Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

#BookReview The Edge by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #TheEdge #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Edge by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #TheEdge #GCPInsider Title: The Edge

Author: David Baldacci

Series: The 6:20 Man #2

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Nov. 14, 2023

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 416

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

The 6:20 Man is back, dropped by his handlers into a small coastal town in Maine to solve the murder of a CIA agent who knew America’s dirtiest secrets—can Travis Devine uncover the truth before his time runs out?
 
When CIA operative Jenny Sikwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. In need of someone who can solve the murder quickly and retrieve the missing information, the U.S. government knows just the chameleon they can call on.
 
Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, followed by his short-lived business career chasing shadows in the deepest halls of power, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets and Devine finds himself an outsider again.
 
Devine must ingratiate himself with locals who have trusted each other their whole lives, and who distrust outsiders just as much. Dak, Jenny’s brother, who’s working to revitalize the town. Earl, the retired lobsterman who found Jenny’s body. And Alex, Jenny’s sister with a dark past of her own. As Devine gets to know the residents of Potter, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. There’s a long history of secrets and those who will stop at nothing to keep them from being exposed. Leaving Devine with no idea who he can trust… and who wants him dead.


Review:

Dark, meticulous, and menacing!

The Edge is a fast-paced, addictive thriller that sees Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine heading to Maine to investigate the death of CIA operative Jenny Sikwell, but while it seems at first glance to be a straightforward case of murder, it quickly becomes apparent that something a lot more sinister is underway that has strong ties to the past and a ruthlessly vicious event that occurred more than decade ago.

The writing is edgy and crisp. The characters are secretive, multilayered, and persistent. And the plot is an intense, mysterious tale filled with twists, turns, mayhem, deception, suspicious personalities, lies, secrets, tragic loss, and murder.

David Baldacci has written some amazing characters over the years that I’ve absolutely loved, like Will Robbie and Jessica Reel, and now Travis Devine has easily joined that list. The Edge is a riveting, pacey, action-packed thrill ride that has just the right amount of suspense, well-drawn characterization, and creative storyline to make it a satisfying, highly entertaining addition to The 6:20 Man series that I honestly can’t get enough of.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown @sandrabrown_NYT @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #SandraBrown #OutofNowhere #GrandCentralPub #HBGCanada

#BookReview Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown @sandrabrown_NYT @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #SandraBrown #OutofNowhere #GrandCentralPub #HBGCanada Title: Out of Nowhere

Author: Sandra Brown

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Aug. 1, 2023

Genres: Mystery/Thriller, Romantic Suspense

Pages: 417

Format: Hardcover

Source: HBG Canada

Book Rating: 10/10

#1  New York Times  bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a fast-paced, emotional thriller where the lives of a young mother and a high-rolling consultant collide under devastating circumstances—culminating in a desperate manhunt that will change their futures forever.
 
At a Texas county fair, amidst carousels and a bustling midway, children’s book author Elle Portman is enjoying a rare night out with her favorite her two-year-old son, Charlie. But just as they’re about to head home, the unthinkable a shooter opens fire into the crowd, causing widespread panic to erupt all around them.

Also caught in the melee was corporate consultant Calder Hudson. Arrogant, self-centered, and high off his latest career win, he’s frustrated and confused when he wakes up in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery on his arm.  The doctor tells him that he was lucky—that as far as gunshot wounds go, he pulled through remarkably well.  Others weren’t so lucky, which instills in Calder a furious determination to get justice . . . a goal shared by Elle.

Their chance encounter at the police station leads to a surprising and inexplicable gravitation to one another, but even as the attraction grows, Elle and Calder can’t help but wonder if the unimaginable tragedy that brought them together is too painful and too complicated to sustain—especially while the shooter remains at large.


Review:

Adrenaline-pumping, riveting, and twisty!

Out of Nowhere is a well-executed, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Elle Portman, a hardworking, single mother who, after her worst nightmare comes true, finds herself consistently in the company of the handsome, successful Calder Hudson when it quickly becomes apparent they’re both still in the crosshairs of a relentless, highly motivated killer.

The writing is tight and intense. The characters are vulnerable, resilient, and resourceful. And the plot is a cat-and-mouse game full of twists, turns, friendship, deception, desire, temptation, attraction, dangerous situations, red herrings, suspicious personalities, romance, violence, and murder.

Overall, Out of Nowhere is another action-packed, sinister, highly satisfying page-turner by Brown that had the perfect amount of suspense and romance to not only keep me invested, engaged, guessing, and entertained from start to finish but also more than happy to devour it in only one sitting.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to HBG Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown is the author of sixty-nine New York Times bestsellers, including the #1 Seeing Red. There are over eighty million copies of her books in print worldwide, and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. She lives in Texas.

 

Photograph courtesy of grandcentralpublishing.com.

#BookReview The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle @mikegayle @GrandCentralPub #TheMuseumofOrdinaryPeople #MikeGayle #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle @mikegayle @GrandCentralPub #TheMuseumofOrdinaryPeople #MikeGayle #GCPInsider Title: The Museum of Ordinary People

Author: Mike Gayle

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on May 30, 2023

Genres: General Fiction

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she’s ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.  As she sorts through a lifetime of memories, everything comes to a halt when she comes across something she just can’t part with: an old set of encyclopedias.  To the world, the books are outdated and ready to be recycled.  To Jess, they represent love and the future that her mother always wanted her to have. 

In the process of finding the books a new home, Jess discovers an unusual archive of letters, photographs, and curious housed in a warehouse and known as the Museum of Ordinary People.  Irresistibly drawn, she becomes the museum’s unofficial custodian, along with the warehouse’s mysterious owner.  As they delve into the history of objects in their care, they not only unravel heart-stirring stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long-buried secrets that lie closer to home.

Inspired by an abandoned box of mementos, The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant novel about memory and loss, the things we leave behind, and the future we create for ourselves.  


Review:

Thoughtful, tender, and heart-tugging!

The Museum of Ordinary People is a sweet, poignant tale that takes you into the life of the kind, considerate Jess Baxter as her world gets suddenly turned upside down when, while she is still struggling to come to grips with the loss of her mother, she discovers an extraordinary place that takes and safely stores all those precious things that to most may seem like just trash but to others are layered in memories and love, and where together with the new owner, Alex Brody, she begins to uncover new purpose, passion, long-buried secrets, and unconditional friendships.

The writing is nostalgic and heartfelt. The characters are authentic, dependable, and supportive. And the plot is a delightfully engaging mix of life, loss, family, friendship, kindness, honesty, acceptance, generosity, romance, humour, introspection, grief, loneliness, and love.

Overall, The Museum of Ordinary People is a sweet, moving, uplifting tale by Gayle that does a brilliant job once again of highlighting his exceptional ability to create genuine, relatable characters and unique, memorable storylines that thoroughly enchant from start to finish.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Mike Gayle

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. After earning a Sociology degree, he moved to London to become a journalist and ended up as an advice columnist for a teenage girls’ magazine before becoming Features Editor for another teen magazine. He has written for a variety of publications including the Sunday Times, the Guardian, and Cosmo. Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 and has written thirteen novels, which have been translated into more than thirty languages. After stints in London and Manchester, Mike now resides in Birmingham with his wife, two kids, and a rabbit.

#BookReview Simply Lies by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #SimplyLies #GCPInsider

#BookReview Simply Lies by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #SimplyLies #GCPInsider Title: Simply Lies

Author: David Baldacci

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Apr. 18, 2023

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 432

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

A twisting new psychological thriller in which two women—one a former detective, the other a dangerous con artist—go head-to-head in an electrifying game of cat and mouse.

Mickey Gibson, single mother and former detective, leads a hectic life similar to that of many moms: juggling the demands of her two small children with the tasks of her job working remotely for ProEye, a global investigation company that hunts down wealthy tax and credit cheats.

When Mickey gets a call from a colleague named Arlene Robinson, she thinks nothing of Arlene’s unusual request for her to go inventory the vacant home of an arms dealer who cheated ProEye’s clients and fled. That is, until she arrives at the mansion to discover a dead body in a secret room—and that nothing is as it seems.

Not only does the arms dealer not exist but the murder victim turns out to be Harry Lancaster, a man with mob ties who used to be in Witness Protection. What’s more, no one named Arlene Robinson works at ProEye.

In the blink of an eye, Gibson has become a prime suspect in a murder investigation—and now her job is also on the line until she proves that she was set up. Before long, Gibson is locked in a battle of wits with a brilliant woman with no name, a hidden past, and unknown motives—whose end game is as mysterious as it is deadly.


Review:

Captivating, intelligent, and well-crafted!

Simply Lies is an elaborately plotted, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Mickey Gibson, a former police officer, now data analyst and single mother of two whose monotonous life is suddenly turned upside down when she finds herself embroiled in the investigation of a murdered man with a dark, devious, dangerous past when she is deceptively sent out to inventory the contents of a vacant estate.

The writing is sharp and tight. The characters are persistent, resourceful, and multilayered. And the plot, including all the subplots, seamlessly intertwine and unravel into a gripping tale full of twists, turns, surprises, revelations, manipulation, abuse, vengeance, mischief, mayhem, and murder.

Overall, Simply Lies is an exceptionally menacing, intricately woven, highly entertaining mystery that has a nice amount of suspense, good character development, and great pace. It’s currently a standalone novel by Baldacci, but something tells me this could quickly turn out to be another must-read series I need to add to my list.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview I Will Find You by Harlan Coben @harlancoben @GrandCentralPub #IWillFindYou #HarlanCoben #GrandCentralPub #GCPInsider

#BookReview I Will Find You by Harlan Coben @harlancoben @GrandCentralPub #IWillFindYou #HarlanCoben #GrandCentralPub #GCPInsider Title: I Will Find You

Author: Harlan Coben

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Mar. 14, 2023

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 400

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive, and must break out of prison to find out the truth in #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s latest breathtaking thriller.

David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son.

Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It’s David’s son, Matthew, and he’s still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible–save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.


Review:

Riveting, thrilling, and suspenseful!

I Will Find You is an unpredictable, menacing tale that takes you into the life of David Burroughs, a father incarcerated for the past five years for killing his three-year-old son Matthew, but when a visit from his former sister-in-law opens the door to the possibility his son might still be alive, David will do whatever it takes, even break out of prison, in order to try and find him.

The writing is sharp and tight. The characters are tormented, resourceful, and determined. And the plot is an intense, mysterious tale filled with twists, turns, mayhem, coercion, politics, power, obsession, lies, secrets, deception, and murder.

Overall, I Will Find You had everything I’ve come to expect in a Harlan Coben novel and more. It’s an intricate, gripping, exceptionally twisty thrill ride that, in my opinion, is a must-read for anyone who enjoys an edge-of-your-seat, action-packed thriller.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

                

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is a #1 NewYorkTimes bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries, with seventy-five million books in print worldwide. His Myron Bolitar series has earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many of his books have been developed into Netflix series, including his adaptation of The Stranger, headlined by Richard Armitage, and The Woods. He lives in New Jersey.

Photo by Claudio Marinesco.

#BookReview The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton @andrewmortonuk @GrandCentralPub #TheQueenHerLife #AndrewMorton #GrandCentralPub

#BookReview The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton @andrewmortonuk @GrandCentralPub #TheQueenHerLife #AndrewMorton #GrandCentralPub Title: The Queen: Her Life

Author: Andrew Morton

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Nov. 15, 2022

Genres: Nonfiction

Pages: 448

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

#1 New York Times bestselling biographer Andrew Morton provides the definitive, most comprehensive account of Queen Elizabeth II’s legendary reign. 

Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor’s personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne—embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and queen.

Ascending to the throne at only 25, this self-effacing monarch navigated endless setbacks, family conflict, and occasional triumphs throughout her 70 years as the Queen of England. As her mettle was tested, she endeavored to keep the monarchy relevant culturally, socially, and politically, often in the face of resistance from inside the institution itself. And yet the greatest challenges she faced were often inside her own family, forever under intense scrutiny; from rumors about her husband’s infidelity, her sister’s marital breakdown, Princess Diana’s tragic death, to the recent departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Now in The Queen, renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth was a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain, and one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era.


Review:

Detailed, informative, and compelling!

The Queen: Her Life is the honest, fascinating biography of Elizabeth Windsor, from her carefree childhood, blissful marriage, unexpected ascension to the throne in her mid-twenties, to her stoic, dependable seventy-year rule through wars, scandals, and challenges.

The writing is comprehensive and rich. The characters are loyal, dedicated, and hardworking. And the novel is an intriguing look into the life of an amazing woman who ultimately stood by her promise to dedicate her whole life to the service of her people.

Overall, The Queen: Her Life is a well-researched, insightful, nostalgic read by Morton that is ultimately a lovely, candid look into the life of a remarkable human being, the late Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, that you don’t need to be a royal admirer to truly appreciate or revere.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

                

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Andrew Morton

Andrew Morton studied history at the University of Sussex, England, with a focus on aristocracy and the 1930s. Morton has written biographies featuring the British Royal Family as well as celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Madonna. His bestselling biography of Princess Diana, Diana: Her True Story, met with international acclaim as “the closest we will ever come to her autobiography.”

Photograph courtesy of GCP Website.

#BookReview The Perfect Assassin by James Patterson & Brian Sitts @JP_Books @GrandCentralPub #JamesPatterson #ThePerfectAssassin #DocSavage #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Perfect Assassin by James Patterson & Brian Sitts @JP_Books @GrandCentralPub #JamesPatterson #ThePerfectAssassin #DocSavage #GCPInsider Title: The Perfect Assassin

Author: James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Nov. 15, 2022

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 336

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Prof. Brandt Savage—grandson of the legendary action hero Doc Savage—is forced into a top-secret training program where he discovers his true calling…as the perfect assassin.
 
Dr. Brandt Savage is on sabbatical from the University of Chicago. Instead of doing solo fieldwork in anthropology, the gawky, bespectacled PhD finds himself enrolled in a school where he is the sole pupil. His professor, “Meed,” is demanding. She’s also his captor. 
 
Savage emerges from their intensive training sessions physically and mentally transformed, but with no idea why he’s been chosen, and how he’ll use his fearsome abilities. Then his first mission with Meed takes them back to her own training ground, where Savage learns how deeply entwined their two lives have been. To prevent a new class of killers from escaping this harsh place where their ancestors first fought to make a better world, they must pledge anew : Do right to all, and wrong to no one.     

Review:

Thrilling, fierce, and action-packed!

The Perfect Assassin is a gripping, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Dr. Brandt Savage, a professor of anthropology whose planned sabbatical takes an unusual turn when he is kidnapped off the street by the enigmatic Meed and is schooled in the fine art of assassination.

The prose is taut and intense. The characters are complex, intelligent, and resourceful. And the plot using flashbacks and multiple POVs is a riveting tale of twists, turns, espionage, passion, intrigue, tension, terrorism, violence, corruption, elite training, and murder.

Overall, The Perfect Assassin is another successful collaboration by Patterson that features lots of different locales, sexual chemistry, battles, action, and adventure. It keeps you invested, engaged, and on the edge of your seat from the very first page, and if you can suspend disbelief for a little while, you will certainly be satisfied and highly entertained.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About James Patterson

JAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 385 million copies worldwide. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past two decades - the Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels - and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand- alone thrillers.

Photo courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

#BookReview Livid by Patricia Cornwell @1pcornwell @GrandCentralPub #PatriciaCornwell #Livid #KayScarpetta #GCPInsider

#BookReview Livid by Patricia Cornwell @1pcornwell @GrandCentralPub #PatriciaCornwell #Livid #KayScarpetta #GCPInsider Title: Livid

Author: Patricia Cornwell

Series: Kay Scarpetta #26

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Oct. 25, 2022

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

In this thrilling new installment of Patricia Cornwell’s #1 bestselling series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself a reluctant star witness in a sensational televised murder trial causing chaos in Old Town Alexandria with the threat of violent protests.

Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has just inherited one of the most notorious cases of her career. Two years ago, a former beauty queen’s body washed up on the shore of Wallops Island, Virginia. She was last seen on a boat with her fiancé, who has since been held in jail while awaiting trial.

Scarpetta must act as the expert witness for the case—an investigation previously botched by another forensic pathologist. After a grueling cross-examination by the prosecutor, Scarpetta leaves the court only to discover that the sister of the judge on her case has been found dead.

Scarpetta ultimately finds herself facing a powerful, invisible enemy who’s planning the unthinkable.


Review:

Intricate, menacing, and sophisticated!

In this twenty-sixth instalment in the Kay Scarpetta series, Livid, Cornwell has written an ominous thriller that sees Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta not only testifying in the April Tupelo volatile trial but also investigating the bizarre murder of CIA employee Rachael Stanwyck, sister of her close friend Judge Annie Chilton, that as it unfolds also seems strangely connected to a failed assassination attempt on the President, the brutal murder of a beloved local market owner and the suicide of a Tidewater medical examiner.

The writing is descriptive and brisk. The characters are intuitive, knowledgeable, and persistent. And the plot is a well-paced, cleverly plotted tale full of mischief, mayhem, coercion, corruption, criminal behaviours, dangerous endeavours, crime scene analysis, secrets, deduction, lies, terrorists, and murder.

Overall, Livid is another action-packed, intriguing, sinister tale by Cornwell that I am sure will be a solid, satisfying, entertaining read for any long-standing fans of the series.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

                

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Patricia Cornwell

In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventures—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development. Today, Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and three other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano, Andy Brazil, and Captain Callie Chase. In recent years, Cornwell has been researching space-age technologies at NASA facilities, the U.S. Space Force, and Secret Service. She’s visited Scotland Yard and Interpol, always keeping up with what’s current. Cornwell was born in Miami. She grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston.

Photo Credit: Patrick Ecclesine

#BookReview Long Shadows by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #LongShadows #AmosDecker #HBGCanada #GCPInsider

#BookReview Long Shadows by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #LongShadows #AmosDecker #HBGCanada #GCPInsider Title: Long Shadows

Author: David Baldacci

Series: Amos Decker #7

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Oct. 11, 2022

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 448

Format: Hardcover

Source: HBG Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

From the author of The 6:20 Man, “Memory Man” Amos Decker—an FBI consultant with perfect recall—delves into a bewildering double homicide in this new thriller in David Baldacci’s #1 New York Times bestselling series.
 
When Amos Decker is called to South Florida to investigate a double homicide, the case appears straightforward: A federal judge and her bodyguard have been found dead, the judge’s face sporting a blindfold with two eye holes crudely cut out, a clear sign that she’d made one too many enemies over her years on the bench.
 
What at first seems cut and dry is anything but: Not only did the judge have more enemies than Decker can count—from violent gang members, drug dealers, and smugglers to a resentful ex-husband—but the bodyguard presents additional conundrums that muddy the waters even further. Who was the real target in this vicious attack?
 
Meanwhile, Decker must contend with a series of unsettling changes, including a new partner—Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White—and a devastating event that brings Decker’s own tragic past back to the present . . . and forces him to reckon with his future. As potential witnesses start disappearing, Decker and White are inexorably pulled down a twisted tunnel of secrets, crimes, and scandal—at the end of which lies Decker’s deadliest threat yet.


Review:

Charged, tight, and propulsive!

In this seventh instalment in the Amos Decker series, Long Shadows, Baldacci has written an ominous, unpredictable thriller that sees FBI Consultant Amos Decker heading to Florida with his new partner, the reluctant Special Agent Frederica White, to investigate the complex murder of a federal judge and her bodyguard that may actually end up involving two different killers, a lot of blackmail, and a secret from the past that someone is willing to protect at all costs.

The writing is meticulous and crisp. The characters are multilayered, scarred, and reliable. And the plot is a sinister tale full of twists, turns, intrigue, action, greed, power, passion, corruption, obsession, duplicity, violence, and murder.

Overall, Long Shadows is another addictive, thrilling, gripping addition to one of my favourite series with its flawed, intriguing characters, dark, intricate storyline, and consistent sense of urgency that I can never get enough of.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

                

 

 

Thank you to HBG Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview The Last Hours in Paris by Ruth Druart @grandcentralpub #RuthDruart #TheLastHoursinParis #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Last Hours in Paris by Ruth Druart @grandcentralpub #RuthDruart #TheLastHoursinParis #GCPInsider Title: The Last Hours in Paris

Author: Ruth Druart

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Jul. 19, 2022

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 448

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 10/10

“Words are power. They can bring you down, lift you up, make your heart soar, make you fall in love. Or make you hate.”

Paris 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love . . . and to hate. Her fiancé, a young French soldier, was killed by the German army at the Maginot Line. Living amongst the enemy, Elise must keep her rage buried deep within.

Sebastian Kleinhaus no longer recognizes himself. Forced to join the Third Reich and wear a uniform he despises, he longs for a way out. For someone, anyone, to be his salvation.

Brittany 1963. Reaching for the suitcase under her mother’s bed, eighteen-year-old Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth, she travels to Paris where she learns the story of a forbidden love as a city fought for its freedom. Of the last stolen hours before the first light of liberation. And of a betrayal so deep that it would irrevocably change the course of two young lives life forever.


Review:

Charged, poignant, and absorbing!

The Last Hours in Paris is a passionate, moving tale set in France during 1944, as well as 1963 that takes you into the lives of Elise Chevalier and Sebastian Kleinhaus, two people from different backgrounds whose forbidden love will risk their safety, freedom, and ultimately change their lives forever.

The prose is eloquent and polished. The characters are courageous, driven, and resilient. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine seamlessly into an alluring tale of life, loss, family, tragedy, desperation, secrets, danger, friendship, parenthood, separation, survival, war, and love.

Overall, The Last Hours in Paris is a rich, evocative, heart-wrenching novel by Druart that grabs you from the very first page and is sure to be a big hit with historical fiction lovers everywhere. It is undoubtedly one of my favourite novels of the year, and just like her previous novel, While Paris Slept, I highly recommend it.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Ruth Druart

Ruth Druart grew up on the Isle of Wight, leaving at eighteen to study psychology. In 1993 she moved to Paris, the city that inspired her to write While Paris Slept. There she pursued a career in international education and raised three sons with her French husband. She recently left her teaching position, so she can write full time while running her writing group in Paris.

Photo courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.