Hidden in the Night

This book is the third novel in Elizabeth Goddard’s Missing in Alaska series. I chose the book due to this unique setting and early mentions of retrieving a lost manuscript of Jack London. Goddard’s main character is a rare-book collector and former FBI agent. These plot ingredients were irresistible to me. There were many excellent parts to the book. The dialogue was concise and great. The Alaska setting was stellar. I could feel the cold wind. I especially liked all the action in the planes and the stealthy, night time escape by boat. The characters were realistic and interesting. As they moved through the story, they were very active in solving the plot’s mystery. The characters all had different motives for pursuing the lost manuscript and this brought the action to an apex.

The romantic theme running through the book was well balanced, with just enough emotion that moved the plot ahead but didn’t make it seem unrealistic or out of place.

I was lukewarm about the conclusion to the manuscript story. For me it bordered on the fantastical and made the book more like a doomsday sci-fi novel. Not a genre I typically choose to read. I might have been more in step with the novel if I had read the previous two books in this series.

I thought the villains in this book were portrayed with sufficient measure of selfishness and greed. Both Carl and Donovan passionately pursued ill-gotten gains but their evil actions were thankfully thwarted by the good guys. I always read author notes at the back of the book. The information shared here reminded me again why I chose the book to read in the first place. I also was a fan of Jack London’s Call of the Wild. I remember reading it many years ago. Readers will find Hidden in the Night full of action and fast-paced. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Counter Attack

Counter Attack, #1
By Patricia Bradley / Revell

By Patricia Bradley

If you’re looking for a fast paced crime novel with lots of twists and turns then choose Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley. It’s a great read. A serial killer is the mastermind behind the rising body count. The crimes occur first in Chattanooga but then follow our protagonist, Alex Stone, to her new job in Russell County Tennessee.

The steps Alex Stone and Nathan Landry take to put a stop to the murders draw us into the action just as if we were doing a ride-along with their law enforcement units. Alex has just been sworn in as the interim chief deputy for Russell County, Tennessee, and Nathan Landry is Pearl Spring’s chief of police. The two have a history together that goes way back to high school. While she resists re-starting a romantic relationship with Nathan, ultimately they are drawn together.

Alex’s ambition is to be Chattanooga’s first female police commissioner. The interim chief deputy assignment is just a short detour. Her grandfather held the position until he was sidelined by a heart attack. Her grandfather knows Alex is the best choice to fill his position and thumbs his nose at anyone daring to cry out, “Nepotism!” He pulls her back to her hometown in Pearl Springs and away from the action in Chattanooga. Alex figures she has no other choice but to take on the role for as long as she is needed. It’s her grandmother that stands out as someone who offers wise counsel when the going gets tough. She is a Christian woman with a strong faith. She encourages Alex to weigh her choices carefully and recites Isaiah 58:11 to remind her to seek the Lord’s guidance in her work and life choices.

Immediately, they discover a woman killed in a rental home. The victim’s appearance, manner of death, and crime scene evidence reveal an exact match with the serial killer’s Chattanooga crimes.

Reader’s will develop a list of suspects with strong motives throughout the story. Each suspect is entangled in a strong web of deceit. The drama intensifies at the end, until all is revealed.

I’ve read one other Patricia Bradley book. Each one is accurate, engaging, with strong believable characters. I received a complimentary copy of Counter Attack in exchange for my honest review.

Deadly Target Book 2 Rocky Mt. Courage

This is the third book I’ve read by Elizabeth Goddard. This one delivered dramatic action in an interesting outdoor setting just like the previous novels. The characters were resilient and smart. They had multiple mysteries to solve. As you’re drawn deeper into the plot, these terrifying and near fatal events happen with greater frequency. You wonder how much more these characters can take. Elizabeth Goddard weaves a cross continent trail from sea-to-sea with a layover in Montana for some of the most dramatic action. It’s a breakneck race to the end to see the mystery solved.

The book is second in the Rocky Mountain Courage series and it flows seamlessly from book one. The story is based on the experiences of Erin Larson and Nathan Campbell, who were secondary characters in Book 1 of this series. Erin’s job as a criminal psychologist adds an interesting twist to the plot. Her sideline vocation is broadcasting a podcast on cold cases. She publishes each episode anonymously to protect herself and the identities of those involved.

I found the book well written. The roster of characters is interesting and I appreciated how you never knew for certain exactly who was 100% genuine or a fake with a hidden agenda. I received a print book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. #DeadlyTarget #RockyMountainCourage!