I absolutely loved Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill. When I heard that he had a sequel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Network of Deceit, featuring kickbutt detective Amara Alvarez did not disappoint. In fact, I think it is better than book 1, and that is saying a lot. If you love mystery and suspense, this book is highly recommended!
After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she’s worked for: a transfer to San Antonio’s Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life.
As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she’s forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.
Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see that justice is served and lives are protected.
Tom Threadgill turned his love of a good tale into a full-time profession. His books have a distinct focus on clean, suspenseful action with strong character development. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In his downtime, Tom enjoys woodworking, riding his Harley, and chasing the elusive Yard of the Month award. He currently resides with his wife in the Dallas area and can be reached through his website at TomThreadgill.com.
My Impressions:
Amara Alvarez, author Tom Threadgill’s kickbutt detective, is back in Network of Deceit, and is this a good one! Amara is new to San Antonio’s homicide division and eager to tackle her first case. And it’s a puzzler. I loved how Amara works through the case and gets down to the facts. Her style is part dogged police work/part intuition, a good combo for a case that may not really be a case. Amara is a wonderfully complex character. She loves her job and her family and has all the angst of keeping things balanced. Her personal life takes a backseat, but she is re-examining that in light of her relationship with Starsky, another detective. It’s a fledgling relationship, but coming along nicely for those who like a little romance thrown in. Family concerns are also keeping Amara a little off-kilter. The case is serious, but Threadgill inserts just the right amount of humor to keep the characters human, if you know what I mean. Amara and the rest are true-to-life, not superheroes or arch villains, but dedicated men and women vs. smart criminals with flaws and vulnerabilities. Although the reader discovers whodunit along with Amara, the ending has a big twist I did not see coming — a big plus in my book.
Network of Deceit is book 2 in a series which just keeps getting better as it progresses. That’s saying a lot, because book 1, Collision of Lies, made my best of 2020 list. This novel will definitely be on the best of 2021 list. I can’t wait see what Threadgill has in store for Amara in upcoming releases.
Highly Recommended
Audience: adults
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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