Book picks similar to
Deadfall by Lyndon Stacey


author-stacey-l-wl
dining-room
racing
shelfari-favorites

The Fixer's Daughter


Hy Conrad - 2020
    “The Fixer’s Daughter” pits a powerful Texas lawyer against his idealistic daughter in a twisted tale of murder, politics and family loyalty.

Strange but True


John Searles - 2004
    Numb from watching too much television, rereading a tragic biography, and trading snipes with his mother, Philip is in stasis. But everything changes late one windy February night when Ronnie's high school girlfriend shows up on their doorstep. A sad young woman who still bears the scars of the accident that took Ronnie's life on the night of their prom, Melissa has unexpectedly found hope. She is nine months pregnant. And the father, she claims, is Ronnie. So begins this startling tale, which moves from one breathless surprise to another as Philip and his mother confront not only Melissa's past but their own. Their desperate search for answers takes them on a poignant and emotional journey, ultimately placing them in the path of murder and revenge. At once a moving story of redemption and a heart-stopping work of suspense, Strange but True confirms John Searles's place among the most gifted voices of his generation. Beautifully written and charged with a sublime wit, the novel brings to vibrant life a cast of characters that no reader will forget.

Just Another Day in the Zombie Apocalypse


L.C. Mortimer - 2019
    Ravaging the living, it takes no survivors. The end of the world comes swiftly and silently without much noise or fuss. It sneaks up on a group of neighbors who must bind together in order to survive. Alice is caught by surprise when the dead begin to rise. She's a paralegal: not a warrior. She's comfortable with paperwork and filing, but killing? That's not exactly in her job description. Soon Alice learns there's more to the end of the world than fighting the undead, though, and she realizes that if she's not careful, her companions are going to learn her secret. Mark is a soldier. He thought he'd left the pain of war behind, but now he knows that soldiers never really leave the battlefield. Even when your physical wounds heal, there's always some remnant of horror left behind. There's always something terrifying you. Kyle isn't afraid of the dark. At least, that's what he tells himself. He's an IT guy. He's not a fighter. He has no place in the zombie apocalypse, so he has to craft one for himself. Together, they'll make or break their own survival. Together, they'll figure out whether or not they can make this work. After all, it's just another day in the zombie apocalypse. Just Another Day in the Zombie Apocalypse was originally released as an episodic serial; however, it is has been revised and expanded by the author and appears here in its entirety. Perfect for fans of The Walking Dead or Z Nation, Just Another Day in the Zombie Apocalypse takes a closer look at what a dystopian reality truly looks like.

A Love that Endures 2


Bella Forrest - 2019
    Continue David and Katy's journey.Book 2 of a trilogy.*Beware of spoilers in the reviews below that are without spoiler alerts*

1st Shock


Misty Evans - 2019
    When the local US attorney brings her the skull of a young murdered woman with similarities to one she’s already reconstructed—but not identified—she and her sister, Charlie, dive head-first into a chilling investigation. The twisted killer is clever, drawing closer and closer when he discovers the sisters on his trail. Another body turns up…and another… but his modis operandi points to a convicted murderer already behind bars. Together, Meg and Charlie must face the fact this copycat is taunting them, leading them on a gruesome quest. He’s picked up where his mentor left off—and he’s coming for one of them next.

Secrets in the Shadows


T.L. Haddix - 2010
    So what if she gets lonely from time to time? With a healthy, beautiful daughter, and a successful coffee shop-cafe, the divorced single mother convinces herself she doesn’t have time for love. When she gets her first glimpse at her parents’ handsome new neighbor, though, she starts reconsidering her stance. Once Charlie Clark begins breaking through her defensive walls, Lauren finds him hard to resist. Just as Lauren is learning to let go of the past and embrace the future, her personal demons rear their ugly heads in the guise of a vandal hell-bent on destroying Lauren’s happiness. When another local businesswoman is brutally murdered, the investigation into the crime reveals an unexpected connection to Lauren’s past. The message is clear--the past has come calling, and it’s out for blood. Note for Readers: This book does deal with the issues of incest and sexual abuse, more with the effects on the victims than the abuse itself. Reader Discretion Advised. “Secrets in the Shadows” is the first book in the Shadows Collection, a series of novels set in small-town Indiana. Other titles include “Under the Moon's Shadow,” “Shadows from the Grave,” “Hidden in the Shadows,” "In the Heart's Shadow," and "Deception in the Shadows."

The Silent Man


J.D. Weston - 2020
    The case will make or break him. The faces of the victims haunt his every waking moment. But now, at last, he has the killer in custody.However, with harassment charges against him and a lack of substantial evidence, Myers is forced to let the killer walk free – a move that will push him to the very edge of sanity.Harvey Stone is a man of few words. As the adopted son of a wealthy businessman, his needs are few and his deadly skills are plenty.But when Harvey’s guard is down and a member of his family is killed, Harvey is given an ultimatum: find the killer, or never return.With two desperate men seeking the same killer, their paths must surely cross. But following a roller-coaster ride of murder and lies, only one man can prevail. The question is, who has more to lose?Set at the turn of the century on the edge of East London, where the gritty suburbs meet the rolling countryside, this British detective novel is a breath-taking blend of suspense, action, and mystery with a dark edge that will keep you awake for nights on end.The Silent Man is the first book in the brand-new British crime thriller series from award-winning crime writer J.D. Weston, author of the Stone Cold Thriller series and the Frankie Black Files.The Harvey Stone series is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Lee Child, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly.

An Unsafe Pair of Hands


Chris Dolley - 2011
    I laughed out loud in public in response to the quirky plot twists. An Unsafe Pair of Hands by Chris Dolley is a masterful addition to the British mystery genre." -- Barth Siemens Peter Shand is the 'safe pair of hands' - a high-flying police administrator seconded to a quiet rural CID team to gain the operational experience he needs for promotion. On his second day he's thrust into a high-profile murder case. A woman's body is discovered in an old stone circle - with another woman buried alive beneath her. The pressure on Shand is enormous. The media is clamoring for answers, but everything about the case is baffling. Then a local journalist singles out Shand as the reason for the lack of progress, and goads him at a press conference. Shand responds by inventing a lead, and keeps on lying - to the press, his boss, his team - telling himself that he'll solve the case before anyone finds out. And then another murder occurs. And had there been a third? Shand begins to doubt his ability. He's desperate, increasingly unpredictable, pursued by an amorous psychic, and somehow gaining a reputation for arresting livestock. Which will break first? The case, or Shand? Chris Dolley is a New York Times bestselling author. REVIEWS "This mystery is so much fun. The humor is delightful and the plot is complex enough to keep you turning pages to the end... This is by far one of the best summer reads of 2011." -- Jensview "One of the best I've read in years." -- Laura Belgrave "I loved this book." -- Bookworm "This is a very good read. You will want to be sure to have a day off or a quiet weekend ahead of you, because this book is very hard to put down once you get started reading it." -- Kathleen Kempa "I literally struggled to put the book down, only doing so hours after I should have been asleep." -- Aeries

Playing Jenna


Kiersten Modglin - 2017
    This mysterious woman, Jenna, causes Monroe to question everything she thought she knew about her life, her family, and her marriage. Forced to face a life, and a love, full of lies and deceit— Monroe vows to exact revenge on the woman who caused her entire world to crumble around her. As she begins digging into the affair, she finds herself uncovering clues that point to a much more sinister truth than she could have ever imagined. Every belief Monroe had about her marriage, and her seemingly perfect husband, is called into question as she realizes she may not have known the man she married as well as she thought. With all of the odds against her, Monroe sets out on a journey of self-discovery and self-preservation to uncover the truth about her past and the woman who ripped it all away from her.

In Too Deep


Bea Davenport - 2012
    The window's so small I can't see what happens next. But what I do know is that Kim is dead. And I know this, too that I helped to kill her. Kim, my lovely, only, best friend.'Five years ago Maura fled life in Dowerby and took on a new identity, desperately trying to piece her life back together and escape the dark clouds that plagued her past. But then a reporter tracks her down, and persuades her to tell her story, putting her own life in danger once again.Layer upon layer of violence and deceit make up the full picture for Maura to see and the reporter to reveal. Hidden secrets are uncovered that have been left to settle, for far too long. But in life some things can't be left unsaid, and eventually the truth will out. Whatever the consequences.

First Cut


J.T. Bishop - 2020
    But there’s a catch. She must return to the mindset that bound her to him. The mindset the killer still seeks from her.But choosing to help Daniels and Remalla will not only risk her life but also her heart, when she falls for one of them, drawing the attention of the man she’s driven to capture.After losing everything, can she find the courage to face the murderer who took it all away, and who is eager to do it again?First Cut is the first book in the new series from award-winning author J. T. Bishop featuring Detectives Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla. If you love gripping suspense, enticing romance, charismatic characters, and a story that will keep you up at night, then pick up First Cut today.

Someone Knows Something


Christa Weisman - 2019
    It lives in your bones and pulses in your blood, waiting for just the right moment to expose your sins. J.R. Hudson was the golden boy of Timber Falls. Born into privilege as the mayor’s son, he was the envied quarterback on the high school football team with big dreams and aspirations. Along with his teammates and best friends, Ethan Young and Caleb Weston, the trio ruled senior year at Timber Falls High and the small Washington town they lived in. And then one day they vanished. Now the town is in a desperate attempt to solve the mysterious disappearance of these strong, dynamic young men. Searching for answers dredges up dark secrets and haunting revelations, revealing the grim truth—that maybe these boys weren’t as perfect as they seemed. Author note: Set in the mid-1990s, before cellphones and social media was present, this book reminds us that when someone went missing, they left no trace. The boys are high school teens, though due to graphic scenes and mature content, this book is recommended for 18+

Her Father's Daughter


Beezy Marsh - 2019
    One Man's Secrets. A moving true story. From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a moving true story of two women fighting to survive scandal, poverty and war. When Annie marries Harry after years of heartache in a London slum she believes she's found her happy ever after. But the horrors of the Blitz soon threaten everything they hold dear. The terrible sights Harry witnesses as an air raid warden bring back traumatic memories of his time during the First World War. Suddenly Annie finds herself struggling to cope not only with life in wartime and two little children, but also with a husband who seems like a stranger.Kitty has always been protective of her little brother Harry. Hiding the scandal about their father from the world was the only way to survive as they were growing up in Newcastle. But when she discovers Harry too has a shocking secret, she is torn. Meanwhile Annie wonders why Harry refuses to discuss his life before their marriage and why she has never met his sister. Will the truth ever come to light?From the bombed-out terraces of London to the docks of Newcastle, Her Father's Daughter is a moving and poignant true story about the unbreakable bonds of family, and the power of love to heal the worst wounds.

Sideswiped / The Inca Con / The French Girl


J.C. Ryan - 2019
    Ryan's bestselling Rex Dalton series.SideswipedWhen Rex nearly bumps into someone from his former life, it's time for Rex and Digger to get out of India. Rex goes to Thailand, where he plans to undergo cosmetic surgery to change his looks and hide from people in his past. But then he meets Sunstra. Her name means 'girl with beautiful eyes'. Right from the beginning they become fast friends, and before long there is a romance in the making. But then Sunstra disappears. Her family receives a ransom ultimatum: Sunstra is alive, but if her father doesn't sell his land, she won't stay that way for long. It's a race against the clock for Rex and Digger to save Sunstra's life, and time is running out. The Inca ConRex Dalton and Digger are exploring the remarkable history of Peru when they befriend a retired American couple. The couple invites them to join their expedition to a remote village high up in the Andes Mountains to inspect an archaeological site in which they want to invest. But on arrival in the village, it doesn't take long for Rex to discover that his new friends are victims of a cleverly designed con. This con is run by people who will do anything to make sure Rex and Digger don't interfere.The French GirlRex Dalton and Digger are looking forward to a trouble-free holiday on the idyllic islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. Swimming, playing on the beach, fishing, and hikes. Nothing but the laid-back lifestyle for the two of them. Then Digger introduces Rex to a beautiful French girl, not once, but twice. Soon, Rex and the girl become good friends. Then she disappears, and Rex is accused of having something to do with it. Thus, begins a series of dramatic and life-threatening events with international repercussions with Rex, Digger and the French girl in the center of it.

Guilty Not Guilty


Felix Francis - 2019
     Bill Russell is acting as a volunteer steward at Warwick races when he confronts his worst nightmare – the violent death of his much-loved wife. But worse is to come when he is accused of killing her and hounded mercilessly by the media. His life begins to unravel completely as he loses his job and his home. Even his best friends turn against him, believing him guilty of the heinous crime in spite of the lack of compelling evidence. Bill sets out to clear his name but finds that proving one’s innocence is not easy – one has to find the true culprit, and Bill believes he knows who it is. But can he prove it before he becomes another victim of the murderer. Guilty Not Guilty is a journey of greed and jealousy set against the grief of personal tragedy and loss, with many a twist and turn along the way.Praise for Felix Francis's novels: ‘As usual with a Francis, once I opened the book, I didn’t want to put it down… Felix’s resolution is darker and more shocking than his father would ever have contemplated, but reflects grittier times and changing tastes in fiction. Now, what am I going to do for the next 12 months until the next one?’  Country Life ‘He has become his own man as a purveyor of murder mysteries'  The Racing Post 'The Francis flair is clear for all to see' Daily Mail 'From winning post to top of the bestseller list, time after time' Sunday Times 'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life 'A tremendous read' Woman's Own