Tuesday 17 May 2022

Publication Day Review: Dead Against her by Melinda Leigh



Sheriff Bree Taggert’s downfall is part of a killer’s cunning design in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, lies, and revenge.

Called to an isolated farm to check on an elderly widow, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds a brutal double homicide. One of the victims is Eugene Oscar, the bitter and corrupt former deputy she recently fired.

Working with criminal investigator Matt Flynn, Bree discovers that she isn’t the only one who had a troubling history with Eugene. But someone doesn’t want Bree digging up the past. She becomes the target of a stranger’s sick and devious campaign calculated to destroy her reputation, career, family, and new relationship with Matt. To make matters worse, she’s the prime suspect in Eugene’s murder.

When her chief deputy goes missing while investigating the case, Bree refuses to back down. She won’t let him become the next victim. His life and her future depend on finding a killer nursing a vengeful rage.


AMAZON US          AMAZON UK


After reading the first two instalments of the Bree Taggart series, some lapsed before I caught up again. Lucky for me, I read the third, fourth and this latest novel back to back.

Bree Taggert is knee-deep in trouble, not rain, as multiple issues pile up on her plate. She's relying more and more on Matt as her partner, and their relationship is flourishing as she drops her tough exterior and shares her burdens with him.

It all starts with a wellness check on an elderly woman, which leads to the discovery of two corpses. One is the woman, and the other is her son, Eugene Oscar, a former deputy with a dubious past.

As Bree delves into the investigation, she discovers numerous suspects, including the woman's brother, an anti-government group known as The Hudson Huntsmen, and even herself. Despite intense scrutiny, Bree refuses to back down and continues to hunt for the killer, especially when her chief deputy goes missing, putting everything she holds dear in jeopardy.

As with all the novels in this series, all can be read as stand-alone. As someone who has read them all in chronological order, I highly recommend doing the same, so get more of a feel for the relationship between Bree and Matt, as well as her ongoing relationship with her niece and nephew.

The biggest highlight of this series is how Bree’s character has developed. Her world has shifted and it’s been fascinating to read how she’s slowly adapting to her new way of life; one where she is sharing it with loved ones, rather than as a single, lonely woman.

***arc courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***




New Publication Spotlight & Review: Outcast by Chris Ryan


Outcast by Chris Ryan

After single-handedly intervening in a deadly terrorist attack in Mali, SAS Warrant Officer Jamie 'Geordie' Carter is denounced as a lone wolf by jealous superiors.

Now a Regiment outcast, Carter is given a second chance with a deniable mission: locate SAS hero-gone-rogue, David Vann.

Vann had been sent into Afghanistan to train local rebels to fight the Taliban. But he's since gone silent and expected attacks on key targets have not happened.

Tracking Vann through Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Carter not only discovers the rogue soldier's involvement in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the Middle East - but an imminent attack that will have deadly consequences the world over . . .



I don’t often pick up military thrillers, but when I do, I enjoy them. Outcast more than exceeds my expectations as we follow one man’s trek through Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Warrant officer Jamie “Geordie” Carter is a square peg that doesn’t fit in. Therefore, despite being a decorated soldier, his superiors sent him to Chile. When an incident occurs, he expects to be expelled from the elite force, ending his career. However, he’s sent back to Afghanistan to locate a former member and his mentor, Dave Vann. Only, his mission quickly turns into something more sinister than a search and rescue mission to find his old friend.

Carter is a complex character; loyal, principled, and someone who stays true to himself, even if the outcome doesn’t reflect the sentiment behind his actions. He’s a lone wolf by nature but a chameleon too, adapting to whatever situation he lands in. It’s why he has a reputation for being the best, a point not widely acknowledged by his superiors. His thought process during life and death situations is gut-wrenchingly thought-provoking… and sobering.

This is my first Chris Ryan novel and his writing packs a punch. The narrative is fast-paced, creating an adrenaline-fuelled view into the dangerous and corrupt world we live in. The politics are on-point for those who follow what is currently happening beyond our borders, as each scenario the hero encounters is depressingly believable. This is well-written fiction with a realistic story, enhanced by the author’s own experiences; therefore, the details and backdrop are delivered with alarming insight.

The epilogue reveals a final, unexpected twist, leaving the reader to wonder if this is only the beginning for “Geordie”?… I sincerely hope there is more.

***arc generously received courtesy of publisher Zaffre Books via NetGalley *** 


UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outcast-Chris-Ryan-ebook/dp/B09SM14MPC

US - https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Chris-Ryan-ebook/dp/B09SM14MPC

https://www.brownsbfs.co.uk/Product/RYAN-CHRIS/OUTCAST/9781838777616

Chris Ryan was born in Newcastle.

In 1984 he joined 22 SAS. After completing the year-long Alpine Guides Course, he was the troop guide for B Squadron Mountain Troop. He completed three tours with the anti-terrorist team, serving as an assaulter, sniper and finally Sniper Team Commander.

Chris was part of the SAS eight-man team chosen for the famous Bravo Two Zero mission during the 1991 Gulf War. He was the only member of the unit to escape from Iraq, where three of his colleagues were killed and four captured, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Chris wrote about his experiences in his book The One That Got Away, which became an immediate bestseller. Since then he has written over fifty books and presented a number of very successful TV programmes.

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/exsaschrisryan

https://twitter.com/ZaffreBooks