This is the first Rick Acker novel I've read (it's more of a novella), and I hope it's not the last. Drew me right in and bounced back and forth betweThis is the first Rick Acker novel I've read (it's more of a novella), and I hope it's not the last. Drew me right in and bounced back and forth between the characters in a smooth way. I didn't see one reveal coming, which I love in a suspense story. These characters have appeared in other novels, so I might need to read them too. ...more
Loose ends are tied up, and the ending is satisfying. There wasn't as huge of a "showdown" as I might've expected, and the romantic thread is a littleLoose ends are tied up, and the ending is satisfying. There wasn't as huge of a "showdown" as I might've expected, and the romantic thread is a little hard to believe, but ultimately it could happen when two people go through a traumatic experience together. Terri Blackstock fans will be very pleased with the conclusion of the IF I RUN series....more
3.5 stars. I always enjoy a Janice Cantore story for its accuracy. Having been a cop herself, I can know her books will portray police life as it is. 3.5 stars. I always enjoy a Janice Cantore story for its accuracy. Having been a cop herself, I can know her books will portray police life as it is. Crisis Shot is no exception. Tess becomes police chief in a small Oregon town after practically being chased out of LA for shooting and killing a teen in the line of duty. She's been exonerated, but it still haunts her. A change of pace is just what she needs. At first Rogue's Hollow gives her just that. But soon a murder and a missing woman consume Tess, and it's a race against time to catch the killer. I'm a big fan of suspense, especially featuring cops, but the pace seemed a little bit slow. If would be better classified police drama. ...more
A well-written suspense story that addresses some tough, real-life faith issues too, making me think. I'm usually good at guessing where a book is goiA well-written suspense story that addresses some tough, real-life faith issues too, making me think. I'm usually good at guessing where a book is going to end up, and I still found myself surprised at a few of the twists and turns. This was my first Kathy Herman novel, and right away I found another to start reading. ...more
I'm always so excited when a new book written by Sibella Giorello hits the shelves (virtual or not.) The Moon Stands Still is a welcome addition to thI'm always so excited when a new book written by Sibella Giorello hits the shelves (virtual or not.) The Moon Stands Still is a welcome addition to the Raleigh Harmon series, and everything we like about Raleigh is here in spades--smarts, toughs, and vulnerability. Much more of that, actually, than in her other stories. Because Raleigh is not only juggling two cases (a murder and a decades old heist), but she's trying to figure out her feelings for a certain handsome FBI agent. This adds a romantic thread to this series not seen in the other books. Fans of romantic suspense tales will find delight in it. At times it seems Raleigh got a little blinded by it, but love is complicated, as she soon finds out. Great entry in a fantastic series! Can't wait to see where it goes next....more
3.5 stars. A good, redemptive suspense story with some sprinkled in romance. I love when an author keeps me guessing, and I didn't figure out who the 3.5 stars. A good, redemptive suspense story with some sprinkled in romance. I love when an author keeps me guessing, and I didn't figure out who the bad guy was, so bravo to Harris for that. Throughout the story I felt for Nikki, especially the guilt and loss she felt for her sister who went missing many years ago. It became personal when another girl goes missing and the clues start to point to the same "Angel Abductor" who took her sister. There were some scenes that seemed to drag on with nothing but dialogue where the characters discussed their warring emotions about the case, life, loss, and God. There is also some repetition (if Nikki's friend Tyler ran his thumb up and down something one more time I was going to scream), and a few times Nikki acts a little weak for a seasoned police professional, but Vendetta is a solid story nonetheless. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy, though I was glad the romance didn't completely take over. ...more
Oh, man, Terri Blackstock's characters must hate her. She puts them through so much! LOL. But that's the sign of a good suspense writer. Casey's storyOh, man, Terri Blackstock's characters must hate her. She puts them through so much! LOL. But that's the sign of a good suspense writer. Casey's story continues here in Book 2 of the If I Run series, picking up right where Book 1 left off. You don't have to read Book 1 to enjoy If I'm Found, but it is recommended. Solid suspense story that kept me turning the pages. There wasn't anything that particularly "surprised" me in the plot, but I still really enjoyed it. The spiritual message resonated a lot, and believe it or not, the Author's Note at the back of the book was worth the read alone. Onward to Book 3!...more
Gilroy has once again crafted a compelling page turner featuring cop Kristen Conner. I fell in love with this series from Book 1, Cuts Like a Knife, aGilroy has once again crafted a compelling page turner featuring cop Kristen Conner. I fell in love with this series from Book 1, Cuts Like a Knife, and I look forward to each new offering. Cold as Ice takes us deep into the underbelly of Chicago and its Russian mafia ties. Kristen is right in the middle of it all, but there are more scenes with the crime bosses and their minions than with Kristen. I wish there had been a little more emphasis on Kristen and her involvement in the mystery, but there's a reason we're following so many characters. Gilroy skillfully brings it all together and manages to craft a tale without language or too graphic scenes, something I admired in his writing from the beginning. ...more
**Second Read** - still a great story! I re-read it in a couple days.
The sign of a great book for me is how long it takes me to read it. IF I RUN too**Second Read** - still a great story! I re-read it in a couple days.
The sign of a great book for me is how long it takes me to read it. IF I RUN took me all of two days! I couldn't set it down. I've read many of Blackstock's books, and this one has a unique voice and storyline I know her fans will enjoy. I was hooked from the start! I also appreciated that the male and female leads were, refreshingly, NOT involved romantically. There is something that happens to propel a subplot that was very coincidental, but since I was already engrossed I managed to suspend my disbelief. There's room for a sequel at the end, and I hope it comes soon....more
The thing I love most about a Janice Cantore novel is authenticity. Since Cantore was a cop herself, you know her police officer leading ladies (and mThe thing I love most about a Janice Cantore novel is authenticity. Since Cantore was a cop herself, you know her police officer leading ladies (and men) are real. So we get an inside glimpse into their way of life, which is often not at all like what we see on TV and in movies. Drawing Fire's intricate plot will keep you guessing through each chapter, and you'll be rooting for Abby each step of the way. ...more
3.5 stars. I've read and enjoyed Liparulo's newer thrillers (13th Tribe, etc.) so thought it was time to read his first. Comes a Horseman was well-wri3.5 stars. I've read and enjoyed Liparulo's newer thrillers (13th Tribe, etc.) so thought it was time to read his first. Comes a Horseman was well-written, intricately plotted, and had an interesting (if not bizarre) spiritual thread. Some of the violence/gore is a little hard to handle, so definitely not for the squeemish. My attention was held through the whole book, but I did enjoy the 13th Tribe better. ...more
3.5 stars. What if your husband wasn't who you thought? The heroine of Distortion finds out secrets about the man she loves when he's murdered before 3.5 stars. What if your husband wasn't who you thought? The heroine of Distortion finds out secrets about the man she loves when he's murdered before her eyes. Blackstock does a great job of building a suspenseful story. I did fine the main character to be a tad weak, but I think that was the point of the story. She had to gather up her courage and face some awful things. Blackstock fans will enjoy for sure. ...more
There's always an element of risk when creating a series character as James Scott Bell has done in the Ty Buchanan books. If readers enjoy your hero tThere's always an element of risk when creating a series character as James Scott Bell has done in the Ty Buchanan books. If readers enjoy your hero they'll want him to come back for more. But modern fiction lovers also like protagonists who change and develop, even age, over time. The risk comes in finding balance. Grow your character too much and readers won't recognize him. Keep him the same and your main guy could become stagnant.
James Scott Bell has found that equilibrium in his third Ty Buchanan novel, Try Fear. Ty's overcome many of the inner demons he struggled to fend off in Try Dying. In Try Darkness he grew to care for the poor and downtrodden. Now he's a little more confident and even more determined to fight for justice.
Narrated in first person through Ty's perspective, the "Try" books read like the crime classics of yesteryear, but with modern settings and scenarios. You picture Ty with his heels up on his desk, puffing on a stogey, sipping strong coffee, telling us the story in his soaked with sarcasm, just-the-facts-ma'am style. There's grit on every page, but there's hope too. And that's the refreshing aspect of these novels. James Scott Bell's Christian faith comes through gently yet authentically through his Catholic characters, and in many ways Father Bob and Sister Mary live out their faith better than many garden variety Christians.
This time, what at first seems like a routine DUI case quickly spirals into something much deeper, even deadly. Ty needs to keep every shred of his wits about him, but that's hard to do when he's finding himself attracted to his investigator and brilliant assistant--who just so happens to be a nun. Sister Mary Veritas is dealing with her own demons in Try Fear. A cyber stalker has her in his sights, and Ty's determined to bring the stalker down.
Bell has hit his stride with the Ty Buchanan series, like these were the books he was meant to write. His staccato dialogue has always been crisp, but here it's even sharper and wittier. Especially during the lively banter between Ty and Sister Mary. There's not much time to catch a breathe or delve too deeply into the characters either, as Bell throws several of his savory, trademark twists. Which is exactly the way we like it. Each successive book in Ty's series has been better than the last. Try Fear is the cream of the crop....more
Based on a real-life case attorney Randy Singer tried ten years ago, The Justice Game artfully portrays both sides of the gun rights debate. InterestiBased on a real-life case attorney Randy Singer tried ten years ago, The Justice Game artfully portrays both sides of the gun rights debate. Interestingly, Singer didn't set out to convert anyone. He told me, "I wanted to write a book so balanced that both sides would look at it and say, `That fairly represents our case.'"
The Justice Game opens in TV news reporter Rachel Crawford's point of view. A crazed gunman named Larry Jamison, the subject of a scathing news report, barges into the studio and shoots Rachel dead. The crime is clearly caught on film, but it's not the killer who ends up in court during The Justice Game. Rachel's grieving husband sues the manufacturer of Jamison's assault weapon for her wrongful death. He believes they are responsible since they knew the gun store who sold the weapon was known for illegal straw sales.
But this story isn't about Rachel as much as it's about young and ambitious defense attorney Jason Noble and up-and-coming prosecutor Kelly Starling. Both believe in their clients. Both are on top of their games. And both have pasts worthy of blackmail. Mix in the intriguing concept of a cutting edge company who predicts the outcome of trials for financial gain using shadow juries, and you have a true Randy Singer plot--full of delightful twists and turns you never saw coming.
Pay careful attention during the beginning chapters. Because so many of these concepts are unfamiliar, and many key players aren't introduced until later in the story, there's the potential for confusion. But there's also a great glimpse into the fascinating aspects of shadow juries and we come to understand why gun control is such a visceral issue to so many. At times you'll find yourself nodding in agreement with the defense as they present their case; then you'll empathize with the prosecution as they present theirs. Which just goes to show Singer has succeeded in what he set out to write--a novel that evenly presented both sides.
The Justice Game doesn't feel like an issue novel. We're never pounded over the head with its message. Instead, we're subtly led to our own conclusions as we examine the facts. Should a gun manufacturer be held responsible for a crime committed with one of their guns?
Before Singer finished writing The Justice Game a four minute interactive promotional video was created that presented the closing arguments of his fictional case. Then readers were asked to cast their vote on the verdict, and that would become the ending of the book. Their decision would be final. According to Randy the side that started out ahead stayed ahead.
Randy singer is one of the best Christian legal thriller writers out there in the purest sense. His complex plot spins and colorful, realistic characters combine to bring us a rich reading experience in The Justice Game. ...more
Liz Towne's life has hardly been a bed of roses. She deserves more, and she's determined to overcome her white trash past. She thought her ticket was Liz Towne's life has hardly been a bed of roses. She deserves more, and she's determined to overcome her white trash past. She thought her ticket was Arty Towne, a guy who dreamed of being worth two million before he turned thirty-five. But then he went and got religion on her and quit his six-figure job. "You've changed," Liz said to Arty that fateful day in Pack Canyon. "I don't like it." When they both discover a dead biker with a fortune of diamonds in his saddlebags, Liz sees another chance at the life she's always wanted. But what will it cost her?
Deceived is more than a page-turning thriller--it's a story about choices. Not just for Liz Towne, but for her sister-in-law Rocky and Iraqi war veteran, Mac. All three are bound by their love and friendship with Arty, and all three have been dealt hands they'd rather fold. But it's their decisions that set them apart. One chooses to deceive, one is caught in between, and the other is determined to unmask the deceiver.
Spanning about two weeks in the lives of several characters, Bell ratchets up the intensity in Deceived. Unlike its predecessors No Legal Grounds and Presumed Guilty, it's not a legal thriller. This is straight-up suspense that'll get you thinking about life, God and the domino effect of deception.
So pull up a chair. Unfold your napkin. James Scott Bell has served up another delightful stew of suspense, witty dialogue and plot twists. I never saw the ending of this one coming!...more
She's an outcast. The townsfolk of backwoods Endor, Virginia call her a witch. Rumor has it she spends her nights roaming the woods with a three-leggeShe's an outcast. The townsfolk of backwoods Endor, Virginia call her a witch. Rumor has it she spends her nights roaming the woods with a three-legged dog searching for the remains of her missing father. Her name is Alena, and the children of Endor say she visits the local animal shelter looking for plump puppies to take home so she can drink their blood. Not exactly a gal you'd want to make friends with, right? She is if you're Nick Polchak, aka "The Bugman". He needs a cadaver search dog yesterday, and if Alena's hound is as good as Nick thinks, he'll do anything to get on Alena's good side. Even if it means risking life and limb.
Nick's been hired by FBI Special Agent Nick Donovan (from Downs' novel Plague Maker) to help solve the mystery of an ancient graveyard a back hoe accidentally uncovered on Senator John Henry Braden's property. This isn't just any cemetary. There are two bodies in each grave. One in a casket, the other buried on top. The workings of a serial killer? The FBI doesn't know for sure, and neither does Nick. All he knows is that he can't start his work until all possible graves in the area are identified by a cadaver dog, and the one the FBI hired is running in circles.
Nick Polchak isn't your typical fictional hero. He isn't strong, handsome or social. More like Monk than Jack Bauer. But there's something endearing about this crazy, insect loving man with the enormous coke bottle glasses, wickedly dry sense of humor, and disdain for authority. He says the things we wish we could say, and we never know what hornet's nest he'll step on. We don't delve much into Nick's personal life this time (read Chop Shop if you want to know more about his past). He's basically dropped into this story fully developed, but he's such a quirky character that you get to know him quickly.
Nick is originally called on the graveyard case for his entomology expertise, but it's the cadaver dog aspect which gives us the signature gross out moments, as well as our education. Typical of a Downs novel, we come away armed with some cool facts. Like how a dog can have two hundred million olfactory cells in its nose compared to about five million in humans. Says Alena to Nick at one point, "You walk into a kitchen and smell beef stew; a dog walks into a kitchen and smells beef, carrots, peas, potatoes--it's called `odor layering'. He can even smell the salt--even in a dilution of one in ten million."
Maybe it's because Tim Downs has grown in his three prior Bugman novels (Shoofly Pie, Chop Shop & First The Dead), but the dead-pan humor in Less Than Dead is what sets it above the others. Nick's response to the above stew? "Question," Nick said. "If a dog's sense of smell is so much more sensitive than a man's, how come a dog will stick its nose in your crotch?"
During an interview I did with Tim awhile back I asked him what he'd love to write someday but hadn't yet. He answered: "A pure comedy--and I hope to get to do one fairly soon. I suppose it's a leftover from my comic strip days [he wrote and illustrated the now defunct strip Downstown]: I just love humor, and I'd love to write a book where the humor is more up front."
Mixing humor and suspense can be risky and hard to pull off. If you come off too zany it's hard to take the plot seriously. Jokes in the wrong character's mouths or at the wrong time can end up sounding forced, like the author knew things were getting too intense and tried to lighten things up. But with a character like Nick it all works. The straight-faced banter is usually at its finest between Nick and his female supporting characters (think Dr. Beth Woodbridge from First the Dead), and that's certainly true here with Nick and Alena.
There's a lot going on in Less Than Dead, and the subplot involving the Senator and his wife might seem tedious at first. But everything makes sense as you keep reading. The plot is intricate and comes together without any of the rushed-ending-feel of some thrillers. (You know the type--it's obvious the author was on deadline and had to wrap things up in a hurry.) We get to relish in the conclusion, and it's a satisfying one. A few scenes might be difficult reading for sensitive animal lovers, but this dogphile was able to get through.
Since Shoofly Pie the Bugman novels have progressively developed to become some of the best suspense reading on the market. Less than Dead is the best of the bunch....more
We first met rare book scout August Adams in Matt Bronleewe's novel Illuminated. A purloined Gutenberg Bible sent Adams and his family on the adventurWe first met rare book scout August Adams in Matt Bronleewe's novel Illuminated. A purloined Gutenberg Bible sent Adams and his family on the adventure of a lifetime. Now he's back in House of Wolves, and the rare book du jour is The Gospels of Henry the Lion. Like in Illuminated, this book is real, too. Published in 1188, the title actually sold for 12 million in 1983. No one knows for sure who bought it at the Sotheby auction (a camouflaged military plane was sent from Berlin to collect it), but Matt Bronleewe has penned a novel that gives us his best guess.
From the New York Public Library to Antarctica, House of Wolves spans the globe in typical thriller fashion, with more twists and turns than San Francisco's Lombard Street. We never know who or what will show up next, and that's what makes this novel a true page-turner. Fans of Illuminated will be pleased to see August's ex-wife April and son Charley are back. But even more family mayhem ensues as August Adam's estranged father, from whom August gets his love of books, plays a key role too.
How does Bronleewe come up with these elaborate stories? He starts with a fascinating historical element and weaves the facts seamlessly with his imagination. Says Bronleewe about The Holy Vehm, a secret society that plays a prominent role: "They certainly existed within the ranks of the Nazis symbolically..." and about The Gospels of Henry the Lion being lost for fifty years prior to its 1983 sale Bronleewe says, "Some research suggests that the Nazis stole The Gospels of Henry the Lion from a bank vault during WWII. I used that `best guess' while plotting..."
House of Wolves borrows from many adventure movies, but most notably the National Treasure franchise. It's easy to imagine Nicolas Cage playing August Adams like he did Ben Gates. Both leads possess sharp minds able to decipher clues, maps and codes with lightning speed. They aren't super heroes -- their skills come from their knowledge, not their brawn, and that's what makes them endearing.
But it's the rare book angle that sets Bronleewe's stories of international intrigue apart. Even if you're not a bibliophile you can't help but be intrigued about books so rare men (and women) would kill for them. Apparently August Adams has some amazing sources because it remains to be seen just where he finds all these valuable titles in the cut-throat world of antiquarian books. At times, a pause in the action for some character development would've been nice, but that's a lot to ask of a thriller. Bronleewe is on par with Ted Dekker's relentless pacing in this department, and it's certainly not hurting either of them.
There's a little less graphic gore in House of Wolves than in Illuminated, but the body count still piles up. The spiritual message is almost non-existent, but there's no offensive language or sexual undertones. Knowing that going in you can sit back and enjoy this terrific conspiracy novel. Even the most astute reader won't be able to guess the surprises.
Illuminated shot Bronleewe out of the starting gate, but House of Wolves makes him the one to watch....more
Ever since his first novel came out in 1995, James Scott Bell's been an author to watch. "The Darwin Conspiracy", a sometimes tongue-in-cheek look at Ever since his first novel came out in 1995, James Scott Bell's been an author to watch. "The Darwin Conspiracy", a sometimes tongue-in-cheek look at the evolution debate, put him on our radar. Two years later his legal thriller "Circumstantial Evidence" debuted, and since then Jim hasn't strayed too far from his suspense groove. In fact, when you pick up a Bell novel you can count on his trademark tag-line "The Suspense Never Rests" to be true.
That's certainly the case for his new Ty Buchanan crime/mystery series. In "Try Dying" (Book 1), Ty's character was established. He's a fighter, an attorney you don't want to push too hard. Yet we always suspected he had a softer side. Now in "Try Darkness" (Book 2), a little girl's mother is murdered and Ty becomes her impromptu guardian. Fatherly instincts Ty didn't even know he had bubble to the surface. He'll do anything to defend the young life under his care. Why was her mother murdered? What connection does the crime have with charges the mother was about to bring to the motel ready to evict them? As usual, there's much more going on than first meets the eye, and it's up to Ty to unravel the mystery and keep himself and his friends alive in the process.
Ty's character has developed, and he now gives legal advice to the poor and downtrodden. The pursuit of justice for his clients keeps him going and awake at night. He already lost everything in Try Dying, and he's still living at the St. Monica's community. So he has nothing to lose and little fear, a dangerous combination for his opponents. Not that he doesn't have his vulnerabilities--the wind's knocked out of him more than once. But like the crime fiction heroes of yesteryear, Ty Buchanan always clambers back on his feet. Even in the bleakest moments he'll press on--sometimes bleeding, sometimes barely able to see straight.
Every hero needs a confidant, and Ty's basketball wielding friend Sister Mary fills more pages here than in the first book. We're delving deeper into her character as she grapples with the struggle between her faith as a nun and the rules and regulations of the Benedictine community. Father Bob makes appearances as well, always available to offer wisdom and a caring ear to Ty.
Fans of Bell's previous inspirational novels won't be disappointed. In some ways the faith elements are even more prominent in this series, since the St. Monica's setting naturally sparks some spiritual conversations. But hard-boiled crime fiction lovers need not fear being preached at or hammered over the head with a "message". The story always takes center stage.
James Scott Bell's goal for this series was to write books in the vein of the great crime fiction stories of the 40's and 50's like "The Big Sleep" & "The Maltese Falcon". And for those weary of the gratuitous violence, sex, and language found in much of today's crime novels the Ty Buchanan series will be a breath of fresh air. Yes, bad stuff happens, but we aren't forced to watch it unfold in technicolor.
The scenes zoom. The plot zips. The dialogue zings. And the spiritual thread challenges us to re-think our worldview. It's almost like watching a movie unfold across the pages. As always, Jim is a wizard of surprises. Just when we think we might have things figured out he throws in a spiral we never saw coming. Nary a wasted word and packed with action, "Try Darkness" is even better than "Try Dying"....more
While playing in the woods with his friends, eleven-year-old Caleb Saunders is viciously attacked by a large, snarling, mysterious animal. His uncle JWhile playing in the woods with his friends, eleven-year-old Caleb Saunders is viciously attacked by a large, snarling, mysterious animal. His uncle Joe, a man struggling with his newfound faith, sets out on a mission to find the creature. Along the way he rekindles a friendship, and maybe something more, with the local Chief of Police who's on a mission of her own. The two uncover things about themselves and the monster terrorizing their community they wish they hadn't.
As you read The Hunted you can't help but draw comparisons to another celebrated monster story--The Oath by Frank Peretti. Both feature heroes bent on finding a rogue animal (a bear in The Oath, a lion in The Hunted) who's either killed or hurt someone they love. Their female counterparts are law enforcement officers with pasts, and there's a spiritual battle raging behind what's happening in the physical realm. The Hunted has a little less gore and symbolism than The Oath but fits the horror/supernatural vein perfectly. I cut my Christian fiction teeth on Frank Peretti, so it was a pleasure to find a worthy counterpart in The Hunted.
It's refreshing to pick up a novel like this one which engages us right from the start and doesn't shy from Biblical truths. It's a dark world. We need more light in our books, and The Hunted lets it shine. It still delves into the gritty reality of its characters, but with a restraint that's appreciable.
A trend in Christian fiction is toward vague spiritual references and good stories that don't include swearing, sex or graphic violence but also don't include much in the way of Christian content, either. There's certainly a place for all types of novels, but it can be disappointing to pick up a book from a Christian publisher that really has no spiritual takeaway other than the characters believing in God. Dellosso's first novel doesn't disappoint. It's sure to earn him shelf space alongside the "greats" like Peretti and Dekker.
I was honored to have the chance to endorse The Hunted as follows:
From page one The Hunted grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let go. It's full of intrigue, supernatural undertones, and true-to-life characters. I highly recommend this superb debut novel. Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti--if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted....more
Review written in 2008. Randy Singer is fast making a name for himself in the world of Christian books. Over the last five years he's written six noveReview written in 2008. Randy Singer is fast making a name for himself in the world of Christian books. Over the last five years he's written six novels (the first of which, Directed Verdict, won a Christy award) and authored or co-authored three nonfiction titles. As if that's not enough, he's also a member of a successful law firm and a pastor at his church. And then there's that teaching gig at Regent University Law school and a guest host spot on Sirius Radio Channel 161. Randy Singer is indeed a man of many talents.
Many of the hats he wears come to play in his latest legal thriller, By Reason of Insanity. Catherine "Cat" O'Rourke is a rising star of an investigative reporter in Virginia Beach. She digs deep and isn't afraid to tell the truth, even if it hurts. When a serial kidnapper/murderer preys on the innocent, Catherine finds herself investigating the killer, who the community calls the "Avenger of Blood". She'll do anything she can to help put the killer behind bars. But when she publishes a key piece of information given to her by a reliable source, Cat finds herself in serious hot water. Refusing to reveal who clued her in for moral reasons, a judge quickly decrees she's hindering the investigation, and Cat finds herself behind bars.
Her "trials" are just beginning. While in jail Cat has more than one vivid dream of the Avenger which contains information only someone very familiar with the murders would know. When she's released she finally shares her visions with the authorities, and things really begin to unravel now. Accused of the murders, she's thrown in prison again. How can the police possibly think she's a killer? But then again, how could she otherwise know what she knows? And what about the forensic evidence linking her to the murders? Could she be insane?
By Reason of Insanity is a rich novel that not only takes you deep into the crevices of the legal profession, but it also gives realistic glimpses into prison life. We are Cat. We feel her pain. We root for her all the way. Hers isn't the only story Singer chronicles. Attorney Quinn Newburg, an expert in the insanity defense, is facing his own demons. He's given almost equal page time with Cat, and he also becomes a full, three-dimensional character, the true sign of great writing.
There's a lot going on in this novel, but Singer handles the twists and turns with skill. A sub-plot involving a greedy casino owner gets a little complicated, but it is needed to bring the story full circle. Spiritually, Singer has taken the light-handed route. Scriptural truths are woven throughout. A psychiatrist witness is clearly but not blatantly a Christian. Story takes center stage.
Singer has crafted a masterful piece of fiction in By Reason of Insanity, and we're wondering until the very end whether Cat truly is sane. There's no skimping on the ending either. Everything is brought together in ways you'll never guess.
The verdict is in---Randy Singer is guilty of writing some of the best legal fiction on the market....more
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