" to Hollywood looky-loos. Later, Tully also finds evidence that ties the victim to an unsolved case under investigation by a different LAPD department, ruffling feathers of those who are less than thrilled to have Tully and Morales digging around.

Tully tries to put his brain to work on a motive that prompted the human pot roast (leading, hopefully, to the killer's apprehension); but the closer he and Morales get to the flame, the greater the chance one or both will get burned. Making matters worse, yet another couple's official coupling day is spoiled by the killing of their precious pet, leading Tully, almost in desperation, to suggest setting up a sting operation. 

It all leads up to a suspenseful, fiery ending that certainly kept me turning pages (well, okay, swiping my Kindle screen) to the very last word. This is the first in a series, and while I didn't totally warm up to Tully (pun intended), his quirkiness and background make me eager to read the next one. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy of this one. 

Dare I say well done?

One Day You'll Burn by Joseph Schneider (Poisoned Pen Press, February 2020); 336 pp.

WHEN I WAS YOU

4 stars out of 5

I read a ton of pre-release books, and when I get them gratis or at low cost from publishers, I figure I owe it to my benefactors to finish them no matter what. And if I've learned one thing over many years and many more books, it's that I'm right to not be too hasty to call it quits.

Such is the case with this book, which I got through Amazon's First Reads program. Somewhere around the 10% mark, I was ready to call it a day. The main character, Brienne Dougray, depicts the kind of woman who, for the most part, I simply want to smack upside the head - the kind who refuses to listen to reason yet complains about her lot in life and can out-second-guess a paranoid schizophenic.

It didn't take long, though, for me to be glad I hung in there. You guessed it: Not only was I pleased (and surprised) by the turn of events, but in spots I was so close to the edge of my seat that I nearly fell off. I won't say Brienne and I could ever be best buds, but the whole thing kept getting better by the chapter.

The survivor of an attack, Brienne has holed up in the old, spacious home she inherited. Just so she won't constantly be alone, she advertises for a tenant; goodness knows she's got the extra room. The ad is answered by Dr. Niall Emberlin, who turns out to be the caring friend and helper she needs. But then, she learns that her identity may not only have been stolen, but another woman is actually living her life: Same name, same car, same physical characteristics. That's puzzling, to say the least - especially since no one seems to have tinkered with Brienne's substantial bank accounts or credit cards.

Gradually, readers begin to suspect there's much more going on here (as does Brienne). But what? And who? And why? Alas, my review must of necessity stop right here; otherwise, I'd be revealing too much. Suffice it to say it's an enjoyable roller coaster ride complete with a few surprise bumps that make it even more interesting.

When I Was You by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, February 2020); 282 pp.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BUILDING

5 stars out of 5

I have a love-hate relationship with books like this. Love: They make me think. Hate: They make me think. But no matter which way it goes, nobody does "think" books better than this author, whom I have admired ever since I read A Tale of"O: On Being Different in an Organization" way back in 1980 (and about five years later, Change Masters).


Most of us in the business world (or mostly retired from it, like me) have long since taken the "think outside the box" mantra to heart; but now, the author maintains, the world has outgrown that box and it's time to expand our thinking once again. People have come to view institutions, such as health care or religion, as buildings; when we think of health care, we see hospitals; think religion,  see churches or synagogues. The people inside these buildings - in particular, those who run them - for the most part have become accustomed to, and comfortable with, the way things are and resist meaningful change (i.e., that which can make a real difference in and to the world).

Illustrated by a ton of examples, mostly from participants in Harvard University's Advanced Leadership Initiative (which the author co-founded and directs), this book "reflects a search for new possibilities for positive change." This means going beyond conventional wisdom, and certainly making an end run (or perhaps a bottom-up) around institutional top-down toxicity. Especially amid the I'm okay but you're not, circle the wagons times in which we live, that seems to me to be a sound approach. Many of us are unhappy with the world as it is, yet still believe it can be made better; the trick, if you will, is in knowing how to make that happen.

To be sure, it's not easy; it's not enough to have a well-thought-out idea. Just getting started requires three "Cs" - capabilities, connections and cash - either well in hand or knowing how and where to obtain them. Detailed here are the processes, from concept to fruition, of several such ventures: what worked, what didn't, and what the rest of us can learn from these experiences.

Overall, this is an important book that isn't just for successful business men and women and those with plenty of money to spare. Rather, it's for anyone who sees a problem that needs addressed and envisions possible solutions that could make the world (or their little part of it) better. Highly recommended, and many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-publication copy.

Oh yes, I'm still thinking.

Think Outside the Building by Rosabeth Moss Kanter (PublicAffairs, January 2020); 352 pp.

A COLD TRAIL

4 stars out of 5

It's always a treat to dive into a new book in a favorite series, and it's even sweeter when it's another good one. Such is the case here (I even stayed up half an hour past my bedtime to finish it). This is the seventh appearance of Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, but I warn other readers that near the end of the book, it was touch and go as to whether it would be her last.

Of course, no reader is likely to think she won't survive - this series is far too popular to knock off the lead character, for goodness sake; so the devil here is in the details. Tracy and her lawyer husband Dan have moved back to their home town of Cedar Grove, Washington, while their home in a Seattle suburb is being remodeled. They bring with them their two-month-old daughter Daniella and Irish nanny Therese (a likable character in her own right, a bit reminiscent of Mary Catherine, the very Irish nanny and housekeeper for James Patterson series character Michael Bennett). 

Tracy and Dan are living in Dan's parents' old house, but it is the small town itself that brings back the most memories - and not pleasant ones. This is the place where Tracy's younger sister, Sarah, went missing while she was in high school; years later, her body was found and the killer identified. Now, Dan has taken on the defense of a local man who's fighting the sale of his long-time family store to the city, which is buying up other small businesses and reselling them to buyers who pledge to remodel and reopen. Tracy is for the most part happy to be with her new daughter, but she also misses the fulfillment of her job (from which she's still on maternity leave). So when the local acting police chief makes her an offer she can't refuse, she doesn't - agreeing to help solve the murder of the current chief's wife, a reporter who was working on a story that someone doesn't want told.

As most readers will suspect, it's not long before parallels show up between Tracy's investigation and Dan's client's case; but the nearly impossible part is finding real evidence. A lot has happened in Cedar Grove over the years, much of which the locals don't want to revisit even if it means catching a murderer.

The action here is pretty much nonstop, although a few too many, and too lengthy, speculative discussions among the players about who may have done what to whom slowed the pace here and there. That aside, it was an interesting plot with plenty of twists and a satisfying conclusion, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-publication copy. Now all I can do is sit back and wait till the next one!

A Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, February 2020); 355 pp.

HER SECRET PAST

4 stars out of 5

This is the third in a series featuring Detective Inspector Jessie Blake, but it's a first for me. Happily, this one seems to stand on its own well - at least I didn't feel at a disadvantage for not having read the other two. Better still, it's good enough that I won't hesitate to grab the next one.

The prologue is set in 1990, when a man and his wife are brutally murdered - admittedly by their teenage daughter and her older boyfriend. Fast forward to the present, when Jessie and her partner Dylan are called to the scene of another murder on Boxing Day - also a married couple. Confounding matters is that their grandson, the son of their only son, is nonchalantly noshing in the kitchen amid the bodies and a ton of blood. Needless to say, he's a suspect, but there's no evidence that he's actually involved in any way. Such is also the case with the boy's father, who seems truly devastated that his parents are dead.

Soon thereafter, Jessie learns that the dead people were locked in a property dispute with a neighbor, Rachel Ferguson; further checking reveals that Rachel and her wealthy husband are hiding a dark secret about her past that puts her right at the top of the suspect list. Evidence begins to point to Rachel as the killer, but while her superiors at the police department are sure they've got their woman, Jessie has her doubts and insists on continuing the investigation. Meantime, Jessie must deal with a past of her own as her abusive ex-husband Dan keeps showing up at all hours - often with his new girlfriend in tow - ostensibly to beg Jessie to let bygones be bygones. 

The story moves along quickly and with almost constant excitement (plus a few twists). An overabundance of characters overwhelmed me a bit, and overall, the whole thing seemed a titch choppy. Nonetheless, my attention was captured from start to finish (an ending, by the way, that didn't make me very happy with Jessie's actions, or lack thereof). As I advise with all series, it's always best to start at the beginning, but you won't go wrong to start here. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to test drive this one.

Her Secret Past by Kerry Watts (Bookouture, January 2020); 326 pp.

WHEN YOU SEE ME

5 stars out of 5

Believable? Kinda. Sorta. Sometimes, even,

not so much. But so what? This one put me on a wild ride at the git-go and didn't let me off till the end.

What makes it extra-special is that it brings together three of the author's characters - Boston Homicide Detective D.D. Warren, FBI special agent Kimberly Quincy and recovering torture victim Flora Dane - characters with whom I've developed a kinship of sorts over the years. They are three totally different people, with totally different personal lives, but they come together here with a single purpose: ferreting out who's responsible for the bunch of human bones in the backwoods of Georgia that likely are tied to late serial killer Jacob Ness. Flora joins in because she's his only victim to survive (even though she's been trying hard to find some semblance of normalcy ever since she escaped).

During an intensive search of the area in which the original bones were found, Flora and her computer geek friend, Keith, find another burial site; ultimately, the remains of three more bodies are unearthed. All that leads the team to a tiny town that may be holding deep, dark secrets that are tied to Ness but go well beyond the horrific murders he committed years ago. One of their best hopes of getting to the bottom of things is a teenage girl who works as a maid at an inn operated by the local mayor and his wife. Clearly, she's intelligent; but previous injuries left her unable to speak, read or write; so no matter how much she knows that's crucial to the investigation, accessing that information doesn't appear to be within the realm of possibility. The only thing the investigators know for sure is that no one in this town or surrounding woods can be trusted - not even the local sheriff whose help they've enlisted.

All told, the action never lets up - keeping me glued to my Kindle with time out only when household chores (like feeding my long-suffering husband) and the need for sleep intervened. Thoroughly enjoyable - and I hope to see these three strong women come together again in future books (hint, hint). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner (Dutton, January 2020); 400 pp.

BLOOD AND SAND

5 stars out of 5

This series has long been a favorite of mine - discovered quite a few years back. I admit I've skipped a handful in more recent years (to be honest, I own them all, but with all the read-to-review books I get through NetGalley, I simply haven't found time to work them in). The current Christmas-New Year's holiday season brought a brief respite from that must-read list, though, so I jumped on the opportunity to start this one. And happily, I finished it the same day just because I didn't want to stop.

Although it's the 23rd in the series, this entry stands alone quite well (as evidenced by my not getting even a little bit lost even though I haven't stayed up to date). This one begins as central character John Jordan, an investigator for Florida's Gulf Coast Sheriff's Department, on a Florida beach - invited there to present a series of lectures. Recently, the prison at which he served as chaplain was decimated by a hurricane; rather than move his wife, Anna, and their young daughter, Taylor, to the area in which the destroyed prison's inmates were transferred, he resigned.

But John had another reason to accept the invitation to lecture; he hopes to find time to look into the disappearance of three-year-old girl named Magdalene Dacosta about a year ago (the book is, for the record, "inspired" by the real-life case of Madeleine McCann). Not long before she went missing, she'd been adopted out of foster care by gay couple Keith and Christopher. Overjoyed at getting a child, the two managed to win over most of the local residents who, let's say, resisted the concept of a child having two dads. They also were instrumental in bringing John in for the lectures, hoping he'd help them find out what happened to their precious daughter (even if it's not what they want to hear).

The first lecture goes well, and the parents, who own a rather spooky bed-and-breakfast and hold an annual Winter Solstice party for select guests, are thrilled that John agrees to poke his nose in the case. It was the night of that party, in fact, that Magdalene disappeared, never to be seen again. John's wife, Anna, though, is less than happy that John is once again (in her view) putting work ahead of family. Quickly, the relationship becomes strained, although both continue to dote on their daughter.

In a sense, the investigation is more clear-cut than most; it would have been impossible for anyone except those at the party (including her parents) to have taken Magdalene from the home that night, all those involved - even the police - agree. That means, of course, that the kidnapper - and possibly murderer - is someone they all know and love. But who? And how? And when? Readers are introduced to all the party-goers, making it an ongoing guessing game as to who the culprit might be. Worse, the closer John gets to the truth, the more he puts his own family in danger and further alienates his already distressed wife.

Most issues get resolved by the end, but the tension doesn't let up a bit till then. Happy to report this remains a favorite series, and one of my New Year's resolutions is to make sure I don't miss any more of them. Highly recommended!

Blood and Sand by Michael Lister (Pulpwood Press, November 2019); 278 pp.