LAST GIRL GHOSTED

4 stars out of 5

Despite having a few issues with this story near the end - more on that later - I'm compelled to say this right up front: I do not recall the last time I read a book so thoroughly engrossing - mesmerizing, even - that except for a handful of chapters I started the night before, I polished off in one sitting even though it extended past my usual bedtime. For that alone, it gets a rousing WOW! from me.

Wren Greenwood is a successful advice columnist and blogger with a past that she's managed to hide from the rest of the world (she's created a whole new identity since her childhood years). For obvious reasons, she's a bit of a loner, and her best friend convinces her to sign up for an online dating app and dip her toes into the dating waters. When she does, she finds an intriguing guy named Adam; they meet, and for the first time in her life, Wren thinks she's in love. Heck, she even told him about her horrific past when he asked her to share with him something she's never told anyone else. Not long thereafter, the unthinkable happens. At their most recent arranged meeting, he's a no-show; his phone has been disconnected and all his online profiles have gone poof in the night. As young folks would say today, she's been ghosted.

To put it mildly, she's crushed. And determined to figure out why. Was he turned off by her past? Did something awful happen to him? Did he have a few secrets of his own? Then she gets a visit from private detective Bailey Kirk; his firm's client is the father of another young woman who went missing after hooking up with a guy online who's a dead ringer for her Adam. Could it be that he's a serial lover and leaver? Or, when a couple of other women met up with him turn out to be missing as well, maybe something worse?

The bulk of the story is told by Wren (and occasionally Bailey); some chapters flash back to scenes from Wren's frenetic childhood and a couple of the other victims. That's a bit confusing at first, but I didn't find it hard to follow. Plus, there's quite a bit of repetition as Wren and Bailey retell their experiences and conclusions with other characters - such as Bailey's boss and the man who helped Wren escape her horrific childhood and create a new life - so what's happened then and now gets reinforced throughout.

The conclusion, albeit nail-bitingly fast-paced, is where I lost some interest (not to mention respect for Wren, who up to that point had been a survivor with a sensible head on her shoulders in my view). Of course, I won't reveal what happened - so I'll just say that some parts (and characters) were very satisfying and others not so much. The epilogue, too, was a bit unsettling, bringing what I consider to be a surprising, and somewhat disappointing, turn of events.

But no matter; I base my reviews primarily on the quality of writing and plot originality, not on whether or not I agree with an author's perspective or don't "connect" with the characters. And trust me, that WOW! factor that struck me at the beginning was in place right to the end. Well done, and once again I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger (Park Row, October 2021); 336 pp.

WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN

5 stars out of 5

Toss a cozy mystery in a stack of 10 books in my favorite mystery/thriller genre, and almost always I'll shove it to the bottom of the pile. But once in a while a series comes along that's just too good to put on the back burner. Maybe it's because there's a cat involved (make that a CAT - Diesel is a Maine Coon, after all), plus a middle-age-plus, sensible and intelligent owner, Charlie Harris, who I know would be a friend if he were to turn up in my real life. This book, the 14th "Cat in the Stacks" entry, is enjoyable, entertaining and one I didn't want to put down (no edge-of-seat nail-biter, mind you - simply a pleasure to read).

Set in the small town of Athena, Mississippi, Charlie is retired but a regular volunteer in the library of the local college. He shares his comfy and rather large home with a gay couple (one a police officer), Diesel and a new, normal-sized rambunctious kitty named Ramses. He's got a housekeeper, Azalea Berry, the mother of the local police chief, who keeps him (and his tenants) well fed, a son Sean who's a local attorney, a daughter Laura who teaches at the aforementioned college and a fiancee who, in this installment, is away at a professional conference. About 15 miles outside of town is a large farm that Charlie thinks his grandfather sold to his longtime tenant, Martin Hale.

And herein lies the plot: Martin dies, and Charlie learns, much to his surprise, that his grandfather never sold the farm, but rather leased it to Martin for the duration of Martin's life. An even bigger surprise comes when Charlie learns that the farm, house and all, now belong to him. Alas, the non-sale comes as an even bigger surprise to Martin Hale's grandson Marty, who shows up in town expecting to take over the property. When he learns the truth, he's not a happy camper.

For Charlie, the surprises keep coming. When he and Diesel visit the house he hasn't visited since his childhood, he pokes around to check out its condition. When they get to the attic, Diesel plays the role of curious cat to the hilt - finding a pile of human bones. Suddenly, the police are involved, but identification of the remains, and how, when and why they got to the attic, prove problematic - in part because there are at least three known possibilities. Meantime, another, more serious problem arises when Marty's dead body is found on a remote section of the farm. This time, despite his discovery under a fallen tree, there's no doubt about the how; bullet holes are a clear indication that he didn't die of natural causes. As the investigation progresses, Charlie learns intriguing things about his family he didn't know and meets several interesting people. Problem is, one of them most likely is a killer who just might do it again. 

But who's the intended victim? I'll never tell, nor will I reveal anything else in the hope that you'll read this one for yourself. You won't be sorry - it's a refreshing change from the typical ditzy heroines that grace the pages of most cozies (did I mention that I usually relegate them to the bottom of my to-read stack)? Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it. Delightful!

What the Cat Dragged In by Miranda James (Berkley, August 2021); 297 pp.

GAME ON

4 stars out of 5

When I finished the author's 24th installment of this series, I literally hung up my Kindle in frustration. I've read and enjoyed the action and humor in the previous books featuring bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, but over the last few years, they'd grown to be, well, downright silly - partly, IMHO, because despite getting older, Stephanie just didn't grow up.

An offer of a pre-release copy of this one from the publisher, via NetGalley, made me decide to take another look. And honestly? I'm glad I did. Yes, some parts are still on the silly side (a guy who makes a living mooning guests at parties, for instance) and Stephanie is still waffling among her three hunky guy friends, but for the most part she seems to have settled on longtime love, New Jersey detective Joe Morelli. 

One of those hunks, another "apprehension agent" named Diesel, shows up in Stephanie's bedroom unexpectedly (triggering both annoyance and one of those aforementioned waffling spells that permeate the rest of the book). Turns out they're on the trail of the same guy, an extremely talented computer hacker named Oswald Wednesday. Scuttlebutt has it he's working on something really big, so the sooner they catch him, the better. Stephanie hooks up with another hacker - a member of a hacking group that does it for fun, not profit. But one of the folks they hacked is Wednesday; when Morelli starts to investigate the murder of a man done in a rather grisly fashion, it brings the suspicion that the motive may be payback and this guy was only the beginning.

When the danger hits closer to home, Stephanie's third hunk and security firm owner Ranger makes an appearance. In between all this, Stephanie's wacky assistant Lula (she of the wild hairdos, skanky clothes and penchant for fried chicken) and crazy Grandma Mazur add some comic relief. All told, it's an entertaining romp that gave me a few chuckles and put me back in the mood to read the next one. To the publisher, many thanks!

Oh, and by the way - that really big project Wednesday was cooking up? It was a doozy!

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich (Atria Books, November 2021); 320 pp.

FORGOTTEN IN DEATH

5 stars out of 5

It's both thrilling and frustrating to have a stack of pre-release books from publishers that I've agreed to read and review on or before their release dates. Some are from well-known authors, while others bring the excitement of being introduced to a wonderful new author or series hero or heroine. The frustration, though, comes because having at least a couple of books a week in that aforementioned list leaves too little time for me to enjoy my "regular" favorites like this one. This is the 53rd book in the series, and I doubt I've missed more than a couple over the years - so devil-may-care person that I am, I squeezed it in.

And as usual, it's a satisfying few days in the life of New York homicide detective Eve Dallas, who lives with her hunky, uber-rich Irish husband Roarke along with a handsome cat and (to Eve) an annoying house major domo. That the books are set in the not-too-distant future - this one in 2061 - adds plenty of opportunity to throw in details like cars that can be driven vertical, bullet-proof garments and AutoChef machines that serve up whatever foods and drinks the owners might want. As this one begins, Eve is called to a crime scene at which a woman's body was found in a dumpster. A quick look tells Eve she was a "sidewalk sleeper" - what is known in 2021 as a homeless person - but she's also one who was well liked by those who met her, including local beat cops. The dumpster is close to a construction site owned by a highly successful company now run by something like the fourth family generation.

Then, Eve must visit another construction site and the body of another female; this time, though, it's just bones - plus the remains of an almost full-term infant. There's another difference: This time, it's at a construction site owned by Roarke, and the victim's identity isn't known. Never one to believe in coincidence, Eve wonders if there's a connection - but if there is, it's elusive. But when Eve learns that there's a Russian mob connection in the mix, the situation takes a more sinister turn as she and her trusty cohort, the everything pink-loving Dehlia Peabody, try to solve both crimes (with some high-tech help from Roarke).

All in all, another entertaining adventure, although I'd like to have seen more interaction with my favorite characters Roarke and PD psychologist Mira. Still, love it I did. Now, the only problem is waiting until I can get my hands on the 54th book.

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb (St. Martin's Press, September 2021); 378 pp.

THE MISSING PIECE

4 stars out of 5

I came to the Dismas Hardy party late, reading my first book in the now 19-book series in 2018. Since then, I haven't missed a one - and like the others, this one was thoroughly enjoyable and once again made me eager to read more.

As this one opens, Wes Farrell, former San Francisco District Attorney who now on the defense side at Hardy's firm, is thinking about quitting - he's tired, he says, of defending people he thinks are guilty. One of those he helped put in jail as a prosecutor, Paul Riley, has just been released from jail after being found guilty of murder - one of many cases taken up by a group called the Exoneration Initiative. The group works to find legal snafus that indicate their clients were wrongfully convicted.

Riley, though, doesn't waste much time trying to keep his nose clean; perhaps as a result, not long after his release, somebody shoots him dead. The culprit, the investigating officers are certain after hearing from a witness to the crime, is the father of the girl Riley was convicted of raping and killing - a man who many times threatened to kill Riley if he ever got the chance. Back at the law office, Farrell agrees to defend the father, Doug Rush, whom he thinks did, in fact, do the deed. Not long thereafter, Rush skips bail and runs - and Farrell asks Abe Glitsky, Hardy's former police partner who's now a private detective mostly working for Hardy's firm, to track him down.

From that point on, the trail becomes a winding road with several turnoffs, at least one of which becomes a dead end (pun intended). Throw in a timely issue like police brutality, and you've got another well-written book in this entertaining series. My only complaint? The series namesake is noticeably absent throughout most of this story, so I'm hoping he gets to play a bigger role next time out. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Missing Piece by John Lescroart (Atria Books, November 2021); 304 pp.

DELIVERING THE DIGITAL RESTAURANT

5 stars out of 5

This book is ideal for restaurant owners, so in the interest of full disclosure, I am not one. The topic, though, is of great interest to me as a former newspaper business writer/editor, restaurant reviewer and blogger and, maybe more importantly, half of a couple who visited a restaurant at least four times a week throughout most of our empty nest years.

It wasn't always that way. When I was a teenager, the only dining out I did happened when a friend had a sleepover (back in the '50s, we called them slumber parties) and we all ate what our host's mom cooked. Contrast that to today, when there's a Starbucks on every corner - unless, of course, a Dunkin' Donuts got there first. Want Chinese? Check. Ribs? Check. How about pasta, burgers or chicken wings? Check, check and check. We can eat inside, pick it up at a drive-thru window or have it delivered. Throughout it all, though, restaurant margins have remained razor thin. And then came the unthinkable: Total shutdown for nearly a year in our state and others, thanks to a killer virus that as I write this still threatens lives around the world and prompts us to avoid going inside anything.

Moving forward, what can, should or will happen to the industry remains unclear, but one thing is certain: It ain't gonna return to the good old days. So it is that I wanted to find out what experts have to say. And what they say in this book should be a wake-up call for restaurants that aren't willing to shift gears. A digital divide is already here, and it's growing fast; those who don't get on board most likely will fall between the cracks never to be seen again. Quality food and customer relationships are here to stay, but from now on customers will expect both to happen through digital channels.

Among the eye-opening statistics is this: At the start of 2020, there were 600,000+ restaurants in this country; in the short space of six months, that number was down by 100,000 - and the industry as a whole lost a quarter of a billion dollars during the year. Besides the pandemic (and at least partly because of), what happened? "We are going from an era in which people go to food to an era in which food goes to people," the authors explain in this book. Blame it also on a drop in nuclear family eating - heck, it's hard to even find a nuclear family these days. And no whether you're in a family or not, few among us have much discretionary time - at least none that we want to spend cooking. Couple that with pandemic restrictions and it's no wonder that 70% of restaurant business today happens at the drive-thru window. As the economy zooms in on the IWWIWWIWI concept - "I want What I Want When I Want It" - the authors emphasize that delivery will be the driving factor for success (inside dining, in fact, may well drop to as low as 25% of a restaurant's total business). But, they add, the bulk of success won't come primarily by way of delivery services like DoorDash and GrubHub - which charge restaurants a substantial percentage of each order and slice already thin profit margins to the bone. And that brings us to (ahem!) Delivering the Digital Restaurant.

This is only the tip of the iceberg; the book is filled with timely, well-researched facts and figures as well as examples of how restaurants can make technology work for them, from concepts like "ghost restaurants" to shared restaurants to no restaurant at all. It also speaks to the need to tempt customers with individualized food choices, loyalty programs and enticingly branded, environment-friendly packaging. And it looks at what evolving technology could mean for the future - some of which is already being tested - such as drones that drop appropriate temperature foods on your doorstep, picnic table or, (gasp!) your dining room table. All this will be made possible, the authors say, by digital platforms that eliminate the guesswork and hone the processes down to an error-free fare-thee-well.

My take[out] on this book which, notably, was delivered to me digitally right to my e-reader, is this: For current and wannabe restaurant owners who want their establishments to be around for the next few decades, it's a must-read. For those like me, it's a deliciously enlightening and easy-to-understand look into the here-and-now and tomorrows of the industry. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

Delivering the Digital Restaurant by Meredith Sandland and Carl Orsbourn (Amplify Publishing, July 2021); 264 pp.

FIND ME IN THE DARK

5 stars out of 5

I've been fortunate to get in at the beginning of several new series of late, and I've concluded one thing: It's impossible to find a central character, male or female, who isn't carrying around a ton of personal baggage from his or her past, whether physical or emotional or both. Nowhere is that more true than in this one, in which New York state detective Harlow Durant keeps moving from job to job, staying only long enough for her colleagues to learn that her father, a psychologist, was a prolific serial killer. Her supervisors always know her background, but she believes - rightly or wrongly - that once the truth comes out she'll no longer be accepted by her peers or the community and bolts to territory where her secret will remain secret for a while. Amid her angst, she's never developed any real or lasting friendships or romances in the belief that those attachments will turn sour once her past is discovered.

Now she's in Plattsburgh, an upstate New York community with a SUNY campus. Fairly new at the job and constantly heckled by other officers just because she's female (an indication that all her problems are not in her past), she and partner detective Lucas Park - for whom she's reluctantly begun to respect for his work ethic and acceptance of hers as well - learn about a dead body dumped in one of the winter's snowbanks. The victim is identified as a college student, and at first the investigation centers around an ex-boyfriend. But then, after Harlow suffers an injury at the hands of a suspect and is forced to sit it out longer than she'd like, the unthinkable happens: Another woman's dead body is found in a snowbank and then another. Clearly, they're dealing with a serial killer - bringing the case far too close to memories that have dogged Harlow from early childhood on and turning it into an emotional challenge.

The story is narrated by Harlow, who doesn't hesitate to lay out exactly what she's thinking and how that was influenced by her childhood (some chapters revert to what happened in the past, giving readers a closer look inside those steamer trunk-sized visions that have shaped her life). And, as if tracking down a murderer isn't enough of a job, Harlow also is plagued with text messages from an unidentifiable source that threaten her very life if she doesn't stop meddling in the case.

Little by little, clues are unearthed along with the bodies, bringing a satisfactory end to the story for readers (along with a little surprise that, of course, I won't reveal). I can't say I'd ever want Harlow for a best friend, but for sure she's an intriguing character I'd love to read more about. Until that happens, I'll just say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!

Find Me in the Dark by Dea Poirier (Bookouture, October 2021); 300 pp.

THE LAST TIME SHE DIED

5 stars out of 5

Quirky, intriguing characters with more baggage than a small airport and a plot with more curves than the Le Mans Grand Prix. Together, that makes for a dandy start to a new series.

This is billed as a "Blake & Byron Thriller," for the record; the male half of that combo is John Byron, who's been on leave from his detective job because of, well, some things I can't reveal here. Now, he's been asked to investigate the auto "accident" that ended the life of former London political bigwig Gideon Fitzroy. With his first wife, Gideon had a daughter Blake; with his second, Virginia, he has a daughter and son, Lily and Tom, all of whom live at the family mansion called Claremont. Blake disappeared a decade ago and mysteriously, was never reported missing and is presumed dead. But surprise - shortly before Fitzroy's will is to be read, a young woman shows up claiming to be his long-gone daughter.

Ah, but is she for real? Needless to say, the remaining family, including Virginia's brother and Gideon's close buddy Roger Flint, are flummoxed, although they're not too worried about an inheritance. Even Blake herself expresses certainty that Gideon's Last Will and Testament - which she's seen - doesn't include her. So if it's really her, why did she come back at all?

The answer is beyond complex and involves a childhood friend of Blake's as well as a suspected gangster who continues to befriend the woman who now claims to be Blake. Byron, who is dealing with his own demons from the past, is intrigued by the young woman (read into that what you will), who remains mysterious but clearly doesn't trust anyone. He wants to believe what she says, but his detective instincts are screaming that there's far more to her story than she's willing to reveal.

Slowly, working with local police, Byron begins to follow threads he hopes will lead to the truth; but more than once, they unravel right before his eyes (and those of readers). The ending clears most things up but also drops hints of what's to come in the next installment. I'm already up for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

The Last Time She Died by Zoe Sharp (Bookouture, October 2021); 337 pp.

MURDER AT GREYSBRIDGE

4 stars out of 5

If you're looking for a well-written, enjoyable series with a bit out-of-the-ordinary setting and characters, may I suggest this one? This is the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series, and I previously read the third ("The Well of Ice"). Both are very entertaining and can stand well alone, though as is my custom, I advise starting any new series at the beginning.

It seems to me I actually like this one a titch better than the third, although it's easy to chalk a big part of that up to being familiar with at least the two main characters. The primary focus is on Benedicta "Ben" O'Keeffe, a solicitor (lawyer) in Glendara, Inishowen, Ireland. As this begins, her romance with police officer Tom Molloy seems to have ended - he left without much explanation, much to her disappointment. She and local veterinarian Harry Dubois are an item, although Ben doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about him. Besides, she's been offered a job in Florida, so maybe now isn't the time to get too serious.

Ben runs O'Keefe & Co. Solicitors in Glendara, and she's off to attend the wedding of her friend and office colleague, Leah. The ceremony and reception is being held at Greysbridge, a storied manor that was purchased and renovated by a member of the original family (and the owners are Ben's clients). It's a beautiful place, but rumor has it that at least one ghost is a frequent unregistered guest - as Ben suspects may be true when she beds down for her first night there. She and Leah also come across some odd features that apparently were added to the house but now are totally sealed off.

The ceremony goes along swimmingly until a young American who has an interest in the property's history appears to have done likewise; problem is, he never learned how. Despite attempts to revive him by Dr. Harry and others, he's a goner. But he's not the last to bite the dust; a second man - another history lover who wants to bring the story to the world, also turns up dead in his room. This time, it's clear that foul play was involved, leading to the suspicion that the young man's death wasn't an accident. And what to Ben's wandering eye should appear but - you guessed it - her ex-lover Molloy, who's come to investigate.

Thrown in the mix are a suspicious gardener, a couple of errant teenage lovers who go missing (with, of course, Ben trying to track them down) and assorted family members, some of whom are reclusives from a nearby island who don't play well with others. Solving the murders is the real focus, though, and that takes Ben and Molloy to the strange island of Inishathair with the hope of returning intact. Like its predecessor, this book has a cast of thousands - yes, I exaggerate - making it a bit of a chore to keep everyone straight. Things work out in the end as well they should, but a couple of ends remain loose (such as the status of Ben's relationships with Molloy and the good doctor). Now I'm ready for the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. An-mhaith!

Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter (Oceanview Publishing, November 2021); 353 pp.

THE LAST GUEST

5 stars out of 5

Right up front, I'll say this is one of the strangest, for wont of a better word, books I've ever read. More to the point, I spent several "chapters" (of which, notably, there are none, BTW) telling myself it was bound to get less confusing. Long before the end, though, I decided that not only was this a good story, but in a sense, a real work of written art.

The confusion, I should explain, mostly came because of those non-chapters. There are something like four different "scenarios" - starting with the self-planned 50th birthday dinner for Hollywood director Richard Bryant during which all his guests (with the exception of his pet octopus, Persephone) get totally drugged out and Richard ends up totally dead. But, I assume on purpose, there's no delineation other than a couple of hard carriage returns between the scenario shifts. Without warning, I'd read two or three pages wondering what the heck was going on until finally I discovered I was reading about a whole new time and place. That said, once I realized what was happening and what the clue was to the switcheroo (i.e., those extra carriage returns), everything began to make sense.

And from then on, I was hooked; in fact, I was somewhat in awe of the skillful writing. The story is told by Elspeth, an actress and former wife of Richard - till she left for early-on unexplained reasons and he married a young Black man who goes by "Honey." Richard, known for his volatile temper almost as much as his directorial prowess, has invited just a few of his closest friends (enemies?), including Elspeth. After he proceeds to humiliate most of them, the ever-flowing drinks and drugs send everyone (except perhaps Persephone) to La-La Land. Problem is, Richard doesn't wake up.

Although there's some question about his death, the police conclude it was a murder; as such, the list of possible killers is limited to the not more than a handful of party guests. Elspeth didn't wake up until after the others, so she's fairly certain it wasn't her (although goodness knows she had plenty of motives). But who did it, and why?

The rest of the book looks at interactions between Richard and each of the other characters, none of whom is particularly likable and all of whom had means opportunity to do the deed (even the tanked-up Persephone can't escape suspicion). As Richard's true character begins to emerge, their motives - all based on hatred of the despicable Richard - become apparent as well. But who is the guilty party?

I know, but I'll won't say another word except that finding out was a totally enjoyable experience. Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

The Last Guest by Tess Little (Ballantine Books, October 2021); 336 pp.

GATED PREY

5 stars out of 5

Police procedural. Female detective who has background issues that impact her life on and off the job. Likable, soon-to-retire partner who offers sensible advice based on a long and stellar career. A couple of murders that need solving that threaten the lives of the aforesaid detective and her partner. There you have it: this book has checked all the boxes that make a book a real treat for me to read.

As were, I hasten to add, the first two in the series featuring Los Angeles County Sheriff's detective Even Ronin ("Lost Hills" and "Bone Canyon"). No surprise, then, when I had a chance to get a pre-release review copy of this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley), I didn't hesitate to take it. And for the record, it takes more than just the above-mentioned list to get a 5-star review from me; the story also must be well-written and entertaining. All rightee, then, make that two more boxes checked.

Eve, the youngest homicide detective in department history, has made enemies among a number of her co-workers for her actions in the previous books. Her partner, Duncan Pavone, isn't among them; clearly, he's got her back all the way (well, at least until his retirement in a couple of months, after which Eve hopes he'll become a technical adviser on an in-the-works TV series about her life). As the story opens, the pair are working undercover to catch whoever has been robbing residents of a gated community of hoity-toity homeowners in Calabasas. Their plan works but goes sideways fast - resulting in three dead bodies (not to worry - none is Eve or Duncan).

Department honchos want nothing more than to shove the case into a closed folder never to be opened again, but Eve and Duncan aren't so sure that's where it belongs so they vow to follow up on their own. Then, the partners are sent to check on a woman who reported having a late-term miscarriage (standard department procedure for such events). It turns out, though, that it's far from a "standard" event; this one, too, raises far more questions than answers (and, BTW, might be upsetting to squeamish readers). 

Everything gets resolved in the end - with a twist or two - except for a few intriguing issues that no doubt will be carried over to the next-up book. Soon, please?

Gated Prey by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, October 2021); 255 pp.

THE ICE COVEN

4 stars out of 5

In 2020, I was privileged to read a pre-release copy of the first book in this series, The Witch Hunter. So when I had a chance to request a copy of this one, the second in the series, my response in the affirmative was a no-brainer. Now that I've finished it, count me in for the next one.

In the previous book, Violent Crimes investigator Jessica Neimi lost her police department boss, mentor and lover, Erne; now, she must deal with a new and far less friendly supervisor nicknamed Hallu. After a night of partying with a famous singer, a popular blogger named Lisa Yammamoto and her friend Jason Nervander go missing. Jessica, her colleague Yusef and the rest of the team are assigned the case with few clues to go on. Then, police find another woman's body on a beach near a lighthouse; who she is isn't known (except that she's not the missing Lisa), but she's wearing a schoolgirl uniform resembling a Manga character even though she's well beyond school age. Also suspicious is a ring of round marks on her arm that suggest some kind of torture.

As if trying to find the missing duo and a murderer now dubbed the "Phantom," Jessica must deal with her past and a big secret she's been keeping from everyone except Erne. Her supervisor would like nothing more than to discredit her (with an ultimate goal of getting her off the force one way or another). Jessica is still mourning the loss of Erne. Forge on she must, but the only clues point to a rare kind of poison used in "kambo" ceremonies and the aforementioned schoolgirl costumes. 

There are some twists as the investigation moves along, and I'll be honest in saying that things got a bit confusing in spots (one character, for instance, was found dead in one chapter by another character and bit the dust again several chapters later, found by a different character). But that aside, it was an adventure I enjoyed very much, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Ice Coven by Max Seeck (Berkley, September 2021); 464 pp.