Category Archives: Crime

Book Blitz: The Key to Death’s Door by Mark Tilbury

Posted on by under Book Blitz, Crime, Thriller

Back in 2018, I reviewed this novel when it first came out. Now, it has a brand-spanking-new cover! But it’s still the same AMAZING book inside! Check it out!

Blog-blitz

thekeytodeathsdoor coverTitle: The Key to Death’s Door

Author: Mark Tilbury

Genre: Supernatural Thriller

Blurb: 

If you could discover the murderous truth of a past life and seek justice in this one, would you?

Teenager Lee Hunter doesn’t have a choice when he nearly drowns after spending the night at a derelict boathouse with his best friend, Charlie Finch. After leaving his body and meeting a mysterious light that lets him to go back to the past, Lee finds himself reliving the final days of another life. A life that ended tragically.

After recovering from his near death experience, Lee begins to realise that he is part of two lives linked by the despicable actions of one man.

Struggling against impossible odds, Lee and Charlie set out to bring this man to justice.

Will Lee be able to unlock the past and bring justice to the future?

The Key to Death’s Door is a story of sacrifice, friendship, loyalty and murder.

Review:
fivestars

I’ve been following Mark Tilbury since The Revelation Room, and his novels only seem to be getting creepier and creepier, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Again, as with Abattoir of Dreams, Tilbury explores the supernatural (definitely his forte in the crime/thriller genre). Tilbury’s descriptions are so vivid, you almost can picture yourself there. I found it hard to put this book down, and then again, there were parts where I HAD to put it down, almost too terrified to pick it up again, hoping things would all work out for the best. No spoilers, but this is definitely on my top reads this year, and I can’t wait to see what disturbing tale he comes up with next.

About the Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.

He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have his fifth novel, The Key to Death’s Door published along with The Liar’s Promise, The Abattoir of Dreams, and The Ben Whittle Investigations relaunched, by Bloodhound Books.

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.

Social Media Links:

https://twitter.com/MTilburyAuthor

http://marktilbury.com/

https://www.facebook.com/marktilburyauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13926121.Mark_Tilbury

Book Blast: The Madness of Mercury by Connie di Marco

Posted on by under Book Blast, Crime

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Connie di Marco will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Zodiac Mysteries feature San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti, who never thought murder would be part of her practice. Julia sought answers and found solace in astrology after the death of her fiancé in a hit and run accident. Since then, she’s successfully built a clientele of the city’s movers and shakers.

In The Madness of Mercury, Julia’s outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, makes her the target of a recently-arrived cult preacher who advocates love and compassion to those less fortunate. But the power-hungry preacher is waging war on sin and his Army of the Prophet will stop at nothing to silence those who would stand in his way. Julia is at the top of his list.

Review:
fivestarsA brilliant crime thriller set in San Francisco, a place near and dear to my own heart, being from the Bay Area, The Madness of Mercury follows Astrologer Julia Bonatti as she’s unwittingly wrapped up in a religious cult’s plot to embezzle money out of its followers under the guise of good, Christian charity.

I absolutely adored this book, not only because it was set in my home state, but because the characters were vivid and unique, very much like the city itself. I look forward to exploring di Marco’s other Julia Bonatti novels and would highly recommend this to crime fans.

Excerpt

Wizard had curled into a fetal position on top of a fuzzy throw close to the fireplace. The wind was buffeting the windows so hard the rain sounded like gravel being thrown against the glass. The logs were blazing and I thanked my stars I could snuggle inside tonight with Wizard and work.

Samantha had forwarded about fifty emails from the newspaper to my own AskZodia email address. As a weekly column, there was space for only three or four questions and answers, but now, the editor was considering running it as a daily feature. To keep the column interesting to as large a group of readers as possible, I like to pick a range of ages and problems.

My first pick was a letter from an older man forced into retirement.

Dear Zodia

I’ve worked as a bookkeeper in the corporate world my entire life. I’m 65 and my company forced me to retire. I’m in decent shape financially. I have a good pension and savings, but I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve tried to find part-time work but no luck. I’ve never felt so lost and useless. Do you see any kind of work on the horizon for me? My birth date is May 4, 1944 at 10:43 PM in Baltimore.
~- Discarded

Poor guy. Worked his whole life and now shoved aside. The man’s birth chart showed Venus as the oriental planet, that is, the planet rising first before the Sun, a position that can sometimes offer a strong clue to the profession. This man was a natural artist, perhaps a craftsman, with his Mars in Virgo. He was someone with artistic yearnings and capable of patient, detailed work.

Dear Discarded:

Your true artistic abilities have never been recognized, much less nourished. A whole new world can open up for you if you would pursue some form of craftsmanship to produce beautiful things. Jewelry design, working in precious metals, is just one possibility that comes to mind. Please take some classes, perhaps at a local university extension and try your hand. I think you’ll be amazed at your abilities and imagination. Believe me, you won’t look back.

~ Zodia

I worked through several more questions and responses and then saved them all. This was hardly a perfect way to practice astrology, but hopefully, my quick judgments and answers would be spot on and help someone head in the right direction. I clicked back to the inbox and realized three more emails had arrived while I had been working.

I didn’t recognize the various senders. My AskZodia address had been set up only for Samantha, but these new emails weren’t from her. My private clients use Julia.Bonatti and my friends use JuliaB. None of them would even know of my AskZodia address. I hesitated. I’m a hopeless non-techie person and rely on my computer for business so I’m very fearful of viruses. I clicked on the button to open the reading pane and scrolled down. A jolt of fear shot through me. The message read, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

About the Author:
Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti. The Madness of Mercury, the first book in the series will be re-released in October 2020.

Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

Website: http://www.conniedimarco.com
Blog: http://www.conniedimarco.com/blog
Facebook: “https://www.facebook.com/zodiacmysteries/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/askzodia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1r4fl4U

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K3JT8P1/ref=dp-kindle-redirect
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-madness-of-mercury-connie-di-marco/1123116591

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Blog Tour: The Last on to See Her by Mark Tilbury

Posted on by under Blog Tour, Crime, Thriller

thelastonetoseeher-ebookTitle: The Last One to See Her

Author: Mark Tilbury

Blurb:

He says he is innocent. So why did he lie?

Mathew Hillock was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive. When her dead body turns up four days later in his garden shed, the police think he’s guilty of her murder. So do most people in the town. But there’s no DNA evidence to link him to the crime.  

Battling the weight of public opinion and mental illness due to a childhood head trauma, he sinks into a deep depression. 

Can Mathew do what the police failed to do and find evidence linking the real killer to the crime?

The Last One to See Her is a terrifying story of what happens when you’re accused of a crime and no one believes you are innocent.

Review:
fivestarsMARK TILBURY IS BACK, BABY!
I have to say, I was blown out of the water by this one. Not since Abattoir of Dreams have I been so captivated by a Tilbury novel (not to say they weren’t good!). Raising it up a notch with a protagonist who has learning disabilities to a twist and turn plot that left me guessing, this is a must read for any crime thriller fan. Get it on your kindle, NOW!

Mark Tilbury Author PicAbout the Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. 

After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. 

He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had seven novels published by Bloodhound Books. His latest novel, The Last One To See Her will be published 4th June 2020.

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

Follow Him at:

E-mail newsletter subscription: http://eepurl.com/bNSvJn
Twitter: @MTilburyAuthor

 

Blog Tour: The Coop

Posted on by under Blog Tour, Bloodhound Books, Crime

After a much needed break, I’m happy to be blogging again! I’d like to introduced The Coop, a new release from independent publisher, Bloodhound Books.

coop revisedTitle: The Coop

Author: EC Deacon

Blurb: When a woman staggers, naked, from a river, she has no idea that she’s been
saved from a killer by a text message from a dead woman.
Laura Fell is horrified when she discovers of her friend Gina’s suicide. But when the
autopsy reveals Gina died before her arrival at the house, she is perplexed. Who then
answered her mobile phone?
Everton Bowe, a cop whose career is as dead as his marriage, insists there was no-one
else present. But he’s wrong.
Meanwhile, his ex-lover, DC Helen Lake, insists there are similarities between the
traumatized river woman and the cold case of three missing women; the victims, she
fears, of a serial killer.
So, when a strange Dove’s feather, matching one found on the river victim, is found
in Gina’s house, Everton and Helen are suspicious.
If there was someone inside Gina’s house could he also be the river attacker?
And could he also be responsible for the other missing women?
At the same time, Laura Fell uncovers a web of deceit that stains the relationships
around her and seems weirdly linked to Gina’s death, as well as the attacked woman.
Is there a serial killer on the loose?
If so, what is his motive, and the macabre significance of the feather?

Review:

There are several things that I have come to expect from any Bloodhound book — a well-presented story with an interesting serial killer and suspense or psychological twists. However, there were a few things that prevented me from enjoying the novel as much as I could. This one took some time to get into. I found it difficult to follow the story at times with the number of characters introduced right at the beginning and jumping around to them frequently. I could tell the author was used to writing screenplays as the novel often read better as a movie, when the scenes can change without much description.

Another bugbear of mine has to do with the description of women. We do not stand in front of mirrors inspecting our bodies and then rubbing lotion into our skin. Sorry, that just doesn’t happen!

However, in saying that, I did enjoy the quick read and the twist at the end, and would most likely read other novels by Deacon in the future.

About the Author:

ERIC COOPEric had a successful acting career, playing leading roles in TV and film
including, Penmarric and Kings Royal for the BBC. London’s Burning and Hard Cases for ITV. His films include the lead role in Peter Greenaway’s controversial A Zed and Two Noughts. He started writing screenplays after a family illness and found almost immediate success. His scripts include the Bafta nominated, Prime Suspect and the multi IFTA nominated Relative Strangers, starring another Oscar winner,
Brenda Fricker. His short film Engaged, which he wrote and directed, was short-listed for the Fuji Film and BBC awards. Whilst Orla’s Song won the Best
Horror UK Award.

Eric has four – yes, four – screenplays in development (hell). Which is probably
why he started writing novels. The Coop is his first and will form the basis of a
trilogy.

He has two sons, both working successfully in the television and film industry.
Eric is divorced and lives in Esher with his partner, in a house once occupied by
the Judge that jailed Oscar Wilde – which may or may not be a good omen for
his work.

Blog Blitz: No Place Like Home

Posted on by under Blog Tour, Bloodhound Books, Crime, Thriller

Rebecca Muddiman - No Place Like Home_coverTitle: No Place Like Home

Author: Rebecca Muddiman

Blurb:

What would you do if you came home to find someone in your house?
This is the predicament Polly Cooke faces when she returns to her new home.The first weeks in the house had been idyllic, but soon Jacob, a local man, is watching her.
What does he want and why is he so obsessed with Polly?
In a situation where nothing is what it seems, you might end up regretting letting some people in.

Review:

fivestars
I don’t give five star reviews lightly. However, this is one prime exception. No Place Like Home starts out with the reader going on a journey. Polly returns from her job to find that a man is watching her. However, as the story progresses, Muddiman introduces a number of twists and by the end, we’re wondering if we should have seen it coming all along. While the timeline does jump from past to present, I didn’t find the transitions jarring at all. She has an amazing gift for weaving together a believable, yet unbelievable plot line, leaving you thinking about the story long after the last sentence is written. In this case, can you really trust someone? I will definitely be looking for more novels by this author in the future.

rebecca+muddimanAbout the Author:

Rebecca Muddiman was born and raised in the North East and worked in the NHS for many years. She has published four crime novels – Stolen, Gone, Tell Me Lies, and Murder in Slow Motion. Stolen won a Northern Writers Award in 2010 and the Northern Crime Competition in 2012. She is also a screenwriter and was selected for the London Screenwriters Festival Talent Campus in 2016.
Most of her spare time is spent re-watching Game of Thrones, trying to learn Danish, and dealing with two unruly dogs. Sometimes all at the same time.

Blog Feature: Val Penny

Posted on by under Author Feature, Crime

Hunter's Chase banner

Today on Eclectic Ramblings, I’m featuring author Val Penny and her newest release, Hunter’s Revenge! How awesome to find another American writing crime who lives in Scotland! Now, I’ve not read this one, but it looks amazing, so I’ll be adding it to my MASSIVE TBR list! Thanks for stopping by, Val! ♥

Hunter's Revenge CoverTitle: Hunter’s Revenge (The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries)

Author: Val Penny

Blurb: 

Hunter by name – Hunter by nature: DI Hunter Wilson will not rest until his friend’s death is revenged.

DI Hunter Wilson is called to the scene of a murder. He is shocked to find the victim is his friend and colleague, George Reinbold. Who would want to harm the quiet, old man? Why was a book worth £23,000 delivered to him that morning? Why is the security in George’s home so intense? Hunter must investigate his friend’s past as well as the present to identify the killer and identify George’s killer. Hunter also finds a new supply of cocaine from Peru flooding HMP Edinburgh and the city. The courier leads Hunter to the criminal gang but Hunter requires the help of his nemesis, the former Chief Constable, Sir Peter Myerscough and local gangster Ian Thomson to make his case. Hunter’s perseverance and patience are put to the test time after time in this taught crime thriller.

 

Reasons to Write a Crime Novel

 

People like crime, at least in novels! Often, I meet dentists and bank managers with clever plot ideas, or nurses who read every crime novel they can lay their hands on. If I visit a writing group, there are always members keenly producing new murderous plots. Lawyers and convicts show equal enthusiasm for this genre. For those who want to write a crime novel, there are several reasons to want to do so. Here are a few of them.

Emotional Release

Often, those who write crime novels find an emotional release in their craft. Crime novelists deal with the dark things that people usually push to the side of their minds in order to get on with every day life. The cathartic attraction of writing can be decisive.

Some crime authors tell of poor sleep patterns, punctured by night-mares that are repaired when they start to write. Others, panic, constantly scanning doorways for signs of danger. The stiffening fear that afflicts them resolves when they are busy writing crime.

The Story-Telling Urge

The sources for crime novels are many and varied. Ideas can spring from the news and current affairs; memories from the past and historical events or things that puzzle or fascinate the writer. Once an author begins to exercise their creative muscles, they often find that they run into stories demanding to be told. The stories demand to be told and will not stop coming.

For Companionship

It is often said that writers can be difficult people: gloomy, competitive and quarrelsome. However, for the most part, I have found crime writers to be an inclusive and convivial bunch. They are certainly hard-working. The pressure of producing a book a year is intense, yet they never seem to turn their backs on fun. If you have a chance to go to a crime-writers’ convention, do take it. They are exhausting, exhilarating and irresistible.

An Outlet for Aggression

Most crime-writers will tell you that they are good company because they channel all their belligerent thoughts into their stories, so in real life, the authors are meek and mild. It is not always true, but I can confirm the a crime novel is an excellent place to park your rage! The prospect of giving vent to righteous anger in a safe form can be a particularly pleasing device. When characters require to act in a violent way or commit violence the reader is willing to witness this on the page but they would shy from it in real life. Crime writers can let rip on the page in a way they avoid doing in the real world.

The Thrill of Research

I can personally confirm that the research you do for crime novels and for academic purposes are equally satisfying. It is also extremely diverse. It may involve visiting prisons, refuges, police stations or drug dens. Police are often very willing to be of assistance to crime writers, even if it is just to avoid being irritated when otherwise the writers would get police procedures wrong. This information is most useful and helpful. Indeed, when you are writing a novel, no information or experience is wasted!

Val Penny

author pic 2About the Author:

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, ‘Hunter’s Chase’ and Hunter’s Revenge are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The third book in the series, Hunter’s Force, follows shortly.

Author contact details:

www.authorvalpenny.com

www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739

www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303

https://twitter.com/valeriepenny

myBook.to/HuntersChase

myBook.to/HuntersRevenge

Blog Blitz: The Doomsday Girl

Posted on by under Blog Tour, Bloodhound Books, Crime

Dave Stanton - The Doomsday Girl_cover_high resTitle: The Doomsday Girl

Author: Dave Stanton

Genre: Crime/Private Investigator

Blurb:

Melanie Jordan’s life seemed perfect. Until masked intruders arrive at her house, demanding gold she doesn’t have. A savage blow to the head puts her in a coma and when Melanie regains consciousness, she learns her husband has been murdered and her ten-year-old daughter is missing.
Private Eye Dan Reno begins investigating, but nothing about the case makes sense. Was there gold at the house or wasn’t there? Was Melanie’s husband hiding something? And what happened to Melanie’s daughter?
To complicate things, the case leads to Las Vegas, where Reno’s loose-cannon friend, Cody Gibbons, is trying to repair his relationship with his college-aged daughter, an intern with Las Vegas P.D.
When clues implicate Russian mobsters and a mysterious African illegal, Reno tries to stay in the shadows, but once the criminals feel the noose tightening, they raise the stakes to a deadly level.

Review:

fivestars
I have to say, this is my favorite Dan Reno novel to date. I really love how complete the storyline felt, and it kept me hanging on to the very last page. I found it especially realistic how Melanie goes through stages of disassociation, which is very common with victims of traumatic crime, so it was nice to see that element tied in. I also liked the little teaser at the end, and can’t wait to see what happens to Reno and Gibbons next! This novel is a standalone, but as always, it does help to read the ones prior for a better character picture.

Dave+StantonAuthor Bio:

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960, Dave Stanton moved to Northern California in 1961. He attended San Jose State University and received a BA in journalism in 1983. Over the years, he worked as a bartender, newspaper advertising salesman, furniture mover, debt collector, and technology salesman. He has two children, Austin and Haley, and lives with his wife, Heidi, in San Jose, California.

Stanton is the author of six novels, all featuring private investigator Dan Reno and his ex-cop buddy, Cody Gibbons.

Links:

www.facebook.com/DanRenoNovels

@DanRenoNovels

danrenonovels.com/

B L O G B L I T Z

Blog Blitz: Game Players

Posted on by under Bloodhound Books, Crime

GAME PLAYERSTitle: Game Players

Author: Anita Waller

Blurb:

When a gang of six children playing in their den in the woods spot a man burying drugs nearby, it marks the beginning of the end of their childhoods.

Unsure what to do, the children dig up the drugs and take them away. But when the dealer, who they watched bury the stash, shows up dead, the youngsters are thrown into turmoil.

Scared of what might happen, the children tell the police about the body they have discovered.

Meanwhile, a group of gangsters start searching for their missing drugs.

Soon the children and their families become the target of the vicious criminals who will stop at nothing to retrieve their narcotics…

Review:
fivestars

Every time I read something by Anita Waller, I am further impressed with her ability to weave an emotional and suspenseful plot. Game Players was no exception. From the beginning, the reader is drawn into the world of these children and holds their breath every step of the way as the story twists and turns. You will cry, you will yell, but you will also love this novel. Waller has an amazing skill to grab you and keep you interested until the very last page. Five stars and keep ’em coming!

unnamed (1)About the Author: 

Anita Waller was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1946. She married Dave in 1967 and they have three adult children.

She began writing when she was around 8 years of age, writing ‘compositions’ at junior school that became books with chapters.

In 1995 she sent Beautiful to a publisher and as they reached the contract stage the publisher went into liquidation. As a result, the book was consigned to the attic in dejected disgust but in 2013 it was dragged out again for an enforced complete re-type. The original was written on an Amstrad 8256 and the only thing that remained was one hard copy.

Anita is not a typist and it was painfully reworked over two years, submitted to Bloodhound Books who, within three days of reading it, offered her a contract. 31 August 2015 saw its release into the wide world.

Following the outstanding success of Beautiful, she began a sequel on 27 December 2015, finishing it on 19 March 2016. The new novel, Angel, was launched on 7 May 2016.

34 Days followed, with its launch in October 2016. This was a huge success, particularly in the United States. While this, her third book in the psychological thriller genre, was flying out in all directions, she began work on her fourth book.

Winterscroft was a change in genre. It is a supernatural tale, set in Castleton, Derbyshire, and its release date was February 2017.

While she was writing Winterscroft, it became very clear from reading reviews that a sequel to 34 days was needed, and she began work on that. Bloodhound Books launched Strategy, on 10 August 2017.

Her next book, launched February 2018 and entitled Captor, is a psychological thriller, set exclusively in Sheffield. It was an instant success, both in the UK and the US.

The along came Game Players… once more set in Sheffield, the story involves a group of six children who have each other’s backs to a remarkable extent. The darker, criminal side of Sheffield is explored, and the book launch is 18 May 2018.

In her life away from the computer in the corner of her kitchen, she is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter with blue blood in her veins! The club was particularly helpful during the writing of 34 Days, as a couple of matches feature in the novel, along with Ross Wallace. Information was needed, and they provided it.

Her genre is murder – necessary murder.

Links:

Amazon page:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=anita+waller

Facebook page:  @anitawaller2015

Website:  www.anitamayw.wixsite.com/anitawaller

Twitter:   @anitamayw

Other Books by Anita:

Beautiful: www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Anita-Waller-ebook/dp/B014RCH5WM/

Angel: www.amazon.co.uk/Angel-Anita-Waller-ebook/dp/B01DR4USZC/

34 Days: www.amazon.co.uk/34-Days-Anita-Waller-ebook/dp/B01IP6YE0M/

Winterscroft: www.amazon.co.uk/Winterscroft-Anita-Waller-ebook/dp/B06XMY3JD3/

Strategy: www.amazon.co.uk/Strategy-Anita-Waller-ebook/dp/B0748MRBT2/

Captor: www.amazon.co.uk/Captor-gripping-thriller-dont-want-ebook/dp/B079F3J98Y/

Game Players

Blog Blitz: Hard Prejudice

Posted on by under Blog Tour, Bloodhound Books, Crime, Thriller

Dave Stanton - Hard Prejudice_cover_high resTitle: Hard Prejudice

Author: Dave Stanton

Genre: Crime

Blurb:

After evidence disappears from a police locker, a man who is accused of brutally raping a popular actor’s daughter, walks free.

Hired by the actor, private detective Dan Reno’s job seemed simple enough: discover who took the DNA, and why. Problem is, from the beginning of the investigation, neither Reno, the South Lake Tahoe police, nor anyone else have any idea what the motivation could be that see the thug, Duante Tucker, get away with the crime. Not even Reno’s best friend, fellow investigator Cody Gibbons, has a clue.

When Reno and Gibbons tail Tucker, they learn the rapist is linked to various criminals and a deserter from the U.S. Marine Corps. But they still can’t tell who would want him set free, and for what reason.

Things get murkier when Tucker visits an Arabic restaurant whose owners are suspected terrorists. Then Cody’s ex-boss, a San Jose police captain, is found to with Tucker’s sister.

The clues continue to build until Reno and Cody find themselves targeted, which tells Reno he’s getting close.

The forces of evil are running out of time, and the action reaches a boiling point before an explosive conclusion that reveals a sinister plot and motivations that Reno could never have imagined.

Review:
fivestars
Ah, Dan Reno, how I adore you stories (and not just because of the setting, being a California girl myself)! I’ve been keeping up with the Dan Reno novels since Stateline, but this is the first time I’ve been on the blog tour for one! Although it can be read as a standalone, it definitely helps to know the background of Private Investigator Dan Reno, so definitely start with the first book. As always, Stanton does not disappoint. From beginning to end, I was completely hooked. The characters may seem a bit over the top at times, but it works. Also, Stanton clearly knows his locations as everything is described accurately. I absolutely cannot wait for the next novel!

Dave+StantonAuthor Bio:

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960, Dave Stanton moved to Northern California in 1961. He attended San Jose State University and received a BA in journalism in 1983. Over the years, he worked as a bartender, newspaper advertising salesman, furniture mover, debt collector, and technology salesman. He has two children, Austin and Haley, and lives with his wife, Heidi, in San Jose, California.

Stanton is the author of six novels, all featuring private investigator Dan Reno and his ex-cop buddy, Cody Gibbons.

Links:

www.facebook.com/DanRenoNovels

Twitter: @DanRenoNovels

danrenonovels.com/

Women’s History: The First Female FBI Agent

Posted on by under Crime, History

Much like my post on Female Soldiers During the American Civil War, I like to give a bit of historical background to the novels I write. Female FBI agents are very prevalent in the United States today, making up 19% of the bureau’s special agents. This left me curious. When did women first start working for this elite agency?

As a tie in to my novel, The Fairest of Them, I decided to delve into the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, a.k.a the FBI. According to their website, the FBI stemmed from a special group of law enforcement agents, founded during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. He teamed with Attorney General Charles Bonaparte in 1908 to lay the foundations to what would later become the FBI. In 1918, with the end of WWI, the group of Special Agents was renamed the “Bureau of Investigations.”

davidson_alaska_10-44-33_am

Alaska Packard Davidson

But this isn’t a history lesson on the formation of the FBI! I’m here to tell you about women in the FBI! The history on this subject is sparse, but one name I found was Alaska Packard Davidson. She served as a special agent from October 1922 to June 1924. She was 54 years old when she was appointed. When J. Edgar Hoover took over the Bureau, Davidson, along with several other female agents were dismissed.

Hoover is only known to have hired one female Special Agent during his entire term in office. That was Lenore Huston, an agent from 1924-1928.

lenore-huston

Lenore Huston’s credentials

After, according to the FBI’s website:

On July 17, 1972, the first two women of the modern era entered the FBI Training Academy at Quantico, Virginia. Fourteen weeks later they emerged as special agents. Over the next 40 years, women agents reshaped the Bureau, achieving leadership posts across the U.S. and around the world. This series looks at their roles, their challenges, and the rewards of a demanding career as a G-woman.

A pretty big gap in history! You can learn more by going to: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/may/women-agents_051612/women-agents_051612

The Fairest of ThemDon’t forget to look for The Fairest of Them, with my own Special Agent Rae Hatting.