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Sterling Suspense #1
Centaur
CENTAUR: The first volume of the Sterling Suspense series delves briefly into the dark world of sex slavery and obsession, only to emerge into the light via the age-old struggle of good versus evil.
Though her cognitive abilities have been compromised by a rare illness, beautiful Meghan Dacey—who knows her name only as “Number twenty-three”—is able to escape from The Halfway Home, a sex slavery ring disguised as a stately care home for the intellectually disabled. The home is run by Centaur, a man with a secret he’ll kill to protect—and has.
Every story has a hero, and this story boasts two: Dr. Alexander Hunter of the FBI, and trauma surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Sterling. Together with an eclectic cast of characters, Hunter and Sterling pry Meghan from Centaur’s clutches and whisk her halfway around the world in an attempt to free her from his sights.
Meghan’s cognitive skills slowly improve. As she is the last living soul who has heard his secret, Centaur must destroy Meghan before she realizes what she knows. What follows is an international game of hide and seek. Only this game won’t end with the seeker playfully announcing, “tag, you’re it!”
Though her cognitive abilities have been compromised by a rare illness, beautiful Meghan Dacey—who knows her name only as “Number twenty-three”—is able to escape from The Halfway Home, a sex slavery ring disguised as a stately care home for the intellectually disabled. The home is run by Centaur, a man with a secret he’ll kill to protect—and has.
Every story has a hero, and this story boasts two: Dr. Alexander Hunter of the FBI, and trauma surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Sterling. Together with an eclectic cast of characters, Hunter and Sterling pry Meghan from Centaur’s clutches and whisk her halfway around the world in an attempt to free her from his sights.
Meghan’s cognitive skills slowly improve. As she is the last living soul who has heard his secret, Centaur must destroy Meghan before she realizes what she knows. What follows is an international game of hide and seek. Only this game won’t end with the seeker playfully announcing, “tag, you’re it!”
268 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2013
1 person is currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
H.E. Fairbanks
2 books10 followersA former medical editor, writer/illustrator H. E. Fairbanks is the author of the Sterling Suspense series of novels. She resides in Southern Colorado and is a member of Pikes Peak Writers.
Ms. Fairbanks has been writing and editing for twenty-five years. She has written fiction and nonfiction, columns, short stories, commentaries and poetry, as well as a comic strip.
As a professional artist, she designs and paints the haunting covers of her own novels, collaborating with expert layout artists to achieve an iconic style suiting the suspense genre.
"Centaur" is the first novel in the Sterling Suspense series. The second, "Willow's Baby," is in the final stages of publishing and will be on shelves in late May of 2013. Ms. Fairbanks is currently working on the third book in the Sterling series, "Buttoned Down," with an estimated release date of early 2014.
Ms. Fairbanks has been writing and editing for twenty-five years. She has written fiction and nonfiction, columns, short stories, commentaries and poetry, as well as a comic strip.
As a professional artist, she designs and paints the haunting covers of her own novels, collaborating with expert layout artists to achieve an iconic style suiting the suspense genre.
"Centaur" is the first novel in the Sterling Suspense series. The second, "Willow's Baby," is in the final stages of publishing and will be on shelves in late May of 2013. Ms. Fairbanks is currently working on the third book in the Sterling series, "Buttoned Down," with an estimated release date of early 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 3, 2013
Evidence I loved this book-I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down. Okay, I did have to take a couple of short breaks to eat and feed the cats because they can be very demanding but otherwise I could not stop reading it. This is the first book in the Sterling Suspense series. The second book, Willow’s Baby, is also excellent. I recommend reading the books in order since Centaur is Meghan’s story and it introduces most of the major characters in the series. This is a great book/series for anyone who loves suspense/thrillers with a romance thrown in. With the recent nationwide sting of child sex slave ring complete with arrests and rescued children in the newspaper the plot of this book feels very timely.
An ill and injured naked young woman is brought to the emergency room at the hospital where Dr. Jeffery Sterling works. The only name she gives is “nummer twenny three.” Dr. Sterling saves her life and with the help of FBI Agent Dr. Alex Hunter, he is able to find out her real identity. Dr Sterling also discovers that Meghan suffers from a rare but treatable medical condition that has affected her ability to process information and left her functioning at the level of a young child. Meghan had wandered away from her care home and been picked up by members of sex slavery ring. She had been used and abused. She decided to escape one night when she realized that she was going to be killed. Meghan’s life is in danger because the leader of the ring knows that she can identify him and he will stop at nothing to have her killed.
An ill and injured naked young woman is brought to the emergency room at the hospital where Dr. Jeffery Sterling works. The only name she gives is “nummer twenny three.” Dr. Sterling saves her life and with the help of FBI Agent Dr. Alex Hunter, he is able to find out her real identity. Dr Sterling also discovers that Meghan suffers from a rare but treatable medical condition that has affected her ability to process information and left her functioning at the level of a young child. Meghan had wandered away from her care home and been picked up by members of sex slavery ring. She had been used and abused. She decided to escape one night when she realized that she was going to be killed. Meghan’s life is in danger because the leader of the ring knows that she can identify him and he will stop at nothing to have her killed.
November 7, 2013
As a fan of mystery/suspense novels i was intrigued when i stumbled across Centaur.I said to myself "eh not sure bout this one..but I'll give it a shot." I am truly glad i did.
Meghan Dacey who only knows herself by "nummer twenny three," escapes certain death from The Halfway Home.A care home for the intellectually disabled that is actually a front for a sex slavery ring.While she is able to escape, she is protected by the FBI and Dr.Jeffrey Sterling.Meghan is far from safe from the Centaur..who must eliminate Meghan at all costs to protect his secrets.
This is one of my favorite books i have read all year! It has action, suspense, romance, i loved it! From the time i started to the time i finished i was engrossed..i couldn't put the book down.I can now definitely say i am a fan of H.E Fairbanks...and will be reading all future works by this author.You want a fun, fast read pick this one up! You'll be glad you did.
Meghan Dacey who only knows herself by "nummer twenny three," escapes certain death from The Halfway Home.A care home for the intellectually disabled that is actually a front for a sex slavery ring.While she is able to escape, she is protected by the FBI and Dr.Jeffrey Sterling.Meghan is far from safe from the Centaur..who must eliminate Meghan at all costs to protect his secrets.
This is one of my favorite books i have read all year! It has action, suspense, romance, i loved it! From the time i started to the time i finished i was engrossed..i couldn't put the book down.I can now definitely say i am a fan of H.E Fairbanks...and will be reading all future works by this author.You want a fun, fast read pick this one up! You'll be glad you did.
June 12, 2013
I enjoy reading suspense and action novels and this one did not disappoint. It was well written and the plot came together nicely. The book was not bogged down in detail...just enough to orient me during each part. While one must always suspend belief when reading suspense novels, this one at times required a bit more than usual. Still, well worth reading. *I received this book for free though Goodreads First Reads.
June 12, 2013
Received this book through Goodreads Firstreads. I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It was well-written, and packed with edge-of-your-seat action from start to finish! It was difficult for me to put the book down every night, but I had to sleep at some point...
Great plot twists, and the author really lets you get to know the characters. Had tears in my eyes at one point, was enraged several times, and laughed out loud on multiple occasions!
Great plot twists, and the author really lets you get to know the characters. Had tears in my eyes at one point, was enraged several times, and laughed out loud on multiple occasions!
October 18, 2013
I won a copy of Centaur from Goodreads. I have never read anything by H.E. Fairbanks, so I didn't know what to expect. Centaur was an engaging book that angered me, delighted me, and made me laugh. The author did a great job making you care for the main characters. This book took me about 3 days on my train commute to finish and kept me entertained the entire time. The plot twists and turns really made me think. A nice whodunit novel.
July 3, 2013
I had the pleasure of reading CENTAUR and knew before I started that it was going to be thrilling and captivating. The cover is artistic and unique, and the story very suspenseful. Fairbanks is a very gifted storyteller and has mastered the art of writing. I look forward to reading more of her work soon.
June 23, 2013
I received this book from the First Reads giveaway. I was very pleased with the plot and how the story unfolded. Very gruesome scenes that kept me turning those pages. Thank you h.e. Fairbanks; I look forward to the sequel novel!
June 6, 2013
A page turner! Lots of tense and dangerous situations but also humor and friendship throughout.
July 25, 2013
Awesome book. I had every feeling coming out of me while reading this book. loved it
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October 5, 2013Excellent book. First time reading a book by this author, already bought the next sequel. Started reading it and could not put it down til I was finished!
July 20, 2013
Great read. Full of suspense and I never wanted to put the book down.
May 30, 2013
I confess, I abandoned this genre years ago finding it too formulaic to waste any more of my precious time. So, when I finished reading Centaur by HE Fairbanks, I simply had to write a review. This book is the best contemporary book I've read in years! Fairbanks has renewed my faith in the craft of storytelling with this brilliant, unexpected, novel. Admit it, haven't you grown tired of the formula followed by the best selling suspense authors? Here's the gist: 1. some event that introduces a mystery; 2. some enemy says it can't or shouldn't be solved; 3. some villan enters; 4. some lengthy investigation; 5. some meeting of the villan; 6. some conflict and climax. They all go exactly like that. Until the Centaur, that is. As a reader, you'll find yourself so entranced by the well-developed character, Number 23, that you will barely notice that you've breezed through the first ten chapters, startled to find yourself muttering, "No spoons!" Fairbanks introduces us to a seemingly unbelievable character in the horrific underworld of a sex slave ring and, with nothing but sheer talent, makes it completely believable. Centaur takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster. It has it all--humor, suspense, action, cops, crime, FBI, betrayal, love, desire-- wrapped up by Fairbanks' wonderful ability to bring the characters to life. I'm thrilled to hear that we'll be seeing much more from the characters as this is only part one in a series of thrillers. The second book is called Willow's Baby and was just released this week. I guarantee that I'll be reading it! I'll be recommending this book to all my friends. Get it, read it! It's fan-freaking-tastic!
December 29, 2013
Two words. DO NOT. This is the worst piece of crap that I have read in years. I know this to be true as I cannot even finish it and trust me, I finish EVERY book I start. The dialog, the plot all should have ended up under 50 other manuscripts on someones desk, not in my Kindle.
September 10, 2013
Did not finish. The story and characters were just a little too out there for my taste. I couldn't get into the story line and the characters were far from what I had hoped to find.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews