P.D. Martin

I didn't realize this is the second book in a series until I was about half way through it, so I will have to go back and read the first one soon. This has got to be one of the best mystery/suspense books I have read in a LONG time. From the first chapter, I was hooked. I finished this book in record time, staying up until 3am, until my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer.
The plot was very unique and it was interesting how we got just a glimpse of the club via chats. The investigation aspect show more of it was good, too, not giving such detailed information that the story became drowned in cop-speak and procedure. We've all seen cop and law TV shows and movies, we know general procedures. I think getting more computer-centric knowledge of police procedures and tech info was a real highlight for me, since I'm not the most computer-literate person, I needed some things explained to me.
I liked the sexual tension/romance story between Sophie and Darren. Although it didn't really have a conclusion, so I guess I'll have to read the third book to find out :) Also, it would have been nice to see Sophie really accept her "gift" of premonitions by the end. Maybe then she would have seen the twist at the end coming (I actually saw it coming, so I guess I'm psychic...nope, I've just seen way too much Law & Order lol)
Overall, an exciting, suspenseful read. Great plot, good characters. Definitely a I-can't-put-this-book-down mystery. show less

Being a bit of a fan of thriller's, I was very intrigued by PD Martin's HELL'S FURY. Not just because it has a central female protagonist, and there simply aren't enough good, strong female characters in thriller fiction (particularly spy or military style thrillers), but also because there's a very current story thread at the central core - a CIA operative captured by the Taliban, disowned by the CIA, saved with a price to pay for that rescue.

I was possibly less intrigued by the concept of show more "The Committee", being somewhat twitchy about mercenary, outside the law, retribution based story lines. A personal prejudice made somewhat more edgy by the sex trafficking of young children story line, which to be frank, I was a bit twitchy could possibly been seen as a good justification for mercenary activities. HELL'S FURY, however, neatly avoids the traps of those threads, partially because Martin has created some complex backgrounds for her main characters, fudging a lot of the black and white, and partially because "The Committee" aspects are very much in the background.

It also does not hurt one little bit that this is a very fast paced, action packed book, with character depth and a strong, believable female lead who isn't just an energiser bunny. The post-traumatic stress that she is dealing with on a daily basis as a result of her capture and torture by the Taliban creates an interesting arena for Martin to play with. Rather than the dreaded fem-jep scenario, what we sometimes have here is a woman who has to deal with flashbacks, lost moments, recall that impacts at the worst possible times, that doesn't necessarily place her completely in jeopardy, but is something that she has to be aware of, take into account.

All of the operatives actions are supported by a lot of high-tech wizardry, all of which was used with great effect, and came across as very plausible and realistic. There's also some excellent dialogue and interaction between characters, and some nice touches of empathy and genuine compassion. The action mostly takes part in the US, and the book has probably been styled (grammar / spelling etc) with that marketplace in mind, but there should be no concern for readers from any part of the world feeling displaced. Best of all HELL'S FURY seems to be hinting at the possibility of an ongoing series, which I for one am rather hopeful is the case. There's nothing I like more than a personal prejudice being given a bit of a going over by a book like HELL'S FURY.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/hells-fury-p-d-martin show less

FBI profiler Sophie Anderson is visiting a police officer friend on holidays in Arizona when an unidentified body is discovered. As has happened once before in her career Sophie experiences a psychic vision of the victim before his death when she goes to the crime scene with Detective Darren Carter. At the same time as this case progresses readers are treated to transcripts of the discussions of an online club who talk about victim selection and killing techniques in the same off-hand way show more that a knitting club might chat about wool selection.

This is brilliantly constructed novel. So good in fact I can think of some authors I'd like to send copies to with a pithy "this is how you build suspense" post-it stuck to the cover for their edification. The premise and characters are established well and the scene setting is followed by a genuinely edge-of-your-seat ride to an unpredictable climax. There are no extraneous scenes and no frustrating loose ends and the fact that readers know things that the police don't know is handled deftly.

I'm rather surprised that I like Sophie as much as I do because I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to psychic powers but Martin has developed a credible premise and I find myself curious about this element of Sophie's character. The fact that she struggles to accept and use her ability seems very natural and fits in well with the rest of her personality. Also, as she's a solidly trained expert who relies on evidence and all the other traditional methods for catching criminals, I find it much easier to accept the psychic element to crime solving than I do in other fictional cases (such as TV's Medium). The other key characters here are also well developed and have a very natural feel. Darren's support for Sophie developing her gift is particularly well handled. It's interesting (and more than a little creepy) to watch the individual characters of the group of villains be seen via their increasingly evil online chats.

Another point worth mentioning about this book is that it explains relevant investigative techniques and police jargon in a useful and somewhat refreshing way. Many books either assume readers know what all the acronyms and other language mean or prattle on endlessly with an unnecessary level of detail but Martin seems to have got the level of explanation just right with this book.

I was a poor New Years' Eve host last night as I'm sure I gave off 'please get out of my house' vibes because I needed to get back to this book and find out what happened next. What a great way to start my new reading year. show less

First Line: The house is quiet. It's 3:00 a.m.

Aussie transplant Sophie Anderson has been working as an FBI profiler at Quantico for about six months. She's made a home for herself as well as several friends-- especially fellow profiler Samantha Wright. The only thing in her life that she's not sure how to deal with is her psychic ability. When she was a child, she had dreams that presaged the disappearance and murder of her brother. She's had occasional visions and dreams ever since.

Sophie show more may feel uncomfortable with her gift, but she's smart enough to use it in her career. When women begin to die and the media dubs the latest serial killer the "D.C. Slasher", Sophie's unit goes into high gear trying to put together a detailed profile of the killer that will lead to a swift arrest. When Sophie's friend Samantha is abducted, the FBI closes ranks and works desperately to find one of their own before it's too late.

I really enjoyed this book. Martin knows how to plant subtle clues and set a fast pace to keep the suspense cooking. Sophie is a multi-faceted character, and her desperation is palpable as she tries to find her friend Samantha.

I was afraid that Body Count might descend into "fem jep" (the female lead character willingly putting herself into deadly situations), but it didn't. All the female characters were cautious and didn't take silly chances-- especially Sophie and Samantha. Unfortunately they weren't cautious enough for a particularly wily killer.

For readers who prefer a book to be spiced with a bit of romance, there is a touch of that in Body Count, but not enough to bother those who prefer to do without it. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was watching the profilers work to piece clues together in order to identify a killer.

One thing that bothered me a bit was the rather weak portrayal of Tucson. (So weak that I wonder about the author's sources.) And although I slapped my forehead when the Slasher's identity was revealed, it made me wonder if such a person really could stay unidentified for so long.

But both of those things are minor quibbles. I enjoyed the plot, the pace and the characters so much that I'll be continuing on with the series. Sophie is one FBI profiler on whom to keep an eye! show less