THE LAST HITMAN

5 stars out of 5

I follow the “Youngstown Mob” on Facebook (yes, it’s a real thing). I’ve been to every single town mentioned in this book, most of them many times (in fact, I lived in one of them for 50 years). Many of my friends claim to have a grandma who makes the best spaghetti sauce in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia put together. To say I enjoyed the heck out of this book, then, would be an understatement – the goings-on ring true even though some of the names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent.

This is the self-told story of Angelo Cipriani, a high-school dropout from the Ohio Valley who ended up finding a job in the powerful Fortuna Crime Family. Although his non-full-blooded Italian heritage prohibited him from becoming a “made” man within the mafia (well, at least for many years), he was always loyal to the core. The family boss, “Big Tommy,” loved him like a brother, and Big Tommy’s son (Little Tommy, of course) called him Uncle Ange. One fine day, Angelo was told that his loyalty had overcome DNA and he would be accepted in the inner circle as a made man. And then he got instructions on what, exactly, he needed to do to make that happen.

But time has a way of changing things, and that includes the mob landscape (I’m not sure what the most recent suspected mob-related murder was in Youngstown, Ohio – a few stones’ throws from my home – but I do recall one in 1991 in particular that remains unsolved to this day). Angelo’s “nephew” Little Tommy is in charge now, and he’s taken his troops into areas of crime his late father once railed against. And now, Angelo has become about as worthless as a screen door on a submarine. Amid his feelings of stress, anxiety and betrayal, who should appear but a friendly neighborhood FBI agent – one who wants Angelo to rat on his compadres in exchange for Witness Protection.

So what’s an aging, maybe even not long for this world but still loyal to the core mob guy to do? That’s the issue Angelo faces, and he takes readers on an up-close-and-personal (and often chuckle-evoking) journey through time as he struggles with his final decision. For me, it was a highly entertaining journey, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to ride the bus by way of a pre-release copy. Eccellente!

The Last Hitman by Robin Yocum (Crooked Lane Books, December 2006); 331 pp.

WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES

5 stars out of 5

After only a few chapters of this book, one thought came to the forefront of my mind: I cannot imagine how any human can come up with a plot this complex - devious, even - especially when it's so doggone easy to read and (though I detest the word) unputdownable. 

Basically, the story follows the adventures (or perhaps more accurately, misadventures) of three adults: Carla, Reed and Liz. Carla, who is desperately trying to make something of her life by opening a restaurant in small-town Locksbury, Pennsylvania, is a single mom to son Billy. The boy is her pride and joy, but he stutters and has some social anxiety issues - plus he's had a whopping secret for about a year he's just shared with his mother.

Reed, from the same small town, is mildly autistic; he lives with his brother, Gregg, and until she recently died, their mother. His goal in life at this point is to rectify a wrong that happened when his mother was interred in a mausoleum in the local cemetery.

Third is Liz, sort of a third-rate bar singer/songwriter who's even more desperate than Carla. But just as she gets a chance at the big-time, her sleazy boyfriend gets her involved with - and seriously indebted to - an ex-con who won't rest (or let her leave town) till she repays the money he claims they owe him.

Their trials and tribulations are described in great detail, making me wonder at times if things could possibly go any more wrong and eliciting a chuckle now and again. I truly wish I could say more, but anything else would take away the fun of reading about it for yourself and learning how it all ends. And read it you should - it's really well done. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me a few hours of pure delight by way of a pre-release copy.

What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski (Atlantic Crime, September 2025); 282 pp.

HUSBAND MISSING

4 stars out of 5

Let me get to the nitty-gritty right away: The missing husband, as loyal readers of this series (like me) would suspect, is Denton, Pa., police detective Josie Quinn's hunky police officer husband Noah Fraley. One not-so-fine day, she returns home from a murder scene to find their home totally ransacked, blood everywhere and Noah gone. Alas, Josie isn't the only one to miss him - he's a major reason I love the series, so not having him around was more than a small disappointment. And after awhile, reading about his absence started to get a bit tedious; put another way, I can count too, so I really didn't need an update on how long he's been gone on every third page.

Nitpicking aside, I will say that the happenings in this book bring a good measure of closure to Josie's horrific life before the police department and Noah (after 21 previous books, long-time readers will be familiar with her story and reconnection with her twin sister Trinity Payne as adults). Trinity, a well-known TV journalist who's engaged to FBI agent Drake Nally, of course is around to lend support and investigative expertise to her sister - as is the usual police force team that includes the rather obnoxious officer Kyle Turner (though here, too, the ongoing snarkiness between Kyle and Josie got old fast).

Josie herself is officially sidelined throughout most of the book, given her connection to Noah (she can't be the one leading the investigation to find her own husband). Then, the case she was called to right before returning to her ransacked home takes a turn for the bizzare. At the scene, the daughter of a prominent contractor is killed, and prints are found. Great for helping find the killer, perhaps, but for Josie, not so much; the prints match those found in the mess at her place. Whoops - off the case she goes once again.

Josie being Josie, of course, she manages to call in a few favors and do some surreptitious digging around on her own (in between telling readers how long Noah has been missing and trading barbs with Kyle). Finally, the whole thing - which is directly tied to the mother Josie knew to be a monster - comes together to reach a rather surprising conclusion. As for Noah, nope, you ain't gonna hear it from me. Go read the book for yourself!

Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy - I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one!

Husband Missing by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, March 2025); 423 pp.

REMEMBER HER NAME

5 stars out of 5

Honestly, I had some trouble keeping all the characters straight, but the nonstop action had me hooked from the first page to the last (which I stayed up late to finish, I hasten to add). After reading many of the books in this series - this is the 21st - I'm at least very familiar with rural Denton, Pennsylvania Detective Josie Quinn (and more recently, her husband and co-worker, Lt. Noah Fraley, her twin sister Trinity Payne and co-worker pal Detective Gretchen Palmer).

Just off a disturbing case, Josie is reluctant to throw herself back into the investigative fray. But there's no choice; she's called to a puzzling scene with an infant girl wailing in a stroller and no parent or caretaker in sight. There is, notably, a Polaroid shot of an unknown body of water - a photo with blood on the corner. Shortly, the baby's father comes to collect her - with no clear alibi, he becomes a suspect. 

The case remains puzzling, but that provides time for readers to get to know the newest team member - a rather reprehensible dude named Kyle Turner, who's replacing an officer killed in that disturbing case mentioned earlier. No one seems to like him much (count me among those astute characters). But then, something about the photo triggers Josie's memory, and she heads to a place familiar to her from another investigation with fingers crossed every mile of the way. Alas, she's too late; she finds the baby's mother dead, another Polaroid of an unidentified scene and confirmation that a serial killer is running rampant.

But why? And who? And most important, can Josie and her team find all that out before the killer strikes again? Sorry, but I won't tell; you'll just have to read the book for yourself. It's a good one - and I'm ready for the next. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Remember Her Name by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, September 2024); 423 pp.

FACE HER FEAR

4 stars out of 5

This book - the 19th in the series - is a bit of a departure from the usual case-solving procedural featuring Denton Police Department Detective Josie Quinn. Here, she's more than a little bit out of her usual element, taking part in a trauma recovery program at an isolated Pennsylvania retreat after losing a dear friend and colleague and having a meltdown of sorts that involves her husband Noah.

There are six participants in all - five women and one man - led by a Zen-like therapist named Sandrine, who organized the retreat and loves helping everyone get in touch with their feelings. Everyone there is a victim of some kind of trauma, which they're invited to share either in group sessions or with Sandrine privately. To spook things up a bit, no cell phones, laptops or other communication devices are allowed, nor is Josie allowed to bring a weapon - she's not there as an officer of the law, and besides, she's no longer within her jurisdiction. Amid all that, a huge snowstorm appears out of nowhere (with all of today's technology, I must say I found it implausible that any meterorologist worth his or her salt could possibly have missed a storm of that magnitude, but hey).

In really short order, everyone becomes snowbound and virtually unreachable on a mountaintop with enough food, burnable wood and generator-produced electricity to last the week - if they're prudent. By now, you know what's coming next: one of the participants, a woman named Meg, is found dead in the woods; and although Josie knows Meg was murdered, she has no authority to investigate - and worse, no way of contacting anyone in the outside world.

From that point on, Josie tries to put her crime-solving skills to work while knowing there's little she can do even if she does identify the killer - one who almost certainly is among them. Problem is - at least for me - she just can't seem to get her own act together; much of her time is spent amid self-doubt and unfounded speculation. While I understand her personal conflicts and the reasons she's at the retreat in the first place (well, except for her knee-jerk interaction with Noah, which I honestly couldn't relate to at all), that constant second-guessing didn't grab me much. Happily, enough facts and hard evidence were interspersed to keep things interesting and hold my attention throughout (to that end, another of the retreat participants turning up missing and Josie's revelation that cameras have been hidden throughout the buildings certainly helped).

By the finish line, everything gets resolved, and although it's no secret to series followers that Josie will live to see another installment, exactly how it all comes together is for me to know and other readers to find out (yes, there are a few surprises). All in all, an entertaining read once again - for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy.

Face Her Fear by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, January 2024); 385 pp.

CLOSE HER EYES

4 stars out of 5

No, no, no - not an ending I saw coming and decidedly not one I wanted to bring to a close the 17th installment of this very entertaining series. A few other surprises were in store near the end as well, but this one is a doozy.

Other than that observation, upon which I will not expand, I'll say that books in this series stand pretty well on their own, although I do think it helps to have read at least some of the others first (I've had seven on my Kindle in addition to this one). The focus is on Denton, Pennsylvania, Detective Josie Quinn and her very competent team. As this one begins, she's at home with her twin sister, Trinity Payne, Trinity's boyfriend Drake Nally (an FBI agent from the New York City Field Office) and her husband, Denton police Lt. Noah Fraley. After dinner, Josie gets a call from another of her team members, Finn Mettner, explaining that a woman's body has been found along nearby Kettlewell Creek.

During the initial inspection by Medical Examiner Dr. Anya Feist, it's discovered that the woman has a cattle brand on her hip - a horrifying sight that terrifies the good doctor for an equally horrifying reason: She's got an identical brand on her hip, inflicted by her former husband from whom she ran away to Denton (and has been on edge ever since wondering where and when he'll find her). Problem is, there's zero evidence tying Anya's ex-husband, or his equally mean father, who's somewhat incapacitated by a stroke, to the new murder. 

Trinity, a TV journalist who does stories on unsolved, or questionable, crimes, is in Denton to gather more information on a different case. When a second woman's dead body turns up - with that same brand on her hip - the action starts to heat up and, not unsurprisingly, so does suspicion that the story Trinity is working on has ties to the current murders. But suspicion isn't proof, so Josie and her team keep digging despite the threat - which too often extracts physical and mental tolls - until the exciting conclusion that includes that unforeseen, and most unwelcome ending. I have to say I enjoyed this one a teeny bit less than most of the others I've read, in large part because a little too much of it just seemed a little too contrived. But I'm also sure most fans of the series will love it (well, except for, you know...) As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Close Her Eyes by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, May 2023); 389 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.

WATCH HER DISAPPEAR

5 stars out of 5

This is the 14th installment in the series featuring Pennsylvania Detective Josie Quinn, and I've read several. All have been quite good, but for some reason this one stands out among the others. Maybe it's because the focus seems a little less on Josie's troubled background and more on that of her chief, Robert Chitwood - a man who, prior to this, has been a bit of a thorn in Josie's side. Or maybe it's because a serial killer is on the loose - perhaps one with ties to a long-ago murder that hits too close to home for comfort. Whatever the reason, it gets five stars from me.

That's even though I was left scratching my head over how a relatively small (20,000) town can support "several different" high schools and reels in "hundreds and hundreds" of students at a single prom (especially when the latter typically is limited to juniors and seniors). I live close to a handful of towns of this size - a few stones' throws from the Keystone state, in fact - where just two high schools struggle with low enrollment figures. Oh well, except that the unrealistic numbers helped complicate corpse identification, I suppose it really wasn't all that important to the overall scheme of things.

And the scheme is intriguing; out behind one of those several schools on systemwide prom night, a young girl's body is found. The victim of a single stab wound, she's wearing what appears to be a prom dress, complete with wrist corsage. Problem is, no one has a clue as to who she is. Finally, a lightbulb goes off in Josie's head; she's a girl who went missing a few months earlier for whom an Amber alert was issued. There are zero clues on the body that could lead to a suspect, but five small cuts on the inside of her arm raise alarm bells. When another missing girl is found in her bed a few days later - with a similar cause of death and a different number of small cuts - it's enough to make Jesse and her team, husband Lt. Noah Fraley and detectives Gretchen Palmer and Finn Mettner, lean toward the serial killer angle.

Strangely, their chief suddenly becomes animated and insistent that they pursue the case. When he finally reveals the reason, it opens up a whole new line of investigation into what will become a race to find a killer before another young girl falls victim. It's nonstop action and a slam-bang finish - good reasons for not wanting to turn off my Kindle at bedtime. Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!

Watch Her Disappear by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, April 2022); 389 pp.

FATAL COMPLICATIONS

4 stars out of 5

Let me say this right up front: I can take a little, even more than a little, sappy romance; while it's more plentiful here than I'd like, it's tolerable. But getting gobsmacked by an obvious religious slant in a book that's described as a medical thriller made me want to throw my Kindle against the wall. My Spidey senses started to twitch when I learned that one main character almost didn't marry her husband because he wasn't the perfect God-fearing man she really wanted (he was otherwise acceptable, though, so she decided to chance it). My suspicions were right; the theme is dotted throughout the book all the way to the end.

Redemption (pun intended) comes in the last half or so of the book, which is packed with plenty of action on the medical front, reminiscent of my old favorite authors like Robin Cook and Michael Crichton. I loved the lengthy, explicitly detailed descriptions of medical live-or-die procedures - some of which went one way, some another. The ending defies reality (make that outright destroys it), but it was edge-of-seat exciting nonetheless. 

Anesthesiologist Luke Daulton is relatively new on the job at Swatara Regional Hospital near Hershey, Pennsylvania (where I've screamed on the rides at Hersheypark and, of course, consumed way too much of that delicious chocolate). Assisting with a surgery that takes a deadly turn, Luke begins to question not only what went wrong and why, but who - and whether there's some kind of conspiracy afoot. He's got a doctor friend who is in the midst of a love crisis between his wife and drop-dead-gorgeous girlfriend as well as a wife who's close to delivering their firstborn. On that last point, given still too-high rates of unnecessary C-sections in this country it was disappointing that the soon-to-be-mom insisted on a C-section not for medical reasons, but because she can't fathom enduring that much pain and her obstetrician agreed. But then again, that's just me. 

Readers are privileged to get the inside scoop along the way, starting with a portent of things to come in the first few pages. Tension is heightened by watching characters concoct theories and make misjudgments that can (and do) cost them their lives - prompting us to concoct theories and make misjudgments of our own. The pace turns absolutely frantic as the end nears, bringing with it one red hot surprise. The bottom line? If you love medical-tinged drama and don't mind some religious overtones, this certainly isn't a bad choice. That said, it's probably not one you'll want to stash in your purse to read in the doctor's waiting room.

Fatal Complications by John Benedict (Oceanview Publishing, 2015; paperback release, 2021); 290 pp.

THE DROWNING GIRLS

4 stars out of 5

Small-town Denton, Pennsylvania, detective Josie Quinn is enjoying holiday time with her husband, Noah (a police force lieutenant), her twin sister and TV show host Trinity and other family members when a co-worker, Detective Finn Mettner, knocks on the door. He's been dating Amber Watts, the department's press liaison, and he frantically insists she's gone missing. He convinces Josie to come with him to Amber's home; when they see a reference to a nearby dam written in the ice on Amber's car windshield, Josie heads out. What she finds is a woman's hand, but she manages to grab it too late to stop it and the rest of the body from being washed away. The good news? It's not Amber.

The only real clue is Amber's diary - with Josie's name on it - containing a set of numbers that no one can decipher. The cause of death is determined to be murder, but when the dead woman finally is identified, the investigative waters become even more muddled. Some leads point to a possible connection with a wildly popular preacher-man who, with his wife, is building a mega-church at the outskirts of town. But that, too, goes nowhere fast. A couple of Amber's relatives who turn up turn out to be quirky as all get-out, but there's no hard evidence that they're connected to the murder. And Finn's almost stalker-like behavior toward Amber doesn't help, instead pushing him to the top of the suspect list despite Josie's initial insistence that he's innocent.

The fact is, Amber remains missing and feared dead. But hope springs eternal, so Josie, Noah and the rest of the team keep looking for her while trying to solve the murder at the dam. Still, time is of the essence; If Amber has been kidnapped and is still alive, can they find her before the searchers' worst fears come true? The only thing I'll say is that the last handful of chapters makes for the most frenzied, twisted-up ending I've read in a long while. All told, it's another solid entry in this enjoyable series (this is the 13th book), and I'm pretty sure it will please old fans and create new ones as well. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy.

The Drowning Girls by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, December 2021); 391 pp.

SAVE HER SOUL

4 stars out of 5


Detective Josie Quinn is back (well actually, I guess she never left), and she's in fighting form. This time, besides her usual murder-solving prowess, she and her police colleagues are dealing with the weather: heavy rains have flooded much of small-town Denton, Pennsylvania, rendering some spots virtually inaccessible and putting investigations on a slippery slope.

After Josie and her partner Gretchen Palmer save an elderly woman whose home - and her - are about to be swept away by the raging current, a long-dead, tarp-wrapped body is unearthed, apparently from underneath the rental home's concrete basement. Turns out it's Beverly Urban, one of Josie's high-school classmates - a bully who had a rough life but took it out on everybody else except a couple of close friends. Just another cold case, or so it seems, until Josie discovers that the teenager was wearing a baseball awards jacket that's way too similar to the one that belonged to Josie's late husband, Ray.

Back then, Ray claimed he lost it; but Josie all too well recalls rumors that Ray and Beverly had a "thing" behind Josie's back. Josie didn't believe it then and doesn't want to believe it now, but on the other hand, evidence doesn't lie. Beverly and her mother, Vera, had serious issues which, apparently, led to the two of them making a sudden getaway from Denton, never to be heard from again.

Since Ray's death, Josie is in a happy relationship with coworker Noah, who's almost too good to be true. She's not pining an old love, but neither does she want to learn that her high-school sweetheart and former husband isn't the person she thought he was. As the investigation progresses, Josie gets a call from an unidentified woman who says she's willing to spill the beans. Maybe yes, maybe no; but it doesn't really matter when the woman is murdered right before Josie and Gretchen's eyes.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going; and nothing describes Josie Quinn more than the word tough. The trail leads to some of Denton's most wealthy and influential residents, several of whom have been keeping dark secrets for many years. In between the action are flashback chapters outlining Josie's memories from high school - and while it's done well, I really hope this is the last I'll see of this over-used technique in future books. And while I'm on the subject of please don'ts, if I read the phrase "his/her smile didn't quite reach his/her eyes" one more time, I'm gonna barf (it's appeared at least once in at least four out of the last five books I've read; enough, already).

None of that, though, has dampened my enthusiasm for this series - and I'll be eager to read the next one (I've read and enjoyed four others). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one.

Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, August 2020); 284 pp.

FIND HER ALIVE

5 stars out of 5

Count on this series to be consistently good,

and this one - the eighth - fits the pattern well. The story is a bit more "far out" than the others I've read, but it doesn't matter - I stayed up late to finish the last four chapters just because things were moving so fast at that point that I didn't want to wait till morning to find out what happened.

Josie Quinn, a detective in rural Denton, Pennsylvania, has twin sister Trinity. It's been only recently that they discovered each other (background on all that is in previous books); and even now, their interaction can be a bit tense. Trinity, who is a well-known TV news anchor, came to visit Josie and her significant other Noah Fraley, also a police officer. Convinced she was about to be fired, Trinity was on the trail of a major breakthrough story that would revive her TV career big-time.

But about three weeks ago, the twins got into an argument and Trinity stalked out - renting a remote hunting cabin for a reason known only to her. When she can't reach her sister, Josie heads to the cabin, where she encounters a gruesome sight: human bones neatly arranged outside the cabin. Needless to say, she's terrified that the bones are Trinity's, although it seems unlikely that total decomposition could have happened this rapidly.

When the police team come in to investigate, Josie is relieved; dental records confirm the remains are not Trinity, but rather a missing woman from a nearby town. Now, the investigation expands, but it seems to go nowhere fast. Gleaning some clues from a handwritten message Trinity apparently left on her car - which was found outside the cabin complete with her purse and cell phone - Josie determines that Trinity's big story involved an as-yet-unidentified serial killer known for his "artistry" with human bones.

Along the way, other bone formations are found, adding urgency to the investigation. Is Trinity still alive, and if she is, can they find her before it's too late? Josie is hot to trot with ideas and suggestions, but not all are taken seriously simply because of her obvious personal interest in the case. 

And tttthhhhhaaat's all from me, folks, except to say it's a dash to an exciting finish with a couple of twists thrown in. Those who are familar with this series will enjoy this one too, I'm sure - and to those who aren't, well, what are you waiting for? Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Find Her Alive by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, April 2020); 300 pp.

COLD HEART CREEK

5 stars out of 5

If I ever made a list of my 10 favorite book "heroines," Josie Quinn would be in there somewhere. Yes, she's got emotional baggage as a result of an extremely abusive childhood, but unlike way too many other lead characters with similar backgrounds, she doesn't whimper and whine about it and gets on with her life in fine fettle (excepting perhaps those awful nightmares). That life, for the record, includes her duties as a detective in largely rural parts of Pennsylvania and Noah, a partner both professionally and personally (for the record, I like him a lot as well).

As this episode begins, Josie and Noah are called out when two bodies are found at a remote campground about half a mile from Cold Heart Creek. At first blush, it appears that they were poisoned - even, perhaps, in a suicide pact. But further investigation changes the outlook in two ways: They are murder victims, and there was a third camper at the site who is inexplicably missing.

The search for clues makes a significant stop at a fenced-in section of private property called The Sanctuary, a haven for societal misfits who, according to commune leader and property owner Charlotte, need to find themselves. Although all the residents are willing to answer questions, Josie and Noah are pretty sure they're not being totally honest. Then, on the drive home, Josie nearly collides with a very pregnant woman staggering out of the woods - who proceeds to give birth in Josie's car. When she's finally identified and hospitalized, the woman claims to have been kidnapped two years ago and held captive in some of the remote caves that dot the region. The plot thickens even more when a young girl Josie met at the commune turns up dead.

Admittedly, there are bits and pieces that stretch credulity a bit, but overall this is a book I really didn't want to put down and could have finished in a day had the facts of my personal life not intervened. And while I have read and enjoyed other books in the series, this one stands quite well on its own. I do thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Cold Heart Creek by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, December 2019); 1969 KB).

THE FORGOTTEN

5 stars out of 5

Subtitled "How the People of One Pennsylvania County Elected Donald Trump and Changed America," this book offers a look through the eyes of several residents of Luzerne County - many of whom voted for, and still support, #45. Why that matters is that of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the latter had the most electoral votes; Trump won largely because of his showing here - by a margin of nearly 20 points.

I had two reasons for wanting to read the book, the first of which is that it's really hard for me to comprehend why - other than to make sure Hillary Clinton wouldn't win, which I understand - anyone would want someone like The Donald in our country's highest office (which of course reveals my personal view on the subject). The second reason is that the Luzerne County is somewhat familiar; I've visited several times - a few to conduct employee development seminars at the community college in the county seat of Wilkes-Barre. The people I met were friendly and warm, and the surrounding scenery is, as I repeatedly told my seminar participants, close to breathtaking. Besides that, the county seems to somewhat mirror that of Ohio's Mahoning Valley - where I live - at least in terms of how the local economy has fared since the demise of heavy industry.

The author visited the county four or five times, I believe, questioning numerous residents as to why they voted the way they did and then compiling the responses of about a dozen to form this book. In between are demographic facts about the county and its residents, such as an overall lack of college-educated residents and substantial increases in minorities moving in over the last several years. Also worthy of note to me, at least, is that Pennsylvania as a whole is home to more hate groups than any other U.S. state.

Honestly, I really didn't run into any "Aha" moments here; most of the reasons given for dissatisfaction I've heard many times before. Hillary seemed to "look down" on people like them; government-programs like NAFTA and support of a global economy have cost them jobs; and social programs make it too easy for people to stay on what appears to be an ever-expanding dole and, more to the point, live as well or better than many of those who struggle to make a living the old-fashioned way. So to a large extent, the support of Trump there simply reflects a desire to get away from the same old, same old. As one man noted, "Washington is broke, and I need someone to go down there with a sledgehammer."

Still, seeing their in-depth feelings in their own words is a bit eye-opening - especially on issues like immigration, which they claim not to oppose; after all, most of them come from immigrant parents or grandparents. At issue is legality; immigrants are welcome, but only if they follow the prescribed rules and are willing to "assimilate" into this country (meaning, for the most part, be willing to work hard and learn English) just like the residents' ancestors did. No, a wall isn't necessary, but some kind of effective border security certainly is - so Trump's get-tough stand on that issue came through loud and clear.

With few available jobs and little hope that things will get better any time soon, it's easy to see why the people here think they've been "forgotten," ignored and not good enough to count. On purpose, I did not use the word "disenfranchised" - a term more associated with political correctness. And if there is a recurring theme in this book, it is total disdain for having to tiptoe around others, particularly those who don't share their work ethic and family values. Cut to the bottom line, then, Trump was saying what they were feeling - even though many agreed that his actions, comments and tweets were (and still are) "over the top." And despite the fact that their support of Trump has destroyed friendships - and in some instances, entire families - those who voted for him aren't backing down. Almost to a person, they give him high marks after 18 months in office and insist they'll vote for him next time around.

As a self-described moderate-to-flaming liberal, I admit that most of the views expressed here are way outside my political wheelhouse (although I do share their concerns on some issues, like the need for immigration reform and maintaining Second Amendment rights - just not with quite the same restrictions in mind). Put another way, some parts of the book gave me hope while others scared the bejeesus out of me.

For anyone interested in expanding their horizons - or looking for confirmation and support of their own views - this is a well-written, important book that reflects the times that are a'changin'. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy for review.

The Forgotten by Ben Bradlee Jr. (Little, Brown and Co., October 2018); 304 pp.

THE FALLEN

5 stars out of 5


What can I say about this book besides it's another stellar entry into an already great series? Honestly, not much except that this is the fourth featuring former police detective Amos Decker, who landed a spot on my Top 10 book "heroes" list right from the first. That's partly because he's an Ohio boy (I've been a proud Buckeye State resident most of my life) and a football standout - that is, until he took a nearly deadly hit on his first play as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

He didn't die, obviously, but he did end up with some rather unusual after-effects - most notably being hyperthymesia, or the ability to remember every single moment of every single day and call any one of them up at will. He also acquired synesthia, or the association of colors with people and objects. Particularly in his career as a detective, those rare abilities usually are extremely helpful, but in his personal life, not so much. There's no escaping, for instance, the years-ago horror of the brutal murder of his beloved wife and young daughter. He's also a bit emotionally challenged, in that for the most part he's unable to express his feelings. Those qualities make him a unique character - the biggest reason I'm a big fan.

These days, Amos and his partner Alex Jamison work with the FBI (another "connection" since my late mother's maiden name is Jamison). As this story begins, they are in small-town Baronville (located in northwestern Pennsylvania not far from the Ohio border - another fun coincidence, since I live in northeastern Ohio not far from the Pennsylvania line). They've come to visit Alex's sister Amanda, her husband Frank and their daughter Zoe, who not long ago relocated in Baronville when Frank took a job at a huge new distribution center. Still another coincidence; the area in which I live - just off Interstate 80 - is a hot spot for distribution centers as well.

Amos and Alex are hoping for a few days of down time, but that changes quickly when Amos notices some strange sights and sounds at the house behind the one they're in. Unable to resist checking things out, Amos finds two dead bodies. Poking around results in another serious head injury - one that has mind-altering potential. Further investigation, with help from local cops, reveals other recent murders - far more than would be expected in such a small town. Among the suspects is the hermit-like descendent of the town's founding father, who was a highly successful industrial magnate believed to have caused the town's steep economic decline and, not inconsequentally, the opoid addiction that's running rampant in and around the community.

Amos has to work to win the confidence of the local police, and gaining traction in that area puts him and his partner in the crosshairs of the bad guys. Murders keep piling up, and it's clear that someone is intent on adding Amos and Alex to that stack. Can they find out what's really going on and who's behind it before they become victims as well? Ah, but that's for me to know and other readers to find out. The only thing I'll pass on is that this is another winner - highly recommended!

The Fallen by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, April 2018); 433 pp.

THE GIRL WITH NO NAME

5 stars out of 5

This series got off to a promising start with Vanishing Girls, the first to feature Josie Quinn, a very capable detective in Denton, Pa. So of course, I was eager to get my hands on a copy of this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for an advance review copy). My opinion? This one is better than the first. That said, I'll add this: While this one stands on its own well, I think that starting with the first one will give you a bit more understanding of what's going on (and besides, it's also very good).

And for sure, there's a whole lot going on here with lots of players, so you need to pay close attention. Josie is now the chief of police in Denton - a job she likes, although she prefers action to sitting behind a desk keeping tabs on department budgets. She gets it in spades as she's called in when Missy, a stripper, lands in the hospital after taking a brutal beating at her home. She'd just delivered a baby, it appears - a baby who's now missing. Complicating the matter is that Missy and Raymond, Josie's late husband, were a hot item before he died; now, Josie must put aside her conflicting feelings and find out who attacked Missy and took the infant. 

And that's when the plot thickens even more. Josie's fiance Luke has been distant of late; when he goes missing, Josie learns that he knew Missy rather well. So, Josie and her team head for Luke's remote cabin, where he's been spending more time of late, and they find blood. No Luke, but there is a dead body half-buried behind the cabin - a man who's identified as a gangster type from Atlantic City. Has Luke gone off the deep end and committed murder, and if so, is it somehow connected to the baby's disappearance?

Needless to say, Josie desperately wants to find Luke, even if it means he's implicated in the goings-on. The investigation leads to a very nasty rich kid who's trying to build a casino in Denton and then to an even more wealthy man who's good friends with the Denton mayor, who threatens to relieve Josie of her job if she doesn't play well with said mayor's family and friends.

Josie isn't one to be intimidated, but with Luke involved and her upcoming marriage in jeopardy, she's conflicted. Her colleages try to help, with some success, but in the end it's Josie who must come to terms with the outcome. 

The Girl With No Name by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, April 2018); 341 pp.

VANISHING GIRLS

4 stars out of 5

The first book in a new series never fails to be exciting for me - especially when I get to the end and am disappointed that I don't have the next one at hand. Such is the case here, and I'm already hoping the author is well into the writing of book No. 2. 

The star of this show is Josie Quinn, a detective with the Denton, Pa., police who's been put on leave following allegations of use of excessive force (where she lives is of some relevance to me since in about 15 minutes we can be in the Keystone State). There's not a lot of question that Josie did the deed; but it's also true that she had a traumatic childhood that has left her with serious emotional scars, so I suppose it's understandable that she's got a hair-trigger temper. She's still married to childhood sweetheart and fellow cop Ray, but only because he refuses to sign the divorce papers; in fact, she's now engaged to hunky state cop Luke (thus jumping from the frying pan to the fire a bit too fast for me to have much sympathy should things go wrong).

As the story begins, Isabelle Coleman, a beautiful and popular girl from town, goes missing. Not long thereafter, Josie narrowly misses being struck by a car that's occupants are being shot at - a car filled with gang-type guys and a local history teacher, the latter of whom lives long enough to utter the name "Ramona" as Josie tries to help. 

Next comes another stunner: Another girl turns up, unresponsive and near death - a girl no one realized had been missing. Even more confusing, she's got a tongue piercing exactly like Isabelle's. Does that mean the two cases are related? Could Isabelle still be alive? Who in blazes is Ramona? Wondering minds, especially Josie's, want to know; but since she's currently prohibited from taking part in any official police investigation, she's got to figure out how to get away with on-the-sly sleuthing.

She does try to convince the police chief to let her work the case, but her pleas fall on deaf ears every time. So, she relies as best she can on Ray, Luke and an ethically challenged TV reporter - at least, until some buried facts come to light that change everything she's believed about the case - and about many of the people she's known and loved. Worse, what she's learned puts her square in the crosshairs of some people who will stop at nothing to keep their long-held secrets secret.

There's no shortage of action (sometimes a bit over the top), so the whole thing kept me pretty much on the edge of my seat throughout. Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review it.

Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, January 2018); 336 pp.

TWO GIRLS DOWN

4.5 stars out of 5


I've always maintained that declarations of whether or not a book is well written shouldn't be soured by how much you love, relate to, or even like, the main characters - ttttthat's my story and I'm sticking to it. But when you do, it sure sweetens the whole experience - as was, happily, the case here. In fact, perhaps the primary strength of this book is the exceptionally well-developed characters.

The top two are Max Caplan, a private investigator and former cop who left the force under a cloud; he's divorced and has a smart, headstrong daughter named Nell. Complementing "Cap" is Alice Vega, perhaps more of a bounty hunter than private eye. She's single, extremely focused, somewhat psychic and weighs in with a hefty load of emotional baggage of her own. They come together when Alice is hired to find two young sisters who have gone missing in Denville, Pa. (not far from Philadelphia).

Vega,  asks Cap for help with the case, but he turns her down - claiming he's busy chasing a bad guy who's from New Castle, Pa. (which, for the record, isn't far from my own home in northeastern Ohio), but in reality more because he doesn't want to interact with his former cronies on the police force. Not to be deterred (she's intensely focused, remember?), Vega takes off and finds the guy, thus removing Cap's reason for not jumping into her own fray. Apparently, she's very good at what she does; at one point, she tells Cap that she expects to earn $50,000 for finding the missing girls - and she's willing to split it 50-50 with him.

Somewhat reluctantly, Cap recapitulates, making them something of a team (which, depending on the situation or who's thinking about it, can be for better or for worse). Clues ferreted out and followed up by Vega and Cap turn out to be productive enough that the local police and FBI opt to at least consider them serious players in the chase (albeit grudgingly). While there's never any romantic interaction between the two, the potential chemistry is there - if only in Cap's mind. When it comes to investigation, they're not always on an identical wavelength; here, score one for Cap, and there, the edge goes to Vega.

There's plenty of action as well as false leads and twists to make for a hard-to-put-down story with an ending revelation that I didn't predict ahead of time (neither did Cap nor Vega, at least until the last couple of chapters, so I don't feel too bad). When I finished the last page, I said two things to myself: First, this is a really good book; and second, I sure hope I'll see these two characters again. Meantime, a big thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna (Doubleday, January 2018); 320 pp.

TWO DAYS GONE

5 stars out of 5


Relating to this book was easy for a number of reasons. The biggest one is that much of the action takes place in parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio about a 45-minute drive north of our northeastern Ohio home. That alone - seeing names of cities, small towns and places in between that we've visited too many times to count - got my attention. The job of keeping it, though, falls directly into the hands of the author - and what a great job he did!

That said, it not a book to be skimmed; the writing is brilliant, but close to what I'd call ponderous. Some of that, no doubt is because one of the two central characters, Tom Huston, is a bestselling author and college professor and the other, Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Ryan DeMarco, is a well-read guy who in many ways doesn't fit the description of standard-issue cop. The two men have met and like each other, but circumstances here cause one to become a hunter and the other the hunted.

The story begins with the brutal murder of Huston's wife and three children in their home. When Huston goes missing, the assumption is that the mild-mannered, popular writer-educator who was working hard on a new book with a lead character loosely based on Vladimir Nabokov's Lolilta and Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee," somehow snapped. DeMarco doesn't quite see Huston's killer potential, although he wonders why the man has run away. But whether Huston is guilty or innocent, it's now DeMarco's job to find him and bring him in.

As the search progresses, DeMarco travels in and out of many places familiar to me like Erie and Linesville Pa., and Conneaut and Pierpont, Ohio. At one point, I was surprised to see a reference to the 1985 tornado that destroyed much of Albion, Pa., but - as I can personally attest - not before it wreaked serious havoc in and around my town of Niles, Ohio. 

It is character development, though, that takes center stage; little by little, we see into the hearts and minds of various characters - Huston and DeMarco in particular. DeMarco, for instance, is no stranger to tragedy; a traffic accident a few years earlier resulted in the death of his young son and, ultimately, the loss of his much-loved wife. His understanding of anguish, in fact, is one of the reasons he not only doesn't accept Huston's guilt and ultimately is willing to put his own career on the line to get to the truth.

It's rare that I give much credence to official book descriptions issued by publishers, but in this case, their word "masterful" is right on target. Kudos to the author, and many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis (Sourcebooks Landmark, January 2017); 400 pp.

CORRUPTED

4 stars out of 5

This is the third in the author's Rosato & DiNunzio novels, I believe, but it's a first for me. And I must say that overall, it just didn't quite grab me. In fact, I waffled between 3 and 4 stars for my rating - but I rounded up just because I didn't not enjoy it. 

As I said, I'm not familiar with either Bennie Rosato or her law firm partner, Mary DiNunzio; and after reading this, I still don't know much about the latter, who is pretty much a DiNoShow in this one. Bennie takes front, center and side stage as she takes on as a client Jason, who's been charged with the murder of a guy he's hated since middle school. Back then, Bennie defended him when, at age 12, he was sent to a juvenile detention center after getting into a fight with the kid he's now believed to have murdered. Professionally bruised and convinced that she wronged him back then by failing to get him out, she's hell-bent on making sure she doesn't drop the ball this time around.

Complicating things is the murdered guy's uncle, Declan, with whom Bennie had a brief fling (think just one weekend) during that first case that left her madly in love. Claiming family responsibilities, though, he bailed, breaking her heart. Now that her client is charged with the murder of his nephew 13 years later, he makes it clear he's in no mood to get cozy again (unless, of course, she drops the client she believes is innocent). Somehow, she musters up the courage to tell him no (personally, I'd have told him to put his ultimatums where the sun don't shine, but maybe that's just me).

Actually, both court cases - the second one involving a murder trial - make for very interesting reading; it's the sappy romance part that pretty much turned me off. Hunky appearance notwithstanding, I just couldn't warm up to Declan - and most of me fervently hoped she wouldn't take him back in the end (of course, my lips are sealed as to whether or not that happened). All in all, this is a pretty good book, but it's nowhere near the top of my favorites list.

Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martin's Press, October 2015); 433 pp.