“Download The Enemy Inside.
Only 99c leading to the release of Bloodlines, Jan15
#CrimeFiction #BDSM EdgeofDarkness
http://thndr.it/1HkPKrN”
4.5 stars
Detectives Jay O’Loughlin and Alicia Raymond are assigned by
their superior, Captain Leigh, to investigate the murder of a truck driver who
was also a habitual sex offender. Soon
there are more murdered truckers and the pair race to find some thread leading
back to the killer. Their intense
investigation takes place against a back drop of political
pressure/intimidation and personal crises creating a compulsive read.
THE ENEMY INSIDE is dark, raw and not for the faint of heart
or stomach. As fascinating as the whodunnit
is, Berg and Jay are equally interesting.
While THE ENEMY INSIDE is a dark read there’s a strong undercurrent of
hope as it showcases the strength of kindness, caring, and resilience of the
human spirit.
Alicia Raymond, better known as Berg short for Iceberg, is
one seriously damaged woman. Berg hurts
herself or has others do it via dangerous anonymous sex attempting to stop the
inner pain that refuses to go away. The
guilt and shame afterwards only adds strength to the inner voice telling her
how worthless she is. Berg is in a
vicious destructive cycle, fighting daily to retain a semblance of normality.
Jay O’Loughlin is Berg’s partner. Promiscuous serial dater he’s never with one
woman for long. Jay too is haunted by
his past and while painful, it didn’t hold a candle to Berg’s demons.
While Jay and Berg are partners they aren’t friends nor are
they particularly close. Berg has raised
avoidance and isolation to an art form rebuffing all of Jay’s after work
friendship overtures. The dynamics of
their partnership and personal interactions change drastically when Jay accidentally
discovers Berg’s hidden life, revealing his true character in response. Both begin to feel a flicker of hope and potential
they never thought possible. Learning
more about each character, their background, personal battles, and growth is as
absorbing as the mystery.
The first victim is introduced before his death. That old Southern saying, “Your honor, he
needed killing.” was my first thought when his body was found. Harsh but true. The murders are brutal, creative, and well
planned. You get a sense of calculation and
icy hatred. Ms. Skye doesn’t shy away
from the ugliness of life and does an excellent job illustrating the fine lines
and shades of grey involved when it comes to truth, justice, and
vengeance.
THE ENEMY INSIDE is multi-dimensional and engages the reader
in numerous ways. The plot is complex,
keeping you engaged and on your toes with numerous twists and turns. The quest for the killer is engrossing and
tense but isn’t the only source of tension.
The politics in the police department and political
aspirations of Chief Consiglio often seem to come at the cost of truth and justice;
very frustrating. Berg’s constant battle
against the darkness had me edgy and pulling for her. The partnership between Jay and Berg as well
as their interactions with the other detectives in the department are believable
and also a source of stress. Consiglio
has it out for Jay and Berg riding Captain Leigh about them on an almost daily
basis.
Sherlock Holmes said, “It is a capital mistake to theorize
before one has data.”, so I didn’t even attempt to hazard a guess regarding the
killer until the chapters were in the thirties.
Then a sentence clicked and my brain went ninety to nothing. It was gratifying to discover I’d guessed
correctly.
The ending was unpredictable, a huge plus but also annoying,
satisfying, and slightly chilling. I can’t wait for the next book.
No comments:
Post a Comment