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Live and Let Die
There is an alternate cover/title edition for this ASIN here.
On a bitterly cold January evening, Tracy Ellis went for a jog along Chicago’s snowy lakefront and disappeared. Her body was discovered days later, her beautiful face bashed in with a rock. Police determine her brutal death to be a mugging gone wrong and drop the matter into their cold case files.
Over a year later, Tracy’s sister, Sondra, still can’t come to grips with what happened. She throws herself into her work as a documentary filmmaker to try and forget the cruelty of her sister’s death. However, a chance encounter with a man from Tracy’s past rips the wound open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers about the secrets from her sister’s life that may have led to her death.
As Sondra struggles to uncover what happened to Tracy, she’s launched into a tangled web of deceit and danger that put her on a collision course with life and death…
On a bitterly cold January evening, Tracy Ellis went for a jog along Chicago’s snowy lakefront and disappeared. Her body was discovered days later, her beautiful face bashed in with a rock. Police determine her brutal death to be a mugging gone wrong and drop the matter into their cold case files.
Over a year later, Tracy’s sister, Sondra, still can’t come to grips with what happened. She throws herself into her work as a documentary filmmaker to try and forget the cruelty of her sister’s death. However, a chance encounter with a man from Tracy’s past rips the wound open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers about the secrets from her sister’s life that may have led to her death.
As Sondra struggles to uncover what happened to Tracy, she’s launched into a tangled web of deceit and danger that put her on a collision course with life and death…
290 pages, ebook
First published November 7, 2012
1356 people are currently reading
4751 people want to read
About the author
Bianca Sloane
13 books193 followersBianca Sloane is the author of the suspense novels, "Killing Me Softly" (previously published as "Live and Let Die") chosen as "Thriller of the Month" (May 2013) by e-thriller.com and a "2013 Top Read" by OOSA Online Book Club and "Sweet Little Lies." She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers of Color. When she's not writing, she's watching Bravo TV, Investigation Discovery, reading or cooking. Sloane resides in Chicago.
Contact Bianca:
Email: Bianca@BiancaSloane.com
Blog: biancasloane.blogspot.com/
Facebook: BiancaSloaneSuspenseWriter
Twitter: @BiancaSloane
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/biancasloane
Contact Bianca:
Email: Bianca@BiancaSloane.com
Blog: biancasloane.blogspot.com/
Facebook: BiancaSloaneSuspenseWriter
Twitter: @BiancaSloane
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/biancasloane
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
May 11, 2019
A good thriller which sees our protagonist Sondra grieving for her sister Tracey who was brutally murdered in a mugging gone wrong. Sondra is struggling to move on and decides to produce a documentary in Tracey's memory. While interviewing people close to her sister she finds that all was not as it seemed with Tracey's happy marriage, causing Sondra to delve deeper into Tracey's life. What she finds is not what she expects and leads to a trail of jealousy, deceit and obsession. I recommend this book to those who like a page turning novel with some unforeseeable twists along the way.
September 13, 2023
Whoa. I loved this! Bianca Sloane really had me by a string with this one. So so good!
Tracy Ellis— a successful TV producer went for a jog one snowy morning and disappeared. A week later, her body was found, her face bashed in with a rock. A mugging gone wrong? Or perhaps a more elaborate crime? Sondra couldn't get over Tracy's death and starts investigating on her own. What she would find is a shocking twist of fate.
This was awesome! I loved the characters, I loved the bond of Sondra and Tracy even after the latter's death. I totally hated the villain in this story. I closed my fist a lot of times wanting to break their face and just punish them! Lock them in a closet for years and hit them with a belt until they pass out. (Whoa, that's dark. These kind of books really bring out the evil in me. Haha. Excuse the language.)
Well, the writing style is very simple and easy to follow so I read this swiftly and with ease. About the ending, I would've wanted for the bad guys to suffer a bit more but I think this is the best outcome for everyone.
Bianca Sloane! New fan here
Tracy Ellis— a successful TV producer went for a jog one snowy morning and disappeared. A week later, her body was found, her face bashed in with a rock. A mugging gone wrong? Or perhaps a more elaborate crime? Sondra couldn't get over Tracy's death and starts investigating on her own. What she would find is a shocking twist of fate.
This was awesome! I loved the characters, I loved the bond of Sondra and Tracy even after the latter's death. I totally hated the villain in this story. I closed my fist a lot of times wanting to break their face and just punish them! Lock them in a closet for years and hit them with a belt until they pass out. (Whoa, that's dark. These kind of books really bring out the evil in me. Haha. Excuse the language.)
Well, the writing style is very simple and easy to follow so I read this swiftly and with ease. About the ending, I would've wanted for the bad guys to suffer a bit more but I think this is the best outcome for everyone.
Bianca Sloane! New fan here
November 13, 2014
“All extremes of feeling are allied with madness.”
----Virginia Woolf, Orlando
Bianca Sloane, an American author, has penned her new debut thriller named, Live and Let Die which is based of madness and obsession. This dark thriller made me freeze to my bone and left my mind numb with its stark fear and chill. And honestly this is the best debut thriller book that I ever read. For a first time, author, it's not easy to unfold a gripping and clever mystery, but Bianca has skillfully and smartly pulled all the strings correctly, thus resulting in an intriguing mystery that will take you places where you would never expect to go.
Synopsis:
On a bitterly cold January evening, Tracy Ellis went for a jog along Chicago’s snowy lakefront and disappeared. Her body was discovered days later, her beautiful face bashed in with a rock. Police determine her brutal death to be a mugging gone wrong and drop the matter into their cold case files.
Over a year later, Tracy’s sister, Sondra, still can’t come to grips with what happened. She throws herself into her work as a documentary filmmaker to try and forget the cruelty of her sister’s death. However, a chance encounter with a man from Tracy’s past rips the wound open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers about the secrets from her sister’s life that may have led to her death.
As Sondra struggles to uncover what happened to Tracy, she’s launched into a tangled web of deceit and danger that put her on a collision course with life and death…
I can't praise enough to the author for her incredible talent to pull off such a compelling thriller and that too for the first time. The author has crafted her characters with lots of thought and imagination, because after reading about them, you might think that these kinds of characters are so real and we sometimes happen to cross them on our paths. Sondra, the key character, sounds determined and brave and a complete chain-smoker, who cannot put her mind to rest with her sister, Tracy's mysterious death, but when she started to see things differently, she found so many loose ends and many unanswered questions related to Tracy's death. Sondra turned out to one of the most likeable character in the book.
The author's narration is something, for a first time author, her narration is smooth and easy and the readers can easily blend into her story. Her well-developed plot has all the elements to hook a reader from its very first page. Although we knew, who the real culprit in the prologue was, still there were many unraveling mysteries that the author peeled very gently along with the flow of the story. And with that powerful climax, I can only say that Bianca has made me her fan. I simply feel for her use of simple and articulate words to make the plot engrossing for her readers.
Verdict: A must-read thriller that will make your heart beat with fear and thrill.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Bianca Sloane, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
----Virginia Woolf, Orlando
Bianca Sloane, an American author, has penned her new debut thriller named, Live and Let Die which is based of madness and obsession. This dark thriller made me freeze to my bone and left my mind numb with its stark fear and chill. And honestly this is the best debut thriller book that I ever read. For a first time, author, it's not easy to unfold a gripping and clever mystery, but Bianca has skillfully and smartly pulled all the strings correctly, thus resulting in an intriguing mystery that will take you places where you would never expect to go.
Synopsis:
On a bitterly cold January evening, Tracy Ellis went for a jog along Chicago’s snowy lakefront and disappeared. Her body was discovered days later, her beautiful face bashed in with a rock. Police determine her brutal death to be a mugging gone wrong and drop the matter into their cold case files.
Over a year later, Tracy’s sister, Sondra, still can’t come to grips with what happened. She throws herself into her work as a documentary filmmaker to try and forget the cruelty of her sister’s death. However, a chance encounter with a man from Tracy’s past rips the wound open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers about the secrets from her sister’s life that may have led to her death.
As Sondra struggles to uncover what happened to Tracy, she’s launched into a tangled web of deceit and danger that put her on a collision course with life and death…
I can't praise enough to the author for her incredible talent to pull off such a compelling thriller and that too for the first time. The author has crafted her characters with lots of thought and imagination, because after reading about them, you might think that these kinds of characters are so real and we sometimes happen to cross them on our paths. Sondra, the key character, sounds determined and brave and a complete chain-smoker, who cannot put her mind to rest with her sister, Tracy's mysterious death, but when she started to see things differently, she found so many loose ends and many unanswered questions related to Tracy's death. Sondra turned out to one of the most likeable character in the book.
The author's narration is something, for a first time author, her narration is smooth and easy and the readers can easily blend into her story. Her well-developed plot has all the elements to hook a reader from its very first page. Although we knew, who the real culprit in the prologue was, still there were many unraveling mysteries that the author peeled very gently along with the flow of the story. And with that powerful climax, I can only say that Bianca has made me her fan. I simply feel for her use of simple and articulate words to make the plot engrossing for her readers.
Verdict: A must-read thriller that will make your heart beat with fear and thrill.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Bianca Sloane, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
May 16, 2013
This has to be the best debut novel ever. I was hooked. It's been so long since a book has had me that enthralled. I burned my fish reading this book. When I had to use the restroom, I ran there and ran back as if I would miss something. This book had my head gone. If anyone likes a good mystery/thriller/suspense, then this is the book for you. I love that you learn relatively early on who the "murderer" is, but the plot continuously unfolds until the very last page. You can hardly trust any characer in the story. I loved it! Excellent. 5 stars!
January 23, 2013
The market is awash with crime novels where the plot is depressingly predictable and the detective is a flawed character with a sad home life. Live and Let Die is none of these things and is all the better for it.
Bianca Sloane (it's hard to believe this is her first novel) has devised an ingenious plot which constantly takes you where you least expect to go. One of the key characters is Sondra, who embarks on a dogged mission to unravel the truth behind her sister Tracy's unexplained death. She is a warm, rounded and feisty character to whom any reader can easily relate. But it is Philip and Paula, the young married couple round whom much of the action revolves, who will remain in the memory long after you have finished this novel. To say that they are an odd couple is a gross understatement. It would be a spoiler to give away much more, so let's just say their relationship is weird, intense, gripping and highly unusual.
Live and Let Die comes across as a highly imaginative, intelligently crafted piece of writing. The plot is intricate and satisfying, as all the loose ends are tied up in the end. The pace is shrewdly judged, scenes of breathtaking action mixing with quietly reflective ones. Bianca Sloane has created a remarkably mature debut novel and clearly has the talent to carve out a big career. She deserves to succeed.
Bianca Sloane (it's hard to believe this is her first novel) has devised an ingenious plot which constantly takes you where you least expect to go. One of the key characters is Sondra, who embarks on a dogged mission to unravel the truth behind her sister Tracy's unexplained death. She is a warm, rounded and feisty character to whom any reader can easily relate. But it is Philip and Paula, the young married couple round whom much of the action revolves, who will remain in the memory long after you have finished this novel. To say that they are an odd couple is a gross understatement. It would be a spoiler to give away much more, so let's just say their relationship is weird, intense, gripping and highly unusual.
Live and Let Die comes across as a highly imaginative, intelligently crafted piece of writing. The plot is intricate and satisfying, as all the loose ends are tied up in the end. The pace is shrewdly judged, scenes of breathtaking action mixing with quietly reflective ones. Bianca Sloane has created a remarkably mature debut novel and clearly has the talent to carve out a big career. She deserves to succeed.
July 24, 2016
Another cracking book by this author. I really enjoyed it and it has some really shocking, jawdropping moments to keep you entertained ! Plus I even tutted aloud at a couple of points. There were funny lines as well so something for everyone. I enjoyed all her characters and how the main family featured was such a close one.
I do still have a niggle which I mentioned in the last review of one of her books where she feels the need to describe the colour of everybody, even down to the shade ! And Sondra smokes. That's not an issue as I do, too but we really didn't need to know every time she lit up or stubbed one out, which she was pretty indiscriminate about....it just felt needless mentioning it every single time.
It didn't have too many mistakes although this line had a random capital letter and no fullstop-"....tapping one long, red airbrushed nail Against the wood trim on the chair" and once she used too instead of to. She writes IDed instead of ID'd more than once and we lost of in "Written a lot books" and she writes do to instead of to do and was got dropped in "...two weeks she sick". She also mentions that she had never hummed around the house before but we had already read about her doing it earlier. Then stocking and not stockinged. Many of these missing words/punctuation mistakes feature in e-book after e-book and they're really annoying but Amazon doesn't seem to be improving their production process much to fix this.
I got a little confused about where everyone lived, too. Being in the UK I don't know the places she mentions so was never sure which member of the family lived or worked or got married in which town !!
However, I'm really enjoying this author's stories and have Every Breath You Take already downloaded as well.
I do still have a niggle which I mentioned in the last review of one of her books where she feels the need to describe the colour of everybody, even down to the shade ! And Sondra smokes. That's not an issue as I do, too but we really didn't need to know every time she lit up or stubbed one out, which she was pretty indiscriminate about....it just felt needless mentioning it every single time.
It didn't have too many mistakes although this line had a random capital letter and no fullstop-"....tapping one long, red airbrushed nail Against the wood trim on the chair" and once she used too instead of to. She writes IDed instead of ID'd more than once and we lost of in "Written a lot books" and she writes do to instead of to do and was got dropped in "...two weeks she sick". She also mentions that she had never hummed around the house before but we had already read about her doing it earlier. Then stocking and not stockinged. Many of these missing words/punctuation mistakes feature in e-book after e-book and they're really annoying but Amazon doesn't seem to be improving their production process much to fix this.
I got a little confused about where everyone lived, too. Being in the UK I don't know the places she mentions so was never sure which member of the family lived or worked or got married in which town !!
However, I'm really enjoying this author's stories and have Every Breath You Take already downloaded as well.
September 29, 2015
I have to write a review here because I'm astounded by the number of stellar reviews. I read a ton of thrillers, and I especially read a lot of cheap (as in under $2 for the Kindle version), trashy thrillers. Many of them are silly but enjoyable and I would never give them 1 star because, though they may be predictable or poorly written, they are entertaining.
This one, however, was not entertaining OR surprising OR well written. I don't even try to predict the twists in these sorts of books, but this one was obvious to me just from the plot description. The characters in all trashy thrillers are cardboard cutouts, but this novel didn't even make it to cardboard—each character is basically a flashcard (there's "big smile", "smoking badass", "sexy ex", etc.)
The only thing I thought was cool about this book was that it largely featured black and interracial characters, which is sadly unusual in the world of thrillers. Otherwise, it was a total dud.
This one, however, was not entertaining OR surprising OR well written. I don't even try to predict the twists in these sorts of books, but this one was obvious to me just from the plot description. The characters in all trashy thrillers are cardboard cutouts, but this novel didn't even make it to cardboard—each character is basically a flashcard (there's "big smile", "smoking badass", "sexy ex", etc.)
The only thing I thought was cool about this book was that it largely featured black and interracial characters, which is sadly unusual in the world of thrillers. Otherwise, it was a total dud.
April 9, 2013
Live and Let Die by Bianca Sloane is a psychological thriller wrapped around a murder mystery. The novel opens with a mysterious woman named Paula needing hospitalization in a mental institution. Then we meet Sondra Ellis. Sondra wants nothing but happiness for her younger sister, Tracy, as she marries Phillip, but that happiness is short lived. Tracy is found brutally murdered, which has left Sondra, their parents, and Phillip to try to recover and pull their lives back together.
After a year has passed, Phillip sends a letter to Tracy's mother saying that he has remarried, which re-opens the family's grief. Sondra always though Phillip was weird, but if Tracy loved him then she must have saw something in him that the family missed. However, Sondra runs into an old boyfriend of Tracy's and discovers that Tracy may not have been as happily married as everyone thought, which leads her to look more closely at Phillip and her sister's marriage. Meanwhile Phillip is happily married to Paula, who is slavishly devoted to precisely following his every order.
For a debut novel, Live and Let Die flows very smoothly - or perhaps I should say "gallops" because I was reading at a frantic pace to discover what happens next. It certainly is a well written mystery that kept me engaged throughout and doesn't quite follow a predictable formula. Oh, I thought I had things figured out, and my conclusions seemed to be close, but were soon proved incorrect. Plus, there is an extra twist at the very end that I was not expecting at all. The unpredictability of the ending is another sign of a debut writer who deserves success and I expect to hear a lot more about her in the future.
I liked the characters, especially Sondra's determination and attitude. Phillip and Paula were disturbing, but I don't want to say much more about that. I will have to admit that in the beginning of the novel if Sondra ran her fingers through her dark, tangled hair and then frantically needed a cigarette one more time I was considering setting the book aside.Then, as the action picked up and things started to get very intriguing, those actions seemed to stop, or at least they no longer bothered me.
Currently Live and Let Die is available as an eBook. Bianca Sloane has two other novels coming out: Sweet Little Lies and Every Breath You Take. (Check out her website.)
Very Highly Recommended
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
After a year has passed, Phillip sends a letter to Tracy's mother saying that he has remarried, which re-opens the family's grief. Sondra always though Phillip was weird, but if Tracy loved him then she must have saw something in him that the family missed. However, Sondra runs into an old boyfriend of Tracy's and discovers that Tracy may not have been as happily married as everyone thought, which leads her to look more closely at Phillip and her sister's marriage. Meanwhile Phillip is happily married to Paula, who is slavishly devoted to precisely following his every order.
For a debut novel, Live and Let Die flows very smoothly - or perhaps I should say "gallops" because I was reading at a frantic pace to discover what happens next. It certainly is a well written mystery that kept me engaged throughout and doesn't quite follow a predictable formula. Oh, I thought I had things figured out, and my conclusions seemed to be close, but were soon proved incorrect. Plus, there is an extra twist at the very end that I was not expecting at all. The unpredictability of the ending is another sign of a debut writer who deserves success and I expect to hear a lot more about her in the future.
I liked the characters, especially Sondra's determination and attitude. Phillip and Paula were disturbing, but I don't want to say much more about that. I will have to admit that in the beginning of the novel if Sondra ran her fingers through her dark, tangled hair and then frantically needed a cigarette one more time I was considering setting the book aside.Then, as the action picked up and things started to get very intriguing, those actions seemed to stop, or at least they no longer bothered me.
Currently Live and Let Die is available as an eBook. Bianca Sloane has two other novels coming out: Sweet Little Lies and Every Breath You Take. (Check out her website.)
Very Highly Recommended
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
July 24, 2020
**4.25-4.5 stars**
I really enjoyed this book, holy hell! I was absolutely hooked. It definitely brought me back into my Happy Reading Place, which has been missing from my life lately. And it was written by a Black woman! I went ahead and bought the rest of Bianca Sloane’s books....how you say,,, expeditiously.
Sloane’s writing is quick and succinct, and the plot was fast, disturbing and twisty! I kind of predicted what actually happened to Tracy, but I enjoyed joining Sondra’s quest to find justice for her beloved sister. The characters had enough depth that I was invested in them, but the plot was very action-driven. Wild! Intriguing!
Looking forward to digging into Sloane’s other books; I’ve found a new favorite thriller author.
I really enjoyed this book, holy hell! I was absolutely hooked. It definitely brought me back into my Happy Reading Place, which has been missing from my life lately. And it was written by a Black woman! I went ahead and bought the rest of Bianca Sloane’s books....how you say,,, expeditiously.
Sloane’s writing is quick and succinct, and the plot was fast, disturbing and twisty! I kind of predicted what actually happened to Tracy, but I enjoyed joining Sondra’s quest to find justice for her beloved sister. The characters had enough depth that I was invested in them, but the plot was very action-driven. Wild! Intriguing!
Looking forward to digging into Sloane’s other books; I’ve found a new favorite thriller author.
October 31, 2021
A nail biting thriller and a great audio performance.
On one cold winter day in Chicago, Tracy left for a jog and never returned. Within a week, her body was found, a victim of a mugging gone bad.
Over a year has past, and Tracy's sister, Sondra, cannot let her death go. As a documentary filmmaker, Sondra decides to look further into Tracy's murder to find more information and do a documentary about it. Unfortunately, things aren't adding up, so Sondra turns on full investigative mode and involves the police.
I am horrible at guessing, but I had this one figured out early. But no no no, of course I didn't 😂 But then I figured it out. NOPE, WRONG AGAIN!
There were a couple of great twists in this one and I really enjoyed it. Perfect for October.
On one cold winter day in Chicago, Tracy left for a jog and never returned. Within a week, her body was found, a victim of a mugging gone bad.
Over a year has past, and Tracy's sister, Sondra, cannot let her death go. As a documentary filmmaker, Sondra decides to look further into Tracy's murder to find more information and do a documentary about it. Unfortunately, things aren't adding up, so Sondra turns on full investigative mode and involves the police.
I am horrible at guessing, but I had this one figured out early. But no no no, of course I didn't 😂 But then I figured it out. NOPE, WRONG AGAIN!
There were a couple of great twists in this one and I really enjoyed it. Perfect for October.
November 9, 2021
"I guess it’s like they say—everything happens for a reason."
The Story: Six months after attending her baby sister's wedding, Sondra receives the devastating news that her sister, Tracy went for a jog and did not return. Days later her body is discovered and police has concluded it was a mugging gone wrong. A year later, Sondra bumps into Tracy's former boyfriend, and new information reveals that there may be more to her death than just a mugging case gone wrong.
My thoughts: Oh wow. This was nuts! And I mean it in a good way! This was a really good thriller! I enjoyed it so much more than I expected! The pace, plot and characters are all done so well!
I loved that this story surprised me with a few big twists and went to a direction that I loved so much! It gives me all the creepy vibes!
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Julienne Irons did an amazing job capturing the different tones and personalities of the characters in the story!
In a nutshell, READ/LISTEN THIS BOOK. It was a gripping story that had me at the edge of my seat! So good that I finished the audiobook in one sitting.
***Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and author Bianca Sloane for having me on this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
The Story: Six months after attending her baby sister's wedding, Sondra receives the devastating news that her sister, Tracy went for a jog and did not return. Days later her body is discovered and police has concluded it was a mugging gone wrong. A year later, Sondra bumps into Tracy's former boyfriend, and new information reveals that there may be more to her death than just a mugging case gone wrong.
My thoughts: Oh wow. This was nuts! And I mean it in a good way! This was a really good thriller! I enjoyed it so much more than I expected! The pace, plot and characters are all done so well!
I loved that this story surprised me with a few big twists and went to a direction that I loved so much! It gives me all the creepy vibes!
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Julienne Irons did an amazing job capturing the different tones and personalities of the characters in the story!
In a nutshell, READ/LISTEN THIS BOOK. It was a gripping story that had me at the edge of my seat! So good that I finished the audiobook in one sitting.
***Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and author Bianca Sloane for having me on this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
May 17, 2015
Awesome A five Star
To think I almost didn't give this Author a chance, the first chapter was a little slow but I kept reading and I'm sure glad I did because once I got going I couldn't stop. This Lady can Write a great Thriller, she kept me on the edge and and kept me thinking. The character's are so interesting and you can picture them in your mind almost like watching a movie. This book has everything you are looking for for a great read. I highly recommend this book and look forward to another Bianca Sloane...
kks
To think I almost didn't give this Author a chance, the first chapter was a little slow but I kept reading and I'm sure glad I did because once I got going I couldn't stop. This Lady can Write a great Thriller, she kept me on the edge and and kept me thinking. The character's are so interesting and you can picture them in your mind almost like watching a movie. This book has everything you are looking for for a great read. I highly recommend this book and look forward to another Bianca Sloane...
kks
June 15, 2015
WOW! WHAT A GREAT BOOK IT HAD SO MANY TWIST AND TURNS AND SURPRISES. I STARTED READING AND COULD NOT STOP IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. IT WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN IT FLOWED VERY SMOOTHLY THIS WAS A HIDDEN JEWEL REALLY TERRIFIC. I FOUND THIS ON CHEAP & FREE ON AMAZON BOOK LIST. WHO KNEW? ;D
February 2, 2015
A real page turner!!!!!!!Just started reading and couldn't put the book down.
January 30, 2017
An excellent debut novel. Didn't quite see the ending coming! Just wished she didn't mention the female characters' dress sizes so much.
Want to read
October 24, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/24/2017)!
October 6, 2024
3.25 ⭐️ Ok, so I picked up this book in a wimp, just to read something different. It’s easy to read and get into. I thought it was very predictable at first but then there was a twist that changed my perception. Once I realized what was happening, again I thought it was very obvious, however the twist at the end I wasn’t expecting. So, I’m giving it 3.25 stars because it really surprised me with the twists 😉
November 8, 2021
Hey audio book fans! I have a suspense no that will keep you listening all night!
Thrillers are my favorite, so when I had the opportunity to listen to Killing Me Softly I jumped on it, and I’m glad I did.
Synopsis: Tracy Ellis was brutally murdered while jogging along Chicago’s snowy lakefront. Police say it’s a mugging gone wrong and dismiss it as a cold case.
Over a year later, her sister Sondra runs into a man from Tracy’s past. What he has to say rips the wounds wide open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers. As she begins to uncover the truth, Sondra becomes tangled in a web of deceit and danger, putting her on a collision course with life and death.
Narration: An audiobook narrator can either kill the story or bring it to life. I am happy to say Julienne Irons was perfectly casted. She did more than just bring the book to life, she made the characters emotions, experiences, and journey so rich with emotion it was palatable. This audio book journey that is such a smooth and exciting ride it’s over in the blink of an eye.
Novel: Obviously, even the best of narrators can’t make a bad book good, which is why it should come as no surprise that Ms. Irons has some good shit to work with. I’ve read a lot of thrillers and this is one of my favorites. I’m usually not a fan of multiple points of view because it almost always redundant, but Bianca Sloane NAILED IT. The multiple points of views build the suspense and deflect the truths, so when the twist hits the reader is pleasantly surprised.
Do you have a favorite audio book narrator?
I was gifted a free copy of the audio book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Thrillers are my favorite, so when I had the opportunity to listen to Killing Me Softly I jumped on it, and I’m glad I did.
Synopsis: Tracy Ellis was brutally murdered while jogging along Chicago’s snowy lakefront. Police say it’s a mugging gone wrong and dismiss it as a cold case.
Over a year later, her sister Sondra runs into a man from Tracy’s past. What he has to say rips the wounds wide open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers. As she begins to uncover the truth, Sondra becomes tangled in a web of deceit and danger, putting her on a collision course with life and death.
Narration: An audiobook narrator can either kill the story or bring it to life. I am happy to say Julienne Irons was perfectly casted. She did more than just bring the book to life, she made the characters emotions, experiences, and journey so rich with emotion it was palatable. This audio book journey that is such a smooth and exciting ride it’s over in the blink of an eye.
Novel: Obviously, even the best of narrators can’t make a bad book good, which is why it should come as no surprise that Ms. Irons has some good shit to work with. I’ve read a lot of thrillers and this is one of my favorites. I’m usually not a fan of multiple points of view because it almost always redundant, but Bianca Sloane NAILED IT. The multiple points of views build the suspense and deflect the truths, so when the twist hits the reader is pleasantly surprised.
Do you have a favorite audio book narrator?
I was gifted a free copy of the audio book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
May 5, 2013
Tracy’s Death
In January, on one of the worst blizzards of the year in Chicago, Tracy Ellis was discovered with her face bashed in by a rock. Devastated, Tracy’s family is at a loss. The police think it was just a mugging that went wrong. Without evidence the police have no idea who the perpetrator could be.
Sondra is still reeling over the death of her sister. The bond they shared was one that was truly to be cherished. Sondra loved her sister with all her heart and it hurts even more not knowing the who and why. Over a year later, Sondra begins to make some startling discoveries about the last few months of her sister’s life before her death. With a little investigative work of her own she uncovers secrets and lies that were meant to be buried for good. Will she be able to survive after the whole truth surfaces? Or will it be too late?
“Live and Let Die” by Bianca Sloane is an excellent mystery. It is a story of loss and heartbreak, but at the same time a story of a sister’s love so strong that she needs to know the truth in order to move forward. There are quite a few twists and turns that this reader did not see coming. When the ultimate plot was revealed, even I was shocked. This is one of those novels that will keep you turning the pages wondering what kind of secrets are going to be unearthed. If you like mysteries, this is one book I would definitely recommend!
Reviewed by: LeonaR
In January, on one of the worst blizzards of the year in Chicago, Tracy Ellis was discovered with her face bashed in by a rock. Devastated, Tracy’s family is at a loss. The police think it was just a mugging that went wrong. Without evidence the police have no idea who the perpetrator could be.
Sondra is still reeling over the death of her sister. The bond they shared was one that was truly to be cherished. Sondra loved her sister with all her heart and it hurts even more not knowing the who and why. Over a year later, Sondra begins to make some startling discoveries about the last few months of her sister’s life before her death. With a little investigative work of her own she uncovers secrets and lies that were meant to be buried for good. Will she be able to survive after the whole truth surfaces? Or will it be too late?
“Live and Let Die” by Bianca Sloane is an excellent mystery. It is a story of loss and heartbreak, but at the same time a story of a sister’s love so strong that she needs to know the truth in order to move forward. There are quite a few twists and turns that this reader did not see coming. When the ultimate plot was revealed, even I was shocked. This is one of those novels that will keep you turning the pages wondering what kind of secrets are going to be unearthed. If you like mysteries, this is one book I would definitely recommend!
Reviewed by: LeonaR
December 26, 2021
There's no wonder this book (originally published in 2012) won awards; I picked it up to begin reading early today and didn't put it down until I finished it. It was that kind of gripping. The story begins at the wedding of Tracy, the TV producer younger sister of Academy Award winning documentary film maker Sondra (Sonny). Tracy is marrying a very unlikely man, but is madly in love. Six months later, Sonny flies back to Chicago for the memorial service for Tracy. But something's not right.
The rest of the book uncovers the mystery and is well told with - to me, at any rate - one minor flaw and one larger one. The minor flaw - in two places, chapters seem to be reversed in order. Since it's done twice - both times in near the end - I suspect the author did it intentionally, but in both instances I found it more confusing than any forward of the story. Reading a chapter and scratching my head about it, and then doing it twice, was an annoyance that could have escaped from a first time author - but the version I read was renamed to "Killing Me Softly" and contained the author's boast of having been rewritten. So the ordering of chapters was intentional but in my mind it distracted rather than enhanced the story.
The other issue - I really wasn't surprised by her main plot twist, although some of the details about how it was pulled off WERE surprising. I plan on reading more of her work - this was a marvelous first book.
The rest of the book uncovers the mystery and is well told with - to me, at any rate - one minor flaw and one larger one. The minor flaw - in two places, chapters seem to be reversed in order. Since it's done twice - both times in near the end - I suspect the author did it intentionally, but in both instances I found it more confusing than any forward of the story. Reading a chapter and scratching my head about it, and then doing it twice, was an annoyance that could have escaped from a first time author - but the version I read was renamed to "Killing Me Softly" and contained the author's boast of having been rewritten. So the ordering of chapters was intentional but in my mind it distracted rather than enhanced the story.
The other issue - I really wasn't surprised by her main plot twist, although some of the details about how it was pulled off WERE surprising. I plan on reading more of her work - this was a marvelous first book.
October 29, 2013
When I was first asked to review “Live and Let Die,” I checked, online, for reviews of which were often 4′s or 5′s out of 5. Of which I responded with an “okay…., I hope this book is good.” Lo and behold! I have received a great book, so let me tell you about it.
First of all, I like how the author frequently (and creatively) shifted points of view without making it confusing to the reader. I also loved how she added to the mystery by using those shifts of views to make the reader predict a certain thing but what actually happens is totally different.
Surprisingly, I love that I have made several predictions throughout the book and all were proven wrong by the twists and turns of this story.
I am a big fan of not having a final conclusion of books until the end of the book which is EXACTLY what I got from “Live and Let Die”; the mystery/ issue was not completely solved until the last page or two.
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The Good: This book kept me at the edge of my seat and longing for more while offering proper closure to the book at the end.
Middle Ground (would normally be considered bad but…): Sex is specifically depicted but it is to enhance the point the author was trying to make
First of all, I like how the author frequently (and creatively) shifted points of view without making it confusing to the reader. I also loved how she added to the mystery by using those shifts of views to make the reader predict a certain thing but what actually happens is totally different.
Surprisingly, I love that I have made several predictions throughout the book and all were proven wrong by the twists and turns of this story.
I am a big fan of not having a final conclusion of books until the end of the book which is EXACTLY what I got from “Live and Let Die”; the mystery/ issue was not completely solved until the last page or two.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Good: This book kept me at the edge of my seat and longing for more while offering proper closure to the book at the end.
Middle Ground (would normally be considered bad but…): Sex is specifically depicted but it is to enhance the point the author was trying to make
January 3, 2015
Live and Let Die by Bianca Sloane is a suspense-mystery-crime-thriller about a women who marries the wrong man. Tracy Ellis wants it all. But when her boyfriend doesn't want to get married, Tracy finds love in an unsuspecting place. The two marry quickly, and that’s when Tracy disappears. Tracy’s sister, Sondra, is determined to find out the truth. Did Phillip murder Tracy? The answer may surprise you.
Prepare yourself for the greatest blood-tingling story of your life. I've never hated a character so much! And just when I thought I knew what was going on, I found out it was all an illusion.
The book is beautifully written to leave you wanting more in the same way you can’t look away from a train wreck. I enjoyed how realistic the characters and settings are. The plot is insane.
Live and Let Die is sort of like a David Lynch movie: a mind-bending tale of jealousy and murder presented in the elegant dress of WTF.
And, well, that’s just my kinda thing!
Prepare yourself for the greatest blood-tingling story of your life. I've never hated a character so much! And just when I thought I knew what was going on, I found out it was all an illusion.
The book is beautifully written to leave you wanting more in the same way you can’t look away from a train wreck. I enjoyed how realistic the characters and settings are. The plot is insane.
Live and Let Die is sort of like a David Lynch movie: a mind-bending tale of jealousy and murder presented in the elegant dress of WTF.
And, well, that’s just my kinda thing!
May 27, 2019
"Disappointed"
I was expecting a lot better when I read the numerous accolades for this book. The characters were shallow and at no point did I really engage with their situation. The problem with uncovering a book that has been around for a while & attracted hundreds of reviews is that it's almost impossible to avoid spotting the unintentional 'reveal'. When the publicity machine screams 'mind-blowing twist' at you then any regular thriller reader can immediately discount 99% of the most likely twists an author might use. Therefore, you're left with a handful of extreme options. Experienced readers will work it out and the shock and awe that this story depends on will be diminished. Once you remove that, the weak characters and their vacuous lives will become exposed for what they are - flawed and uninteresting.
I was expecting a lot better when I read the numerous accolades for this book. The characters were shallow and at no point did I really engage with their situation. The problem with uncovering a book that has been around for a while & attracted hundreds of reviews is that it's almost impossible to avoid spotting the unintentional 'reveal'. When the publicity machine screams 'mind-blowing twist' at you then any regular thriller reader can immediately discount 99% of the most likely twists an author might use. Therefore, you're left with a handful of extreme options. Experienced readers will work it out and the shock and awe that this story depends on will be diminished. Once you remove that, the weak characters and their vacuous lives will become exposed for what they are - flawed and uninteresting.
February 2, 2016
Interesting plot... too much back and forth.
I really enjoyed the plot, but I wasn't crazy about how it was written. There were far too many chapters for such a short book. One minute your in the present, the next the past, then back to the present, then on to another character. I just think the story could have unfolded differently. There were also characters that were under developed, such as the neighbor, Cindy. The storyline is somewhat difficult to follow early on, but once Paula is introduced things start to pick up, and the story becomes more interesting. All in all, not a terrible read.
I really enjoyed the plot, but I wasn't crazy about how it was written. There were far too many chapters for such a short book. One minute your in the present, the next the past, then back to the present, then on to another character. I just think the story could have unfolded differently. There were also characters that were under developed, such as the neighbor, Cindy. The storyline is somewhat difficult to follow early on, but once Paula is introduced things start to pick up, and the story becomes more interesting. All in all, not a terrible read.
September 24, 2016
A well-plotted and imaginative story with plenty of twists and turns. You may need a bit of stamina to get past the first few chapters, but it’s worth persevering. Unfortunately, the writing was rather flat and it really could do with more careful editing.
Propranolol is a beta blocker prescribed widely here for the treatment of hypertension and headaches, even in relatively young people. It would not be allowed if the side effect described was statistically significant, so that was a disappointing plot-hole. I also think the last chapter was one too many. It just stretched credibility too far. That aside, an overall good read.
Propranolol is a beta blocker prescribed widely here for the treatment of hypertension and headaches, even in relatively young people. It would not be allowed if the side effect described was statistically significant, so that was a disappointing plot-hole. I also think the last chapter was one too many. It just stretched credibility too far. That aside, an overall good read.
May 18, 2016
Captivating storyline, definitely kept my attention. There are some rather disturbing elements, especially in the way Phillip treats his wife (various forms of abuse), which may deter some from reading this book. The only thing I would change would be cleaner transitions when the story jumps to the past - some sort of chapter header would be helpful when the story shifts so the reader isn't trying to figure out what's going on. Overall, I enjoyed the read and had some difficulty putting it down.
January 22, 2022
Wow! This is an exciting book that is sure to please readers who like their crime novels dusted with a hint of chocolate on top. Or dollop of mocha cream. Take your pick. And if you like your reading with a side of dessert with just a shiver of red syrup on top, you've come to the right place. This author, Bianca Sloane don't mess around with this chilling story of folks with appear nice as rice but have cold water running in their veins. Because this story of murder, lust and deception is set in the frigid city of the Windy City. Read it if you dare.
October 30, 2015
This is a good pacy thriller, outside of the usual formulaic offering. I wish I could give in 3.5 stars. There is no gratuitous romance, which really bothers me in these books. Plenty of twists and turns and it doesn't drag anywhere. The main characters are very believable and are developed well throughout the book. A little bit of a rush at the end to tidy everything up but I enjoyed this book and read it quickly always a good sign.
March 6, 2016
This book is an extremely slow starter; I nearly abandoned it several times before I became interested in the plot. The transitions between scenes, time frames, and points of view were sometimes unclear and confusing; and there were a few grammatically awkward spots (mostly failure to use the past perfect tense where that would have clarified the sequence of events .) Overall, however, this was a good read with a very unusual plot.
January 4, 2023
I wanted to like this book more, but the writing didn't really grab me. The last chapters were confusing, it was like they were out of order and there were two completely different endings. Regardless of this, the story was creepy and clever. Yes, there were plot holes and some cringy writing, but this was an early book, and the author has improved by leaps and bounds with her latest book And When I Die.
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