#Review ~ Deadly. Set. Vegas. (A Vegas Victory FC Novel, Book 1) by Vanessa M. Knight ~ Romantic Mystery #Mystery @GoddessFish

DEADLY. SET. VEGAS.

Vanessa M. Knight

Genre:

Romantic Mystery

About the Book:

Kennedy Romero is not a murderer. Why is she the only one who believes that? Well, her and her best friend believe it. And, yes, she knows it’s a little coincidental that she arrived in Vegas the same day her best friend’s husband was killed. But she swears she had nothing to do with it.

Unfortunately, Vegas Metro has other ideas—and they all lead to Kennedy. So instead of enjoying her vacation in Las Vegas, she’s stuck smack-dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

What she would give for an all-you-can-eat buffet and watching her best friend's soccer team play a match. But no. Instead of hitting the casinos, she’s trying to interview the players of the Vegas Victory FC and wishing she wasn’t the main suspect.

The body is growing as cold as the trail of the murderer. But if she doesn’t find the killer soon, Metro will be giving her a red card and she’ll be sitting in jail. Permanently.

My Review:

Deadly. Set. Vegas. is a fantastic murder mystery. Kennedy is a Chicago cop assigned to desk duty and mandatory AA meetings - you do the math. She finds herself in Vegas to support her bestie, Darcy Perrault, who is receiving an award. On the same day Kennedy arrives in Vegas, her bestie's husband, Chuck Perrault, is found dead in a VIP box at the stadium he owns. Since there's no love lost between Kennedy and Chuck, and her unfortunate and coincidental arrival, Kennedy shoots to the top of the suspect list, right next to Darcy. Knowing she didn't do it and neither did Darcy, Kennedy uses her training to dig up clues to exonerate them both. If only Detective Pagonis was easier to work with on this case.

I really enjoyed this mystery. There were twists and turns throughout. The sheer amount of betrayal put a couple of people at the top of my list. I was completely engaged in this story and surprised at who the murderer turned out to be at the end.

The characters are all flawed - significantly, making them more realistic. Kennedy is a great heroine and I enjoyed her encounters with Detective Pagonis. While Kennedy was a thorn in Pagonis's side, she ultimately was a great unofficial sidekick.

This book is so good I read it in one sitting.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:





Read an Excerpt:

A set of automatic doors let Kennedy out onto an enclosed path leading to an empty platform, with glass doors between her and the tram tracks. Back in Chicago, five PM was prime rush hour. Here, not so much. At least not today.

Five long, drawn-out minutes passed. She checked her phone for messages. Ten minutes passed. Well, maybe it was only seven minutes, but it felt like seventy, so there was that.

She tried to look down the tracks for an incoming train, but palm trees and the building next door blocked the view. Then she checked the website to see if the tram was running today. Nothing indicated it was down.

As if she willed them, the glass tram doors opened. Finally.

She took a step back, waiting for the tram to pull up to the platform. No tram. Maybe she was missing something. She leaned past the doors. Nothing. No tram was in sight.

A shove at her back and she fell forward—toward the tracks. Her arms flailed. She was falling. And there was nothing she could do about it.

Not.

One.

Thing.

Her knee bent, banging into a metal rail. Her hands shot forward, her palms smacking into the other rail. Her forehead thumped against metal. Everything rocked with darkness.

Raw pain burned along her palms. Not to mention the throbbing in her knee. She swore she heard voices yelling behind her. Maybe the person who pushed her. Maybe she was hearing things. Her head was ringing. The whoosh in her ears was so loud, she might be mishearing the ringing in her ears as voices.

Maybe she finally lost her marbles and the marbles were actually talking. Who knew.

Her body vibrated. Two sets of hands wrapped around her upper arms. The tracks disappeared, replaced by a blur of palm trees and sky. She flopped like a rag doll as a silver wall flashed by. Two men stood over her. “Are you okay?”

She wanted to say yes—because she was pretty sure the men were talking to her—but her mouth wouldn’t move. Her body just shut down.

Meet the Author:

Who is Vanessa M. Knight? Well, I’m an author. Wow. After years and years of wanting to use those words, that is fun to say. It’s almost as fun as supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Did I spell that right?

I write contemporary romantic suspense.

I live in Chicagoland with my family and menagerie of four-legged friends. In my mind, these lovely animals do everything as they should. I’m the alpha, keeping peace and harmony amongst my humble servants. In real life, they own me. I’m the maid, here for their feeding pleasure. Well, that and to clean up their messes.

When not catering to the needs of adorably-furry faces, I slug through the nine to five grind and head home so I can write. Of course, that’s after I make dinner and clean the house and all the other tasks that go into family life. So really, I work, cater to animals and my family… and then, if I don’t fall face first into bed, I write. I love putting my characters into crazy situations and watching how they react. I hope you love reading about them.

I love to hear from fans. I can be found on Facebook at VanessaMKnight and at www.vanessamknight.com.

Links:

FB LINK: https://www.facebook.com/vanessamknightauthor

Amazon Author page LINK: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vanessa-M.-Knight/author/B00JZBJ3EO

Website: www.VanessaMKnight.com

Buy Links:

Deadly. Set. Vegas.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cW7wFQ

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/deadly-set-vegas/id6476166396

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-set-vegas-vanessa-m-knight/1144654832?ean=2940167670112

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/deadly-set-vegas

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1505906

Giveaway: 

Vanessa M. Knight will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. 

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Series Feature & #Giveaway ~ Nick Bancroft Mystery Series by Bob Liter @BancroftMyster1 ~ @GoddessFish Romantic Mystery, Suspense

Nick Bancroft Mystery Series

by Bob Liter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genre:

Romantic Mystery/Suspense

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the Book:

IN THIS "GRIPPING" MYSTERY THRILLER SOMEONE TRIES TO BURN NICK BANCROFT ALIVE, BEATS HIM SENSELESS, USES HIM FOR TARGET PRACTICE AND WORST OF ALL HIS BELOVED CHICAGO CUBS DISAPPOINT HIM AGAIN! SOMETIMES A PI JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK! BUT WHEN HIS CLIENT IS A SEXY NUDIST, NICK BANCROFT WILL PUT UP WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!

When a sexy nudist hires him to protect her from whoever is threatening her life, Nick Bancroft becomes the target. Someone tries to burn him alive, beats the hell out of him and, since that didn't run him off, uses him for target practice. Meanwhile, two people are murdered, Nick's true love, Maggie Atley, is more than somewhat perturbed by his relationship with his client, and a mysterious club seems to hold the answer. Nick survives an exciting but still losing season by his beloved Chicago Cubs, a vicious attack by a couple of huge dogs and eventually puts the finger on the bad guys.

Nick Bancroft Mysteries, written by Bob Liter

I'm an ex-newspaper reporter who inherited a run-down, one-man detective agency. My name is Nick Bancroft. I used to do investigation work occasionally for a friend Jimmy Jackson, who left me the business and stuck me with an office on the top floor of an old building in the wrong end of town.

I would have refused the inheritance, but I was sick of working where news had been converted to entertainment. And, besides, Jimmy had paid six months’ rent in advance for the office with a small apartment attached. Since I inherited the business I have helped solve a murder and got some press as a result.

In a small town like Centrel City, you can find bribery, graft, kickbacks, political influence peddling, criminal cover-ups, and sometimes murder. Now when I get involved in a case, there usually is a story I can sell to the upstate Chicago Times. I didn't expect to make a living as a private investigator and freelance reporter, but I was wrong ... sort of. It beats making money for someone else and it leaves time for my almost favorite sport of bowling and my passion for the Chicago Cubs.

It’s all in a day’s work; I can be tough enough when I have to be. On the other hand, I can be soft for the ladies, especially for an on-again off-again lover, Maggie Atley. Nothing is ever as it seems and I don’t quit until I find the answers. My name is Nick Bancroft. 

About Murder by the Book:

Nick Bancroft inherits a rundown detective agency and embarks on a new career as a hard-boiled detective. When date rape drugs show up in Centrel City, so does reporter Nick Bancroft. The drugs are discovered at two different murders with sex etiquette books left at the scenes. Nick is hired by the first victim’s father, Ramsey Sinclair, to find the killer. A Chicago detective, Miss Faustine, is also hired by Mr. Sinclair to work “closely” with Bancroft. His focus is interrupted when he begins a love affair with receptionist, Maggie Atley, from a neighboring office.

Bancroft is banking on solving the murders and selling the story to the Chicago Times. As the case unfolds there is enough danger, drama, and deception to fill a book. Nick finds few things are as they seem and in his enthusiasm he becomes the target of a shooter and also the target of charming Maggie Atley’s affections.


About August is Murder:

A sexy nudist hires Nick Bancroft to defend her from threats on her life; Nick volunteers to provide 24-hour protection. Now, he is the target and August becomes even hotter when someone tries to burn him alive. Nick is not one to turn tail and run, especially now with two murders and Lady Godiva to protect. Nick's true love, second only to the Cubs and bowling, Maggie Atley, is more than somewhat perturbed by the arrangement with his beautiful client.

After weeks of investigation there are still unanswered questions. Who are the bad guys? What does a mysterious club have to do with the murders? Can Nick survive another losing season by his beloved Chicago Cubs? Is this the last inning for Nick and Maggie? 

About Death Sting:

After an intimate breakfast together, while reading the paper to Maggie, Nick is baffled by a headline: Female Body Found Covered with Stings: The Sheriff Calls the Death an Accident. Free-lance reporter and private detective, Nick Bancroft, doesn’t believe it and is drawn to the case like a bee to honey. He learns the victim lived in a home for young unwed mothers who work as waitresses and hookers at a nightclub.

Murder suspects include an alcoholic handy man, the man and wife who operate the home, a nightclub operator and his henchman, and a sheriff's deputy. Everyone is trying to stop Nick’s investigation, including federal agents.

Even when he and his earthy lover Maggie survive being dumped in a deep lake with weights tied to their ankles, Bancroft is unwavering in his pursuit of the truth. Will Maggie and Nick’s romance sink or swim before the case is solved?


About Point of Murder:

Nick Bancroft, a former investigative reporter, enjoys a mundane existence in Centrel City operating a one-man detective agency. He supplements his pauper’s wages selling news stories to the Chicago Times. In a small apartment, Nick and his roommate Maggie, share frivolous romantic lovemaking and the responsibility of feeding a stray cat that adopted them. On the surface it seems picture-perfect.

The bed of roses ends abruptly when Nick’s destitute young friend, Bobby Scalf, is found murdered with a blunt six inch spike in his head. Nick becomes a suspect when the second murder victim is discovered in the abandoned building where the boy lived.

While Nick tries to find out who killed the boy, he uncovers a web of corruption involving the town council, the school board, the police chief and the local newspaper publisher. Nick survives several attempts on his life, and that of his stormy lover, before nailing the killer and exposing the town's secrets. Solving the town’s problems may not be enough to solve the problems festering between Maggie and Nick. Is it really over?


About And the Band Played On:

Freelance reporter and sometime private detective, Nick Bancroft, is tough enough when he has to be. On the other hand, he can be soft for the ladies. That's how he ends up at an outdoor band concert, with Maggie, a librarian, divorcee, and his very talented lover. Nick is front row center to witness the murder of a well-connected private secretary of an important political figure.

It doesn't earn him any points with the cops that he is on the scene before them, and it doesn't earn him any points with certain influential politicians that he won't get off the case. Not only is Nick drawn into the dirty details of the crime, someone is trying to kill him. During the investigation, Maggie and Nick come face to face with the events surrounding 9-11. Will the final case break their spirits and crumble their love, or will they emerge stronger and committed to life together?


Read an Excerpt from August is Murder, A Nick Bancroft Mystery - Book 2:

The first time they tried to kill me I was asleep. My office and apartment were on the third floor of a nearly abandoned building. My own coughing jarred me awake. I rolled to a sitting position from the sweat-wet bedding and continued choking on hot, acrid air. The sweat was no surprise. My air conditioner had quit. But this was more than August heat in Centrel City, Illinois.

A flip of the light switch near my bed did nothing to alleviate the darkness. I went to hands and knees and felt around until I found my pants and shoes, sat against the bed, squirmed into the jeans. Heat from the floor threatened to roast my rump.

"Don't panic, Nick," I said aloud. Should I try to save anything or just get the hell out? My files, I had to save my case files. I crawled into the office, stood, and pulled out the top drawer. I felt my way to the office door and opened it. A swish of even hotter air swept against my face.

What about Maggie? She might be in the office on the second floor. It was well past midnight. Why would she be there? I assured myself she was not. She was the reason why I now had a stray cat and a cracked heart. What about the cat? Any cat that came and went when the office door was locked wouldn't be trapped in that old building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Meet the Author:

Robert T “Bob” Liter (1923-2008) was born in Hartley, IA to Charles and Hazel Liter and grew up in Des Moines, IA. His sisters June and JoAnn, joined the family before the decade was over. Bob was a U.S. Navy veteran, and was honorably discharged after two tours of duty, one tour in World War II and the other tour in the Korean War. A Graduate from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, he earned his degree in journalism, and married Lillian in 1950.

What Happened Next

I came along 9 months later; my name is Martie. I was soon followed by my sister Jeannie and two brothers, Jeff and Ron.

Later in Dad's journalism career he worked as a copy editor for the Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL until his retirement. Through the years he was also a writer. Early in his sideline career he was published in various True Confession magazines. When Dad retired to take care of Mom he continued to pursue his passion for writing. Much of his work has been available since 2002 in EBook format.

First Five Novels Available On Amazon NOW

It is my honor to introduce new readers to the Bancroft Mysteries where the character Nick Bancroft has an uncanny resemblance to my Dad, Bob Liter with his wit and bodacious gutsy approach to life. Then there is Nick’s on-again off-again lady, Maggie Atley, who is just like Mom, Lillian Liter, in the way she deals with a self-proclaimed “male chauvinist piggy.”

While Nick solves mysteries in the fictitious, but very real, community of Central City, IL he still finds time for his love-hate relationship with bowling, and his avid undying passion for the Chicago Cubs and Bears.

Website: http://www.BancroftMysteries.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BancroftMysteries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BancroftMyster1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bancroftmysteries/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/BancroftMysteries/

Enter the Giveaway:

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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Book Blitz ~ A Story of Bad by Edward M. Krauss ~ #Mystery #RomanticMystery ~ A Murder Mystery... A Romance... Intertwined

A Murder Mystery... A Romance... Intertwined

Mystery, Romantic Mystery

Publisher: Global Authors Publications

About the Book:

A Story Of Bad features a woman and a man, both intelligent with strong personalities.

She is June Replyn, a city reporter working the business side of the fashion world. June is asked to write a story about how a small company, a clothing factory, survives the death - by murder - of its inspirational leader.

He is Detective Terry Stans. Reviewing clues and interviews, Detective Stans comes away with the impression that the dead man knew his assailant, and his dedicated workers and bereaved family are all prospective suspects.

One day June is at the clothing factory gathering additional material, and Terry is there, continuing his investigation. The detective is stuck. The case is going nowhere, and he believes that the fashion writer has a better view of the inside workings of the company than he has been afforded. Hoping that fresh eyes will see something he hasn’t, he obtains a promise from her that nothing will be printed without his permission, then he invites her to come to his precinct station and review the file. Not long after, he invites her to dinner at his favorite ribs joint.

This novel is about a reporter and a detective, both asking questions about a murder - although from different perspectives - who become ensnared in a romance. Their relationship raises questions about confidentiality, loyalty to one’s employer, professional ethics; she is trying to write a story for her readers, he is trying to keep control of an investigation. Both of their bosses caution them about the dangers to their careers raised by this situation. And there they are, lovers.

The tale is designed to intrigue with two intertwining stories, the mystery of the murder and the unexpected love affair. As the relationship grows and the mystery is solved we visit the worlds of Cambodian employees in America, police investigations, newspapers and their editorial policies, and drug smuggling.

There is no graphic violence or sex in the novel.

  

 

 

Read an Excerpt:

In this excerpt June Replyn is interviewing two sisters, Cambodians, about a cousin and co-worker who was murdered in front of them. Because their English is quite limited, June has brought along Salath Doeung (Sal), a college student born in  New York to Khmer-speaking parents.

            The four sat in silence for a moment, sipping the hot green tea, eating the sweet, wonderful dessert, and then the conversation began again. June wrote some clarifying comments next to the notes she had hastily written as he was speaking. She took her time, her head down, not wanting to convey the least impatience. Silence, and she glanced up to see him writing. Then he said something else and the cousin’s smiles disappeared. They paused, and then in lowered voices began to speak. June felt like screaming, she wanted simultaneous translation. What were they saying? But she waited, waited. Finally they paused, and he turned back to her.

            “Two things. The first is that she had done a little dating here but no boyfriends, and she liked it that way, she thinks it isn’t easy to be a married woman with little kids here, not if you don’t speak English. Like I said before, she really wanted to go home, planned on it, and pretty much was at work or here or a local restaurant, not out late, no mysteries. As far as your guess, the one you mentioned in the car, I think your impression is right, correct.”

            June, head down, nodded slightly as she wrote.

            “Second, someone at work, guy who unloads boxes and helps the cutter, assistant cutter I guess, had a fight with her about some boxes or materials or something. Something at work. They don’t know what it was about because Rith didn’t want to talk about it, most unusual, she liked to gossip. They had a fight, and after that she avoided him.”

            “Avoided scared or avoided mad at?”

            He turned back and there was a brief flurry of Khmer.

            “Scared, but she didn’t want to talk about it.”

            “Did they tell the police about this, and if so, why not?”

            Even as she said it she realized her mistake; anyone living here, especially in lower-income neighborhoods, knows the word ‘police’ no matter what their language background or skills. The sisters visibly tensed.

            He started to turn, but she stopped him.

            “Wait, I just made a stupid error, they recognized the p-word and they’re already on guard. I really want to know the answers, hope you can fix things.”

            He winked at her, a youthful show of confidence, and turned back to the two young women, who now sat holding their tea cups tightly in their laps, their backs straight. He spoke for some time, they both listening intently, occasionally glancing at June. Then he stopped, and no one spoke for almost a minute. Then Sopheara Moeun softly began to speak, said only a few words and her sister spoke sharply to her. Sopheara responded in a raised voice, Sopharath responded loudly, and suddenly both were standing on their feet, noses inches apart, screaming at each other. In the midst of this June noted that they carefully placed the teacups back on the tray, a gentle, delicate gesture while they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly Sopharath whirled and looked at June with a startling combination of fear and anger, tears starting to run, and held out both hands, palms up, pleading, and said “You all make dead.” Her right hand changed, index finger pointing, and pointed at herself and her sister, back and forth, pointing at each several times. “You all make dead, you all make dead.” She ran from the room.

            June wasn’t sure what to do next, so she did nothing. She lowered her eyes, giving up any control, trusting that her interpreter, who had done so well so far, would know what to do.

            He said something softly, and Sopheara sat down again. He paused, then turned to June. “They do know something, they may even know who did it. They are, as you can see, scared. They didn’t say anything to the police for that reason, but now Sopheara feels that she has to make it right, has to help the Americans...I mean, the government, punish him.”

            June took her time, spoke slowly and gently, nodding at Sopheara Moeun, trying to be positive, reassuring, conveying not only through the words to be translated but with her demeanor and tone of voice. “Please tell her this. First, she is doing the right thing, honoring her cousin’s memory, and that she is very brave. Second, I have.. friends... in the police department, and I promise her that they will be very careful, move cautiously, and not do anything that will.... No, that doesn’t work. Sorry. Say this, say that I will explain the situation and ask the police to be very careful.”

            The Khmer began again, both speaking in soft voices for a short time. Then Sal leaned forward and gently patted Sopheara on the shoulder, looked her in the eyes and said something. She smiled shyly, got up and started to leave the room. She stopped in front of June and, while looking at her, said something in Khmer. Salath Doeung translated “I hope you are the one who wins.” Then she was gone.

About the Author:

Edward M. Krauss is the author of A Story Of Bad; Solomon The Accountant (a gentle love story set in a middle-class Jewish community in Toledo, Ohio in 1950); Here On Moon (betrayal, divorce, recovery).

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