M A Comley

This is the prequel to a series I was thinking of starting so thought I’d grab it to bring me up to speed. I’m so glad I did but probably not for the reason you think.

I am clearly in the minority according to the ratings but if you require even a shred of believability in your police procedurals, walk away.
This is a shortie that introduces DS Alex Fox. She’s part of a team hunting for a psychopathic killer who has horribly mutilated & murdered 10 women. The investigation has stalled show more when the news comes in another woman has been snatched…..Alex’s sister.

So I’m thinking this should be right up my alley. Um….no. I’ll list a few reasons below that may be dangerously close to spoiler territory so just a heads up.

First, the dialogue. It’s stiff & came across as written by non-Brits trying to fit in what they considered to be British vernacular. There’s a lot of “tut tut”, stiff upper lip stuff. When Alex learns of her sister’s abduction she threatens to track the killer down (uh….thought you are already on that) and “no one is going to effing stop me”. That’s not me cleaning up her potty mouth….that’s an actual quote. This despite the frequent use of “fuck” throughout the story.
Her colleague Bob stops just short of offering to make her tea but does repeatedly admonish her to “stay positive” because “negativity isn’t going to solve this case”. If Bob were my colleague, he’d be sporting a shiner.

With the many errors in police procedure, it’s no mystery why this guy is still on the loose. Only after Alex’s sister is snatched do they look at where the 10 victims were abducted from, where they were dumped & notice a pattern. I’m sorry…what? This is explained by a character saying “it’s an area we we haven’t really covered”. By the way, most of the women are spouses of cops. I’m thinking the rest of the force would be suitably motivated to have noticed this little nugget of info after finding TEN BODIES. And after stumbling across the latest crime scene, the first thing Alex does is completely contaminate it.

Then you have the bog standard DI who is arrogant, misogynist & perpetually dyspeptic because there are living, breathing women on his team. His dialogue is so OTT that it’s funny although I don’t think that’s what the authors were shooting for.

So yes, I’m grateful I picked this up. If I’d had to read a full length book, I might have become effing violent. show less

This gripping psychological thriller captured my attention from the beginning with Lucy’s insecurities and talk of a secret that comes back to haunt her.

Lucy has a tragic past that has kept her isolated for several years. Only her best friend Trisha knows the truth…or so she thought. When Lucy meets socialite Matthew Wallander they fall in love quickly to his family’s dismay. Eventually, people dear to her are in danger, a man with a limp is stalking her, and threatening notes are show more being left in random locations stating that someone knows the truth. As Lucy’s terror grows, she is afraid to tell Matthew the truth. What if he doesn’t understand?

I had some issues with Lucy’s decisions, but I was proud of her for standing up to Matthew’s overbearing mother and ghastly brother. Matthew is supportive, but there are times when I felt he could have done better. As for Lucy’s best friend Trisha, she does well to give Lucy good honest advice without sugar-coating everything.

The slow-building plot gets darker and more frightening as Lucy’s life starts to come apart, her secret is gradually revealed, and the past eventually catches up with her with a harrowing twist.

Thank you to Ms. Comley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

Criminal Actions by M.A. Comley
Hero Series #5

Deeply disturbing dark and twisted story of an evil couple remorselessly carrying out fiendish deeds on women hired to be the nanny of their young children. What the young women endured was horrific and made for chilling reading.

What I liked:
* DI Hero Nelson – a “normal” man solveing heinous crimes. He was also a wonderful husband, father and team leader at work.
* Hero’s family – also normal and real and great to come home to after a show more grueling day at work
* Hero’s police team – didn’t see much of them but liked their camaraderie and the way they worked together to solve the case
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The flow of the book and writing style that was tight and succinct
* That I could relate to the characters

What I did not like:
* What the young women endured while working as nannies
* The criminal couple and their lack of compassion, remorse and humanity and that they got away with what they did for so long
* The helplessness that the women must have felt

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, though enjoy is probably not the best word to use...it was a compelling read
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

In Dubious Justice, Lorne again is after some crazy killers. Starting with an electrician, tradesmen are being murdered and someone is trying to make it look like they are suicides instead. While Katy is out for a family emergency, Lorne is acting DI and teamed up with DCI Sean Roberts, her former partner. They seem to be at a loss. The case has stalled and every lead they’ve followed has dried up. Sean’s a bit rusty but luckily for him, Lorne is as sharp as ever and it doesn’t take show more long for her to home in on a tiny clue to lead them where they need to go. And where they end up in this case is unbelievable, an ending that is shocking and heartbreaking.

I keep saying it, but I always mean it; this new book may be my favorite of the Justice books. Comley keeps topping herself with every book in the series. In particular to this book, I was thrilled with the partnering of Sean and Lorne. The back and forth, playful banter reminded me a bit of her and Pete. The emotional edge that the author weaves into the storyline- it’s getting to be part of her signature writing style. Where she comes up with these original plot lines I have no idea. But I’m just happy she does and I’ll keep reading every little thing she puts out. I think I’ll sneak one more star in and give this one 6, okay? show less