★★★★★ Excellent story. Lots of action, twists and turns. Characters portray a slew of different realistic emotions making them believable and loveable. I enjoyed this series immensely. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review - Gene
Ryan Mallardi's premonitions about his friend and client Jean-Francois Lenoir, unfortunately, came true. JF, as his family called him, is the wealthy patriarch of an international tire conglomerate, recently widowed, but more recently remarried to a woman 30 years his junior, who seemed to make him very happy. Some would say he was over the moon about his beautiful wife Tara, and some others would say he was obsessed with her.
If he was deliriously happy or obsessed, why would JF commit suicide only a few days before his 75th birthday party? Did JF, in a moment of despair, kill himself? After all, his oldest son, Francois, identified the writing in the suicide note as his father's handwriting. Or were Tara and her boyfriend-on-the-side, Anthony, guilty of murder?
Will Ryan finally get his romantic life straightened out? Will he finally find love and marriage, which have been eluding him for all this time?
SERIES vs. STAND-ALONE This book contains enough history and background to be read as a standalone book. Each book in the series contains a mystery, crime or psychological drama that has a beginning and ending. They are, of course, best enjoyed reading in order as the character arcs and the family drama play out from book to book. If you like family sagas with a bit of mystery and intrigue, you will enjoy reading the Ryan Mallardi Private Investigator Series in order from start to finish.
READER This story includes the subject of two neighborhood dogs who are referenced to having died. There are no graphic descriptions of any abuse or the death of any dogs. So if even hearing about the death of dogs is an issue, please be aware it is referenced in this book.
R. Shannon’s novels are Catholic and Christian friendly and feature an ensemble of interesting characters. The stories are written in a slice of life style with light humor, biblical morality and heart.
She was born and raised in New Jersey and has lived over 20 years in Florida.
When not writing, she is coding web design and contributing to a “new author” blog. Be sure to sign up at www.readfirstchapter.com to get notice of new and/or early releases.
She loves to interact with readers, so if you enjoyed the book, please feel free to email her at rshannon@readfirstchapter.com
Forewarned but Unheeded by R. Shannon is a riveting mystery that dives into wealth, deception, and deadly secrets. Private investigator Ryan Mallardi is hired to uncover the truth behind the suspicious death of Jean-Francois Lenoir, a billionaire whose apparent suicide raises more questions than answers. With a much younger wife, Tara, and billions at stake, every family member becomes a suspect—including his son, Francois, who stands to inherit the most.
The novel expertly weaves suspense, intricate relationships, and corporate intrigue, keeping the reader engaged through unexpected twists. Ryan’s personal life, particularly his plans to propose to his girlfriend, adds a human element to the fast-paced investigation. The characters are well-developed, with layered motivations that make it difficult to discern friend from foe.
Shannon’s writing is sharp and immersive, balancing detailed detective work with gripping psychological tension. The book maintains a steady pace, with revelations that shift perspectives just as the reader thinks they’ve solved the mystery. The blend of wealth, betrayal, and high stakes makes this a compelling read for fans of crime thrillers. Forewarned but Unheeded is a cleverly plotted whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Well written romantic suspense that has an ensamble cast facing real life challenges. The interactions between the characters makes for very interesting reading and the faith based foundation adds grounding to the story. I am not Catholic but found the perspectives of Fr Liam to be powerful and inspiring.
This is the 4th and weakest of this series. I had guessed the killer very early and the suspense never reached the level in the other books. Still not bad, just not great.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I appreciate the Christian aspect, I didn't have to wade through explicit sex scenes that added nothing to the story. The mystery itself was wonderful, full of twists and turns to an ending that made sense. I recommend this book with 5 stars. Well done
This story kept you guessing until the end. The mystery part of the story was good but the romantic part with Colleen and Ryan was a little cheesy and dull.