All Day And A Night-Alafair Burke

All Day And A Night

Alafair Burke

Harper, Jun 10 2014, $26.99

ISBN 9780062208385

 

In New York, someone murders prominent psychotherapist Helen Brunswick in her own office.  The M.O. matches the serial killings of six women slain over eighteen years ago in Utica.  The obvious suspect in the Brunswick slaying has the perfect alibi as Anthony Amaro was convicted for one of the earlier homicide and still resides in Five Points Correctional Facility.

 

ADA Max Donovan announces the establishment of a Fresh Look team.  He arranges for NYPD partners J.J. Rogan and Ellie Hatcher to be a part of this unit and assigns them to investigate the Amaro conviction that will anger Utica PD.  Ellie is annoyed at her live-in in lover Max for placing her on this loser team as she heads to Utica where she expects no cooperation.  At the same time a judge releases Amaro partly due to the sister of one of the original victims who believes the wrong person was convicted.

 

The latest Ellie Hatcher police procedural (see Never Tell) is an entertaining investigation as the protagonist wants nothing to do with an inquiry that can only cause her trouble; Utica is hostile towards her partly because of her behavior leading to her self-fulfilling prophecy.  Readers will enjoy this engaging thriller even with knowing relatively early on the path the tale takes.

 

Harriet Klausner

Wolf Hunt-Armand Cabasson

Wolf Hunt

Armand Cabasson; Isabel Reid (translator)

Gallic, Jun 10 2014, $15.95

ISBN 9781906040833

 

In 1809, the French and Austrian armies battle near the Danube with both sides suffering heavy losses.  Austrian Luise Mitterberg asks French Captain Quentin Margont to search for missing sixteen year old orphan Wilhelm Gurtz.  He searches for the teen until his corpse is found; someone murdered the lad and mutilated his face to make it look like a smile.

 

Lieutenant Lukas Relmyer already struggles with returning to a place where he and another orphan Franz were kidnapped four years ago; he escaped but his friend was murdered.  Now the Gurtz killing is identical to the Franz homicide.  Though he accepts solving these brutal murders will prove near impossible with so many deaths nearby, Margont teams up with Mitterberg, and Relmyer in a quest to end a serial killer’s reign of terror.

 

The second Grande Armee Napoleonic Murders (see The Officer’s Prey) is an excellent historical mystery as Armand Cabasson cleverly uses the fog of Napoleonic Era war to conceal a predator’s beastly murders.  The exciting investigation is made stronger by the backdrop as the hero and his two teams hunt a deadly wolf probably in soldier’s clothing.

 

Harriet Klausner

Rebels: City Of Indra: The Story of Lex and Livia-Kendall and Kylie Jenner

Rebels: City Of Indra: The Story of Lex and Livia 

Kendall and Kylie Jenner

Gallery Books/Karen Hunter Publishing, Jun 3, 2014, $17.99

ISBN: 9781451694420

 

In Indra, Lex the orphan lives just above the rock bottom layer where the rejected mutants live.  She prepares for the day she persuades authorities that she is useful to society rather than being banished to reside with the dregs beneath her.  Her chance to prove her worth occurs when she is selected to train as a Population Control Force cadet.

 

At the other end of the spectrum, Livia lives at the top in a lofty home on a floating island above the city.  Though she seems to have everything, Livia feels imprisoned with no freedom when all she wants is to run around with her horse.

 

At basic, Lex the loner makes one friend Kane.  When her only buddy is in trouble at the top of the world, Lex deserts her special ops post to protect his back.  However, standing in her way is affluent Livia who proves flexible and intelligent as she forces Lex to allow her to join her on the rescue mission.  Neither realize they share the same mark that if discovered places both in danger as they share much more than this and the need to save Kane.

 

This tale focuses on the coming of age of two young women with polar opposite backgrounds who sacrifice all initially to rescue a friend but soon learn TMI.  The storyline is light fun but the key title character city never feels developed especially the zones where the lead pair grew up and The Prince(ss) and The Pauper prove interchangeable. 

 

Harriet Klausner

Dark Angel-Mari Jungstedt; Tiina Nunnally (translator)

Dark Angel

Mari Jungstedt; Tiina Nunnally (translator)

Stockholm Text, Jun 10 2014, $14.95

www.stockholmtext.com

ISBN: 9789175470221

 

In Visby on Gotland Island, Sweden, successful fiftyish event planner Viktor Algård files for divorce from his weak wife Elisabeth and abandons their children to spend more time with his lover.  When he hosts the gala opening of a new center in Visby, Viktor knows he is the toast of the entire island except his family.

 

Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas struggles with his own children, but must put aside his personal concerns to focus on the homicide by poison of renowned Algård at the event in which the deceased received accolades from almost everyone.  He focuses entirely on the dumped spouse with a powerful motive until an arson that destroyed three cottages relates back to his murder investigation causing him to look for other possible causes.   

 

The sixth Gotland Swedish police procedural (see The Dead of Summer, Killer's Art, Unspoken, Unseen and The Inner Circle) is an enjoyable whodunit in which Knutas sees parallels in his relationships with his family to that of the victim.  The whodunit is strong as twists and red herrings widen the inquiry while family secrets especially one the protagonist prefers not to have learned hammer his gut.

 

Harriet Klausner

Lone Star Redemption-Colleen Thompson

Lone Star Redemption

Colleen Thompson

Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Jun 3 2014, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373278763

 

In Rusted Spur, Texas sexagenarian widow Nancy Rayford nears total collapse as she tries to keep the family ranch afloat until her son Zach returns from his marine tour in Afghanistan.  When he comes home, Zach is shocked to find his Mama in ill health caring for the spread and for his four year old niece Eden that his late brother never mentioned.

 

Dallas TV reporter Jessie Layton reluctantly arrives at the Rayford ranch searching for her twin sister Haley who she hopes to persuade to visit their dying mom.  Nancy lies to her son re Jessie’s visit, but he intercedes when the stranger and a cameraman Henry upset his Mama.  The older woman explains she allowed Frank McFarland and his girlfriend Haley to live in a bunkhouse, but they vanished six months ago.  In town, Danny’s brother Hellfire makes it clear he hates Haley and Jessie due to her DNA, and Sheriff Canter wants to lock up Jessie though he knows she is the sister.  As the obstinate journalist refuses to leave town, she and Zach realize they share in common fixing estranged families and an attraction.  However, when someone murders Henry and injures Jessie, Zach vows to find the killer before he permanently harms the woman he loves. 

 

This super romantic suspense is anchored by a strong family drama.  The support cast is solid even the missing sister while the lead couple goes from a gender war to a loving partnership.  Readers will relish this thriller with it deep characterization and a terrific mystery.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Search For Sunlei-H.L. Grandin

The Search For Sunlei

H.L. Grandin

Acorn Book Services, Apr 22 2014, $14.99

www.acornbookservices.com

ISBN: 9780991583003

 

Five years ago, understanding the Promise of two potential outcomes, Tyoga Weathersby sent his beloved Sunlei away to keep her safe from the South Fork Shawnee.  While Sunlei lived in the Iroquois village of Kanaitaro, Ty became respected in English and Cherokee circles, and with Trinity Jane has two young kids residing at Twin Oaks in Virginia. 

 

The Promise whispers to Ty that his Sunlei needs rescuing from vicious Iroquois Chief Quisquis, who with French support reigns supreme in Ohio.  Over the objection of his pregnant mate, Ty, his brother Tes Qua and his planation overseer Brister head to Tuskareegee to drop off supplies.  Afterward, Brister returns to the planation.  Ty and Tes Qua meet dying Standing Bird who tells them that the French and Iroquois are aware of the British army coming to attack them.  Ty continues with the rescue while Tes Qua goes to Albany to warn the British.  As he heads towards Kanaitaro, Ty visits his mother for the first time in five years.  She berates him for not coming home with his family of whom she never met, and tells him he misused the Promise when he slaughtered several Indians.  Sad Ty knows she is right as he struggles to contain his demons, but treks on with his quest.

 

The second The Legend of Tyoga Weathersby is an exciting Pre Revolutionary War drama.  The leisurely-pace vivid storyline provides a deeper look at the Promise and enables the reader to feel they are on the journey; while his mate and mother rip skin from the hero that keeps him humanly grounded.  The Search For Sunlei is a strong mid eighteenth century Colonial America historical.

 

Harriet Klausner

Protecting Her Royal Baby-Beth Cornelison

Protecting Her Royal Baby

Beth Cornelison

Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Jun 3 2014, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373278756

 

Bud explains to his pregnant lover who he is and warns her to flee as assassins have arrived to kill him, her and their unborn.  Brianna Coleman runs for her life and that of her child.  While jogging Hunter Mansfield avoids an out of control car that ends in a ditch.  He helps the pregnant driver, who is in labor and suffers from amnesia.  

 

Her vehicle has bullet holes so he believes her contention that an unknown adversary stalks her and her child.  Hunter takes her to safety.  As she slowly recalls events, Brianna and Hunter fall in love, but he fears for her life and that of her baby when she insists she needs to go to Cape Cod where the truth and danger await.

 

The second Mansfield Brothers romantic suspense (see The Return of Connor Mansfield) is a thrilling drama as the beleaguered heroine does not know who to trust except her Good Samaritan rescuer to help her in Protecting Her Royal Baby.  Although the amnesia segue is an overused technique, readers will root for the brave couple (Hunter’s only fear is losing Brianna to her lover and her only fear is losing baby Ben) as they struggle to stay alive and keep her child safe.

 

Harriet Klausner