Collision of Lies

TOMTHREADGILL

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: Revell Reads.

First line: If they were still arguing, she'd call the cops then.

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: Another Revell publication that sucked me in practically from the first page and kept me engrossed to the end. Detective Amara Alvarez spends her days investigating property crimes, but her goal is to investigate the real cases - homicides. Through fate, she finds herself embroiled in investigating an old case, where a school bus crashed into a train, killing the driver and several children. The mother of one of those kids is convinced her son is still alive after she receives a text message supposedly from her son. Even when Amara isn't sure there is a case and that it's a waste of time, she's unable to ignore or completely turn away the distraught mother and her husband. She gets more than she bargained for, in a big way.

I admired Amara and her dogged determination. And the other characters were pretty great as well, especially her partner Wiley, and the homicide detective who sort of takes her under his wing, Starsky, although as far as I remember she never found out why everyone calls him Starsky. And then there's her roommate, Larry, an iguana! We didn't spend a lot of time at Amara's home, but I would've like to have more of Larry.

The plot is fast paced, and while there are a lot of characters involved, especially as they get deeper and deeper into reinvestigating the school bus/train incident, I didn't have trouble keeping everyone straight for the most part. Eventually Amara is partnered up with a Texas Ranger, Sara Colby, and I really enjoyed their interactions, not to mention Sara and the ME, who was quite an interesting character – a bit of a know it all but in an amusing, not insufferable way.

Lots of twists and turns - I couldn't predict where the story was going. Some tense scenes towards the end, a very satisfying resolution, all in all a intricately plotted suspense story. While waiting for the next Amara Alvarez book to come out (and hoping it will include lots of Starsky!), I'll have to look for the author's other series featuring FBI Agent Jeremy Winter.

Goodreads synopsis: Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others--and herself--that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

Deadly Intentions

LISA HARRIS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell Books, 2019.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blog Tour Program

First line: Josh Solomon had barely slept in thirty-six hours.

My thoughts: I’m learning that Revell consistently publishes really good romantic suspense. I was caught up in this book from the prologue. Of course I’m partial to emotionally wounded heroes, and to law enforcement, and Detective Josh Solomon, still grieving a year after his wife’s death, fit the bill. Caitlyn works at the lab where Josh’s wife worked, and through her friendship with Olivia she and Josh know one another, but mostly on an acquaintance level. Since Olivia’s death, two other employees have died, and after being run off the road one night, Caitlyn is convinced that those deaths are suspicious. So remembering that Josh is with the police, she takes her suspicions to him.

The plot revolves around a virus developed in the lab, and there is a lot of sciency talk as Caitlyn explains it to Josh and as they learn more about the potential hazards associated with this particular virus. And not being I honestly couldn’t tell you much more than that even if I wanted to. But there is also quite a bit of action, and I never found the storyline to be predictable. Josh takes a little convincing at first, but once he’s in he’s all in, and not about to leave Caitlyn on her own. Caitlyn spends most of the book frightened, which I would be also, but she is also brave and determined and pretty resourceful.

The author did a great job with the growing attraction between Josh and Caitlyn. Despite the fact that the events of the book take place over a short span of time, their relationship still seemed to build slowly, which I appreciated. It can be tricky when one character is still grieving over the death of a loved one, and Josh and Cailtyn’s relationship felt realistic.

Another very enjoyable read from Revell, and another new to me author whose backlist I’m going to have to check out now!


Goodreads synopsis: Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.