Tag: crime fiction

Former prosecutor Jordan Monroe thought estate law was safe. Then her mentor dies, leaving her to defend Dr. Mallory James in a double-murder case that could resurrect her career—or destroy what’s left of it.

Dr. Ian Stratton, a respected Harbor Point surgeon, and his pharmaceutical-rep mistress are dead from lethal injections. The evidence points straight to Mallory: a volatile affair, public threats, and a
mountain of motive. But as Jordan builds her defense, she uncovers something bigger—a hospital drowning in secrets, cover-ups, and dangerous enemies.

Inside Harbor Medical, three shadowy suspects emerge:
 Dr. Blake Rowe — Stratton’s betrayed best friend with deadly drug knowledge
 Evelyn Grant — a disgraced tech stalking Jordan’s niece
 Sarah Rowe — Blake’s wife, lying about her access to the victim

When Grant’s obsession turns violent and surveillance evidence leaks, Jordan must protect her family while fighting manipulated witnesses, missing evidence, and a system built to bury the truth.
The deeper she digs, the more she questions Mallory’s innocence—and her own role in defending her.

In a world where everyone lies, Jordan must decide how far she’ll go to win. Because the most dangerous predator… is the one you never see coming.

Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Lisa Gardner, and Melinda Leigh, Contagion of Lies delivers a relentless legal thriller where courtroom drama collides with psychological suspense—and every decision carries a cost.

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From the bustling courtrooms of Atlanta to the vibrant tapestry of 16th-century England, Kathleen McGillick’s life and career have been a captivating blend of legal expertise, artistic passion, and a
thirst for adventure.

Fueled by an undergraduate and graduate degree in nursing, Kathleen built a foundation of compassion and care. This dedication to service later led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate, allowing her to navigate the intricacies of the legal system for nearly three decades. Her courtroom
experience now breathes life into the intricate details of her legal thrillers, ensuring every courtroom scene crackles with authenticity.

But Kathleen’s story does not end there. A deep fascination with art history led her to delve into the world of renowned artists and captivating eras. Her particular passion for 16th-century British history
allows her to transport readers to richly detailed historical settings, immersing them in the culture, politics, and societal nuances of the time.

Driven by an unwavering dedication to her craft, Kathleen has independently published twelve thrillers since 2018. Her commitment extends beyond solo creation, as she actively engages with the
writing community, honing her skills through workshops and courses led by renowned authors.

And when she’s not crafting captivating narratives, Kathleen embarks on international journeys, soaking in diverse cultures and experiences that further enrich her writing. This global perspective
adds another layer of depth and realism to her stories, allowing readers to connect with characters and settings that transcend geographical boundaries.

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My thoughts: This was so good, totally gripping. Jordan was a great protagonist and I hope there are more cases for her to tackle.

After a prominent doctor is murdered and one of his many girlfriends is as well, his former partner is arrested and charged with killing them both. The drug used is one that is tightly controlled, but as a trauma surgeon, Dr Mallory James would be able to access it fairly easily. She says she’s innocent, but even her attorney isn’t sure that’s the truth. 

There are other potential suspects, and all Jordan has to do is cast enough reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case for the jury to find her client not guilty. The other suspects include the deceased’s former friend, his ex-wife, and a patient with a serious grudge. Any one of them could have theoretically killed him, as could her client, but Jordan really isn’t sure. 

When she and her niece become stalking victims, and the stalker is one of the other suspects, things take a dark turn. Can Jordan still do her job and defend a possible killer while fearing for the safety of her ward? 

Clever, full of twists and turns, with the feel of a legal drama (this would make a great film), and utterly compelling, the ending was so unexpected and I want more!   

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

Detective Norman is out of retirement and back on the beat in a rainy Welsh seaside
town. Llangwelli might be short on sunshine, but it’s certainly not short on murders . . .

Norman may seem a bit old-fashioned, but he’s always willing to learn from his band of misfit recruits.

A body in the forest. An ancient pagan ritual. A baffling mystery.

On Halloween night, the body of a young woman is discovered buried in a shallow grave in the Dragon Forest, a popular local beauty spot. The only clue to her identity is the number 37 tattooed on the sole of her foot.

Detective Norman’s new boss, Acting Superintendent Evans, is convinced the murder is connected to a group of pagans who were performing a secret ritual in the forest that night.

Norman’s not so sure. The one thing he does know is that he’d make much faster progress without the insufferable Evans breathing down his neck.

Something is off about this case. Norman knows he’s missing something important — but he can’t seem to see the wood for the trees.

Then the discovery of a second body in the woods turns everything on its head.

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Peter Ford always dreamed of becoming a writer, but a dream is easily stifled without support from those around you. It was only when his old, unhappy life fell apart and he met his new partner (now wife) Mary, who believed dreamers should be encouraged, that he finally got the chance to live that dream. Fast forward a few years and you find a man transformed.
Now, blissfully happy, settled in a quiet corner of Wales with wife Mary and their rescue dogs, P.F. Ford is living proof that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

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My thoughts: A young woman’s body is found badly concealed in a hasty grave in the forest. The temporary Superintendent thinks that the local Pagan group is carrying out human sacrifices, because he’s clearly a total idiot. Thankfully the rest of the team is not so ignorant or willing to guess rather than find actual evidence.

When cadaver dogs find more human remains buried in the same part of the forest, it suggests that there’s something much darker going on.

While Norman and the team follow what little evidence there is and attempt to find out who the first body they found is, teams across the country are checking their missing persons cases to help identify the others.

A gripping and dark crime case in the Welsh woods.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

Every night police transcriber Hazel Greenlee listens as detectives divulge Black Harbor’s gruesome crimes. Hazel, an aspiring novelist, believes that writing a book could be her only ticket out of this frozen hellscape. Her life isn’t exactly brimming with inspiration, until her neighbor confesses to hiding the corpse of an overdose victim.

With an insider’s look at the investigation, Hazel becomes spellbound by the lead detective, Nikolai Kole, and the chilling narrative he shares with her. Through his transcription, she learns that the suspicious death is linked to Candy Man, a drug dealer notorious for selling illegal substances to children.

When Kole invites her on a covert operation to help take the dealer down, the promise of a story calls to her. As the investigation unfolds, Hazel will learn just how far she’ll go for a good story — even if it means destroying her marriage and luring the killer to her as she plunges deeper into the city she’s desperate to claw her way out of.

Hannah Morrissey is the author of the Black Harbor suspense series which includes Hello, Transcriber, The Widowmaker, and When I’m Dead. A three-decade survivor of Wisconsin winters, Hannah enjoys putting her characters (and readers) in bone-chilling atmospheres that permeate beyond the page. Naturally, her books have carved out their own sub-genre of ‘Midwestern Noir.’

Between roles of bookseller and copywriter, Hannah was inspired to write her debut novel while transcribing reports for her local police department. Far from home in a grim, crime-ridden city, it was her job to sit alone in the dead of night, listen, and type as detectives divulged the city’s darkest secrets. There, she realized that every case was a story, and every story started with the same two words: ‘Hello, Transcriber.’

My thoughts: Hazel has taken a job transcribing police reports, listening to the detectives describing murder and suicide victims, in a “small city with big city crimes”. When a child’s body is thrown into a dumpster, following an overdose, detective Nikolai ‘Nik’ Kole is determined to find whoever gave the oxycodone to a child and put them away. There’s rumours of someone known as ‘The Candy Man’ selling the drug, if Kole can find them, he might have his man.

Being privy to all the details of the case through her work, Hazel is intrigued by Kole and wants to help, she keeps seeing the dead little boy in her mind. So she and Kole go on a very unofficial search of the suspect’s apartment. They also begin an affair. Hazel’s marriage is unhappy, her husband away hunting or fishing with his friends.

As things unravel and Hazel loses herself in both the affair and the case, it gets darker and more complicated. Can she find herself again and work out what she really wants?

An intriguing and compelling read, with complex characters, with messy emotions and realistic issues.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.