Book review: Not a Soul by: L. E. Brown

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Denise Alicea

This blog was created by Denise in September 2008 to blog about writing, book reviews, and technology. Slowly, but surely this blog expanded to what it has become now, a central for book reviews of all kinds interviews, contests, and of course promotional venue for authors, etc

Title: Not a Soul
Author: L. E. Brown
Author Web site: author Website
Genre: Mainstream Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Suspense
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Price: $3.99
Link to purchase

What I liked: ‘Into the darkness Rita fell.
Dark it is as the darkest hell.
In among those with not a soul.
Fragments of what once was whole.’

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Detectives have pretty much seen and heard it all in their line of work. Ethan Oak’s years of experience have taught him to look at the facts to solve a case. Yet he knows he needs the unusual and uncanny instincts of Amazon (Amy) Dancer to help in this the most bizarre missing person’s case. Yet what else is there that Amy is not telling Ethan about her own past? And why would a dedicated police officer put his job on the line and risk everything because of the eccentric Amy?

When Rita Katz goes missing after the brutal death of her parents, a pseudo-psychotic roommate called Eva emerges. Eva refuses to spare any details save for a riddle and the fact that she hid Rita. Rita is supposedly safe and sound. But as Eva languishes in jail as a suspect for more than just a missing person mystery, what will become of Rita if she is indeed alive? Detective Oak and Amy must place their trust in Eva if only because she is the only link to learning the truth. Amy will also confront her past and

L. E. Brown’s ‘Not a Soul’ is a mellower take on the romantic crime genre. Unlike many stories that employ gruesome elements, Brown’s tale works on a cerebral level. The plot unfolds at a steady pace without extraneous use of shock value to keep readers interested. This missing person’s case is anything but routine. Not a Soul’s strength lies in the strong characters and more than make up for the very occasional use of ‘telling’ narration. Readers take note of a second instalment in this series to follow shortly!

Book blurb: When Rita Katz, the angelic suspect in a double homicide disappears right under the nose of Detective Sergeant Ethan Oak, her roommate, Eva, refuses to cooperate, so he arrests her. In custody, Eva claims to have hidden Rita, offering only a riddle to guide him to Rita’s whereabouts. Ethan, reaching a standstill in the investigation, finally turns to the one person whose help the precinct captain has banned—Miss Amazon Dancer.
Miss Dancer—Amy to her friends—has a talent for getting into the mind of a subject. She also has Ethan’s interest. But Amy has a secret that could help to save Rita, or cost everything.

Book excerpt: The ice clinked in Amazon’s glass as she closed her eyes at seeing the cue ball roll unhampered toward the corner pocket, and she cringed at the inevitable thud.

“That’s the fourth time I’ve scratched. I can’t believe it.”

Ethan grinned at her, admiring the way her men’s work shirt and dungarees contrasted with her feminine charms and emphasized them. “Sure,” he teased. “But it doesn’t matter anyway, as long as it helps you think, right?”

She infected him with her laugh. “You’re a brat. You know that?”

Ethan’s laughter stilled, leaving only an appreciative smile. “Then I’m a lucky brat.” He took his shot, sinking two solids.

Amazon was playing solids.

He bowed. “Chivalry is not dead, m’Lady.”

The redhead pursed her lips. “Mmm-hmm. You meant to do that.”

He failed miserably at trying to look innocent, she laughed, and they lapsed into silence for the next few shots.

Amazon concentrated on Eva’s riddles as they played. Fragments of what once was whole…not a soul… She tried every mental device she knew to figure out what Eva meant, but in the end only came up with one idea.

“A crypt?” She tried the theory aloud.

“Hmm?” Ethan had been absorbed in watching the way her brow quivered as she concentrated. “A crypt? Well, if I could figure out how Eva got Rita there, that would make sense. But the nearest graveyard to the apartment is over two miles away.” He shivered. “I hate to think of that poor girl being buried somewhere or trapped in a mausoleum.”

Amazon shook her head, realizing it was impossible, and glad of it. “You’re right…and I can’t see Rita being fed in a graveyard, either. That’s one thing Eva was adamant about. No. She’s truly trying to protect Rita, like a big sister might. She’s got her someplace she feels is safe.”

She bent to take another shot. The cue ball hit the floor, announcing her frustration to the rest of the bar. Ethan’s hand on her shoulder stopped her thoughts as she fought the impulse to follow his arm to his chest and rest her head against it. She sighed.

“I just know the answer is right in front of us.”

“Hey, you’ll get it, Amy. You’re the best. That’s the m—er, the reason I came to you.”

Whew. He’d almost said, “main reason.” It wouldn’t do to have her asking about the others.

He glanced at her as he lined up his shot. Her expression gave no indication that she’d heard his slip. In fact, she seemed to be checking him out.

Me? No way. And yet…

by: Tammy Elizabeth Southin

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