AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - No One Knew

Title:  No One Knew

Author:  Kendra Elliot

Series:   Noelle Marshall #2

Publisher:  Macmillan Audio

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC

Narrator:  Stephanie Németh-Parker

Length:  8 hrs 48 mins

No. of Pages:   314

Date of Publication:   January 6, 2025

My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

For a detective and an FBI agent, two seemingly disparate murder investigations collide with a twist in an explosive novel of suspense by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

In the crisp mountain air of central Oregon, a teenage girl’s search for discarded cans leads to a horrifying a body, brutally murdered and abandoned in the woods. The case falls to Deschutes County Detective Noelle Marshall, who finds herself navigating a community steeped in secrets, suspicion, and distrust of outsiders—especially law enforcement.

Miles away, FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes investigates a different kind of darkness—chatter about a violent uprising from a shadowy militia group preparing for war. The two cases seem worlds apart. But as Noelle digs into the murdered man’s past and Max closes in on the source of the terror plot, their paths begin to converge in a terrifying way. This was no random killing. It was a message. A merciless killer and a hidden army are operating in the same shadows, and finding the link between them is the only thing standing between a single murder and a full-blown massacre.

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

When I first listened to No One Knew, Kendra Elliot was an unknown author to me. As I first went to write this review it wasn’t easy, so I visited the Fantastic Fiction website to explore her book collection. I discovered that I was reading the second book in a series. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I could access the first book, Her First Mistake, and even listen to her entire catalog. As the series progressed, I was impressed by Kendra Elliot’s ability to connect the various 34sseries and its characters seamlessly.

The story follows Noelle Marshall, a detective who has recently returned to her hometown in central Oregon. While there, she confronts her past and the secrets that her community harbors. These secrets come to the forefront when a body is discovered, causing concern among the townspeople. Their distrust and hidden truths pose a challenge to Noelle as she delves deeper into the investigation.

Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes is called in to investigate a militia group. As the story unfolds, the cases that both he and Noelle are investigating reveal a surprising connection. This connection brings them together, as they had done in the past.

If you’re a fan of crime and FBI thrillers, this series and any of Kendra Michaels’s other works are a must-read. Both books in the Noelle Marshall series were wonderfully narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. Her ability to bring the characters to life made the story captivating and impossible to put down. 

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As a kid, I read and read and read. Laura Ingalls, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden were my close companions, and I was never without a book in hand. Today mysteries and suspense are my primary reading genres. I enjoy Lee Child, Karen Rose, Robert Crais, Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, and Tami Hoag. But I also love to escape with a historical romance or an engrossing fantasy set in another world. Authors are always huge readers.

In 2006 I’d recently finished one of Diana Gabaldon’s novels for the umpteenth time, and I loved how satisfied and content I felt at the end. A true sign of great storytelling. Could I provide that experience for a reader? I sat down and spent six months writing a contemporary romance. Strangely I kept tripping over dead bodies in each chapter. I got the hint and my stories evolved into suspense. I never felt the need to “tell the stories cluttering my head” or “share my work with the world” like some authors. My goal was to simply see if I could entertain a reader.

HIDDEN was the third manuscript I finished, but my first book purchased by a publisher. It came out in the summer of 2012 and since then has sold over a million copies. I won the Daphne du Maurier award three times and have hit the Wall Street Journal’s best seller list more than a dozen times. I’ve been an International Thriller Writers’s finalist and a finalist for Romantic Times Magazine’s best Romantic Suspense. As I update this in 2025, I’ve sold 14 million books, and I’m working on my twenty-fifth novel. I’ve also written eleven novellas and sold the TV rights for my Mercy Kilpatrick series, but the option was not renewed after two years, so the series is not in production.

I wouldn’t trade this career for anything, and I count my blessings every day, thankful that readers have embraced my books.

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BLOG TOUR - Such a Perfect Family

Title:  Such a Perfect Family

Author:  Nalini Singh

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   372

Date of Publication:   January 27, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh . . .

A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.
For seventy-nine days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws’ house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, he begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could’ve imagined . . .

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Tavish and Diya’s married life is a whirlwind right from the start. At least one of their families is hiding dangerous secrets. The very start of their married life is all but destroyed by tragedy. After a fire takes the lives of most of Diya’s family, and she is left in critical condition. The police have more than one probing question for Tavish. It can’t be a coincidence that Tavish’s previous three relationships have led to the death of each of those partners. 

Tavish’s first-person perspective dominates this story, interspersed with flashbacks from Diya’s life. The detective’s notes and context also play a crucial role. Singh’s writing style makes this story highly addictive. The excellent pacing and shocking twist make Such a Perfect Family a truly captivating read.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.

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Review - Our Beautiful Mess

Title:   Our Beautiful Mess

Author:  Adele Parks

Publisher:  Harlequin Trade Publishing

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   448

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Connie can’t wait to have all her daughters back home for the holidays. It’s not just the excitement of the girls being together under one roof; uni student Fran is bringing a new boyfriend to stay. The empty nest will once again be full of friends, family and young love.

Yet from the moment she sees Zac, Connie feels a deep unease. Zac reminds her of the worst mistake she has ever a man whose charm and good looks nearly destroyed her marriage. Then, Fran announces she’s pregnant.

Reeling from Fran’s news and terrified that her past might threaten her family’s future, Connie desperately tries to navigate a path forward. But there’s a much greater menace looming, because she’s not the only one who has something to hide. Someone in the house has another devastating secret. A deception which will put everyone Connie loves in shocking danger, and one of them will pay the ultimate price.

Number One bestseller Adele Parks returns with an explosive and deeply emotional family drama which explores the lengths a parent will go to protect a child; for there’s nothing stronger than a woman whose family is under threat. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Connie’s nest is about to be full once again. The holidays have arrived, and Connie couldn’t be happier. However, when her daughter Fran brings her new boyfriends, Zac, along, Connie is immediately concerned. There’s something about Zac that makes Connie uncomfortable, but she puts on a good show, eager to bask in the attention from her family. 

Fran and Zac have news to share with her family, all while something beneath the surface is being revealed. Zac is troubled, and is doing his level best to keep anyone from finding out what is actually going on. Also, Zac now has the opportunity to meet his biological father, and has no idea that a can of worms is about to explode.

Our Beautiful Mess, a captivating domestic thriller, masterfully weaves together drama, tension, and excellent pacing, all while presenting multiple perspectives that propel the story forward seamlessly. The narrative takes an intriguing turn when Connie’s past unexpectedly surfaces, immediately injecting drama and tension into the plot. Adele Parks skillfully builds and layers this tension throughout the story, creating a gripping and suspenseful reading experience. 

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adele Parks was born in Teesside, North-East England. Her first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000 and since then she's had 20 international bestsellers, translated into twenty-six languages. She's been an Ambassador for The Reading Agency and a judge for the Costa. She's lived in Italy, Botswana and London, and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, teenage son and cat.

Social Links:

Author Website

Instagram: @adele_parks

Twitter: @adeleparks

Facebook: @OfficialAdeleParks

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Review - GLP-1 Meals Made Easy

Title:  GLP-1 Meals Made Easy

Authors:  Aliza Olive, MD; 

  Kellie Badie PharmD

Publisher:  Callisto Publishing

Genre:   Self-Help

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   192

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Millions of Americans are managing their weight and blood sugar with the help of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. But medicine is only half the battle. Understanding how this drug affects your appetite and digestion can be daunting, especially when figuring out what to eat. GLP-1 Meals Made Easy looks to deliver on the promise of simplified nutrition. Written by a doctor and a pharmacist team who run a clinic for GLP-1 patients, GLP-1 Meals Made Easy features 80 recipes, dozens of photos, and insightful tips and meal planning advice backed by real-world clinical experience

Developing a better relationship with food

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

As someone currently taking the GLP-1 medication Wegovy, I’m always on the lookout for self-help books that can support me on this journey. While weight loss itself has been significant, methods definitely vary. With GLP-1 medications studies cited here and elsewhere suggest an average loss of 15–20 percent weight loss. I’ve personally lost 35 percent of my body weight and continue to hope for broader improvements in my overall health.

Even knowing how critical good nutrition is, simply wanting to eat better hasn’t always translated into feeling better. That’s what initially drew me to GLP-1 Meals Made Easy. The book is divided into two sections - Getting Started and Meal Planning and Recipes - and it was the promise of practical meal ideas and guidance that really caught my attention.

There is always something new to learn about GLP-1 medications, and the first section of this book is both informative and eye-opening. One of the focuses is on setting a strong foundation by creating a solid plan. This is with the goal of helping readers to understand how GLP-1 medications work and how nutrition can be used to optimize fat loss. For some people, myself included, the weight seems to melt off. However, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and low energy can still be ongoing challenges. This book speaks directly to those struggles.

The second section introduces a structured 21-day meal plan that emphasizes protein intake and a specific calorie range. It’s designed to help readers build their own 21-day plan, with the goal of increasing energy and supporting overall well-being. With more than 80 recipes as well as photos, this section feels practical, approachable, and motivating.

I highly recommend GLP-1 Meals Made Easy to anyone considering starting a GLP-1 medication, as well as those already on this journey. Paired with guidance from my physician, information like this has been incredibly helpful to me. I believe it could be just as beneficial for others navigating the same path.

Many thanks to Callisto Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin

Title:  Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin

Author:   Nancy Springer

Series:  The New Adventures of Enola Holmes #4

Publisher:  Wednesday Books

Genre:   YA Historical Mystery 

Format:  Kindle and Audiobook ARC

Narrators:  Tamaryn Payne; Matt Biddulph

Length:  6 hrs and 59 mins

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Enola Holmes—international bestselling and Netflix streaming sensation—returns when the rescue of a young woman sends her into battle with her brother Sherlock against his most deadly, implacable enemy - Professor Moriarty.

In February 1891, London, Enola Holmes—the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes—is attending the burial of her former landlady when she hears the faint sound of a handbell in the graveyard. Investigating further, as is the Holmes' family instinct, she discovers that the bell is attached to the temporary tombstone at a recent gravesite and someone, buried within, is pulling the string to ring the alarm.

Galvanized into action, Enola and her companions successfully unearth the coffin within, freeing a still-living young woman, Trevonia Trairom. Enola, by predilection and by trade a Scientific Perditorian, a finder of lost things, finds herself comforting and protecting this young girl, who remembers very little, including her own identity. While protecting this mysterious girl from an enigmatic enemy, she finds Sherlock engaged in a related mystery and joins him in his battle against the Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriaty. As that epic conflict rushes towards it's inevitable conclusion, Enola takes her place more fully than ever before as a proud member of the Holmes family.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Enola Holmes has definitely proven herself, despite as she says - Enola backwards spells Alone. She may be on her own, and, although young, she has proven herself to be quite effective as a self-named Scientific Perditorian, finder of lost persons and things, As she is the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, the bar is set high when it comes to Enola’s talents. 

In this installment in the second of the Enola Holmes series, Enola is attending a funeral and she hears a distinct sound. It rather sounds like a bell, but it certainly isn’t that. Her curious nature leads her to investigate, and to her great shock, it is coming from a nearby grave. The sound is coming from within, and Enola moves quickly to unearth the site, and thus saves the life of a young woman. 

Enola learns that the young woman she saved is Trevonia Trairom, and Enola does what she can to discover why she was buried and also seeks to protect her. However, as has been the case more than once, danger is on her tail, but in two forms. First, from the ever-famous Professor Moriaty, then Trevonia’s family. 

Both this series and its predecessor have been quite enjoyable reads. To be honest, I had maintained that I wasn’t a fan of Young Adult novels. But, as a fan of suspense and Sherlock Holmes, I was drawn to the original Enola Holmes series. This second series has our young heroine being just a bit older, with the respect due her thanks to her wit and character. Not only are the stories intriguing, having this as an audiobook made the story even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to see what else this young woman will do in the next book.

Many thanks to Wednesday Books, and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

NANCY SPRINGER is the author of the nationally bestselling Enola Holmes novels, including The Case of the Missing Marquess, which was made into the hit Netflix movie, Enola Holmes. She is the author of more than 50 other books for children and adults. She has won many awards, including two Edgar Awards, and has been published in more than thirty countries. She lives in Florida.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Antihero

Title:  Antihero

Author:  Gregg Hurwitz

Series:   Orphan X #11

Publisher:  Minotaur

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Audio ALC & Kindle ARC

Length:  14 hrs 12 mins

Narrator:  Scott Brick

No. of Pages:   416

Date of Publication:   February 1, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In the latest in this New York Times best-selling series, Evan Smoak takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he has to not only protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.

Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.

When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to meet Luke. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help―and sets out tracking down the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods―no vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice, with a measure of mercy.

Link to shop the series

First commandment - Assume Nothing
Second Commandment - How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything 
Third Commandment - Master Your Surroundings
Fourth Commandment - Never Make It Personal 
Fifth Commandment - If You Don’t Know What To Do, Do Nothing 
Sixth Commandment - Question Orders
Seventh Commandment - One Mission at a Time
Eighth Commandment - Never Kill a Kid
Ninth Commandment - Always Play Offense
Tenth Commandment - Never Let An Innocent Die
unofficial 11th commandment - Don’t Fall In Love With Plan A

MY THOUGHTS:

Evan Smoak. The Nowhere Man. Orphan X. A man with nary a friend. His life as a Black Ops assassin may be over, but walking away from the Orphan program has not brought him peace. Instead, it has left him fighting battle after battle, and this means he stands alone. His training was brutal and no-nonsense, and when Evan needs his skills, he doesn’t hesitate to use them.

Evan does have one constant in his life: Joey. His ward of sorts, and she affectionately refers to him as her “Uncle-Person.” A hacker extraordinaire, Joey has proven indispensable time and again. But now she wants more. She wants a greater role, even to the point of going into the field. This is the last thing Evan wants as he is doing everything in his power to leave that dangerous life behind.

Does trouble follow Evan? It certainly seems so. He leaves a trail wherever he goes—body after body. Evan has a strong moral code, so this is always in the name of justice. Evan fights for the underdog at every opportunity. Luke Devine, however, is anything but an underdog. Still, he’s in serious trouble and desperate for Evan’s help. Reluctantly, Evan boards a flight to New York to help Devine confront a situation that could cost him his life. Along the way, Evan uncovers the kidnapping of a young woman. He is determined to find her. As always, the story doesn’t end there.

Action. Action. Action. That’s exactly what readers will get in Antihero, the eleventh book in the Orphan X series. Yet, as with every installment in this compelling series, there is a sharp emotional edge that reminds us that Evan Smoak is far more than a trained assassin. He is a man with feelings, loyalty, and a deeply ingrained moral code. That humanity is on full display here. Still, Evan demands justice, and no one stands in his way. 

This book and series is expertly narrated by Scott Brock, making the story even more compelling. Bring on the next book, because I can’t wait to read what comes next.

Many thanks to Minotaur, Macmillan Audio  and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times, #1 internationally bestselling author of 22 thrillers, including the ORPHAN X series, and two award-winning thriller novels for teens. His novels have won numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Gregg has written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios (including THE BOOK OF HENRY), and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing in the USC English Department, and guest lectured for UCLA, and for Harvard in the United States and internationally. In the course of researching his thrillers, he has sneaked onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALs, swum with sharks in the Galápagos, and gone undercover into mind-control cults.

Additionally, Gregg is actively working to end polarization in politics and on college campuses. To that end, he's produced several hundred commercials which got over a hundred million views on digital and TV platforms. His editorial pieces have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bulwark, and others.

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BLOG TOUR - The Midnight Taxi

Title:  The Midnight Taxi

Author:  Yosha Gunasekera

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Siriwathi Perera doesn’t quite know where she’s going in life. She never expected to be a taxicab driver in New York City, struggling to make ends meet and still living with her parents at twenty-eight. The true-crime podcasts that keep Siri company as she drives don’t do much to make up for the legal career she imagined for herself, or the brother she’s grieving.

When public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab, they make a quick connection through their shared Sri Lankan roots. Siri, whose social circle is limited to her grade-school best friend, Alex, thinks things might finally be looking up with this new potential friendship. But she’s suddenly dropped into her own true crime when she discovers her next passenger murdered in the backseat, and she has to call Amaya sooner than she’d expected.

Pinned as the obvious and only suspect, and desperate to clear her name, Siri chases down leads across the boroughs of New York City with Amaya’s help. But with her court date looming, they have just five days to find out who really killed the midnight passenger—or Siri’s life will be over before she can even truly live it.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

From her love of true-crime podcasts to becoming the subject of one herself, Siriwathi Perera’s life takes a terrifying turn in The Midnight Taxi. Siri is a Sri Lankan New York City taxi driver whose routine late-night shift ends in shock when her final fare is discovered murdered in the back seat of her cab. In an instant, Siri goes from observer of crime stories to the center of one—and the consequences are swift and devastating.

Culture and family are central to Siri’s identity, grounding her even as her world begins to unravel. When she is arrested and charged with the murder, the odds feel overwhelmingly stacked against her. A small but meaningful stroke of luck comes in the form of Amaya Fernando, a previous passenger and fellow Sri Lankan woman. The two women had immediately connected during their brief ride. This is an unbelievable blessing to Siri, as Amaya happens to be a public defender and had given Siri her card before stepping out of the taxi. That chance encounter couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.

Black and Brown wariness and outright prejudice are stumbling blocks as Amaya helps Siri face those challenges, and what looks like irrefutable evidence that Siri is responsible for the murder. The two make a fine pair as Siri is desperate to clear her name, forming an unlikely partnership. However, time is of the essence so they must dig deep to uncover the truth before time runs out for Siri.

The Midnight Taxi is a strong and confident debut by Yosha Gunasekera, delivering a gripping, fast-paced mystery that keeps the tension high as the clock ticks down. I especially appreciated the rich cultural references and the way the novel highlights racial inequities within the justice system. Despite the heavy subject matter, the story maintains a wonderful balance. Siri’s sharp wit and well-timed humor provide moments of levity, rounding out the narrative and making her an engaging, memorable protagonist. This is a suspenseful, thoughtful read that lingers long after the final page.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Review - Cross and Sampson

Title:   Cross and Sampson

Author:  James Patterson; Brian Sitts

Series:   Alex Cross #35

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   February 9, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson are better together—until they’re called to separate locations to investigate a pair of serious crimes. 

In Washington, DC… Metro PD detective John Sampson stands in a crater in the middle of a DC street, calling in the bomb squad. “Dispatch, this is Sampson. Contact the FBI and the ATF. We’ve got a suspected terrorist attack here.” In Chapel Hill, NC… Alex Cross searches the apartment of a missing psychology grad student—his own son Damon. Has following in his famous father’s footsteps made Damon a target? From FBI headquarters, in police stations, on airplanes, and at murder scenes, the detectives track crimes committed hundreds of miles apart. It will take more than distance to weaken the partnership of Sampson & Cross.

Link to purchase the series

MY THOUGHTS:

In Cross and Sampson, Detective Alex Cross, his best friend and fellow officer John Sampson, and Alex’s wife Bree find themselves locked in a race against time. When Alex learns that his college-aged son, Damon, has gone missing, he and Bree immediately fly to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, launching a desperate search for answers.

In nearly every major case Alex has faced, Sampson has been right by his side. This time, however, a deadly bombing in Washington, D.C. forces Sampson to remain behind, separating the partners as they pursue parallel investigations under mounting pressure.

From the moment Alex and Bree arrive in Chapel Hill, the urgency is relentless. Damon, who lives off campus in an apartment he shares with his girlfriend, becomes the focal point of Alex’s frantic search. The story moves at a fast pace, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The cases faced by both Alex and Sampson are equally gripping, and Alex’s fierce love for his family is palpable throughout the story. Just as powerful is the deep bond between Alex and Sampson, whose long-standing friendship adds emotional weight and depth to the high-stakes thriller.

I’ve been a devoted fan of the Alex Cross series since its inception and thoroughly enjoyed Cross Down, the 31st installment in the series. As it is also the first book in the John Sampson series, Sampson played a significant role there and that strong presence continues in Cross and Sampson.

While I always look forward to more Alex Cross stories, it’s refreshing and exciting to see Sampson take on a more prominent role as well. I’ll be eagerly awaiting future installments in either or both series.

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

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