June 1-30, 2022 Virtual Book Tour
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5 /5 Stars!
The driving rain of the thunderstorm Jessie Martin finds herself in at the beginning of Hooker Avenue sets the tone and pace for this suspenseful thriller.
Her nerves frayed from the violent storm and the hidden turmoil in her personal life, Jessie pulls over to calm down and allow the storm to pass and finds the body of someone barely conscious lying in a deep ditch alongside the road. Calling for help will draw her deep into a case she doesn’t need right now, but the criminal defense attorney’s gut instinct won’t allow her to walk away.
From beginning to end, this read delivers and is not only a thriller but also a legal thriller and police procedural with a dash of women’s fiction thrown in. Told in alternating points of view and a tight narrative, the author penned a story of intrigue and secrets. Lots of secrets.
Without question, Jessie is a strong, confident character and I respected her, but I didn’t like her very much. She is an exceptional attorney always determined to protect her clients, but as a woman, I felt she was something of a milquetoast. Granted, she’d been through a lot since her high school days, but hiding and internalizing her problems has cost her much, however, she can’t seem to understand that and keeps far too much to herself. I cheered for her though when she found inner strength and decided to take control of her life and stop being reactive.
Police detective, Ebony Jones, is another strong, confident woman and Jessie’s lifelong but estranged best friend. She’s career-focused and has worked hard to rise through the ranks. Like Jessie, she also internalized personal issues, but not to her detriment. She was more proactive and quick to take action despite the consequences.
Their desire to help women and children who fall through the cracks of justice lead the two women to work together. On two different paths of the same case, their commitment to their jobs strains their relationship even further.
Sharp writing and well-honed characters make this nearly four-hundred-page read a one-sitting page-turner. From the police station to the courtroom to Hooker Avenue the suspense never slows as characters work to find footing in their personal lives while searching for a brutal serial killer.
Enjoy!
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Synopsis:
Being a Good Samaritan is hazardous.
Single mom and attorney Jessie Martin learns that lesson the hard way.
During a violent spring thunderstorm, Jessie discovers an unconscious woman lying in a roadside ditch and dials 911 for help. Little does she know her compassion will propel her on a collision course with her estranged best friend, Detective Ebony Jones…and one of the most shocking mysteries in the Hudson Valley.
The badly beaten victim, Lissie Sexton, is a prostitute who claims she’s escaped from the clutches of a killer. She’s also a client of Jessie’s new boss, and former nemesis, Jeremy Kaplan, and fearing for Lissie’s life, he’s hidden her away from everyone.
Ebony is investigating a series of cold cases, and the missing women’s profiles bear a striking resemblance to Lissie’s. She’s willing to stake her career on the hooker being the key to solving the serial crimes. However, Jessie is the major obstacle to her investigation- she won’t give up Lissie’s location.
Jessie’s in a bind. She wants to help Ebony, but she can’t compromise her client, her boss, or her legal ethics. To catch the killer, can Jessie and Ebony put aside their past? Can they persuade Lissie to identify her assailant to prevent future attacks?
Praise for Hooker Avenue:
“Dark, dangerous and deviously suspenseful, Hooker Avenue kept me turning pages late into the night. I adored the fascinating cast of characters and the rich Hudson Valley setting. A truly terrific book!”– Alison Gaylin, USA Today Bestselling, and Edgar Award-winning author of THE COLLECTIVE
“So many skeletons are banging on the closet doors to be set free, in this heady mix of sizzle, punch, and danger. And, even more intriguing, it’s all based on a true crime.”–Steve Berry, International and New York Times bestselling author of THE KAISER’S WEB
Book Details:
Genre: Thriller
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: April 19, 2022
Number of Pages: 360
ISBN: 9781685120825
Series: Queen City Crimes, #2
Book Links: Amazon || Goodreads
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Nesie's Place 
Thanks for the great review! This one does sound really good to me.
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