Review of, Underbelly, by Karen Crawford

I’m typing this at dawn, when the sun is but a freshly cracked egg peaking above the tree line. Those golden rays are steadily reaching into the shadows hiding among the oaks, maples, and junipers, sweeping away the darkness and mystery of the night.  

Mystery is such a tantalizing facet of life, making it more terrifying and delicious at the same time. This brings me to my latest read. A mystery/thriller by Karen Crawford.

The Gist:

A popular Las Vegas hotel and casino is undergoing a billion-dollar renovation, and a killer is operating in the construction zone. The Square is open for guests, but they are unaware that a predator is lurking below the facade of luxury. One woman’s death will draw attention to the murders and spark an investigation. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department retired detective Taryn Winter, her former partner, Daniel Brady and FBI Special Agent Jenae Shannon are on the trail, risking everything to bring a killer to justice. But their opponent has become obsessed with one of them and is on the hunt. Will they find the killer first or be the next victims?

My Thoughts:

Karen Crawford’s experience working in the Criminal Justice System shines through in this gripping murder mystery. Though the twisty, well-orchestrated plot held me captive, it was the main protagonist that left a positive lasting impression.

Retired Detective Taryn Winter is pulled back into the seedy undercurrent of Las Vegas when her former partner, Detective Daniel Brady, finds himself up against a killer targeting the oppressed. Her strength, skills, and confidence have propelled her to success and enabled her to withstand the rigors of the job for many years. While these are admirable traits, what I applaud most is her refreshing vulnerability and reliance on others.

Taryn isn’t just another carbon copy, buck stops here, gunslinger. She doesn’t blaze through life and death crises with the unflappable demeanor that can cause eye spasms from constant rolling. Those characters have their place, but realism is so appealing. And neither is she a reclusive alcoholic basement dweller, whose diet consists of take-out and canned pasta.

Taryn wrestles with the trauma that comes with the territory, but draws resilience from the unwavering support of her husband and a got your back bond with Daniel.

Taryn’s compassion for the downtrodden has given her great allies on the streets. She’s considered a good cop, winning their trust.  

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a more human take on the world of law enforcement.

Meet Karen:

Karen worked as a probation officer and supervisor for 20 years. During her career, she spent countless hours with criminal offenders, delving into the details that make them tick and gaining insight about human behavior. Her passion and drive for helping people and promoting best practices in criminal justice earned her numerous awards during her tenure, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with a Minor in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Justice Management. She has always championed those who serve, and those who are served, in the criminal justice system. Now, she lets her imagination run wild, writing about the other side of the law. Karen lives in Arizona with her husband, dog and cat. 

Review of Protective Instinct, by Joy York

Here we are with February coming to a close in the next week, and the weather’s been bouncing up and down like our dog’s floppy ears during a run. Today we’ve returned to the deep freezer, and that comes as no surprise because this is usually the coldest time of the year.

Yesterday afternoon, my daughter and I volunteered for the, Coldest Night of the Year, fundraiser in support of the homeless. It always does well. We live in a very generous community. 

Right now, I just wanted to share a quick review of my most recent read. But first, let’s get a gist of what this one’s about.

When self-absorbed, international bestselling author Sebastian Bartoli refuses to write the biography of the infamous, mob-connected Maximillian Fontana, the consequences turn deadly.
Sebastian (Bash) Bartoli is an international bestselling crime novelist. Maximillian (Max) Fontana, who is reputed to have ties to organized white-collar crime, has insisted Bash write his biography. Concerned for his safety, Bash’s friend/agent devises an elaborate plan for him to disappear to a secluded location on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. Being accustomed to having his comfortable life managed, Bash is irritated by the inconvenience of having to deal with his own affairs, not to mention the danger it might pose if he is discovered.

Morgan Skylar is a good-natured and unfiltered, southern kindergarten teacher. She is much more comfortable eating potato chips with Cheez Whiz and Louisiana Hot Sauce than champagne and caviar. After the death of her overly protective grandfather (Pops) who raised her in rural Georgia, she takes time off to grieve, ending up in a cottage next door to Bash. When mechanical issues arise, she seeks help from the renter in the main house. Bash is annoyed that his secluded hideout is apparently not so secret. Begrudgingly, he offers her assistance. This is where Morgan and Bash’s worlds collide. When suited, armed men show up at the lake house, Morgan’s trained survival skills take over, and she secures their escape by boat as bullets fly.

Morgan offers to provide a temporary sanctuary to Bash in her Pops’ remote Appalachian cabin. Upon arrival, she discovers a letter from Pops revealing his dangerous past that may now be coming for her. As the unwitting targets of dangerous men, Bash and Morgan fight to stay a step ahead of their pursuers, while seeking answers. Bonds are tested. Trusts are broken. Alliances formed. Agendas hidden.

Just My Thoughts:

Morgan Skylar is the benchmark for unassuming characters. A mild mannered kindergarten teacher who uses the phrase, “Turkey feathers!”, to sum up her feelings for dire situations. But she’s got a secret life. A childhood that any doomsday prepper would be proud of. 

Mix in a pampered best selling author, Bash, who believes a crime boss is out to get him, add a visit from a pair of goons, and watch the wheels spin. Though the story borders on the fantastical at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The moments of cheeky banter between Morgan and Bash added spice and filled out their profiles.    

Amidst the action, two constant themes emerge: people are often not what they seem, and sometimes you just have to trust. The writing style is naturally tweaked for the action genre, with one or two-word sentences sprinkled throughout; but not overdone. The protagonists are highly dynamic, seasoned by trials and reliance on each other. 

I recommend this one to those who enjoy an American thriller with a spritz of James Bond.   

Meet Joy:

Joy York grew up in Alabama but has spent much of her adult life in the Midwest, currently living with her husband in Indiana with their two golden doodles, Jake and Bailey. Inspired by a family legacy of oral storytelling, she began creating stories and adventures for her son when he was growing up. With encouragement from family and friends, she began to write them down. Her first book, The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter, a YA mystery, was published in 2015. Genuine Deceit, an adult suspense novel, is her second book. For more information, visit joyyork.com.

Review of Broken Rhodes, by Kimber Silver

With Christmas in the rearview, I’m using the interlude between Boxing Day and New Years to post my last review of 2023. I hope each of you has been able to spend some quality time with loved ones while finding moments of restful solitude.

So, What’s It All About?

Kinsley Rhodes blows into Harlow, Kansas like a tornado, twisting Sheriff Lincoln James’ life into knots. Her grandfather has been murdered and she wants answers.

As if the town’s first homicide in twenty years wasn’t enough, the beleaguered sheriff now has to deal with Henry Rhodes’ bobcat of a granddaughter, plunging his life deeper into chaos. As a dark storm threatens, long-held secrets are exposed, placing Kinsley directly in harm’s way.

In a race against time, Lincoln’s prime objective is to discover the killer’s identity before Miss Rhodes becomes the next victim…

Just My Thoughts:

Kinsley Rhodes is the embodiment of a conflicted soul. In her youth, the abhorrent cruelty of her peers diverges the course of her life. The once shy, but trusting Kinsley, constructs an emotional safe room, keeping a distance from normal social interactions and relationships. At the outset, her innate characteristics surface in moments of perceived security, but are frequently shelved as real or interpreted threats arise. Towards the end, Kinsley has begun to heal from her trauma, perhaps at a tempo that may not accurately reflect reality. In fairness, I had to keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.      

Returning to Harlow brings her face to face with her tormentors and a dangerous criminal enterprise that stretches far beyond the town limits.

This is compelling tale of ancient grudges, buried family secrets, a healing journey, and the struggle against a psychopathic force that has poisoned a community for too many years.

If you possess an affinity for the underdog, a curiosity for what lies beneath, a taste for mystery, and a fondness of slow burn romance, this is your next read.  

Meet Kimber:

My love of reading began early, cultivated by my grandmother. I cut my teeth on the works of Louis L’Amour. Then my curiosity for other genres blossomed, and I spent any free time I had in the library. The stories took me away from the farm, and the small town I lived in, to a world so vast, that I felt I could achieve anything.

My imagination has always been vivid, and my grandparents encouraged me to write down the stories I regaled them with. I have never felt more alive than when I’m immersed in a new tale, as it takes form.

Visit her website and order your copy:

Kimber Silver

Review of, The Lilac Notebook, by Carol Balawyder

It’s not often that I review books by the same author consecutively. But here I find myself unable to resist. You can check out my review of Carol’s, Warning Signs, in my previous post.

So what’s it all about?

Three university friends. One in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, another out for revenge and a third murdered.
Holly Baranov is in the beginning stages of fast advancing Alzheimer’s at 40. Unwilling to care for her, Holly’s husband leaves her. While frightened to be on her own, Holly is relieved to be freed from the clutches of a controlling husband.
She moves out of her large home in the middle-class west end section of Montreal and into a small apartment near McGill University where she enrols in a poetry course in the hopes of stimulating her brain.
There she meets Kim Harris, a thirty-something beautiful but damaged law student and Amelia Rose, a twenty-year-old pole dancer in a seedy nightclub who wants nothing more than to graduate, teach high school, marry and raise a family. Both Kim and Amelia were victims of incest, though each see her perpetrator differently. Kim chose law so as to right the justice she was denied while Amelia is angry at the justice system for separating her from a flawed father who was nonetheless her whole world.
When Amelia is found strangled in her apartment, Holly becomes involved in the investigation, both as prime suspect and as a means to defend herself.
Detective Alice Vireovich and her rookie partner, Detective Dan Cardoni, currently investigating the murders of two middle aged men, are also tasked with investigating Amelia’s murder: They come to believe all three murders may be linked because of a Van Gogh Starry Night postcard found at the scene of all three crimes.
Holly’s health worsens quickly. She is transferred to a support facility. Along with her fading memory, Holly is also losing her ability to speak and write. She is uncertain whether she killed Amelia as her friend Kim, ex-husband Roy and the police suspect.
A niece (whom Holly doesn’t recognize and whose motives she distrusts for suddenly wanting to help her) visits Holly regularly and reads Holly’s notes about Amelia’s investigation. This eventually leads the investigation away from her as they seem to implicate Kim.
Kim’s law teacher at McGill agrees to take on the case pro bono, motivated by her interest in litigating whether damaging effects of childhood abuse pose the question whether murder can ever be justified in such cases.
The expanding investigation leads to more findings relating to the postcard found next to Amelia’s body, bringing into view a surprising new suspect.

My Takeaway:

The substance of any great story is relatable characters that inspire genuine emotional connections or reactions. At least for the main antagonists/protagonists.

Here we have three women from different backgrounds and stages of life, yet all have been abused in some form or degree by those who should have been their biggest supporters. The abuse by a loved and trusted one is vile beyond words.

Carol adroitly portrays the varying coping mechanisms utilized by each of these victims.

Though I felt tremendous sorrow for all of these unfortunate women, I found my heart going out to Holly the most. Yes, she had the advantage of growing up in a loving home, but she won me over with her kindness and courageous resilience.

Holly continued her investigation of Amelia’s death even as dusk descended on her memory; even while fighting valiantly to retain a shred of independence. She always found something to be thankful for, whether it was freedom from her controlling husband or the preservation of her sense of smell.

Again, I’d like to offer Carol a nod for creating a suspenseful read without resorting to gory details.  

Meet Carol:

I hold an undergraduate degree with a major on English Literature and a graduate degree in Criminology. I taught Criminology in Police Technology and Corrections programs in Montreal. My area of expertise was in drug addiction and I worked in a methadone clinic with heroin addicts. I helped set up a writing workshop for women in prison and worked in halfway homes and drug rehab centers.

My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, The Canadian Anthology of Fiction, Mindful.or, Between the Lines and Carte Blanche. I was awarded an honorary mention for a play submitted to The Canadian Playwright Competition.

I manage a blog where I write about: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature, Famous Writers’ Desks, Femmes Fatales, India, Book Reviews and my dog, Bau. http://www.carolbalawyder.com/blog

Review of, Warning Signs, by Carol Balawyder

As I gaze out into this cold October morning, my mind goes back to yesterday. Yesterday, was a record breaker for the number of people lining up for breakfast at a community outreach organization I volunteer for. While it’s good to see those in need using the services available to them, it’s a disturbing indicator concerning the state of things.

I’m so thankful for agencies that exist to help, and for those who dedicate their lives to correcting the imbalances in society, while protecting the vulnerable.

This brings me to my latest read. That core belief, correcting imbalances and protecting the vulnerable is a staple when it comes to the main protagonist, Homicide Detective, Darren Van Ray.

What’s it about?

Eugene’s research into his criminal mind is not about the why, but how to prevent his horrific crimes. Angie, a young woman starving for passion sees Eugene as her saviour from a lonely life of caring for her heroin addicted mother. How far is she willing to go in order to save her relationship with Eugene and his promise for a future together? Detective Van Ray is out on a vindictive mission as he attempts to solve the murders of young girls in Youth Protection. Their lives collide in a mixture of mistrust, obsession and ignoring the warning signs. A psychological thriller about human frailty and loneliness.

Just My Thoughts:

I’ve always been fascinated by what actually makes people tick, so to speak. After years of working with the Eugene’s, in a different capacity than Darren, I’ve honestly come no closer to really understanding what drives them to such despicable acts. The traits mentioned in this book do align with what I’ve witnessed. Their outward behaviors are readily observable, but to look into a pair of windowless eyes and discern what’s stirring within their murky depths is a daunting task.

 That being said, Carol’s experience and knowledge shines through in this gripping journey into the mind of a serial killer and the man bent for leather to stop him. The lack of overly graphic violence was appreciated, as I don’t think these scenarios add any value to the story.

As the title foretells, this read is far more about the back room of conscious thought. It’s where the rats scurry around, gnawing away the innocence of childhood dreams and innate needs for love and acceptance. The very things that may create these monsters. And those denizens of darkness do not necessarily produce serial killers. Some are driven to find love and acceptance wherever they can, while others seek meaning by keeping the wolves at bay. It’s Carol’s intriguing presentation of a genre that many choose to fill with the gore of the physical acts themselves that kept me turning those pages.

I highly recommend this book to those who possess a curiosity for human behavior yet prefer a comfortable pace between a mild shiver and a sleepless night.

Introducing Carol:

I hold an undergraduate degree with a major on English Literature and a graduate degree in Criminology. I taught Criminology in Police Technology and Corrections programs in Montreal. My area of expertise was in drug addiction and I worked in a methadone clinic with heroin addicts. I helped set up a writing workshop for women in prison and worked in halfway homes and drug rehab centers.

My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, The Canadian Anthology of Fiction, Mindful.or, Between the Lines and Carte Blanche. I was awarded an honorary mention for a play submitted to The Canadian Playwright Competition.

I manage a blog where I write about: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature, Famous Writers’ Desks, Femmes Fatales, India, Book Reviews and my dog, Bau. http://www.carolbalawyder.com/blog