This book was a happy accident for me. I was looking to start a book from kindle unlimited by an author that I had never read before. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this. Fast paced read with likable and strong characters. I liked it so much I actually have already finished the second book in the series. ( )

The Shark by Mary Burton
Romantic suspense.
Virginia State Trooper Riley Tatum’s past comes back to haunt her. A body is found with playing cards in the pocket and Clay Bowman of Shield Security fears it’s a warning to Riley. Clay believes that Riley was a survivor of a deadly card game and the Shark is not willing to let her escape the destiny he has planned.

Tense and gripping, the story is filled with the investigation to find the killer and reason behind the playing cards. Riley has built her life to protect and serve. She has also mentored and loved a teen and the adoption is pending. Riley will do whatever she has to, even revisiting her past.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. ( )

A fast-paced thriller where the protagonist is also a previous victim. This murder mystery was the first I've read by this author, and I will definitely pick up another one in the near future by her. The story is action-packed, there's lots of twists and turns, and the author does a good job of humanizing a disadvantaged and often demonized group of victims. A couple of scenes were predictable, but overall, this novel is a worthy thriller.

Net Galley Feedback ( )

Riley Tatum is the only survivor of an encounter with "The Shark," a poker player who uses women as stakes in his poker games. She has no memory of that time, but when young women are being taken off the streets and killed, their bodies found with playing cards in their pockets, Riley knows that "The Shark" is back. Clay Bowman crossed paths with Riley as her tracking instructor, and she hoped that their one night together would lead to something more, but the time wasn't right as Clay was still dealing with the grief over the death of his wife. Now he is back as a member of Shield Security, helping to investigate the recent murders, and he has no intention of letting Riley slip through his fingers again.

The premise of the serial killer in The Shark is interesting and makes for a good set up for this book and makes for a good mystery, however, it isn't very difficult to figure out who the culprits are by the end of the book. Riley and Clay both have lots of baggage, and we learn a lot about their them from their interactions with the other people in their lives. Their romance is kept on the back burner for most of the story, making this less of a romance and more about the suspense. There is enough here to hold the interest of the reader, but the story is a let down by the end. Overall, The Shark, has a good premise but doesn't really live up to expectation. ( )

Not bad. Decent storyline. Enough twists to keep me guessing, although fairly obvious towards the end. Romance sucked. All instalove with no development. I liked Riley, she seemed sensible but fierce. Very caring towards the young girls that got caught up on the streets. 3 stars.

I likely won't pick up the rest of Burton's books though. I'm not a fan of ex lover stories. They just irritate me. ( )