Yvonne
I have two great ‘new to me’ books to share with you this week – so let’s get started!
I was invited by the lovely Kelsey, representing ‘Book Publicity Services‘ to read this book, the second in the ‘Pigeon- Blood Red’ trilogy, by author Ed Duncan. I am looking forward to receiving book #3, anytime soon!
THE LAST STRAW – (Pigeon-Blood Red Book #2)
It started with a run-of-the-mill carjacking. An inner-city kid with no priors and no experience with a gun fumbled the ball, and the driver ended up dead.
A teenage girl witnessed the whole thing, and now a target has been placed on her back. The carjacker’s father, a notorious crime boss, is willing to move heaven and earth to prevent her from testifying, even if that means having a hitman kill her.
Richard “Rico” Sanders, the best in the business, was his first choice for the job. But there was a problem. He was a “killer with a conscience” and a killer with a conscience doesn’t murder teenagers. The crime boss reluctantly turns to someone who has no such qualms, John D’Angelo. There was bad blood between him and Rico, so knowing that Rico had passed on the job, he eagerly accepted it.
Rico forms an uneasy alliance with the girl’s lawyer, Paul Elliott, to try and protect her from the hitman. As the long-simmering feud between Rico and John D’Angelo reaches boiling point, bodies start to pile up in rapid succession… and old scores will be settled.
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ED DUNCAN
Ed is a graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University Law School. For more than 37 years, he was a partner and practicing trial lawyer, with a national law firm in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to an occasional trial, he wrote reams of briefs and opinion letters. He specialized in something called “insurance coverage,” which in general meant it was his job to evaluate whether or not a particular accident or loss was, or was not, covered by an insurance policy. In 2008 he wrote an original, highly regarded legal treatise, called “Ohio Insurance Coverage,” but he didn’t count that text as fulfilling his quest to become a published author, since it isn’t fiction, and what he really wanted to do was to write fiction, especially crime fiction.
Originally from Gary, Indiana, Ed now lives outside Cleveland, Ohio
Visit Ed at his website
Follow Ed on Twitter
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“It’s always been said that you should write what you know. I may not have been on the run from an underworld hitman, but I do know law and I’m excited to be able to use that knowledge creatively as well as professionally.”
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My Blog Tour spot in July will be a review of this book, so I need to get my skates on and get reading!
Thanks to the tour organiser, Sarah representing ‘Book On The Bright Side‘ for organising an ARC copy and the folks at Book Funnel for their easy download procedure
TURN TO DUST (Detective Kay Hunter – book #9)
When the body of a naked man is found in the middle of a barren field, Detective Kay Hunter realises the investigation will test her skills to the limit.
With only one clue to the victim’s identity, her inquiries lead her to local charities for war veterans and the homeless – both of which are underfunded and overwhelmed.
Discovering that someone is offering money in return for information about the dead man and anyone connected to him, Kay realises that there is a disturbing and dark side to the victim’s past.
When a key witness disappears from a local temporary shelter, she fears the worst.
Can Kay and her team of detectives find out who is behind the man’s murder before another vulnerable person is targeted?
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RACHEL AMPHLETT
Before turning to writing, Rachel played guitar in bands; worked as a film extra; freelanced in radio as a presenter and producer for the BBC and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and is a bestselling author of crime fiction and spy thrillers, many of which have been translated worldwide, including the ‘Dan Taylor’ espionage novels; the ‘Detective Kay Hunter’ series; and her latest addition on the scene ‘Detective Mark Turpin’.
Her novels are available in eBook, print, large print and audiobook formats from libraries and worldwide retailers.
A keen traveller, Rachel has both EU and Australian citizenship.
Visit Rachel at her website
Follow Rachel on Twitter
Connect with Rachel on Facebook
“In 2016, a story idea popped into my head that would change my life forever. I really didn’t imagine that this new character, detective Kay Hunter, who was haunting my every waking moment would have such a profound effect on everything I do.”
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Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share links to the books that came into their house during the last week. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well, after all you never know where that next “must read” book will come from.
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You’re in for some thrillers. Enjoy.
I have a lot of Blog Tour extracts and reviews coming up over the next few weeks, so I have quite a mix of genres in my reading pile right now. However a good crime / thriller, is always going to catch my eye and I am definitely looking forward to these two!
Thanks for stopping by and Stay Safe 🙂
I hope you find both of these enjoyable, Yvonne. I’m not sure either of them would be for me, although I would try Turn to Dust. Have a good week!
Hi Cath,
I probably agree with you about the ‘Pigeon – Blood Red’ series, although I did enjoy the first book and I am now looking forward to book #3, which is currently in its final edit stages.
I think you might be okay with the Rachel Amphlett series though, as the ‘Kay Hunter’ series, tends more towards the police procedural end of the scale, more along the lines of many of the British television detective series.
It wouldn’t do for us all to enjoy the same thing now, would it? Life would be a bit boring and we would have nothing to talk about! As it is, I often find great new books on your site to add to my own list, which I may not ever have considered, or even come across, on my own 🙂
I hope both books are riveting reads for you, Yvonne! Have a good week and enjoy your reading.
Hi Mary,
Defining thriller in two completely different ways, but I’m certain I shall enjoy them both!
I have some excellent books in my current reading schedule and I shall be sharing the reviews soon.
Thanks for stopping by and Stay Safe 🙂
Can’t beat some good book mail! 🙂 Enjoy!
Hi Nikki,
You still can’t beat that satisfying ‘thump’ as a book package hits the porch floor, however ‘virtual’ mail will do me just fine – especially when they are both authors that I know, and I have read and enjoyed their books before!
Thanks for visiting 🙂
Both of those books look perfect for you. I hope you’re not too distracted to enjoy them right now. Stay safe, Yvonne!
Hi Kathy,
Good days and bad days, just the same as about everyone else I know. The government seem a bit ‘flaky’ now they are having to begin unravelling lockdown, but I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes right now!
I have got myself into a rather tight for time situation, with regards my upcoming Blog Tours and review schedule, so I am grateful for the time at home to sort myself out and establish some kind of order in the chaos!
Not taking on any new books is definitely not an option though, I couldn’t possibly have passed up the chance to read these two belting thrillers!
I hope that all is well with you 🙂
Looks like some good choices for you, Yvonne! I don’t think either will make my TBR since the first looks like something I’d prefer in film version and the second is deep into a well-established series. I think that’s what has stopped me from adding books of hers you’ve featured before.
Hi Kelly,
I did enjoy the first book in the ‘Pigeon-Blood Red’ series, but I do know what you mean about it being suited to a film script, both in the style of dialogue and narrative and the action sequences it contained.
As per usual, I have dipped in and out of the ‘Kay Hunter’ series and have managed to keep up with the backstory. However there are plenty of others out there who find each book too disconnected from the series, if they haven’t read them in order – so the jury is out on that one – although I know which side of the fence you will be on 🙂
Both of these sound entertaining. I particularly find the premise of The Last Straw intriguing.
Have a good week and enjoy your reading!
Hi Martha,
I have previously read and enjoyed the first book in the ‘Pigeon – Blood Red’ series, and Kelsey from Book Publicity Services, assures me that book #3 is on its way very soon!
Some readers say that ‘The Last Straw’ works okay as a stand alone story, whilst others say that reading book #1 first, is preferable but not essential, as this is a gangster style thriller and therefore not difficult to work out who is who and what is what!
I hope that you enjoy the book if you do decide to add it to your own list and thanks for stopping by 🙂