BLACK DOG

5 stars out of 5

Prolific author Stuart Woods passed away July 22, 2022, I'm sorry to say - just a few days before this book was released. But I'm comforted by knowing he wrote more than 90 novels in his 84 years and that I've read most of those in his popular Stone Barrington series (of which this is the 62nd). I'm sure I speak for other readers when I say he'll be missed.

As far as the Barrington books go, while I've grumbled about the somewhat boring content of some (at one point, I referred to him in my reviews as Stone Yawnington), the last few have been quite enjoyable. And I must say this one is notable to me because of the humor - yes, I out-loud chuckled my way through it, polishing it off in the equivalent of maybe half a day just because I wanted to.

This time out, Stone's uber-efficient secretary, Joan Robertson, plays a leading role. For openers, she brings her mother's youngest sister, Annetta Charles, into Stone's prestigious law firm as his client. An extremely wealthy recent widow, she wants to make a new will - and the firm gets the potential to earn a goodly amount of "rain," as Stone puts it (methinks he's become quite woke since the last book). It also puts Stone in contact with Annetta's stepson, a young man she dubs "Black Dog" because he's "too awful" to be a black sheep. To say he's an obnoxious pest would be a kindness; unfortunately, it just may be he's dangerous to boot.

As the story progresses, Stone (and Joan) try their best to keep him at bay and themselves alive, but most of the time the best they can do is play clean-up. No one is safe - not Stone, nor Joan, nor even Stone's friend and police commissioner Dino Bacchetti. But despite everybody's suspicions, the jerk somehow manages to elude detection and certainly arrest - even when murder is involved. Throughout it all, Stone and Dino don't miss a beat - and neither do they miss many of their nightly dinners at some of New York's finest restaurants. Stone's well-known penchant for bedding beautiful women seems turned down a notch, but that's probably more from lack of opportunity than desire.

I can't say the rather abrupt ending was satisfying to me, but for Stone, all's well that ends well as usual. All in all, it's another fun romp that loyal readers should love. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy. 

Black Dog by Stuart Woods (G.P. Putnam's Sons, August 2022); 299 pp.

THE LAST TO VANISH

3.5 stars out of 5

Don't get me wrong: This is a well-written story that held my attention from beginning to end just because I wanted to find out what really happened to all the people who inexplicably went missing over the years in the small town of Cutter's Pass, North Carolina. But as "thrillers" go, I have to say there wasn't a whole lot of edge-of-my-seat tension. Besides that, there wasn't a single character for whom I would have cried had he or she been bumped off somewhere along the line. 

That includes Abigail Lovett, who sort of wandered into town a decade ago and stayed to help run The Passage Inn, situated not far from an Appalachian Trail trailhead. Accessing that means traversing what's now known as the "Vanishing Trail" that ends at Shallow Falls - a place best known as the site of the disappearance of the so-called "Fraternity Four." This group of four friends ventured out on a hike 15 years ago, never returned and never have been seen again. Since then, two women have gone missing and never been found, as did, more recently, journalist Landon West, who was investigating their disappearances. Now, that journalist's brother Trey has come to town looking for clues as to what happened, staying at a cabin at the Inn and making Abby, her co-worker Gloria and Inn builder/owner Celeste quite nervous for reasons not really clear. Maybe that's on purpose, intended to make readers more curious as well; instead, it only gave me another reason not to care much about what happens to any of the three characters.

Meanwhile, the townspeople seem to have closed in around themselves, allowing the rumors surrounding the disappearances to fuel the fires of the tourist trade while avoiding any meaningful discussion of the facts. They totally dismiss rumors of a strange man who lives a secluded life in the woods who, some say, might have had something to do with what happened to the missing people. Glimpses of other townspeople, including the sheriff, seem to suggest some kind of awareness or even culpability, but nothing is fleshed out enough to make for a really intriguing theory.

Abby herself remains mostly in the dark, musing over possibilities until incriminating evidence turns up in an unexpected place. At that point, some of what may have happened years ago begins to make sense, but mostly it arouses more suspicions about who her co-workers and neighbors really are and what they really know right up to the end, when Abby learns the hard way that there's good reason for the truth to be hidden all these years.

All told, it's an enjoyable book that, if I were taking a vacation, I'd be happy I toted along to read on the beach. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda (Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books, July 2022); 332 pp.

ROBERT LUDLAM'S THE BOURNE SACRIFICE

5 stars out of 5

Over the years, I've read less than a handful of the books in this series, but I've seen all, I think, of the motion pictures. Starting to read this book immediately underscored why I'm reluctant to see any movie made from a book: All the way through, all I could do was envision Matt Damon on a big screen instead of letting my imagination conjure up what the characters look like as is my preference (not that I'm not a Damon fan, mind you). Oh well, safe to say this one would make a great movie too, should that be where it's headed. And at this point, the damage is done - so yes, if it does, I'll go see it (or more likely watch it on TV). Meanwhile, I'll pass on some notes on what is a really, really good book.

If you're wondering, I had no problem "catching up" with what's going on; some things, in fact, don't appear to have changed much - Jason is still searching for the memory he lost and in a hold-hands-to keep-from-fighting relationship with former employer Treadstone and his handler, Nash Rollins (the latter Jason suspects knows far more than he's willing to disclose). At the moment, Jason is trying to locate and capture a killer-for-hire named Lennon - a man he believes can fill in most of those memory blanks.

Early on, they find each other and get into a tussle that leaves no one unscathed and Jason with hints that Lennon knows even more than he'd surmised. But the man gets away and Jason's chase is on again. Into the mix comes Abbey Laurent, an investigative reporter who, as loyal readers may recall, had a one-time fling with Jason that left both wanting more. Knowing closeness to him would put her life in danger, Jason reluctantly left her in the dust a couple of years earlier and, for the most part, never looked back. As luck (and the story) would have it, she starts digging into what she believes is a covered-up murder that, ultimately, ties into Jason's search for Lennon.

Needless to say, working out the details of that connection proves difficult and life-threatening for both Jason and Abbey, who seem to have found common ground both in the investigation and their relationship. Everything points to a seemingly up-and-up corporation run by a billionaire with a questionable reputation , but Jason and Abbey suspect there's a far more sinister purpose lurking behind the balance sheet that relates to a real-life timely topic. Problem is, security being at the highest level that can be bought, how do they gather evidence of what's really going on without getting themselves killed in the process?

The devil, of course, is in the details - none of which I'll reveal except that it's an action-packed adventure that ends with the mother of all cliffhangers: A revelation that reveals nothing (well, except the need to read the next book). Until then, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Robert Ludlam's The Bourne Sacrifice by Brian Freeman (G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2022); 381 pp.

THE BIG DARK SKY

5 stars out of 5

"When people think their lives are without meaning, they'll seek meaning even from the creepiest of charlatans." Truer words may never have been spoken, whether it's in real life or in a work of fiction like this engaging book that reeled me in fast and kept me on the hook all the way to the last page. 

While I'm in accolade mode, I'll add this: Dean Koontz is among very few writers - the other two who come to mind are J.K. Rowling and Stephen King - who never fail to make me wonder how in blazes he (or she) could even conjure up such intricate plots, much less write them down in such cohesive, delicious detail and (no small feat) make the supernatural seem, well, plausible.

This story centers around Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana, where Joanna Chase lived as a child until both her mother and father died, both thought to be accidental. Years later and living on her own as a writer, she experiences a series of strange events, the most troubling a phone message from an unknown female caller begging Joanna - in her former life nicknamed Jojo - to come help her. It takes a while and a few more bizarre experiences, but finally Joanna gets that the unknown caller wants her to return to her Montana home.

But maybe, just maybe, someone (or something) has a sinister reason to draw her to the ranch. And as readers soon learn, she's not the only one being targeted; and elsewhere, a couple of others are being "saved" by the intervention of a strange man dressed in white, while still others, shall I say, aren't quite so fortunate. Lurking out there, just waiting for a chance to get his jollies by mayhem, torture and horrific murder, is a man with a manifesto that claims human extinction is the only way to salvation. He welcomes the sight of a "big dark sky," and he'll do everything he can to make that happen.

Joanna, the man in white and the handful of characters (including a private investigator, a white hat hacker and a disfigured, nonverbal young man once befriended by Joanna) who escape his grasp are coming together as fast as they can grasp what's happening. But can they get the answers they need before the madman gets them? Well of course, I'll never say another word, except that that their trials and tribulations make for one heck of a tale. You'll have to read it for yourself to learn the details of their journey - and I highly recommend that you do (if you do, watch for the sneaky little references to a heroine in one of the author's popular series along the way). As for me, I'll just thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading a pre-release copy.

The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz (Thomas & Mercer, July 2022); 380 pp.

UPGRADE

5 stars out of 5

Save a dying world by surreptitiously installing DNA "upgrades?" Let me think on that for a bit. When it means a billion human beings will be collateral damage? Um...

There's plenty more food for thought in this fascinating tale of a radical plan to keep the human race going for more than the century some experts insist it's got left. Problem is, it's illegal. Following a colossal disaster brought on by Logan Ramsay's brilliant geneticist mother Miriam, the Gene Protection Agency was formed and the practice of so-called gene-editing became a federal crime. Now, Miriam is long gone, Logan is all grown up, married with a young daughter and working for the GPA. When they learn about an illicit gene lab, a team that includes Logan heads out to shut it down. And that's when everything goes haywire and the nonstop action begins in a setting in which half of New York City and Miami are under water, Lake Mead has dried up and the outlook for the rest of the planet looks bleak at best.

When the lab explodes, you see, Logan is injured by sharp objects; soon, it becomes apparent that he's changing. Suddenly, he's physically stronger, has a noticeably sharper mind and somehow has acquired the ability to "read" other people and their thoughts. In other words, his genome has been altered - but by whom? And perhaps more importantly, why?

The answer, at least to Logan, is absolutely mind-blowing and changes his life forever - even more so when he learns of a plan to "save" civilization by way of the aforementioned genetic upgrading. What should he do? Clearly, the world won't survive much longer if nothing is done - but is this the only solution? Should there be a solution at all? Heavy questions with no easy answers for Logan (or for readers, except maybe for climate deniers). Whatever he decides to do, it won't be easy; of course, I'll save the details for those who want to tackle this intriguing and thought-provoking story that I'm glad I had the chance to read. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy to read and review.

Whew!

Upgrade by Blake Crouch (Ballantine Books, July 2022); 341 pp.

THE DISINVITED GUEST

4 stars out of 5

Set a decade or so after the 2020 pandemic, the scariest part of this book to me is that another go-round is not only possible, but probable. Would I pack up my family and go live on a deserted island until it all blows over again? It's doubtful, in large part because I, unlike Lucy Harper and her husband Reed, don't have access to family property nor money enough to keep us well fed for however long it took to ride out the storm. The Harpers, though, have no such problem - inviting a handful of their best friends (including Reed's not-so-sisterly sister Liz and her significant other, Niko) to tag along.

And therein lie at least seven problems - eight, if you count the bear of a guy who apparently lives on the island and serves as a sort of jack of all trades by keeping the machinery running and food in the pantry. That's because while on the surface they're all friends and lovers, nobody seems to really like each other very much (too much personal history, I guess, although I have to admit I didn't like any of them very much either). And speaking of history, the island itself has a sordid background, once serving as a drop-off point for typhus patients and Reed's family mansion a quarantine hospital a couple of hundred years ago. More recently came deaths with far more personal ties to Reed and Liz.

For the most part, while she's riding out the viral storm, Lucy plans to write a new book as a follow-up to her successful first one. She hopes to find a journal written by one of Reed's long-ago ancestors, thinking the content will kick the stops from under her writer's block. But maybe, just maybe, that's exactly what shouldn't happen; it could be that some of the dead would far prefer to remain that way.

And slowly, the whole group begins to feel the ill effects of togetherness plus something more sinister; important things go missing, tensions and suspicions among the residents grow to the breaking point and accidents turn deadly serious. Clearly, something other than a virus is on the loose and full of malicious intent. But especially when she has no idea who to trust (both among the living and the dead), can Lucy figure out what's going on before it's too late to save anyone?

While all that makes for exciting reading, the chapters that were pages from the centuries-old journal were a bit too long and boring. It was also a little hard for me to work up much empathy with or sympathy for characters who expressed virtually no reaction at the loss of their loved ones (but then, no one ever seemed to care much about any of the others anyway, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised). But despite that and my virtually nil belief in the supernatural, the story is a bit of a mind-bender and made for an enticing, enjoyable read that was hard to put down. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman (William Morrow Paperbacks, July 2022); 333 pp.

THE IT GIRL

3.5 stars out of 5

Hand-wringing, angst-filled females never rank high on my "fun-to-read-about" list, so fairly early on this one started to lose steam. By the end, it had pretty much blown a gasket in that regard, but that said, what's in between was intriguing enough to keep my Kindle index finger busy flipping pages. 

Hannah Jones and April Clarke-Cliveden - two very different personalities - met at Oxford when they discovered they share a two-bedroom space in an old building. April is filthy rich, a self-proclaimed wild child and widely known as the "It Girl" - but her glamour and insistence on having things her way quickly won Hannah's close friendship and loyalty. They have a handful of friends, a nosy stalker and a professor who loves his female students a little too much, but they all have a blast following April's sometimes quirky, sometimes dangerous leads. Until it all falls apart.

That happens in their second term, when Hannah and friend Hugh find April dead in the dorm room after one of April's rip-roaring parties and see the aforesaid stalker running out. He's rounded up, tried and found guilty and sent to prison, thanks in large part to Hannah's testimony. But 10 years after the fact, his guilt comes into question as Hannah and her husband Will - one of those college cohorts - await the birth of their first child. The man dies in prison, and a journalist who's been following the story contacts Hannah to talk about possible holes in the chain of evidence that could substantiate the man's claim that he's not the killer. And Hannah's self doubts, of which she's had an abundance of ever since the trial, start to overwhelm her: what if her testimony sent an innocent man to jail?

From that point on, chapters shift from the group's college experiences bowing to the demands of the mercurial April to Hannah's present-day state of constant anxiety, which, coupled with her refusal to listen to reason from anyone else to the point of destroying established relationships, pretty much left me shaking my head. Honey, I thought to myself, had you been that bull-headed back at Oxford, you wouldn't be in the mess you're in now.

Needless to say, Hannah keeps up her darn the torpedoes, full speed ahead attitude, with backstory chapters filling in blanks that lead to suspicions of the whodunit that lead to what to me was an action-packed, but not entirely believable, end. But even though this isn't a favorite for me, all things considered it's an easy-to-read adventure that will appeal to many readers - especially fans of this author (and give those who are not a chance to experience her writing talent). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware (Gallery/Scout Press, July 2022); 431 pp.

THE LOST

4 stars out of 5

This is the third in the series about cadaver dog trainer/handler Mason "Mace" Reid and his stable of intelligent pooches. It's perfectly readable and entertaining, but I have to say it didn't resonate with me as much as the other two. In part, that's because there's less focus on the dogs. Yes, super-smart golden retriever "Vira" (a nickname for her real name, Elvira, from the popular Oak Ridge Boys song of years ago) gets some page time and Mace does what he can to keep Bill from rolling around in stinky substances. But it's Mafioso-style crime that takes center stage here, and for me, that's never a favorite topic. And even though they're apparently an official couple now - if I recall correctly, that was just a wish on Mace's part in the second book - I just didn't feel the love between Mace and his main squeeze, Detective Kippy Gimm (yes, that's her real name).

On the plus side, though, there's plenty of action, and for those who haven't read the first two, it stands alone well. This time out, a reported home invasion sends Mace and Vira out behind the property of an uber-wealthy financier, where she sniffs out the very dead body of the rich guy's super-model wife Calley. Still missing, however, is their young daughter, Eleanor; even Vira's super-sniffing ability is no help in finding her. Then, their fears are realized; she's been kidnapped, and there's a stiff ransom demand for her safe return.

Needless to say, the clock starts ticking; no one, including the FBI, wants to find Eleanor's body somewhere. For the benefit of readers, chapters shift from what went on a few weeks earlier, with mentions of the aforementioned mobsters and his relationship to the aforementioned mobsters and hints that not everything and everyone are what and who they seem to be. Even Mace and the Chicago-area law enforcers seem to be running around in circles, finding little evidence and spending precious time with an investigation that often barks up the wrong tree.

The twists and turns continue right up to the end, and of course there are some tense moments with threats to the lives of Mace, Kippy and Vira. Will they all survive? Will they find Eleanor before it's too late? And will they bring the culprits to justice? Ah well, all I'll say is that Vira plays a part in the outcome. All in all, it's a fun romp that dog-lovers are sure to love. As for me, I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton (Minotaur Books, June 2022); 273 pp.

ABIDING CONVICTION

3.5 stars out of 5

I'm a huge fan of this kind of book - courtroom drama, intricacies of legal strategy and investigations and, of course, a bang-up ending. But while I rather enjoyed the star of the show, attorney Dutch Francis, I was a little underwhelmed by the story and ending. Make that especially the ending.

Reluctantly, Dutch has agreed to represent a New Hampshire judge who's been charged with murdering his wife. As his apprehension grows over taking over responsibility he's not sure he wants, his wife Ginny - a popular TV news anchor - suddenly goes missing. Given a secret they share, her disappearance is even more disturbing, if that's possible; so of course he's distraught and unable to fully focus on the trial he doesn't want to be part of in the first place. The judge assigned to the case, however, is totally unsympathetic and denies his requests for both recusal and continuance of the trial.

The story, then, veers off in two directions: Dutch's investigation and defense of the judge in court and his attempt to save his wife from an unknown fate at the hands of an unknown kidnapper. Before long, he begins to get manila envelopes that convince him she's in real danger - but the police investigation isn't going much of anywhere. Finally, they all start to think it may  not be Ginny the kidnapper really wants - it's Dutch. And maybe, just maybe, it's related to his defense of the judge.

All good, yes? Well, mostly. There are not nearly enough courtroom scenes to suit me - someone who, as I said at the beginning, loves learning about strategy and courtroom techniques. Dutch spends far more time arguing with the police, who he thinks are not fully committed to finding his wife, than he does with prosecution witnesses when they take the stand. I'd like to have learned more about what Ginny went through during her kidnapping (the contents of the manila envelopes sent to Dutch offer paltry clues, but otherwise that information is virtually nonexistent). The ending seems abrupt, coming with a decision that almost seems to gloss over everything that both Ginny and Dutch experienced; it's hard for me to believe that any couple would come to terms in such short order with all that happened to them both. Admittedly, I tried really hard not to see a titch of a hot-button political issue peeking through here as well, but I'm willing to accept that's just my imagination going a bit wild.

All that said, for the most part I really enjoyed this book - and for sure, I didn't feel at a disadvantage because I had not read the first two books in this series. It's a solid legal thriller (just without any in-your-face thrills) that kept me entertained and I'm sure will do the same for other readers. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy - and mea culpa for "overbooking" my review copies and missing the release date by a couple of days.

Abiding Conviction by Stephen M. Murphy (Oceanview Publishing, July 2022); 289 pp.

THE HIDDEN ONE

4.5 stars out of 5

I was introduced to this wonderful series just last year, although it's been around for a while (this is the 14th book). In part because I live not too far from Ohio's largest population of Amish and the second largest concentration in the world - Holmes County - and even closer to the fourth largest population in the world, Geauga County - I love learning all I can about the people and their traditions. Throw in a good murder or two, and I'm hooked.

The central character in this series is Kate Burkholder, police chief in Painters Mill, Ohio (Holmes County); she was born Amish and left the order when she turned 18, but she still maintains strong ties. She lives with her significant other John Tomasetti, an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent. She gets a visit from three Amish elders from Lancaster, Pennsylvania - another Amish stronghold - who ask for her help. Some 18 years earlier, the local bishop suddenly went missing; quite recently, his skull turned up in a farmer's field. But that's not the reason they need help; as it turns out, the person arrested for what has now been deemed a murder is Jonas Bowman. Kate and Jonas once were an "item"; their romance, deemed illicit by Holmes County religious leaders mostly because of their age difference, was the reason Jonas and his family moved from Ohio to Pennsylvania, leaving Kate devastated.

Although she hasn't seen him since, Kate feels she must do what she can to help; in her heart of hearts, she's certain Jonas could not possibly be a killer. Their first meeting, at the jail, is emotional - but he confirms what she already believes: that he's an innocent man. The local police, however, have a different perspective; they're convinced they've got their man. And they're not all that happy that a cop from another department - especially one with strong ties to the suspect - is sticking her nose in where they think it doesn't belong.

It doesn't take long, however, for Kate to learn that the dead bishop was respected in title only; by many accounts, he was a tyrant whose behavior more than once overstepped the boundaries of the Amish tenet of nonviolence. But it was long ago, and finding anyone still alive, much less willing to talk about days long gone by, isn't easy. On top of that, it soon becomes clear that someone isn't happy that she's trying to dredge up old secrets. Maybe, just maybe, the real killer is still out there and is setting his or her sights on Kate.

The whole thing was highly entertaining and kept me turning pages all the way to the exciting and satisfying end. There's a little too much repetition (mostly reminders of various Amish traditions) here and there, but that's balanced on the plus side by the liberal sprinkling of words and phrases from the Amish dialect. This has quickly become a favorite series for me; I highly recommend it (and this book) and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo (Minotaur Books, July 2022); 313 pp.

LOOK CLOSER

5 stars out of 5

It's been a while since I had a book on my Kindle that I really didn't want to put down. When it comes to this one, make that really, really, REALLY didn't want to. Not that I was expecting a dud, mind you - I've read and enjoyed other books by this author, including those with which he shares authorship (is that a word??) with James Patterson. But IMHO, this one's his best yet. 

After just a few chapters, the line from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" started to slither through my brain: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." It begins on Halloween when Simon Dobias eyeballs a woman's body hanging from the balcony of her foyer; how she died is no mystery, but who did the deed isn't quite so cut and dried. One other thing is clear - Simon is acquainted with Lauren, the victim who's married to a filthy rich old codger.

Years ago, readers learn, Simon knew Lauren; but today, he's a law school full professor in waiting who is happily married to his wife Vicky, and both of them have so many secrets that it's hard to keep track of them all. In fact, just about every character in the book has secrets; as the chapters shift in and out of time frames and from the perspective of one character after another, nothing, and no one, is what and who they seem to be. Did I mention how much fun that is?

Those chapter shifts, which normally drive me bonkers, are very easy to follow here, I hasten to add. Still another perspective is that of the local police, led by Sergeant Jane Burke, who gets Lauren's case dumped in her lap. Her Spidey instincts kick in big-time once she learns about a $21 million trust that's set for payout less than a week after Thanksgiving. A high-rolling financial planner who's hot to trot to invest said trust fund, a pending job promotion that's threatened by the wealthy father of one of the candidates and a years-old family vendetta add even more fuel to the fire. Oh, wait, did I mention how much fun that is?

The surprises keep coming right up to the end when, for the most part, things get sorted out (nope, can't reveal more than that). What I will say - again - is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Outstanding!

Look Closer by David Ellis (G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2022); 459 pp.

FATAL WITNESS

5 stars out of 5

This is a favorite series, and I must say I enjoyed this latest entry (the seventh). It checked all the boxes for a great crime story, put the star of the show, Chief Detective Erika Foster, in all kinds of situations in which she doesn't want to be (including possibly dead) and kept me turning the pages right up to the end. The only downside is that it was four long years in the making.

The story begins as Erika makes her way back to her new fixer-upper home in Blackheath after fetching fish and chips and hears blood-curdling screams. Coming from a flat near her home, she learns the screams are coming from a woman who has just found her brutally murdered sister inside the flat. The woman, named Vicky Clarke, was a true-crime podcaster, making Erica and her team suspect that the victim had stumbled onto something her attacker didn't want broadcast for all the world to hear.

From that point on, things quickly become complicated - and revealing much more wouldn't be prudent. I'll just say that relationships dominate the story - those of the victim and her circle of friends and neighbors and those of Erika herself. Her old fling and coworker Detective Inspector James Peterson, for instance, is no longer the former but still the latter (with a new main squeeze, no less), which creates a few moments that are awkward at best. A couple of sets of sisters bring out the worst in sibling rivalry, and a prime suspect must be treated with kid gloves because of his ties to department powers-that-be and an old friend makes a surprise appearance.

All told, it's an engaging page-turner that brings Erika back into action after a four-year-or-so hiatus; I'm happy to see her, and I'm sure other readers will be as well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know her again through a pre-release review copy. And to the author, please, pretty please, don't wait so long to write the next installment!

Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza (Raven Street Publishing, July 2022); 373 pp.

HOLY CHOW

5 stars out of 5

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

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

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

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

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