Gertrude spent the better part of her adult life scouring Europe for Helmut Klingenfelter, the father who vanished not only from her life and that of her mother but had forsaken everyone in his past.
With midlife looming on the horizon, Gertie made the decision to stop chasing the ghosts of the past and return to her childhood home of Pitch Pine, where she purchased a century-old house at 1211 Castle Lane sight unseen.
Elderhaus, as it came to be known, had a mysterious past of its own, one that would threaten more than Gertrude’s desire for finding happiness.
There is something about this book that draws you into it’s story. Who is Gertie Klingenfelter? And what happened to her father Helmut? It takes you down a path discovering her roots and mysterious family history. Finally she decides to return to her home town, Pitch Pine.
I found the setting of Pitch Pine with it’s characters to be very endearing ! There’s something about them that sticks out begging you to find out more. Gertie’s family history is heart wrenching but makes the story that much more resonant.
Quality writing with good characters. What else can you ask for? Recommended!
In the halls of the psychiatric ward, Dr. Zoe Goldman is a resident in training, dedicated to helping troubled patients. However, she has plenty of baggage of her own. When her newest patient arrives – a beautiful sociopath who murdered her mother – Zoe becomes obsessed with questions about her own mother’s death. But the truth remains tauntingly out of reach, locked away within her nightmares of an uncontrollable fire. And as her adoptive mother loses her memory to dementia, the time to find the answers is running out.
As Zoe digs deeper, she realizes that the danger is not just in her dreams but is now close at hand. And she has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most. Because what she can’t remember just might kill her.
Little Black Lies is about madness and memory – and the dangerous, little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
A stellar read by Sandra Block! Psychiatrist Dr. Zoe Goldman is a memorable character with a hidden mystery. She’s wrapped up in a dire search for her birth mother, whom she never knew, but in the end discovers a lot more than expected. This is a wonderfully written intriguing mystery that’ll keep you turning pages into the night.
Setting. I loved the setting of this book for many reasons. I used to work in different medical settings with the same type of patients seen in this book. So this gave me a familiar feeling.
Plot. The plot was smooth, evenly paced and interwoven with the skill of a seamstress. That’s about all I can say without spoilers!!
I’m really looking forward to the next two books. The Girl without a name, and The Secret Room
“If it wasn’t an armed robbery, it was a hit. An execution.”
Amid a sultry Atlanta summer, someone is targeting police…
The investigation becomes personal for APD Detective Ryan Winter when a colleague and friend is shot dead, the second victim in just weeks. But even as he finds himself being drawn into the tense hunt for a serial cop killer, he is forced to re-examine his own shattering personal tragedy.
An ER physician at Atlanta’s busy Mercy Hospital, Dr. Lydia Costa is no stranger to suffering. Still, the recent police slayings reopen barely healed wounds — and bring her face-to-face with her ex-husband, Ryan Winter.
As the body count rises and paranoia tightens its grip on the police force, Lydia and Ryan are pulled together by circumstances and fate… causing old passions to reignite despite their painful shared past. But as Ryan moves closer to discovering the killer’s identity, someone is watching, placing both him and Lydia in mortal danger.
Leslie Tentler is a excellent suspense writer! Fallen is not only well written but also captivating on many levels. I listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it. Narrator Marguerite Gavin does a superb job bringing the story and characters to life.
Seeing an embattled ER physician, Lydia, having to confront her ex-husband through a series of murders is the center of the story. There is an unmistakable bond between them despite the circumstances.
I can’t say enough about this story. It has all you can ask for from beginning to end. Love, romance, suspense, mystery, crime drama, hope. It’s all there.
Narrator Marguerite Gavin is skilled in the use of accents. She does a decent job portraying a male voices in this one. Actually her male voices were flawless. One of the male police officers spoke English with a latin american accent and she nailed it. Fresh, believable, and entertaining. High five Marguerite!
Marguerite had all cylinders firing in this one. I really didn’t notice her that much. Which is code for excellence. No impedance through voice, skill, or lack of connection. The investment in the story was evident and conveyed with professionalism.
This is probably one of the hardest things to do as a narrator. Not to mention doing it consistently over the course of the story. Switching of male <-> female characters was very precise without distraction. Hats off to the narrator.
No problems here. The entire performance upheld professional standards. Nice.
Very entertaining! All aspects of the story were very touching. The mystery embedded at the core is full of suspense and will keep you guessing until the very end.
A great book! I’ll definitely be listening to the next one in the series.
The chilling, dark psychological suspense thriller from ex police officer and child protection social worker, John Nicholl.
Be careful who you trust…
The Mailer family are oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP following the breakdown of his parents’ marriage.
Fifty-eight year old Dr David Galbraith, a sadistic predatory paedophile employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian town-house he shares with his wife and two young daughters.
Anthony becomes Galbraith’s latest obsession, and he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.
The novel is entirely fictional, but draws on John Nicholl’s experiences as a police officer, child protection social worker, manager and trainer.
During his career the author was faced with case after case that left him incredulous as to the harm sexual predators chose to inflict on their victims. The book reflects that reality.
The story is set in 1992, a more naive time when many found it extremely difficult to believe that a significant number of adults posed a serious risk to children.
The book contains material some may find upsetting from the start.
It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.
The gripping sequel: ‘When evil calls your name’ is now available on Amazon, or on Audible.
This story was pretty disturbing to say the least. Of course this was expected given the topic, which is consistent with today’s pedophile problem. Author John Nicholl perfectly captures the mindset of those who carry out such heinous crimes. Dr. David Galbraith was truly a brilliantly devious, sick individual. Who would stop at nothing to satisfy his cravings for young children. Being in his point of view further exemplifies the point.
The story centers around a young boy named Anthony, who’s already been traumatized, and his separated parents on the verge of collapse.
Jake Urry is one of the best narrators I’ve heard on audiobooks. He has a way of drawing you completely into the story through characters and their various points of view.
When I listen to one of his audiobooks; his intimate connection to the story brings everything into life. You’re there. In the moment. You can’t ask for more from a narrator.
He embodies different characters with precision and handles their personalities with skill. When he switches between voices it’s very smooth making for a nice ride. High five Jake!
Television reporter Erica Sparks has just landed her dream job at Global News Network. Beautiful, talented, and ambitious, Erica grew up dirt poor, worked her way through Yale, and is carrying a terrible secret. She moves to Manhattan to join GNN, leaving Jenny, her adored 7-year-old daughter, in the custody of her ex-husband. Erica’s producer at the network, Greg Underwood, is handsome and compelling. Scarred by her divorce, Erica is wary of romance, but there’s no denying the mutual attraction.
On one of her first assignments, Erica witnesses a horrific Staten Island ferry crash. Then she lands a coveted interview with presumptive presidential nominee Kay Barrish. During the interview Barrish collapses. Erica valiantly tries to save her with CPR. The footage rivets the world—GNN’s ratings soar and Erica is now a household name.
But she’s troubled. What a strange coincidence that both events should happen on her watch. It’s almost as if they were engineered. Is that possible?
Erica’s relentless pursuit of the truth puts her life and that of her daughter in danger. Her investigation leads her into the heart of darkness—where the future of our democracy is at stake.
Surprisingly I found this to be a page turner in every regard. The motivations and characteristics of Erica Sparks spoke volumes. A die hard journalist who will seek nothing but the truth. Going up against a sadistic power hungry executive, she still shines as a true investigative journalist.
Erica is vulnerable person with a flawed past, yet has a spine of steel when it comes to finding the truth. It’s almost her weakness and strength simultaneously. Her dauntless curiosity gets her into trouble, but it also becomes her strength in the midst of life or death circumstances. You have to get to know Erica!
How far would a candidate go to become President of the United States?
In covering the presidential election campaign, star newsmaker Erica Sparks notices that favored candidate Senator Mike Ortiz seems dependent on his wife to an unnatural degree. Celeste Ortiz is a brilliant and glamorous billionaire who—along with her best friend and confidant Lily Lau—has engineered her husband’s meteoric rise. The White House is within their reach. But the more Erica investigates the Ortizes’ strange relationship, the more intrigued she becomes.
Erica begins an investigation. But everyone material to her probe ends up dead. With each death, her foreboding grows. Is she next? And can she find out in time if the country’s beloved candidate is what he seems . . . or a threat to national security?
Another well written page turner adventure with Erica Sparks! My favorite journalist who constantly sticks her neck out to unashamedly discover the truth.
This time Erica gets in pretty deep covering the presidential election. The story she’s covering doesn’t get her into trouble, but what she’s uncovers in the process could cost her her life.
At this point in the game she has global recognition with a household name. But in the midst of the fame is her waning personal life with her daughter and fiance.
The Antagonists in this one were much better in my opinion. They were realistic, quirky and actually pretty creepy! Lis does a marvelous job of capturing their personalities with dark motivations. Excellent. Don’t miss this one!
2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist (First Novel)
Spending three weeks of her summer at the elite Foxwoode Riding Academy in northern Michigan should have been one of the happiest times of sixteen year-old Brynlei’s life. But from the moment Brynlei arrives at Foxwoode, she can’t shake the feeling she’s being watched.
Then she hears the story of a girl who vanished on a trail ride four years earlier. While the other girls laugh over the story of the dead girl who haunts Foxwoode, Brynlei senses that the girl—or her ghost—may be lurking in the shadows.
Brynlei’s quest to reveal the truth interferes with her plan to keep her head down and win Foxwoode’s coveted “Top Rider” award. Someone soon discovers Brynlei’s search for answers and will go to any length to stop her. As Brynlei begins to unravel the facts surrounding the missing girl’s disappearance, she is faced with an impossible choice. Will she protect a valuable secret? Or save a life?
AUDIOBOOK PERFORMANCE
Narrator Performance: 7/10
Voice switch over: 7/10
Story resolution, climax: 10/10
Overall: 8/10
Sound quality: 8/10
Emotional Resonance: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Dialogue: 8/10
HEAR ME OUT…
Narrator Kelli Anderson did a good job connecting to the story and bringing it into life. For me that’s very important component. Otherwise it’d drudgery.
When it comes to voices of narrators it’s a pretty subjective experience. It may or may not reflect on their skill. In this case it wasn’t so much the voice I enjoyed but it was keeping my interest in the story. For that I give a thumbs up. Kelli Anderson does a great job of pacing her reading, dialogue and keeping things going.
My impression…
Being short on time, I decided to go with the audiobook version. The story premise grabbed me from the beginning and kept me going. I wanted to find out what the story was about. Once the story got going it began to center around the mysterious death of Caroline Watson at Foxwood.
For a first novel it was great! Loved how everything unfolded especially in the resolution. It exceeded my expectations when everything was wrapped up in such an orderly way.
Brynlei is very likeable character who enters into a new, yet awkward, social experience at Foxwood. She definitely comes to life when she meets some new friends and begins to obsessed with the death of Caroline Watson.
If you like Young Adult reads, mysteries and horses, this is a good one.
A SERIAL KILLER STALKS THE STREETS…
Cat burglar Shawnee Daniels always believed her “fearlessness rules” mantra would keep her on top and out of jail. When she hacks a confiscated hard drive at the Revere P.D., she focuses on a white-collar criminal accused of embezzlement. To teach him a lesson and recoup the funds she breaks into his massive contemporary in Bear Clave Estates. Jack has even more secrets, deadly secrets, secrets worth killing over.
A CAT BURGLAR PICKS THE WRONG HOUSE TO ROB…
Shawnee thinks she made it out clean until a deadly package arrives at her door soon after. He’s found her. As a glowing eagle taunts her Skype screen, Jack tells her she stole his precious trophy box — and he wants it back!
THEIR LIVES COLLIDE…
When her “helpful” best friend convinces her to date charismatic Detective Levaughn Samuels, her two worlds threaten to implode. Ordinarily Shawnee keeps a firm line between her professions, but dating Levaughn might help her get this psycho off her tail.
AND NOW, NO ONE IS SAFE…
In this lightning-fast-paced psychological thriller of secrets and lies, Shawnee juggles being stalked by a serial killer, dating the lead detective on the case, and tap dancing around her librarian best friend.
If she doesn’t find the trophy box, the killer’s coming for her. If she doesn’t expose her secrets and lies, more will die. And if she does, she could lose her freedom and everyone she holds dear.
If you’re a fan of Lisa Jackson, Rachel Abbott, Karin Slaughter thrillers, crime fiction with an edge, or psychological thrillers, mystery, and suspense, then Wings of Mayhem is for you.
Praise for Sue Coletta’s novels…
“The heart-stopping descriptions are so jarringly real that there are several scenes I will never forget.” ~ Eliza Cross, Award Winning Author
“Sue Coletta isn’t going to spare you the gory details or an honest look behind the crime scene tape. She’s a well versed author in all things crime who indelicately dumps you into the middle of a life which has been disrupted, disturbed, and marred by the evil acts of a solitary man.” ~ Beaux Cooper, Author and Amazon Reviewer
“Sue Coletta’s writing style is bold. It’s riveting.
First thoughts….
The idea and plot to this book really grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn’t let me go. A Cat burglar doubling in law enforcement, steals a ‘trophy box’ from a devious serial killer. Who wouldn’t read that!
I found it to a very refreshing and original plot. Especially from the overdone cliches in the crime thriller category.
Shawnee Daniels
The lead character Shawnee Daniels was also a treat. Instead of being the poor, vulnerable victim we usually see, she daring! She’s a snarky bold character with a chip on her shoulder.
She’s a good anti-hero type who blurs the line between good and evil. Working for law enforcement as a computer analyst, professional cat burglar by night. Love it!
Shawnee vs. the serial killer
Finally! A serial killer with a worthy opponent. This made the book extremely entertaining and compelling to read. The killer was devious, smart and capable. But Shawnee Daniels was just a formidable. When these two clashed the conflict was awesome.
Can’t wait to read the next book! Kudos Sue!
CONNECT WITH SUE COLETTA
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From 1977 to 1988, I was a police officer in an Ohio city with a population of approximately 60,000. Our department had a hundred or so sworn officers when I started, but by the time I left, that n…
Source: Crime Division: Jack of All Trades—The Life of a Patrol Officer by Laurel Heidtman
You’re a writer so what’s your story? Or what inspired you?
I think it’s less about inspiration for me and more about need. I need to write. It’s either that or spend copious amounts of money on therapy! I actually went to my first writing class because a friend dragged me along. I went and never looked back. That was 20 years ago. One of my first classes was a screenwriting class. I think visually and it carries over into my writing so that class was a perfect fit for me.
The need to write is a great thing to have. Sometimes I sense an urge to write, but oftentimes not. But if I keep writing the need to write increases. Yay!!
What’s your GOAL in becoming a writer?
I think we’re all writers at heart. We all have stories we want to tell. Some of us are better orators than writers, but we’re all storytellers. Beyond that, though, I have this burning desire to educate people about the need to care for the environment and I often use my writing to get some of these environmental issues out there across a greater spectrum. I do my best not to be preachy which is why I like thrillers because I can hide the information I’m hoping to convey inside the action.
It’s good that you have a specific passion to write about. That’s wonderful. A great topic too!
What 3 things have hindered you from completing your projects? (CONFLICT)
Oh, a full time job, my volunteer work, and, of course, familial obligations. I have to either stay up really late or get up really early to get anything done. I’ve been trying to dedicate blocks of time on the weekends, but we have a busy household so it’s not easy.
I salute you for writing books with so many responsibilities! It can be done!
What keeps you motivated in achieving your dream? (DESIRE)
That’s a good question and I don’t really know the answer. I don’t think it’s simply the desire to be a rich and famous best-selling author. I think it’s more visceral than that. Writing helps me sort out the messiness of my life. It’s almost as if I need to write to make sense of things.
YES. I LOVE THAT. I think deep down I feel the same way. Visceral.
What’s your ANTAGONIST? What’s in the way?
It used to be me. I got in the way, either because of my inexperience, my lack of confidence, my lack of faith in myself and my ability. But I’ve been working at this writing thing for almost 20 years now and I feel as though I’ve really hit the tipping point. I’ve put the hours in and I feel as though I could write anything anyone asks of me.
Wow. I love hearing your experience on this. It’s very inspiring for us newbies.
Why do writer’s give up, quit, or never complete their work?
Hmmm, not sure. You definitely need a tough exterior, have to listen to “no” about a thousand times, and yet still keep at it. Tenacity is key. A lot of people want instant gratification, but unless you’re incredibly lucky, the business of writing is a long game.
That’s right! It’s definitely not a sprint but a marathon.
What would you say to a struggling writer who has given up?
You’ve got to write for yourself first and if you’re not doing that, then it’s probably a good idea to give up. If you’re already writing for yourself, it’s likely that you’re still in this thing and that you’ll be in it for the long haul.
Well put.
BONUS: What else do you have coming down the pike?
I’m currently working on a psychological thriller about the pharmaceutical industry and a vaccine gone bad.
OH! I love that. Please keep me in the loop for that one. A possible ARC? Would love to help.
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