Gone Dark by Ryan Steck is a fantastic, action-packed thriller. The Matthew Redd Thriller series reminds me of the Jack Reacher series by Lee Childs or the Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy. If you love stories centering on the lone hero, fighting for justice against all odds, you will be a fan of Gone Dark. Matthew Redd’s wife is about to have their second child, but he’s forced to take his family on the run. His mission is to protect a child who witnessed a horrific crime.

Matthew Redd makes the perfect action hero. From jumping onto a moving train to fighting bad guys through a fire, this story has all the action and suspense you need packed into one novel. Matthew Redd must choose from protecting his family or rescuing an innocent boy from the clutches of evil men. I love that Redd learns to rely on his friend Mikey in this story and has a partner.

Kick off your Summer of Suspense with this non-stop action novel.

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

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Echoes of Darkness by Darlene Turner is a riveting, fast-paced story filled with all kinds of twists and turns. Oaklynn Brock is a constable and while she might work in a small town, she carries a big secret. A copy cat serial killer is on the loose and is targeting Oaklynn because the killer knows her secret – that she’s the daughter of the infamous Suicide Slayer. Caleb Green is part of a group called the Canadian Watchers Squad, and he’s called in to help with the case. But he finds himself facing off with the past he thought he’d left behind.

This book ticks all the marks for me to be a thriller. I didn’t know who the culprit was until the very end, and the story kept me guessing the whole way through. Oaklynn faced so many dangerous moments throughout the story as the killer stalked her. I will admit that I don’t like stories involving cults (just one of the topics/tropes I don’t prefer), and while Echoes of Darkness involves a cult, I still completely enjoyed the story and the cult added another dimension to the danger. I like the budding romance between Oaklynn and Caleb and that they helped each other deal with their past traumas. Also, I love the concept of the Canadian Watchers Squad and I hope to see other characters from the team have their own story lines.

If you are looking for a fast-paced thrilling read, look no further than Echoes of Darkness. This is one of my top favorites for my summer time must-read list!

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

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The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann is such an adventure that readers won’t be able to put it down.

I love adventure stories, and who doesn’t love a few conspiracies thrown in with intriguing setting and characters? Sophie Williams is a professional art forger…well, maybe not a pro— she secretly paints forgeries to protect the real art. But she becomes a target when she uncovers a series of portraits that had been lost. Now everyone wants these paintings and will kill to get them. Sophie just wants to find her missing friend, but discovers that help comes in unlikely forms, like an ancient secret society called Speranza.

This story has a unique setting in Germany, but transports readers all over Europe. But what I loved about The Crown Conspiracy is all the twists and turns. So much action and suspense kept me hooked, but the characters drive the story. Sophie is likeable as the Robin Hood chameleon, always changing her look to get her closer to what she wants. And the other characters that step in to help her are equally intriguing. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to read epic adventures with picturesque scenery and twisted mysteries.

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

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Fatal Domain by Steven James is a suspense-filled ride. Travis Brock (introduced in Broker of Lies) is back. Travis is trying to pick up the pieces of his life, but the bombs keep dropping. Terrorists are on the loose, and it’s up to Travis and his team to keep a new technology out of their hands. But he needs to work through the landmines of personal tragedy first – starting with exhuming his late wife’s body.

I recommend reading Broker of Lies first as Fatal Domain builds off of this story. I love the action, suspense, and intrigue! Travis is a likeable character and his eidetic memory helps him stay one step ahead of the bad guys. Travis and Adira also grow closer, but so many things stand in the way of their relationship. I love the twists and turns this book takes, and I recommend the whole series for any high stakes action lovers.

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

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One Final Target by Janice Cantore is a fast-paced suspense story that will hook you from start to finish. I enjoy stories that race against the clock to stop a killer, and this story delivers action, suspense, and emotion. Jodie King has faced one tragedy after another, and it seems that a killer is after her. But why? And who is behind it? Because all the clues point towards the killer being someone she knows. She meets Sam Gresham who helps her track down a killer while trying to stay alive.

I loved this book! Both Jodie and Sam are struggling with past traumas, and they form an instant connection. But with the danger surrounding them, they need to find out the identity of the killer before someone else dies. I highly recommend this for fans of suspense.

Bonus points for the audiobook –I thought the narrator did a good job of mixing the drama and emotion with the high action scenes. I highly recommend the audiobook for this story.

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

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Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble has become one of my favorites from the author. Colleen writes suspense mixed with romance and family drama – and this family has plenty of secrets to keep suspense fans up all night.

Carly Harris is a widow. Her husband was murdered, leaving Carly and their son Noah behind. But the mystery behind the murder remains…until Carly discovers what the killer was after – a rare and priceless find in Carly’s possession. The only person she can trust with the secret find is Lucas Bennett, her not-so-friendly neighbor and police detective. But as danger escalates, colossal secrets are revealed and the couple fights to the end to protect Carly’s family.

I loved this book from start to finish. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out – BAM – another twist knocks you over or a crazy secret changes the whole story. I love a good family drama, and this has a host of crazy family members, relationship drama, and tension woven throughout. I’ve always been a fan of Colleen Coble, but this one is going down as one of my favorites.

Definitely check out Fragile Designs. For audiobook fans: I thought the narrator really brought the story to life. I recommend the audio version, and I’m picky about my narrators so this was a win for me. Karen Peakes did a great job with it!

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Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl is a great kick off novel for a new series – Ryland and St. Clair. Nancy does creepy serial killer stories so well. Readers will be sucked into the mind of a killer.

River Ryland and Tony Sinclair are private investigators and former BAU analysts with the FBI. They are each dealing with the fallout of an assignment gone bad, but their first case brings them right back into the world of behavioral analysis when they are asked to look into the cold case of a missing teen.

I love the suspense and intensity of this story. The romance is minimal (I assume will develop over the course of the series) but this story deals with River and Tony working to heal from their past traumas. River has to manage her mother’s Alzheimer’s as well as her new life as a PI. She and Tony also discover that the killer behind bars, the one that assaulted them, might not have worked alone.

I highly recommend Cold Pursuit. The book moves a little deeper than most as far as the characters coming to terms with their pasts and with their spiritual journeys. But the intensity of having a serial killer on the loose makes this a nail-biter. Much of the point of view is in the killer’s mind, making the story more creepy and intriguing

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

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Quick and Dead by Lisa Phillips gives readers more Kenna Banbury. This is book 3 in the Brand of Justice series (but you can pick it up at any point.)

Kenna finds herself in hot water from page one. Another town that needs her help. Hatchet, NM, has plenty of secrets, and Kenna makes it her mission to stop a killer from hurting any more innocent people. But she becomes a target and can’t trust anyone.

I love the intensity of the Brand of Justices series! This book brings the action, plot twists, and crazy situations that Kenna has to face. Now she has a rag-tag team behind her with Stairns and Jax. But Kenna puts her life on the line to stand up to a secret organization that has far reaching power.

Be sure to check out the entire series! Especially if you are a fan of thrillers.

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

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Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn brings action and excitement on every page. If you’ve read the first two books in the Defend and Protect series, you know Special Agents Tessa Reed and Zane Thacker well. These two have danced around a relationship for two books! Under Fire is finally their story.

Tessa and Zane are tasked with protecting the president on a trip to Raleigh, NC. But someone targets Tessa, and Zane steps in to protect her. But the two struggle to overcome the obstacles to their relationship.

I love this story! It has all the feels mixed with life-and-death action and suspense. Because this is book three, I feel like I know these characters. The story is fast paced, but emotions run deep. You could probably read this as a stand-alone, but the entire series is fantastic and it may make more sense to start with Unknown Threat. This is one of my favorite series and don’t forget the novella (Deadly Objective in the Targeted collection).

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

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A Cry in the Dark by Jessica Patch kept me up all night reading. Talk about a suspense story!  Violet Rainwater (readers met her in Her Darkest Secret) is working a case with the Strange Crimes Unit and the team winds up in a middle of nowhere mountain town. A serial killer is targeting women, and no one in the town will talk. But Violet has secrets of her own and has been on the hunt for her own father. When the two cases intersect, Violet turns to detective John Orlando. Together they try to find out the truth and stop a serial killer as more women keep disappearing.

Jessica Patch knows how to write intense and twisted stories. I love the fast-paced nature of the story, but readers get to dive deep into Violet’s past with her. She comes face to face with her own demons and her growing feelings for John. He’s an amazing character too! Strong enough to stand by Violet and not tell her what to do but help her come to her own conclusions about her issues.

The crimes in this story are intense (read: might not be for the faint of heart readers), and there’s plenty of plot twists that kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this book for suspense fans who like psychological thrillers.

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

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