T.J. Brearton

Next To Die by T.J. Brearton @BreartonTJ @bookouture #blogblitz #NextToDie

~ noveldeelights ~ 8 Comments

Delighted to host a stop on the blog blitz for Next To Die by T.J. Brearton today! Many thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for the opportunity and my review copy.

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Author : T.J. Brearton
Title : Next To Die
Pages : 364
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : February 16, 2018

aboutthebook

When a social worker is brutally murdered, Detectives Mike Nelson and Lena Overton are straight on the scene. But with a long list of potential suspects, can they work out who’s next before the killer strikes again?

It’s Lake Haven’s first murder in eighteen years, and the community is terrified – especially Bobbi, who was not only supposed to be on duty that night, but also has the same long dark hair as Harriet and drives the same blue car. Now Bobbi lives in constant fear that the murderer will be back for her.

When Mike and Lena make a link to a missing-persons case and uncover a wide-spread grudge against social services, they know they’re close to uncovering the killer – but can they connect the last few dots and stop him before he takes another victim?

mythoughts

When a social worker is found brutally murdered in her car, investigators have a long list of suspects and questions. Why would anyone want Harriet dead? Does it have to do with her job? Is there another reason someone wanted her out of the way? Or was it a case of mistaken identity and did the wrong person die? The murder has left the small town of Lake Haven reeling as nothing like this has happened in almost two decades.

Well now, if you’re looking for something that will have you guessing until the end, then this is it. I had no idea where this tale was going at all. Dead ends, twists, red herrings … I mean, never mind investigators having a long list of suspects. I had NO suspects whatsoever! Not even the tiniest clue! If I’d been a detective, they would have asked for my badge and probably wondered how I made it through the detective exams in the first place. Luckily Detectives Nelson and Overton are on the case, on the hunt for a killer before get a chance to strike again.

I can’t say I warmed all too much to the various characters but the plot was so utterly gripping that I didn’t care. Not having a particular character to root for didn’t ruin my enjoyment of this thrilling story at all. Just goes to show that your dislike of characters isn’t always the be all and end all of a book. When a plot is as compelling as this one, you’ll keep reading regardless. Lesson learned.

Not only is this a murder investigation but Next To Die also highlights a topic I never really gave much thought. How much danger do social workers put themselves in on a daily basis to keep children safe? Thought-provoking for sure and I always love it when a story makes me learn something new or makes me think.

This is another fantastic, thrilling and suspenseful book by T.J. Brearton. Personally, I feel it’s his best one yet and I look forward to whatever is next.

Next To Die is available now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

T.J. Brearton is the author of thirteen published novels of crime fiction, including detective thrillers, police procedurals, psychological suspense, and one paranormal crime story. His eBooks have been best-sellers on the Amazon kindle fiction Top 100 list. He lives in the Adirondacks with his wife and three children where he writes full time.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

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This Week in Books (February 14)

~ noveldeelights ~ 18 Comments

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Hosted by Lipsy Lost and Found, my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I’m reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.

Last book I finished reading

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When a social worker is brutally murdered, Detectives Mike Nelson and Lena Overton are straight on the scene. But with a long list of potential suspects, can they work out who’s next before the killer strikes again?

It’s Lake Haven’s first murder in eighteen years, and the community is terrified – especially Bobbi, who was not only supposed to be on duty that night, but also has the same long dark hair as Harriet and drives the same blue car. Now Bobbi lives in constant fear that the murderer will be back for her…

When Mike and Lena make a link to a missing-persons case and uncover a wide-spread grudge against social services, they know they’re close to uncovering the killer – but can they connect the last few dots and stop him before he takes another victim?

The book I’m currently reading

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At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed–again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend–but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

What I’m reading next

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Henning Juul sits in a boat on a dark lake. A man with a gun sits opposite him. At the man’s feet is a body that will be soon be dumped into the water. Henning knows that the same fate awaits him. And he knows that it’s his own fault. Who started the fire that killed Henning’s young son? How is his sister, Trine, involved? Most importantly, who can be trusted?

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I have to say The Seven Deaths is one of the weirdest books I’ve ever read but so far, it’s also incredibly good and totally worth the wait. It’s like Agatha Christie on crack 😄.

What are you reading this week? Let me know! Happy reading! xx

Gone Missing by T.J. Brearton @bookouture

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** advanced copy received via publisher **

Welcome to the blog blitz bonanza for Gone Missing by T.J. Brearton! Many thanks to Kim Nash and Bookouture for the opportunity to join. Make sure you check out all the other awesome bloggers who are participating!

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Author : T.J. Brearton
Title : Gone Missing
Pages : 386
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : November 16, 2017

aboutthebook

Katie Calumet is on an early-morning run when she hears a baby crying. The park is deserted, and there’s no one in the street. She follows the cries, but then everything goes black. When Katie wakes up, she’s blindfolded and her hands and feet are bound.

Detective Justin Cross takes on the case, but with the trail leading into endless dense forest, and a failing marriage weighing on his mind, finding Katie is his most challenging case yet – not least because the Calumet family are keeping secrets of their own.

Justin and Katie face a race against time that will push them both to their very limits. As Justin works day and night to discover who took her and why, Katie fights desperately to escape from her kidnappers and the forest that surrounds her…

Can Justin find her before it’s too late?

mythoughts

One morning, out on a jog, Katie Calumet thinks she can hear a baby crying. She sets out to investigate but things go horribly wrong when she finds herself trapped in a van with two men who obviously don’t have the best intentions.

When Katie’s husband reports her missing, Detective Cross takes up the case. Initially, there are few clues to help the investigation along but they do all point to premeditation. Was Katie taken because she comes from a wealthy family? Will there be a ransom demand? Will Katie be found alive?

The chapters in this story alternate between Detective Cross and Katie. Personally, I found Katie’s chapters the more gripping as she struggled to survive her ordeal. Surrounded by dense forests with a limited supply of food and water and the threat of coyotes at every turn, I found that whole experience quite frightening and thought-provoking. I kept asking myself what I would do. Try to make a run for it or stay put?

That doesn’t mean the investigation into her disappearance left me cold. There’s plenty here to keep you reading as Detective Cross hits multiple dead ends and is pushed to his limits, all the while trying to deal with his failed marriage. But for me, it was Katie’s experience that made me flip the pages just that little bit faster.

T.J. Brearton delivers another well-paced story with an interesting plot and a few twists and turns and even managed to make me like one of the bad guys. With a healthy dose of tension and suspense, this crime thriller will most surely keep you hooked.

Gone Missing is out today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

T. J. Brearton’s books have been on the top 100 list for Amazon Kindle. He is the author of thirteen novels, including HABIT, SURVIVORS, DAYBREAK, and BLACK SOUL (the Titan series), BURIED SECRETS, GONE MISSING, and coming soon – NEXT TO DIE.

DEAD GONE is the first book in a southwest Florida crime series featuring Special Agent Tom Lange, THE PROTECTOR (working title) is second. Other works include the gritty crime thrillers GONE, DARK WEB and DARK KILLS.

The books are published by Joffe Books and Bookouture – a division of Hachette Livre.

He lives in the Adirondacks with his wife and three children where he writes full time, takes out the trash, and competes with his kids for his wife’s attention. If you’d like to see what he’s up to, visit tjbrearton.com

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Buried Secrets by T.J. Brearton @bookouture #blogblitz

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Author : T.J. Brearton
Title : Buried Secrets
Pages : 328
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : August 18, 2017

aboutthebook

There’s more than bones hidden at the Larson house…

Newlyweds Brett and Emily Larson have just moved into a new home deep in the countryside, and are overjoyed when Emily finds out she’s pregnant. Then they discover human bones in their garden.

As the police start to investigate, three things become clear:

The bones are recent.
They are not here by accident.
They are a message.

As the situation escalates, can Brett and Emily keep one step ahead to protect themselves – and their unborn child?

mythoughts

All he wanted to do was raise a family. Grow a garden.

Newlyweds Brett and Emily have just moved to the countryside. But when Brett starts digging to prepare their new vegetable garden, he stumbles upon human bones and soon they find themselves in a whole heap of trouble. Meanwhile, Russo is sent to jail because he can’t afford to pay an outstanding fine. Someone makes him an offer he can’t quite refuse. How far will he go to protect his family?

As a bit of a gardener myself, remind me never to start digging. It’s quite a believable scenario in that you never know what you may find. Roman relics, treasure or hey presto, a skeleton. To have this young family find themselves in a situation that utterly spirals out of their control, was incredibly compelling and you can’t help but feel for them. For me though, I think Russo was the more interesting character. He’s desperately trying to do the right thing as he now has a wife and child he doesn’t want to lose but circumstances are against him and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his family safe.

Buried Secrets is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller. It sort of reminded me of the good old fashioned cops and robbers stories with a dash of mafia thrown in. There are a few good guys and a whole lot of bad guys. The first part of the book is a little slow going as the scene is set and the characters are introduced but the second half will blow you away. There’s quite a lot going on to keep track of but it’s all insanely engrossing. This is quite an intense ride with plenty of twists, some I saw coming but one in particular was positively brilliant and took me completely by surprise! T.J. Brearton is one to watch!

Many thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to join the blitz tour and for my advanced copy, which I received via Netgalley and chose to review honestly!

Buried Secrets was published on August 18th.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

T.J. Brearton is the author of eight published novels of crime fiction, including detective thrillers, police procedurals, psychological suspense, and one paranormal crime story. His eBooks have been best-sellers on the Amazon kindle fiction Top 100 list. He lives in the Adirondacks with his wife and three children where he writes full time.

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photo Buried Secrets - Blog Tour.jpeg