mystery - No Apology Book Reviews

Interview with Stephanie Marie Thornton (A Most Clever Girl)

August 13, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton brings to life in fictional form, the true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent. Readers are presented with the psychology of a spy, the dangers, betrayals, and motivations. Bentley was an American citizen who spied for the Russians until she became an FBI informant. She was recruited by the American Communist Party to spy on fascists since she worked at an Italian library. …

Interview with Lisa Harris (The Chase)

July 24, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Chase by Lisa Harris is an excellent read. The story doesn’t have quite as much action and suspense as in the first book, The Escape, but readers will be intrigued by understanding the personal dynamics. Both main characters must handle grief and navigate evolving personal relationships. US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing–it’s time to get back out into the …

Interview with Elizabeth Heiter (K-9 Hideout)

July 3, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper K-9 Hideout by Elizabeth Heiter, the fourth in this series, is just as good as the first three. Combining a mystery with great characters including the four-legged furry kind makes for a great story. Elizabeth Heiter drew from her own personal experience to show what it is like having a stalker in someone’s life. Sabrina Jones has moved from New York City to Desparre Alaska to hide from a stalker. After leaving a note …

Interview with Iris Johansen (The Bullet)

June 19, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Bullet by Iris Johansen brings back forensics’ sculptor Eve Duncan and former SEAL Joe Quinn. This married couple are blissfully in love. But it turns out their relationship was not always paradise. Now readers get a glimpse into their multifaceted relationships, past and present. Love, revenge, family, and an intense mystery are intertwined within this story. The plot begins with Diane Connors, a dedicated doctor who has made a shocking discovery. She has …

Interview with Amanda Quick (The Lady Has a Past)

May 22, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Lady Has a Past by Amanda Quick (the pen name for Jayne Krentz) is another winner. This historical novel explores California in the 1930s with riveting characters and a suspenseful mystery. The plot has private investigator Raina Kirk disappearing after spending a night with her boyfriend Luther Pell. Her apprentice, Lyra Brazier, Luther, and his private investigator Simon Cage realize that Raina has traveled to the plush spa resort of Labyrinth Springs Hotel. …

Interview with Laura Griffin (Flight)

May 7, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Flight by Laura Griffin is a riveting mystery with very believable characters. She excels at writing characters the readers root for, and her descriptive details of the Texas landscape has readers believing that they are there. The heroine Miranda Rhoads, the sister of the heroine in the last book, decides to move to Lost Beach Texas after experiencing burn out and a need to destress after her last case went awry. As a forensic …

Interview with Amanda Flower (Lemon Drop Dead)

May 1, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower highlights a town, Harvest, Ohio, where both Amish and “English” people co-exist along with tourists, babies, and killers. This book continues Flower’s winning streak of writing fun and riveting stories. Not only do they gain a glimpse into Amish culture, but also have great characters, some humor, and a who-done-it mystery. In this novel, a friend and co-worker of the main character, Bailey King, is pregnant. Although not …

Interview with Elizabeth Heiter (K-9 Cold Case)

April 23, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper K-9 Cold Case by Elizabeth Heiter is one of her best books yet. Her hero has a unique law enforcement specialty; he does not carry any guns. It is the heroine who puts herself in dangerous situations. The story literally opens with a bang when a bomb goes off in a small Alaskan town. Then, another bombing seems to be connected to a Cold Case, one that involved the murder of the heroine’s husband. …

Interview with Mary Burton (Near You)

April 16, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Near You by Mary Burton is a chilling and gripping read. Readers are drawn in with every clue. Making it even more interesting is how the story is told with multiple points of view. Although it is not necessary, people might want to read the first book in this series, Burn you Twice, to get more of a background. The story centers around Joan Mason and detective Gideon Bailey. It shows how twelve years …

Interview with Joshilyn Jackson (Mother May I)

April 9, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is a domestic thriller that has readers ponder many issues. There is love vs loyalty, seeing both sides of a person’s character, and living or rejecting the trust and denial while tackling gender roles, sexual assault, revenge, socioeconomic status, kidnapping, and murder. The book opens when the main character, Bree Cabbot, dreams of seeing a witch peering into her bedroom window, dressed all in black. Yet, later that …