Tom Threadgill

First I have to say I love, love, love main character Amara Alvarez and am thrilled that she will be returning in another novel! Okay, I got that out of the way and can say that I really, really liked Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill. Besides the very funny, sometimes quirky, and normal law enforcement types that populate the pages, Collision of Lies is a page-turner full of twists and turns and a lot of please don’t go there — oh you did! No, this book isn’t graphic, but it show more doesn’t sugarcoat the evil that men will stoop to. Police work is the key to the investigation, so if you like that sort of thing, this novel is for you. The cop vibe is strong, but in a very credible way. There were a few things I did find less than credible, but they heightened the suspense, so perfectly allowable. Amara is a fabulous character — intuitive, empathetic, and kick-butt. I cannot wait to see where she will go next. The book is pure suspense, but there may be a bit of romance down the line.

Great plot, characters, and action — Collision of Lies has it all! It is highly recommended!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Amara Alvarez, author Tom Threadgill’s kickbutt detective, is back in Network of Deceit, and is this a good one! Amara is new to San Antonio’s homicide division and eager to tackle her first case. And it’s a puzzler. I loved how Amara works through the case and gets down to the facts. Her style is part dogged police work/part intuition, a good combo for a case that may not really be a case. Amara is a wonderfully complex character. She loves her job and her family and has all the angst show more of keeping things balanced. Her personal life takes a backseat, but she is re-examining that in light of her relationship with Starsky, another detective. It’s a fledgling relationship, but coming along nicely for those who like a little romance thrown in. Family concerns are also keeping Amara a little off-kilter. The case is serious, but Threadgill inserts just the right amount of humor to keep the characters human, if you know what I mean. Amara and the rest are true-to-life, not superheroes or arch villains, but dedicated men and women vs. smart criminals with flaws and vulnerabilities. Although the reader discovers whodunit along with Amara, the ending has a big twist I did not see coming — a big plus in my book.

Network of Deceit is book 2 in a series which just keeps getting better as it progresses. That’s saying a lot, because book 1, Collision of Lies, made my best of 2020 list. This novel will definitely be on the best of 2021 list. I can’t wait see what Threadgill has in store for Amara in upcoming releases.

Highly Recommended

Audience: adults

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

'Network of Deceit', Tom Threadgill's second 'starring' San Antonio PD's Amanda Alvarez. is a tightly plotted procedural that's fast paced and covers some timely topics. The writing moves the story along quickly and the author shows a nice touch in developing his characters.

Detective Alvarez is new to her role and isn't particularly welcome in it among her peers, who feel she received an undeserved promotion. As a newbie, she isn't given the most challenging assignments, so it's no surprise show more when she's sent to see the medical examiner about the suspicious death of a teen at a local water park. On first glance, it appears to be pretty cut and dried, but the ME's suspicions turn out to be well-founded and it appears the young man was murdered. Alvarez gains an ally in 'Starsky', a male detective who's pretty much her only friend in the department, and they begin the hard investigative work. When a stack of cash is discovered in the deceased teen's room, it becomes apparent that the young man may have been involved in extracurricular activities that contributed to his demise. Since 3 friends were at the water park with him on the day he died, Alvarez and Starsky begin the process of mining them for information, additionally tapping into the CCTV resources available at the park.

Concurrently, Alvarez's mother faces significant health challenges that begin to affect both the detective's work and her down time. She leans on Starsky's for support and is able to balance her family connections with her important police work. The situation with her mother, I felt, was one of the strongest subplots of the book, humanizing Alvarez and allowing her to step outside her otherwise laser focus on solving the crime at hand. With all that going on, progress is eventually made and the conclusion is a rather tricky one.

Network of Deceit is a fine procedural with a strong lead character that has the potential to go far. The writing is solid and the dialogue is realistic, and although I had a couple questions along the way about technical issues I felt overall the computer-related topics were handled pretty well. The author's ability to maintain interest and realism while avoiding strong language, sex, and violence is to be commended.

I was provided a pre-publication copy of Network of Deceit by the publisher in exchange for this honest review. show less

I like how the author quickly captures the reader’s attention by dropping them in the same room with Detective Alvarez who is watching a security tape, “How long could a human being scream? Three times through the video so far and Amara’s appreciation for the woman’s lung capacity grew with each viewing.”

This is book two in a series featuring Amara Alvarez. I did not read book one, and I did not feel lost as the author does a great job of having readers get to know Alvarez off and show more on the job through her co-workers and family. The novel reminded me of the TV series Blue Bloods, which shows cops/detectives as real people fighting crime and how their families deal with a loved one being in this line of work.

Alvarez heads to the water park because something bothers her about these teens who at first glance appear to be ordinary kids from different high schools…”None of them had accounts on social media.… But four teenagers who weren’t active online was beyond interesting.” She had to take a closer look.

I enjoyed the authors well timed-humor, and the relationship Alvarez has with co-worker Starsky. Amara heads to Cannonball water park to check out the crime scene when Starsky calls. He wants to join her, Amara says, “No” ... “I’ll only be here a couple of hours. Wait Is this an excuse to see me in my swimsuit?”

“There’s no right answer to that, is there? But I’d go with a strong maybe.”…”No. Absolutely not. If I see you here, no dinner tonight. No dinner ever. You listening, Starsky? I mean it.”

“Just trying to help,” he said. “A tall, pasty redhead in a Speedo would do a lot to deflect attention from you. Let you look over the place without being bothered.”

I was fascinated by the complexity of these relatable characters and the intricate web these young people weave as they think they have pulled off the perfect crime.

This is the first book I have read by this author it will not be the last. This is an intriguing read and one I took my time to enjoy. It would work well for your book club experience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org show less