suspense - No Apology Book Reviews

Review Roundup Summer 2024 – Part 1

August 5, 2024August 5, 2024

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: The Burning Author: Linda Castillo Series: Kate Burkholder #16 Much thanks to Linda Castillo, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to use free ARCs in exchange for an honest review. Not much to say, this book was great! The mystery was very intriguing and brilliantly framed the dilemma of victim blaming, how easy it is to fall into. The …

Interview with Mary Alford (Ambush in the Mountains)

August 3, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford a story of second chances, forgiveness, self-healing, compassion, unbridled trust, friendship, love, and redemption. As with most of her books she uses the weather as a character. Like the previous book, this book dealt with the dark subject of human trafficking in a compassionate and informative way. The opening scene in the story has Elizabeth Wyse remembering her Amish roots when she enjoyed the snow. At 18 …

Interview with Eliza Jane Brazier (It Had to Be You)

July 20, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier is part fantasy, part thriller, and part romance. Readers might think about the similarity to the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The book opens with contract killers Eva and Jonathan meeting on a train going from Florence to Paris. They both act on their physical attraction yet go their separate ways until six months later they meet at Versailles …

Interview with Shelley Shepard Gray (Unforgiven)

May 31, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray is an Amish romantic suspense novel. This book explores how both the Amish and “English” view issues of divorce, abuse, attempted rape, accidental manslaughter, incarceration, love, faith, forgiveness, healing, and second chances. Seth Zimmerman was sent to prison for the accidental death of an Amish man who was close to raping an Amish woman, Bethanne. There is also Tabitha Yoder who divorced her husband after enduring years of abuse. …

Interview with P. A. DePaul (Crossing the Line)

May 11, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Crossing the Line by P. A. DePaul is the fourth book in the series. Each book is part of the romantic suspense genre. Whereas the first three books were more suspense than romance, this book is more romance than suspense with the heroine Magician and the hero Romeo, part of the Delta Squad team. The story goes back to eight months ago. Magician was part of a black ops mission, going undercover to infiltrate …

Interview with Rick Campbell (The Bin Laden Plot)

May 5, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Bin Laden Plot by Rick Campbell is a great military espionage story. The book has the CIA Director, Christine O’ Connor, along with a former SEAL, Jake Harrison, now a CIA contractor, working together to find out if there is a cover up that includes dangerous acts of corruption, even treason. This plot starts with the destruction of a destroyer in the Persian Gulf. The explanation from the Secretary of Navy is that …

Interview with Lisa Black (The Deepest Kill)

April 12, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black brings back forensic investigators Dr. Ellie Carr and Dr. Rachael Davies of the Locard Institute. Once again readers get a glimpse into the forensic world as Black uses her own experiences as a forensic scientist to intertwine information within the riveting plot and readers will not be disappointed. Carr and Davies are asked by billionaire Martin Post to investigate his pregnant daughter’s death. Ashley had taken out her …

Interview with Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (In Sunshine or In Shadow)

March 30, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper In Sunshine or In Shadow by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles the focus is on the good friend of Molly Murphy, Sid. As with all these books readers get a glimpse of what is happening in the time period that is weaved throughout the story. This book is very relevant because it delves into the Catskills before it became a resort and how antisemitism flourished, just as today. Because of the typhoid epidemic in …

Interview with Mary Alford (Deadly Mountain Escape)

March 22, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Deadly Mountain Escape by Mary Alford explores sex trafficking. This story is sadly all too relevant for today. Through the character’s eyes readers will understand all the dangers involved with rescuing these girls. Charlotte Walker is a K-9-unit deputy that is asked by her neighbor to find her granddaughter, Lainey. As she and her canine partner, Annie, begin the search she is attacked and almost died if not for the efforts of Jonas Knowles …

Interview with Ginger Bolton (Double Grudge Donuts)

March 8, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton is a scrumptious read. She combines tasty treats with likeable characters within a riveting mystery. The story has a murder but also a happy ending for Detective Brent Fyne and Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill. It begins with the Fallingbrook Arts Festival with Emily expecting lots of talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series that will go together with coffee and donuts. She is half …