Point Last Seen by Christina Dodd: Review & Excerpt!

 

Point Last Seen

Book Summary

From New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd comes a brand new, standalone suspense about a reclusive artist who retrieves a seemingly dead woman from the Pacific Ocean...only to have her come back to life with no memory of what happened to her. With a strong female protagonist, a chilling villain, and twisty secrets that will keep you turning the pages. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Karin Slaughter and Sandra Brown, POINT LAST SEEN, will have readers keeping the lights on all night.

LIFE LAST SEEN

When you’ve already died, there should be nothing left to fear… When Adam Ramsdell pulls Elle’s half-frozen body from the surf on a lonely California beach, she has no memory of what her full name is and how she got those bruises ringing her throat.

GIRL LAST SEEN

Elle finds refuge in Adam’s home on the edge of Gothic, a remote village located between the steep lonely mountains and the raging Pacific Ocean. As flashes of her memory return, Elle faces a terrible truth—buried in her mind lurks a secret so dark it could get her killed.

POINT LAST SEEN

Everyone in Gothic seems to hide a dark past. Even Adam knows more than he will admit. Until Elle can unravel the truth, she doesn’t know who to trust, when to run and who else might be hurt when the killer who stalks her nightmares appears to finish what he started…

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd writes "edge-of-the-seat suspense" (Iris Johansen) with "brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd" (ALA Booklist). Her fifty-eight books have been called "scary, sexy, and smartly written" by Booklist and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. Enter Christina's worlds and join her mailing list at www.christinadodd.com.

Author Social Media Links

Author Website

Twitter:  @ChristinaDodd

Facebook:  Christina Dodd

Instagram: @christinadoddbooks

Goodreads

My Thoughts

Point Last Seen by Christina Dodd takes us to Gothic, California which is a town for lost souls.  We meet Elle who washes up on the beach and is rescued by Adam.  Adam is a troubled man who has let an incident from the past haunt him.  It is evident that Elle was attacked and is lucky to have escaped.  Adam keeps her safe while Elle works on recovering her memories.  I loved the town of Gothic.  It is a charming town full of quirky, caring residents.  Rune is the town psychic and fortune teller.  She is a unique character.  She is a tall woman who wears the traditional fortune teller clothing and has a five o’clock shadow.  Rune tells people that they can use the pronoun they are most comfortable with when referring to her (which is why in the book some people use she and others use he).   There is humor sprinkled throughout that had me chuckling.  There is a mystery or two along with suspense.  The action keeps the story moving along at a good clip.  As Adam and Elle spend time together during these fraught times, they begin to fall for each other.   They must outwit a deadly foe if they are to get their happily ever after.   There are a couple of steamy scenes as well as foul language. I was surprised at the conclusion.  I am glad that this is not our only visit to Gothic.  It will be interesting to see what lost soul turns up next time in the Last Seen in Gothic series.  Point Last Seen is dramatic tale with a damsel in distress, an artistic knight, a conversant psychic, a mad mugger, a crafty killer, a kindhearted chef, a dodgy joust, and a hamlet of lost souls.  

Excerpt

A Morning in February

Gothic, California

The storm off the Pacific had been brutal, a relentless night of cold rain and shrieking wind. Adam Ramsdell had spent the hours working, welding and polishing a tall, heavy, massive piece of sculpture, not hearing the wailing voices that lamented their own passing, not shuddering when he caught sight of his own face in the polished stainless steel. He sweated as he moved swiftly to capture the image he saw in his mind, a clawed monster rising from the deep: beautiful, deadly, dangerous.

And as always, when dawn broke, the storm moved on and he stepped away, he realized he had failed.

Impatient, he shoved the trolley that held the sculpture toward the wall. One of claws swiped his bare chest and proved to him he’d done one thing right: razor-sharp, it opened a long, thin gash in his skin. Blood oozed to the surface. He used his toe to lock the wheels on the trolley, securing the sculpture in case of the occasional California earth tremor.

Then with the swift efficiency of someone who had dealt with minor wounds, his own and others’, he found a clean towel and stanched the flow. Going into the tiny bathroom, he washed the site and used superglue to close the gash. The cut wasn’t deep; it would hold.

He tied on his running shoes and stepped outside into the short, bent, wet grass that covered his acreage. The rosemary hedge that grew at the edge of his front porch released its woody scent. The newly washed sunlight had burned away the fog, and Adam started running uphill toward town, determined to get breakfast, then come home to bed. Now that the sculpture was done and the storm had passed, he needed the bliss of oblivion, the moments of peace sleep could give him.

Yet every year as the Ides of March and the anniversary of his failure approached, nightmares tracked through his sleep and followed him into the light. They were never the same but always a variation on a theme: he had failed, and in two separate incidents, people had died…

The route was all uphill; nevertheless, each step was swift and precise. The sodden grasses bent beneath his running shoes. He never slipped; a man could die from a single slip. He’d always known that, but now, five years later, he knew it in ways he could never forget.

As he ran, he shed the weariness of a long night of cutting, grinding, hammering, polishing. He reached the asphalt and he lengthened his stride, increased his pace.

He ran past the cemetery where a woman knelt to take a chalk etching of a crumbling headstone, past the Gothic Museum run by local historian Freya Goodnight.

The Gothic General Store stood on the outside of the lowest curve of the road. Today the parking lot was empty, the rockers were unoccupied, and the store’s sixteen-year-old clerk lounged in the open door. “How you doing, Mr. Ramsdell?” she called.

He lifted his hand. “Hi, Tamalyn.”

She giggled.

Somehow, on the basis of him waving and remembering her name, she had fallen in love with him. He reminded himself that the dearth of male teens in the area left him little competition, but he could feel her watching him as he ran past the tiny hair salon where Daphne was cutting a local rancher’s hair in the outdoor barber chair.

His body urged him to slow to a walk, but he deliberately pushed himself.

Every time he took a turn, he looked up at Widow’s Peak, the rocky ridge that overshadowed the town, and the Tower, the edifice built by the Swedish silent-film star who in the early 1930s had bought land and created the town to her specifications.

At last he saw his destination, the Live Oak, a four-star restaurant in a one-star town. The three-story building stood at the corner of the highest hairpin turn and housed the eatery and three exclusive suites available for rent.

When Adam arrived he was gasping, sweating, holding his side. Since his return from the Amazon basin, he had never completely recovered his stamina.

Irksome.

At the corner of the building, he turned to look out at the view.

The vista was magnificent: spring-green slopes, wave-battered sea stacks, the ocean’s endless surges, and the horizon that stretched to eternity. During the Gothic jeep tour, Freya always told the tourists that from this point, if a person tripped and fell, that person could tumble all the way to the beach. Which was an exaggeration. Mostly.

Adam used the small towel hooked into his waistband to wipe the sweat off his face. Then disquiet began its slow crawl up his spine.

Someone had him under observation.

He glanced up the grassy hill toward the olive grove and stared. A glint, like someone stood in the trees’ shadows watching with binoculars. Watching him.

No. Not him. A peregrine falcon glided through the shredded clouds, and seagulls cawed and circled. Birders came from all over the word to view the richness of the Big Sur aviary life. As he watched, the glint disappeared. Perhaps the birder had spotted a tufted puffin. Adam felt an uncomfortable amount of relief in that: it showed a level of paranoia to imagine someone was watching him, but…

But. He had learned never to ignore his instincts. The hard way, of course.

Are you ready to read Point Last Seen?  Point Last Seen is available from Amazon*, BookShop.org, Harlequin, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Powell’s.  You can find Christina Dodd's other novels here on Amazon.  Christina Dodd's next novel is Forget What You Know which publishes on March 7, 2023.  I appreciate you stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany.  It is the third A Tea by the Sea Mystery.  I hope that you have a happy day (it is Friday).  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd: Review & Excerpt

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd 

Book Summary

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd has Evelyn Jones hiding out at the Midnight Sun Fishing Camp in a remote part of Alaska after being convicted of the murder of a mother and small boy as well as embezzlement.  A twist of fate allowed Evelyn to escape but she suffered severe damage.  She is now going by the name of Petie and spends eight months of the year alone.  She uses the time in isolation to learn new skills which allows her to track down the man who set her up.  When someone close to her ends up in jeopardy, it is time for Evelyn to get justice for herself and the others the man has wronged.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd writes “edge-of-the-seat suspense” (Iris Johansen) with “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (ALA Booklist). Her fifty-eight books have been called "scary, sexy, and smartly written" by Booklist and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list at www.christinadodd.com.

Author Links

Author Website: https://www.christinadodd.com/ 

TWITTER: @ChristinaDodd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaDoddFans 

Insta: @ChristinaDoddBooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12695.Christina_Dodd

My Thoughts

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd is the beginning of The Alaskan Mystery series.  I was eagerly anticipating reading this new suspense novel and I was not disappointed.  The characters are multifaceted, and the plot is complex.  Evelyn “Petie” Jones gets a chance to start over after serving time in a juvenile facility.  She is eighteen with limited options.  Evelyn is offered a job in Alaska and she takes it upon the advice of her counselor.  Unfortunately, Evelyn trusts the wrong person and ends up accused of a double homicide along with embezzlement.  Evelyn is convicted and sentenced to life in prison. A freak of nature allows Evelyn to escape and hide as Petie.  She will never be free, though, until she finds the man who set her up and prove he committed the evil deeds she has been convicted of committing.  Wrong Alibi is a captivating story.  It is a page turner that is full of twists, turns, and surprises.  I loved the intricate mystery as well as the action and tension.  This was a fun whodunit.  There are a variety of unique characters and I enjoyed the hint of paranormal.  I am eager to read the next book in this exciting new series.  Wrong Alibi is a stimulating story with a cunning con man, a unscrupulous sheriff, a deadly adversary, a cold climate, and a wrong woman.

Excerpt

ALASKA

 Midnight Sun Fishing Camp

Katchabiggie Lodge

 Eight years ago

 

JANUARY.

Five and a half hours a day when the sun rose above the horizon.

Storm clouds so thick, daylight never penetrated, and night reigned eternal.

Thirty below zero Fahrenheit.

The hurricane-force wind wrapped frigid temperatures around the lodge, driving through the log cabin construction and the steel roof, ignoring the insulation, creeping inch by inch into the Great Room where twenty-year-old Petie huddled on a love seat, dressed in a former guest’s flannel pajamas and bundled in a Pendleton Northern Lights wool blanket. A wind like this pushed snow through the roof vents, and she knew as soon as the storm stopped, she’d be up in the attic shoveling it out.

 Or not. Maybe first the ceiling would fall in on top of her.

 Who would know? Who would care?

The storm of the century, online news called it, before the internet disappeared in a blast that blew out the cable like a candle.

For a second long, dark winter, she was the only living being tending the Midnight Sun cabins and the lodge, making sure the dark, relentless Alaska winter didn’t do too much damage and in the spring the camp could open to enthusiastic fishermen, corporate team builders and rugged individualists.

Alone for eight months of the year. No Christmas. No New Year’s. No Valentine’s Day. No any day, nothing interesting, just dark dark dark isolation and fear that she would die out here.

 With the internet gone, she waited for the next inevitable event.

The lights went out.

 On each of the four walls, a small, battery-charged nightlight came on to battle feebly against the darkness. Outside, the storm roared. Inside, cold swallowed the heat with greedy appetite.

 Petie sat and stared into a dark so black it hurt her eyes. And remembered…

 There, against the far back wall of the basement, in the darkest corner, white plastic covered…something. Slowly, Petie approached, driven by a terrible fear. She stopped about three feet away, leaned forward and reached out, far out, to grasp the corner of the plastic, pull it back, and see—

With a gasp, Petie leaped to her feet.

No. Just no. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—replay those memories again.

She tossed the blanket onto the floor and groped for the flashlights on the table beside her: the big metal one with a hefty weight and the smaller plastic headlamp she could strap to her forehead. She clicked on the big one and shone it around the lodge, reassuring herself no one and nothing was here. No ghosts, no zombies, no cruel people making ruthless judgments about the gullible young woman she had been.

Armed with both lights, she moved purposefully out of the Great Room, through the massive kitchen and toward the utility room.

The door between the kitchen and the utility room was insulated, the first barrier between the lodge and the bitter, rattling winds. She opened that door, took a breath of the even chillier air, stepped into the utility room and shut herself in. There she donned socks, boots, ski pants, an insulated shirt, a cold-weather blanket cut with arm holes, a knit hat and an ancient, full-length, seal-skin, Aleut-made coat with a hood. She checked the outside temperature.

Colder now—forty below and with the wind howling, the wind chill would be sixty below, seventy below…who knew? Who cared? Exposed skin froze in extreme cold and add the wind chill… She wrapped a scarf around her face and the back of her neck. Then unwrapped it to secure the headlamp low on her forehead. Then wrapped herself up again, trying to cover as much skin as she could before she faced the punishing weather.

She pointed her big flashlight at the generator checklist posted on the wall and read:

 Hawley’s reasons why the generator will fail to start. The generator is new and well-tested, so the problem is:

1.      LOOSE BATTERY CABLE

 Solution: Tighten.

2.      CORRODED BATTERY CONNECTION

Solution: Use metal terminal battery brush to clean connections and reattach.

3.      DEAD BATTERY

 Solution: Change battery in the autumn to avoid ever having to change it in the middle of a major fucking winter storm.

If she wasn’t standing there alone in the dark in the bitter cold, she would have grinned. The owner of the fishing camp, Hawley Foggo, taught his employees Hawley’s Rules. He had them for every occurrence of the fishing camp, and that last sounded exactly like him.

The generator used a car battery, and as instructed, in the autumn she had changed it. This was her second year dealing with the battery, and she felt secure about her work.

So probably this failure was a loose connection or corrosion. Either way, she could fix it and save the lodge from turning into a solid ice cube that wouldn’t thaw until spring.

That was, after all, her job.

She shivered.

So much better than her last job, the one that led to her conviction for a gruesome double murder.

 “Okay, Petie, let’s grab that metal battery cleaner thingy and get the job done.” Which sounded pretty easy, when she talked to herself about it, but when she pulled on the insulated ski gloves, they limited her dexterity.

Out of the corner of her eye, a light blinked out.

She looked back into the lodge’s Great Room. The nightlights were failing, and soon she really would be alone in the absolute darkness, facing the memories of that long-ago day in the basement.

Good incentive to hurry.

She grabbed the wire battery connection cleaner thingy and moved to the outer door.

There she paused and pictured the outdoor layout.

 A loosely built lean-to protected the generator from the worst of the weather while allowing the exhaust to escape. That meant she wasn’t stepping out into the full force of the storm; she would be as protected as the generator itself. Which was apparently not well enough since the damned thing wasn’t working.

 She gathered her fortitude and eased the outer door open.

The wind caught it, yanked it wide and dragged her outside and down the steps. She hung on to the door handle, flailed around on the frozen ground, and when she regained her footing, she used all her strength to shove the door closed again.

Then she was alone, outside, in a killer storm, in the massive, bleak wilderness that was Alaska.

Wrong Alibi can be purchased from Amazon*, Harlequin, Books-a-Million, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Google, Kobo, and iBooks.  You can find Christina Dodd's other novels here.  If you enjoy your visit to Rockin, Alaska in Wrong Alibi, check out Right Motive.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will be back tomorrow with Neighbors by Danielle Steel.  I hope that each of you have a joyful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd

Happy September 17!  It is a big day for me.  I was born on this day in 1969.  A fun fact is that I have two male cousins born this same year.  One two months before me and one two months after me.  New books that are out today are A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier and Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd.  Strangers She Knows is the final novel in the Cape Charade series which includes Dead Girl Running and What Doesn't Kill Her.  The novellas in the series are Hard to Kill, Families and Other Enemies, and Hidden Truths.  

Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd returns us to the Yearning Sands Resort in Washington.  Kellen Adams Di Luca married the man of her dreams, Max Di Luca and then collapsed after her wedding.  That pesky little bullet in her brain needed to be removed.  She has finally returned home to find her ten year old daughter, Rae turning into an adolescent with temperamental outbursts (Verona feels Max deserves every single bit of it after what he put her through).  Before life can return to normal, they learn that Mara Philippi was in Cape Charade and left a witness alive to give Kellen a deadly message.  Max decides to have the three of them decamp to Isla Paraiso.  It is an island that can only be accessed by boat or helicopter with no electricity, no wi-fi and, much to Rae’s dismay, no cell phone tower.  While exploring the attic one rainy day, Kellen and Rae uncover the diary of Ruby Morgade.  Ruby’s father built the elaborate home they are living in on Isla Paraiso.  Reading the diary proves to be a bonding experience for the Di Luca’s family.  Unfortunately, there family time comes at an end when the psychotic Mara finds their isle paradise.  Mara has a game she wants to play with Kellen and there can only be one winner.

Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd is the third book in Cape Charade series.  Each book in this fast paced series can be read on its own since the author provides a recap (just enough to catch you up, but not too much as to spoil the other books in the series for new readers).  Kellen Adams Di Luca has gone through so much in the last few years.  She is denied her wedding night and honeymoon when the bullet in her brain shifts requiring immediate surgery.  Kellen does survive the surgery, but she has a long recovery.  She returns home still weak and with one hand that is refusing to cooperate.  The therapist recommends piano lessons which is torture for Kellen and everyone else in the family including Luna, Rae’s dog (everyone’s a critic).  When Mara resurfaces and is determined to get revenge, Kellen is not strong enough to go after her on her own.  The family moves to the remote Isla Paraiso with a cook, Olympia Paolerio and the two islands caretakers, Jamie and Dylan Conkle.  The family explores the island thanks to the three bikes Max had shipped in for them and they get reacquainted.  The pacing in the first half is more laid back (feel the island vibe) with the second half ramped up like a person after drinking three espressos in a row.  Kellen is trying to survive a maniacal killer.  You can feel the suspense, tension and pain. Rae is still her fearless and intelligent self but now puberty is hitting (her poor parents).  She manages to get into scrapes even on an island.  I like how Rae is still a young girl at times who needs her parents.  Max and Kellen are just beginning their marriage and they have no privacy. They are learning each other’s quirks and foibles.   It was interesting to learn more about Mara.  She is a complex woman and her upbringing explains a lot.  I really enjoyed the addition of Ruby’s diary.  I thought it enhanced the story as added depth and interest plus gives us a second mystery.  I enjoyed the various references to Harry Potter and Hogwarts.  Strangers She Knows is one of those books that you will not be able to put down. I am sorry to see the Cape Charade series come to an end.  Strangers She Knows is a riveting suspense with a mad murderer, a temperamental tween, a remote refuge, panicked parents and an explosive ending.

Strangers She Knows is out today and available through Amazon (Amazon UK) and other major retailers.  Thank you for joining me today.  I am off to relax and enjoy the day.  Tomorrow I am sharing my review of Listening to Love by Beth Wiseman.  May you have a joyous day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader  

That's my nightmare!

What Doesn't Kill Her by Christina Dodd

Welcome!  Delighting in Your Company by Blair McDowell comes out on February 4.  On February 5 there are a plethora of new books which include Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin, The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon, A Faithful Gathering by Leslie Gould and A Rebel at Pennington's by Rachel Brimble (I will feature on February 6).  These are just a few of the new books coming out.

What Doesn’t Kill Her by Christina Dodd takes us to Willamette Valley in Oregon where the Di Luca Winery is located.  Kellen Adams (aka Cecilia Adams) is adjusting to living at the Di Luca Winery with Max Di Luca, their seven year old daughter, Rae and Max’s mother, Verona.  Kellen lost a year of her life while in a coma from a gunshot wound and she then disappeared upon awakening.  She is now the mother the precocious Rae and no clue how to relate to her.  Kellen misses working and Max finds her a job that will give her time away to think about the future.  Nils Brooks hires Kellen along with Richart Movers to transport a mummy head into the Olympic mountains to a reclusive man for authentication.  Kellen can tell something is off as soon as they pick up the artifact.  Her suspicions are soon confirmed, and Kellen finds herself in the mountains without a vehicle or a phone.  However, Kellen does find a stowaway.  Rae decided to join Kellen on the trip so they can bond.  Thankfully, she did leave a note behind (of sorts) for Max and Verona.  Kellen must get the artifact along with Rae and herself up the mountain to the Restorer (as the man is called) without being killed by the armed men following her.  Come along for Kellen’s adventure in What Doesn’t Kill Her.

 

What Doesn’t Kill Her is a well-written and engaging romantic suspense novel.  It is fast-paced with plenty of action.  While What Doesn’t Kill Her can be read alone, but I highly recommend reading Dead Girl Running first (first book in Cape Charade series).  The summary just does not do Kellen’s situation justice.  Rae is the highlight of What Doesn’t Kill Her.  She is an active, intelligent and sassy little girl.  Her witty dialogue will have you chuckling along with her obsession for pink, purple, heroes and her princess dolls (the poor dolls).  Rae has just found her mommy and she has no intention of a lack of bonding get in the way. These parents are going to have their hands full with the spunky and mischievous Rae.  Kellen should have known not to take a job from Nils Brooks.  He deserves everything Rae, Max and Kellen dish out.  I started reading What Doesn’t Kill Her and just kept going until I reached the end.  The book is character driven with plenty of action. Christina Dodd created developed characters that suit the story.  I can understand why Kellen hid under the bushes to avoid Rae at times as well as the large Di Luca clan.  There is a funny scene where an event is planned under the same bushes. Avid mystery readers will be able to pinpoint the evildoer, but I loved the chase.  I like that when bad things happen it is not described in gory detail.  There is foul language sprinkled throughout the book (just letting you know).  I do want to warn readers that we are left with a cliffhanger at the end of What Doesn’t Kill Her (and we must wait until October).  I am giving What Doesn’t Kill Her 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).  I enjoyed the suspense, action, intrigue, humor, mystery and romance in this thrilling adventure.  Not many writers can create a book that makes a reader feel a range of emotions.  I cannot wait to read Stranger She Knows when it releases on October 8.  Buckle in for another exciting adventure with Kellen and her sidekick, Rae in What Doesn’t Kill Her. 

Thank you for visiting today.  I am showcasing Murder, She Meowed by Liz Mugavero tomorrow as part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.  I hope you will stop by (there might be a giveaway).  May you have a rapturous day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Dead Girl Running: Cape Charade Novel

Welcome!  Crime and Punctuation by Kaitlyn Dunnett comes out on May 29.  It is the first book Deadly Edits series.  Dying Truth by Angela Marsons will be available on May 18.  It is the eighth book in DI Kim Stone series.

Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd is the first novel in Cape Charade series.  Kellen Adams does not remember a year of her life, and she has a gunshot wound on her forehead with no clue how she received it.  Kellen is a United States Army veteran who is the assistant resort manager at Yearning Sands on the coast of Washington.  Leo and Annie Di Luca, the owners of the resort, are going away for a holiday and leaving Kellen in charge.  Kellen notices some bones in the yard as she arrives with guests and goes to inspect them believing they are that of a wild animal.  She is shocked to discover that they are human bones.  The victim is identified from her ring as Priscilla Carter, the previous assistant manager who left unexpectedly. Lloyd Magnuson is responsible for transporting the victim to the morgue, but he disappears along with the bones.  Kellen uses her skills to investigate the crime.  She does not know who she can trust and anyone on the estate could be guilty. 

Dead Girl Running is well-written and has a steady pace.  The book captured my attention from the very first page, and I was captivated until the very end.  The story is complex with many twists and turns (which I love).  There are three major storylines in the book and, in the end, they all come together.  There is the murder of Priscilla, smuggling, and Kellen’s missing year.  The setting sounded beautiful yet haunting.  It is the perfect locale for nefarious activities.  The resort sounds like a lovely place to spend a relaxing few days (when they are not finding dead bodies).  The mystery was well-crafted, and many readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed.  I could feel the suspense as it built up and the tension as it increased.  There is some romance sprinkled throughout the story and it blended nicely into the book. I discovered after reading Dead Girl Running that it ties into the Virtue Falls and Bella Terra series.  I had no problem, though, with reading Dead Girl Running as a standalone.  Dead Girl Running is a gripping tale that will have you on the edge of your seat (and hoping you will not fall off).  Be prepared to stay up late to finish Dead Girl Running.  My rating for Dead Girl Running is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).   I am eager for the next book in the Cape Charade series (What Doesn't Kill Me) to find out what happens next.  

Dead Girl Running will be out on Tuesday, April 24.  For a printable list of Christina Dodd's book, click here.  You can also sign up to receive her newsletter.  I appreciate you stopping by and reading my review.  Tomorrow I share my thoughts on Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams.  May you have a day filled with joy.  See you next time and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader