One of the great things about social media is it gives us a chance to sort of meet authors that otherwise we'd never have the opportunity to get to know. M. A. Comley actually introduced me to British writing and British authors, and I moved from there to many British TV police shows. Luther will always be one of my favorite, heart breaking shows to remember. Much like the stories told in movies and television, Mel's books are never one-dimensional. There isn't just a murder, investigation, arrest and end to the book. We get a chance to know the main character, the supporting characters, the families, loves and hates of all those involved, and we get to ride along during the investigation. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of this blog tour and share my review of Double Jeopardy.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Successful entrepreneur, Ross Spalding, has everything to live for; a thriving business, a stunning new home, and a high society wedding to his beautiful fiancee to look forward to in the coming months. That is, until his life comes to an abrupt, gruesome end. DI Hero Nelson and his team need to dig deep to find the reasons behind someone wanting Ross Spalding dead. As more people connected to Ross also die, some in suspicious circumstances, the suspect list grows beyond all expectations, until a major clue presents itself and spins the investigation off in a totally new direction. However, Hero's personal life is also dealt a major blow when his parents are faced with a life or death situation. He is forced to put his personal problems aside when the murderers are revealed and Hero is faced with a tight deadline in which to apprehend them.
MY REVIEW
Double Jeopardy is the fourth book in the Hero series, but like all Ms. Comley's books can be read as a stand alone. You're not left hanging at the end waiting for months or sometimes years to find out what really happened. I would recommend you read the other Hero books, but it isn't necessary to read those to thoroughly enjoy this one.
I haven't been as big a Hero fan as I am a DI Lorne Warner fan from the Justice series and DI Sally Parker from the Parker series. Perhaps I'm just prone to female leads, but I do love Hero. I quickly became engrossed in his personal and family life, and it was easy for me to feel his pain and heartbreak during certain situations. Double Jeopardy gave me a chance to really get to know Hero better. To meet his wife, mother, father, twin sister and share the love and the pain. I would recommend you keep a box of Kleenex handy when reading this one. I won't share more on that, because with all good books it's difficult to write a great review without giving away spoilers, and as a reader who enjoys finding those things out myself I try to never include spoilers in my reviews.
One of the things I've loved and hated the most with British TV and British authors is they don't sugar coat life. Crime is ugly, and it's vicious, and not all situations have a happy ending. All of this comes across in every book written by Mel, many of them reading like true crime. Double Jeopardy captured my attention in the very first scene, and I read it in two sittings, both on the same day, as I simply couldn't put it down until I knew who and why. As with true crime, Mel not only gives you great detectives, teams and families, you also get a chance to know the victims. All characters are well fleshed out, giving you the opportunity to love or hate them. I liked Ross Spalding, but felt in the beginning he might be just a little too good to be true. Was he? You'll have to read the book to find out. I'm not telling.
I originally thought I knew who and why, but that theory was blown out of the water just a few chapters in and I'm left devouring the pages see to what happens next. So don't get cocky like I sometimes do and think ah, ha, I know who did it. The odds are, that just like me, you're going to be wrong.
I loved being a part of the well thought out, and documented investigation mixed with Hero's personal family struggles, and would rate this another sensational crime/police procedural. I gave it 5 stars, and highly recommend it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career. I'm fortunate to be represented by a top New York agent.
I share my home with two crazy dogs that like nothing better than to drag their masterful leader (that's me) around the village.
http://melcomley.blogspot.com
http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com
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