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The Thomas Family #1
Sandman
NOTE: This alternate cover version of ASIN B00750L9I0 is no longer available.
New Cover Edition
Beware the SANDMAN he’ll put you to sleep. . .forever.
A serial killer on the loose, a woman being stalked, and a homicide detective who must find the connection between the two before she becomes his next victim.
He collects women. He imprisons them, plays with them, tortures them. Until they bore him. Then he removes a souvenir. They call him the Sandman.
Meagan McInnis is being plagued with late night calls, yet when she answers, no one is there. Then one night she makes a grizzly discovery in her own backyard.
The caller is silent no more.
Homicide Detective, J.J. Thomas, realizes Meagan is the key to finding the Sandman. Now not only must he protect her, but he must find the connection between Meagan and the killer before she becomes his next victim.
WARNING: This is a Romantic Thriller that contains adult language, explicit sex and graphic violence.
332 KB
New Cover Edition
Beware the SANDMAN he’ll put you to sleep. . .forever.
A serial killer on the loose, a woman being stalked, and a homicide detective who must find the connection between the two before she becomes his next victim.
He collects women. He imprisons them, plays with them, tortures them. Until they bore him. Then he removes a souvenir. They call him the Sandman.
Meagan McInnis is being plagued with late night calls, yet when she answers, no one is there. Then one night she makes a grizzly discovery in her own backyard.
The caller is silent no more.
Homicide Detective, J.J. Thomas, realizes Meagan is the key to finding the Sandman. Now not only must he protect her, but he must find the connection between Meagan and the killer before she becomes his next victim.
WARNING: This is a Romantic Thriller that contains adult language, explicit sex and graphic violence.
332 KB
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2012
830 people are currently reading
2029 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Hannah MacDonald
18 books273 followersMorgan Hannah MacDonald writes Romantic Thrillers that are NOT for the Faint of Heart. A two-time semi-finalist in the 2016 KINDLE BOOK AWARDS. She's held many positions including a teller where her hands and feet were bound while armed robbers took over the bank. Years later she discovered she'd dated a serial killer. That's when she knew her destiny was in writing, because sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. She belongs to Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She resides in San Diego, California, where she’s busy working on her next novel. She loves to hear from readers.
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Write to her at morganwrites@yahoo.com To ensure you don’t miss a single book
You can sign up for newsletter alerts on her website & Facebook page.
Website:http://www.morganhannahmacdonald.com
For her twisted weird humor LIKE her on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/MorganHann....
Twitter: morganhannah2u
See what she likes on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/morganhanna...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
February 12, 2017
This is first in a series featuring Homicide Detective J. J. Thomas and Detective Fawn Shadowhawk. All the books in this series are stand alone. There is no need to read them in order. No cliff hangers.
They are investigating the discovery of a woman's body. She's missing some body parts, her eyes and lips are sewn shut with thick black thread. This is not the first body found in this condition .... and it won't be the last.
They call him the Sandman because he dumps the body in the sand. Some are partially buried, some are not.
Meagan McGinnis has a stalker. She thinks it might be her ex-boyfriend. But it could be her ex-fiancee or her manager at the salon where she works. He made a play for her and she declined. He has not been happy since. And then there's the younger man she met recently. Are any of these responsible for all the hang-up calls ... the mechanical voice who sometimes speaks her name ... the man who kills her beloved dog .... the man who leaves her friend's head on her picnic table?
Det. Thomas is called out to another crime scene and finds that the cases may be linked ...and Meagan maybe the key to learning who the Sandman really is. Thomas wants / needs to find that info before Meagan becomes his next victim.
This is the beginning of what looks like a terrific series. J.J. has a brother who is a forensic psychologist and another brother who is an FBI Agent. I can only surmise that future stories will highlight their lives.
The book is a well-written serial killer chiller with credible characters. The story is told from the viewpoint of several different characters ... he killer's voice is quite interesting. There's a lot of action and the ending is almost breath-taking.
My thanks to the author who offered a free digital copy on her website. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
They are investigating the discovery of a woman's body. She's missing some body parts, her eyes and lips are sewn shut with thick black thread. This is not the first body found in this condition .... and it won't be the last.
They call him the Sandman because he dumps the body in the sand. Some are partially buried, some are not.
Meagan McGinnis has a stalker. She thinks it might be her ex-boyfriend. But it could be her ex-fiancee or her manager at the salon where she works. He made a play for her and she declined. He has not been happy since. And then there's the younger man she met recently. Are any of these responsible for all the hang-up calls ... the mechanical voice who sometimes speaks her name ... the man who kills her beloved dog .... the man who leaves her friend's head on her picnic table?
Det. Thomas is called out to another crime scene and finds that the cases may be linked ...and Meagan maybe the key to learning who the Sandman really is. Thomas wants / needs to find that info before Meagan becomes his next victim.
This is the beginning of what looks like a terrific series. J.J. has a brother who is a forensic psychologist and another brother who is an FBI Agent. I can only surmise that future stories will highlight their lives.
The book is a well-written serial killer chiller with credible characters. The story is told from the viewpoint of several different characters ... he killer's voice is quite interesting. There's a lot of action and the ending is almost breath-taking.
My thanks to the author who offered a free digital copy on her website. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
December 2, 2023
To say that Meagan McInnis, has horrible luck, and taste in men would be a colossal understatement. She does have lots of ex's though, so she isn't exactly stupid, just unlucky and a bit delusional. Her ex-husband was an alcoholic, her ex-fiancé mooched off of her while he watched porn all day, her ex-boyfriend was a cheat who lied to her about being married, (maybe he just forgot), the manager of the salon where she works is for some reason hostile to her after she spurred his advances and her next one, the lead singer to a local band, seems way too good to be true. So, it’s no wonder she got herself a large dog and tends to hide out in her apartment. Actually, I thought the dog was a big improvement to all the men in her life. She doesn't hide away...but she’s cautious. When she starts getting weird hang up calls, she figures it one of her many exes’ trying to scare her by making her think she has a stalker. Little does she know how close to the truth that is. Now we meet JJ Thomas who is trying to hang on to his sanity and not doing a very good job of it. He's still trying to get over the suicide of his wife two years ago...he doesn’t sleep much...and he spends way too much time in a bottle. When a dead body found on the beach looks like the work of a serial killer, he starts letting go of his demons and starts focusing on the case and that leads him to Meagan. His desire to protect her from being the next victim was notable but felt a bit off. When considering Megan's past, I thought that the relationship between Megan and JJ happened entirely too quick...they barely knew each other, but he was better than what she had had. They didn’t meet until halfway through the book, and their relationship didn’t move to the next level until the very end and then it was just left hanging. I would have like to see a little bit more development to know that they ended up together in a solid place. I did like this story by a new for me author and I would have to say that it was an "edge of your seat" thriller. You’ll have a long list of suspects and will always believe that one of them is the killer up until almost the end. Meagan will manage to win your admiration. While some pretty horrible things happened to her, she seems to have an inner strength that kept her going and not melting into a pile of sticky goo, which is what should have happened.
January 25, 2018
Typical cheesy suspense novel
Heavy on the cheese, typical damsel in distress who can't seem to make intelligent decisions or stay away from nasty men and needs a big strong heroic cop with a giant penis and abs of steel to save her.
Heavy on the cheese, typical damsel in distress who can't seem to make intelligent decisions or stay away from nasty men and needs a big strong heroic cop with a giant penis and abs of steel to save her.
March 6, 2018
Great Book that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
March 9, 2012
*Possible Spoilers* and disclaimer - Just because I don't love something doesn't mean you won't. I suggest if a blurb sounds good to you, pick up the book regardless of any reviews you've read. I can't tell you how many books others didn't like that I did...and vice versa! :)
With a serial killer on the loose, Detective Thomas knows he has no time to spare. The Sandman is escalating his kills and leaving tortured womens bodies for the cops to find up and down the coast of California. They all bare a striking resemblance to each other, long blonde hair and blue eyes. Though when he is done with them they barely look human.
Meagan thinks he her is stalking her. Hang up calls almost every night and strange occurances in her yard. She never once thinks the killer might be after her too. She doesn’t fit his profile at all with her curly red hair. The Sandman has set his sights on her though, and he wont give up till she is his…forever.
Oh, where to begin on Sandman. First off, from reading the blurb Sandman sounds like a romantic suspense huh? I guess in a way it loosely is, though the two main characters of Meagan and Thomas don’t actually meet until you’re 55% into the book. Kinda hard to connect the main characters emotionally on such short notice. Up till that point it was like reading two different books woven into one. It was odd to say the least.
Thomas is our hero. A cop that seems to be having a hard time getting over the death of his wife two years earlier. He is a functioning alchoholic. Runs himself ragged working cases and then goes home and drinks until he passes out. I get the distraught part, but I would have liked to see him at least be on the road to recovery on his own. Otherwise Meagan (when they finally meet) seems like a huge re-bound. He is working a case dubbed as The Sandman. A serial killer is stalking young women, all with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He tortures them in unspeakable ways before cutting their breasts off and letting them bleed to death. He then drops them on the beach for some unsuspecting innocent to find. Horrific, yes. In fact The Sandman was the best part of the entire book. What does it say when I think that?
Meagan is our heroine…and to be quite blunt, she is just to stupid to live. She has been getting hang up calls for months and recently they have increased tenfold. She doesn’t call the police even though she has seen her ex hanging around her house and outside her work. She figured it’ll just go away on its own. Seriously? Oh wait, it gets better. She also has a creeptastic boss that could be the poster boy for sexual harassment. He couldn’t possibly be behind it either right? She lets her dog out one night and he freaks out and starts growling into the night. The dog refuses to come back in the house resulting in her having to go outside and collect him from the backyard, growling into the darkness, in the middle of the night. Then her and her friends go out for her birthday dinner and she ends up hooking up with the lead singer of some band that was “singing just to her” who owns a chester the molester panel van. Now tell me…if you’re a young woman constantly getting threatening mouth breather phone calls and your dog is growling into the bushes outside your house every time he needs to pee, you’re just going to go hooking up with some dude you don’t even know just because he seems sweet? I don’t care if the van is for his band…I’m not going near some guy I don’t know with a flipping panel van. No thanks. Not with a serial killer being splashed all over the news. Within the span of a few chapters her and Mr “who knows his story” are in her house making out. Well gee, he seems so nice. That’s what they say say before their throats get slashed. All the while the phone calls are escalating every night. It gets better people…just wait. Megan gets woken up by her dog, Godzilla, a few nights later because he wants out. He takes off into the darkness and she goes back to bed with the back door standing wide open…the chick goes to sleep! Perv-o then sneaks through her wide open door and proceeds to jack himself off over her bed while she’s sleeping. For reals? When she finds her dog dead in the backyard the next morning, throat slit ear to floppy ear, I’m not surprised in the least. At least the cops were called at this point but they really don’t seem to care about the calls or the dead dog. All the while Meagan keeps seeing Mr band guy but he dissapears for a few days at a time and doesn’t call. One night she gets a phone calls where mouth breather actually says something in some kind of creepy mechanical voice. He tells her he left her a present. That would be the head of her friend on the back patio. So, because its a murder guess who FINALLY gets to meet our heroine? Oh yeah, 55% in and Thomas and Meagan meet! Thomas actually thinks this in one paragraph:
”It seemed that the woman had a stalker who’d been tormenting her for weeks. First with phone calls in the middle of the night. The the morning before she found her dog murdered. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she discovered the decapitated head of her friend in the back yard”
I know right? Do you know how hard it is to get blood off patio furniture. You can’t! It just soaks on in there and you can’t get it off. The poor woman is gonna have to buy new furniture now. I mean, the least the killer could have done was put the head in the grass so the blood would soak into the ground. Inconsiderate killer.
Up till this point we’ve heard all about Thomas running up and down the coast with his partner Shadowhawk looking at different leads from all the past murders The Sandman has racked up. For a suspense…great….fine. For a romantic suspense, yeah I don’t care, get to the point already. Shadowhawk uses the phrase “Holy Crap Batman” and I want to throw my Kindle across the room. I would think at some point the FBI should have been called for a serial killer spanning several counties up and down the coast of Cali over several years..but whatev.
So….Meagan and Thomas meet which means the story better speed the hell up because we only have 40% to go. The case falls together quickly. All the while Meagan making completely boneheaded mistakes like telling people where she is hiding out. The heat level between the two that I am somehow supposed to believe is palatable after Meagan was making out with band boy simmers quickly. Pretty soon they are having sex and to be honest with you I’m done. There were times I was hoping The Sandman would swoop in and just be done with Meagan too. Thomas is completely over his wife and hung up on Meagan. He even hears his dead wife in his head telling him it’s okay to move on. what she should have said was “all it took was one hot redhead in distress for 2 days to get you to forget me and move on? You’ve been crying over me for two years and you suddenly snap out of it? MEN!”
The climax was decent. The Sandman himself creepy and great. The rest of the story? No thanks.
I give Sandman by Morgan Hannah MacDonald 1.50 stars
With a serial killer on the loose, Detective Thomas knows he has no time to spare. The Sandman is escalating his kills and leaving tortured womens bodies for the cops to find up and down the coast of California. They all bare a striking resemblance to each other, long blonde hair and blue eyes. Though when he is done with them they barely look human.
Meagan thinks he her is stalking her. Hang up calls almost every night and strange occurances in her yard. She never once thinks the killer might be after her too. She doesn’t fit his profile at all with her curly red hair. The Sandman has set his sights on her though, and he wont give up till she is his…forever.
Oh, where to begin on Sandman. First off, from reading the blurb Sandman sounds like a romantic suspense huh? I guess in a way it loosely is, though the two main characters of Meagan and Thomas don’t actually meet until you’re 55% into the book. Kinda hard to connect the main characters emotionally on such short notice. Up till that point it was like reading two different books woven into one. It was odd to say the least.
Thomas is our hero. A cop that seems to be having a hard time getting over the death of his wife two years earlier. He is a functioning alchoholic. Runs himself ragged working cases and then goes home and drinks until he passes out. I get the distraught part, but I would have liked to see him at least be on the road to recovery on his own. Otherwise Meagan (when they finally meet) seems like a huge re-bound. He is working a case dubbed as The Sandman. A serial killer is stalking young women, all with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He tortures them in unspeakable ways before cutting their breasts off and letting them bleed to death. He then drops them on the beach for some unsuspecting innocent to find. Horrific, yes. In fact The Sandman was the best part of the entire book. What does it say when I think that?
Meagan is our heroine…and to be quite blunt, she is just to stupid to live. She has been getting hang up calls for months and recently they have increased tenfold. She doesn’t call the police even though she has seen her ex hanging around her house and outside her work. She figured it’ll just go away on its own. Seriously? Oh wait, it gets better. She also has a creeptastic boss that could be the poster boy for sexual harassment. He couldn’t possibly be behind it either right? She lets her dog out one night and he freaks out and starts growling into the night. The dog refuses to come back in the house resulting in her having to go outside and collect him from the backyard, growling into the darkness, in the middle of the night. Then her and her friends go out for her birthday dinner and she ends up hooking up with the lead singer of some band that was “singing just to her” who owns a chester the molester panel van. Now tell me…if you’re a young woman constantly getting threatening mouth breather phone calls and your dog is growling into the bushes outside your house every time he needs to pee, you’re just going to go hooking up with some dude you don’t even know just because he seems sweet? I don’t care if the van is for his band…I’m not going near some guy I don’t know with a flipping panel van. No thanks. Not with a serial killer being splashed all over the news. Within the span of a few chapters her and Mr “who knows his story” are in her house making out. Well gee, he seems so nice. That’s what they say say before their throats get slashed. All the while the phone calls are escalating every night. It gets better people…just wait. Megan gets woken up by her dog, Godzilla, a few nights later because he wants out. He takes off into the darkness and she goes back to bed with the back door standing wide open…the chick goes to sleep! Perv-o then sneaks through her wide open door and proceeds to jack himself off over her bed while she’s sleeping. For reals? When she finds her dog dead in the backyard the next morning, throat slit ear to floppy ear, I’m not surprised in the least. At least the cops were called at this point but they really don’t seem to care about the calls or the dead dog. All the while Meagan keeps seeing Mr band guy but he dissapears for a few days at a time and doesn’t call. One night she gets a phone calls where mouth breather actually says something in some kind of creepy mechanical voice. He tells her he left her a present. That would be the head of her friend on the back patio. So, because its a murder guess who FINALLY gets to meet our heroine? Oh yeah, 55% in and Thomas and Meagan meet! Thomas actually thinks this in one paragraph:
”It seemed that the woman had a stalker who’d been tormenting her for weeks. First with phone calls in the middle of the night. The the morning before she found her dog murdered. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she discovered the decapitated head of her friend in the back yard”
I know right? Do you know how hard it is to get blood off patio furniture. You can’t! It just soaks on in there and you can’t get it off. The poor woman is gonna have to buy new furniture now. I mean, the least the killer could have done was put the head in the grass so the blood would soak into the ground. Inconsiderate killer.
Up till this point we’ve heard all about Thomas running up and down the coast with his partner Shadowhawk looking at different leads from all the past murders The Sandman has racked up. For a suspense…great….fine. For a romantic suspense, yeah I don’t care, get to the point already. Shadowhawk uses the phrase “Holy Crap Batman” and I want to throw my Kindle across the room. I would think at some point the FBI should have been called for a serial killer spanning several counties up and down the coast of Cali over several years..but whatev.
So….Meagan and Thomas meet which means the story better speed the hell up because we only have 40% to go. The case falls together quickly. All the while Meagan making completely boneheaded mistakes like telling people where she is hiding out. The heat level between the two that I am somehow supposed to believe is palatable after Meagan was making out with band boy simmers quickly. Pretty soon they are having sex and to be honest with you I’m done. There were times I was hoping The Sandman would swoop in and just be done with Meagan too. Thomas is completely over his wife and hung up on Meagan. He even hears his dead wife in his head telling him it’s okay to move on. what she should have said was “all it took was one hot redhead in distress for 2 days to get you to forget me and move on? You’ve been crying over me for two years and you suddenly snap out of it? MEN!”
The climax was decent. The Sandman himself creepy and great. The rest of the story? No thanks.
I give Sandman by Morgan Hannah MacDonald 1.50 stars
February 25, 2012
I've said this before, but I do love it when a suspense novel keeps me guessing until the end. This was one were I had three possible suspects for the serial killer and I was wrong on all three (dammit!!).
Meagan McInnis, has horrible luck with men. Her ex-husband was an alcoholic, her ex-fiance mooched off of her while he watched porn all day, her ex-boyfriend was a cheat who lied to her about being married, the manager at the salon she works at is openly hostile towards her after she spurred his advances and the lead singer to a local band seems to good to be true. So it's no wonder she got herself a large dog and tends to hide out in her apartment. She's not afraid to live her life, but she's cautious. So when she starts getting weird hang up calls, she figures it one of her ex's acting like a stalker. Little does she know how close to the truth that is.
JJ Thomas is trying to hang on to his sanity. Still trying to get over the suicide of his wife two years before, he doesn't sleep much and spends way to much time with a bottle of scotch, but when a dead body found on the beach looks like the work of a serial killer, he starts letting go of his demons and focusing on the case. That leads him to Meagan McInnis and his desire to protect her from being the next victim.
My only issue with the book would be the developing relationship between Megan and JJ. While they didn't meet until halfway through the book, their relationship didn't move to the next level until the very end of the book and then it was just kind of left hanging. I would have like to see a little bit more development to that relationship to know that they ended up together in a solid place.
This was an edge of your seat read. You'll come up with your own list of suspects and still believe that one of your suspects is the killer up until almost the end. Meagan will win your admiration because while some pretty horrible things happen to her, she has an inner strength that keeps her going and not melt into a pile of goo demanding a pity party (I'm pretty sure I would).
Meagan McInnis, has horrible luck with men. Her ex-husband was an alcoholic, her ex-fiance mooched off of her while he watched porn all day, her ex-boyfriend was a cheat who lied to her about being married, the manager at the salon she works at is openly hostile towards her after she spurred his advances and the lead singer to a local band seems to good to be true. So it's no wonder she got herself a large dog and tends to hide out in her apartment. She's not afraid to live her life, but she's cautious. So when she starts getting weird hang up calls, she figures it one of her ex's acting like a stalker. Little does she know how close to the truth that is.
JJ Thomas is trying to hang on to his sanity. Still trying to get over the suicide of his wife two years before, he doesn't sleep much and spends way to much time with a bottle of scotch, but when a dead body found on the beach looks like the work of a serial killer, he starts letting go of his demons and focusing on the case. That leads him to Meagan McInnis and his desire to protect her from being the next victim.
My only issue with the book would be the developing relationship between Megan and JJ. While they didn't meet until halfway through the book, their relationship didn't move to the next level until the very end of the book and then it was just kind of left hanging. I would have like to see a little bit more development to that relationship to know that they ended up together in a solid place.
This was an edge of your seat read. You'll come up with your own list of suspects and still believe that one of your suspects is the killer up until almost the end. Meagan will win your admiration because while some pretty horrible things happen to her, she has an inner strength that keeps her going and not melt into a pile of goo demanding a pity party (I'm pretty sure I would).
March 4, 2012
"I understand that you've been running from the man That goes by the name of the Sandman..." - Sandman by America
Meagan McInnis is a magnet for jerks and creeps. despite her disastrous love life, she keeps herself busy with her work and enjoys the company of her girlfriends and her faithful canine companion Godzilla. when someone plagues Meagan with calls late at night, she realizes that her life could be in danger and that the mysterious caller could be the Sandman himself - a serial killer on the loose.
author Morgan Hannah MacDonald's book is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. the fact that the story was inspired by the writer's true-to-life experience of having dated a serial killer only piqued my curiosity further.
there are gritty elements and details which some readers might find too squeamish but they are necessary to the plot. i liked how the author balanced these by providing us with interesting main and supporting characters and their respective back stories. Meagan is strong-willed and independent. Homicide Detective J.J. Thomas is meticulous and hard-working. he also finds closure and a second chance at love when he meets Meagan.
i also liked the author's writing style especially when she gives the reader a trail of clues to follow and a list of suspects to trim down. Ms. MacDonald has a way of involving her readers in guessing the identity of the serial killer and she did not let me down.
i enjoyed every minute of my time reading this novel and i recommend it to those who love crime stories with a dash of romance.
Meagan McInnis is a magnet for jerks and creeps. despite her disastrous love life, she keeps herself busy with her work and enjoys the company of her girlfriends and her faithful canine companion Godzilla. when someone plagues Meagan with calls late at night, she realizes that her life could be in danger and that the mysterious caller could be the Sandman himself - a serial killer on the loose.
author Morgan Hannah MacDonald's book is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. the fact that the story was inspired by the writer's true-to-life experience of having dated a serial killer only piqued my curiosity further.
there are gritty elements and details which some readers might find too squeamish but they are necessary to the plot. i liked how the author balanced these by providing us with interesting main and supporting characters and their respective back stories. Meagan is strong-willed and independent. Homicide Detective J.J. Thomas is meticulous and hard-working. he also finds closure and a second chance at love when he meets Meagan.
i also liked the author's writing style especially when she gives the reader a trail of clues to follow and a list of suspects to trim down. Ms. MacDonald has a way of involving her readers in guessing the identity of the serial killer and she did not let me down.
i enjoyed every minute of my time reading this novel and i recommend it to those who love crime stories with a dash of romance.
October 11, 2015
This was definitely not a read for the faint hearted! It's such an intense and thrilling read that I found it hard to take out my earplugs, I just had to see what would happen next. It's the type of book that will keep you guessing till the very end. At one stage I was suspecting nearly all the characters as been the Sandman. lol.
There are quite a few characters but all were well written and developed. Meagan has somehow found herself the focus of the serial killer known as The Sandman. She has always had bad luck when it comes to men but to her this is just too much. I really liked Meagan, she was strong, solid and a tough female. She came across as a girl able to look after herself. I absolutely loved her dog, Godzilla and found my heart was in my mouth at a certain bit with him!!!
The plot was fast paced and intense. You are brought straight into the story from the first page and swept along at a breakneck pace till the very end. It will keep you guessing the whole way through. Despite being over 7 hours long, it's a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and need to check out more by this author.
As always Teri Schnaubelt delivers. She has a pleasant and easy voice to listen to and easily grabs your attention.
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
There are quite a few characters but all were well written and developed. Meagan has somehow found herself the focus of the serial killer known as The Sandman. She has always had bad luck when it comes to men but to her this is just too much. I really liked Meagan, she was strong, solid and a tough female. She came across as a girl able to look after herself. I absolutely loved her dog, Godzilla and found my heart was in my mouth at a certain bit with him!!!
The plot was fast paced and intense. You are brought straight into the story from the first page and swept along at a breakneck pace till the very end. It will keep you guessing the whole way through. Despite being over 7 hours long, it's a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and need to check out more by this author.
As always Teri Schnaubelt delivers. She has a pleasant and easy voice to listen to and easily grabs your attention.
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
April 15, 2012
Sandman is described by the author as a romantic thriller. There is a nice romance brewing in this debut novel even if the protagonists do not connect until the second half of the book. The heroine has been hurt often, has no luck in the romance department, and is unwittingly looking for Mr, Right. The novel is also a thriller of the serial killer variety complete with troubled detective seeking redemption. Yet my complaint with this book is that I can sum up the characters and plot so easily. It is simply too formulaic for my taste. Add on a lot of unrealistic reactions by hero and heroine and you have a novel that disappointed me despite its promising set-up. One plus side is MacDonald's depiction of her villain. He is sufficiently creepy and I had a nice time trying to figure out who it was. But this was also frustrating since, if our detective was using standard interrogation techniques instead of starring at her breasts, he would have solved the case ten minutes after meeting Meagan. I'm afraid I will have to give this a solid two stars and place it in the "nice attempt but no cigar" category.
December 10, 2016
I read this one last year and just saw it again while looking through Goodreads... this was one creepy ass book but it was sooooooooooooo good. This was when I was going through my "Romantic Suspense" faze ..which I do from time to time.. Megan is being stalked by a crazy ass psyco and crazy ass is putting it mildly. This guy gives Jason Bates a run for his money... then of course you have the uber alpha detective, JJ that comes to the rescue and of course he is smokin hot, seriously dripping smoking hot.. and of coursssseeeeee their chemistry is HOT. CRAZY HOT. SHEET BURNING HOT. yea.. it was hot. This was a good one.. and and HEA of course !
September 28, 2016
Parts of this book were good - fast-paced, action and suspense, but others were not - romance, sex and annoying, silly M.
This would have been far better without the romance, sex... but maybe that's what sells?
Some very good writing in parts and the concept was 'performed' well for this genre.
This would have been far better without the romance, sex... but maybe that's what sells?
Some very good writing in parts and the concept was 'performed' well for this genre.
August 2, 2020
Poor writing, unrealistic plot and underdeveloped characters.
June 2, 2018
Really liked this one. Glad I picked it up. There is a serial killer on the loose. He picks certain women, tortures them, then displays them for the police to find. J. J. Thomas is the detective assigned to the case. Meagan McInnis is being stalked. Everything points to her being the Sandman's next victim. J. J. will be doing his best to keep her safe but will it be enough.
Good story, likeable characters, and a series I could sink my teeth into.
Good story, likeable characters, and a series I could sink my teeth into.
December 27, 2019
Just when you think you know someone
Meagan has become the target of a serial killer named The Sandman. Her relationships have been somewhat rocky and she seems to attract all the wrong guys. She then gets into the protective custody of a police detective as they rush to find the killer before she becomes his next victim.
Meagan has become the target of a serial killer named The Sandman. Her relationships have been somewhat rocky and she seems to attract all the wrong guys. She then gets into the protective custody of a police detective as they rush to find the killer before she becomes his next victim.
June 11, 2025
I usually judge a book by its cover so had put off reading this but I loved it. Serial killer whodunnit although slightly unbelievable that all these men would lust after the same woman!
February 12, 2012
This review is also posted on Always a Booklover.
Sandman was an unexpected surprise. But a pleasant surprise to be sure. Now I must admit, I don’t read a lot of mysteries and thrillers. I’m more of the pure romance type. But when I read this, I found myself loving it as much as if I was reading my favorite genre. It was a very well-written story, perhaps with a little bit of grammatical errors inside. But a very small bit. Like 5 words? I don’t know, I wasn’t keeping count. What I want to say is that this was a great read and I didn’t feel bored while reading it. I definitely enjoyed the journey this book took me on.
Meagan is pretty unlucky when it comes to guys. It seems like she never ever gets the decent guys, only the jerks and those with problems. I’m not going to talk about her past and present because that may give away a clue to the book. However, I can and will talk about her. She’s a great character. Her inner strength is really amazing. Even though terrible things happen to her, she somehow finds the will to live on and to continue surviving. Now, I definitely respect that.
As for Thomas, he’s a homicide detective. And definitely hot:P Anyway, his wife passed away a few years back and he was extremely affected by it. He loved her too much. But it was only until he met Meagan that he began to recover from her death and fall in love once more. He’s also really smart and a good detective.
I loved the plot of the book. It was really well thought out and I loved seeing how the mystery was solved bit by bit. From the start, I thought I was sure who the murderer was. Turns out, I was completely wrong about it. I was very amazed when I discovered who the murderer was. The events of the last few pages really had my heart racing and I was so so nervous. Even though I knew that they would have a happy ending, there was always that what if. Well, I would have liked it to be more drawn out though. I think the emotional impact would have been greater. As it is, I only felt a scare and became nervous for the character. However, I didn’t feel that emotionally connected to the character involved. I mean, sure I was scared for him/her. But I wasn’t freaking out about it. Get what I mean? I don’t really know how to put it actually.
In any case, this was really a very good book and I’m so glad that I grabbed the opportunity to read it. When it was offered to me to read and review as part of a blog tour, I was hesitant to say the least. I actually almost deleted the mail. But something stayed my hand and I’m so grateful for it. Because I got to read this great book. The mystery and plot was at the perfect pace, each bit was tantalizingly revealed little by little. The characters were likable and though I may not have felt so strongly for or against them, I did like them and the role they had in this book. The storyline was interesting and it captivated me almost right from the start. Definitely a book I would recommend.
Sandman was an unexpected surprise. But a pleasant surprise to be sure. Now I must admit, I don’t read a lot of mysteries and thrillers. I’m more of the pure romance type. But when I read this, I found myself loving it as much as if I was reading my favorite genre. It was a very well-written story, perhaps with a little bit of grammatical errors inside. But a very small bit. Like 5 words? I don’t know, I wasn’t keeping count. What I want to say is that this was a great read and I didn’t feel bored while reading it. I definitely enjoyed the journey this book took me on.
Meagan is pretty unlucky when it comes to guys. It seems like she never ever gets the decent guys, only the jerks and those with problems. I’m not going to talk about her past and present because that may give away a clue to the book. However, I can and will talk about her. She’s a great character. Her inner strength is really amazing. Even though terrible things happen to her, she somehow finds the will to live on and to continue surviving. Now, I definitely respect that.
As for Thomas, he’s a homicide detective. And definitely hot:P Anyway, his wife passed away a few years back and he was extremely affected by it. He loved her too much. But it was only until he met Meagan that he began to recover from her death and fall in love once more. He’s also really smart and a good detective.
I loved the plot of the book. It was really well thought out and I loved seeing how the mystery was solved bit by bit. From the start, I thought I was sure who the murderer was. Turns out, I was completely wrong about it. I was very amazed when I discovered who the murderer was. The events of the last few pages really had my heart racing and I was so so nervous. Even though I knew that they would have a happy ending, there was always that what if. Well, I would have liked it to be more drawn out though. I think the emotional impact would have been greater. As it is, I only felt a scare and became nervous for the character. However, I didn’t feel that emotionally connected to the character involved. I mean, sure I was scared for him/her. But I wasn’t freaking out about it. Get what I mean? I don’t really know how to put it actually.
In any case, this was really a very good book and I’m so glad that I grabbed the opportunity to read it. When it was offered to me to read and review as part of a blog tour, I was hesitant to say the least. I actually almost deleted the mail. But something stayed my hand and I’m so grateful for it. Because I got to read this great book. The mystery and plot was at the perfect pace, each bit was tantalizingly revealed little by little. The characters were likable and though I may not have felt so strongly for or against them, I did like them and the role they had in this book. The storyline was interesting and it captivated me almost right from the start. Definitely a book I would recommend.
February 6, 2012
Today's review is on Sandman by Morgan Hannah MacDonald
At first, I wasn't so certain that I had made the right decision in accepting this book for review. Once I got started however I was hooked. I found myself looking at the clock late at night telling myself that I would read just one more chapter, or read for just fifteen minutes more. I had to force myself to put this book down so I could get some sleep. It was not an easy task.
Meagan McInnis has had the worst luck with men. Having ended her engagement to Jay; who would constantly accuse her of cheating, she ends up dating a fellow hairdresser. Oh he was handsome, but he was also an arrogant ass. Even now, after breaking up with him, he still thinks that he she will give in and fall into his arms. At this point in her life though, the only male she wants in her bed is her faithful dog Godzilla. Thank God she still has her girlfriends.
On the night of her birthday, her friends take her to see one of her favorite musical performers. It's a ladies night out, and it was fantastic. The opening band wasn't to bad either, especially their lead singer Drew. The way his attention was glued to her as he was on stage, it was like he was singing every song just for her. The attraction was instant, and after his set, he set out to win her heart.
But not all is well in the county. There is a killer out there, and as each body is discovered, it's clear that he is getting much more violent in his murders. What's more, he is killing more frequently. As more bodies are found on the beach or near a body of water, the media dubs him the Sandman.
Homicide Detective, J.J. Thomas is still getting over the death of his wife. He hardly sleeps, and he drinks to much. If he doesn't get his shit together, he faces suspension. None the less, he is given the Sandman case. By a fluke or a stroke of luck, he discovers that Meagan may just hold the key to finding this psycho.
When Meagan herself goes missing, Thomas will stop at nothing to find her. He already lost his wife, he was not losing Meagan too. But can he get to her in time? Can he save the woman he loves before the Sandman kills her?
Sandman is a book filled with mystery, romance, and twists that will keep you wondering who the real killer is. A fantastic book, a MUST read.
4 of 5 stars
Available @ Amazon
At first, I wasn't so certain that I had made the right decision in accepting this book for review. Once I got started however I was hooked. I found myself looking at the clock late at night telling myself that I would read just one more chapter, or read for just fifteen minutes more. I had to force myself to put this book down so I could get some sleep. It was not an easy task.
Meagan McInnis has had the worst luck with men. Having ended her engagement to Jay; who would constantly accuse her of cheating, she ends up dating a fellow hairdresser. Oh he was handsome, but he was also an arrogant ass. Even now, after breaking up with him, he still thinks that he she will give in and fall into his arms. At this point in her life though, the only male she wants in her bed is her faithful dog Godzilla. Thank God she still has her girlfriends.
On the night of her birthday, her friends take her to see one of her favorite musical performers. It's a ladies night out, and it was fantastic. The opening band wasn't to bad either, especially their lead singer Drew. The way his attention was glued to her as he was on stage, it was like he was singing every song just for her. The attraction was instant, and after his set, he set out to win her heart.
But not all is well in the county. There is a killer out there, and as each body is discovered, it's clear that he is getting much more violent in his murders. What's more, he is killing more frequently. As more bodies are found on the beach or near a body of water, the media dubs him the Sandman.
Homicide Detective, J.J. Thomas is still getting over the death of his wife. He hardly sleeps, and he drinks to much. If he doesn't get his shit together, he faces suspension. None the less, he is given the Sandman case. By a fluke or a stroke of luck, he discovers that Meagan may just hold the key to finding this psycho.
When Meagan herself goes missing, Thomas will stop at nothing to find her. He already lost his wife, he was not losing Meagan too. But can he get to her in time? Can he save the woman he loves before the Sandman kills her?
Sandman is a book filled with mystery, romance, and twists that will keep you wondering who the real killer is. A fantastic book, a MUST read.
4 of 5 stars
Available @ Amazon
March 19, 2012
Meagan McInnis has had her share of up's and down's. Her very love life is a testament to that fact, yet she doesn't let it deter her from achieving what she wants in life. Things are soon made difficult for her when one of her ex-boyfriends inadvertently becomes her boss. Despite this, she's determined to hold her head up high and continue striving for her hopes and dreams.
Her life seems to be going dandy and things have started falling into place. When her friends take her out one night, she meets a man who seems to good to be true. Deep inside, she hopes Drew will turn out to be different from the men she's dated in the past. Allowing him into her heart is another story, but she's willing to give their budding relationship a chance in hopes of seeing how things go between them.
When a serial killer sets his sights on Meagan, she begins to question everything, and everyone, around her. The person is adamant on making her life hell and, little by little, he's succeeding. Unsure of who to trust, she puts her life in Detective J.J. Thomas's hands.
Dealing with the recent loss of his wife, J.J. doesn't really want to deal with the case he's been saddled with. Yet he knows that this is the last opportunity he's been given in order to put himself, and his life, back together again. Determined to show everyone that he still has what it takes to see a case through, he dives head in with the hopes of finding the Sandman, once and for all.
Spending time with J.J. in hopes of putting the missing pieces together, Meagan soon finds herself attracted to the rugged cop. He stirs her senses in ways no other man ever has. Yet she knows that a relationship with him is technically forbidden. When the serial killer shows up on her doorstep one night and promptly spirits her away, she knows her life will soon be forfeit. Her only hope lies in the hands of man she never imagined having feelings for in the first place.
I enjoyed the book very much with every turn of the page. I think Morgan did a beautiful job in setting the pace for the story. There was just enough suspense and romance mixed in and the twists and turns within the plot kept my attention riveted to the story itself. I'm looking forward to reading more of Morgan's work soon.
Her life seems to be going dandy and things have started falling into place. When her friends take her out one night, she meets a man who seems to good to be true. Deep inside, she hopes Drew will turn out to be different from the men she's dated in the past. Allowing him into her heart is another story, but she's willing to give their budding relationship a chance in hopes of seeing how things go between them.
When a serial killer sets his sights on Meagan, she begins to question everything, and everyone, around her. The person is adamant on making her life hell and, little by little, he's succeeding. Unsure of who to trust, she puts her life in Detective J.J. Thomas's hands.
Dealing with the recent loss of his wife, J.J. doesn't really want to deal with the case he's been saddled with. Yet he knows that this is the last opportunity he's been given in order to put himself, and his life, back together again. Determined to show everyone that he still has what it takes to see a case through, he dives head in with the hopes of finding the Sandman, once and for all.
Spending time with J.J. in hopes of putting the missing pieces together, Meagan soon finds herself attracted to the rugged cop. He stirs her senses in ways no other man ever has. Yet she knows that a relationship with him is technically forbidden. When the serial killer shows up on her doorstep one night and promptly spirits her away, she knows her life will soon be forfeit. Her only hope lies in the hands of man she never imagined having feelings for in the first place.
I enjoyed the book very much with every turn of the page. I think Morgan did a beautiful job in setting the pace for the story. There was just enough suspense and romance mixed in and the twists and turns within the plot kept my attention riveted to the story itself. I'm looking forward to reading more of Morgan's work soon.
November 17, 2013
In this creepy suspense the author doesn’t have the two protagonists meet for a good chunk of the book, but by doing this we get a good glimpse into both of them before their lives converge over a sick twisted killer.
J.J. Thomas is a Homicide Detective that is clearly on the verge of burnout. Between the grieving over the death of his wife and the gruesome cases he deals with day to day he has become an insomniac who drinks too much. His latest two cases involve women being found on the beach murdered with certain body parts missing. One thing you can count on from this author is very descriptive murder scenes that aren’t for the faint at heart. J.J. in his mind is just fine and he knows that there are probably more victims out there that they just haven’t linked to this killer yet that the media has dubbed the Sandman. But to his boss he is a ticking time bomb and if he doesn’t go and get counseling he’s going to suspend him.
Meagan McInnis was a magnet of men that became obsessed with her. She recently broke up with a man she thought she was going to marry when she found out he was married. He continued to stalk her afterwards to the point she got a dog for protection. Then a co-worker where she works who eventually became her boss also had a sick fascination with her and harassed her at every chance. She couldn’t understand who she’s upset in another life to warrant all this grief with men.
The murder in the mean while is stepping up his game and killing more violently and frequently. Through his intensive searches over trying to find any connection to the victims he discovers Meagan.
From here the search is on to try and figure out whom the Sandman is and how he is connected to Meagan. During this two broken people finally find what they have been searching for (relationship wise) but will it be too late for them when the Sandman finally comes for Meagan.
J.J. Thomas is a Homicide Detective that is clearly on the verge of burnout. Between the grieving over the death of his wife and the gruesome cases he deals with day to day he has become an insomniac who drinks too much. His latest two cases involve women being found on the beach murdered with certain body parts missing. One thing you can count on from this author is very descriptive murder scenes that aren’t for the faint at heart. J.J. in his mind is just fine and he knows that there are probably more victims out there that they just haven’t linked to this killer yet that the media has dubbed the Sandman. But to his boss he is a ticking time bomb and if he doesn’t go and get counseling he’s going to suspend him.
Meagan McInnis was a magnet of men that became obsessed with her. She recently broke up with a man she thought she was going to marry when she found out he was married. He continued to stalk her afterwards to the point she got a dog for protection. Then a co-worker where she works who eventually became her boss also had a sick fascination with her and harassed her at every chance. She couldn’t understand who she’s upset in another life to warrant all this grief with men.
The murder in the mean while is stepping up his game and killing more violently and frequently. Through his intensive searches over trying to find any connection to the victims he discovers Meagan.
From here the search is on to try and figure out whom the Sandman is and how he is connected to Meagan. During this two broken people finally find what they have been searching for (relationship wise) but will it be too late for them when the Sandman finally comes for Meagan.
August 11, 2016
Sandman is really two stories in one: a crime thriller and a romance. Sadly, both are poorly done. The serial killer/murder mystery was suspenseful, and the flashback scenes of the unknown killer's childhood make clear both why he kills and how sick he is, but the details of the police investigation are poorly researched. Decades of TV and print crime drama have educated the public too well for sloppy plotting like this. The catch-the-criminal/free-the-victim scene was so cliche it was a let-down. The romance was a complete mess. First off, any woman who enters so many loser love relationships has personality/mental health issues that repel more sane and normal men. The detective wouldn't have fallen for such a woman. His relationship with his dead wife was completely bogus - they had absolutely nothing in common yet he was devastated by the loss? Neither of these characters was the slightest bit believable. The ending dragged on forever, and the sudden gratuitous sex scene wasn't believable either. The final straw that collapses the whole thing is the author's somewhat disconnected writing style. She writes as though she were observing her characters from a distance, not like she lives with them intimately in her head. The result is that I cared less and less about any of them as the book droned on.
January 27, 2016
I loved this book! It had thrills, chills and blood spilled! It even had some adventure, mystery and romance in it. Sandman is a suspense thriller about a serial killer that has been on the loose for many years killing women. Read along as the police try to put together a trail to capture the killer.
The author, Morgan Hannah MacDonald did a wonderful job on this book. The plot is perfect, and the clues had me guessing through out the entire book and I was wrong every time. This is my first read by this author and I look forward to more stories by her. The narrator, Terri Schnaubelt once again does a fantastic job on the narrations. Her delivery is beautiful and flawless. This narrator is among my top 10 of favorite narrators as she makes a book more like a movie with multiple voices, accents and emotions. Good job all!
I was gifted this audiobook so I could give an honest evaluation on it.
The author, Morgan Hannah MacDonald did a wonderful job on this book. The plot is perfect, and the clues had me guessing through out the entire book and I was wrong every time. This is my first read by this author and I look forward to more stories by her. The narrator, Terri Schnaubelt once again does a fantastic job on the narrations. Her delivery is beautiful and flawless. This narrator is among my top 10 of favorite narrators as she makes a book more like a movie with multiple voices, accents and emotions. Good job all!
I was gifted this audiobook so I could give an honest evaluation on it.
March 15, 2012
SANDMAN-Morgan Hannah MacDonald
This was a free kindle download and I started it expecting something mediocre. I read before sleeping and I choose something that won't stimulate me into insomnia. THIS was NOT what I expected.
The pace was great. The story line gripping and the characters extremely likable.
I can't remember the last time I read a book in two nights. I loved it and was sorry when I finished it. I would have liked to see it continue but it ended at precisely the right spot.
Murder, mystery, love, loss....it was ALL here.
READ THIS!
(I never write reviews but I couldn't pass this up!)
This was a free kindle download and I started it expecting something mediocre. I read before sleeping and I choose something that won't stimulate me into insomnia. THIS was NOT what I expected.
The pace was great. The story line gripping and the characters extremely likable.
I can't remember the last time I read a book in two nights. I loved it and was sorry when I finished it. I would have liked to see it continue but it ended at precisely the right spot.
Murder, mystery, love, loss....it was ALL here.
READ THIS!
(I never write reviews but I couldn't pass this up!)
March 1, 2013
This was a free or inexpensive kindle book that I downloaded along with some "bargains." After reading the book, the postscript referred it as a "romantic mystery." Not to be prejudicial, but this book may be targeting a more female audience (?). The mystery was mediocre and the "romance" was annoying. Spoiler: The end was anti-climatic (although the romance part tended to dwell on the none anti-climatic part (sic)). I kept waiting for a surprise or twist, but there was none. Basic plot: sadistic serial killer, detective, detective falls in love with next victim, detective kills serial killer and saves female victim, and they have sex.
July 8, 2013
One of those different psycho thrillers that occasionally come along. There is a serial murderer plot, a person that moves from psychotic to normal depending on real or imagined circumstances, and two detectives trying to figure out what is happening as women/girls continue being murdered. What is neat though is there are a multitude of characters but the author keeps them all separate and individual so the reader is not confused over who is doing what. A intriguing book well worth reading. Not for the timid of mind though, a real life book as lived by the imagined psychotic and pressured detectives and victims.
May 10, 2015
'Sandman' pulled me in from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down when things like eating and sleeping begged me. The storyline was well written and extremely thrilling. Full of mystery, action, suspense and great characters. J.J. was a great lead. He's hot, smart and a great detective. Meagan made another great lead. She's unpredictable, sarcastic at times and isn't the usual size two, salad eating character. I liked that she felt real. The way this story played out had me guessing and questioning who the Sandman was. I love when a story isn't too obvious or predictable. I look forward to reading more of this series.. A great add to your tbr list. Definitely recommended.
May 7, 2012
Very good thriller ... scared me a little and definately kept me on the edge of my seat. Author switches between the viewpoints of the police, the creepy stalker and the victims and kept me reading ... even when I didn't really want too. The ending was ... nope, you'll have to read it to find out. Read on my Kindle and/or the Kindle Fire and I don't remember if this was a freebie but it is definately worth a read. Enjoy!
June 1, 2012
Megan McInnis is a hair sylist and she has a stalker. Could it be an ex-boyfriend or her crazed new boss? JJ Thomas is a detective working a case that the killer is leaving dead naked women on the beach, half buried.
Now the killer is after Megan and her and JJ's lives cross. He has made it a point to protect her no matter what....
I love MacDonald's writting style and it was a constant ride the entire book. no rest stops here!
I am once again sad to finish a great story.
Now the killer is after Megan and her and JJ's lives cross. He has made it a point to protect her no matter what....
I love MacDonald's writting style and it was a constant ride the entire book. no rest stops here!
I am once again sad to finish a great story.
March 24, 2012
A pleasant surprise to say the least! This was a well done novel that keeps you turning the pages. I kept having to force myself to put it down and go to sleep. It sure makes you wonder what kind of people you're around and if you really know them!
An excellent read and I definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author!
An excellent read and I definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author!
June 1, 2012
This book was really, really good. I must admit that I was at home reading this book, mainly at night, and I was spooked. This book was really graphic in describing the murders of the victims. It kept me on edge trying to figure out who the killer was. The ending was not predictable, and I was completely shocked to find out the identity of the Sandman. Excellent Read!
June 1, 2013
This was a really good book and so easy to read. I just could not put this book down it is a page turner. I found myself guessing about what would happen and who the sandman was. You will not be disappointed if you read this thrilling book. I can't wait to read another of Morgans books. There was only one bad point and that was the book ended and I didn't want it to end.
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