My Review - Stratagem by Robin Caroll

4 out of 5 stars

STRATAGEM by Robin Caroll is an enjoyable whodunit, that keeps you on your toes.

Grayson Thibodeaux is a psychologist who uses his skills to set up mind-bending games for corporations looking for team building exercises. He’s good at what he does, so good in fact, his ex-wife’s company hires his team to organize a game that will decide the companies next promotion. But when Grayson’s ex-wife dies during the game, he becomes the main suspect. Though his ex-wife treated him cruelly, Grayson still loved her, but convincing the police of his innocence is proving to be harder than he thought.

I thoroughly enjoyed STRATAGEM. The keen character development enriched an already suspenseful story, and the police interviews were a great way to get to know each person involved. The escape room/team building format made for a unique setting and an intriguing plot. Even though there was plenty of suspects to choose from, I figured out the killer early in the book, but that did not lessen my enjoyment. Definitely a captivating story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My Review - Lethal Target by Janice Cantore

4.5 out of 5 stars

LETHAL TARGET – A great follow-up to CRISIS SHOT!

Though it was difficult circumstances that led Police Chief Tess O’Rourke to Rogue’s Hollow, she’s beginning to settle in and think of it as home. Like any small town, it has its quirks, and characters, and local politics, but overall, it’s a close-knit community. That’s why the legalization of pot farms and the possibility of selling marijuana within the city limits is causing turmoil in the sleepy town. However, when a teenager is found dead from what appears to be an opioid overdose, Tess is afraid she has an even bigger problem. Without any leads, and a troublemaker from her past taunting her publicly, the citizens of Rogue’s Hollow begin to question Tess’s ability to police the town properly. When a murder points to Tess as the perpetrator, her career begins to spiral. And if that isn’t enough, her relationship with a fellow police officer has hit the skids because of her unwillingness to commit.

Pastor Oliver Macpherson offers a sympathetic ear and a sounding board while Tess struggles. He knows the death of her father, and her loss of faith in God are stumbling blocks preventing her from moving forward, but also sensitive subjects she doesn’t want to talk about. Navigating a friendship with Tess has its boundaries, but Oliver is willing to wait for her to come around.

Juggling personal, professional, and political turmoil, Tess finds herself questioning everything.

Once again, Janice Cantore uses her experience as a retired police officer to pen a believable, plot driven story. Though LETHAL TARGET can be read as a standalone novel, you’ll learn more about the characters by reading CRISIS SHOT. There are several secondary characters that add to the backbone of the story and the community of Rogue’s Hollow, some you’ll like-some you won’t. My only negative is the Fiction/Romance/Suspense label. There wasn’t enough romance to garner its inclusion. I was even disappointed to find out the relationship that was established in the previous book didn’t make it to this one. Other than that, a good police read for anyone who is interested in the genre.

I received a complimentary copy of LETHAL TARGET from Tyndale Publishing, with no obligations to write a review. My opinions are solely my own.