On My Kindle - Perilous Treasure by Dan Walsh

Trouble has a way of finding history professor, Jack Turner, much to his wife's chagrin. His friend, Detective Joe Boyd, discovers a great way to de-stress and get some exercise - metal detecting. The surrounding property in Culpepper, Georgia provides many opportunities to discover Civil War relics.

Jack goes to a club meeting with Joe and meets other metal-detecting enthusiasts. His meet-and-greet speech includes his specialty of WWII history. When two old codgers in the group make a startling discovery during one of their outings, they 're reminded of Jack's expertise.

They're not the only ones interested in the treasure. Inquiries on the Internet put them in touch with a fine arts dealer, but they get more than they expect - a boatload of trouble.

Dan Walsh has a knack for creating likable, interesting characters. Both Jack Turner and Joe Boyd are the kind of people you'd want for friends. A peek at Joe's family gives the reader insight into his family life, as well as his professional life as a detective.

The author's other talent is creating heart-stopping suspense. You can see the tension building and know you're in for one wild ride once everything breaks loose.

This is the fourth book in the Jack Turner series. While it's helpful to read the other books, it's not essential. This is a stand-alone novel.

Five stars!

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher paid me to give a favorable review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  If you write fiction, do any of your characters have an interesting hobby? Please share.

Readers:  Do you enjoy the suspense genre? Who are your favorite authors?

On My Kindle - Unintended Consequences by Dan Walsh

Jack Turner and his bride, Rachel, include a stop at his grandmother's house during their honeymoon trip. He's unexpectedly called away on an emergency, so Rachel stays with his grandmother for a couple of days.

Renee Turner shares the amazing love story that took place during WWII in England and France. Dan Walsh knows how to tell a good story. I blasted through this book in record time.

Unintended Consequences is the third book in the Jack Turner suspense series. It's different from the other books because it focuses on Jack's grandparents. However, you can see where the younger man got his thirst for adventure and love of history.

5 Stars - You'll be fine if you pick up Book 3, but it's so much better to read a series in order. I just picked up the next book in  the series and can't wait to dig into it. :)

Writers:  Have you ever thought of writing a series? Please share.

Readers:  How do you approach series books? Do you wait for all of them to be available before starting or do you read each one as it's released?

On My Kindle - Remembering Dresden by Dan Walsh

Jack Turner rents a cabin to work on his thesis. He's ready to settle down to a normal life after his hair-raising adventures. His research and a haunting discovery make his time at the cabin anything but restful. Fortunately, Jack is more prepared to handle the mystery sitting in front of him.

Rachel, his girlfriend, isn't crazy about the idea of another mystery. The last one almost got them killed. However, she agrees to help him translate a journal. What they find links the past and present in the most horrifying ways.

Dan Walsh's first book in this series, "When Night Comes," should be read to get the full effect of this one. Although many references are made to the previous story, I'm glad I read the series in order.

Once again, the book grabbed my attention and didn't let go until the end. The author knows how to write a compelling tale of tragedy, revenge, and political intrigue.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

5 Stars! I can't wait to attend the author's Learning Lab at the Greater Philadelphia Writers Conference.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher paid me anything to give a favorable review. As always, all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Have you ever attended a workshop given by one of your favorite authors? Did it meet your expectations? What did you learn?

Readers:  Do you enjoy mystery/suspense novels or do you find them too scary/exhausting? Please share.

On My Nightstand - When Night Comes by Dan Walsh

Jack Turner's old professor and mentor invites him to Culpepper to do a lecture series. Almost immediately, he starts experiencing wild dreams that nearly drive him insane. He embarks on a quest to discover what is causing them.

Joe Boyd got tired of city life and high crime rates. The town suits him fine with its laid back college community. He gets a nasty surprise when two people end up dead.

Rachel Cook's teenage crush morphs into full-blown attraction when Jack comes into town. He confides in her about the dreams, and she's drawn into the web of intrigue.

Suspense coupled with romance is always a big hook for me. Dan Walsh fashions a tale that made moves like a high-speed train. I had an inkling how it might end, but it still sent shock waves when it happened. The characters, setting, and storyline were unique and held my interest all the way through.

Dan Walsh is another new-to-me author. When Night Comes is the first book in The Jack Turner Series. I'm glad I got the Kindle version and sampled his work and look forward to the next installment. I'm giving this book 5 stars.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher requested a review. All opinions, as always, are mine alone.

Writers and Readers: What are your thoughts on fast-paced suspense novels?