Review for The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller

Blurb:
In 1960’s London, British Intelligence agent Peter Stoller is next in line to run the Agency—until he falls in love with cab driver, Charles, and his life goes off the road. When Charles is accused of treason, Peter is guilty by association. Peter manages to extract them both, but the seeds of doubt have been planted, putting Peter’s mind and heart at war. Is ignorance truly bliss or merely deadly?

My review:
British Intelligence agent Peter Stoller is at the top of his game. He's next in line to run the Agency but is comfortable with the position he's in. The single ladies at work vie for his affection, but it is a cab driver by the name of Charles who draws Peter's attention. Their relationship progresses swiftly, and when Charles is brought in for possible treason, Peter helps him escape. They run off together, but Peter wonders how well he truly knows Charles. Will following his heart over his head be the death of him?

An incredibly written story of intrigue, love, and betrayal. The one thing that always hooks me is great characterization. This book is rich with it. Peter Stoller is an immensely intelligent and observant man with a strong moral code, and he's also very subtle. Don't expect someone who is in your face or seeking an action-packed adventure. With Peter's narration, the reader is lead through gripping scenes high with tension, where the quiet makes it even more provocative. I wondered with Peter about Charles' loyalties and those of his colleagues and felt my heart twist with each turn in the plot. The whole cast of characters is thick with layers. Two of my favorites being Simeon and Gamby.

I found it difficult to put my ereader down as each chapter beckoned me on to the next. There is a little quirkiness to the style which I thoroughly enjoyed, and it fits a man like Peter. I highly recommend The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller to everyone, not just the suspense and spy thriller fans.

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Find out more about M. Pepper Langlinais here!

Oracle review

Blurb:
As the countdown begins, the body count rises.

With London gearing up to host the Olympics, the city doesn’t need a serial killer stalking the streets. They’ve got one anyway.

Leaving a trail of brutal and bizarre murders, the police are no closer to finding their latest murderer than Detective Inspector Kurt Lancer is in finding a solution for his daughter’s disability.

Thrust into the pressure cooker of a high profile case, the struggling single parent is wound tight as he tries to balance care of his own family with the safety of a growing population of potential next victims.

One of whom could be his own daughter.

Fingers point in every direction as the public relations nightmare grows, and Lancer’s only answer comes in the form of a single oak leaf left at each crime scene.


My review:
Detective Kurt Lancer is on the trail of a serial killer. A killer becoming famous for the brutal and unusual ways of murdering his victims. The last thing London needs is a murderer on the loose with the Olympic Games about to start. Kurt wonders who might really be the killer when his home and daughter are targeted. As the nightmare and body count grows, he has to find who's behind it all or lose everything that matters to him.

This is an incredibly written thriller that pulled me along with every page. The tension was drawn tight at the beginning, and every time I felt it easing up, it was jerked taut again. Great pacing. What I loved most about the book was the characters. No stereotypes or cardboard cut-outs. These are real people with amazing depth. Kurt Lancer is a single father trying to raise a daughter with a growing disability. It made my heart ache to see the good and bad of the parent-child relationship. Kurt's partners, Sam and Tom, are extremely likable and the perfect complement to his rougher edges. The delinquent brother and sexy neighbor have more to their characters than originally meets the eye.

I wasn't surprised by anything that happened and I predicted where the story was going, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Wonderful detail, interesting Greek mythology, and spectacular characterization. Oracle is the debut novel for J.C. Martin, and she makes it look so easy.

Visit J.C. Martin at her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.