AfterStrike

by L.J. Sellers

What if, without warning, you had to run for your life and leave everything behind?
Remi Bartell faces that terrifying moment and takes only the dog who saved her.

But as she settles into a new place, lightning strikes! Remi loses her memory and struggles to figure out who she is, why her life is so secretive, and who she can trust. Then she makes a small mistake—that costs her everything. The crime-family patriarch she's hiding from kidnaps her and plunges her into a revenge nightmare. The trauma triggers buried memories from her old life that will either save her or destroy her.

AfterStrike blends fast-paced action with psychological suspense and ends with an explosive twist.


“A sizzling thriller. I absolutely loved this story!” — Midwest Book Review

“A fantastic read! Un-put-down-able!” — Terry Shames, award-winning crime-fiction author

“A gripping thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. An L.J. Sellers masterpiece. Do not miss this one!” — Gary Ponzo, thriller author

“The best thriller L.J. Sellers has written, and she’s at the top of my must-read list.” — Teresa Burrell, bestselling author of legal thrillers

There are some books you read and enjoy but do not remember and then there are some books you inhale, devour and BREATHE. Afterstrike is one of these books.”— Di, Goodreads Reviewer

"L.J. Sellers peels back layer after layer of a young woman's troubled past in this relentlessly suspenseful tale of bad people, bad decisions, and very bad luck. Add an adorable dog to the mix, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. A lightning strike of a book!" — Ann Voss Peterson, author of Pushed Too Far

After Strike starts at a dead run and doesn’t let up. The satisfying twists and unexpected turns come at a breakneck pace, all crafted with laser precision by a master storyteller. The result is a book that’s hard to put down, and that leaves you breathless and eager to continue, assuming you even can. L.J. Sellers is at peak form in this breathtaking thriller. I declare it an absolute must-read.” — Bill Cameron, award-winning crime-fiction author

"I was intrigued from the first page of this smart new thriller.”— Elizabeth Sims, bestselling mystery author

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2023

About the author

I write the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/thriller series—a four-time Readers Favorite award winner—as well as the Agent Dallas series, the Extractor thrillers, and provocative standalone thrillers. My 30 novels have been highly praised and have sold more than a million copies.

I reside in Eugene, Oregon where my many of my novels are set, and I'm also an award-winning journalist who earned the Grand Neal. When not plotting murders, I enjoy standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. I've also been known to jump out of airplanes.

Reviews

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.J. Sellers' most recent book, After Strike, is a true winner. And the FBI Agent Dallas also makes a welcome appearance. The characters are great, not all of them are good, but even the evil ones are great characters. Remi has lead such an interesting life and her little dog, Tuck, is one of the main characters in the book. If you are new to LJ Sellers, head to Amazon and look her up. I have read every book she's written and recommend them all.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I can say unequivocally is L. J. Sellers never disappoints. I've read more than a dozen of her books, all of which are easy to read and hard to put down. AFTERSTRIKE is no exception.

Remi Bartell works at KinderCare daycare center. Her life is certainly less than ideal, but she is coping until the unthinkable happens… the lightning strike. It's not bad enough that she wakes up in the hospital; she wakes up without any memory of her life before being struck. As she tries to piece her life back together, she must deal with both physical and emotional pain.

If you read L. J. Sellers, you know the name FBI Agent Jamie Dallas. No Sellers novel would be complete without a law enforcement presence. Meshing the threads of a cold FBI investigation with Remi Bartell forces hard questions that take us from well before the strike to a stunning conclusion full of surprises.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a great book. This is the first book that I have read by L.J. Sellers and I will definitely look for others. It had a unique storyline and was written in a way to keep the reader engaged. It was fast paced and hard to put down. I would classify this as a suspense thriller. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some books you read and enjoy but do not remember them and then there are some books you inhale, devour and BREATHE. Afterstrike is one of these books.

[C.A. Scrimshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get a preview copy of this book
I love all LJ Sellers books and this book is no exception
With a tense and unique storyline, unlike any books I have read before.
It held my interest throughout, the characters are well scripted and it kept you gripped right to the end.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving book that is hard to put down. Excellent smooth writing. Great story!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I now see why L. J. Sellers gets rave reviews. I initially found the bouncing time frames difficult, but the book is so good I could not put it down. It turns out the chronology adds to the plot and keeps you focused on what happens next based on the past. If this is the first of the Dallas series, I am hooked.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of my favourite authors, having "discovered" her and her Det. Jackson series way back in the early days of Kindle. As well as that, cracking, series she also writes about the "adventures" of Agent Dallas, and, as well as some standalones, is also the author of the Extractor series featuring Roxanne McFarlane. Each book being of an equally or higher standard than the last.
So, in this book we meet Remi Bartell who suffers from amnesia brought on by a lightening strike. Prior to this, she was already seeking help with a counsellor who, when we first meet the characters, is explaining to Remi that she is unable to just tell her what they spoke about before she lost her memory. So she seeks out a support group. The story then flits between the past and the present, showing how Remi was before and after the strike. Filling in some of the gaps... and then Remi is abducted. Something from her past is now front and centre in her present. Is she in danger? Enter a familiar face whose interest is piqued from a hit from a previous case that they didn't get over the line when a major witness disappeared...
This is a twisty turny exhilarating suspenseful ride that help me rapt all the way through. Delivering shock after surprise as more of the truth come out. It probably helped that I took to Remi right from the off, which tbh didn't surprise me as, from past experience, characterisation is one of this author's many strengths.
The story being told also got on with itself very well indeed. Another thing I love about this author is her no nonsense attitude to waffle and padding - there is none! Pacing also matches the narrative all the way through and, as you would expect, goes up a notch as we race to the end. An ending that wholly satisfied.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Go check it out if you haven't already. You can thank me later!

[Rachel's Review! · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a moment when Remi Bartell just must leave everything, all her life, all her belongings, all her friends behind to start a new life, she can only wish that she at least had enough time to tell someone why she is leaving. She could not tell where anyway because that would not be ideal and she did not exactly want anyone to be able to track her. But anyway, she does not even get a chance to do any of that because she had to leave immediately and the only thing, she carries along from her past life is her dog.

The book keeps you hooked from the very beginning. For starters, there are questions about why Remi Bartell has to make such a sudden move, what is it that is behind her, and whether is she running from someone. These questions are answered along the course of the story but before that, there is something more horrifying waiting for the protagonist. Lightening strikes her and she loses her memory for a while. She makes a small mistake and that could cost her everything that she has left. She had been hiding from the patriarch of a crime family but he finds her and kidnaps her soon enough. He is trying to use her for his enmities and makes her a tool for his motives regarding revenge.

The author has built up a lot of suspense in the story and the plot just keeps twisting and turning. It is a relief when things finally start to unfold and we get answers to questions we have had beginning from the very first chapter. There is also information about her personal life which is revealed and they are all connected. You can pick this book up on any day you want a quick read and finish it in one sitting.

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

AfterStrike is my first L.J. Sellers book, and I really enjoyed it The action never stops, and the truth of who everyone is will keep you guessing. Remi's lightning strike-caused amnesia means the reader can only guess along with her. The story is told in the third person both from Remi's POV and that of FBI detective Dallas (who is apparently a character from other Seller's books). It also jumps from present to past and back again; if neither style appeals to you, you may find it overwhelming.

This book is largely a suspense thriller, though there's a fairly flat and not completely believable romantic element that hovers in the background; I wouldn't consider this book a romance, however.

I feel a little bit like we don't learn enough about Remi, and not just because of the amnesia thing. Although bits are slowly revealed, Remi is a little hard to connect to. I was rooting for her but felt more distant than I typically like.

The final climax is not as exciting as it's built up to be, though the end is satisfactory. I just felt like it resolved a purely little too quickly and easily.

I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens and the publisher. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

L. J. Sellers has quickly become a favorite author of mine. AfterStrike is a fast-paced thriller filled with great characters, even the bad guys. I immediately felt as if I were in the middle of the plot and found I didn't want to quit reading.

Ms. Sellers does a great job crafting characters that you can either relate to or wish you knew. The story line is solid and at no point did I feel like I knew what was going to happen or how it was all going to work out. That's what I really look for in thrillers or mysteries. I don't want to feel like I know what's going to happen.

I loved that Agent Dallas was involved in this book. She's a character from previous books and one I love. She's driven, believes strong in right, wrong, and not stopping until the bad guys are made to pay.

If you're looking for a new thriller author, pick up one of L. J. Sellers' books and get ready to ignore the rest of the world. You'll be glad you did.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a very gripping premise, and I enjoyed the way the story was told. The plot was a bit choppy sometimes and the pacing was off, which is what leads to my lower rating.

Despite Remi being the protagonist of the story, I felt that Agent Dallas was a much more flushed out character. I know a previous reviewer also mentioned the use of 'doggo' so I won't go into that again. I understand why the author used the term, but I believe it was overused.

A couple more items that lowered my rating were the unnecessary body checking, the story line of Remi's addiction with pain medication that is mysteriously dropped by the end of the book, and the quick romance in the beginning/middle that ended up in love by the end despite them not seeing each for most of the book.

Lastly, which I don't blame the author for, the book was labeled as thriller romance on BookSirens so I expected something else from this book. I still think it was a solid thriller that had a lot of twists and turns.

Given free ebook ARC by BookSirens for my honest opinion on the book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge
AfterStrike is a masterclass in psychological suspense and high-octane action. L.J. Sellers introduces Remi Bartell, a resourceful and relatable protagonist, thrust into a world of danger, secrets, and memory loss. The stakes escalate with every chapter, as betrayal, revenge, and buried pasts collide in a relentless narrative that refuses to slow down.
The blend of suspense, emotional depth, and unexpected twists makes this a book that’s impossible to put down. Sellers’ precise pacing, strong character development, and the heartwarming inclusion of Remi’s dog elevate the story beyond a conventional thriller, appealing to fans of both psychological and action-packed suspense.
This is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts craving tension, high stakes, and a story that lingers long after the last page.
— Nicole B. (nicole.b.publicist@gmail.com)

[Elizabeth Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself intrigued from the first page of this smart new thriller by LJ Sellers. The protagonist Remi Bartel struck me as sort of an ‘everywoman’ who was thrown into extraordinary circumstances by an accident of birth, and now is thrown into peril by an accident of fate: a lightning bolt.
As she copes with her brain-rattling injury, Remi must figure out not only who she is, but who she was. Why is she being sought and exploited by ruffians, both inside and outside of organized crime? By the time FBI Special Agent Jamie Dallas gets involved, Remi’s peril has increased chapter by chapter, turning point by turning point. At last a final collision of good and evil changes Remi’s life—and those of others she loves.
Intricate and fast-moving, I think this novel deserves a place on many a bedside table!

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this story was clever. A woman, Riley, is married to the son of a mobster who has successfully scamned insurance companies. When she is coerced into committing insurance fraud for the family she chickens out at the last minute which results in the death of her husband. She then mysteriously disappears the night before she is due to testify in court against the family. Coincidentally, she is struck by lightening which triggers an amazing ability in her to recall short term memory conversations verbatim.
Alas, thereafter the story lost me. Neither the writing style nor storytelling was appealing and I found the idea that a successful crook not knowing his daughter in law's mother is a cop, implausible.
I received an advance copy of this book in return for a voluntary review. 3 stars

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

AfterStrike by L.J. Sellers is a gripping thriller that will hook you right from the beginning and won't let you put it down until the end. This book is a stunning thriller that plays out in the readers head like a movie, unfolding at each and every turn the many dark and twisted twists and turns that will keep you glued to the book.

This book had excellent characterisation, amazing pacing and tension and the writing is perfect and compliments the plot and the concept beautifully. I would highly recommend it to all thriller readers and to those who simply cannot miss a stunning suspense novel.
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You can read this review on my book blog: www.thereadingbud.com

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're interested in a formulaic drama where you know what's going to happen even before it happens, then this is not your book. This one is an intriguing thriller which grabs you from page one and doesn't let up. L.J. Sellers does a great job of keeping you guessing right to the last page. After a while I simply gave up guessing and just enjoyed the tense ride. I read this in three nights and I'm a very slow reader. I encourage everyone to read a sample of this novel-just the first page-and see if you don't want to read more. You can thank me later.

[Kellie Whittam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, despite finding the jumping around of timelines hard to keep up with at times.
I liked Jamie's character and might read more of the books she is in.
Remi was a bit annoying but I would have liked her relationship with Thomas to have been developed more earlier in the book so it would make more sense later on.
I also would have liked to have known more about Remi's mother before the end of the book.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MaryKaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remi is struck by lightning and loses her memory.

This book has several timelines and flashbacks. They are well written, so they are not hard to follow.
Remi's flashbacks make her realize she has a crime ridden past. This book has lots of action, drugs, foul language, and brutality. The best part of the book is the love Remi has for her dog Tuck.

I received this book free from Goodreads for an honest opinion.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great series

This was an intense and complex story that will hook you from beginning to end. Agent Dallas is convinced that a story that she read in a newspaper is connected to a previous case, or at least the dog in the story is, but trying to convince her boss is another matter. Lol! It's not a story or series that you'll want to miss.
I would recommend this book, series, and author.

[Zoey Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

AfterStrike has so many different plot twists all throughout the book. It is not the type of book I would normally read but it kept me hooked! The only thing keeping this book fro! 5 stars was the use of the word "doggo", personally I don't feel like that word was necessary but other than that I really did enjoy this thriller.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to get used to how the book was formatted but once I got into it, I enjoyed the story. There were some twists that I wasn’t expecting which I appreciated. I do think that a little more background about JT would have been nice.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic story, with lots of suspense. Remi runs away with only her dog who saved her. Unfortunately the people she’s running from catch up with her. There’s no stopping until you get to the end to find out if Remi is alright.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! Such edge of your edge reading! I loved this story. Such good characters. I couldn't imagine going through what she did. So so good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[John Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

intriguing story

This was good. It is hard to imagine being on the run for your life, not able to reveal yourself to anyone, and then losing your memory, but that is the heart of this story.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! This book had a lot of action and excitement. Would definitely read more from this author.

[Candie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast paced thriller. I did find that the time jumps could get a little confusing at times.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good grief this book takes you on a ride! Dang good! Really more than a five start rating!

[diannscollins]

Soul Crushing

While the story was good, the back and forth between the past and the present was tiresome. I would recommend this book to fans of the law enforcement genre.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her past seemed hidden, pieces come back, would life and her memory ever fully come back. A therapist now referring her to another Dr. She couldn’t go thru this again. Going to her car that choice was taken from her, when she was kidnapped.
The head of a crime family wants to use her for his own revenge.
Remi now realizes she had been in hiding fearing for her life.
Was good to read a story by her again, having read all those she has written.
Readers will enjoy this story with a good twisted plot to draw you in.
Given ARC by Net Galley and spell binders press for my voluntary review.
Releases .May 2023