Stolen: A Cassidy & Spenser Thriller (Ca...

 

MY REVIEW

 

I am engrossed from the opening page of Stolen by Carey Baldwin and read this edge of the seat suspense in one sitting.

 

The hot and sexy investigative team of Cassidy and Spencer heat up the pages as they descend on Denver in search of a monster. The duo may sound a bit familiar? Are they a combination of some that we know and love?

 

Laura is missing. It is the second time in thirteen years, and some question whether she is the victim or the perpetrator arises.

 

The psychological terror Laura is under keeps her confused and unsure, doubting her own innocence and what is real. No one around here is helping her and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

 

With all she has been through, Carey Baldwin has created a strong character, filled with doubt yet determined to find the truth and stop the monster.

 

I silently urged her to reach out to Caity and Spense. Spense is with the BAU and Caity works along side him as a consultant, but I like the direction Carey Baldwin took.

 

There are times when I question the direction Carey Baldwin took, but who’s to say what any of us would do if we walked in Laura’s shoes and it keeps the story going in the direction Carey she has chosen. After all, Laura is not a cop, a psychologist or a profiler.

 

Very quickly, I had my first suspect. His attitude and conduct is sickening and he really pissed me off. He makes a fantastic villain.

 

That shopping scene is super CREEPY.

 

Then comes suspect #2 and #3.

 

There are plenty of twists and turns and Carey Baldwin’s use of misdirection kept me doubting my choice of the serial killer.

 

Two thumbs up for this fast paced, nail biting suspense and the cast of characters that had me loving them and hating them…you know who you are…

 

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Stolen by Carey Baldwin

4 Stars

 

Read more here.

 

3.75 Stars!!!

 

I'm always on the lookout for good suspense/thriller novels. Judgment didn't disappoint!!

What I liked: Judgment was my first read by Ms Baldwin and it was free. The biggest factor involved in taking a chance on this book was another author I read and love, recommended Judgment. I took a chance because not all thriller readers are the same in the taste of their books.

Judgment has a good strong plot, interesting characters, and a few twists I didn't see coming. For those reasons, I couldn't stop reading.  As with mysteries, thrillers or suspense novels, you can't really say too much about the plot without spoiling the book. Suffice it to say, it's a roller coaster ride for Dr. Caitlin Cassidy, Agent Atticus Spenser and the rest of the cast.

I've always wondered what drives individuals to be a part of a defense team defending what seems a slam dunk conviction. Caity Cassidy has the best reason of all, she watched a loved one put to death for a murder he didn't commit. That's a scary thought to me and actually made me really think about the death penalty as a judgment. I don't know if this is what Ms Baldwin had in mind when she wrote Judgment, but it made me think.

Atticus is a very intriguing character. He has some focus problems that he's lived with all his life but has found a way to cope and hopefully not blurt out exactly what he's thinking. That characteristic was endearing and in some cases humorous. 

There are no down moments in Judgment. Take a breath and go along for the ride with the nonstop action including the repeated attempts on Caity's life.

What I didn't like: Have you ever read a book and knew you enjoyed it but something seemed a bit off? I was having that problem with Caity and Atticus' relationship. Their interactions seemed awkward and yet I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I didn't have a complete sense of them as a team. Ms Baldwin gives a good back story on each of them as individuals but I didn't feel the spark of them as a couple. It just slightly took away from the story for me but didn't impact my enjoyment of the book.

If you like suspense/thrillers/murder mysteries, you will enjoy Judgment. The next book, Fallen, is due to be released on June 9th. I will be buying that one to see how the series progresses and the characters grow.

Recommended!!!

 

MY REVIEW

I can either do a clinical review or write down what I feel at this very moment. Oh, let me do both and get it over with.

Let's start with the emotional reaction. It scared the DNA out of my family tree. It had me jumping out of my own skin into another personality type. It had all the juices in my body curdling in my ear drums. It made my petrous bone shudder and shake. I almost did not make it, honest to God.

If you know Dr.Kay Scarpetta in Patricia Cornwell's psychological thrillers, and you loved it, this is the book for you! Be my guest. Enjoy!

As I explained my reaction to the Scarpetta series, to a friend on Goodreads, I almost did not make it that time either. The difference between now and then is, that I read those books during the night, never slept a wink, locked all the doors, locked hubsters out, taped the windows closed, insisted on the guard dogs sleeping on my bed, check the cats'nails, instructed them to attack anyone trying to open my bedroom door, and curled up in terror until all three books were finished. 

When I started this book last night I was too tired to continue reading, so I sneaked it into my office day this morning after starting with it around five already! Thank goodness I did not continue last night.

I am not trying to be funny, but if you want to laugh do so and then read the book yourself! Then it will be my turn to holler and howl and I won't feel bad at all for doing just that! I am still shaking.

But nevermind, let's get to the clinical part now.

Dr. Caity Cassidy's father, Thomas, was convicted and executed for the brutal rape and murder of Gail Falconer, fifteen years ago. Caitey attended his execution and pledged to herself that she will get behind the truth. She thought he was innocent. Obviously, the Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona did not think so. The only man to support her at the event was her father's lawyer, Harvey Baumgartner (Tree gardener in English). He handled her father's case pro bono. They were friends from church - her father's best friend in the end. She was eighteen years old at the time. The event inspired her to climb into the mind of killers, which resulted in her PHD. She became a forensic psychiatrist profiling these mad people. She wanted to prove that her father did not have the psychological make-up to do it. She employed private investigators with no success.

Harvey Baumgarten requested her services for one of his clients, Judd Kramer, in a case against the latter. While consulting in court, a killer walked in and shot everyone. There were four victims. Kramer and his deputy escort-- shot just outside the courthouse, with Baumgartner and Dr. Caitey Cassidy --shot inside. Judd Kramer survived. She barely survived herself. Only because her four year long rival, FBI Special Agent Atticus Spenser (named after Atticus Finch, the hero in To Kill a Mockingbird), saved her life. They’d been on opposite sides of a contentious case more than once. And there was also that personal incident a few years back . . . but fortunately no one knew about that little gem of a disaster except Spense and her.

They had no other choice but to work together on this case. Caitey's ordeal was not over, as they soon found out. The killer did not target her by accident. There was to be a second round and she needed protection. Spencer offered it. She had to move in with him.

He baffled her. One thing she noticed was that he always had a miniature Rubik’s cube, attached to a keychain, in his pocket. He often pulled it out, scrambled it, solved it, and shoved it back in his pants pocket, all in less than a minute. He also knew how to prepare kung pao tofu with edamame,dowsed in a spicy peanut sauce. This man was not only soft on the retinas, he was also multi-talented. Behind his Old Spice must be a story too.

But that just for interest's sake. What really happened after the shootings rocked their world. As in totally. 

Judd Kramer died in hospital, along with the pharmacist. More young women ended up dead. Caitey was now confronted with first the death of Gail Falconer, and now Sally Cartwright, Darlene Dillinger and Annie Bayberry.

Fast moving, thrilling, captivating, entertaining, scary, brilliant! A tale marked by all the elements of a psychological thriller par excellence.

The only rattling bone in my scull is the acronyms and abbreviations that was spread all over the text. I gave up in trying to find them all on the internet. "DETECTIVE RILEY BASKIN paced the precinct lunchroom with a PB and J gripped in his hand" Oy! I thought it was a high caliber murder weapon and was diving for cover, until I peaked through my fingers and realized he was eating it. I could only wish him luck until this moment, because I still don't know what it is!

So yes, let me admit it. I LOVED THIS BOOK !!!

This book is a Witness Impulse, HarperCollins Publication, provided through edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com. for review. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

What a breathtaking book. The writing was amazing! The suspense was graphic and spine-chilling but I took it all in because it was delivered so well. The romance was subtle and a very nice counterpart for the sometimes creepy and gruesome POV of the villain.

I loved Faith! She was vulnerable yet strong and didn't take any crap from Luke and didn't let anyone order her around. Luke was pretty awesome as well and I really loved seeing Daniel, Sky and Katie from FIRST DO NO EVIL again.

Weird because you, the reader, know who the serial killer is and there are several chapters with his POV and yet the book is as thrilling as any whodunit where you have to keep guessing who the killer is. Carey Baldwin incorporated enough elements to either keep you at the edge of your seat or make you shudder in trepidation. And then she delivered the KO-punch with a twist at the very end I reall didn't see coming. Kudos, Ms. Baldwin, kudos!!

Fave Quote:
He picked up her hand, traced his thumb along her palm, trailing fire everywhere he touched. "And one of the first things you're going to learn about me is that I don't mess around. I don't cajole. I don't pesuade. I don't seduce. Subterfuge isn't in my nature." First his breath was in her hair, fogging up her brain. Then he was whispering close in her ear, melting her like warmed sugar. "When I see something I want, Faith, I don't apologize. I just go get it."

3.5 star read