For fans of intriguing plots, fact pace action and danger

Dead Silence is a fast-paced suspense novel that puts readers into the action right from the start. Elise Carmichael is able to read lips due to her hearing impaired son. She “overhears” a conversation about a murder plot. Things intensify when mysterious packages show up at her house, threatening her and her family.

Robin Caroll’s novels are always full of mystery and intrigue. Elise had many struggles before being threatened, as she suddenly found herself as a single mother and a widow. Her plight to protect her son and find herself again makes her a likable character. Lots of plot twists will readers engaged throughout the story. But I did find a few situations in the novel not entirely believable. While Elise is a strong and fierce character, she does act unrealistic when she decides to solve crimes with the help of a news reporter.  Elise at times seems oblivious to the danger around her. She withholds a lot of information from the FBI, which would have helped their investigation. It seemed like the FBI bumbled through the investigation while the “rookies” of the story were able to find out more than the agents. I wished the FBI story line had more substance. FBI Agent Rodriguez had the potential to be a strong character, but he didn’t take charge and seemed pretty passive for an FBI agent. However, this didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

Definitely add Dead Silence to your TBR list– despite my comments above, the story is full of action and suspense and is an enjoyable novel.

Overall Rating: 4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend) Suspense Rating: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Dead Silence appeared first on Best In Suspense.

For fans of suspense, intricate mysteries, and major plot twists

Standoff is a fast-paced, suspenseful read from start to finish. Lots of twists and turns keep readers guessing until the very end.

Brooke Danvers is a new investigator with the National Park Rangers. Her father dies, but Brooke knows it wasn’t from suicide. She unwittingly teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Luke Fereday and the two deal with the investigation which includes drug smugglers, murders, car crashes, explosions and other surprising events. There’s lots of action packed into this novel. At several points, I suspected everyone. The author is great at giving red herrings, and plenty of characters have dark secrets and potential motives for murder.

View Posts

But even with the over-the-top action, the characters are well developed and likeable. Brooke and Luke struggle with unresolved feelings, but Luke’s hiding a pretty big secret from Brooke. Luke’s grandmother becomes the wise sage and dispenses wit and wisdom. Also, I liked the unique setting for the story set in small town Natchez, MS. Plus not many stories center around the National Park Rangers. The only drawback to the novel is that it ended rather quickly and I would have liked more.

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Standoff appeared first on Best In Suspense.

For fans of gritty dramas, complex plots, and high seas adventure

The Water Keeper is a wild ride. The complex plot and broken characters put me through the emotional wringer.

Charles Martin is an off-the-charts amazing writer. His stories are rich with imagery and complex characters that work their way into your heart.  Murphy Shephard takes his boat down the coast of Florida, picking up off the wall, broken misfits with more baggage than his boat can carry. But Murphy has his own secrets, as he’s made it his life’s mission to hunt down missing women who’ve been trafficked.

The story is complex and at times weird. It took me a while to wrap my head around what was happening. So many plot twists kept me guessing, and this story is much darker and seedier than other Martin novels. The author drags readers right into the ick and evil of human trafficking.

This book has a lot of high action scenes. But at times I struggled with the reality of some of the scenes. The hero and his dog both seemed to be bullet and fire proof, and several times I found myself saying, “Really? How can that happen?”  While some of the scenarios didn’t seem plausible, the story was so good that I willingly suspended my belief. Other parts made me question, “Why would that happen?” as there were a few uncomfortable moments that made me question character motives. I don’t want to give spoilers, but the author isn’t going to deliver you a tidy story wrapped up in a bow. It’s going to leave you with questions and unsettled feelings. 

Despite my thoughts above, I loved this novel. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’ve put it down. I love when authors take chances and write something different. Some Martin fans might not hang in there through this one, but I enjoyed the characters and the overarching themes about love and evil. I like that the novel isn’t what I expected, and hope readers will embrace it for being “off the beaten path.” Figuratively, and literally – because much of the story takes place in alligator infested swamps, rivers and back-woods Florida.

Overall Rating: 4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post The Water Keeper appeared first on Best In Suspense.