The Crystal Crypt - A Review

 

The Crystal Crypt

by

Fiona Veitch Smith

A Review

The Crystal Crypt is an historical novel taking place in the years following the end of WWI in London and Oxford. The story is intriguing and twisting; it will hold most reader’s interest for several hours.

Though this is the sixth book in the series, it is the first that I have read. The focus of the book is the death of a young female scientist in Oxford, but the solution of that murder leads to the conclusion of another that occurred several years earlier. Poppy Denby is an entertainment reporter with a knack for tripping over murders. Her tabloid’s editor is willing to give her free reign as she follows the clues; he also made his own contributions to the case along with the tabloid’s lead reporter.

My only concern was that much of the last two chapters were summaries of the crime, rather than the protagonist and her crew of supporting actors actually discovering the clues and putting them together. The story also introduced the reader to WPC (Woman’s Police Constable) Rosie Winter. Only a supporting character in this book, it would seem that she could easily star in her own set of stories as she follows her dream of becoming a detective in her own right.

I give the book four-and-one-half-stars. It was a very enjoyable read.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Deadly Target - A Review

 

Deadly Target

by

Elizabeth Goddard

A Review

Her life was threatened on Puget Sound in Washington by an almost tragic accident. Her life was threatened while visiting Cooper Hill Burying Ground in Boston while working with a Big Rapids, MT, police detective on a decade old cold case. Her life was again threatened while helping the same police detective follow-up on an attempt to kill his father near the Casper Creek Dam. She was tired of it.

Criminal Psychologist Erin Larson would spend the next few weeks running from trouble as she sought to discover who was doing the threatening and why. The plot is attention grabbing and movie worthy. Erin’s history is dramatic and will bring danger to her mother, sister, and community. The author presents a tale worth spending late nights reading - this reader wanted to finish as quickly as possible to see how the pieces of the puzzle went together.

For the reader looking for a Rocky Mountain thriller, Deadly Target will fill the bill. I easily give the book five-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Catching Heat - A Review

Catching Heat

by

Janice Cantore

A Review

A well-written mystery that depends too heavily on the previous book in the series, Catching Heat is a mystery in it's own right that also continues the story of the deaths of Detective Abby Hart's parents. A story that began in earlier books in a series starting in May 2015.

That is the biggest problem with these books - the secondary story with each book depends on facts and events disclosed in earlier books. As I suggested in earlier reviews for the books from this series, get all three and read them in sequence.

The primary story is involved and quickly draws the reader into its world. I would not want to be the criminal in Detective Hart's and her cold case team's sight. I could not run fast enough or far enough to escape their grasp. They are great cops when working independently; but when working as a team, they will get their target.

With it's hint of faith, the book will appeal to the Christian reader. Written by a former cop with experience in the field, the story has the realism needed to attract an even broader audience. Though no suggestion is made, it would be fun to find more books in the Cold Case Justice series.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.