T. J. Brearton

Road to Mercy by T.J. Brearton
A Shannon Ames Thriller #2

First off…had not read book one of this series but had no trouble getting into the plot of book two without having read INTO DARKNESS. I might have liked to know more about Shannon, the first case, the explosion and her introduction to and beginning relationship with Caldoza BUT it was not essential for reading this book.

The book begins with Lucy and her son Dylan on the road going to drop him off at university for his sophomore year show more but before they arrive, the two are kidnapped and then the FBI is called in. Is it an FBI case or a local one? Shannon Ames is tasked with going to the scene to decide.

From that point on there is much police procedural type information going on as Shannon finds one clue after another until the final surprise twist at the end that left me feeling sad as I contemplated how a decision made can have such a huge ripple effect in those impacted by that decision.

I usually do a “what I liked” and “what I did not like BUT in this case feel that by doing so I would give away too much so…

Comments:
* Shannon: a great character with intelligence, tenacity, and enough but not too many quirks.
* The story was well crafted with precise timing of the release of tidbits as the story progressed
* Enough red herrings but not too many
* Enjoyed the police procedural aspects with thought process of Shannon as she worked the case
* I felt the story was believable
* For some reason my focus was torn away from the story as I read. I don’t think it was the story itself but something else going on in my life the past couple of days.
* Every time I start a comment I stop, rewrite, try again…can’t really say what I think about the bad guys or good guys as it would give away more than I should AND since the author worked so hard to make it that way will just say that…
* I did enjoy the book and
* I would read more in this series

Thank you to Net Galley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars show less

Rough Country by T.J. Brearton
North Country Series

What a story! Caught up in the story from page one I was unable to go to sleep till the wee hours of the morning because I *had* to know what would happen. As a person who often reads the ending first, I have to say that I was still surprised at the twists this tale took! Not always easy to read but definitely un-put-down-able!

What I liked:
* Reed Raleigh: a New York death investigator with a backstory that was intense and intriguing. I like show more him and would love to see him on another case in the future.
* The plot, pacing and writing – excellent!
* It was believable
* I felt I was there
* I cared about the case and the people working it as well as the victims
* Virginia: a BCI investigator, mother, and perhaps future love interest for Reed?
* Crane: psychologist for veterans…someone that seemed dedicated even though only seen a few times
*Kruse, Pyle, and other supporting characters – each well fleshed out and interesting people I wouldn’t mind knowing better
* Being able to thoroughly dislike the bad guy(s)
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that what happened in this book has happened in the past, is probably happening now and will continue to happen in the future
* Not knowing if this is a one time event with this detective or if he might have a series of his own.

Did I like this story? YES!
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

I found it to be a little disappointing. The plot itself is well-written and drew me in, but I just couldn't get excited about the characters...especially Callie Sanderson, whose husband Abel is in a coma as a result of an auto accident that she is convinced wasn't an accident as the police concluded. The main reason she's convinced is that she was told Althea who is a psychic, that he drove into a tree while trying to avoid someone. I'm not opposed to the notion that there are folks who show more "see" and "know" things others may not, but Callie's determination to go off on her own despite good advice from people to whom she should listen to, like the police...kind of placed her in the nut category for me. Not only did she not listen to reason, her "on-my-own sleuthing" never once turned up any facts the police didn't already know. Finally, there's that title thing. I like for my titles to at least somewhat fit the storyline...after all that's what most of my choices of books are based on. So, all the way through, I kept waiting to find out what the "lies" were that her husband told. All I could see was that while he didn't always spell out in detail what he did and where he was every minute of every day, I couldn't find a single time in which he told an actual untruth. All that said, the story itself held my interest throughout. I just sort of ignored Callie's relentless questioning of her own thoughts and those of everybody else and focused on what was actually happening. It seems that two young girls recently went missing and haven't been found, and little by little, connections between the girls and Abel come to light. Questions began to form and that's usually a sign that I don't totally hate the book:) Was it possible her husband had something to do with the girl's disappearances? We learned that he did go out a few times without telling her specifically where he'd been. Still, Callie can't believe he's involved, but the plot thickens as she digs deeper, egged on by Althea's newfound insights. Her neighbors in the rather remote area of the Adirondacks become suspects also based only on something they said, or didn't say, even Abel's estranged brother, Garr, who suddenly turns up out of nowhere, isn't immune from her suspicions. Meantime, the police, led by detective Footman, continue to work the case despite Callie's constant harping about issues they're already investigating. Overall, it was worth 4 stars and I believe that this is a book that most readers of this genre will enjoy. show less

Sign of Evil by T.J. Brearton
A Shannon Ames Thriller #3

Dark, gritty, gruesome, and painful to read…this story’s serial killer is not easy to determine till late in the story. An intriguing killer with a motive that is difficult to unearth and even more difficult to understand. What a read this one was!

What I liked:
* Shannon: her belief in the good she does working for the FBI is tangible; and her willingness to tackle difficult jobs seems to be known/expected by her superiors. Perhaps show more she is a bit too gung-ho? At times I wondered what anchored her…perhaps her faith, as it is referred to from time to time, but what else keeps her steady and balanced?
* Luis Cardoza: he doesn’t show up much in this book but he seems to be a dedicated NYPD officer, loving father, divorced man that stands on the side of right and keeping the world safe. His humanity shows in his response to one case mentioned that he dealt with. I like him but wonder if he and Shannon will be able to stay together throughout the series.
* The creep-horror factor of the killings and then contemplating how one person could do what was done to those that were killed.
* Bufort: as Shannon’s backup this colleague is intriguing…I would like to see more of him in the future
* It seemed real and utterly believable
* That it included the idea that not everyone can be saved no matter how much one might want to save them.
* The darkness of drugs, prostitution, the sex trade, abuse, and all the rest
* Wondering about what will happen in the next book and who will show up to work with and be part of Shannon’s next case.

What I didn’t like:
* The baddie…even the backstory didn’t legitimize the killing…
* Knowing that there are real “working girls” out in the world and that their lives are just as difficult and even more difficult than the ones in this book.
* Having to wait for the next book to be written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less