THE FRENCH ILLUSION

5 stars out of 5

Well, this is a bit of an unusual situation – I’m not sure whether I’m happier to have read and finished this intriguing, edge-of-seat story or the expectation that there’s another one (or two, or three or more) in the making? The latter isn’t a certainty, but since it’s billed as “The French Illusion #1,” logic tells me a #2 will follow.

Anyway, it took a while for them to show up, but I already love leading man Stuart Nash and his “future wife,” Rae-Claire Russo – even though, contrary to almost every other book I’ve read by this author, there’s no courtroom action. Nash is an ex-military man and an assistant U.S. attorney in North Carolina, though, and the soon-to-be dynamic duo “accidentally” meet each other at a cybercrime seminar in Washington, D.C.

Behind the scenes – at least the public ones – Paul and Chelsea Tanner head for Paris for their honeymoon. It’s a dream come true, till it turns into a nightmare for the couple and both sets of parents when they go missing – and said parents get ransom calls from what appears to be a network of criminals asking for millions. The money isn’t a huge issue for Chelsea’s parents – dad is an orthopedic surgeon who is financially savvy – but it’s beyond hope for Paul’s less financially well-off mother and father. And of course, all are warned not to tell anyone what’s going on, especially law enforcement.

As the story progresses, readers see what’s happening from the points of view of both the parents and the victims – and, down the road a bit, of the FBI and CIA, which agree to hold hands for once in an effort to shut down what appears to be a long-running and highly successful operation. Enter Nash and Russo (nope, not gonna explain how that came to pass), and from that point on, the action never stops – and neither did my reading about it.

All told, it’s edge-of-seat exciting, and I hope we’ll be seeing this pair again. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one!

The French Illusion by John Grisham (Doubleday, September 2026); 352 pp.

NASH FALLS

5 stars out of 5 

It’s the creation of a human killing machine – albeit an unwilling one – and the start of what I expect will be another highly successful series from one of my favorite authors. For sure I’m already chomping at the bit to read the next installment – it was, after all, hard to put this one down. My concern, though – and I’ll be honest - is that this regenerated guy, Dillon Hope (nee Walter Nash) won’t turn out to be a carbon copy of former-nice-guys-now-seeking redemption characters from other series I’ve read. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but I personally am not looking for another one.

That aside, it’s all systems go. Walter Nash is a top executive at Sybaritic Investments, where his direct boss is Rhett Temple, son of the company founder (neither of whom I’d call a “people” person). Walter, though, is happy enough – he’s got his wife, Judith, and their almost-20 daughter Maggie - both nice to come home to. Then one day, he gets a call from a high-level FBI agent, asking for his help in bringing down the investment company and its suspected illegal activities. Certain officials are, the agent claims, in cahoots with an international criminal named Victoria Steers.

Walter, of course, is less than thrilled with becoming a spy and whistleblower, especially knowing the end result almost certainly will be the witness protection program for him and his family – no more fancy home or cars, no huge nest egg nor other perks of his job or Judith’s – plus the kibosh on all of his daughter’s dreams for the future. But when he protests, the FBI agent makes him an offer he can’t refuse – accept the deal or go down with the ship and get nothing except possibly jail time.

Reluctantly, Walter agrees, and it soon becomes clear the FBI isn’t wrong; something is terribly amiss at the company. But who is behind it? And more to the point, can he find out before someone at the company finds out he’s a snitch? When things begin to look as if it’s all a downhill slide, Walter is contacted by his late and long-estranged father’s former military buddy, nicknamed Shock – a man Walter was certain hated him even more than his own father had. Truths emerge, but more important, Shock points out the only direction that will lead to the company’s downfall but at the same time save Walter’s skin - and he follows that up with a promise to lead the way.

Problem is, it means Walter will have to be transformed into the kind of person he never in a thousand years wanted to be.  Worse, there’s no guarantee he’ll survive the journey. But it’s the only choice he has, so he goes along for the wildest ride of his life. Put another way, Walter Nash falls, rising again as Dillon Hope (leading to the next book, appropriately titled Hope Rises, tentatively set for release in early April 2026).

You can bet your last dollar I’ll be snagging that one too. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in at the beginning. You should, too!

Nash Falls by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2025); 448 pp.

 

A KILLER'S CODE

4.5 stars out of 5

Although I'm somewhat familiar with a different FBI agent from another of this author's series, Nina Guerrera, this is my first encounter with Daniela Vega. Dani seems to be a little harder around the edges, and she has unique talent as a codebreaker that, of course, comes in handy in this story (the third book in this series).

Hit man Gustavo Toro died as hard as he lived, biting the dust while working under cover with Dani. She didn't trust him, but she trusted him, if that makes much sense. Turns out he wanted to bare his soul after he died, so he prearranged some kind of message that promised to take down some high-powered people and reveal secrets he'd been keeping during his years of being a killer-for hire. Problem is, even after the video he left is found, it's not straightforward; it's done in code that leaves Dani and her team with a real challenge - especially after it becomes clear that some of the bad guys involved with Toro are desperate to find a woman who knows too much. Now, it becomes a race for Dani to interpret the "clues" and find her before they do.

The details of that race, of course, is the engine that drives this fast-paced story, and the whole thing sure grabbed my attention and held it from start to finish. For the record, not having read previous books in the series wasn't a problem for me, although as always, I advise starting any series at the beginning. In the end, also as always, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Good one!

A Killer's Code by Isabella Maldonado (Thomas & Mercer, January 2025); 344 pp.

TO DIE FOR

5 stars out of 5

Any book by this author is sure to be a treat for me, and this - the third in the series featuring ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine - certainly doesn't disappoint. This time out, he's been called to Seattle to protect 12-year-old Betsy Odom, who recently lost both her parents to drug overdoses. He's a bit reluctant to become a glorified babysitter or do anything that puts him in a spotlilght, especially since his recent encounter in Switzerland with the "girl on the train" that nearly cost him his life.

But duty calls (or more to the point, his boss, so off to Seattle he goes. Betsy's long-lost uncle, Danny Glass, wants her to come live with him. But despite having more riches than King Midas (or maybe because of it), Danny is under FBI investigation for RICO violations that could put him behind bars for a very long time. The FBI has an agent on the scene guarding Betsy, but there's reason to believe Betsy may not be safe so they're hedging their bets by having Devine run interference.

Almost from the start, though, Travis senses something's wrong. To begin with, Betsy - who was with her parents when they suddenly convulsed and died - insists they never did drugs. Further, the official record notes that Betsy herself administered Narcan to try to save them - a claim she disputes as well. The police in the tiny town in which the parents died, though, insist they investigated thoroughly and indeed, drugs were involved. But after meeting with a couple of the Odoms' friends who are hanging out in their house, Travis is even more convinced that some kind of cover-up is in place - perhaps an extensive one that reaches far beyond the local cops and might even (gasp) put him in the crosshairs of that mysterious girl on the train once again.

All told, it's quite an intriguing adventure, and now that it's over, I'm once again hoping the next installment will come sooner rather than later. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. 

To Die For by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2024); 424 pp.

IN TOO DEEP

4 stars out of 5

Let me say at the outset that I've loved Jack Reacher for years (in the books, I hasten to add, of which this is the 29th). This one is not my favorite - maybe by half a country mile - but I stayed up past my bedtime to polish it off nonetheless.

Mostly, I guess, I just didn't warm up to any of the overabundance of characters - probably because it was a little hard to tell the good guys and gals from the bad. And for some reason, Reacher himself seemed a little "off" - but then, if I'd lost a chunk of my recent memory on top of trying to do my usual super-human feats with a broken wrist, I guess I'd be a little cranky as well. The wrist, in fact, is where it begins; Reacher wakes up tethered to a table in an unknown location. In typical Reacher fashion, he manages to get free - but he has no recollection of how he got to be where he is. So when a man arrives and shows him he's survived a car accident in the Ozarks during which an FBI agent was killed, Reacher decides, at least for the time being, to believe him.

But of course, not everyone is who they claim to be, and chapter perspective shifts let readers in on what's going on behind Reacher's back. Along the way, Reacher meets up with a disgraced female agent who's on the trail of the man she claims murdered her father - who, as it turns out, is directly connected to characters who are causing headaches for Reacher as well. Joining forces, then, is a no-brainer - especially since she's a computer whiz while Reacher remains a troglodyte when it comes to technology (although it amazes me how much he knows about it even though he doesn't even own a cell phone).

Needless to say, what they learn along the way turns out to be a huge threat to the American way of life, and as expected, saving our skins depends on Reacher learning the truth before the other side does. The fun - and action - is in the getting there, and trust me, there's plenty of it from start to finish. Another good installment, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Delacorte Press, October 2024); 328 pp.

DEEP TIDE

4 stars out of 5

A couple of years ago, I read the first of this "Texas Murder Files" series, but somehow I missed the next two. Only one character - actually one I didn't much care for - is in this one, at least as far as my memory (and a peek at my review of that one) goes. I must say, though, that I was far happier to see that, insofar as a good story goes, the tide has turned for the better. While it comes off a little closer to a cozy mystery than I expected, I enjoyed it and yes, look forward to reading more about the main characters.

They would be Leyla Breda, who owns and operates two deli/catering firms in seaside Lost Beach, Texas, and FBI agent Sean Moran, who's in town from his D.C. base on an undercover assignment. Needless to say, romantic sparks fly despite the objections of her police-force brothers - but so does the action, which begins with Leyla's discovery of the body of one of her employees out behind her main shop. There's no immediately identifiable motive, and thus no discernible path to the killer.

Much of the story that follows centers on Sean's and Leyla's reasons for not getting together which which, truth be told, got really old really fast (one of the reasons the aforementioned cozies drive me nuts). The investigation, though, provides a welcome relief from the romantic waffling, and most readers no doubt will soon suspect the case Sean is working on and the woman's murder might be in some way connected (whether or not they are, of course, I won't tell). As the end nears, the action heats up, with at least one character's life on the line. All told, it's definitely worth reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin (Berkley Publishing Group, April 2023); 352 pp. 

CENTRAL PARK WEST

5 stars out of 5

Okay, I must 'fess up. When I opened this book on my Kindle, my first thought was this: Please, Lord, let this be good; I really, really don't want to be the one to tell the former director of the FBI - especially one who's at least a foot and a half taller than I am - that his first-ever fiction book stinks.

And it doesn't (whew). In fact, joking aside, I very much enjoyed it. It's a well-written, well-crafted story, but more than that, perhaps, it provides insights into the legal system, from both inside and outside the courtroom, that could come only from someone who's spent the lion's share of a professional lifetime working within it. The most important takeaway, though - at least for me - is if the FBI wants you, there aren't many places you can hide (not even a Starbucks).

The primary characters are U.S. Atty. Nora Carleton, a single mom struggling a bit to make ends meet while she takes on the world of organized crime, and her very personable (and formidable) investigator, Benny Dugan. Early on, a former state governor - one who keeps his lips zipped but articles of his clothing not so much - is found dead of a suicide that turns out to be murder. Maybe, just maybe, his permanent silence was a mob hit; but that's only conjecture, since his ex-wife Kyra has been charged with, and is on trial for, the killing.

The two trials - Nora's and the one against Kyra - play off each other as the investigations (and trial witnesses) begin to reveal in-common details. The back-and-forths also showcase the conflict among federal and state prosecutors, none of whom seem to much enjoy sharing (again, a nod, I'm sure, to reality but something I've never quite understood; if our goals are the same, why can't we all hold hands and play nice)?

Of course, I can't reveal any details without spoiling the whole thing for other readers, but I sure do recommend it to those who enjoy stories about crimes and courtrooms. If I must carp a bit, I'll say the transition could use a little improvement - in spots, it jumps around a bit. I also can't say I was thrilled with the ending, but that's not a negative - I'm pretty sure it reflects reality more often than not (sometimes bad people do good things, sometimes good people do bad things, sometimes neither gets found out). It also, it seems to me, makes great starting fodder for a next book - to which I'm definitely looking forward. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to dive into a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!

Central Park West by James Comey (Mysterious Press, May 2023); 384 pp.

THE CABINET OF DR. LENG

5 stars out of 5

Spoiler that's not a spoiler: Prepare yourself for a doozy of a cliffhanger. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy a ride that will take you - together with mysterious FBI agent A.X.L. Pendergast, his beautiful ward, Constance Green and his occasional investigative partner Lt. Vincent D'Agosta - back to a time, and a deadly nemesis, they'd all prefer to forget.

Actually, there are two other stories here, broadening the appeal and giving extra page time to D'Agosta and Special Agent Armstrong Coldmoon, both of whom will be familiar to followers of this series (of which this is the 21st). D'Agosta finds himself cooling his heels in a New York museum, where a body was found frozen in one of the preservation rooms - clearly not an accident. Coldmoon, who transfers to the Denver office, gets called in to investigate the murder of a prominant Lakota artist on the Rosebud Reservation. Pendergast, understandably, is distraught that Constance has left him - faithful readers will recall her exit in the previous book, Bloodless - and he's painfully aware of where she's gone and why. She hasn't asked for his help - in fact, she would be irrevocably upset if he gave it - so he must proceed with caution if he proceeds at all.

The whole thing is, obviously, very other-worldly, but I'm sure those who have been following the stories will "get" it. Providing more details on what happens and how wouldn't be prudent on my part, so I'll just say it's well-thought-out and a delight to read. And oh, did I mention a doozy of a cliffhanger? Extra thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this pre-release copy. Next, please? And soon?

The Cabinet of Dr. Leng by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central Publishing, January 2023); 416 pp.

LIVID

5 stars out of 5

Maybe it's because it's a timely topic with more questions than answers that's intrigued me for at least a couple of years now. Maybe it's because forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta doesn't seem quite as paranoid as usual (even though in this case, her suspicions may be rooted in fact). Whatever the reason, this, the 26th book in the popular series, is another one I really didn't want to put down. 

It begins with Scarpetta's testimony at a contentious murder trial - and her scientific evidence and methods not-so-politely challenged by a defense attorney determined to win and sully Scarpetta's reputation in the process. The judge, Annie Chilton, is Scarpetta's long-time friend; but this time out, her rulings are falling outside the norm. Later, Scarpetta - who not that long ago returned to Virginia to serve in her old job as chief medical examiner - is called out to a murder; the victim is none other than the judge's sister, Rachael, who's been living with her sister at the run-down family estate. When she and her longtime friend and investigator Pete Marino arrive, they're struck by the stricken; everywhere are dead bugs, birds and what appears to be finely tuned destruction. That, in turn, leads to suspicion of the method of the murder - a really scary one that Scarpetta and her FBI husband Benton and niece Lucy are well acquainted with by way of their seats on the federal Doomsday Commission (and for readers, it's an issue, albeit controversial in some circles, that's made national news in recent years).

In between trying to solve the motive and means for the murder - plus, of course, identify and capture the culprit - all the major players must dodge the slings and arrows of protestors (think: Jan. 6, 2021, but with different targets). One clue leads to another to revelations about the death of a former colleague - one who has ties to the trial at the beginning of the book. All told, it's a fast-paced, well-researched story and a great addition to the series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Livid by Patricia Cornwell (Grand Central Publishing, October 2022); 369 pp.

THE NEW NEIGHBOR

3.5 stars out of 5

My first thought when I finished this book? Thank goodness the story doesn't take place on a bigger cul-de-sac. If there'd been more neighbors to accuse, I don't think I could have made it to the end.

You see, CIA counterintelligence agent Beth Bradford has long been on the trail of a spy nicknamed "The Neighbor" - a person who has been recruited by an Iranian uber-spy solely for the purpose of recruiting others in and around the D.C. area (reminiscent of the popular TV show, "The Americans" starring Kerry Russell and Matthew Rhys). On a day-to-day basis, Beth lives a relatively normal life with her husband Mike; the last of their three children just took off for college and the empty-nesters are packing up to leave their beautiful but too-big home on a cul-de-sac near the Langley military facility where she works. Like Beth, at least one person in her half-dozen or so neighbors' families has ties to Langley operations, and they've all formed a close friendship over the years.

Until, that is, Beth's house is purchased by a youngish couple sight unseen, and clues turn up that suggest The Neighbor has ties to a cul-de-sac. Other clues lead Beth to suspect the wife may be the person she's been looking for - but out of the blue, she's unceremoniously yanked off the case and reassigned to another facility teaching new CIA recruits.

To say that doesn't sit well with Beth would be an understatement; instead of letting others take over "her" investigation, she begins a relentless obsession with proving herself right - even if she has to tromp on legal and ethical boundaries to do it (over and over again). Each time she finds a new target - the one who she's certain must be The Neighbor - her cycle of angst begins all over again, and her efforts to confirm her suspicions threatened to cross the line into silly. Very soon, I grew weary - especially since fairly early on I'd pretty much figured out one "twist" and had a pretty strong feeling about another (I was right on both counts).

Those issues, though, didn't keep me from being just as eager as Beth to unearth the truth - keeping me glued to the pages all the way to an end that's far more complex than either of us could have imagined. Overall, it's a fast-paced story that was fun to read - one I think many readers will very much enjoy. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy.

The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland (Ballantine Books, July 2022); 295 pp.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS

5 stars out of 5

Oh my, what a page-turner this is! Well okay, the ending is a titch on the sappy side, but hey - getting there was a total delight. My Kindle swipe finger sure got a workout amid all the twists and turns.

It begins with a near-perfect family: Jason Bennett, a much-in-demand court reporter who can read lips, a professional photographer wife Lucinda and two talented kids, Allison and Ethan. One evening, a pickup truck nearly runs their car down on a rural road; when they stop, two men get out of the truck, and the encounter ends in horror as one of the kids is shot. Before they can begin to deal with that, though, the FBI enters the scene to explain that the men were part of a dangerous crime family - and insist that Jason and his family enter the witness protection program immediately.

That's a hard sell because it means absolutely zero contact with anyone they ever knew and loved, including Lucinda's elderly mother in a nursing facility. Still, the alternative - that their family is in imminent danger of being killed - is less palatable, so they reluctantly agree. Soon thereafter, they learn it was a smart move, but they can't fathom how they'll be able to assume new identities - which, while they're temporarily in a safe house, they don't even have yet - and continue for the rest of their lives. The only comfort, if it can be called that, is that the two FBI agents assigned to "babysit" them are sympathetic and go the extra mile to keep them in the loop when it comes to finding and arresting the bad guys.

But as public sentiment sours toward the Bennetts simply because they suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth, Jason decides to get to the bottom of things as much as he can while being denied contact with any other humans, even on social media. What he learns isn't pretty, including one family secret that threatens his marriage and that not everyone is who he or she claims to be. What Jason must determine, though, is what the real connection is between someone in his family and whoever's out to get them - and thus, who in his own family is the real target.

Of course, I won't tell, except to say that Jason's route to the truth makes for an action-packed trip. This one's a don't-miss in my book - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline (G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 2022); 392 pp.

LAST SEEN ALIVE

5 stars out of 5

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed another book by this author - but not in this series - I didn't hesitate when I got a chance to read a pre-release copy of this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Now, the only thing that disappoints me is that I missed the first four, although this one stands on its own quite well. It was so good, in fact, that I put off making dinner for an hour and a half so I could get to the exciting finish.

She was the one who got away: Abigail Ellery Hathaway, now a Boston detective, managed to escape serial torturer and killer of women Frances Coben. He was caught and has been languishing in prison for a couple of decades; the man who found and saved her, FBI agent Reed Markham, later became her lover. Still traumatized by the horrific treatment she endured at Coven's hands, Ellery, as she now calls herself, recently called things off with Reed. But now, out of the blue, Coben claims he's remorseful and wants to come clean by revealing the location of some of his victims' bodies (minus the body parts he keeps as trophies) - but only if he can confess to his "Abby."

Reed objects, but a TV crew gets into the act as well and puts some pressure on the powers-that-be. Just because the confrontation might bring closure to families of the victims, Reed and Ellery agree to meet Coben in prison. It's arranged, but Coben does little more than confuse the issue. Confounding things even more, a new body turns up with a too-similar M.O. - but Coben couldn't possibly have done it from jail. Or could he?

Amid all this, the impossible happens (no, I won't say what) - and from that point on, I was on the edge of my seat even though some of the happenings were predictable. Besides that, I really liked Ellery and Reed (him in particular), so I had my fingers and toes crossed that they'd get back together again (no, I won't reveal that, either). All in all, a most engrossing novel very much recommended.

Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen (Minotaur Books, January 2022); 320 pp.

MERCY

4 stars out of 5

For openers, this is a difficult book to review; while FBI agent Atlee Pine grows closer every day to finding her long-lost kidnapped twin sister Mercy - with lots of help from Atlee's older and more sensible administrative assistant, Carol Blum - describing whether or not they succeed in this fourth book in the series (and how and what happens next if she does or does not) would be too revealing.

What I can say is that Atlee has found proof that Mercy escaped those who captured and imprisoned her many years earlier. What became of her after that remains a mystery to Atlee; it's entirely possible that she's no longer alive. Just knowing that she escaped, though, is more than enough incentive for Atlee and Carol to take a leave from the FBI to concentrate even harder on tracking her down.

Needless to say, their journey is fraught with roadblocks, several of which are life-threatening (overdone, IMHO, to the point at which I said, "Whoa, nobody could survive this." But then, I suppose it was a cake walk for Mercy, whose captive years are described in even more horrific detail. Put another way, if explicit barbarian-style torture isn't your cup of tea, you'll want to skip parts of this one. It's also heavier on melodrama than usual, which was a bit of a turn-off for me as well. 

Overall, though, while I won't say this, the fourth book in the series, is my favorite, it was entertaining as always. It certainly brought the series to full circle - wrapping up several loose ends and leaving  me with only the question of what happens next. So hey, I've followed the series from the beginning, so if there are other chapters to follow, count me in!

Mercy by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2021); 417 pp.

MASTERMIND

 4.5 stars out of 5

Despite a Twilight Zone-worthy plot that normally falls a little outside my reading matter wheelhouse, I must say I enjoyed this book overall. Another plus is that it's the first of a series, so I can look forward to the next installment.

The stars of the show are FBI Special Agent Jessica Blackwood and Dr. Theo Cray, a mental genius and scientist with a shady background that makes him, shall we say, unpopular with the FBI, CIA, leaders of other countries and no doubt the families of people he admits he's killed. The equally intelligent Jessica, too, has plenty of enemies and isn't likely to make the FBI's most wanted employee list.

As this story begins, a huge portion of Manhattan suddenly goes completely dark with a foggy substance; no electricity, no Internet, no phone service and, for the FBI, no clue as to what happened or why and raising the question of whether it might happen again somewhere. When Jessica gets called in to check out the situation - and narrowly escapes death - she becomes certain that the blackout is the work of Michael Heywood, a.k.a. Warlock., who managed to escape prison not long ago. She was responsible for putting him in jail to begin with, so not only is he more than capable of concocting some kind of nefarious plan, he's got his sights trained on bringing Jessica down as well.

In fairly short order, it's determined that some kind of electromagnetic pulse short-circuited all the electronic systems, prompting the investigative teams to conclude that the blackout was an act of terrorism. Switch then to Dr. Cray, who's in Myanmar working on vaccinations and is injured. Jessica saves him, thus providing the two with a history (never mind for the present that neither totally trusts the other). But as other blackouts hit other major cities and other oddities like a large number of missing animals add mystery and danger, it's clear that Jessica needs Theo - and vice versa - to get to the bottom of things and save the free world.

Needless to say, there's plenty of intrigue and full-on action, with chapters shifting perspectives from Jessica to Theo. As the series first, it stands alone fairly well - although several references to things that happened in the past aren't fully explained and were a little confusing to me. Then I learned that there have been several books featuring Blackwood alone; no doubt that's where the references originated (but which doesn't excuse not clarifying them here).

It all comes down to an exciting conclusion that brings the possibility (as expected) for more collaboration between Jessica and Theo. As I said earlier, I'm definitely interested in reading more - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Good job (and BTW, this would make a great movie or TV series)!

Mastermind by Andrew Mayne (Thomas & Mercer, September 2021); 317 pp.

VORTEX

4 stars out of 5

FBI agents and married couple Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are at it again in this, their 25th appearance. But this time out, they don't spend much time working together. In fact, there were so many other characters that the FBI couple almost didn't seem like the stars of the show.

But even if they don't work together, make no mistake; it's still a really good show. Seven years after now-journalist Mia Briscoe's good friend went missing in the midst of a fraternity rave never to be seen again, Mia sees an old photo from that night and her investigative senses kick in. Problem is, the main suspect is rich, powerful and a political heavyweight who has the money and friends who can shut her down fast - or worse.

Meantime, CIA operative Mia Hildebrandt returns from a mission in Iran that failed miserably; the man she and her team were trying to get out of harm's way doesn't make it - and Olivia herself is hospitalized. Her agent-friend Mike, who tried his best to save the guy, has gone missing, and the CIA powers-that-be insist he stole some critical information and has gone rogue.

It is at this point - 11% into the book if you're reading on a Kindle - that Savich and Sherlock make an appearance. For Savich, that means visiting with Olivia, who's still recuperating from her injuries. Despite working for a rival agency, he promises her he will find Mike, get to the bottom of why he's been hiding and, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, ferret out the CIA "mole" everyone believes led to the disastrous mission. Back home, Savich is unofficially trying to help a friend with solving a triple murder; the suspect is known, but proof is elusive (at least until Savich enters the scene).

These three plots - the Iran crisis, the missing girl and the whodunit - weave their way in and out of chapters (no, it's not difficult to follow along, although of course the scene changes just as one chapter reaches some sort of cliffhanger, which while understandable from a suspense perspective, can be a little annoying at times). While I'm on the subject of annoyances, I'll mention for readers who don't enjoy reading about such things that the story involves drugs and sexual molestation. That doesn't bother me, although seeing the words "roofied and raped" in what had to be dozens of places did get a bit tiring.

Eventually, all the cases work their way toward resolution, accompanied by some nail-biters and surprises. The big reveal, for better or worse, I'd guessed early on - but I have to say it's always satisfying when that happens and I'm right. Bottom line? Definitely another enjoyable reading experience.

Vortex by Catherine Coulter (William Morrow, August 2021); 395 pp.

THE NECKLACE

4 stars out of 5

Despite the plot being a little bit predictable and characters who tend to err on the side of overwrought, I really enjoyed this book. Had the Tokyo Olympic games on TV not interfered, in fact (I'm a die-hard fan), there's no doubt I'd have polished the whole thing off in two sittings or less. In part, I suppose, that's because it taps into the nightmares of any mother.

It was that kind of heartbreak that happened to Susan Lentigo and her husband Danny 20 years ago, when their young daughter Amy went missing one day in Glens Falls, New York. Soon thereafter, their worst fears were confirmed: Amy's body turns up. The killer is nowhere to be found, nor is the beaded necklace Susan and Amy made that Amy wore around her neck every single day. Later, though, a suspect is identified; he confesses, and despite a subsequent recant, he's convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Fast-forward to the present as Susan - who's long been divorced from Danny - makes her way to North Dakota to witness the murderer's execution. Most of the story focuses on the tribulations of her journey (which, trust me, are plentiful) with chapters flipping back to the time of the murder to add background and insert Susan's recollections of what was going on at that time. During her in-the-here-and-now trek to the prison, though, she unearths evidence that rouses her suspicion that the wrong person may have been found guilty. Now, instead of deriving satisfaction at watching the life of a man she's hated all these years come to a welcome end, she's intent on finding out who really killed Amy and, ultimately, preventing a wrongful death.

Needless to say, there are some twists and turns along the way, and the whole thing comes down to a nail-biting end as I expected. It was a thoroughly engaging adventure, but I'd be remiss if I didn't note one potentially serious glitch: at one point, a person in law enforcement hands a half-empty bottle of liquor to a character who is about to get into a car and drive. I know the laws in my home state, but just in case I checked New York's as well. And yes, there, too, drivers and passengers in cars are prohibited from possessing a container of alcohol that's been opened. So readers, please do not try this at home (and on the off-chance that you run into a clueless officer like the one in this story who tries to give you one, Just Say No).

All in all, well done - and many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. If you read it, see if you agree with me that this one has the makings for a terrific motion picture (or perhaps a TV series).

The Necklace by Matt Witten (Oceanview Publishing, September 2021); 304 pp.

BLOODLESS

 5 stars out of 5

Wow - this one sure took a turn for the bizarre! And the ending? Well, I'm still in shock. The ending, of course, I can't reveal. As for the bizarre, with this series - this is the 20th book - it's pretty much to be expected, although maybe not quite this much.

The story begins with the 1971 disappearance of D.B. Cooper, who, threatening the flight crew with what turned out to be a fake bomb, collected a ransom of $200,000 and parachuted from Flight 305 that started in Portland headed for Seattle (which is, for the record, a true story). Readers may (should) suspect that this has some bearing on the tale that follows, when FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his partner, Agent Armstrong Coldmoon, are ordered to Savannah, Georgia. There, a couple of bodies have been found totally drained of blood - either a blessing or a bane, depending on who's looking to get rich or famous - in a city that's known for its ghosts and vampires.

Special interests also are at work here, in the form of a group looking to capture paranormal activity on film and a man looking to do an expose on the paranormal-filming group. While a couple of blood-let bodies may boost or hinder their causes one way or another, the same can be said of how their activities impact Pendergast's investigation. Throw in a couple more bloodless bodies, a sinister cemetery and some futuristic technology, and Pendergast and company definitely have their hands and thinking caps full.

As usual, Pendergast gets a lot of assistance from his ward with the mysterious background, Constance Greene; this time, her help not only is crucial to solving the case, but ultimately brings into question the direction future books in this series will take. For sure I'm one who will be waiting on pins and needles for the next one. As for this, well, nothing left to say but bravo (and please, please, don't waste any time getting the next installment ready).

Bloodless by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central Publishing, August 2021); 400 pp.

EVERY LAST FEAR

5 stars out of 5

Even though my Spidey sense kicked in early on with a suspicion of how it would turn out (and I was right), this action-packed book was a real treat. By the halfway point, I started to plow through it like a crazy woman, stopping only after my usual bedtime when I couldn't keep my eyes open a minute longer. 

At first, I was a bit skeptical; this is one of those books in which chapters switch both from individual characters' perspectives and chronology - a trend that seems to be a favorite of mystery-thriller authors these days, but in general not by me. This one, though, is especially well done, with each chapter building on background that led up to the death of an entire family - father, mother and two children - in Mexico. At first, it's thought to be an accident caused by a gas leak; but when the FBI gets involved, thoughts turn to suspicions of murder.

Two members of that family remain alive: Matt Pine, a filmmaking student at New York University, and his older brother Danny, who's been in jail ever since he was convicted of murdering his teenage girlfriend Charlotte. After a team of producers released a video reminiscent of "Proven Innocent" in which Matt's father goes off on a rant about his son's innocence, the townsfolk shunned the entire family and forced them to move from the small Nebraska town to Chicago.

Meanwhile, the FBI - in the person of agent Sarah Keller - has been investigating the Chicago accounting firm for its possible ties to a Mexican cartel. As it turns out, Matt's father Evan worked there as an accountant. There's no discernible connection to the family's deaths, but needless to say, it raises a few suspicions in Sarah's mind as she tries to collect enough evidence to successfully prosecute bigwigs at the accounting firm.

And that, friends, is all I'm going to tell you - except that this is an intricately woven story that's a delight to read. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal look prior to release. 

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay (Minotaur Books, March 2021); 368 pp.

THE POWER COUPLE

4 stars out of 5

For the first quarter or so of this book, I was thinking I might not make it to the end - the characters were barely likable, the writing borderline trite. But I'd just finished reading two of the best books I've read in a long time, so I told myself to hang in there. I did - and by golly, it soon started to get interesting - so much so that I even wondered if a different author was now doing the writing. By the midpoint, the pace really started to pick up, and the last few chapters were an edge-of-seat race to the finish.

Front and center are Rebecca and Brian Unsworth, married two decades and parents of teenagers Kira and Tony. Rebecca is a counterterrorism specialist for the FBI, and Brian is a coder for the National Security Administration. Living in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, their budget is strained to the breaking point even with two incomes and - like many couples - they've grown apart over the busy years. Perhaps, they reason, a European vacation is just what the doctor ordered - and off they all go.

Everything comes up roses in Barcelona, until Kira, a college student, meets a mysterious, attractive older French man. She agrees to meet up with him later for a couple of hours - unbeknownst to anyone except her younger brother - and doesn't come home as expected nor call to check in as is her custom. Her parents, understandably, are distraught, and they pull out all the stops to use their contacts and influence to find their missing child.

The story then shifts to earlier years - first on Rebecca, then on Brian - showing what each was thinking and doing over the years leading up to their marriage-saving vacation. Nothing I read made me warm up to either of them, though; mostly I was thinking that whatever they got was well-deserved. 

Of course, that part I can't share, because through these insights readers get a glimpse of what's really going on between the two of them and with Kira's disappearance. Interspersed are chapters focusing on Kira's plight and how she's dealing with the possibility that she might never see her parents (or for that matter, any other living human) again. The last few chapters are almost frenetic (and while exciting, not entirely believable). The ending ushers in two possibilities - neither of them good - but honestly, I didn't much care which resolution was reached.

All things considered, it's a solid book that except for the lackluster beginning held my attention throughout - one that espionage lovers should enjoy. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Power Couple by Alex Berenson (Simon & Schuster, February 2021); 432 pp.

THE SCORPION'S TAIL

5 stars out of 5

For a plain old whodunit-when-how story, this series offers a refreshing new direction. If you're a history buff, you'll like it even better. If it matters, I read the first one, Old Bones, and I loved it as well. The stars of the show are archeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, both stationed in the Santa Fe area of New Mexico. Here, Carrie is fresh off a case in which one of her skills was put to the test - with an outcome that's left her (and possibly her superior officer) uncertain of her future at the FBI.

When a new case comes along - the discovery of a mummified corpse in High Lonesome, a ghost town near White Sands, where the atomic bomb was tested in 1945 - Corrie gets the assignment (mostly, she suspects, to keep her mind off recent events). She's not thrilled, but given her degree in forensic anthropology, she quickly realizes she needs professional help. She and Nora are the kind of friends who hold hands to keep from fighting, but Nora's expertise - and proximity to the mummy's burial site - mean Corrie must put aside any personal misgivings and ask Nora to make an examination. Nora isn't pleased either - she's working another important case and hoping for a big promotion - but Corrie's persistence wears her down and off she goes.

Two things are striking right from the start: the manner in which the victim was poisoned and how the dead man came to be holding tight to an extremely valuable, centuries-old artifact. That brings up questions about the nearby Army base and unearths interesting history of the people who once inhabited the lands.

All told, it's another great adventure from a pair of writers who never disappoint. It's not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but it's always a good idea to start at the beginning - especially when that one is equally delicious.

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central Publishing, January 2021); 309 pp.