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Laura Oles

Autor(a) de Daughters of Bad Men

4 Works 21 Membros 9 Críticas

Obras por Laura Oles

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Membros

Críticas

Great idea for a book title each short story from a Jimmy Buffett song title.
Some of the stories are better than others Truck stop salvation, and Smart Woman in a Really Short Skirt, were both great. And some stories also stick to the storyline or loosely to what the song is about
Pascagoula Run and Who’s the Blonde Stranger.
Anyway a fun easy read.
 
Assinalado
zmagic69 | Mar 31, 2023 |
Book Review…Depths of Deceit by Laura Oles

Two sisters. One deadly secret. No time to lose.

PI Jamie Rush childhood friend, Renata, needs her help to find her younger sister, Leah. As Jamie digs into Leah’s past, it becomes clear that the missing woman’s life was shrouded in secrets, the kind that could jeopardize those involved in the case. To complicate matters, PI Alastair Finn has returned, and he’s willing to reclaim his town by any means necessary. Jamie has never been one to retreat, and Alastair enjoys a good fight. Sparks will fly.

A missing woman. Felonies. Finn’s return. Every twist reminds Jamie that she’s still an outsider in this town. Jamie must prove herself all over again, and the stakes have never been higher.

It was so easy to get trapped by this story! It's a slow build up, suspenseful story with rich details and an intriguing plot! The story is full of drama, secrets, tension, action and a few surprising twists! I didn't read the first book so the book stands great on its own but it's a character driven series so I do recommend reading them in order. This was an entertaining read! It will be interesting to see where this series will go! Thank you Partners in Crime Tours for sharing this book with me!

… (mais)
 
Assinalado
jacashjoh | 2 outras críticas | Oct 2, 2022 |
With its engaging characters and fast-moving plot, DEPTHS OF DECEIT is an excellent follow-up to the series’ debut.

When Renata, a waitress at their favorite eatery, Taqueria San Juan, tells Cookie and Jamie that her sister, Leah, has gone missing, the two investigators want to help find her. And even though clients have been slow in paying their bills lately, they offer to do it pro bono. Both feel that family is more important than money and give the case their full attention, although initial indications point to Leah having lit out by her own choice. But when Leah’s car shows up in the possession of a senior citizen who frequents Erin Clay’s entertainment center who explains that Leah asked her to hide the vehicle for her, they realize the girl is involved in something far more dangerous than just trying to escape her big sister’s scrutiny.

Depths of Deceit is the second book in author Laura Oles’ Jamie Rush Mystery series, and already I feel like these characters are old friends. Even with her odd childhood and struggle to break away from her con artist parents, Jamie is a pretty well-adjusted and normal woman working in an unusual business. With his more traditional upbringing and extended family, her partner, Cookie, is a great guy, a good friend, and a perfect partner in their joint business. Their friends Erin, Marty, and Riley are likable and engaging people. The introduction of the smug, self-satisfied yet somehow charming Alastair Finn adds an interesting bit of tension to both Jamie’s and Cookie’s lives. Fun characters also abound when they visit Erin’s senior community center.

The author has created a delightful setting on the Texas Gulf Coast in the fictional Port Alene. The Corpus Christi area has been an annual destination for me for over 30 years, so I enjoyed trying to match up the disguised locations with the actual ones. Descriptions are so well done that I felt like I was there, even for the cold snap the characters were initially experiencing.

The story may lean toward the cozy end of the mystery spectrum, but it definitely has its grittier moments. The plot takes some exciting and unexpected twists and turns, and I honestly didn’t want to put this book down until the final page had been read. The setting continues to be a very moody and atmospheric version of what is typically a sunny and touristy beach destination. The action takes us to some darker locations that made my skin crawl. I enjoyed the unusual backstory for the missing sister and the dangerous men with whom she had become involved. The subplot of Jamie’s parents and her younger sister was emotional, and I felt for both her and Grace.

With very engaging characters and a fast-moving and compelling plot, this is an excellent follow-up to the first book in the series, DAUGHTERS OF BAD MEN. I recommend DEPTHS OF DECEIT to readers of mystery fiction, especially those who like strong female protagonists, bulldogs, and the Texas Gulf Coast.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
KarenSiddall | 2 outras críticas | Aug 13, 2022 |
Past and present clash on the Texas Gulf Coast in this excellent debut mystery by Laura Oles

Daughters of Bad Men is a fantastic debut for the Jamie Rush Mystery series by author Laura Oles. The main character, Jamie Rush, is a likable and capable yet vulnerable young woman who, despite her unfortunate childhood, has broken away from her family’s shady way of life and landed on her own two feet with a pretty positive outlook. She’s one smart cookie, able to read people, and has a witty personality. She and her partner have a delightful friendship and excellent working relationship that I really enjoyed. Their friend, Erin Clay, is a woman of contrasts. Although looking like a member of the Junior League, she’s building a successful bookie operation among the locals and the Winter Texans and doing so away from the influence of her father, a well-known, if not notorious, bookie in Las Vegas.

The author makes the coastal setting of Port Alene come alive. The descriptions are vivid and familiar, and I enjoyed trying to decide if the locations were actual ones, but disguised, or entirely fictional. I could easily visualize where the action was taking place, and I wanted to make a trip to Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, or Rockport quick, fast, and in a hurry.

The plot is smart and complex and held my attention from page one. I got the distinct impression that there is so much more happening below the surface of life in Port Alene than what is visible and that our characters are just getting started with their involvement in the business of the various crime families and criminal organizations. That feeling gave the book an extra undercurrent of menace and danger lurking nightside there. I hope there are many more mysteries to come in this series.

With its likable and engaging characters, sultry, salt-sprayed setting, and the emotion-tugging puzzle of a murder, I recommend DAUGHTERS OF BAD MEN to mystery fiction readers, especially those who like strong female protagonists, dog-and-cat partnerships, and a tempting setting on the Texas Gulf Coast.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
KarenSiddall | 4 outras críticas | Aug 13, 2022 |

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Michael Bracken Contributor
M. E. Browning Contributor

Estatísticas

Obras
4
Membros
21
Popularidade
#570,576
Avaliação
4.2
Críticas
9
ISBN
6