Tag Archives: Rachel Dylan

First Line Friday — Secrets Chase Her

24 Apr

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Secrets Chase Her, the second book in the Deadly Justice series by Rachel Dylan. The first book was super-twisty, with a cliffhanger at the end. I can’t wait to dive into this suspense/thriller! It releases on May 19, but you can pre-order your copy now. hint, hint

Here’s the first line:

Quinn Kelly looked at her smart watch again for the third time in five minutes.

A brutal murder. A deadly secret. A lawyer who won’t back down.

When high-powered attorney Quinn Kelly finds her protégé brutally murdered, she’s plunged into a nightmare—one that points directly to a ruthless serial killer. FBI Agent Samira Haddad takes over the case, but her complicated past with Quinn threatens to cloud the investigation.

Blackmailed by a powerful tech mogul who holds incriminating evidence against her, Quinn is forced to take on his defense to keep him silent. But she refuses to sit on the sidelines while Samira hunts the killer who took her friend’s life. Quinn’s search for answers uncovers a chilling truth: someone close to her is in the crosshairs—and she may be the reason why.

The killer is watching and lying in wait. With trust in short supply, both women must decide how far they’re willing to go for justice—and survival.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Top 10 Tuesday — Alter Ego!

14 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is book titles that describe me or my life. Uh, no! LOL! I read a lot of mystery/suspense and those titles can be seriously scary. And besides, I am a huge rule follower — just ask my husband, the man who never saw a rule that couldn’t in some fashion be broken. 😉 So I decided to flip the topic and go with titles that would describe my evil twin aka alter ego. This was a fun post to put together. I hope you enjoy it and find a great book to read.

For more insights into the real bloggers’ lives, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles That Describe My Alter Ego

If I was one to take on a life of crime, I would want to be thought of as a member of The Queens of Crime. In pursuit of the lofty title I’d travel to Scotland and perpetrate a Highland Heist. Not sure if that would include a few shaggy cows, but who knows what a thief could discover among the heather. I might Ambush a man in a kilt to help me carry all the loot, making sure I hide my identity and not let on An Appearance of Impropriety. I must maintain an air of integrity and not get caught! But if I’m found out and pursued by the coppers, I’ll make sure my crimes are well Hidden by a Canyon of Deceit so I am not forced into Taking A Second Shot to fend them off. A good criminal must be able To Outwit Them All! If I’m not successful, the authorities will say that Death Follows Her and I may be presumed Guilty Until Innocent .

Here’s a tip: the authors of these books are way better at telling tales than I am. Check out their fabulous books!

Top 10 Tuesday — Books I Can Hardly Wait For!

13 Jan

Happy Tuesday! 2026 has already been one long year and we aren’t even half way through January. If you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet here on the blog, it’s because my MIL fell and suffered a subdural hematoma on the 3rd. She is back at her care facility and is receiving excellent care, but I would appreciate any prayers you lift up. She is 97 years old and the toll of the injury has really impacted her. I will probably be in an out of the blogosphere for the foreseeable future.

But today I have a bit of free time and listing my most anticipated books of the first half of 2026. I long to get lost in a good book! What books are you looking forward to?

For more 2026 releases, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Anticipated Books of 2026 (First Half Edition)

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh (January)

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright (April)

The Brunswick by Callie Murray (May)

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard (February)

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn (March)

Mists over The Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (February)

On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman (January)

Secrets Chase Her by Rachel Dylan (May)

South of Somewhere by T. I. Lowe (March)

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters (May)

Book Review — Death Follows Her

22 Sep

Death Follows Her is the latest suspense/thriller by Rachel Dylan. It’s been several years since I have read a new book by Dylan, and this one was well worth the wait. Fast-paced and action-packed from the start, this novel will keep you on your reading toes!

Three powerful CEOs. Three sudden deaths. One woman determined to uncover the truth.

When three high-profile CEOs die in quick succession, FBI Special Agent Samira Haddad is called in to investigate. What at first seems like tragic coincidence soon unravels into something far more deliberate—and deadly. All three victims were represented in major lawsuits by the same attorney: Quinn Kelly, a sharp, unrelenting trial lawyer with a flawless record and no shortage of enemies.

As Samira digs deeper, she’s drawn into a world of elite corporate power, courtroom battles, and closely guarded secrets. Quinn becomes both a key to the mystery—and a target herself. Cool under pressure and relentless in court, Quinn is used to winning—but this time, the stakes are life and death.

With pressure mounting from all sides, Samira must navigate competing agendas, shadowy threats, and the growing suspicion that the killer is far closer than anyone imagined.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

My Impressions:

Rachel Dylan is back with a fast-paced suspense/thriller filled with twists you won’t see coming! Death Follows Her focuses on a high-powered attorney who represents top CEOs and their companies from product liability cases. Think pharmaceutical companies with drugs that cause severe side effects and death and manufacturers who create biological and environmental damages. These are high stakes cases. And Quinn Kelly rarely loses. And now her clients are dying. Samira Haddad of the FBI is called into to investigate. The two women have several things in common and develop a partnership of sorts. Just when you think that the case is resolved, Dylan throws in another twist to keep everybody, including the reader, off balance. The novel is taut and tense — it is definitely plot-driven — but allows a good glimpse into what has made the MCs who they are.

If you like suspense that keeps you guessing, then check out Death Follows Her. I look forward to book 2, Secrets Chase Her, which releases in May 2026.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed this title through the Kindle Unlimited program. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

First Line Friday — Death Follows Her

22 Aug

Happy Friday! Summer is winding down, but the heat here in the sunny South is not. Inside endeavors are recommended to survive the scorching temperatures. Reading is number one, of course, and I am so looking forward to starting Death Follows Her, the latest legal thriller from Rachel Dylan.

Here are the first 2 lines:

“Shots fired. I repeat, shots fired.”

Three powerful CEOs. Three sudden deaths. One woman determined to uncover the truth.

When three high-profile CEOs die in quick succession, FBI Special Agent Samira Haddad is called in to investigate. What at first seems like tragic coincidence soon unravels into something far more deliberate—and deadly. All three victims were represented in major lawsuits by the same attorney: Quinn Kelly, a sharp, unrelenting trial lawyer with a flawless record and no shortage of enemies.

As Samira digs deeper, she’s drawn into a world of elite corporate power, courtroom battles, and closely guarded secrets. Quinn becomes both a key to the mystery—and a target herself. Cool under pressure and relentless in court, Quinn is used to winning—but this time, the stakes are life and death.

With pressure mounting from all sides, Samira must navigate competing agendas, shadowy threats, and the growing suspicion that the killer is far closer than anyone imagined.

For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of sexual assault.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Happy Release Day — Death Follows Her

19 Aug

A very happy release day to Rachel Dylan! Her highly anticipated legal thriller, Death Follows Her, is now available! Rachel is a favorite of mine, and I cannot wait to read it. For those who have Kindle Unlimited, it is included in your subscription. What are you waiting for?!

Three powerful CEOs. Three sudden deaths. One woman determined to uncover the truth.

When three high-profile CEOs die in quick succession, FBI Special Agent Samira Haddad is called in to investigate. What at first seems like tragic coincidence soon unravels into something far more deliberate—and deadly. All three victims were represented in major lawsuits by the same attorney: Quinn Kelly, a sharp, unrelenting trial lawyer with a flawless record and no shortage of enemies.

As Samira digs deeper, she’s drawn into a world of elite corporate power, courtroom battles, and closely guarded secrets. Quinn becomes both a key to the mystery—and a target herself. Cool under pressure and relentless in court, Quinn is used to winning—but this time, the stakes are life and death.

With pressure mounting from all sides, Samira must navigate competing agendas, shadowy threats, and the growing suspicion that the killer is far closer than anyone imagined.

For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of sexual assault.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Top 10 Tuesday — Books That Kept Me Guessing!

22 Apr

Happy Tuesday! It is no secret that I read A LOT of mystery/suspense. That being said, there’s not much that surprises me. I almost always guess whodunit. However, there are some authors that have kept me guessing up to the end — the best possible scenario I can think of. So today, I am sharing the books that are full of twists and turns you won’t see coming. I hope you find a book to love.

For more surprising books, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books That Kept Me Guessing

Backlash by Rachel Dylan

Double Take by Lynette Eason

Facing The Enemy by DiAnn Mills

Flight Risk by Cara Putman

Flood Watch by Christy Barritt

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Obsession by Patricia Bradley

The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch

Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard

Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks

Top 10 Tuesday — Bookish Coworkers

20 Aug

Happy Tuesday! This week’s TTT is all about relationships. The books I have chosen involve close knit coworkers. Besides their cool jobs, the characters are friends — and sometimes more 😉 . It would be fun to be a part of the whole office dynamic if I could be the one to answer the phones. I love to read suspense, but I don’t want to actually live it! The books below are the first in each series — lots of time to spend at the office!

For more relationship lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with Cool Coworkers

Active Defense by Lynette Eason

Beneath The Surface by Lynn Blackburn

End Game by Rachel Dylan

The Escape by Lisa Harris

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

Lights Out by Natalie Walters

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

Operation Joktan by Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

Vanished by Irene Hannon

Top Ten Tuesday — Favorite Series

6 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is hard! And since my brain has not recovered from a month of helping to care for grandkids and a 9 day vacation 😉 , I am not going to give you my favorite book from a series, but instead the first book in favorite series. Some of these you are probably familiar with, but they are older, so there may be one to discover. You’ll also notice they are all mystery/suspense — I have read a lot of those over the years! It all began with Nancy Drew. 😉 I promise that all the books are fabulous! And if you haven’t read them yet, you have a lot of great binge-reading ahead of you.

For more on-topic bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Favorite Series

Beyond Justice (Hidden Justice series) by Cara Putman

Hayden McCarthy is on track to become the youngest partner in her prestigious D.C. law firm . . . if the case she’s just been handed doesn’t destroy her first.

Hayden McCarthy knows firsthand the pain when justice is not served. It’s why she became an attorney and why she’s so driven in her career. When she’s assigned a wrongful death case against the government, she isn’t sure if it’s the lucky break she needs to secure a partnership—or an attempt to make sure she never gets there.

Further complicating matters is Andrew, her roommate’s distractingly attractive cousin. But Andrew’s father is a Congressman, and Hayden’s currently taking on the government. Could the timing be any worse?

The longer she keeps the case active, the higher the stakes become. Unknown enemies seem determined to kill the case—or her. Logic and self-preservation would indicate she should close the case. But how can she, when justice is still just beyond her reach?

End Game (Capital Intrigue series) by Rachel Dylan

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty. 

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets. 

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

Nothing But Trouble (PJ Sugar series) by Susan May Warren

It’s not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend’s husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder—who also happens to be PJ’s former flame—is convinced it’s an open-and-shut case, PJ’s not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

A Penny for Your Thoughts (The Million Dollar Mystery series) by Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark delivers a unique spin on inspirational fiction with her Million Dollar Mystery series featuring private investigator Callie Webber. When philanthropist Wendell Smythe is murdered shortly after Callie meets him, she is forced to investigate. Soon she discovers that his family is hiding a few unsightly secrets, and motives for murder are abundant. Only by turning to God can Callie hope to solve this mystery.

Romance Rustlers And Thunderbird Thieves (Ruby Taylor series) by Sharon Dunn

Ruby Taylor is a fiery redhead with an attitude to match. Somehow her mom, a quirky ex-con-turned-Christian, coerces her into helping two women “wronged in love”—Maryanne (who is packing a loaded gun in search of her husband who walked out on her and stole her classic T-Bird) and Laura (whose “good-boy” fiance mysteriously disappeared two weeks before their wedding day). As she helps these two very different women, she must confront the anger over her own past and her deep-seated bitterness toward God. She uncovers a kidnapping and is thrown into a harrowing adventure with helicopters, flying buffalo, and a horse chase thrown in for good measure.

The Stones Cry Out (The Raleigh Harmon FBI Mysteries) by Sibella Giorello

When nobody talks, the stones cry out.

In the searing heat of a Virginia summer, two men fall from a roof, plummeting to their deaths on the sidewalk below. One man was a white cop. The other, a young black boxer with a murky past.

Hundreds of people stood nearby, yet nobody will say what happened.

The FBI wants a quick verdict—with or without the truth—and sends in rookie agent Raleigh Harmon. But between tight-lipped witnesses and secrets hidden among the city’s most powerful families, Raleigh’s forced to use her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth. 

Can she solve this case before the city’s simmering rage burns out of control?
And will her choices bring down everyone involved—including Raleigh herself?

The Trouble with Tulip (Smart Chick Mysteries) by Mind Starns Clark

Josephine Tulip is definitely a smart chick, a twenty-first century female MacGyver who writes a helpful hints column and solves mysteries in her spare time. Her best friend, Danny, is a talented photographer who longs to succeed in his career…perhaps a cover photo on National Geographic?

When Jo’s next-door neighbor is accused of murder, Jo realizes the police have the wrong suspect. As she and Danny analyze clues, follow up on leads, and fall in and out of trouble, she recovers from a broken heart and he discovers that he has feelings for her. Will Danny have the courage to reveal them, or will he continue to hide them behind a façade of friendship?

Read A Romance Month — Romantic Suspense

15 Aug

Happy Tuesday! I, along with quite a few other bloggers, had trouble coming up with books for this week’s TTT topic — characters that should team up. With all that I have had going on in the past couple of weeks, my brain just couldn’t handle the challenge. 😉 So I am continuing my Read A Romance series for TTT today.

August is read a romance month (like we need a reminder), and today I am focusing on my favorite romantic suspense authors. I love a good mystery/suspense, and I love trying to figure out just whodunit with engaging characters. The books listed are the first book of the authors’ most recent series. Hope you find one to love.

For bloggers who stayed on topic, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Read A Romance Month — Top Romantic Suspense

Unknown Threat by Lynn Blackburn

Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley

End Game by Rachel Dylan

Life Flight by Lynette Eason

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

Lights Out by Natalie Walters