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Thursday, September 10, 2020

Life Sentence by Judith Cutler and Cold as Ice by Allison Brennan

Another series by Judith Cutler--this one features Fran Harmon, a Chief Superintendent, respected, overwhelmed, and months from retirement.

Fran's elderly parents demand her presence every weekend and in addition to the long drive, she is expected to cook, clean, take care of the garden, and answer each request from crotchety parents who belittle her and depend on her.

At work, after driving back after a long, debilitating weekend, she is trying to cover her job and that of someone else as well.  Exhausted and barely able to keep things together, Fran is struggling.

Mark Turner, colleague and friend, gets Fran a two-year-old case that will allow her some relief from trying to do too much.  Mark has long been a friend, and it is clear that they care for each other...and that the caring could develop into something deeper.

The case Fran is working concerns a woman brutally attacked and left for dead.  She remains in a vegetative state which has been pronounced permanent.  Will Fran be able to determine who assaulted the woman?  

I liked the plot and Fran's developing relationship with Mark Turner.  As their friendship deepens into something more, each is able to offer support to the other, even as they are unsure about whether the other feels the same way.  

While I liked the Kate Powers books, I like these characters better.  Thanks, Cathy, for comment that gave me the heads up on this series. :)  Oh, and for New Tricks, which I am enjoying.

Read in August.

Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural.  2006.  Print length:  396 pages.  



I've read a couple of books by Allison Brennan, and each one has been fast-paced and suspenseful.  On the minus side, the books are full of characters from previous books in the Lucy Kincaid series.   Nevertheless, the books can be read as stand-alones.   

from description:  Two years ago, FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid put psychopath Elise Hansen Hunt in juvenile detention for her role in an organized crime syndicate. Now eighteen, Elise has been released with a clean slate, and plans to take her revenge by making Lucy’s life hell. The plot begins with Lucy’s husband Sean Rogan, who has been arrested for a murder he most certainly did not commit.

Cold as Ice is certainly as suspenseful as the other books I've read.   

Strange how worried I can be for characters--when I know that in the end, things will work out.  Nevertheless, I worried about Sean, feared Elise, and cheered all efforts to make sure the characters I cared about turned out OK.  :)  Brennan knows how to ratchet up the tension and keep her readers on edge.  

Read in August; blog review scheduled for September 10.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Suspense/Thriller.  Oct. 27, 2020.  Print length:  480 pages.







16 comments:

  1. Both of these sound good. I've meant to read books by Allison Brennan for a several years. I heard her on a panel at a mystery conference and enjoyed what she said. And, yes, I understand worrying about characters. After all, sometimes they do 'go away' or 'pass away' or get killed or whatever. Even beloved characters. Sigh. Oh, and I love New Tricks too.

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    1. I liked both of books. You're right, some characters do meet their ends...one way or another. :)

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  2. Allison Brennan is high on my list of new-to-me authors I want to try this year. Since we're already in September I better get cracking. ;D

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    1. The books by Brennan have been very fast-paced with lots of suspense. :)

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  3. I've heard so many great things about Allison Brennan's books. She's an author that I definitely want to check out sometime. :)

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    1. They are suspenseful! I've only read a couple, but they have kept me involved.

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  4. I've seen some of Allison Brennan's books around but just didn't pick them up. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I need to remedy that after reading your review.

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    1. I find them a little confusing because of the way they relate to previous cases and to another series, but they are suspenseful.

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  5. The Judith Cutler title appeals to me more...I am not the target audience for thrillers in book form, I think. Too much suspension of disbelief is required which I don't mind in a film but not so much in novels. But procedurals and the usually slower pace and emphasis on police work, I like.

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    1. I agree with the slower pace and emphasis on police work. I liked the Cutler book for those and also for the emphasis on dealing with elderly parents. The Brennan books are thrillers about people who feel larger, but thinner, than life. Exciting, but not real.

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  6. I'm happy to put in my two cents' worth about Judith Cutler... don't want Allison Brennan to get all the attention. ;-) I am so glad that you enjoyed this first Fran Harmon mystery; the series is one that gets even better with each successive book. Cutler is an author that I wish was much better known over here. Very much overlooked.

    I'm also doing a little interior happy dance that you're enjoying New Tricks. I love the writing, and the original cast has such great chemistry.

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    1. :) Thanks for the heads up on the Fran Harmon series and on New Tricks, Cathy! I'm really enjoying both. The cast does have great chemistry--with each other and with me!

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  7. Fran and Life Sentence sounds fascinating— I don’t usually see MCs around her age.

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    1. No, MCs are rarely more than 40. Fran is an interesting character, and I like her young assistant, too. I look forward to more in this series. :)

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  8. A sign of a good book is when you care so much for the characters you worry about them--even when you know it will likely turn out okay in the end. Both of these sound good.

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  9. Oh no, more books for my TBR! haha.. I just checked out the Judith Cutler books and found a great deal for Kindle reads. I'm sure I have some Allison Brennan books on my shelves. Need to read faster!

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