There is a code of law among journalists that you never, ever give up your sources or your ideas without a court order or without a warrant or subpoena. Dyson doesn't know this because early in the story the victim hands over her notes to a police officer just for the asking. Admittedly, it is after a murder, but the industry of journalism is so "of the moment" that we never hand over notes or files to anyone except our boss. It just isn't done. When I read that paragraph, I almost threw the book in the trash regardless of my promise to review it. I did have to lay it aside for a couple of days because it was so story-stopping for me since the story was about a journalist. If that aspect of the story was wrong, then why keep reading?
My promise. So I picked the thing up and read.
The characters are somewhat believable. Editorial bosses are not a treacherous as Dyson makes out when one of Suzanne Kidwell's colleagues tricks her into revealing more than she should. Then when the story hits the airwaves, we understand how Kidwell gets away with such shoddy journalism herself. So perhaps the dirty-rat-boss sort of fits into the story.
Setting aside the lack of research, the story line is top notch and is very well developed. There are enough twists and abrupt turns to keep the reader turning the pages. It is a study in deceit and that can hit home with just about anyone. However, when we jump into the mind of the antagonist, at first it only annoys because of the seeming pause in story. Then we get a glimpse into evil, revenge, greed and it is chilling. Excellent development.
The two private detectives have this denial of romance on the side which basically detracts from the storyline in my opinion, because it isn't a part of the story. It does not move the story along, it does not create suspense, nor does it do anything except give Suzanne Kidwell a place to give a surprise in the end. A new meaning for anti-climatic to say the least.
I give it three stars, because it did hold my attention to the very end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wanda is a multipublished suspense author, currently writing for Random House/Waterbrook. Her one attempt at a nonfiction book was picked for an exclusive release on Oprah. In addition to writing full time, she is also the appointment coordinator for the CCWC, Great Philadelphia Christian Writers, and ACFW conferences.
Wanda lives in Western Maryland on a 125 acre farm with a menagerie of animals and when she's not writing critically acclaimed suspense, or away at conferences, you can find her zipping across the fields on a 4-wheeler with Maya, her German Shepherd, or plodding along at a more leisurely pace on her horse, Nanza.
With the release of her newest hit, Judgment Day, Wanda is heading back to the keyboard to start on her next high-octane thriller, The Vigilante.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel—until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embellishing put her in hot water with her employers, putting her credibility in question and threatening her professional ambitions.
Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find an entrepreneur she is investigating, John Edward Sterling, unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Sterling is dead, she has his blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator Marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiancé–the man she betrayed in college.
Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire of secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well-worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.
Watch the book trailer:
you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Judgment Day, go HERE.
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