Hush, by Anne Frasier. (Still free?)Now here's one I'm excited about - and somewhat terrified to start reading! It's an intense thriller by an accomplished author.
Theresa Weir (a.k.a. Anne Frasier) is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of twenty-three books and numerous short stories. Her memoir, The Orchard, was a 2011 Oprah Magazine Fall Pick. She writes in many genres, and her thriller and suspense titles hit the USA Today list (HUSH, SLEEP TIGHT, PLAY DEAD) - and were featured in Mystery Guild, Literary Guild, and Book of the Month Club. HUSH was both a RITA and Daphne du Maurier finalist.
In short: if you want a well-written, expertly plotted thriller, download this book now! It's free today and tomorrow.
"With a damaged heroine, an original and terrifying villain, HUSH covers new ground with the serial killer plot. Entirely absorbing, HUSH is required reading for the thriller buff. One might want to settle down in front of the fire just to read it in one sitting to get all the clues together. " -- Aaron Coupeland, Amazon reviewer
What's your greatest fear?
It's criminal profiler Ivy Dunlap's job to unravel the psyches of the most dangerous men alive. None haunts her dreams more than the killer who took her son's life sixteen years ago, then silently disappeared into the dark. Now an urgent request for help from the Chicago police has reawakened Ivy's greatest nightmare. The Madonna Murderer has returned to fulfill his calling. This time Ivy understands the killer and will face her greatest fear to stop him from killing again.
Publishers Weekly:
Few serial killers penned by suspense writers today are as warped or as fully realized as the Madonna Murderer, who preys on newborn baby boys and their unwed mothers.
As if the crime itself isn't bad enough, the killer leaves a musical snow globe that plays "Hush, Little Baby" in the infant's crib as his calling card. It has been nearly two decades since Ivy Dunlap and her infant son were victimized by the Madonna Murderer. Unbeknownst to the killer, Ivy survived the assault. Her baby didn't. Now a respected criminal psychologist, Ivy is called into service by the Chicago P.D. when the killer resurfaces after 16 years of dormancy.
Her personal interest in the case takes on a sharper edge when she learns that her partner, Detective Max Irving, has a son named Ethan who is the same age her child would have been had he survived. When Ivy tries to rattle the Madonna Murderer by publishing a "dead-baby letter" in the newspaper, the killer becomes more daring; he befriends Ethan, sends Ivy a chunk of his skin bearing a tattoo and expands his profile of victims. Although some readers may be turned off by the novel's graphic nature, a wealth of procedural detail, a heart-thumping finale and two scarred but indelible protagonists make this a first-rate debut.
385 pages, with a 4.4-star rating from 113 reviews.
Arson (Book One in The Arson Trilogy), by Estevan Vega. (Still free?)Update: this book is no longer available for free - sorry!
This book is becoming somewhat of a phenomenon - a well-reviewed Young Adult paranormal that is highly rated after more than 100 customer reviews.
"The storyline of Arson is unique and gives new life to the YA paranormal genre. The characters are all likeable and realistic, and we get to see Arson grow into his role in the world as well as confronting his dark past. There are normal teenage issues to deal with - high school, cruel classmates, crushes on cute girls - all intertwined with the much bigger plot of dealing with his ability of creating fire and what he believes he must now do. Vega does a great job of creating a realistic scenario for his novel; one that doesn't seem quite so unbelievable. The narrative is very well-written and flows easily, making this a great page turner that I ended up flying through in one day." -- Stephanie Ward
ARSON is the first book in a Young Adult Paranormal series. Book two, ASHES, is also available now.
Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off.
Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose.
After years of living in fear, he will be forced to confront his haunting past and embrace the unknown as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Edgy, realistic, and breathtaking, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated teenager with unimaginable ability, is set to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.
336 pages, with a 4.2-star rating from 117 reviews.
The Gauguin Connection (Genevieve Lenard), by Estelle Ryan. (Still free?)First in the Genevieve Lenard series, this mystery/thriller is a good bet for a free download today!
"Very enjoyable book. Genevieve is a fascinating character in both her strengths and weaknesses. It is refreshing to read about a character clearly using her intelligence to unravel a complex plot. Genevieve's interactions with other characters are pretty funny due to her being so literal minded and compulsively honest. " -- M. Ebert, Amazon reviewer
Murdered artists. Masterful forgeries. Art crime at its worst.
A straightforward murder investigation quickly turns into a quagmire of stolen Eurocorps weapons, a money-laundering charity, forged art and high-ranking EU officials abusing their power.
As an insurance investigator and world renowned expert in nonverbal communication, Dr Genevieve Lenard faces the daily challenge of living a successful, independent life. Particularly because she has to deal with her high functioning Autism. Nothing - not her studies, her high IQ or her astounding analytical skills - prepared her for the changes about to take place in her life.
It started as a favour to help her boss' acerbic friend look into the murder of a young artist, but soon it proves to be far more complex. Forced out of her predictable routines, safe environment and limited social interaction, Genevieve is thrown into exploring the meaning of friendship, expanding her social definitions, and for the first time in her life be part of a team in a race to stop more artists from being murdered.
435 pages, with a 4.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
Against the Wind, by Virginia Kelly. (Still free?)Here's a romantic suspense novel from Virginia Kelly - a RMA Golden Heart finalist.
"This was a page-turning story and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves romantic suspense novels!" - Sheila Seabrook
"AGAINST THE WIND is a perfect combination of romance and suspense that keeps the reader turning the pages." - Fran McNabb
Falsely accused of fraud and murder, FBI Special Agent Michael Alvarez is on the run, desperate to clear his name. But in the midst of a hurricane, he's forced to depend on ex-lover Blair Davenport, the woman who rejected him six years ago.
With a killer closing in and her FBI agent brother hot on Michael's trail, Blair must decide if she's willing to risk her heart again with a man who lives too close to the edge. As desire flashes between them, will the danger they face them bring them together, or tear them apart forever?
Second chances can be passionate ... and deadly.
178 pages, with a 4.4-star rating from 11 reviews.
Ravenscraig, by Sandi Krawchenko Altner. (Still free?)This looks really interesting to me - a highly-rated family saga centered around the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"This book is amazing in its depiction of late 1800's and early 1900's Winnipeg. The city was a hotbed of immigration and this book accurately depicts the history and immigration of a Jewish family from the "old country" to Winnipeg. The other side of the coin is the depiction of a wealthy family becoming one of the movers and shakers in the rapidly growing city. Throw in a tie to the Titanic sinking of 1912 and you have an amazing read. The dichotomy between the poor and the wealthy along with the rapid expansion of a city that is the Chicago of the North gives you an insight into what makes the modern city the ethnic melting pot that it is today. Fascinating and educational as well as entertaining." -- Shell Beckwith, Amazon reviewer
Romance, scandal, and tragedy grip the lives of two families and threaten to destroy them both in Ravenscraig, by Sandi Krawchenko Altner.
Nothing is more important to Rupert J. Willows than the image he has built to hide the deep secret of his true identity. A master manipulator, the ruthless and charismatic Rupert buys his way into the upper class when he purchases the opulent mansion, Ravenscraig Hall. It is the turn of the 20th century in one of the fastest growing cities in North America. True power is within Rupert's grasp as long as his secret stays buried.
Malka Zigman is a survivor. Orphaned in London, she sails to Canada to join her Uncle Zev and his family. With family resources stretched thin, Malka takes a risk. Armed with an English accent that belies her Jewish roots, she reinvents herself as Maisie Rosedale to gain entrance to the exclusive world of "the English" as the new maid at Ravenscraig Hall.
Pitching rich against poor in a brawling, raucous frontier city in the early 1900s, Ravenscraig brings to life the daily challenges of the booming population. Love, anger and the determination to succeed at all costs, fuel the treacherous journey ahead.
535 pages, with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
Skid, by Doug Solter. (Still free?)Here's a Young Adult novel with an interesting premise!
"Who wouldn't like a YA version of Danica Patrick! Samantha's adventures are so well plotted and described in this fast-paced action-adventure thrill ride. The detail of the racing world is spot-on without distracting from the story. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a fun characters in a well-plotted story. I'll definitely read the next book in this series." -- Pamela DuMond, Amazon reviewer
Samantha Sutton drove the car that killed her dad. Now the seventeen-year-old can't rest until she becomes the racing champion her dad molded her to be.
Samantha exploits the system and earns a spot on a German racing team struggling to be relevant against the elite teams of Formula 1.
Samantha pushes herself, pushes her car, pushes her luck at 200 miles per hour. She battles Emilio Ronaldo, seven time world champion and Ferrari racing god. A hero to young girl, but now a rival to a young woman.
To keep herself sane, Samantha relies on her best friend Manny. But she doesn't know quite what to do about his deep feelings for her. She would love to ask her sisters for advice, but they won't talk to her. Not since Samantha told them the truth about Dad's accident. The truth about that dark and rainy night.
271 pages, with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
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The Vega book is still at $2.99.
ReplyDeleteI somehow managed to post that without the rest of the message. Just wanted to say I love the new blog. I like checking out the free books, but I also find myself buying the KDD far more often now.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a member of the Writer's Cafeteria, I love learning more about my fellow writers in the author profiles.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
LM Gautreaux
*hangs head in shame*
ReplyDeleteCafe, not Cafeteria.
I clearly need more coffee.
:) Thank you, LM, for those kind comments. And we're checking on the status of the Vega book, "Arson." Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, "Arson" is no longer available for free. We've updated our blog post about it accordingly. Thanks to all who reported that!
ReplyDelete