Category Archives: GP Putnams Sons

March 1, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: Long Range by C.J. Box

Title: Long Range by C.J. Box
Joe Pickett Series Book Twenty
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 367 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett must investigate an attempted murder–a crime committed from a confoundingly long distance–in the riveting new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box.

When Joe Pickett is asked to join the rescue efforts for the victim of a startling grizzly attack, he reluctantly leaves his district behind. One survivor of the grizzly’s rampage tells a bizarre story, but just as Joe begins to suspect the attack is not what it seems, he is brought home by an emergency on his own turf. Someone has targeted a prominent local judge, shooting at him from a seemingly impossible distance. While the judge was not hit, his wife is severely wounded, and it is up to Joe to find answers–and the shooter.

The search for the would-be assassin becomes personal when Joe’s best friend, Nate Romanowski –just as he’s adjusting to the arrival of his first child–falls under suspicion for the crime. It’s a race against the clock as Joe tries to clear Nate’s name and identify the real shooter, all while deciphering the grizzly encounter. Beset by threats both man-made and natural, the two men must go to great lengths to keep their loved ones safe.

Review:

The twentieth installment in the marvelous Joe Pickett series, Long Range by C.J. Box is an absolutely riveting mystery.

Wyoming Fish and Game Warden Joe Pickett is out of his territory helping Jackson Hole Game Warden Mike Martin locate the body of hunting guide Jim Trenary.  According to out of state hunter Julius Talbot, the two men were suddenly attacked by a bear.  Talbot managed to escape without injury, but Trenary is appears to have mauled to death. The case is puzzling since unprovoked attacks by bears are virtually unheard of. Is this unsettling bear attack an isolated incident or the beginning of a frightening new trend?

Joe is abruptly called back to Twelve Sleep County following the tragic shooting of Judge Hewitt’s wife, Sue.  By all appearances, the Judge was the intended victim and he orders several law enforcement officers including Joe to investigate.  This case is Joe’s first official encounter with newly elected Sheriff Brendan Kapelow. Needless to say, no one, including Pickett, have a favorable impression of the taciturn sheriff who is not interested in anyone else’s input on the investigation.  After checking out his suspects, Joe is confident none of them are involved in the shooting. After visiting the scene of the shooting, Joe makes a shocking discovery and he turns to Nate Romanowski for advice.

Nate and his wife Liv Brannon are enjoying time with their new baby, Kestrel.  Nate is still a little uneasy about settling into regular life. His fears are soon realized after an unpleasant visit by retired FBI Agent Jeremiah Sanburg. After Sanburg delivers disturbing news, Nate becomes extra vigilant in order to keep his family safe. However, trouble is closer than he realizes when incompetent Sheriff Kapelow sets his sights on Nate for the shooting.

Joe turns to his wife Marybeth for important research into some of his hunches.  She unearths some very shocking information that turns the case upside down.  Joe believes he has uncovered the truth about the shooting, but whom can he trust to help him when everything goes sideways?

Long Range is a spellbinding mystery with a clever storyline and atmospheric setting.  Joe, Marybeth and Nate are vibrantly developed and have continued to grow and evolve over the course of this long running series. The investigation into the shooting is quite fascinating and eventually takes a stunning turn.   With breathtaking plans in place to catch a killer, C.J. Box brings this newest addition to the Joe Pickett series to an edge of the seat, adrenaline-laced conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and HIGHLY recommend this spectacular mystery to readers of the genre.

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Filed under CJ Box, Contemporary, GP Putnams Sons, Joe Pickett Series, Long Range, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

February 26, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Evil Men Do by John McMahon

Title: The Evil Men Do by John McMahon
P.T. Marsh Series Book Two
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Son’s
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 367 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The author of The Good Detective delivers a gripping and atmospheric new novel in which a cop takes on a harrowing new case and confronts old personal demons.

What if the one good thing you did in your life doomed you to die?

A hard-nosed real estate baron is dead, and detectives P.T. Marsh and Remy Morgan learn there’s a long list of suspects. Mason Falls, Georgia, may be a small town, but Ennis Fultz had filled it with professional rivals, angry neighbors, and a wronged ex-wife. And when Marsh realizes that this potential murder might be the least of his troubles, he begins to see what happens when ordinary people become capable of evil.

As Marsh and Morgan dig into the case, it becomes clear that Fultz’s death was not an isolated case of revenge. It may be part of a dark web of crimes connected to an accident that up-ended Marsh’s life a couple years earlier–and that now threatens the life of a young child. Marsh veers dangerously off track as his search for clues becomes personal..and brings him to a place where a man’s good deeds turn out to be more dangerous than his worst crimes.

Review:

The Evil Men Do by John McMahon is a riveting small town mystery. This second installment in the P.T. Marsh series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend book one as well.

Detective P.T. Marsh and his partner Detective Remy Morgan find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation after discovering the body of Ennis Fultz. Since the victim lives in an isolated area, they turn to the security footage at a local gas station to zero in on their suspects.  The first person who falls under suspicion is Fultz’s ex-wife Connie who is not exactly forthcoming about her visits with her ex.  Their next possible suspect is  Suzy Kang who works in a local bondage club. But they quickly discover Ennis made several enemies during his long career in real estate. But now that Fultz is retired, P.T. and Remy are uncertain whether this line of inquiry is viable. After a few curious discoveries, the investigation takes an unexpected and personal turn.  With P. T.’s career in serious jeopardy after he makes a few ill-advised decisions, Remy is growing extremely frustrated with her partner. With much at risk, will P. T. and Remy  solve this perplexing case before it is too late?

On the surface, P. T.’s grief over the loss of his beloved wife Lena and son Jonah seems to be abating. He is in a relationship with Medical Examiner Sarah Raines.  His relationship with his father-in-law Marvin is in a good place although P.T. does not spend as much time with him as he would like. P.T. is also now sober but as this latest investigation heats up, his sobriety is tested more than once. As for his career,  P.T. is in the midst of working with the district attorney as they try to settle a civil suit brought him against him.  His stubbornness during negotiations could have unanticipated consequences when the plaintiff ups the ante.

The investigation into Fultz’s murder is yielding few results.  While P.T. and Remy do turn up some promising leads but they are also hitting dead ends.  P.T. is further distracted when Marvin is gravely injured and his life hangs in the balance. Curious about what his father-in-law was involved in, P.T. is absolutely stunned after he uncovers what Marvin was doing at the time of his injury. In growing trouble at work, P. T. is soon taking shocking risks that jeopardize the Fultz investigation, his future with the department and quite possibly his life.

The Evil Men Do is an incredibly engrossing mystery with a clever plot and appealing characters. P.T. is a troubled man who makes reckless choices that could result in devastating consequences.  Remy likes P.T. but she is fast growing irritated with his increasingly out of control behavior. The investigation into Fultz’s murder is intriguing and gradually culminates in a possible conspiracy with far-reaching implications. John McMahon brings this electrifying mystery to a thrilling, nail-biting dénouement. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this action-packed addition the P.T. Marsh series.

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Filed under Contemporary, GP Putnams Sons, John McMahon, Mystery, PT Marsh Series, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Evil Men Do

February 24, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: Firewatching by Russ Thomas

Title: Firewatching by Russ Thomas
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 365 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

A taut and ambitious police procedural debut introducing Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler, a cold case reviewer who lands a high-profile murder investigation, only to find the main suspect is his recent one-night stand . . .

When financier Gerald Cartwright disappeared from his home six years ago, it was assumed he’d gone on the run from his creditors. But then a skeleton is found bricked up in the cellar of Cartwright’s burned-out mansion, and it becomes clear Gerald never left alive.

As the sole representative of South Yorkshire’s Cold Case Review Unit, Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler is not expected to get results, but he knows this is the case that might finally kick start his floundering career. Luckily, he already has a suspect. Unluckily, that suspect is Cartwright’s son, the man Tyler slept with the night before.

Keeping his possible conflict-of-interest under wraps, Tyler digs into the case alongside Amina Rabbani, an ambitious young Muslim constable and a fellow outsider seeking to prove herself on the force. Soon their investigation will come up against close-lipped townsfolk, an elderly woman with dementia who’s receiving mysterious threats referencing a past she can’t remember, and an escalating series of conflagrations set by a troubled soul intent on watching the world burn . . .

Review:

Firewatching  by Russ Thomas is a mesmerizing mystery with a clever storyline and brilliantly developed characters.

Openly gay, Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler is a bit of a loner who works cold cases.  At his boss’s urging, he is attempting to be more be more friendly, so he reluctantly accepts his friend Sally-Ann’s invitation to join her and her mates at a local pub.  He is definitely out of his element so Sally-Ann encourages him to get to know the young man at the bar who is clearly interested in Adam.  Not one for relationships, Adam is not looking for a repeat of their night together.

Reporting to work the next day, Adam learns the Criminal Investigation Division has been called to the scene where workers have discovered a body in the wall of a cellar during a renovation.  The house belongs to local Gerald Cartwright who went missing six years earlier. Adam persuades his boss to let him work the case and Detective Inspector Jim Doggett reluctantly agrees. Tyler’s excitement soon turns to dismay when he discovers his one night stand is Gerald’s son Oscar. Although he knows he should reveal his connection to Oscar, Adam instead convinces himself to keep quiet in order to remain on the case.

The small town of Sheffield is abuzz over the news Gerald’s remains have been unearthed. But Gerald’s neighbors Lily Bainbridge and Edna Burnside are not exactly curious about the investigation. They raised Oscar both before and after his father vanished so they are delighted to seen Oscar again.

Lily is quite upset since she has been receiving distressing letters and she is determined to figure out why someone is targeting her. Edna is in ill health and she is worried about how Lily will get on by herself. She counsels Lily to stay away from the investigation, but will she heed her advice?

Not long after Gerald’s remains have been found, someone begins setting mysterious fires around town. Fire Inspector Paul Enfield thinks there is a connection between the arson and grisly discovery. Doggett is not keen on the idea but Adam believes Paul  might be right. Years earlier, someone set a fire at the Cartwright home and Adam is also troubled by a painting found at the scene.

Adam has also enlisted Constable Amina “Mina” Rabbin to work on the investigation. They painstakingly interview Gerald’s neighbors and friends but they are frustrated at their lack of new information. While Mina lacks confidence due to her lack of experience, she has great instincts. She uncovers pivotal information, but wanting to prove herself, Mina puts herself in a very dangerous situation.

Firewatching is a well-written and engaging mystery but the pacing is sometimes a little slow.  Adam is a fascinating character with a very intriguing backstory. The secondary cast of characters is well-developed and easy to like.  The investigation is a bit of a slow burner but a viable pool of suspects gradually emerge.  With stunning twists and brilliant turns, Russ Thomas brings this outstanding mystery to a nail-biting, edge of the seat conclusion. An impressive debut that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of British police procedurals.  Hope to see more of Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler in future novels.

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Filed under Contemporary, Firewatching, GP Putnams Sons, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Russ Thomas, Suspense

November 27, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

Title: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length:368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Can you fall in love like they do in the movies?

It’s Evie Summers’s job to find out. Because if she can’t convince her film agency’s biggest client, Ezra Chester, to write the romantic-comedy screenplay he owes producers, her career will be over. The catch? He thinks rom-coms are unrealistic–and he’ll only put pen to paper if Evie shows him that it’s possible to meet a man in real life the way it happens on the big screen.

Cynical Evie might not believe in happily ever after, but she’ll do what it takes to save the job that’s been her lifeline . . . even if it means reenacting iconic rom-com scenes in public. Spilling orange juice on a cute stranger? No problem. Leaving her number in books all over London to see who calls? Done. With a little help from her well-meaning friends–and Ben and Anette, the adorable father-daughter duo who keep witnessing her humiliations–Evie is determined to prove she can meet a man the way Sally met Harry. But can a workaholic who’s given up on love find a meet-cute of her very own?

Review:

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters is a charming, humorous romance.

Twenty nine year old Evie Summers is hoping to finally get promoted from assistant to agent. Dangling the promotion, her boss, Monty, assigns her to obtain the long delayed rom-com movie script from Oscar winning screenwriter Ezra Chester. Evie forces a meeting with the narcissistic Ezra who agrees to fulfill his obligation only if she can prove a “meet cute” can culminate with love.  With her job on the line, Evie reluctantly agrees to his conditions and gamely recreates scenes from her favorite rom-coms.  As she writes up her escapades and emails them  to Ezra, she is delighted to discover he is actively writing the script. But Evie is continually frustrated by his refusal to show her the pages he has compiled. With the deadline looming, will Evie fall in love through one of her “meet cutes” and save her job in the process?

Evie’s dream of becoming a screenwriter were quickly dashed years earlier and she is now set on becoming an agent.  She has a great circle of friends but since her move to London, she does not get to see them often enough. They reluctantly support Evie as she begins her meet cutes but their dislike of Ezra does not lessen.

During one of her “meet cute” set ups at a local coffee shop, Evie meets widower Ben and his precocious daughter Anette. She begins to look forward to their weekly meetings, but her relationship with Ben is a bit contentious since he is very disapproving of her “meet cutes”. Anette is a darling little girl who is very mature for her age.  Evie learns just enough about Ben’s background to try to gently nudge him to step out of the quiet life he has created for himself and Anette. But will he resent her interference?

In between her funny escapades, Evie is growing and evolving as she takes a hard look at her career. Is she completely fulfilled working for Monty? Will he follow through and give her the promised promotion when Ezra delivers the script? More importantly, does Evie still want to become an agent?

Would Like to Meet  is an engaging novel with a fun cast of characters. Evie is a plucky heroine but she is a little naive and too trusting.  Ben and Anette are absolutely wonderful and their scenes are quite heartwarming. Ezra is an arrogant jerk who completely takes advantage of Evie. The storyline is creative and clever yet it is also a bit implausible. In true rom-con fashion, Rachel Winters brings the novel to a swoon-worthy conclusion.  I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this entertaining debut to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, GP Putnams Sons, Grace Elliot, Rachel Winters, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Would Like to Meet

August 19, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

Title: The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Romance
Length: 446 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

A provocative love story between a tough Kansas woman on a crooked path to redemption and the unlikeliest of champions, from the New York Times bestselling author of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Zee is nobody’s fairy tale princess. Almost six-foot, with a redhead’s temper and a shattered hip, she has a long list of worries: never-ending bills, her beautiful, gullible sister, her five-year-old nephew, her housebound mother, and her drug-dealing boss.

Zee may not be a princess, but Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and code of honor. Two years ago the voices he hears called him to be Zee’s champion. He’s barely spoken to her since, but he has kept watch, ready to come to her aid.

When an abduction tears Zee’s family apart, she turns to the last person she ever imagined–Gentry–and sets in motion a chain of events that will not only change both of their lives, but bind them to one another forever.

Review:

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood is a dark and gritty novel with a tender, heartwarming romance.

Zhorzha “Zee” Trego is a tough as nails young woman who has lived a hard life. She is the unofficial head of her family as she financially supports her obese hoarder mother, Dot,  her older sister, LaReigne and her five year old nephew Marcus. Zee will do anything (and I do mean anything) to provide for and protect her family. Her world is turned upside down when LaReigne is kidnapped during a prison riot. Convinced her sister is being held against her will by the two prison escapees, Zee takes matters into her own hands in order to bring her sister home safe and sound.  With an unlikely protector by her side, Zee recklessly  sets out on a dangerous journey to save LaReigne, but will her plan succeed?

Zee is a survivor who will do anything to keep her family afloat. Her relationship with her mother is complex and mostly antagonistic.  She, LaReigne and Marcus moved in together after her sister’s divorce and she absolutely adores her nephew.  Zee is pragmatic about keeping a roof over their head and food on their table and she is willing to cross the line when it comes to her family.

While in physical therapy following a motorcycle accident, Zee caught the eye of Gentry Frank. Gentry is on the autism spectrum, speaks in Middle English and believes he is a knight. Proclaiming himself Zee’s protector, he keeps watch over her from a distance. In the aftermath of LaReigne’s kidnapping, Gentry steps in and offers Zee his assistance after she loses her job, apartment and car all at the same time. His interest in Zee is initially not romantic but as they spend time together, their odd relationship gradually turns into a touching romance.

Worried about her sister’s safety, Zee makes an impetuous decision to find LaReigne and bring her home. Although uneasy about bringing Gentry into what could be a dangerous situation, she reluctantly agrees to his request to accompany her. Will their plan to locate LaReigne succeed? Or is their quest doomed to end in failure?

The Reckless Oath We Made is a poignant and thought-provoking novel with an unusual storyline and endearing characters.  Zee is a surprisingly sympathetic character who has a big heart but is also deeply flawed. Gentry is an absolutely delightful young man with a generous and chivalrous spirit. Although initially a little slow moving, it does not take long to get caught up in this clever story.  Readers will be on the edge of the seats as Bryn Greenwood brings this marvelously unconventional novel to a realistic and uplifting conclusion.

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Filed under Bryn Greenwood, Contemporary, GP Putnams Sons, Literary Fiction, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Reckless Oath We Made

July 15, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson

Title:The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 351 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Two women are watching each other.

Phoebe Miller isn’t sure when the rusty car started showing up in the cul-de-sac she calls home, or why its driver would be spying on her. What could be interesting about an unhappy housewife who drowns her sorrows in ice cream and wine and barely leaves her house?

Only one knows why.

When a new family moves in across the street–the exuberant Vicki, who just might become the gossipy best friend Phoebe’s always wanted, and her handsome college-bound son, Jake, who offers companionship of a different variety–Phoebe finds her dull routine infused with the excitement she’s been missing. But with her head turned she’s no longer focused on the woman in the car. And she really should be…

An addictive domestic thriller for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Couple Next Door, The Other Mrs. Miller serves up a delicious brew of dark secrets and stunning plot twists that will keep you captivated until the very last page.

Review:

The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson is a diabolically clever twist-filled mystery.

Phoebe Miller is  wealthy and dissatisfied with her life.  She rarely leaves home and she fills her days by sleeping late, drinking copious amounts of wine, and indulging her craving for ice cream. Her marriage to Wyatt has been in a downward spiral for quite some time. Rejecting his latest suggestion with  brutal (and uncensored) honesty, Phoebe is certain a divorce is in her future. When new neighbors move in across the street, she enjoys brunches and shopping expeditions with her new friend, Vicki Napier.  But it is Vicki’s son Jake who really adds excitement to Phoebe’s life since they are soon embroiled in a red-hot, passion-filled affair.  Meanwhile, all of these activities are taking place under the watchful eye of a mysterious person who is spying on Phoebe.

Phoebe is still reeling from the negative publicity surrounding her wealthy father’s recent death.  The two were never close so she is not exactly mourning him. She is stuck in a rut of her own making but she cannot seem to muster the energy to do drag herself out of her misery. Phoebe is not sure she wants to make an effort to be friends with Vicki, but her new neighbor gives her little choice. She also knows that sleeping with Jake is wrong but she just cannot resist the sexy young man.  How will Phoebe resolve the quandary she finds herself in when the person watching her finally makes a move?

The Other Mrs. Miller is a fiendishly addictive mystery with a cast of disagreeable characters that are surprisingly sympathetic. Chapters from an unknown person’s perspective are quite intriguing and add suspense to the unfolding drama. About midway through the novel, an astonishing plot twist takes this brilliant story in a very unexpected direction. It is surprisingly easy for readers to suspend their disbelief as Allison Dickson brings this mesmerizing mystery to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this innovative novel to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Allison Dickson, Contemporary, GP Putnams Sons, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Other Mrs Miller