SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

3 stars out of 5

I had high hopes for this story, if for no other reason than I'm a fan of other works I've read by this author. But while I read it eagerly from start to finish, most of my attention centered on the hope that the three main adult characters would stop behaving like children and there would be a bang-up surprise ending. Alas, neither happened. The only character who had both common sense and intelligence, in fact, was a boy who had way too much of both to be believable at his newbie-teen age. And the ending? A ho-hum resolution, leaving me with the feeling that nothing much really changed from the beginning to the end.

Here's the gist: Nora Harmon has a wonderful husband, two growing-up-fast children and a successful career. Out of the blue, she's contacted by Jane Bell, the owner of a whiz-bang software company, who makes Nora an offer of employment she can't refuse (never mind that any sensible person would have done exactly that, at least until the "too good to be true" sound of it was debunked by facts). Very soon, it becomes clear that Jane is at the very least emotionally needy; there's nothing she won't do, it seems, to solidify her relationship with Nora and make Nora's family hers - and that includes lying through her teeth.

It also becomes clear that Nora and her aging parents have been hiding a dark secret - and her attempts to justify never telling her supportive husband David nor their children Hailey and Trevor left me shaking my head. Still another turn-off is that despite some serious misgivings, Nora also manages to justify Jane's attempts to ingratiate herself into the family, even when it's clear they're doing more harm than good.

Of course, it doesn't take readers long to figure out that Jane may have an ulterior motive, and not much longer to figure out what it is. From that point on, it's just a matter of when (or if) Nora - or anyone else in the family besides Trevor, who as I mentioned earlier somehow managed to end up with the brains of the family - figures out what Jane's really up to. The result for me is that while the book is well written and definitely held my attention throughout, overall it was a bit disappointing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Such a Beautiful Family by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, November 2022); 266 pp.

COUNT TO THREE

4 stars out of 5

Somewhere I read that this is the first in what will be a series. If that's true, it's off to a pretty good start. The lead character, neophyte private investigator Dani Callahan,  started down her career path a few years after her kindergarten-age daughter, Tinsley, was abducted. Intent on one day finding her still-missing daughter - or at least finding out what happened to her - she's divorced Tinsley's father Matthew and is trying to make a living in the real world.

Finding out what happened to Tinsley has turned into borderline obsession, but Dani is otherwise likable. Her younger assistant, Quinn Sullivan, not so much. She, too, comes from an emotionally charged background; but unlike Dani, she's often loud, strong-willed and a person I'd probably keep around for half a day before telling her I'm the boss and if she can't accept that, hit the bricks. Together, though, they make a competent team; that said, I'd have loved it more if Dani had just once stood her ground when Quinn started to go off the deep end instead of rationalizing that the behavior comes as a result of Quinn's prior life experiences.

In Sacramento, teenager Ali Cross goes missing. Not long thereafter, a 12-year-old boy comes in wanting to hire Dani to investigate; it seems he witnessed the abduction, although he didn't see enough to be helpful to the police. But he's upset that he did nothing to try and stop the abduction at the time (he, too, has a history of being thought of as a "troubled" youth - it seems that emotional baggage is a must for characters in this book). He's also upset that, in his view, the police have done little to track down the culprit.

Except maybe for one; the detective who worked on Tinsley's case got to know Dani very well and since has served as a kind of mentor to her. Although he's about to retire, he's willing to listen to Dani's accounts of the newly missing girl, offering advice and, when necessary, some real help with the case. As one might expect, the investigation into Ali's disappearance unearths clues about Tinsley's as well. But while that's helpful to Dani - maybe - the first order of business is finding Ali before something terrible happens.

There's no shortage of action along the way (as well as some fairly gruesome scenes). If I have a complaint, it's that the whole thing too often reads like a cozy mystery. It's got all the ingredients, not the least of which is an overabundance of melodrama - plus characters who fit the role almost perfectly: A female character who tries to stick to the straight and narrow but often ignores advice - usually resulting in her life being in danger. A partner/friend/roommate who's headstrong to the point of totally annoying and often leads said private eye into situations a rational person would avoid like the plague. A seasoned law enforcement official who feigns annoyance at said private eye but humors her, possibly at the risk of his or her own career. A character - usually a very young or very old buttinsky - who noses around, often at inopportune times. And finally, an ending that demonstrates that God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.

Overall, though, the story was intriguing and enjoyable and one I recommend, especially for fans of this author (as I am). I do, though, wonder if, in future installments, Dani's detective will continue working with her after he retires. My bet's on yes, and if I'm right, I'm looking forward to reading it - he's a solid guy with Dani's best interests at heart who is able to keep her grounded (and happily, more than once preventing her from crossing that cozy mystery line). Between now and then, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the action early on with a pre-release review copy of this one.

Count to Three by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, December 2021); 283 pp.

NO GOING BACK

4 stars out of 5

As a longtime and now mostly retired journalist, I can't say I relate well to Sawyer Brooks, an up-and-coming investigative reporter at the Sacramento Independent. Physically and mentally scarred from years of abuse - like her sisters Harper and Aria - she's lugging around baggage that tends to get in the way of her job (which, while I sympathize with what she's gone through, shouldn't be the case in the real world). But hey - this is fiction, so it is what it is.

This one, the third in the series, puts the sisters' mixed-up emotions to the test. Sawyer is working on a story about a female vigilante group dubbed the Black Wigs, whose mission is to avenge the men who abused them (unlike readers, with no idea how what she finds may impact her own life). Now there's a new murder in town which appears to be a similar conquest, but there are differences that make Sawyer suspect there's something else afoot. A copycat, perhaps?

The police don't believe Sawyer, nor do they want her help - which of course just makes her even more determined to get to the truth. She also runs afoul, at least in the beginning, of a co-worker who has years of experience and wants the Black Wigs story for herself. They end up, as my late mother would say, holding hands to keep from fighting - reluctantly joining forces to split the glory. Meantime, murders keep piling up as Sawyer tries to figure out where her relationship with a co-worker is going (if anywhere), her sister Harper seems to go off the rails despite having a loving husband, a couple of kids and another on the way and sister Aria, always a loner, surprises herself by letting go of some baggage that has kept her from forming meaningful relationships.

There's no shortage of action right up to the ending - I was always on the alert to see whose lights got knocked out next, how and by whom. The ending itself wasn't exactly satisfying to me (I'm not much of an "end justifies the means" kind of person). But in the context of this story, and the complexities of these characters, it probably was the only way to go. It also raised the possibility of a new direction for the series - I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

No Going Back by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, May 2021); 283 pp.

OUT OF HER MIND

 4 stars out of 5

One thing is inescapable: All three of the Brooks sisters -

Sawyer, Harper and Aria - are about as emotionally screwed up as any three characters possibly can be. The "star" of the trio, Sawyer, is perhaps doing the best job of recovering from the almost unbelievable abuse heaped upon them as youngsters - she's a fairly successful crime reporter with the Sacramento Independent. As with the first book in the series, Don't Make a Sound, she's trying her best to come up with solid, interesting stories and gain the respect of her boss and co-workers.

There are two story lines at work here, the first of which is the disappearance of 12-year-old Riley Addison and near concurrent discovery of the skeletal remains of another female child. The second is the work of "The Crew," a support group of five seriously abused women whose sole purpose is vengeance. Sawyer has been following up on the second with little progress, but quickly, she turns her investigative reporter's eye toward the first. Fairly early on, her search reveals that a psychopathic serial kidnapper may have been at work for years.

Chapters that switch among perspectives of the various characters (including at least one from The Crew that is, for reasons I won't reveal, quite relevant to Sawyer) keep things moving along quickly amid plenty of action (some of which doesn't make for very pleasant reading, but it's impactful). This time, Sawyer enlists help from sister Aria; at first, I was skeptical, but by the end I'd warmed up to the idea and hope they'll continue to team up in future books.

Are things wrapped up in a neat package and tied with a bow in the end? Well, yes and no - leaving fodder for the next installment that, I promise, I'll be watching for. Till then, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one. Good job once again!

Out of Her Mind by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, November 2020); 285 pp.

DON'T MAKE A SOUND

3 stars out of 5

After reading and enjoying other books by

this author, I jumped at the chance to get it as an Amazon Prime Reads selection. Now I've finished it, and I have to say it just didn't push the right buttons for me. It's heavy-handed in the focus on sexual abuse (often graphically described), psychologically damaged victims and some of the sickest characters I've ever had the displeasure to meet. It's not that it isn't well-written, I hasten to add - it was for me just too much of a bad thing.

There are two plots going on here, both tinged (make that doused) with violence and revenge. A group calling themselves The Crew meet on the Dark Web, plotting to make sexual predators "pay" for what they've done. No killing or maiming allowed, they claim; they simply want to impress upon them that payback is a you-know-what. The other story focuses on Sawyer Brooks, a 29-year-old journalist who longs to be on the crime scene beat. She and her two sisters, Aria and Harper, are themselves victims of extensive and horrific sexual abuse - and dealing with it in very different ways (Harper is a neat freak, Sawyer avoids emotional or physical attachments and Aria simply refuses to go there). Not only are all three seriously psychologically damaged by abuse, but in large part because of those experiences, they have tended to not play well with each other.

Things get heated when Sawyer gets her wish to partner up with the nationally recognized crime reporter at their Sacramento newspaper and her beloved grandmother dies. Since she's going home to nearby River Rock for the funeral, she convinces her new boss to let her report on the years-ago murders of two young girls and another - Sawyer's best friend - who went missing but was never found. Meanwhile, The Crew keep busy chasing down and showing the predators who abused them the error of their ways (oh golly, what could possibly go wrong with that scenario)?

For Sawyer, going home puts her right back in the eye of her storm - visiting the parents who at best ignored their daughters and the prison release of one of their abusers. On top of that, no one - including the police - are happy that old rocks are being overturned for all the world to read about in Sawyer's story. There are a few twists here and there, although they're for the most part predictable. Still, it's an action-packed adventure, albeit not what I'd call a totally satisfying one.

Don't Make a Sound by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, June 2020); 285 pp.

DERANGED

4 stars out of 5

This is the third in the series featuring Jessie Cole, a private investigator in Sacramento, California. It's a good one, but I do strongly suggest reading the other two first. In large part, that's because all the recurring characters have storied (and very troubled) pasts; with so many in the mix here, it helps, I'm sure, if readers already have a leg up on what's happened in the past. I read the first, and  I have no doubt I'd have enjoyed this one more if I'd had the second under my belt as well.

At the epicenter here is Jessie's friend Ben Morrison, who is an investigative reporter with a past he can't remember, courtesy of an auto accident. But while Jessie believes in him, plenty of other folks from his past claim he's got a mean, sadistic streak that he's trying to hide. That includes Ben's father, who's in jail for murder (in fact, he insists Ben is "deranged"). Other early-on characters include Jessie's teenage niece Olivia, who lives with her aunt; Jessie's assistant Zee Gatley, who needs meds to control her schizophrenia but is nonetheless colorful and fun; and Colin Grayson, a local homicide detective with whom Jessie has an on-again, off-again romantic relationship.

To kick off the action, a young woman turns up dead in a barn; just as that investigation gets underway, Zee agrees to take on the case of a man who's looking to prove his wife is having an affair (Jessie eschews domestic cases, but Zee wins this battle, in large part because the firm can use the hefty retainer). Meantime, Jessie is trying to uneath Ben's real backstory; she sees him as a friend, but could it be that he really does have a history of violence? Speaking of violence, I must mention that while it doesn't bother me, there's some super-salty language and [brief] descriptions of lewd sexual acts here that might be offputting for those who may be sensitive about such things.

Other murders follow, leading to the suspicion that a serial killer may be at work. Throw in the coach of an athletic team on which Ben's daughter plays; Ben thinks he's up to no good, putting him at odds with his wife and daughter, both of whom think he practically walks on water. Ben's father, Lou, threatens his psychological counselor at Folsom Prison in an effort to get out of jail free. Chapters shift from the perspectives of several characters (plus from that of the killer, whoever he or she may be). While I'm not a huge fan of this technique, it's done well enough that I have no complaint at all. 

But the big question is, do any of these goings-on relate to Ben's past and the person he really is? If so, how? Those questions get answered for the most part, with plenty of fodder left for the next book (said to hit the presses early in 2019). Overall, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to review an advance copy.

Deranged by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, October 2018); 288 pp.

HER LAST DAY

4 stars out of 5

Finding a new series -especially one that shows promise - to me is akin to finding gold pellets in a stream. First comes the excitement of discovery, followed by the hope of more to come. Such is the case here, with the introduction of Sacramento, California, private investigator Jessie Cole. I won't say it was love at first word, but she's interesting enough that I look forward to future adventures.

As is the usual case with series heroines, Jessie brings "issues" to the table - most notably, the disappearance of her younger sister Sophie 10 years earlier. Since then, Jessie has become almost obsessed with finding her - or at least what happened to her - especially important since Sophie's daughter, Olivia, lives with Jessie and is for all intents and purposes now her daughter. When she's not focused on Sophie's disappearance, Jessie spends most of her time finding missing persons on behalf of her clients.

At the outset, one of those clients puts Jessie in a real bind. Hired to document a stalker, she ends up on the other side of the crime and facing prosecution (and possible jail time). Her one-time love interest, detective Colin Grayson, is still around, but for the moment, at least, their future as a couple doesn't seem to be in the cards. He's been hard at work trying to find the so-called Heartless Killer, who's kidnapped, tortured and killed numerous victims.

Almost out of the blue, Jessie is contacted by journalist Ben Morrison, who has a backstory of his own. A decade ago, he was seriously injured in an auto crash that left the driver dead and Ben with no memories of the accident or, for the most part, his past (except, I guess, his ability to write - apparently he's continued his newspaper career with only time out for recuperation). But now, triggered by bothersome but unexplainable flashbacks that include a woman who resembles Sophie, Ben wants to rehash her now-cold case, and it's important that he has Jessie's support.

He gets it, albeit reluctantly since Jessie questions his motives. And, she's got cases of her own to work on, including the possible kidnapping of a mentally disturbed young woman whose off-the-wall father is desperate to find. As all this plays out, chapters switch to what's going on with the very active serial killer; the only thing that's clear is that he will keep doing his thing until he's caught.

The action is almost nonstop, so I was happy to be able to finish the book in two days of spare-time reading (for the record, I'd have been even happier if I could have done it in a single day). Jessie is off to a great start -and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Her Last Day by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, October 2017); 318 pp.

FURIOUS

4 stars out of 5


This certainly isn't the most pleasant book I've ever read, and I caution that those who are disturbed by the subject of sex trafficking of children may want to steer clear of it. I'll also point out that as the description points out, this is the first in a trilogy; and for better or worse, it ends with a mother of all cliffhangers. If you want to find out how the story continues, you'll have to read the next one (which, for the record, is titled Outrage, set for release Sept. 20, 2016). 

This one begins as schoolteacher Faith McMann comes home to find that her husband and two young children have been taken captive by a couple of very nasty guys. When the men don't get the answer to the question they pose, they slit both her and her husband's throats. He doesn't make it, but in his haste to get away one of the killers botches her murder and she survives. What happened to the children, though, is a mystery; Faith knows only that they are missing. She's understandably devastated, but when the police don't seem to be taking the kidnapping as seriously as she thinks they should, she gets, well, furious, and decides to take matters into her own hands.

Along the way, she gets help from her parents, her brother, her very pregnant sister and her sister's husband. And when she's forced to attend an anger management class in lieu of jail time after she bashed a detective over the head with a computer keyboard in frustration when he failed to pay sufficient attention to her children's disappearance, Faith meets a couple of oddball folks who share her fervor and jump into what quickly turns into a dangerous fray. 

Chapters shift between Faith's relentless efforts to find her kids and what's going on in the lives of the baddies and captured children. Slowly, the two scenes converge as more pieces of the puzzle are revealed. Interspersed are Faith's recollections of scenes from their once idyllic family life (they're printed in italics). Honestly, I never quite got the point of those, except perhaps to suspect they're intended to show a more "normal" side of an otherwise totally overwrought woman who has become incapable of thinking, speaking or doing anything that doesn't involve the search for her kids.

In the end, I agree that sex trafficking is a serious issue that needs more attention. And I've personally witnessed what happens when parents become obsessed over something awful that's happened to their children; watching what they went through wasn't pretty, nor is it here. My concern, though, is that in several places the author ventures into preachy territory. Mind you, that's not a fatal flaw - the likes of John Grisham and Brad Thor have done the same on more than one occasion and they both remain on my list of favorite authors. But no matter who's guilty of over-politicizing, it is to me a detriment to any book as a whole (prompting my rating in this case of 4 stars rather than 5). Still, it's a solid effort, and I thank the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Furious by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, March 2016); 318 pp.