Interview with Iris Johansen (Chaos)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Chaos by Iris Johansen is a stand-alone book. Known for her action, drama, and compelling characters Johansen has done it again. This novel introduces CIA agent Alisa Flynn and a mercenary type Gabe Korgan who have a love-hate relationship. The book opens with schoolgirls in Africa kidnapped and horses stolen by Jorge Masenak. Among those taken is Alisa’s “adopted little sister,” Sasha. Fearing for her and the others lives Alisa decides to write her …

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Interview with Laura Griffin (Hidden)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Hidden by Laura Griffin is the first in a new series. The story is intense, suspenseful, with some romance. The plot begins with a woman murdered on a hiking trail. At first, investigators think it is a mugging gone wrong. But there are some clues, which stand out, that have crime reporter, Bailey Rhoads, suspecting there is more to the story. Why would the body be stabbed numerous times, moved, and then dumped in …

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Interview with Sandra Brown (Thick as Thieves)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown is a riveting romantic suspense story. She has a knack for throwing in a curve ball twist at the end, which only makes the story more engaging. The story opens with a robbery of half-million dollars by four individuals. But by daybreak their plan has become unraveled. One of them was in the hospital, one in jail, one dead, and one who got away with it. Readers are …

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Interview with Sean McFate (High Treason)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper High Treason by Sean McFate is an authentic thriller. The story has plenty of political intrigue and is action packed. There are explosive assassinations, heated gun battles, and trying to decipher who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Tom Locke, the protagonist of the story, is staying with a good friend in Israel. He watches an explosion of a bridge that takes out the Vice-President and his wife. Realizing that …

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Interview with Michael Connelly (Fair Warning)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Fair Warning by Michael Connelly brings back two of his best characters, journalist Jack McEvoy, and former FBI Agent Rachel Walling. Connelly, the master of mysteries, seems to have a ten-year-interval between series books. This hero and heroine were first introduced in one of the best suspense novels ever written, The Poet. Ten years later they came back in The Scarecrow, and now they are partners again in this book. The book begins with …

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Elise’s Review – The Persuasion by Iris Johansen

Book Review by Elise Cooper Persuasion by Iris Johansen finalizes the story between Jane MacGuire and Seth Caleb. As with all her stories, Johansen writes emotionally charged and complex characters with a fast-paced plot. Infused into this thriller is the romance between the hero and heroine. This story starts out with Jane’s brother, Michael, visiting her in Wales. Both are the children of Eve and Joe Duncan. Having a psychic ability, Michael senses that Jane is in danger and asks …

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Interview with Catherine McKenzie (You Can’t Catch Me)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper You Can’t Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie is a psychological thriller where deception is the name of the game. The central theme of the story is identity theft with a side story involving cults. Although readers might think these two do not connect, McKenzie does a wonderful job tying them together. The story opens with Jessica Williams in an airport bar waiting for her flight. She meets a stranger with the same name and …

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The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Title: The Sun Down Motel Author: Simone St. James Series: N/A Not her best but I still really enjoyed it Well, let me tell ya. I wasn’t going to review this book because I’m bitter that Berkley wouldn’t allow me to read an ARC. I’ve praised St. James’s books up and down since I discovered them a few years ago; I’ve recommended them to friends and family; and I was allowed to read The Broken Girls six months early. But …

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Interview with Luanne Rice (Last Day)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Last Day by Luanne Rice is a gripping psychological suspense story. It starts out with an intensity from page one that never lets up. The story delves into survivors of trauma, sisterhood, best friends, and small communities shaken by violence or death. The plot begins with the brutal murder of Beth Lathrop who was six months pregnant. She is found by her sister Kate, strangled in her bed with her skull bashed. Kate also …

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Interview with Lisa Gardner (When You See Me)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper When You See Me by Lisa Gardner is a home run. This book has four female heroines stepping up to the plate, working together to solve a town’s murders. What makes it extra-special is that it brings together three characters: Boston Homicide Detective D.D. Warren, FBI special agent Kimberly Quincy and recovering torture victim turned vigilante Flora Dane. FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and Sergeant Detective D. D. Warren have built a task force …

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