Black Sheep

Caitlyn Tierney FBI Thriller #2

by C.J. Lyons

A young girl is taken. A father is silenced. The lies run deep.

It’s the one mystery Supervisory Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney has never solved: her father’s suicide after he had to arrest his best friend for murder. It drove Caitlyn to become one of the FBI’s best – and most unorthodox – agents.

So when the man she holds responsible for her father’s death pleads her assistance in finding his missing daughter, Caitlyn is horrified. But, as whispers of half-understood conversations from her childhood begin to come back to her, the agent inside Caitlyn must admit that something doesn’t feel right.

Her search brings her back to her North Carolina hometown, now vibrant with new money, old lies, and an unknown enemy who will do anything to keep Caitlyn from the learning the truth…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Mystery Thriller

341 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2012

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, former pediatric ER doctor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart.

Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).

Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net

Reviews

[‘Sup? · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney stole every scene she appeared in in C.J. Lyons's previous pseudo-prequel thriller offering, BLIND FAITH, so I was thrilled to hear she would be starring in a spinoff series. Lyons's style has developed and matured greatly since the original publication of BLIND FAITH, and BLACK SHEEP reads more like her other, excellent, thriller series, the LUCY GUARDINO books. Caitlyn is like a younger, equally kickass Lucy: a FBI agent who is more committed to doing her job and finding justice for the victims than following the rules. Her devotion to her job, why it means so much to her on a personal level, and her struggles with both the rigidity of FBI doctrine and the violence she sees in her job make Caitlyn an incredibly sympathetic and relatable character that drives the novel. You will want to keep turning the pages, rooting for Caitlyn, to see if she triumphs in the end. BLACK SHEEP seamlessly combines a twenty-six-year-old family mystery, small-town secrets, a biker gang, race issues, undercover agents, touches of humour [Smokey almost steals the show!], a dash of romance, and one hell of a twist in the end into a fast-paced, gripping read you will not want to put down. And then you'll want to read it again to see if you could've seen the twist coming! Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read.



[I was provided an ARC of the book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review-- no monetary compensation involved]

[Karen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is suspense at its best. FBI agent Caitlin Tierney is like-able and real. The plot takes twists and turns and is based on what I like best in any novel--relationships. I couldn't wait to get back to it when life interrupted and I didn't want it to end.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one better than the first. I'm still on the fence about Caitlyn - for me she is not an easy character to love. Getting some closure on what happened with her Dad may change her into a more likeable person...I'll wait and see.

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: C J Lyons
Published By: Minotaur Books
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5

Review:


"Black Sheep" by C.J. Lyons was a truly another one this authors good reads that only 'she' can deliver. This novel will be presented with mystery, murder, a thrillers, suspense with even some romance. Black Sheep was the sequel to Blind Faith and if you haven't read it....well you are missing out...but this story continues as this novel's interest is in FBI Caitlyn Tierney...who gets involved with a incident that had happened some twenty-six years ago...involving her father(Sean Tierney) and his best friend(Eli Hale). Caitlyn who had given her all with the FBI didn't play totally by their rules and when she is notified of the disappearance of a childhood friend...all hell breaks out...in her trying to see just what was going on at the end of the rainbow. The novel moves very fast and the characters for me were simply off the chart...ALL good. Now, I will only name a few but not all....from Caitlyn,Whitford, Eli Hale, Sean Tierney, Lena, Jessalyn, Vonnie,Bernie, Jimmy McSwain, Poppy, Weasel, Goose, Paul, Tommy Shadwick, Sheriff Markle, Caruso, Judas Bearmeat, to Mrs. Littlejohn and I am sure I have left someone out so it will be up to you to pick up this excellent read to see just who that might be.

This author really works her magic in bringing us such a well written dialog that will you keep you on the edge of your seat .... not being able to put this novel down until its end. This ending will probably surprise you....I was... I had my thoughts who I thought was involved but the actual killer...WOW! Now, I will say no more other than tell you to please pick up this read. This author has a way that only she can tells a story to us and leave us is saying Wow... that was a some good read.



If you are in for a good mystery along with some thrills, and lots of suspense and surprises ... you have come to the right place for "Black Sheep" will truly take you there and I would highly recommend this to you as a excellent read.

[Bri Calaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Black Sheep was not what I had expected it to be. I read the first book to this spin-off Blind Faith, which had me hooked from the very beginning and until the very end. I was truly excited about this book and expected it to be much like the same. There were moments of great action and unexpectedness throughout the book, but all in all I felt that the storyline and ending were stretched to the extreme so that it felt as if the author didn't truly know how they wanted the book to go and end until it was over. The actual end chapter was composed of tiny tidbits of a few of the characters so you know what happens to them in the end, but it was done in a way that made you feel like you we're still in the dark with where the main characters ended up. It's safe to say that this was not one of my favorite books and I would not recommended it. However, if you're looking for a great exciting read from CJ Lyons, I would definitely recommend Blind Faith.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy and could not put it down. CJ Lyons did it again another FBI Mystery with a little bit of everything thrown in along the way. Many twists and turns for Caitlyn as she delves into a mystery from her past 26 years ago, and the end will blow you away. It certainly was not expected.You may want to read it again just to see if you seen it coming and missed it the first time around. I just loved Smokey, I think in some parts she stole the show. I can't wait to see what CJ comes up with next.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy and I have to say this book had a little bit of everything! Including a surprise at the ending that I just didn't see coming. The story features an FBI agent that doesn't like to play by the rules trying to solve a mystery of her own past while pursuing the disappearance of an old friend. There are some elements of humor mixed in with the mystery along with a touch of romance. All in all, a great read and another winner from CJ Lyons!

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading CJ LYONS and i can tell you it won't be my last.

This story is fast moving and full of intensity. When all is revealed, you don't know if your happy, sad or furious!!

A must read for those who love a great suspensful read.

[Mieke Schepens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indrukwekkend! Lees de recensie op mijn blog: http://graaggelezen.blogspot.nl/2016/...

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A day or so ago in this space, I waxed rhapsodic about the first book in this trilogy. This was good, but it felt like it was a victim of the sophomore blues. Still, I look forward to reading the third book sometime in August.

Caitlyn Tierney joined the FBI primarily because her dad wanted to, and he never got the chance. He arrested his best friend for a murder, then so horrified was he about the arrest as a local cop that a day or so later, he took his own life. It was little Caitlyn who found the body. The two had been extremely close, and that magical father/daughter bond was solid and unerasable.

While training a bunch of recruits at FBI training headquarters in Virginia, Caitlyn gets a call from the prison wherein her dad’s friend lives. She doesn’t want to take the call from Eli Hale, but after a talk with a prison chaplain, she goes to the prison. As she waits for the guards to bring Eli Hale to her, she watches as, during the transfer, two gang members stab him repeatedly until he dies. His last words for her were, “Save Lena.”

Lena Hale was a little diaper princess the last time Caitlyn saw her. Caitlyn and Lena’s big sister were inseparable friends. But Lena has gone missing, and as he bleeds out, her dad begs Caitlyn to save her. Against her better judgment, Lena zips off to the old hometown in North Carolina to see what she can do.

Before the book ends, she will encounter life-threatening wildlife, money launderers, and so much more. While this wasn’t as gripping as Blind Faith, the first book in the trilogy, it was good enough that you should read it without hesitation. And, yes, it’s best to read the first book before you start this one.

[L8blmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has taken me almost 4 years to get to the second book in this series. I went back and read my review of the first book and apparently I wasn't very impressed. That may have had something to do with the long wait. This one held my interest throughout, the setting was an area I am familiar with, there were far fewer editing issues, and most of it was feasible, if not exactly believable. That's enough for a boost of a half-star (as if) and I rounded up because of the interesting aspect to the plot which had to do with freedmen's rights to native American land.

[David Salkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot and story line buildup with amazing twists and turns especially at the ending. At first I was intimidated by the way the story was building up because I don't read to many novels that have to do with the subject but C.J. Lyons knows how to explain it simply. Will definitely have to check more books out by the local library from her.,

[Dick Ulmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn Tierney is a damaged FBI agent who is sent to her hometown in North Carolina to solve the disappearance of the daughter of the man she blames for her Sherriff father's suicide a long time ago. It is a good story, which I enjoyed.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprisingly enough I really loved this book and think it’s represents the crime genre well- the first third of the novel was very slow, hard to engage or feel for the characters but after pg.100 it picks up speed and doesn’t stop until the end where it’s all tied up in a neat bow🙆‍♀️🎁

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed, good read if a little far fetched in parts

[PolkadotRussianDoll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this some time ago and can’t Remember a single thing, it was generic and pretty forgettable.

[Lynne Block · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bizarre, disjointed, unbelievable characters & storyline

[Ghazal Akbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the way I expected! Starting was way better and there is no denial that story line was very much exciting but ending was very abrupt and predictable.

[Ann Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Sheep

I gave this book 4stars because it moved well and carried the story in an unusual direction. Having the surprise ending with the mother was a good touch.

[Angela]

0

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, I can almost see the characters come alive.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Q

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

First book of the year I was too bored to finish how sad

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch hier war es zwar spannend, aber zwischenzeitlich leider langweilig. Für einen Thriller leider nicht nervenaufreibend genug.

Aber dennoch hat es mich gut unterhalten.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an immediate sequel to Lyons' previous book featuring FBI Agent Caitlyn Tierney, 'Blind Faith', as Tierney is recovering from the events at the end of that book to open this one. Otherwise, no other characters from 'Blind Faith' make an appearance here, and Lyons only revels minor spoilers from that book, so you could theoretically read them out of order.
Tierney is recovering from surgery and trying to figure out where she fits in at the FBI when she gets a call from a prisoner asking to investigate the disappearance of his daughter. Not necessarily an FBI matter, however Tierney is well acquainted with this prisoner, who was her father's best friend until he confessed to killing a Cherokee tribe elder near their small hometown, which eventually led to Sean Tierney's suicide, as he was the police officer who had to arrest and charge his friend with murder. Still bitter after 26 years, Caitlyn is unsure she wants to help Eli, but remembers his daughters and the friendship she had with his older daughter, while the younger one, Lena, who is now missing, was merely a baby at the time of the murder, which was the last time Caitlyn saw any of them.
Upon venturing back to her hometown, Caitlyn is introduced to the resident motorcycle gang, the Reapers, who nearly kill her the moment she flashes Lena's photo to the leaders, asking if any of them have seen her. She knows right away there is something fishy, but can't figure out what a bunch of bikers would have against a college student, who according to her father and her roommate, was in town researching her family's history and later the court rulings related to the Native American population in the are. Also, she is reunited with her mother, who nags her about retiring from the FBI for something safer and can't figure out why she would want to come back to such bad memories, and her uncle, who served in somewhat of a fatherly role to her after her own father's death and is now operating a huge casino, just outside Indian territory.
Lyons also gives readers a second perspective by showing right away that Lena is still alive but is being held captive, so interwoven with Caitlyn's search for her is Lena's own struggle to figure out where she is and why in the world someone has her hidden.
Overall, the storyline was good, and I didn't see most of the twists and turns coming, definitely a series I'd like to see continued on. It did get a bit predictable at times and isn't a literary masterpiece, but it made a perfect book to read late at night during dinner breaks at work. I still like Lyons' Angels of Mercy series best, but since she brought that one to a close, I'll take this one. Seems she has a lot of series, so I always have to look inside the cover to figure out if a book belongs with another I already read or is the start of something new.

[Nyah Rust · Rating 3 out of 5]

personal response: The book was okay except for the way the book came together in the end
plot summary: Caitlyn Tierney is an FBI supervisory agent for the moment until she is reassigned after having major brain surgery after a run in with a psycho when she gets a call and has to help her fathers 'killer' and best friend Eli Hale when he calls and says his youngest daughter Lena has gone missing even though there is no proof of her disappearance but Caitlyn investigates any way and finds a lot more than she bargained for like how her father did not commit suicide and how Eli Hale did not commit murder but was set up by a few people who no one thought to blame. After seeing Eli murdered in prison that is when she decided to look into Lena 'dissapearing' and all the other stuff that happens in her hometown which she has not been to in 26 years since her father died and her mother Jessalyn moved them away with the help of Caitlyn's uncle Jimmy who had just started a new casino called the VistaView a little while after they left their hometown. When Caitlyn returns her boyfriend follows her and her mother is in town also and she does not like that because now she has to worry about keeping her family safe and away from her unofficial FBI business. When Caitlyn learns about her uncle being in the local biker gang she is surprised and is suspicious but lets it go for the moment and continues trying to solve what would be so important to kill for and to kidnap for, she finds out when she reads an old pact in cherokee writing that says the Freedmen which includes Elis family have the land which is where the casino is built and the biker gang is involved because of their money laundering through the casino which is on the Freedmen's rightful land. Caitlyn goes to her old house to arrest her uncle Jimmy and her mom tags along and when she tries to arrest him he tells her mother to get a hold on her kid and then when Caitlyn accuses Jimmy of murdering her dad he denies it and Jessalyn owns up to the murder and then when Jimmy pulls a gun Jessalyn shoots him and tells Caitlyn to forget about it and to walk away.
recommendations: I would say people who like good plot and mystery.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one thing that can always be said about this author is the fact that she knows inside-and-out how to deliver the perfect blend of romance and suspense that makes her fans come back again and again. And this novel is no exception.

For those who missed Blind Faith (a novel you MUST go back and read because it was beyond good), the character of Caitlyn Tierney is a true ‘gem.’ This FBI Supervisory Special Agent is tough, hard-edged and gritty, and knows exactly how to bring in the ‘bad guy.’ But when it comes to this new mystery, she’s racing head-first into a truly personal area that will call up all kinds of hideous memories from her past.

A while back Caitlyn’s father committed suicide right after he arrested his best friend for murder, which is actually the one case that made Caitlyn head straight into the law enforcement ‘biz’ when she grew up. But now, history is coming back to haunt her, when the one man she blames for her father’s unorthodox death comes to her and asks for help in finding his daughter who has gone missing.

This is a case that is beyond difficult; not only must the Special Agent face her demons, but she also has to head back to her hometown where the blood of a man she admired was spilled. The hometown is different than it once was; it has received a new, wealthy façade. But the same lies are still festering behind the elegant closed doors. What Caitlyn doesn’t know is that there is a villain who is sitting right there in the midst of money, power and greed who will do anything to stop her from finding out what really happened so long go.

For those readers out there who are looking for chilling suspense, this is it. It’s not a surprise, actually, considering this author is an ER doctor who has helped police with various criminal cases. Because of this background, combined with her amazing writing, these books offer in-depth looks into the minds of villain, victim and hero. Enjoy!

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney returns in this newest novel by CJ Lyons [after “Blind Faith”], and this one is another winner. Caitlyn isn’t sure of her future with the FBI, now on temporary assignment at Quantico, and known as one who doesn’t always play by the rulebook. At thirty-five, she’s carrying a lot of baggage: “nine years carrying a loaded weapon, almost dying twice, killing a man in close-quarters combat, watching a good man sacrifice his life to save hers.” And that’s just on the job! She’s ambivalent about her job, and about her love life.

On a personal level, she’s been dating a neuroradiologist who she met when he diagnosed her brain aneurysm six months earlier, and who’s more emotionally invested in the relationship than she. And she has never come to the terms with the death (and apparent suicide) of her Sheriff father when she was 9 years old, in the aftermath of his having had to arrest his best friend for a murder to which the man had confessed. When the latter asks for Caitlyn’s help in finding his missing daughter, the younger sister of her closest childhood friend, despite her misgivings she finds herself drawn back to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina to search for her.

Her investigation brings her across the path of outlaw biker gang, the Grim Reapers, whose code is ‘till Death do us part’ and whose members have names like Weasel, Goose and Poppy; an obscure pact dating back to the period after the Civil War; and a decades-old court case with serious present-day ramifications. Though I felt the book lagged a bit in the middle, in retrospect the background presented is essential to understanding the motivations of the present. There is a heavy suspense quotient, and an unexpected ending, and the book is very enjoyable and is recommended.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLACK SHEEP by C.J. Lyons is a thrilling romantic suspense/thriller/mystery. Sequel to "Blind Faith". But can be read without reading "Blind Faith",although I would recommend reading it because it is a great read also and gives insight into Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney. A heart pumping,compelling mystery from beginning to end. How can you not love this author or Special Agent Caitlyn. She is off to her hometown in North Carolina to discover the truth behind her father's death 26 years earlier. Filled with FBI agents,mystery,suspense,secrets,lies,and romance. Action packed and filled to the brim with danger. Written with intense drama,action,a compelling and intriguing plot and characters to die for,literally.No joke, the characters are engaging,believable,realistic and will capture your heart. Another must read for this author. Ms. Lyons is a wonderful storyteller,who holds her readers page after page to the very end and leave you wondering what's next. I want more! Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: SWEET

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

[ML Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supervisory Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney is good at her job but not at her life. Her people skills leave a lot to be desired and she’s in a relationship that always leaves her feeling guilty. One step ahead of being forced into taking a medical pension and early retirement, Caitlyn is asked to look into a problem for the man she holds responsible for her father’s death. The search takes her to her hometown and to her own family where she just may find the answer to the most pressing question in her own life—what really happened when her father was killed? This book has good characters and unexpected twists, not the least of which are the refugees from a failed zoo. Smart writing, good characters and fast pacing.