Fortune's Deadly Descent

Celia Hagen #2

by Audrey Braun

Memories of her dire past fade as Celia Hagen enjoys life in Switzerland as a best-selling author, surrounded by an extended family, her beloved Benicio, and their imaginative young son Benny. But when Benny disappears from a train during an unexpected stop in the French Provencal countryside, Celia suspects her past may not be buried after all. With Benny gone, she quickly realizes her life wasn’t nearly as idyllic as she believed. Infuriated by the unorthodox search efforts of Interpol and the French police, Celia, along with her older son Oliver, undertakes her own search, only to find that the village where Benny vanished has its own chilling history, and her interference in the case will have grave and irreversible consequences.

In the follow up to Audrey Braun’s bestselling debut, A Small Fortune, Celia discovers just how quickly everyone she loves can spiral toward a life—or death—that none of them could have seen coming.

Genres: Suspense

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2012

About the author

Audrey Braun is the pen name of the author Deborah Reed. She has lived all over the United States and in Europe. She now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her family of boys and dogs. A SMALL FORTUNE is her first suspense novel. Fortune's Deadly Descent is her follow-up and the second of a trilogy.

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like this as much as the first one. Celia has become just a little too frenzied for me. When she really can't handle pressure, (all that fainting, vomiting and swearing), why does she not just leave everything in the hands of the authorities? Makes for a good story line, I guess, but I just can't believe that a 40 something-year-old writer is going to do a better job than the C.I.A. or Interpol.

Just came home from a trip to Zurich myself, so, once again, I did like the authentic settings she uses. It's a fun read, but that's about all.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poor main character has the worst luck ever, and gets more and more manic. The story rolls like a Dan Brown thriller (the chapter ends with a dramatic cliffhanger thats repeated in the next chapter) giving the impression of a Lifetime movie of the week starring Sally Field. I failed the story because I really didn't remember the characters from the first one, so that is clearly my fault.

[R.Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation of Braun's previous novel in this series, this sequel starts with the kidnapping of Benny, Celia and Benicio's young charge. The rest of the story is about how Celia goes to extremes to find Benny and bring him home. Well-plotted with excellent character development throughout, this author depicts Celia's paranoia better than any author I've read in a long time. We often can't tell whether Celia's suspicions are real or fantasy. Well done Audrey Braun!

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was bad. I think it was a goodreads recommendation.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the trilogy, A Small Fortune, and this one is even better. Celia Hagen is a beautifully drawn character, someone I can really relate to. Braun has it both ways in this book--beautiful, fully rounded characters and psychological insight, which we expect from literary fiction. AND fact-paced action. Can't wait for the third!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Loved it!

the two books in the Fortune series are Awesome! the drama is addicting, I found them impossible to put down. what Celia goes through and how she handles things makes her one of the toughest women in fiction.
I don't know how there could be another Fortune book but man, I hope so!

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book ok, I think her other one was a little better. I thought the suspense was a lot more in the first book. This book was slow for me. And the people and characters were somewhat confusing. I didn't think the plot was as well written. It took me a while to get through it!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was like pulling teeth after the first one. It felt very forced and I looked for other things to do besides read often. I think it was missing the passion that was in A Small Fortune and I'm not referring to the sex scenes there.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this action tale of a mother trying to find her kidnapped child, but I didn´t think it was as good as the first book in this series. I did enjoy the setting. Nevertheless, I´ll probably read the third titile in the series when it comes out.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how there are so many twists and turns to keep you wanting to read more and more.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. The resolution was a bit too much of a whirlwhind - not sure the author did such a great job of wrapping things up or explaining the motives - but a rollicking good time nonetheless.

[Suzanne Thoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific and exciting sequel to A Small Fortune. Great read!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great!

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, different than the first but still good.

[Fortune Vilcko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it even more than the first book in the series

[Cursten Newsome · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not nearly as good as the first book. However, it is still worth reading and was still a good book! It left you with closure and had a good ending.

[Donn Lorber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interlocking story, well written from the women's POV. Will try others by Braun