DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD?

4 stars out of 5

Reading a book on how to deal with the indignities of middle age for me is sort of akin to locking the barn door after the horse is out (I just celebrated, or more accurately, bemoaned, my 80th birthday). But curiosity got the better of me: Were my experiences similar to the author's? If not, how (and maybe why) were they different? Besides that, the book description included the word "hilarious." Far be it from me to pass up a chance to laugh - even if it's at myself.

And chuckle I did - sometimes out loud - and not infrequently (nor insignificantly) I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite writers, the late, great Erma Bombeck (a longtime syndicated newspaper columnist and best-selling book author who wrote very funny things about suburban home life). And for sure, I could identify with much of the author's experiences and insights; one that stood out in particular is being a very competent person - especially at work - but clueless about operating a TV remote. I've been saying for a couple of years now that should anything happen to my husband of nearly 60 years, I'd need help with just two things: How to work at least one of our five TV remotes and how to pump my own gas.

Still other points - like the dubious ability to break a toenail at the drop of a hat - are intimately familiar as well. For me, though, it's the whole toe - which comes as a result of refusing to wear shoes indoors (or outdoors, every time I can get away with it). Not a year goes by that something - like an errant bedpost - jumps out to nail one of my toes.

My favorite section, though, came at the end in the form of cautionary lists. Most are spot-on and yes, I've been there. Still, I couldn't resist adding a couple of personal notes that come from living a good 30 years longer than the author, to-wit:

Things that are annoying but unavoidable: Needing reading glasses to make dinner. Yep - or if, like me, you've worn glasses for many years, you'll suddenly need bifocals. And then, somewhere between age 50 and 70, you'll develop cataracts that render all types of lenses ineffective. On the plus side, cataract surgery can for many people, including me, mean you won't need glasses at all. How long that lasts, of course, remains to be seen: Stay tuned.

Things that aren't worth it: Trying to open clamshell packaging without using scissors. I second that (with painful cuts to prove it) and add that I've lost count of the number of fingernails I've broken a fingernail trying to open any cardboard packaging before I see the spot designated "Open Here." So keep the scissors handy as well as your glasses (unless you've had cataract surgery).

Things that will always be confusing: How sometimes leaves on a plant turn yellow because you're underwatering and other times because you're overwatering. By the time you're my age, you stop caring. I just water mine every six months whether they need it or not; yellow leaves simply mean they better match my kitchen walls. Brown is quite another matter and kind of fun; I get to  toss the whole plant and start again.

Things you learn along the way: Eventually you will have too many scented candles. Also knick knacks, frayed dish towels long since relegated to cleaning rag status, sheets that don't fit any bed in the house, plastic shopping bags stuffed with dozens of other plastic shopping bags and, with a tip of the hat to the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper. Don't believe me? Just ask our daughter, who grows more concerned every week about how she'll get rid of all that stuff when I'm gone.

All told, this is a delightful and entertaining book that I don't hesitate to recommend to all ages. Mid-lifers can commiserate (boy, how you'll commiserate), while spring chickens can learn what to expect and seniors like me can have the satisfaction that comes from saying honey, you ain't seen nuthin' yet. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Well done!

Did I Say That Out Loud? by Kristin van Ogtrop (Little, Brown Spark, April 2021); 336 pp.

THE PERFECT DAUGHTER

4 stars out of 5

I'm not sure when I read Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities by Flora Schreiber - sometime in the late 1970s, I suppose. It was the first time I'd ever heard the term "multiple personality" - an almost unbelievable disorder (I won't get into subsequent reports that the whole story was bogus - I have no way of verifying either side of that dispute). But the book certainly did make an impression on me, as well as spark interest in the subject. So it was, then, that I was delighted to be approved for a pre-release copy of this book to read and review (thanks to the publisher via NetGalley).

Of course, it's not a biography; rather, it's billed as a "thriller that explores the truth or lies behind a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder." And yeah, that got my attention. The drama begins when Grace Francone spots a little girl in a park, clearly alone and frightened. With no adults in sight, Grace calls the police, who take the child to the hospital. Grace and her pizzeria owner Arthur have two young sons, but Grace has long harbored a desire for a daughter. You guessed it: No one has claimed the girl from the park, and Grace manages to convince her family (and the proper authorities) to let the girl - now dubbed "Penny" - become their adopted daughter.

Everything seems fine - the brothers are way more delighted than I ever would have been to have a new sibling - until Penny's odd behavior results in a diagnosis of possible Dissociative Identity Disorder (a.k.a., the aforementioned multiple personalities). Even then, the family is perfectly understanding and accepting (mostly, it seems, because Grace insists that it be that way) until Grace gets a call saying her beloved Penny is in jail, charged with murder. Not only does she have ties to the victim, Penny is found covered in the victim's blood and holding the carving knife.

But no - just no, Grace insists. Now a widow (more on this comes to light as the story progresses), Grace turns into a ferocious feline - organizing with the precision of a drill sergeant a team who will do anything, and give up everything - to protect and defend her precious daughter, who ends up at a psychiatric facility at which she'll be evaluated to determine whether an insanity defense is a viable option. But that's not all bad; there, she meets a friendly psychiatrist she calls Dr. Mitch, who has mental issues of his own but has no problem confirming four "identities" - Penny, Eve, Chloe and Ruby - who inhabit the brain of the teenager they (mostly) know as Penny. What he cannot confirm, alas - at least not in a courtroom under oath, much to Grace's dispair - is that Penny really has DID, a detail that's critical to the defense.

So, Grace and her sister-in-law Annie set out to prove Penny's innocence despite warnings from Penny's attorney, the police, and Ryan, one of Grace's sons who seems to be harboring a few secrets of his own. From this point on, chapters shift between what Grace is doing, what the doctor is doing and progress reports on the film Grace's other son, Jack, is making about Penny's unusual life. I won't say it's all believable (far from it in several instances, in fact), and way-too-detailed and lengthy sections that made me feel more like I was being schooled on DID than entertained by a mind-gripping story (although I do give major kudos to the author for doing extensive research on the subject). Overall, though, it was captivating throughout, picking up steam toward the end as layers of fiction were peeled away to reveal an unexpected truth. All in all, quite enjoyable and definitely recommended.

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer (St. Martin's Press, April 2021); 378 pp.

THE DROWNING KIND

5 stars out of 5

Mysterious and spooky, altogether ookey, I say with a nod to "The Addams Family" theme song lyrics. And to make matters even more creepy, I was so close to the end that I took it upstairs to finish before I turned out the bedroom light to go to sleep. Do not - repeat, do not - do that. Even if you're got just one chapter to go, finish it in daylight hours.

Let me warn out the outset, though, that the story leans far more toward Stephen King's version of creepy than your average psychological thriller. So if you can't get into the concept of a man growing "Thinner" day by day because he consumed a piece of cherry pie, this book probably isn't for you. I, however (huge Stephen King fan that I am) have no problem with otherworldly things that go bump in the night.

In this case, they tend to go bump in the deep, dark pool. It's more of a health spa, used for decades by people looking for miracle cures even though it's on private property. At one time, an upscale hotel drew guests from far and wide; now, it's owned by a young woman named Lexie, who inherited the property and the house that was built on it from her grandmother. Clearly, Lexie has mental issues - thought to be manic by her family including her semi-estranged sister Jackie (Jax).

But then, something awful happens; Lexie turns up dead, apparently having drowned in the now-gate-protected pool. When Jax gets the call, she not only feels great sadness, but guilt because she hasn't responded to a flurry of calls from her sister in recent days. When she returns to the Brandenburg, New Hampshire, property, she soon learns that Lexie had been frantically conducting research on the history of the property and the pool - which in fact has been the scene of many other deaths since the late 1920s.

Through flashback chapters, readers learn about Ethel Monroe, a newlywed back in 1929 who wants a baby and learns about the pool's healing powers which include, rumor has it, the granting of wishes. The problem? What the pool giveth, it taketh away; it's tit for tat, and no wish comes true without a corresponding loss of some kind. Certainly everyone who has begged the pool for help over the years has paid a price, from Ethel back then to Jax and Lexie now. The ending is one I expected - nothing else, I think, would have worked - but that doesn't mean it's a welcome one (especially late at night when you want to fall asleep after closing the book).

The story does get a little repetitive, mostly as accounts of what happened or is happening are shared among the various characters. But that's really not a criticism; it's a riveting tale from beginning to end. The bottom line? Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon (Gallery/Scout Press, April 2021); 285 pp.

HER DARK LIES

5 stars out of 5

If I had 10 bucks for every body that turns up in this one, I might not be able to buy that beach shack I've been wanting on my beloved North Carolina Outer Banks, but I sure would eat like a queen for a week or two! Wow - just when you thought still-standing characters would be safe, bam - another one bites the island dust.

The island is Isle Isola, off the coast of Italy. That's where uber-rich Compton family has a getaway villa that's nothing short of a castle. And that's where the wedding of son Jackson "Jack" Compton and his bride-to-be, Claire Hunter, will take place, with many family members enjoying luxurious pre-wedding festivities that have been organized to the nth degree by the Compton's highly experienced and competent staff.

But even before Jack and Claire arrive on the island, it's clear something is amiss; as they arrive at Claire's Nashville digs after an event - accompanied by a Compton family security guard - they're accosted by a masked intruder. Surviving that (I'll leave you to read the book to find out how that happens), they try to put it behind them and set off for the island. But almost the second they set foot on it, it's clear that something is amiss here as well. No, it's not Jack's family; despite Claire's background as a multi-tattooed junkie turned noteworthy artist whose work (thanks in large part to a boost from Jack) now sells for thousands of dollars, they appear to welcome her with open arms. 

Rather, the island itself, and the villa, that are suspect  For openers, a skeleton is unearthed that may have close ties to Jack; this is not, for the record, his first go-'round at marriage - his first ending with the tragic death of his wife Morgan. In any event, Jack's mother, firmly established as the family matriarch, wants the discovery swept under the rug. No one - not even Jack - reveals the circumstances surrounding Morgan's death.

Early on, it's obvious that someone isn't exactly thrilled with the upcoming wedding. Her dream dress, which she personally designed, is ruined. When that disturbs, but doesn't stop, the wedding, the shutdown and loss of all data from the family's server causes even more concern. And when that fails to put the brakes on the wedding, the murders begin.

Chapters from the viewpoint of other characters - including the person behind all the mayhem - are interspersed, giving readers an awareness (already suspected) of who's behind all the mayhem as well as insights on the main characters' backgrounds that help with an understanding of why. The action picks up even steam near the ending, which brings a few new and somewhat surprising insights as well. All told? Well-written and enjoyable. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison (MIRA, March 2021); 356 pp.

WHAT THE DEVIL KNOWS

5 stars out of 5

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of reading the first (for me) of the many books in this wonderful historical thriller series. So when I had a chance to request a pre-release copy of this one, I wasted no time doing so. And once again, I loved it - this coming from someone who isn't fond of history in any format.

What I am fond of, though, is a great story and intriguing characters - no matter what the time period. And there's no shortage of both here, from gruesome murders to wealthy investigator Sebastian St. Cyr, a.k.a. Viscount Devlin, Earl of Hendon and his delightful and competent in her own right wife, Hero.

The year is 1814, and Sebastian, who has been trying to find the mother he was told had died, has traced a woman he believes is her to Vienna (at a time when Napoleon had just been defeated and European bigwigs are meeting in the city to agree on a peace plan going forward). But he's interrupted when he's called to the scene of a back-alley murder - one that's eerily similar to two murders not long ago. But a man was convicted of those two murders and subsequently hanged himself while in jail, so clearly, he cannot have committed this latest one. Meantime, Hero is busy working on a story about the lives of the very young prostitutes who ply their trade in the streets just to survive - a sad but common occurrence back in the day. 

From the beginning, Sebastian suspects all the murders are somehow connected; but finding proof - if there is any - is quite another matter. He also suspects that the young man convicted of the two murders is innocent; but here, too, evidence proving that to be true is elusive. The chase takes him from the homes of the wealthy (some of whom are his own relatives) to some of London's seediest and most dangerous places. And clearly, there are forces that will stop at nothing - even bringing harm to Sebastian and his family - to stop him from further investigation.

It is, all told, a thoroughly researched, engrossing tale that's tied to real places and events, a delight to read and a highly recommended book (and series). Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris (Berkley, April 2021); 329 pp.

ROBERT B. PARKER'S PAYBACK

5 stars out of 5

I've said this before more than once, but of the late Robert B. Parker's three primary characters - Spenser, Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall - my least favorite was Sunny. But then Mike Lupica happened - and the Sun has risen a notch. By the time I was a quarter of the way through this one, my instinct told me it was destined for a 5-star rating.

And my instinct was spot-on. This is one of Sunny/Mike's best yet, despite my dislike that the private detective still has her eye on the aforementioned Jesse, chief of police in Paradise, Massachusetts. In fact, the on-again, off-again relationship is pretty much full-on here (grump, grump), but that means I get to read about him as well so guess I can't complain much. Many of the other usual suspects are here as well - including Sunny's ex-husband Richie, Dr. Susan Silverman (Sunny's therapist and, I believe unbeknownst to Sunny, Spenser's main squeeze), and some of the cops and robbers who tend to cross over in all of Parker's series.

But clearly, Sunny is the star of the show here. Her office in Boston is brand new, and the COVID-19 pandemic is history (as an aside, I've noticed a couple of other authors bypassing the pandemic with story settings before and after. A way to allow greater freedom for character interaction, perhaps? Inquiring minds would love to know). Anyway, Sunny's good friend, Spike, is upset because he lost his bar in a loan shark scam - and Sunny vows to help Spike get even (well, at least get the bar back). Problem is, the guy she wants to take down is powerful, rich, and just may have a legally ironclad "deal" for the bar. Meantime, Sunny's cop friend Lee Farrell tells her his niece Emily, a college student, has been assaulted. But the young woman is less than forthcoming, shall we say, making Sunny wonder what the kid's really up to. 

As the chapters move farther from the beginning, the two cases move closer together. Sunny knows there's a connection of some kind, but determining exactly what that is becomes a real challenge as some rather nasty people start challenging her right to stick her nose into their business. In the end, with a little help from a couple of friends including Jesse, everything begins to fall into place. The trick, though, may be for Sunny to keep from falling dead before everything comes together.

In short, this is another super series entry for sure - many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

Robert B. Parker's Payback by Mike Lupica (G. P. Putnam's Sons, May 2021); 352 pp.

THE WEEKEND AWAY

4 stars out of 5

If you like stories in which you're never sure which characters are on the up and up, you'll probably love this one. It begins when besties Kate and Orla head off for a weekend of fun in Lisbon. They've done similar adventures before, but for Orla, this one's a real treat: after a trying time with fertility treatments, she and her husband Rob have finally become parents, upending her life (mostly in a good way) and making her more eager than usual to get out in the world.

So when Kate insists on hitting the night life, Orla doesn't resist - until Kate starts to get a bit carried away and hits on a couple of guys in a bar. For Orla, that's all she wrote until morning, when she wakes up in a fog with virtually no memories of what happened but a feeling that something went terribly wrong. Worse, she can't even ask Kate what happened; she's gone missing. But when she starts asking questions, no one - not Orla's husband Rob, who's back home in London watching their infant daughter, nor the Lisbon police - will take Orla seriously. Only one person, the women's Uber driver Konstandin, believes as Orla does - that something terrible has happened to Kate. But really, he's a total stranger, and one who may have ties to the Russian mafia as well. So can he be trusted? 

Little by little, readers learn what really happened and who did what and when - and often, it's surprising. So, too, is the ending - which if I'm being totally honest, wasn't very satisfying to me. But it does fit with the rest of the story, which I very much enjoyed, so far be it from me to complain. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. 

The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson (Avon, July 2020); 332 pp.

THE SONGBIRD'S STING

4 stars out of 5

It's safe to say I cut my eyeteeth on westerns - whether through movies or books. Back in my growing-up years in the 1950s, Saturday matinees with my mother usually meant watching my heroes - Lash LaRue, Charles Starrett (the Durango Kid) and Hopalong Cassidy - on the big screen, followed by a brain-freeze chocolate malted at the town's drugstore on our walk home. As for books, I'll always remember the summer I vowed to read 100 of them, all from my father's rather vast collection. One of my favorites was a complete set of Zane Grey novels (and yes, I reached my goal, which also, BTW, included dad's other complete set of Perry Mason novels by Earle Stanley Gardner).

Over the years, though, my favorite cowboys (plus the wildly popular Roy and Gene) pretty much disappeared from the Silver Screen; likewise, my taste in books turned to titles popular in the '60s and '70s (how can I forget "Valley of the Dolls" and William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist")? A job, a family and going back to college pretty much put the kabosh on movies and books for several years; but now that I'm mostly retired, books have returned to my life (movies, less so - if it's not a James Bond, I probably won't be watching it). My favorite book genre, by far, is mystery/thrillers; so when the author of this book offered me a pre-release copy for review, I was hesitant. But second then, memories of my youthful immersion in all things Wild West came flooding back and I said yes.

And I thoroughly enjoyed it - mostly because it's a good book, but also because of it evoked pleasant thoughts from those long-ago years. This is, for the record, the second in the author's Arizona series, so I'll assume more will be forthcoming. This one, though, stands alone well, and I did not read the first. The central character, professional opera singer Elizabeth Anne Graystone, is my kind of woman; Irish through and through, she doesn't take guff from anyone, no matter how much bigger or stronger they are than she is. 

As she's on her way to her next singing gig, the stagecoach in which she and a few others are riding gets held up by a gang led by a nasty chap named Louie Bowen. He decides Elizabeth will get them a substantial ransom from even more nasty chaps in Mexico, so they capture her and a couple of riding companions and set off in that direction. Right from the start, Elizabeth proves to be a hardy soul - far from the wimpy, weeping female her capturers expected. Of course, she doesn't want to die (or worse, be sold off down in Mexico), but most of all, she isn't about to lose the valuables hidden in her suitcase. 

As far as Elizabeth's captors are concerned, there's nothing standing between them and that payoff in Mexico except a lot of dust, cactus, and maybe an on-the-warpath Indian or two. But what they don't know is that Elizabeth really isn't alone; she's got Irish kinfolk who are more stubborn than she is, and when they learn she's been kidnapped, they don't take kindly to it. The chase is on, and the rest of the book lays it all out in detail with plenty of action right up to the end. My take on it? For those who enjoy a good old-fashioned western adventure, you won't go wrong by giving this one a shot.

The Songbird's Sting by L.J. Martin (Wolfpack Publishing, April 2021); 272 pp.

IN HER TRACKS

5 stars out of 5

When you've found a series you enjoy, opening the first page of the newest edition never fails to be a treat. That in mind, I set aside my practice of reading advance review copies from NetGalley in order of nearest release date and moved this one up a few notches just to make myself happy. Now I'm done, and yes, I am - in fact, I enjoyed this one a little bit more than most.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite, who's been on maternity leave and leave to deal with PTSD, gets back to work in the Violent Crimes Department of the Seattle Police Department. While she was gone, her much-disliked boss (the feeling is mutual) has brought in someone to fill in while she was gone and now claims her old job is no longer available. Instead, he offers her reassignment in the department's cold case unit, which he clearly hopes she'll turn down and resign. She's tempted to do just that, until she talks with the officer who's retiring and decides it might not be such a bad gig after all.

Immediately, she zeroes in on a case involving a five-year-old girl who disappeared in a Halloween corn maze while in her father's care. Both he and his ex-wife, the girl's mother, were suspects at the time (especially since the parents were almost vicious in their dislike of each other), but no charges were ever brought and the girl has remained missing. A second case, the disappearance of two local prostitutes, catches her eye as well. If those cases weren't enough, soon thereafter, Tracy's old partner Kinsington Rowe, asks for her help with  a current case of a female jogger who disappeared on or near a rather remote trail. It isn't long before her boss steps in and insists that she stick to her cold cases, but it's time enough for her to see some similarities between the missing jogger and the two missing hookers years earlier.

From that point on, there's plenty of action, twists and turns as Tracy and Kins do their investigative thing and bump up against some really nasty suspects. Tracy may be getting a little older (this is the eighth book in the series, after all), but she certainly hasn't lost her edge. If it matters, I think this one can be read as a standalone for those unfamiliar with the series - but I'll add, as is my custom, that it's always best to start at the beginning. As for me, I'll just say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review another one. Good job once again!

In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, April 2021); 383 pp.

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

5 stars out of 5

Wildly popular big-name authors included, I can't remember reading four consecutive books by any one of them to which I assigned 5-star ratings. Until now, that is; this is the fourth book I've read by this author, and his winning streak continues. My up-front to end-of-story take? Loved it.

Every single character is flawed - most of them seriously so. And that's a huge part of the appeal, especially as they interact with each other and layers of their backgrounds and personalities are peeled back. Jessica Sommers, you see, is experiencing unadulterated bliss with her husband of just one year, art dealer James (oh wait, perhaps unadulterated isn't the best choice of words; she was married to another man - Wayne - when she started an affair with James, who was married at the time). Jessica and Wayne are the parents of teenage Owen, who has serious health issues; James's ex, Haley, is best described as a bitter, scorned royal witch with a capital B.

At the outset, James's friend Reid Warwick convinces James to help him sell a set of extremely valuable Jackson Pollock sketches; "sketch" may be the operative word here, since the provenance sounds more than a little shaky. But along comes a beautiful female art dealer who's hot to trot, so the deal is off and running, with both James and Reid hoping for a big payday. Then, tragedy strikes in a couple of ways, changing Jessica's family dynamic and outlook for the future as well as that of her son and ex-husband.

And herein is the problem in reviewing this book: There's no way to describe what happens from that point on without revealing too much. Suffice it to say it involves revenge, murder, suspense and a whole lot more - all of which kept me wanting to read nonstop from beginning to end (no, not possible, but know that I gave it my all). Thanks to Amazon First Reads for the chance to take it on a test drive before the official launch. It passed with flying colors!

The Perfect Marriage by Adam Mitzner (Thomas & Mercer, April 2021); 292 pp.

EVERY VOW YOU BREAK

4 stars out of 5

It was easy to see the direction this story would take fairly early on - as well to question why on earth any reasonable woman would get herself in this kind of situation - but the details nonetheless kept me turning pages. In the end, I'd describe it as a case of bad love gone way, way worse.

Abigail Baskin is getting married to a good-looking, uber-rich guy named Bruce; she loves him, she thinks, but it's not what could be called a passionate, head-over-heels kind of love. So when her nearly beloved pays for a fancy-schmancy bachelorette party in Los Angeles, she gets tipsy and meets a guy who's determined to get her in the sack. Rationalizing that it's one last time in the frying pan before she hits the fire, she takes him up on the offer. For me, it's stop right there; if she's that tempted so close to her wedding day, she has no business marrying the rich guy (unless, of course, rich is the real point).

One vow she does make, however, is never to tell Bruce about her indiscretion (well, at least not before the wedding); given his family background, he'd never, ever forgive her. Besides, what are the chances that the one-night stand, whom she dubbed "Scottie," will ever be seen again? Ah, you guessed it: back in New York a few days before the wedding, she's stunned to see Scottie in her neighborhood. She's downright gobsmacked, then, when she gets an email from him claiming he wants to bed her one more time to prove their tryst was far more significant than she wants to believe it was.

Somehow, Abigail realizes that would be a mistake and conveys that to Scottie, although she seems to give it some consideration before she responds (second clue that she has no business marrying the rich guy). That's that, then, and the wedding goes on with a hitch (pun intended). For the honeymoon, rich guy Bruce sets up an escape to a remote private island on which he and some partners own and operate a luxury resort with virtually no outside access. And once again, that's that - until it isn't. Want to make another easy guess as to who shows up?

From that point on, it becomes a dangerous game of who do you trust (or more accurately, who do you distrust) the most. The situation soon escalates to life and death, with the big question who will survive. It's a not-so-merry chase to see who makes it to the finish line (I think I know who I was rooting for, although I'm not totally sure any of the characters was worth saving). At any rate, it's a fast-paced adventure that makes for good reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (William Morrow, March 2021); 223 pp.

DANGER IN NUMBERS

3.5 stars

After having read and enjoyed two of the author's other books, I have to say that this one - while enjoyable in many ways - doesn't quite measure up. The subject matter - ritualistic murders and a secretive religious cult - always makes fodder for a good story, and this is no exception. The main characters, though, just seem a bit too "perfect" to be totally believable - the budding relationship between Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson and FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest was a forgone conclusion from the moment she met and disliked him.

While it in no way factored into my rating, I confess to being very bothered by the frequent and glaringly incorrect references to the Bible book that's the basis for the cult's beliefs. It is "Revelation," not "Revelations" (plural). Although I'm reading a pre-release galley and a few errors can be expected - publishers almost always contend these things will be caught and corrected in the final version - but this mistake is so pervasive that someone should have caught it long before this. If it hasn't been fixed before you get a copy, well, you read it here first.

All that said, this is still an engrossing story, with twists and turns that held my interest all the way to the end. It begins with the exceptionally gruesome murder of a young woman that clearly has religious overtones. Amy has been called in, and she's surprised when Hunter - a Fed - shows up unannounced (and, as far as she's concerned, unauthorized). Despite her wariness, they manage a truce of sorts; as the investigation moves along, the truce begins to turn to trust. 

And time is of the essence when suspicions turn to what's outlined in that Bible book - predictions of four murders - one by sword, one by starvation, one by disease and one by animal attack. Given the nature of this murder, could it represent the first of four? If so, can Amy and Hunter and members of their teams find who's behind it before he or she strikes again? 

The chase takes the pair through some of Florida's most remote parts as they meet up with some small-town locals who put a very different spin on what faith is all about. The search continues right up to an action-packed ending that makes the whole thing well worth reading. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham (MIRA, March 2021); 266 pp.