Viable Hostage by Audrey J. Cole - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Audrey J. Cole and her new book, “Viable Hostage”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Audrey and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Viable Hostage

by Audrey J. Cole

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Thriller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Malorie’s best friend is missing, but no one seems concerned about the wayward medical student's mysterious disappearance—until another student's partial remains wash ashore a Seattle beach...

When Malorie witnesses her best friend and roommate leave a campus bar with a mystery date driving a silver Mercedes, she suspects foul play, especially when Lani fails to return home the next day. Both women, med students in their final year at Elliott Bay University, have a lot riding on the line, but due to Lani’s wild past, no one in her family is worried. When Malorie’s fears for her roommate deepen, she turns to her Uncle Wade, a Sergeant at Seattle Homicide.

Within 48 hours after Lani goes missing, the partial remains of a brutally murdered young woman wash up on Alki Beach, and a human hand is found in a crab pot off Bainbridge Island. When one of the bodies is identified as a pregnant, fourth-year medical student, Wade believes there’s a connection with Lani’s disappearance. And, that they might be looking for a serial killer.

Malorie suspects Lani’s kidnapper is someone they know, possibly even one of their professors at the university, a prominent Seattle anesthesiologist whose wife is the president of EBU. But when Detective Blake Stephenson discovers evidence that links another suspect to the professor’s Mercedes, he and Wade must act fast to attempt a wild rescue in the middle of Puget Sound.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT TWO:

There was something evil in the way he had looked at her. He was dangerous. Psychotic. Malorie could see it in his eyes. Those cold, dark eyes. He was chasing her.

Malorie ran faster, with so much adrenaline she didn’t feel the ache in her legs or the burn in her lungs as she gasped for air. She could feel him getting closer. Hear the sound of his boots scrape against the pavement behind her. He’s going to kill me.

She felt him close in behind her. A sharp pain ripped through her arm as he grabbed her and drew her close to him with tremendous strength. Malorie opened her mouth to scream as she was awakened by the sound of her alarm.

She wasn’t being chased. She was in Lani’s room. She sat up in her roommate’s bed, sweating through her t-shirt and breathing hard.

She silenced her alarm, flooded simultaneously with relief that it was just a dream and the familiar dread that her best friend was missing and possibly never coming back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book was such an incredible, suspenseful, engaging, entertaining, realistic crime thriller read!!!

This book is full of lies, secrets, betrayal, obsession, blackmail, and of course… Murder!!!

This is one of the top books I’ve read and reviewed this year!!!

This is the second book I’ve read from the very talented writer, Audrey J. Cole.  About two years ago I read, reviewed, and blogged about her book, “The Recipient,” which is Book One in the Emerald City Book Series and I absolutely loved it!!  So, I was thrilled to get the chance to read her latest work, “Viable Hostage,” which is Book Four of the same book series.

I am a huge mystery book fan and my favorite thing about Audrey’s book’s is that she ALWAYS keeps me on the edge of my seat guessing whodunit and she is one of the few authors who actually surprises me on the killer!!!  I am really, really good at guessing the killer in books, TV shows, movies, games, etc. – but Audrey can definitely beat me and shock me with her endings – and that takes skill!!!

This book is about Malorie and her best friend Lani.  Malorie and Lani go out to a campus bar, Harry’s, Malorie steps away to use the restroom, and when she returns Lani is nowhere to be found.  Malorie calls Lani to find out where she went, and when she answers she tells her a guy she is secretly dating is picking her up out front and not to worry or wait up.  Malorie runs outside the bar and sees a silver Mercedes quickly driving off and Lani’s cell phone on the ground.  Feeling annoyed about being ditched and uneasy about the circumstances Malorie decides to just head home for the night.

Unfortunately, when Lani doesn’t return home or show up for her mom’s big award event the next day, Malorie is very concerned something bad has happened to her friend.  However, she seems to be the only one worried.  Lani’s parents seem less bothered and figure it’s Lani just being Lani as she has a history of just disappearing for days and not letting anyone know.  Heck – just six months ago she missed her brother’s college graduation because she was too drunk and too stoned.  She had been gone for multiple days and her parents had even filed a police report.  But not this time, if Lani was going to continue to be inconsiderate and irresponsible, they were not going to waste their time worrying about her when she was probably off doing her own thing.  Malorie tries to insist that Lani had changed, she was no longer drinking or partying, she was attending her classes, and actually being accountable and turning her life around.  But, Lani’s parents weren’t buying it.

Malorie decides to reach out to her Uncle Wade, a Sergeant at Seattle Police in the Homicide Department.  He agrees to help her file a missing person’s report and put her in touch with the Missing Person’s Team.  Unfortunately, the detectives also see that this isn’t the first time Lani has gone missing and that last time she was just out partying.  With nothing to contradict Lani’s repeat behavior and that she hasn’t been missing that long the police don’t seem to take the case that seriously.  It isn’t until body parts wash up on the beach that match that of a missing 4^th year med student who also attended the same university as Lani, was in the same med program, has a striking physical resemblance, and a similar missing person’s report that the police began to see a pattern and start to think Lani may have been abducted by the same person that killed the victim on the beach.  Could Lani have been taken by a serial killer?  Or is Lani back to her old ways and just out having a good time?  No spoilers here!!  But you definitely will want to read this book and find out what happens!!

There is so much going on in this book!!  This book has so many different layers with several plot points that are well executed and structurally sound!!  I thoroughly enjoyed pulling back each layer and seeing where it took me…  I thought this book was going to be a straight-forward serial killer book, but it also had deeper, intricate, complex, and elaborate story lines as well.

Audrey’s writing only continues to improve, grow, and expand with each book!  I know she will be an author I will continue to read over the years!

So many exciting, intriguing, suspenseful, and thrilling moments in this book!!!  I literally couldn't turn the pages fast enough!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book and could not wait to solve the case and find out who the killer was!!

I really enjoyed all the main characters (the bad and the good), Malorie, her Uncle Sergeant Wade, her Best Friend Lani, Detectives: Stephenson, Adams, Richards, Dr. Delaney, Luke Paulson, and Lani’s family.  I liked that Malorie was smart, sweet, persistent, kind, determined, caring, tenacious, and stubborn.  I remember Wade from book one, so it was great catching back up with him.  Book one was a bit emotional for him, so it was nice seeing him in a good place, happily married, and about to be a dad.  He was strong-willed, relentless, benevolent, understanding, and sympathetic.  I liked Lani, and I totally felt for her.  We’ve all done things and then had a hard time coming back from that not being judged or labeled for them.  People can change.  I was so sad when her parents dismissed any thought of foul play or danger and just chalked it up to her partying.  It would be heartbreaking if my family didn’t take my being missing seriously.  I also really liked the detectives and was impressed with their professionalism and legal accuracy.  Also, I was very interested in Detective Tess Richards.  Throughout the book it hinted about her brother being murdered and his killer going to trial soon.  I was curious if this case had already been part of the book series or was going to be featured in an upcoming book.  Regardless, I really liked the character as she seemed very smart, tough, compassionate, caring, and also a bit stubborn.

I think the author did a fantastic job on her character development as these characters were so real and personal on many levels!

This book has quite a bit of medical jargon as the main characters are 4^th year med students and the killer is thought to have had medical training as well.  Thankfully the author doesn’t totally overwhelm the reader by dumping long medical terminology passages, but she presents it in an easy to understand and comprehend manner, while not sugar-coating or dumbing it down.

I love the in-depth amount of research the author did while constructing this book.  It is clear she is very familiar and well-versed in the medical and criminal procedural practices. The author provided so much detail and such vivid descriptions it made the scenes easy to picture.  These particulars were so well-described they felt both realistic and authentic.

This book has exceptional mystery crime solving structure with enough clues and excitement to keep you guessing, but still practical and realistic.

I also enjoyed the style of writing and that there were several, but short chapters.  It really helped keep the story on point, provide smooth scene transitions, and allow for the overall story line to flow.

This book had a very satisfying and an extremely realistic ending.  I was pleased with the author’s take and her decision to end it the way she did.

This book has a creative story line with well executed plot points, excellent mystery thriller structured scenarios, fantastic writing style with detailed scenes, relatable characters, is fast paced, and keeps you fully engaged and entertained.

There were a few predictable scenes.  However, there are still many unexpected twists and turns and misdirection’s that you won’t see coming!

This book is book four in the Emerald City Thriller Book Series.  It can be read as a standalone.  However, there seems to be character and story line overlaps.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!  I think all thriller, mystery, suspense readers will like this book too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

Did you find this review helpful?

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R1189GLX1JRE9E

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Audrey J. Cole is a registered nurse and a USA Today bestselling author of thrillers set in Seattle. Audrey lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH AUDREY:

Website:

https://www.audreyjcole.com

Blog:

https://www.audreyjcole.com/blog-1

Mailing List:

https://www.audreyjcole.com/contacts

Email:

contact@AudreyJCole.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AudreyJCole

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/audreyjcole

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/contact8424

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/audreyjcole

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/audrey-j-cole

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/viable-hostage-by-audrey-j-cole

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16799998.Audrey_J_Cole

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48048227-viable-hostage

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/33MHdNB

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2DV5VRz

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2DMPJRW

Amazon Audiobook:

https://amzn.to/2Rgmz5S

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Viable-Hostage-Audrey-J-Cole/9781089545170

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Audrey will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.