
Stephanie S. (
punkinema) wrote on 10/28/2009...
This is the first book of a new series. I really enjoyed the fleshing out of each character and their humanity. No super heroes here. Mallory Russo is an ex cop and gets a request to investigate the disappearance of two teenagers. She meets the new detective, Charlie Wanamaker, and is impressed with his thoroughness and he with hers. Three weeks have passed since the kids disappeared and it becomes increasingly clear their lives are in danger and time is not on their side. Good read.

April L. (
hapmom) wrote on 10/21/2009...
I really enjoyed this book. I cant wait to read the rest of the series.

Terri (
TerriC) wrote on 8/6/2009...
This is a great series. Highly recommend reading it if you love Mariah Stewart. Fast moving and grabs you right away. I finished this book in one day.
This book has a story within a story. I really enjoyed reading it. The characters are great, the romance is believable and the bad guys are really bad. When I can find some time I wil defiently read the rest in this series.

Barbara S. (
barbsis) - Netcong, NJ wrote on 7/17/2009...
Ex-cop Mallory Russo starts searching for two missing teens with new cop, Charlie Wanamaker. As they get close to finding the teens, the action heats up. An insane killer, a sniper, a homeless guy, an absentee father, a few crooked cops and even a priest are all somehow involved in the mystery surrounding the teens disappearance.
The plot of Robert Magellan and his missing wife and infant son set up the background mystery to tie the series books together. I'm intrigued enough as to...more Ex-cop Mallory Russo starts searching for two missing teens with new cop, Charlie Wanamaker. As they get close to finding the teens, the action heats up. An insane killer, a sniper, a homeless guy, an absentee father, a few crooked cops and even a priest are all somehow involved in the mystery surrounding the teens disappearance.
The plot of Robert Magellan and his missing wife and infant son set up the background mystery to tie the series books together. I'm intrigued enough as to what happened to Beth and Ian to continue the series. I really enjoyed the setup for this mystery and the investigation techniques. Mallory and Charlie are a great team. They think differently so come at the problem from slightly different direction which gives both of them another intelligent viewpoint. The chemistry between them is heating up as well. It will be interesting to see how the relationship develops throughout the series.
This is the first book of Stewart's that I have read but it definitely won't be the last. Loved loved it and can't wait to get more of hers. So great to find a new author.
This was my first Maria Stewart book and I really liked it. I will be reading more of her novels. Mallory is an X detective, basically due to the good old boy system among her fellow officers. Although she was an outstanding detective, due to her honesty and the fellow male detectives jealousy, she had no one to watch her back so she leaves the department to write a book. Meanwhile due to her excellent reputation, a millionair in the area hires her to look for two lost teens due to a request for him to do so my his cousin, the priest. As she investigates a park area where they were last seen, she meets Charlie who is to be her replacement in the department, who is also looking into the case while waiting to be officially on the force. Since they are neither officially on the case yet, they join forces to track down what might have happened to the teens. The story keeps you on your toes and moves along well with great character development. I can't wait to get my turn a a copy of Cry Mercy, the next in the series to see how Mallory and Charlie's relationship develops. They do have the chemestry!
Mallory Russo used to be the lead detective on the Conroy Police force until something happened and she resigned. Mallory is writing a book when her former friend and police chief, Joe Drabyak, sends Father Kevin Burch to her. Father Burch is from the school "Our Lady of Angels" and asks her to get a P.I. license and investigate a park shooting.
Over two weeks ago, on a Friday night, four high school seniors - three boys and a girl - enter Conroy's small park. The next morning, two of the boys are found shot to death, and the girl and third boy have disappeared. There are no witnesses and no leads. Conroy's police force is busy with a sniper and have put the case on hold. This is just the type of case Mallory loved to bite into. Father Burch's secretary is the grandmother and legal guardian of the missing boy. On her behalf, Father Burch convinces Mallory to look into it.
Detective Charlie Wanamaker left the Philadelphia force and returns to his childhood home in Conroy to help his own family with a couple of problems. His first assignment with the Conroy Police Department is the park shooting. Charlie quickly realizes that the initial investigation left many questions unanswered. Unofficially, he teams up with Mallory to find out what really happened that fateful night and locate the two missing teens.
This is the first book of a new series about The Magellan Project, a select task force of private citizens with backgrounds in a variety of law enforcement fields who solve cold cases. In this book, readers witness the creation of The Mercy Street Foundation. There is a secondary plot, involving the foundation's owner, that is mentioned often but left dangling (open) for future parts in this new series.
This story is very well written and captured my attention almost immediately. There is a blooming romance between Mallory and Charlie, but no hot bedroom scenes. This story remains focused on the homicides and missing persons investigation. The reason Mallory left the force creates a lot of tension with former coworkers and rivals. This makes the action even more intriguing somehow. All-in-all, another winner from the Queen of Romantic Suspense, Mariah Stewart! Highly recommended.

Donna C. (
g-ma) wrote on 2/28/2009...
Great start to a new series, characters very likable leaving you wanting more!