Review - Bad Things

Title:   Bad Things

Author:  Nancy Bush

Genre:  Mystery/Thrillers

Publisher:  Zebra Books

Format:  Kindle ARC

Date Published:  June 25, 2019

No. of Pages:  384

My rating:  3 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Some mistakes you have to live with . . .
One victim succumbs to an overdose. Another is brutally bludgeoned to death. Each, in turn, will pay. Because you never forget the friends you make in high school--or the enemies . . .

And others . . .
In the wake of her stepbrother Nick's death, Kerry Monaghan is visiting Edwards Bay. Kerry has just returned to the small town overlooking an arm of Puget Sound that she left before high school, though not before falling hard and fast for Cole Sheffield, now with the local PD. But Nick's death may be more than an accident. And soon there are others--all former teenage friends, linked by a dark obsession.

You will die for . . .
With Cole's help, Kerry sets out to learn the truth about what happened to Nick. But within Edwards Bay is a shocking legacy built on envy and lust--and a secret that has unleashed a killer's unstoppable fury . . .

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

There is a group of former high school classmates referred to as the A-Team. One of them is the apparent victim of an overdose. Then another is brutally murdered. Will anyone else from the group suffer an awful fate? Are these people really friends, or is what happened during their high school years enough to bond them together for life...or death?

What a great premise and quite a promising book. However, there were a couple turns in this story that changed my beginning impressions. First of all, the underlying cause of the murders, and ever-present danger, was all wrapped up in sex. I cannot even begin to count how many sexual references there were in this story. The other issue I had is in reminding readers, over and over, that one of the characters is bipolar. I find myself to be a responsible reader who can actually remember facts and characteristics of the players in any book I read. I can see being reminded once or twice, but the references were far too frequent for my liking.

Back to what did work in this book. The large cast of characters hid behind secrets, lies and covetousness. These were literally deadly sins. The story begins with Kerry Monaghan having returned to the small town of Edwards Bay to be nearer to her family, as well as to begin a new job. When her stepbrother Nick is murdered she is devastated. This also brings her back into contact with her ex, Cole Sheffield, who is chief of police, and one of Nick's high school friends. 

While the story progressed, secrets of the past begin to come to light. All the while connections are slowly made that increase the danger to more than one of the group of friends. When I say group of friends, there were many. However, it was rather easy to keep track of all of them. The conclusion was actually exciting and I will admit to not being able to put this book down, and will say that the killer was really a surprise to me. 

Although this did not quite hit the mark for me, I will continue to read works by this author.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bestselling author Nancy Bush has had an eclectic writing career. She started her first story when she heard how young mothers were making money writing romance novels. She thought, “I can do that,” and talked her sister, bestselling author, Lisa Jackson, into joining her in her foray into writing. At the time Nancy was a young mother herself. Now, she says she's just…a mother.

Nancy began her career in the romance genre, writing both contemporary and historical novels, but being a mystery buff, she kept trying to add suspense into the plot, as much as her editors would allow. In 2002 she was chosen by ABC Television to be part of a writing group “think tank” which was tasked with developing story for ABC's daytime dramas. She was one of two people selected from that group to actually become a breakdown writer for, at the time, one of ABC's top-rated daytime shows: ALL MY CHILDREN. Nancy made the move to New York to join the AMC team while she was writing for the soap. That was an experience, she admits. Ask her, and she'll swear that the pressure cooker of delivering story every day – lots and lots of story -- helped focus her writing.

When Nancy returned to her home state of Oregon she channeled that newfound energy into writing the kind of books she's always loved: mysteries. She wrote three Jane Kelly Mystery novels in the space of three years, and has another one currently in proposal form. The last several years she's turned her attention to romantic suspense novels, writing both with her sister and on her own. Like Lisa, sh e's now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, both in her co-writing ventures and on her own merits as well.

Nancy's latest project? Summer 2012 is the kick off for her newest suspense series with NOWHERE TO RUN debuting in August and NOWHERE TO HIDE in September. A third ‘Nowhere' book is scheduled for next year.

Nancy has recently received the rights back to many of her earlier novels and the Danner Quartet, one of her most beloved series, is available again in e-book form. LADY SUNDOWN, MIRACLE JONES, JESSE'S RENEGADE and SCANDAL'S DARLING follow the ups and downs of the irrepressible Danner family in turn of the century Oregon. Nancy also has a number of contemporary romances that have been updated and reformatted and now have new life as e-books. Look for THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER, DEAR DIARY, and the Summer Lovin' Duets: SUMMERTIME BLUES and IMAGINARY LOVER along with many more in the coming months.

If you would like to get “up close and personal” with Nancy, check out her blog: Nancy tells all….or at least some of it.

web |  twitter