R. P. Dahlke

A Dead Red HeartBy R. P. Dahlke I’m a sucker for places I’ve never been and I’m overjoyed when I come across a setting/location that puts me there as R. P. Dahlke does with Modesto, Calif.Also I love a kick-butt heroine with a sense of humor and a good heart. Lalla Bains is all that and more. A former model turned crop-duster pilot (sounds weird, but good writing and plotting makes it plausible) Sheriff Caleb Stone is her long-time boyfriend. Their interactions are funny, aggravating show more or heart-rending. Lalla’s family owns the crop dusting business. Another memorable character is her dad who fights against odds to keep the company going when there are those who'd like to see it go under. If it kills her, Lalla, a woman addicted to danger, won't let them have their way. The heart of the mystery is Billy Wayne Dobson. He’s obsessed with Lalla. Caleb warns him to stay away from her. But his obsession is too great. Lalla goes to confront him and finds him dying, having been stabbed with scissors. He gasps out some last words. Naturally, feisty Lalla is suspect number one. She determines to find out who killed Billy and why. Take a look at this exchange:He (Caleb) gave me a piercing look. “Yeah, you. You got that race-horse out-of-the-gate look all over your face.”“If you will remember, I’m the one who found Billy Wayne, and there are people who expect me to find his killer, namely Detective Rodney.”“You got something in mind? Never mind. If I don't know, I can’t get in trouble." At my surprised look, he said, "You love this stuff, don’t you?”Flustered, I sputtered, “Caleb Stone, that’s not fair! What am I supposed to do? He died at my feet and my reputation stays in purgatory until the guilty party is in jail.”“Deny it all you want, but I know you, you got the bit in your mouth and the chase is on for you, isn’t it?”I could feel a flush rising up my cheeks. He was right, of course. His words had touched something deep within me and it sounded very much like a starting gun and whinnying race horses. I never felt more alive than when I was this close to touching danger.“Look,” he said, “you’ve gotten more in one day than we have all week. It’s not a blank check, so don't go overboard and do anything rash; no flashing your fake badge at people."“But, Caleb…,” I could do without the badge, but it felt good to banter with him again. “No buts on this.”R.P. Dahlke (2011-06-05T21:26:50.694000 00:00). A Dead Red Heart (Kindle Locations 1900-1912). Dead Bear Publishing. Kindle Edition. show less

HOLY CRAP, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK!! I felt for Frankie when she lost her baby and I knew that Kevin was bad news for her. I felt sorry that Roland was duped as well as Mai-Lin the Chinese drug lord boss who had tricked Roland by telling him that his parents were dead then adopt him to be his second in command!! The piece of cake was the fortune teller who tricked Mai-Lin and I NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD!!

After being put on a forced leave while Internal Affairs investigates her shooting of her sister's stalker, San Francisco PD Detective Katrina Hunter has taken her sailboat on a solo cruise to Mexico in order to find peace and solitude - if only she had not come upon the floating body at the mouth of the Ensenada port. Now she has discovered that an old boyfriend who she helped jumped bail years ago is a suspect in this murder and Chief Inspector Raul Vignaroli is using this information to show more compel her to help in the investigation by being an undercover interrogator among the American suspects in an exclusive harbor. However, can she trust the mutual attraction she is feeling with Raul as the case turns dangerous when a local cartel connection comes up. Beyond the setup, the main mystery is intricately plotted with a nice set of suspects, each hiding his or her own secrets, leading up to a suspenseful thriller ending that should please most mystery fans. show less

A Dead Red Cadillac (A Dead Red, #1) by R.P. Dahlke

Lalla Bains, a New York City model is now working on her fathers Crop-Dusting farm in Modesto, California. Her cherished 1958 Cadillac is found in the lake with a retired teacher dead at the wheel. Lalla becomes the number one suspect and she is determined to clear her name.

Lalla is very likable, approaching her fortieth birthday and twice divorced she is not too happy with her life situations. There is drama, suspense, drug running pilots, show more a cross dresser and a twenty year old murder tying in to her (Lalla's) family.

The story moves along swiftly with some humor as well. The plot is original with twists and secrets that grab your attention and don't let go until the end. Overall the story is a fun read, I feel those who love a great (light) murder/mystery will enjoy, A Dead Red Cadillac show less