Rick Mofina – The Book Diva's Reads

2015 Book 308: EVERY SECOND by Rick Mofina

Every Second (Kate Page #3) by Rick Mofina

ISBN: 9780778317517 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781460390214 (ebook)

ASIN: B00TXCFGM8 (Kindle edition)

Publication date: September 29, 2015

Publisher: MIRA

Terror claws into the lives of an American family…

On a quiet night in their tranquil suburban home, the Fulton family awakens to a nightmare. Four armed men force bank manager Dan Fulton to steal a quarter million dollars from his branch—strapping remote-detonation bombs on him, his wife, Lori, and their young son.

A relentless reporter discovers an agonizing secret…

The FBI moves swiftly with a major investigation while Kate Page, a reporter with a newswire service, digs deep into the story. In the wake of the Fulton family’s abduction, questions emerge, including one of the most troubling: is the case linked to Lori Fulton’s tragic past?

Time ticks down on a chilling plan…

Working as fast as they can, Kate and the investigators inch closer to a devastating truth—it’s not only the Fultons’ lives at stake, but thousands of others…and every second counts in the race to save them.

Lori Fulton is brutally awakened one night to find several armed men in her bedroom. The Fulton family is quickly bound and fitted with “suicide vests.” The abductors force Dan to go into his bank branch and take $250,000 and tell him everything will be fine if he just does what he’s told. But all is not what appears when one abductor tells Lori that her family deserves everything that is going to happen to them. Can the authorities and journalist Kate Page find the truth as the clock ticks down in Every Second by Rick Mofina?

The Fulton family appears to be a typical American family, hardworking parents with an elementary school-aged child and a devoted dog with no known enemies. Dan is the manager at a local bank branch. Lori works for an insurance company. Have they been targeted because of Dan’s job? All Lori and Dan know is that their family’s safety hinges on Dan getting the money the abductors want. Little do they know that their abductors have planned something major and the abduction of the Fulton family is only one minor part of their plan. Fortunately, one of Dan’s bank employees realizes that Dan’s actions aren’t bank-sanctioned and tips off the authorities. What is initially presumed to be a bank robbery by a bank employee quickly becomes a search for the Fulton family and their abductors. Kate Page, a reporter based in New York, is on the story and tracks down leads that the authorities wish she hadn’t found. Kate’s search for background finds that Lori was a police officer in California before her family moved to New York and further investigation reveals that this abduction and robbery may be tied to Lori’s past. Now the questions raised are who these abductors are and what exactly do they want? The answers raise even more questions and put everyone on high alert for a possible home-grown terrorist attack.

Every Second packs in a lot of action, suspense, and thrills. This fast-paced read has a home invasion, bank robbery, home-grown terrorists with possible international terrorism links, and government agencies that are two-steps behind in following through on potential terrorist threats. At one point one of the FBI agents on this case thinks “. . . the suspects were untrained, inexperienced amateurs, possibly homegrown, self-radicalized extremists . . .” and that only raises more questions. All of the action is packed into the span of only a few days, and the reader witnesses Kate and the FBI try to connect the dots between the Fultons and the abductors/terrorists. Now I could tell you what happens, but then you’d have no incentive to read the book. What I will tell you is that Every Second is a fast-paced and enjoyable read filled with plenty of thrills and suspense. I spent my late night-early morning hours reading rather than sleeping just to find out what happens next. Every Second is the third book in the Kate Page series, but it is possible to read it without reading the previous books (you’ll want to read the previous books because they are just as good). If you’ve already read the first two books in this series, Whirlwind and Full Tilt, then you’ll definitely want to read Every Second.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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2015 Book 91: FULL TILT Review

Full Tilt by Rick Mofina

ISBN: 9780778317456 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781474027861 (ebook)

ASIN: B00OHV6MBO (Kindle edition)

Publication date: January 27, 2015

Publisher: MIRA

SCREAMS IN THE NIGHT

Deep in the woods of upstate New York a woman flees a blazing barn. She is burned beyond recognition, and her dying words point police to a labyrinth of “confinement rooms”—rooms designed to hold human beings captive—where they make other chilling discoveries.

A GUT-WRENCHING PHONE CALL

In Manhattan, Kate Page, a single mom and reporter with a newswire service, receives a heart-stopping call from a detective on the case. A guardian angel charm found at the scene fits the description of the one belonging to Kate’s sister, Vanessa, who washed away after a car crash in a mountain river twenty years ago.

A LIFE-AND-DEATH RACE AGAINST TIME

Kate has spent much of her life searching for the truth behind her little sister’s disappearance. Now, a manhunt for a killer who’s kept a collection of victims prisoner for years without detection becomes her final chance to either mourn Vanessa’s death—or save her life.

Kate Page suffered devastation after devastation as a child. Her happy family was torn apart when her parents died in a hotel fire. She and her younger sister were bounced from one family member to another before winding up in foster care. Her foster parents then died in a tragic car accident. That same car accident also took the life of her younger sister, Vanessa, or did it? Evidence found at a current murder scene points to the possibility that Vanessa may have survived the car accident. Is it possible she survived that tragedy only to become the victim of a sadistic serial rapist and murderer?

What do you do if you think your long presumed dead sister is the victim of a serial abductor/murderer? Well, if you’re a news reporter and Kate Page you report on the story and launch your own investigation to uncover as much information as possible about the murderer. The more Kate uncovers about the life of this twisted killer, the more she places the life of her sister, and possibly herself in peril. Kate’s investigation and reports place her on the hit list of the killer. Will the killer be able to exact his revenge against Kate? Will law enforcement be able to find Vanessa before it’s too late?

Full Tilt was a fast-paced suspense thriller read and the second book in the Kate Page series (Whirlwind is the first in this series). I found the characters to be wholly realistic and the action believable. Kate’s investigation takes her all across the United States and Canada. I did find parts of the ending to be somewhat predictable, but it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. Mr. Mofina provides an amazing cast of characters that include: Kate, Kate’s daughter Grace, Kate’s bosses – Reeka Beck and Chuck Laneer, various other news people, assorted law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada, Viper the computer hacker, the victims, and the killer. I really liked Kate and could appreciate her unwillingness to abide by the restrictions placed upon her by law enforcement and her employer when it came to finding her sister. If you’re looking for a taut, well-written suspense thriller to read, look no further; add Full Tilt to your TBR list or simply grab a copy to read as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 137: INTO THE DARK Review

Into The Dark by Rick Mofina
ISBN: 9780778315001 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781460315101 (ebook)
ASIN: B00BV2WCCU (Kindle edition)
Publication date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A HEARTBREAKING FAMILY TRAGEDY…

Claire Bowen, a haunted psychologist, devotes her life to helping troubled women rebuild theirs. But her dream of a family with her new husband, Robert, a pilot and local hero, begins to crumble as disturbing revelations from his past emerge.

AND A GRIEVING COP WHO LURES A KILLER FROM THE SHADOWS…

Detective Joe Tanner, struggling to overcome his wife’s death while raising their little girl alone, heads the task force formed to stop the monster who has resurfaced with a chilling message.

RACE THE CLOCK IN A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE NEXT VICTIM…

In the wake of five cold-case murders across Los Angeles, one of Claire’s most promising patients vanishes. Gut instinct tells Tanner the truth is within his grasp, while Claire is torn between guilt and terror over what’s to come. As time runs out, both are pulled deeper and deeper into an unspeakable darkness.

Claire Bowen was a first-hand witness to the abusive relationship between her parents. She even saw her father kill her mother and younger brother before ultimately killing himself. She’s now in a happy relationship with her husband, Robert Bowen, and dedicates her psychology practice to helping abused women. Now it appears that Claire is caught between one of her patients and her estranged abusive husband. When that patient disappears and the police launch their investigation into the patient, the patient’s husband, and Claire’s practice, more questions are raised than answered. Claire turns to her best friend, a private investigator, to obtain some of those answers. Will answers be found before more bodies are found?

On the surface it appears that Claire and Robert Bowen have the perfect relationship. Robert is loving, attentive, supportive, and hard-working. Unfortunately the more the police search for clues into the murders and Claire’s practice, the more unanswered questions arise about Robert and his background. Claire begins to suspect that maybe it isn’t possible to ever fully know the person you’re in love with and those questions could lead to her demise.

Into the Dark is a fast-paced read that pulled me in from the very beginning. I enjoyed the way Mr. Mofina revealed the warped character of the murderer layer by layer, building the suspense. Even when the murderer is fully revealed, the questions of why, how, and for how long remained. None of the women presented are weak women, but they do have moments of weakness that added to their vulnerability factor. I found all of the characters to be very well-developed and realistic, even the bad guys. If you enjoy a well-written mystery-suspense story with a dark but charismatic bad guy, then Into the Dark may be the perfect read for you.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 281: THE BURNING EDGE Review

Lisa Palmer, a widow and single mother, just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She thought she was just stopping at a rest area to take a small break and grab a few items before heading back to her children. Unfortunately her stop on that particular day would put her front and center in an armored truck robbery gone awry. Witnessing this crime puts her on The Burning Edge, a new suspense thriller by Rick Mofina.

Lisa hated having to put the family’s lakeside cabin up for sale. It had been in her husband’s family for more than 60 years and had been a welcome vacation refuge for their family. It should have been a simple four hour drive back to the city after signing the sales papers, but nothing that day was simple. Lisa became a witness to a daring and senselessly violent armored truck robbery at a highway rest area. One of the robbers killed the armed FBI agent in front of her and would have killed her as well.

Frank Morrow has just been given a death sentence. He is an FBI agent and was just informed that he has a particularly aggressive form of cancer that will most likely kill him within 12-18 months. Frank isn’t given much time to think about his choices in this matter before being pulled into an investigation that has ended with four dead, including one FBI agent. The highly organized crime becomes his sole focus for the next few days as he tries to track down the robbers turned killers.

Jack Gannon is a reporter for a national wire service. His investigation into the armed robbery leads to information that even the FBI doesn’t have and certainly doesn’t want revealed. Jack’s investigation leads him to a story that involves overseas ghost ops and rogue agencies. His investigation also leads him to Lisa and her story.

The Burning Edge is a fast-paced suspense thriller. The investigations by the FBI and Jack Gannon provide insight into the behind the scenes action of dual investigators: criminal and journalistic. Mr. Mofina also provides a glimpse into the motivations of the robbers by including a storyline that includes one of the robbers. All of the major characters are constantly on edge for one reason or another. Jack must deal with the constant threat of his story being one-upped by the competition. Frank is trying to find cop-killers as well as deal with the stress of his recent diagnosis. Lisa has to deal with the new stress of being a witness to a vicious crime and worry that she may continue to be a target for the killers. Ivan Felk, a robber and admitted killer, deals with stress of trying to complete his agenda before a deadline or more people will die, including his brother and several co-workers. All of the characters are well-rounded and realistic, including the bad guys. The Burning Edge combines action, suspense and subtle personal drama to provide a story that kept me engrossed to the very end.

Disclaimer: I received this book free for review purposes from NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”