When Winter emerged from the coma resulting from the blow to her head, she found herself hyper-aware and more observant than she had been previously.
from description: "After human remains are discovered in the woods, someone will go to lethal lengths to keep an old mystery buried. Special Agent Black is pulled into an investigation that hits too close to home. In the town where her parents were murdered, Winter needs to find one killer...while being stalked by the shadow of another."
Although there is another of those pesky prologues, the first chapter grabbed my attention. From then on my interest never flagged. Winter has a special talent resulting from her traumatic brain injury that aids in her investigations, but that comes with consequences. She keeps her ability to herself, much like Magnus "Steps" Craig in the Spencer Kope novels.
The plot was fast-paced and gripping and the characters imperfect and likable. A dark plot without getting to graphic.
Suspense. 2019. Print length: 318 pages
from description: "A blessing? A curse? It’s not easy to possess the gift of knowing too much.
What at first seems like a standalone bank robbery becomes something much darker as a pair of masterminds hack their bloody way onto the list of the most notorious US heists. It’s not a job exclusive to the FBI, but Winter’s office nemesis, Sun Ming, is convinced that she holds the key to taking down the murderous criminals hungry for fame."Blessing or curse, Winter's gift is useful to a successful outcome.
The secondary characters continue to develop and other characters are also weaving themselves into the storyline.
Like the first book, you have to be able to suspend disbelief. A lot of people die and one of the villains is a not truly believable evil psychopath. Nevertheless, this was another suspenseful and absorbing plot, and I can't wait to read the next book!
Suspense. 2020. Print length: 290 pages.
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I've been making Halloween mail, embroidering, and trying to finish some garden cleanup. Reading is still an everyday occurrence, and I'm glad I found a new series that reads quickly and keeps my attention.
Enjoy you are enjoying Halloween Season!
The graphic at the end reminded me of the year the company I worked for had all its Christmas merchandise in place before Labor Day. We hapless employees were getting ripped to shreds until I dug up the postage-paid customer comment cards that went straight to corporate, handed each salesfloor employee a big wad, and told 'em to pass those out every time someone tried to rip 'em a new one. It worked. The company has yet to do that again, but evidently I wasn't the only one who did that because the new comment cards had our district office's address on them. Personally I think corporate offices should get up close and personal with the aftermath of their decisions!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh, Cathy! Good for you!
DeleteThis sounds like a fantastic series. I'm really intrigued by Winter's special talent.
ReplyDeleteI really liked both books! They were suspenseful and had great characters. Realistic, no, but while that bothers me in some books, I was enjoying them so much that it didn't matter. :)
DeleteWinter Black sounds like an intriguing character. Another series to explore!
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find a new series that engaged my interest in that "can't put it down" way! :)
DeleteBoo to unnecessary prologues! And yay for unique and fun characters like Winter Black. I have to read this series. :)
ReplyDelete:) The use of prologues is overdone, unnecessary, and off-putting. But yes on unique and intriguing characters!
DeleteWhat you say about "suspending disbelief" is something I sometimes get pushed over my limit on, but I can usually buy into almost any plot long enough to enjoy the ride. When I do get pushed beyond that point, though, I find myself resenting the time I wasted on a book instead of just dropping it and moving on. Sometimes the disbelief kicks in near the end...and that's not fair, IMO.
ReplyDeleteRight, there is only so much suspension of disbelief that can be done. In a plot like this in which Winter has a special "talent," it has to be accepted from the beginning that the book isn't realistic. When the disbelief messes up a conclusion, I agree, definitely not fair!
DeleteOkay you have my attention! Winter Black sounds very intriguing and I am Soo curious about her gift!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed getting wrapped up in the plot and characters!
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