The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver

Off-Duty Deputy Sheriff Brynn McKenzie responds to a 911 call far out in the wilderness only to find herself and a terrified survivor of a double homicide running for their lives. The two killers need to ensure there are no witnesses, so both women must die.

With more twists and turns, the story ensures you’ll never see the danger before you feel the knife in your back. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted.

Fans of all-out action, spine-tingling suspense and murder mysteries will love this thriller by award-winning master storyteller, Jeffery Deaver.

The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly

 Lincoin Lawyer, Mickey Haller leaves a celebration and is pulled over by police. When a body is found in the truck of his car, the fight for his life begins both in jail and in the courtroom. Haller must pull out all the stops to fight an aggressive District Attorney who wants to put him away for life and find out who has framed him and why. And time and objections are running out.

This is my first legal thriller by Connelly, and the story was a real runaway. The suspense was non-stop, and the twists came at neck-wrenching speed. There’s no telling how Haller will bail himself out of this one.

The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge

 The Ninja Daughter is the first in the series by Tori Eldridge. Meet Lily Wong. Snarky, in-your-face, no nonsense, kick-ass, modern day Ninja. After the murder of her sister, Lily trained herself to be able to protect those women who cannot help themselves. Instead of the usual diet of wife abusers and drunks, Lily has fallen into something that is far more dangerous.  She caught in between rival street gangs and hired assassins. She must use every lesson her Sensi had passed onto her if she hopes to survive while protecting those she has promised to help.

My love of all things dealing with martial arts goes back to when I was mesmerized with Shogun and Bruce Lee as a teen. Lily fits the bill and now knowing the author’s own background, she creates a thriller that rings true. Here is a fast-paced story that blends the beauty of the orient with the lethal fighting warriors of the past.

Lily definitely has a new fan!

Blood Work by Michael Connelly

 FBI profiler, Terry McCaleb was forced to retire due to a bad heart. After being on a transplant list, he has a successful transplant and is on the road to recovery. Weeks later, as he is healing, he is approached by a woman who claims to be the sister of the woman whose heart now resides in Terry’s chest. The woman who had been murdered in a convenience store robbery. The sister convinces Terry to look into the case as the L.A. Police seem to have set it aside as a cold case.

This starts a high-speed case of a killer who is always one step ahead of Terry. The reason behind the killings will blow the reader away. I guessed at the killer’s identity, but for all the wrong reasons. 

Very satisfying read!

King of the Anglo Saxons (Book #4 Sons of Kings) by Millie Thom

 This is the last installment of the Sons of Kings series and I must admit, I’m going to miss this story line. Book four has the twelve years of relative peace come to an end as the Danes once again set their sights on the rich plunder of England. But in that time, King Alfred has been busy preparing for such a time.

Reading any of Thom’s books is like stepping back into the mist of time. You can hear the cries of the wounded and the clash of sword on shields. Meticulously researched, the story of England’s birth is told in a fast-paced thrilling tale. Fans of Vikings or The Last Kingdom would fall in love with this winning representation of the formation of an Empire.

On Leopard Rock by Wilbur Smith

For the thousands of readers who have enjoyed the action-packed tales of Africa and the courageous people who sought to tame it, by the legendary, Wilbur Smith, you’re in for treat. The Author tells us of his long life and the incidents and trials that shaped him, birth as a man and an author.

He walks the reader through each of his books and speaks of his triumphs and pitfalls as he established himself to be a worldwide bestselling author. For writers, this is an eloquent guide to writing for the love of it, as well as a writing for a living.

The first book of Smith’s that I read was Elephant Song. After falling in love with his storytelling, I read every book he ever wrote and am still excited when the announcement of a new story comes out.

There is much wisdom in this story, and I am sure I will visit time and time again.

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

 Andrea has allowed life to push her around. Always looking to move forward but never having the nerve. She’s thirty-one and still living above her mother’s garage. While having a birthday lunch with her mother, a young man starts shooting up the restaurant. Seeing Andrea’s police dispatcher uniform, he hopes she will stand up against him. But when her mother steps in front of the man and casually kills the man, Andrea realizes that she knows nothing of who her mother truly is.

Now running from the law and other shadowy characters, Andrea needs to piece together her mother’s past to understand what she must do to save them both.

Karin Slaughter in another new author for me (my goal for 2021 is to read new authors) and I was not disappointed. Slaughter has been at the top of the thriller charts for years and I understood why after the first few chapters. The twists and turns throughout the story keep the reader on his/her toes and the pages turn with a mind of their own. I’ll be paying this author another visit, hopefully soon.

Walk the Wire – Amos Decker #5 by David Baldacci

 Decker and his partner Alex Jamison are sent to the North Dakota fracking oil fields to investigate the murder of a young woman. With little clue as to why they have been brought into a local murder case, the two find themselves in a case with multiple layers and suspects.

For fans of Baldacci, you’ll be happy to find that one of his other main characters teams up with Decker on this case. (I won’t ruin the surprise, but it’s a good match)

This is one of my favorite Baldacci stories in a while. His writing and stories are always top-notch, but this one went over the top. Tons of suspense, action and a who-done-it that will have you turning pages until the last chapter.

The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver

Colter Shaw tracks people for rewards. On the trail of two young men wanted for a hate crime, finding them is the easy part. Rather than accept being captured, one of the men throws himself off a cliff, a smile on his face. Troubled, Shaw cannot let this one go. He must find what would cause the man to do that. As he investigates, he finds there is a self-help organization hidden in the mountains that may be the root cause. To prove it, he must join the group to prove whether or not they are a cult.

Tons of suspense and action makes this a fast read. This is my first book By Deaver, but definitely not my last.