By The Book

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills is a twisting suspense story with so many unique elements. I could not put this one down! It’s due out on tomorrow, so you are soon in for a treat!

Justice can be elusive. Family secrets can be deadly. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking in a volatile criminal case filled with unanswered questions. And Carrington Reed is running short on time to piece together clues that will solve the puzzle.

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed is called to the scene when reports come in that fifteen hostages are being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in south Texas. When she arrives on site, Carrington quickly learns that the brothers are armed and refuse to release their victims, a group of undocumented immigrants, until the local police identify their father’s murderer.

Working closely with Levi Ehrlich, a handsome investigative reporter who has covered some of Carrington’s negotiations in the past, she finds herself being undeniably drawn to him. Carrington digs deeper into the death of the Kendrixes’ father and begins to notice that some details surrounding his death aren’t adding up.

As Carrington investigates the brothers’ claims and tries to piece together their motive for taking innocent people captive, it soon becomes clear that they are trying to hide something and that revenge for their father’s death may not be what they’re really bargaining for after all. To protect the hostages and ensure the brothers don’t carry out the rest of their sinister plot, Carrington must get to the bottom of one family’s secret and the truth they’re trying so hard to hide before time runs out.

Award winning author DiAnn Mills delivers pulse-pounding romantic suspense about secrets, betrayal, and finding a path to forgiveness.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Learn about all of DiAnn’s books and connect with DiAnn diannmills.com.

My Impressions:

While I always enjoy a romantic suspense by DiAnn Mills, I have to say that her latest novel, Lethal Standoff, hit it out of the park! The uniqueness of the two protagonists — Carrington is a hostage negotiator who goes above and beyond with those affected by the cases she works and Levi is a journalist who puts truth first in his stories — gave the book an interesting perspective. The POV switches back and forth between the first person accounts by Carrington and Levi giving the reader insight into both characters’ personalities and past experiences. Both come from backgrounds in which trust is hard to give another person. They are also on different faith journeys which made their relationship very true to life. The plot revolves around a very difficult hostage situation and its aftermath. There are lots of questions that demand answers, and the main characters work together to uncover the truth and bring closure to the victims. And what a twisting investigation it becomes. I honestly had no idea who the bad guy(s) were — the suprises continue until the end! They face lots of obstacles and find themselves in very dangerous situations. They, and this reader, were kept on our toes!

Lethal Standoff is a perfect choice for fans of romantic suspense. Twists and turns galore, endearing characters, and definite romantic sparks. You are going to love it!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: DiAnn Mills, romantic suspense fiction