🚓 “Labyrinth of Lies” (Triple Threat #2) (2021) 🚓 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Series: Triple Threat (Book #2)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (October 5, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800736184
ISBN-13: 978-0800736187
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

 

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?”

Thank you in advance to publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy of the book Library Thing. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.

I got introduced to the author’s work through her romance genre, namely the Hope Harbor series. That book was Starfish Pier which I got an ARC of in the spring of 2020 (March).

 

Six months later I got the first book in this series, Point of Danger, through Library Thing. It was my first introduction to her suspense genre and I LOVED it! Naturally, it had a preview for this book, so … yes, I wanted this one.

 

And, I was very excited to win it from Library Thing.

 

The TRIPLE THREAT series is mainly about the O’Reilly sisters:

 

Eve – Point of Danger (2020)

Cate – Labyrinth of Lies (2021)

Grace – (?? – UNTITLED, 20??)

 

The cover is pretty much like the first book. Where that had green/teal highlights, this has blue to distinguish the two.

 

I really enjoyed the first book and while this could be a standalone, I would suggest reading the first one.

 

Hannon’s second book of the series seems far more sinister than the first one. The first one I described as a “smart, thrilling, unpredictable, edgy read”. This was cold, calculating, riveting, dangerous, and at times terrifying – yes, suspenseful in addition to being sinister. This grabbed me from the beginning and I found it difficult to put down. I finished it in about 24 hours. I loved the drama, tension, and suspense.

 

The characters:

 

Good: Zeke, Cate, Kayla (Cate’s “roommate”), Eduardo, Margarita (Eduardo’s wife)

 

Bad: “Wolf”, “Razor”, Will, Miguel (Margarita’s brother)

 

All were perfectly written and nuanced. Each person had their own motives for doing what they did.

 

While the first book handed me several suspects, this book kept only two in the dark – Wolf (head drug dealer) and Razor. I honestly was stunned when Wolf was revealed. I didn’t expect that one. Hannon kept me guessing there. Some of the other “baddies” were definitely “out” and unafraid to be noticed.

 

Unlike some books, this had multiple POVs to keep the reader paying attention – Zeke and Cate were obvious ones; there was also Eduardo, Will, Wolf, Razor, Miguel. And, one character has a POV, but turns out to be someone else.

 

Kayla, one of the support characters, was a standout performer for me. She was the entire connection. Zeke was definitely a close second. Cate was a bit prickly.

 

And, while the other book had a single “element” to it, this was working two fronts:

 

Drug Cartel (Zeke’s case)

Missing Girl with Missing Boyfriend (Cate’s case)

 

As this does deal with a drug cartel there will be mentions of drug use, drug-dealing, and drug overdose. Those who are sensitive to the subjects might want to exercise caution.

 

Cate’s gig starts off when a girl goes missing, along with her boyfriend. While it looks like the typical runaway situation, there is evidence there may be more to it.

 

Cate doesn’t like undercover work, but this is an assignment she is essential for. She knows what the work can do – she’s had more than work experience – it is personal. She finds it deceptive work and doesn’t see the appeal. Given what is at stake, she’ll take the assignment. She knows her sisters will worry about her – and, they do.

 

Zeke is drawn to it because of his own past.

 

It isn’t long until their cases overlap – he an instructor and she a student at Ivy Hill.

 

Right off, the two find out about the other’s cases. Cate wonders if there is a connection while Zeke doesn’t think so. There is definitely unresolved tension between the two and an attraction, more on Zeke’s part than Cate’s. He’s definitely not over her. She is apparently over him though.

 

Cate is given the missing girl’s room. It isn’t a coincidence, Cate’s handlers planned it. She tries to glean some information without looking suspicious, and she does a great job. Kayla tells her to stay away from guidance counselor Noah Evans, and advises her that Reverend Wilson is the better option.

 

One of the maintenance workers, Eduardo, has problems of his own with a drug-addicted brother-in-law. The guy is bad news and it is clear – he doesn’t care WHO he puts in danger.

 

Cate, in reaching out to Kayla, gets more information. She also makes a discovery on the campus and relays it to Zeke. Kayla notices their interactions and it seems personal. He never forgot her or stopped loving her.

 

Another discovery, this time yielding evidence, leads to some danger towards her. I did have to laugh at Kayla, after seeing Zeke carry Cate. Kayla remarks he looked like a hero from a romance novel cover.

 

At one point, Kayla remarks to Cate about Reverend Wilson’s tragedies and how he is doing the good work he is.

 

Cate and her sisters spend a weekend together, but Zeke shows up and eventually tells Cate his reasons behind his work. Though, there is a change in his career that is coming.

 

As the story progresses – Zeke is in more danger than he realizes (someone knows who he is); Eduardo makes a decision; Kayla learns a stunning truth; Cate’s biggest fear is about to resurface and she also begins to re-think second chances.

 

The end wasn’t as “exciting” as it could’ve been for the story. But, I wasn’t disappointed. It was shocking and intense particularly around chapter 22 in a plot twist that came from out of nowhere! There was NO kind of lead into it. There was NOTHING that would’ve directed me there. Talk about being blindsided.

 

It actually got terrifying at the end of chapter 24, and by the end of chapter 25 I was shaking. Hannon’s last line of that chapter was CREEPY!!

 

This was definitely a very good middle book for the series. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

 

I had to laugh at the idea of Cate going undercover at the school due to her looks and the fact she got carded even at 33. This is really a norm for me. The day AFTER I turned 40 – there was a tequila sampling at my grocery store. I got carded! I was asked for my I.D. The woman said I barely looked 25, I know legal age is 21. Some card at 30 or under. But, the woman was by my not-so-receptive reaction as she meant it as a compliment.

 

Three funny stories:

 

#1 – I was about 21-23 when I went to a Walmart to buy WiteOut, got carded. I didn’t look 18 according to the associate. After that, went to a grocery store to buy beer, not carded. Looked too young for WiteOut, old enough for beer.

 

#2 – About 6-8 years ago, another Walmart … two different incidents. First one? Yup … that WiteOut stuff. My mom prefers liquid to correction tapes. Got carded. Again, didn’t look 18 (despite being well into my 30’s)

 

#3 – Yes, Walmart again … still, well into my 30’s. Was buying cold meds when I was asked if I had “any I.D” on me by a grandmotherly-type employee. Yes, carded for cold meds.

 

That aspect of the plot was quite realistic and I had a great deal of both empathy and sympathy for Cate.

 

Hannon’s use of short chapters and engaging story-telling moves the story along and draws the reader right in. As this was an ARC, there were some typos – paragraph styles, but more frequently the use of ATF versus DEA. This is noted in one chapter as AFT, then ATF. Hopefully these were resolved by official print time. They didn’t hinder the overall enjoyment as I KNEW what agency Zeke was from, but it could be confusing to some readers.

 

As this is distributed by a Christian/faith-themed publisher, there are references to God, prayer, talks about faith. These are not central to the plot and in no way (given the tone of the novel) preaching to the reader. This is a “clean read” with no bad language or intimate scenes.

 

Fans of the author’s romantic suspense line and those who read the first book will more than likely enjoy this read.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

Previous book in the series:

Series: Triple Threat (Book #1)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell (October 6, 2020)
Language: English       
ISBN-10: 0800736176
ISBN-13: 978-0800736170
⬅️Click Picture for Purchase Information

“Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently.

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

 

Irene Hannon is the Publishers Weekly bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, including Point of Danger, the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. All of her novels have also been ECPA bestsellers. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

You can follow her on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Irene-Hannon-426433004084567/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenehannonauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IreneHannon

  

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