Tag: suspense

Shoot the Breeze (Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery) by Gina LaManna #Review #Giveaway @ginalamanna

Posted on By Dollycas No Comments on Shoot the Breeze (Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery) by Gina LaManna #Review #Giveaway @ginalamanna

This book has been on my To-Be-Read shelf way too long.
When I realized I still needed a book set in Minnesota for my Literary Escape Challenge, it rose straight to the top.
Shoot the Breeze (Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery)
Mystery/Suspense/Police Procedural/Thriller
1st in Series
Setting – Minnesota
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 27, 2020
Print length ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
Paperback ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8644541171
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085PY9K7F
Audiobook ASIN B08CK7X11F
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Welcome to St. Paul, Minnesota—home to strong coffee, deadly winters, and Detective Kate Rosetti—a rising star in the local homicide department.

When a young woman turns up dead along the Mississippi River in her latest assignment, Detective Rosetti quickly realizes it’s the work of a notorious cross-country serial killer. To complicate matters, Kate’s troublemaking sister turns up out of the blue in need of a place to live. A strikingly handsome FBI agent appears at the crime scene, convinced this case belongs to him. And a certain British billionaire is a little too interested in the murder… and in Kate.

As she begins to close in on the killer, the investigation takes a turn for the personal. It’s one riddle after the next, and if Kate can’t sort out the murderer’s identity before his next kill, she’ll be up next on the autopsy table.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Winter in Minnesota can be bitterly cold, and so can a serial killer. A killer who has left his latest victim along the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Detective Kate Rosetti catches the case, but soon Agent Jack Russo of the FBI claims the case is his, but that he is willing to work with Kate and her partner, Detective Jimmy Jones. British billionaire Alastair Gem has a connection to the case and also an interest in Kate.

Soon, the complex case starts hitting way too close to home for Kate. Will she be able to take down the killer? Or will she be their next victim?

Kate Rosetti is a force, a woman you don’t want to mess with. She is strong-willed and can be abrasive, but she is determined to find the truth. You never want to get between her and her caffeine fix, either.  Her partner, Jimmy, is a kind soul and a great cop, holding on until he can retire. He and Kate have a rhythm and understanding. They work well together and look out for each other. Agent Jack Russo crashes onto the scene and into Kate’s case, so the relationship had a rocky start but evolved over the course of the story. Billionaire Alastair Gem is an interesting character with a diverse background and business sense. His relationship with Kate also evolves as the murder mystery plays out. We also meet Kate’s sister, Jane, whose life is in flux but has a surprising twist. Kate’s mother, Annie, owns and operates the Seventh Street Cafe next to the police station. She can be a little over the top, but she brings a lot of humor to the story.

Chasing down a serial killer is not easy, but Kate, Jimmy, and Russo are used to hard cases. The billionaire’s nightclub is the place where most of the clues converge, but they followed every clue wherever it led, which didn’t make the killer happy. When the information finally came through to pin down the killer, Kate finds herself with a door between her and a person she needs to save, and the killer. The way Ms. LaManna plotted out this mystery was excellent. The serial killer was not even on my suspect list. I love it when that happens.

I am mad at myself for not diving into this series when this book was released. Shoot the Breeze gives this series a super start. Kate Rosetti is a protagonist I can get behind and root for. This mystery was well-plotted and written. The frigid winter weather of St. Paul could be felt, almost like another character in the story. I am excited to continue reading this series. Riddle Me This is waiting, not so patiently, on my Kindle Paperwhite. I am going to squeeze it in as soon as I can.

*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

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About the Author

Gina LaManna is a USA Today bestselling author and has written numerous series, including the Magic & Mixology series, the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries, and the Detective Kate Rosetti Mysteries. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, she has called both Italy and Los Angeles home. For more information, visit her on Facebook at @GinaLaMannaAuthor or her website at Gina LaManna.

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*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own. “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

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Guess Again by Charlie Donlea #Review @KensingtonBooks @charliedonlea

Posted on By Dollycas No Comments on Guess Again by Charlie Donlea #Review @KensingtonBooks @charliedonlea


Guess Again
Psychological Suspense Thriller
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496753968
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496753960
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496753984
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLR44W2B
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Silence of the Lambs meets Cruel Summer in GUESS AGAIN, as #1 internationally bestselling author Charlie Donlea dives into the long shadow of trauma on a small town, hybristophilia and the allure of evil, and the toll the truth can take on those who hunt for it…

A missing girl: 17-year-old Callie Jones was the all-American sweetheart of her small Wisconsin community. No one could have guessed that one summer night at her friends’ lake party would be the last time anyone would see her. A highly publicized search followed, but her body was never found. Callie’s case went cold.

A former renegade cop: 10 years ago, Ethan Hall was the detective assigned to Callie’s case. When all leads slipped through his fingers and the trail went cold, Ethan’s guilt led him to leave law enforcement and the trauma of the child crime unit. But now, when Ethan’s former partner requests his help on the 10th anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, Ethan reluctantly agrees to be brought back into the fold.

A twisted killer: Serial killer Francis Bernard was sentenced to life behind bars—but he has no plans to stay locked up in his tiny cell. When cop Ethan Hall turns to him for information on Callie’s case, Francis sees his chance. Twisting him into his psychological web, Ethan thinks he’s safe with Francis locked up, but little does Ethan know, Francis has hands on the outside. And she’s willing to die for him.

A woman with a dangerous obsession: Eugenia Morgan is lucky, she knows some people spend a lifetime trying to find their soulmate, but she’s already got hers. She just has to break him out of prison first…

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Ten years ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones went missing, shocking the small town of Cherryview, Wisconsin, to its core. Ethan Hall and Pete Kramer were the DCI investigators assigned to the case. The state senator’s daughter was last seen at a party on the lake, and even with an intensive search, she was never found, and the case went cold. The case was so heartbreaking and challenging for Ethan that he left law enforcement and returned to school to become an ER doctor, where he felt he could save more lives.

Now, the state senator is the Governor of Wisconsin, there’s a new crew of law enforcement officials, and Pete has been haunted by the case that eluded them; his health is also failing, and now he has requested they take one more look at Callie’s case, and he wants Ethan’s help.

Serial killer Francis Bernard is serving a life sentence at a high-security prison. He claims to have information about Cassie’s disappearance, with hopes to parlay it into better terms for his incarceration. Ethan has a history with the man, but doesn’t know the powder keg he is about to open to get that information.

Mr. Donlea packs punch after punch into the pages of Guess Again and makes this book impossible to put down.

Living in “Prison City,” Wisconsin, I was excited to see places I know within the story. Some of the landmarks and lakes appear to be fictionalized, but feel true to the area. The author knows how to set a scene and make the reader feel like they are right in the room.

Told from several points of view in short, titled chapters, the story unfolds quickly, changing back and forth in time, traveling around the state, without much time to take a breath. With twist after twist, Guess Again is the perfect title. While the entire book is intense, Part VII, Loose Ends, is particularly terrifying and thrilling. Ethan, thinking he is making the right move, turns out to be totally wrong. Edge-of-my-seat chaos had me holding my breath.

Ethan is a true good guy, so it is easy to root for him. His girlfriend, Detective Maddie Jacobson, is twisted up in the case from the start, truly even before it begins, frighteningly and heartbreakingly. Their relationship was tested; it had to be strong to survive, and many would have caved under the turmoil and the pressure. The evidence revealed at the end was mind-blowing for Ethan, and he needed some time, but the final chapters are complete with a cliffhanger, leaving the option wide open to visiting these characters again.

I have Mr. Donlea to thank for my latest book hangover, because I stayed up way too late to finish this gripping suspense thriller. Then I couldn’t get to sleep replaying the story in my head and my imagination working overtime. It’s very easy to say this is one of the best books I have read this year. Guess Again will have everyone second- and third-guessing again and again and hanging on tight to see what happens next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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Credit – Carrianne Photography

About the Author
Charlie Donlea is the USA Today, IndieBound, and #1 internationally bestselling author of critically acclaimed, propulsive thrillers, including The Girl Who Was Taken, Twenty Years Later, Some Choose Darkness, and Those Empty Eyes. Published in nearly 40 countries and translated into more than a dozen languages, his books have sold nearly 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone. Donlea has been praised for his “soaring pace, teasing plot twists” (BookPage) and talent for writing an ending that “makes your jaw drop” (The New York Times Book Review). He was born and raised in Chicago, where he continues to live with his wife and two children. Visit him online at CharlieDonlea.com.

Also by Charlie Donlea

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

 

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No Rest for the Wicked: A Novel by Rachel Louise Adams #Review @MinotaurBooks

Posted on By Dollycas

No Rest for the Wicked: A Novel
Suspense/Thriller
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2025
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250362113
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250362117
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250362124
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DPV2Y6P5
Audiobook ASIN : B0DV7D7V4X
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With an expert hand, Rachel Louise Adams’s debut No Rest for the Wicked reads like an edge of your seat, heart-pounding scary movie.

In one Halloween obsessed Midwestern town, everyone’s on red alert after a local politician goes missing. Little do they know it’s only the beginning.

It’s been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. The town is famous for its Halloween celebrations, but also its history of violent deaths linked to the holiday. To Dolores, it’s the place she fled, family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father–the former mayor turned US Senator–is missing under mysterious circumstances.

Some people count to ten to wake up from a nightmare. Dolores always counts the bones of her head instead: sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. But no matter how many times she counts them, it doesn’t change the fact that her father is missing, that his final words of warning to her were to trust no one, and that now, the rest of her family is giving Dolores a chilling welcome. With Halloween fast approaching, Dolores must face the past she left behind before it’s too late.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Dolores Hawthorne, a forensic pathologist in Los Angeles, receives a call from Special Agent Wyatt Holt with the FBI telling her that her father has been reported missing and there is evidence of foul play. He asks her to return to her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin, to answer questions regarding the case. It’s been nearly 20 years since she left Little Horton, vowing never to return. She has obligations in LA, including a pending divorce, but she and her father had once been very close. She agrees to make the trip while unsure what information she has to contribute.

Little Horton is a town that goes all out for Halloween, bringing tourists from all over. The town also has a reputation for violent deaths connected to the holiday. Is the former mayor and former US Senator now one of those deaths? Or will he be found alive? Delores doesn’t know what kind of reception she will have when she returns home, but she hopes to arrive in time to save her father.

That cover grabbed my attention, and then when I saw it was set in my home state of Wisconsin, I was all in, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Ms. Adams has created characters with depth who continue to evolve as the story continues.  Dolores is well-known in her field, but she ended up in California after a Halloween incident in Wisconsin 18 years ago. She thought she was making a good life for herself, but has been unlucky in any kind of personal relationship. Her job is stressful; heck, her life is stressful. She has an unusual way of calming herself – she counts the bones of her head –    sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. Sadly, it doesn’t work to settle her with all that is happening now. The woman has her flaws and was truly relatable.

Dolores returns home to her stepmother Charlotte and two much younger step-siblings, Archer and Josie. The family dynamic is strained after her long absence and even more so with her father missing. Charlotte was a catalyst for Delores leaving her family behind, bringing tension to every interaction. Her siblings have missed her and want answers that she may not be able to give. Dolores was close to her father, and leaving him was the hardest thing. We are also introduced to FBI agents Wyatt Holt and Paul Turner, and local police officer Kate Butcher. Kate went to school with Delores, and there’s no love lost in that relationship.

The author captures small-town life very well, including a misogynistic police force. Little Horton has a feral cat problem, and Officer Butcher is routinely placed on Operation Cat. I enjoyed the pivotal role she ends up playing in the investigation. Two families basically ruled the town. The Hawthornes and the Lawsons, a politician and a rich business owner. That relationship changed after Delores left, with the two former friends avoiding each other at all costs. Like all small towns, people butt into each other’s business, and gossip is well fed.

Told from several points of view, the dark mystery is well-plotted with twists and turns, and a spooky Halloween theme. There were a variety of theories regarding the disappearance of the former Senator, putting forth a variety of suspects. But then the body count continued to rise, eliminating suspect after suspect. The suspense started to hit a fever pitch with scary and heartwrenching scenes. Then there was the final twist, and it was epic. Totally unexpected. I was gobsmacked.

Now, back to that cover. Looks are deceiving. I get it, black cats go with Halloween, but the cats in this story are not witches’ familiars or another Halloween trope. Little Horton has a feral feline problem, and the fate of those felines wasn’t good.

No Rest for the Wicked is a fast-paced, thrilling read, deftly plotted with well-developed characters. It is hard to believe this is Rachel Louise Adams’ debut in the literary world. She is definitely an author to watch. I am eager to see what she pens next. This one was an enjoyable getaway. 4 Stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About the Author

From Amazon

RACHEL LOUISE ADAMS was raised in a small town in Brittany by a French father and a North American mother. After studying literature at university, she wrote her PhD thesis on American fast foods and meat-eating. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found advocating for animal rights, spending time with her fiancé, her friends, and her two cats.
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“As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

 

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The Lake Escape: A Novel by Jamie Day #Review @StMartinsPress

Posted on By Dollycas

This book will be available on Tuesday, July 15th!

The Lake Escape: A Novel
Domestic Thriller
Setting – Vermont
Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin’s Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 15, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250358191
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250358196
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CXMD9J3W
Audiobook ASIN B0DFRF4G1Q
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The next riveting summer suspense by the author of THE BLOCK PARTY and ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, Jamie Day.

WILL THIS BE THE BEST WEEK OF THEIR LIVES… OR THE LAST?

JULIA, DAVID, AND ERIKA grew up together spending summers at their idyllic Vermont lake homes for as long as they can remember. Now adults— with their own sullen teens, endless mortgages, and low-voltage sex lives— the three friends have amassed secrets over the years.

This summer, David is eager to show off his newly renovated home—which now blocks his friends’ cherished lake views—and his much-younger girlfriend. He also, unwittingly, brings a nanny with a hidden agenda. What could possibly go wrong?

When David’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a shouting match, Julia and Erika wonder just how well they know their lifelong friend. The lake harbors a harrowing past: two young women, with no known connection, vanished without a trace thirty years ago. Did the lake take another?

As a search is mounted, an intricate web of lies, deceits, and betrayals spanning generations starts to surface, and everyone finds themselves in danger of becoming the next victim. Of the lake, or something darker.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Julia, David, and Erika, ‘”the Lake Gang”, have had many happy days spending summers with their parents on Lake Timmeny in Vermont. Now they bring their own children to spend a couple of weeks together each summer.

This year, when Julia arrives, she sees that David has built a huge monstrosity where his family’s cabin used to be, blocking the lake view from both her and Erika’s cabins. When he arrives he is pretty cocky about his renovation and his new “lady of the moment”. He also has a young new nanny in tow to take care of his five-year-old twins.

Erika arrives with her husband and son; she is unusually quiet about the massive multi-windowed structure blocking the lake. Julia wants to know why, but the three have accumulated many secrets over the years, so she assumes there is a lot more to the story.

Lake Timmeny has a tragic history. “The lake takes them.” Two young women have “vanished” 30 years apart, and now it has been another 30 years. So when David’s new girlfriend vanishes after a very public disagreement, everyone wonders if the lake has taken another. While a comprehensive search is organized and carried out, secrets start to be revealed that go back for generations. Lies. Betrayal. Deceit. Danger lurks. Will the Lake Gang survive the summer?

Three couples, two teenagers, 2 five-year-olds, and their nanny on a summer vacation. What could go wrong? Everything!

Ms. Day has written a complex story featuring complicated characters who all have secrets now in their daily lives that are compounded by what takes place and revealed over a very short timeframe. At times, I felt I needed a scorecard to keep track of everything. Her characters are very interesting, so it is easy to get caught up in everything they are going through.

The lake’s history was intriguing for this mystery lover, and an elderly woman who lives on the lake year-round not only stole my heart but was the key to disclosing so much of that history. Hold on, though, there is so much more to sink our teeth into as memories are tested and secrets are divulged. Layers are peeled away, a little too slowly at times, but some epic twists ratcheted up the tension and suspense in all the right places. Being told from two points of view, I was totally pulled into this story. There is family drama to the max in ways I couldn’t imagine. The ending was elaborate, intricate, and satisfying. I would have liked a little more action instead of explanations, but it still worked for me.

The Lake Escape takes readers on a wild ride as each character’s journey intersects in numerous ways. This is Ms. Day’s third venture of domestic suspense following her debut, The Block Party, and then One Big Happy Family, last year, each time upping her game. Words of wisdom from Julia: “Be in the moment. Relax and enjoy. Don’t try to control, just let it roll.” That was from Chapter 7. Boy, did things roll from there. If you are looking for your next summer read, this one will have you feeling like you are right there at the lake, witnessing all the drama these families serve up. A strong 4.5 stars and an Enjoyable Escape.

*There is some explicit language.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About the Author

Jamie Day lives in one of those picture-perfect, coastal New England towns you see in the movies. And just like the movies, Jamie has two children and an adorable dog to fawn over. When not writing or reading, Jamie enjoys yoga, the ocean, cooking, and long walks on the beach with the dog, or the kids, or sometimes both.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

 

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