Book Review: Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand

Excerpt: If the killing had taken place here, there would have been a lot more blood. But whoever made the drop took the trouble to arrange the corpse, settling it down all neat and tidy like a body in a coffin, except for one arm extended in the direction of the woods, the skinned hand shaped into a fist apart from the index finger.

"Like it was pointing," Jerry explains. "I thought if we followed the line, we might find . . ." His voice trails off. "You know. The head." Nothing to Hide, pg 14.

Back Cover: A grisly homicide. An international threat. The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March.

The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue--but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.

In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose--and nothing to hide.

My Review: Nothing to Hide is the third Roland March book, and just as good as the previous two. This book is not for the faint of heart, or the weak of stomach. Bertrand doesn't mind writing a bit of gore into his stories. This novel kept me on my toes. I was never sure who could be trusted, and I have to admit that I didn't solve the murder before the characters. This book is hard to put down, but it did leave me a little disquieted as I thought about the ethical and moral dilemmas that March faces in the pages. This book is well worth the read.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I recommend this to readers of suspense and crime fiction.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand

Excerpt: Gazing down the length of the pool, a tingle creeps up my spine. A ping of recognition. Something's been bothering me. And now I know what.

With the lieutenant looking on, Dr. Green takes one of the victim's wrists, lifting the arm, carefully turning the body to expose a breast and another network of punctures and a jagged, seeping gash in the chest.

I throw out my hand. "Wait."

The medical examiner freezes. After a pause, she lowers the body back. Bascombe stares at me, palms raised. Without explaining I switch my camera on and snap a photo. The preview on the LCD screen isn't exactly right. I realign the camera and take another shot.

"Everyone go inside," I say. "Except for you, Lieutenant. I need you over here."

The work stops, but nobody moves. Bascombe makes the call, signaling the crime scene techs to indulge my whim. He comes over, bringing Dr. Green with him. With the scene clear I take another shot.

I hand him the camera, displaying the photo. "Does that remind you of anything?"

"Yeah," he says, "it reminds me of what I can see with my own eyes." He squints and the screen, then shows it to the ME. "You gonna tell me or what?"

"The Fauk scene." Pattern of Wounds, pg 21.

Back Cover: A brutal murder. An unraveling conviction. To catch the killer, Roland March must decipher the Pattern of Wounds.

It's Christmas in Huston, and homicide detective Roland March is on the hunt for a killer. A young woman's brutal stabbing in an affluent neighborhood bears all the hallmarks of a serial murder. The only problem is that March sent the murderer to prison ten years ago. Is it a copycat - or did March convict the wrong man?

Alienated from his colleagues, and with a growing rift in his marriage, March receives a series of taunting messages from the killer. The bodies pile up, the pressure builds, and the violence reaches too close to home. Up against an unfathomable evil, March struggles against the clock to understand the hidden message in the pattern of wounds.

My Review: When I saw that the next book in the Roland March Mystery series was out, I couldn't wait to review it. Back on Murder, the first book of the series, gave a great starter look at this man, and this second book is just as good, if not better. Pattern of Wounds is full of mystery, danger, and death. I love reading a murder mystery where I actually have to work to figure out who the murder is. I was on the edge of my seat, turning the pages as quickly as I could, to help Roland solve these horrible crimes. From start of finish, this is a superbly written novel, and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to readers of Christian suspense.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

"I'm on the way out. They can all tell, which is why the crime scene technicians hardly acknowledge my presence, and my own colleagues do a double take whenever I speak. Like they're surprised to find me still here.

But I am here, staring down into the waxy face of a man who, with a change of wardrobe, could pass for a martyred saint." Back on Murder, pg 11.

Roland March hasn't been on the top of his game. Most of the other detectives want him gone, but March finally comes out of his slump when faced with a drug house full of dead thugs, a vanished hostage and too many unanswered questions. Thrown into the mix with a new partner, Roland follows his gut and puts together impossible pieces to the puzzle. How does the disappearance of a local teen fit with the current investigation? All is not as it seems when Roland March is Back on Murder.

This is an excellent crime thriller. I enjoyed getting to know Roland and the complexities of his life. I really enjoyed how Bertrand hinted at part of Roland's past, but didn't give all the details till later in the book. It was like, solving the mystery of Roland, helped Roland solve the murder. I really enjoyed this book!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand

"The hair on the back of her neck tingled, but she kept moving. Ready to shine her light on any noise too pronounced to write off as just the wind or a stray cat.

I'm being followed.

The thought seemed crazy. But this wasn't her imagination. She'd seen the silhouette. She'd heard the movement, in spite of his effort to go unnoticed.

They reached Meeting Street and headed toward Broad, where even at this hour they were bound to encounter a stray tourist, some late-night partygoers, or even a couple out walking the dog.

She glance behind, and there he was.

Just the crest of a head eclipsing the light of a streetlamp. Lurking at the alley entrance. She was too far away to make out any features. I could be anyone.

Then he was gone." Beguiled, pg 61.

Rylee Monroe has worked hard to earn her reputation as a trustworthy dogwalker for Charleston's elite. In her bag, she has the keys to the wealthiest homes south of Broad. Unfortunately, a string of thefts has touched her clients, causing the police to speculate her involvement in the robberies. It doesn't help that she has made and enemy of the chief detective on the case. Circumstantial evidence seems to be pointing her way, but Rylee continues in her claims of innocence. Will the Robin Hood Robber be found? Could the answer to the present be found in the past? And why does everything seem to revolve around, Rylee Monroe?

Beguiled is a story that continues with you after you finish the story. I liked the feel and voice of the narrative. The characters were well fleshed out, and the storyline captured my imagination, and still hasn't let me go.

If you couldn't tell already, I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect combination of suspense and romance. Talk about a page turner. I couldn't put it down! This is the first I've read of Gist and Bertrand's work, and I can't wait to read more!

I highly recommend Beguiled.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)