This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Published by Berkley
Released on October 2, 2018
Pages: 624
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
The Delight
Ever wonder how powerful and dark revenge can be when wielded by psychotic killer with tons of resources at his disposal? Thomas Thorne, a regular character from the Baltimore series is about to find out when his past rises up to engulf him and everything he loves. This was a heavy hitter from the opening pages and left me gutted at times and quite exhausted by the end.
Review
Death is Not Enough is #21 in the overall Romantic Suspense series and #6 in the Baltimore sub-series. The story ties to the earlier books through the characters and where their lives are at right now. It doesn’t make for a good one out of order, but an intuitive reader would probably be able to get by.
So, defense attorney and champion for the rights of the young and defenseless by day and night club owner with two of his good friends by night, Thomas Thorne is working up to telling Gwyn his feelings when his life explodes on him. He’s found in his bed drugged senseless with a murdered woman. Oh, and hey his fingerprints are on the weapon. Things are not looking good, but his friends who are all from the law enforcement community rally round and get busy doing what they do best. Thomas has to watch his friends be put in danger even as they all follow the twisty trails through evidence and his past to the shocking truth or should I say truths.
This was one, like others where the cold and calculating vicious villain gets plenty of scenes and narration time right along with Thomas and Gwyn and others, but he is known to the reader from the beginning. Don’t let this revelation deflate your interest because that takes nothing away when the tantalizing ‘why’ and ‘how’ are still on the table. The why was he going after Thomas offered up the big aha moments that stunned me. Or maybe I was too busy being riveted to the immediate hard-hitting scenes as they unrolled that I didn’t give much thought to those thoughts.
While the romance was not at the forefront, it was there and things did heat up nicely between Thomas and Gwyn. She might have gone through a really bad experience that she is still not quiet healed from, but she is right there for Thomas in his need and doesn’t play around when it comes to their attraction.
I’ve said it before, but I love all the details, setting, and situation that is just right for a cop procedural style thriller. I love tracking with the experts as they work the case from all angles. And, I love the team of people who came together- past and newer types- to do what had to be done.
Thomas was an engaging hero and an amazing man. I was glad to see him get the spotlight and for him to have his shot at Gwyn. There is room for more stories set in Baltimore, but it will be fun to head to Sacramento next for a new set of characters and thriller situations.
For those who enjoy grittier romantic suspense or thriller romances, I can highly recommend this series.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges
Romance Roundabout #311 RS
New Release #154
Recommendations
Preview
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Huh! A new one on me! Thanks for sharing! Very interesting indeed!
For sure, Carole! I’m a relatively new fan to her books, but it was instant love after I read Closer Than You Think. 🙂
What a great review you have here. I have really been curious about this author and I love romantic suspense. I do like those grittier suspense reads. I blame it on all those clive cussler books I read when I was younger hehe Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Renee! This is definitely an author you’ll want to try when you want a gritty cop thriller.
Love Clive Cussler adventure thrillers.
Glad to hear this was a good one for you. Sounds like all the elements were in the right proportion.
Definitely, Velvet! It was a solid plot and a good balance between romance and suspense.
That sounds like an intense book.
Oh yeah. It really was, Mary.
I’ve liked every book I’ve read in this series and need to pick one up again. Great review Sophia.
Oh yeah, hard shove toward this one. 🙂
Thank’s for the review and of letting us know it’s not one to read out of order. When you have a big series, so books can be read on their own, but others not so much. It helps when someone lets you know this. ^_^
Yes, exactly, Angela. I like to know the same things. This is a neat series because it has series within the main series that focus on different cities so you can pick up and go straight through all twenty-something books or jump in at the beginning of a new City series. There might be some crossover with characters, but no problem getting started wherever like I did with Cincinnati before going back for Chicago.
I didn’t even know Rose was still writing!(lol) This one and the series sound fantastic, and I love a good thriller. Definitely need to add this to my reading list. Hugs…RO
Oh yes! She’s still going strong. She was doing the Cincinnati series then last year came back to Baltimore series and now next year she’s starting the Sacramento series. Many more to love. 🙂
SO glad you liked this one as I had won it and have it on my shelf to read. It sounded so good. That I had to enter! I can’t wait to read it now!
Mary
Oho! Lucky you, Mary. If you haven’t read any earlier ones, you’ll notice that there are some regulars with ongoing side stories, but it shouldn’t be a problem jumping in. I hadn’t read any of the Baltimore books until the last one and did alright.
I loved this one! I’m glad you loved it too. I had the next one which will come out next February and went right on to read it. Anne – Books of My Heart
Oh man, I can’t wait. Lucky you to already have it. 🙂
Well that’s quite the situation to find yourself in. Whew! I still need to try her out I know. So many books in this series. That’s impressive. Sounds like a well done set.
Oh yeah! I had no idea how they were going to clear him with that sort of evidence stacked up and a very powerful man out to hurt him by hurting the people around him.
It’s a great series. I’ve actually only read the first two at the beginning then the later Cincinnati series and a couple of Baltimore. She’s starting a new sub-series with the next release and its set in my home town so I will be on that. 🙂